SWNOVELS Chapter Epilogue: The Dating Game
-Four Months Later-
“Joy!” Amirah called out, looking for her oldest grandcub.
“Over here,” Saffron said from the rocking chair in the living room.
Amirah smiled at her newest daughter and granddaughter.
Joy stood beside the rocking chair, watching Saffron rock her newest cousin.
“Where’s the rest of the brood?” Amirah asked as she walked up to them.
Saffron nodded toward the hall. “Daryl set up a playroom so the adults could have the living room.”
Amirah nodded. “It’s been a blessing having you help with the cubs and pup.”
Saffron smiled down at her own cub. “It’s been my pleasure. Fourteen little ones are a lot to handle.”
“Why aren’t you with the others?” Amirah asked Joy.
Joy smiled at her little cousin. “Because Brianna likes it when I watch her.”
Saffron chuckled. “She’s not wrong there. Bri calms down the moment Joy looks at her.”
Amirah grinned. “That’s our little pack leader.”
A cry came from the nursery, and Joy looked down the hall. “Brother needs me.” She looked back at Brianna, then leaned over and kissed her cheek. She turned and walked down the hall toward the nursery.
“She’s almost as much help as me and Tamara are,” Saffron said as she watched Joy walk down the hall.
Amirah nodded as she turned to watch her granddaughter. “She grew up a lot while her parents were MIA.”
Saffron nodded. Brianna whimpered, and she looked at her daughter. “I think she’s hungry,” she whispered as she positioned her breast. “I wonder who’s next.” Saffron rocked her daughter as she nursed.
Amirah nodded. “It’s been a few months since one was activated.”
Saffron looked up at her mother-in-law. “What if we went on a hunt?”
Amirah eyed her.
Saffron smiled. “I think we should have a clan meeting.”
~🐾~
“What do you mean, a hunt?” Shar asked as she studied her newest sister.
Saffron smiled at Shar. She was by far her favorite sister. “I mean, I was online a few days ago and came across something completely shocking.”
“Oh, I remember that.” Josie pulled out her laptop and started typing.
“What was it?” Maddy asked as she watched her sister.
“It’s a site—advertising for a greet and mate,” Saffron said.
“Yeah,” Josie said as she pulled up the page. “Saffron showed it to me, and I recognized the guys running it. They’d come to me for advertising advice. But I didn’t like what they were offering.”
“What the fuck?” Maddy snarled as she took the computer from her sister. “What the fuck is this shit?”
“What does the site offer?” Daryl asked.
Saffron looked at her mate. “A chance to meet a Fated Mate and fuck her.”
“What the fuck!” Sharissa exclaimed as she pulled the computer from Maddy’s lap and searched through the pages.
“They haven’t actually found any Fated Mates yet. But from what I’ve heard, the women aren’t exactly willing participants.” Josie informed them.
“How is that even possible?” Dominic asked as he stared at his mate.
“They bring women in from all over, and shifters come in to sniff them out,” Josie answered.
“What the fuck?” Shar held the computer up for her mate to look at it. “There’s one happening this weekend.”
“What happens at these things?” Daryl asked.
“It’s hidden as a dating site,” Josie said.
“Yeah.” Saffron nodded. “The women don’t know they’re being sniffed out. They think what they’re coming to is a meet and greet dating game.”
“Oh, like the ones you sit at a table for a few minutes, then go home with the one you like,” Tamara said as she tried to get a peek at the computer screen.
“Yes, exactly like that.” Saffron looked at Tamara.
“But we think it’s a ruse. Once they find a Fated Mate, they end the game and start a new one,” Josie said.
“What kind of new game?” Daryl asked.
“Don’t know. They haven’t found a Fated Mate this way yet.” Saffron shrugged.
“But we think they have an auction for the Fated Mate. Or at least plan to once they find one,” Josie said.
“Looks like we’ve found our first assignment.” Pearl looked at the site on the computer.
“Who’s brave enough to join?” Maddy asked.
“Done,” Saffron said as she hit enter.
Everyone looked at her with wide eyes.
“Holy fuck.” Lyvia stared at her newest sister.
“Give me that.” Shar took the computer from Saffron. She typed across the board, then hit enter and grinned. “Do they need to know that we’re claimed?”
“Sharissa,” Dustin growled.
She smiled at her mate. “What if we find the next Fated Mate there? You did say that the Goddesses are running out of first choices.”
Dustin sighed heavily.
“I’m doing it too,” Tamara said as she took the computer from Sharissa.
“Fucking hell,” Drezden grumbled.
In the next ten minutes, every Fated Mate was signed up for the site, including Josiah.
Shar smiled at Josiah. “They’re going to love you.” She winked at him.
Josiah smiled at her.
“Okay. So, I guess our mates are going undercover.” Dustin growled.
“So are you,” Shar said as she wrapped her arms around her mate.
Dustin looked down at his mate. “How’s that?”
“You lot are going to be the snifters.” Josie laughed.
“That doesn’t sound right.” Dominic pulled his mate up off the chair and into his arms.
“No, it doesn’t.” Maddy laughed at her sister.
“You shifters will be there to sniff out the Fated Mates.” Saffron looked around the room at the gathered Fated Mates.
“And so are you, Vampire,” Shar said as she turned to Tate, who had just popped in behind them.
Tate grinned at her. “Whatever you want, little mama.”
“Back up, I like that.” Dustin nodded.
Tate nodded. “Will be the most fun we’ve had since we lost our heads.”
Everyone laughed a hollow laugh.
“Then it’s settled.” Josie looked around at everyone.
The Alphas nodded.
“As long as we’re there to protect you,” Dustin said as he gently kissed his mate’s lips.
“Who knows?” Shar turned to look at the others. “Maybe we actually will find the next Fated Mate.”
“Hmm. I wonder who she’ll belong to.” Saffron smiled as she looked at Tate.
Tate laughed. “I’m a guardian, and that’s all.”
“I have a feeling there’s more to you than that,” Saffron said.
Shar grinned. “I’ve always thought so too.”
This book may be over but their story is not.
THIS SERIES IS A LONG INTERTWINING STORY THAT IS OVER 250,000 WORDS. I DIVIDED IT INTO 13 BOOKS, SO THAT EACH FATED MATE COUPLE HAD THEIR OWN BOOK. SO THE BOOKS ARE SHORT (BUT SWEET). ENJOY!