“For what, my love?” I ask, kissing her neck.
“To tell you that you’re going to be a father.”
I tense at her words, all the joy in my heart nearly bursting out of my chest. I’m speechless and overwhelmed with emotions. How do I form words? I knew this day would come, but I never thought I would feel so full of love when it happened.
I look down, seeing a drop of water land on Gwen’s shoulder, and she turns slightly, looking into my eyes. “I love you so much, Xavier. Thank you for giving me babies and making me so happy.”
“I love you.” It’s the only thing I can manage to say before Gwen reaches up and wipes away my tears. I can’t say anything else, so I press my lips against hers and try to say with my heart what I can’t verbalize.
My mate has shown me what love truly is and what it’s like to have a family again. It’s more than I ever dreamed possible, and I owe it all to her.
From the moment I laid eyes on Gwen, I knew she was special. And as I watched my beauty sleep, I hoped that one day she would be mine. As we make love, I whisper my words of devotion, telling her over and over all the ways I will worship her until my last breath.
Epilogue
Gwen
A couple of weeks later…
“Do you like it?”
I’ve got both hands over my mouth as I try to hide my smile, and I bite my tongue to keep from laughing. Xavier is standing in the middle of the living room with the saddest-looking Christmas tree ever.
“You don’t like it.” His face falls, and the pout sends me running to him. Well, moving as fast as I can with my growing pregnant belly.
“No, baby. I love it. It’s absolutely perfect.” I wrap my arms around his waist as I look over the tree. He decided this morning he needed to go into the woods and chop one down. I was kind of excited because it’s our first Christmas together, and this could be a sweet tradition. My burly woodsman mate goes to chop one down, only to bring back something that would rival Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. “It’s just a little thin.”
Looking it over, he nods. “I thought it could use your love. You’ve made me stronger.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I squeeze him to me. How can I possibly say anything against his reasoning? “Well, when you put it that way,” I say, sniffing.
Xavier wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. “Happy tears?”
“Yeah, baby. Happy tears.”
X had a hard time at first with my emotional outbursts, but he’s adjusted in the past couple of weeks. Now he just holds me and loves me until it passes. I think it’s just because shifters experience pregnancy so much faster than humans, so it’s all the hormones of a regular pregnancy packed into three months.
After a few moments, the emotions are under control and he kisses my lips. “Ruby and Dom should be here any minute. You okay?”
“Yes, I’m so excited to see them. I’m glad Winnie is coming by, too. She’s having a time with those sisters of hers. Spending time with us will do her some good.”
I set out some snacks while X puts out some Christmas decorations. It’s not for a couple of weeks still, but I think he’s excited to be having a real one after so long. I smile lovingly as I watch him hang up stockings on the fireplace. He insisted we hang one up for each baby, even though they won’t be here until after the holidays. He hangs up two little ones in the middle and two larger stockings on either side. I rub my belly, thinking of the two pups growing inside me. Xavier was so happy when he found out it was twin girls. He said all he wanted to do was please me, so he gave me two girls so I would be extra happy.
I feel another little tear form at the memory, and he comes over to hold me. I can’t wait for these damn hormones to pass.
Hearing a knock on the door, X goes over and lets everyone in. Dominic practically carries in a very pregnant Ruby, and Winnie comes in right behind them.
After we all hug and say hello, I sit down on the couch with Ruby and Winnie and catch up. I hear Winnie let out a long sigh, and I look over at her.
“You okay?” I know the twins have been giving her shit lately, and I’m really getting tired of those bitches.
“Yeah, just kind of sad. I still can’t remember anything. And I’ve been all over the place today.”
Winnie has been struggling more than usual lately with her memory. For a long time, she didn’t talk about her past, and we thought that was by choice. But she’s opened up to me a little, and I know that she has no memory of her life before she was found wandering in the woods. I think the most frustrating part is that she doesn’t know when she’s going to come of age.
“You’ll know when it happens. You’ll feel it,” I tell her, and reach out to hold her hand.
“From what Dominic says, you feel it when it happens,” Ruby says, smiling softly at Winnie. I think Ruby feels a special bond with Winnie since she was once an outsider herself. Even though Winnie is a shifter, she doesn’t feel like she belongs in the pack.
“Yeah. You’re right. I’m just super emotional today. I keep crying. Sorry.” Winnie gives us a half-smile and tries to shake it off. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was pregnant.”
I laugh at Winnie’s joke and shake my head. “Tell me about it. The last time I was this crazy with hormones I was—” It hits me. The last time I was this crazy with hormones and emotions was my eighteenth birthday. When I started to come of age, it was just as bad as it is now. “Winnie, you don’t think—”
I’m cut off by the front door bursting open to reveal Stone standing in the doorway.
Xavier and Dominic are in front of the females in under a second, both half-shifted to protect us.
Stone stands there, breathing hard and looking like he just ran a hundred miles. He’s nearly rabid as he looks past X and Dom, glaring at Winnie. His snarl echoes through the room, and one word leaves his lips.
“Mine.”
THE END…. for now
The Lost Slipper
Alexa Riley
Fairytale Shifter Book 3
by
Alexa Riley
The first time Stone saw Winnie, she was alone in the woods with no memory of where she came from.
With one look, he knew something was different. When she finally came of age and her mating heat kicked in, he realized that she had always been the one.
Sent to live with a strange family, Winnie was forced to deal with the hateful treatment of her stepmother and stepsisters.
Mating the alpha changed that.
But when her past comes back to find her, will the heat last after the clock strikes midnight?
Warning: This shifter fairy tale is meant to be enjoyed by only those who love this kind of adorable stuff. Think you've got what it takes? Then come on in!
To the hubs; my life, my love, my mate.
Prologue