Mated to the Griffin (Elemental Mates 5)

She remembered very little from the night months ago—snarling teeth and golden eyes filled with rage. That werewolf had been like a monster from a childhood nightmare, a creature made of anger and hunger, reaching out for her purse.

She could barely even remember how she’d escaped that moment. There had been some sort of loud noise nearby—an engine backfiring, maybe, and the werewolf had run.

She hadn’t carried much money with her anyway.

But the sheriff didn’t look like a monster. Apart from his eyes, he looked completely normal. He reminded her of her dad, actually.

They both had the same grizzled, gray look, the weathered face of a man who loved the outdoors, and the same sort of easy confidence and air of authority.

Of course, there was something a little wild about the sheriff.

His eyes, she decided.

They weren’t the eyes of a monster—but they were the golden eyes of an animal that was born to roam free.

What made a werewolf choose to settle down in a small town? And more—to choose the side of the law, instead of robbing people during the full moon?

“I’m not going to keep you,” the sheriff said. “Everyone else will want to meet you too. And I’ve got my roses to tend to—I’ve got a reputation to protect.”

“His roses were quite successful at the spring fair.” Jared grinned. “I have no doubt that means that your rivals will be trying especially hard.”

The sheriff nodded towards the house next to his own. It was surrounded by a fence of wrought iron, covered all over with climbing roses in white, pink, and red.

“If I don’t step up my game, I’m going to lose to her next time. Truth be told, I’m quite certain I’m going to lose. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t make her work for it.”

“Sheriff,” Jared said, his eyes gleaming, “have you ever considered simply asking her out on a date instead?”

As scary as the werewolf sheriff had been at first, seeing him at first speechless, and then flushing a bright red did a lot to make Chiara feel at ease.

“How—why would you—it’s not—” the sheriff sputtered.

It most definitely is, Chiara thought in amusement.

But instead of saying that out loud, she nudged Jared’s shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll have a little housewarming party soon, so I get to know all our neighbors. You should come too, Sheriff—and bring a date.”

“I would be honored to attend,” the sheriff said, once he had recovered a little. “And I, uh... I will think about it.”

“Perfect,” Jared declared, still grinning widely. “That’s settled, then.”

More and more people had begun to gather in the square. Everyone seemed eager to get to know Chiara—and find out who the two new shifters by Jared’s side were.

It took them a while to make the rounds. There were no more unfortunate surprises for Chiara. The sheriff was the only werewolf in town, it seemed—but there were shifters in Mountain View Chiara wouldn’t have thought possible.

There were dog and cat shifters, and the lions and cheetahs she’d already seen earlier. But there were also groundhog shifters, falcon shifters, and a little boy who told her earnestly that he was a spider shifter.

“Don’t be silly. You’ll be a cat like the rest of us,” his older sister, who looked to be around ten years old, said. She rolled her eyes at him as he pouted. “He doesn’t shift yet,” she told Chiara. “But I can shift. Want me to show you?”

“Of course,” Chiara said, watching attentively as the girl turned into a little tabby, who meowed proudly and then raced off.

Chiara bit back a grin as she turned back to the little boy, who looked after her with both envy and annoyance.

“She doesn’t know anything,” he said sulkily. “I’m going to be Spider-Man when I grow up. That’s why I don’t shift yet. But I could if I wanted.”

“I think it will be great to have Spider-Man around in Mountain View,” Chiara said earnestly. “I bet the sheriff would love his help.”

The boy beamed at her, his earlier envy already forgotten. “I’m going to catch criminals in my net. And swing from houses. It’ll be much better than being a cat.”

Jared laughed softly and tousled his hair. Then he knelt down until he was at face level with the child. “Want to know a secret?” he said in a staged whisper.