Tate's Foxy Shifter (Shifter World - Book Ten) (Series of 13 Short Stories)

-Present Day-

“Are we ready?” Sharissa Kraftman asked her family as they stood around her living room, going over their plans for going undercover at the Dating Game.

“Just waiting for the Vampires.” Daryl said as he leaned against the side of the couch his mate was sitting on.

“Wait no longer.”

The group turned to find a grinning Tate.

“Where’s Bridget?” Maddy asked as she stood.

“She’s on her way.” Tate said with a nod.

They know that the Vampires aren’t Fated Mates, but it’s always good to have their strength, and ability to teleport away.

“What do we do if we find a Fated Mate?” Lyvia asked as she watched the others.

“Good question.” Maddy said in agreement.

“We get her the fuck out of there.” Dustin snarled.

“Can we spot one if she’s not activated?” Shar asked.

“That’s what we have Pearl and Tate for.” Daryl said as he pointed to his sister and the Vampire.

Shar nodded and Tate grinned at her. “Don’t worry, little mama. We’ve got this covered.”

Shar smiled at him, then turned to the others. “The minute we discover a Fated Mate, we’re out of there.”

“We should actually wait and see what they’re up to.” Dustin told his mate.

Shar looked up at him and stuck her tongue out. He chuckled and smiled at her.

“Do you think they’ll pick up that we’re activated, Fated Mates?” Josie asked as she clicked away on her computer.

“If they do, let them take you.”

Everyone turned to the newcomer.

“Daddy?” Pearl questioned as she watched her father.

Kristoph nodded to his daughter. “If you want to shut them down. You need to see who is running it, and what exactly, they plan to do with the Fated Mates.”

“Do you think they will be able to detect that we’re already claimed?” Shar asked.

“Doubt it.” Kota said as he moved to stand beside his father. “They’re too stupid to notice if a Fated Mate is claimed or not. Just wear long sleeves to hide your markings.”

All the Fated Mates looked down at their wrists then up at the half Demon.

“Great idea.” Shar said with a smile, then turned and headed down the hall to put on a long-sleeved sweater.

“Guess we all need to change.” Lyvia said as she looked down at her wrists.

“Good idea.” Dylan said as he helped his mate to her feet.

“We’ll meet up at the club.” Pearl said as she looked at her family.

Everyone nodded as they headed for the front door.

****

“This place isn’t that bad.” Shar said as she and her “girlfriends” entered the club, that was holding this week’s, Greet and Mate: Dating Game.

“I don’t like the vibes.” Pearl said as she moved closer to Shar and Lyvia.

“Me either.” Bridget whispered.

“Won’t they know Bridget is a Vampire?” Maddy whispered.

Pearl turned and smiled at her. “I placed a little spell on her before we left home. It’s one my father gave me. So, it should be strong enough to go undetected.” She said, then turned back to face the area where the game was being held. “Even if the rumors are true, and they have a Spell Enchantress among them.”

“What is a Spell Enchantress?” Sharissa asked in a whisper.

Pearl looked at her, then at the others. “She’s close to being a Witch. But her only power is sensing spells and blocking them.”

“She can also block a Vampire from teleporting.” Bridget hissed.

“Shit.” Shar grumbled.

“Let’s just find our sister, destroy this stupid game, and get the fuck out of here.” Lyvia whispered.

“Agreed.” The others said with a nod.

“Ah, you must be new here.”

They all turned to the voice and smiled at the man who greeted them.

The man looked them all up and down, then grinned. “Right this way.” He said as he motioned for them to follow him.

Without a pause, they followed the man. Who seemed to be their greeter.

If they hesitated, they would give their cover away.

They were led to a group of tables and each sat down in one.

“You.” The greeter said as he stopped Josiah.

The girls all looked at the man who had taken hold of Josiah’s arm.

“The men wait over there.” The greeter said as he pointed towards the bar.

“He’s…uh.” Shar started to say and found herself short of the words she needed, to save her brother from being thrown with the men…

“He’s not one of them.” Pearl said as she placed her hand on the greeter’s arm. “He’s one of us.” She said as she spread her other arm to indicate the other women.

The greeter looked at her confused, then his eyes lit up with understand and he let go of Josiah’s arm, then smiled at him. “My apologies.” He said, then bowed to them and walked back over to the greeting podium.

“That was close.” Josie said with a giggle.

“A little too close, if you ask me.” Shar said as she watched Josiah sit in the booth next to hers.

“The guys are here.” Pearl whispered as she pointed to the bar.

Shar looked over at the bar and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Dustin leaning against it, with a drink in his hand, staring at her.

“They look so dreamy over there.” Lyvia gushed as she placed her chin in her hands and stared at her mate.

The guys waved at them shyly, pretending they’d just seen the most beautiful women, for the first time in their lives, and wanted to know more…

“Careful boys.” Pearl whispered.

The guys heard her, as she knew they would, and stood up straighter.

“We know you love us.” Lyvia whispered with a giggle.

“But you can’t ogle just us tonight.” Maddy whispered as she winked at her mate.

The guys turned to face the bar, but not before the girls saw the grins on their faces.

“Good thing no one knows who we’re talking to.” Pearl said with a roll of her eyes.

“I like the one with dark hair.” Lyvia said out loud. “I hope he comes to my booth.”

“Which one? There’s more than one with dark hair, Lyv.” Shar said with a grin, knowing very well she meant Raj.

“Oh, I don’t care. Any of them really. We’re here to meet our mate, right.” Lyvia said, emphasizing the word mate.

“Just because you’ve thought you were in heat last week; doesn’t mean you’re destined to meet a mate.” Shar grumbled. Playing along with their idea that none of them know they’re Fated Mates.

“Poor Sharissa is jealous.” Lyvia said as she leaned towards her best friend. “Just because you’re Human, and can’t possibly be a Fated Mate, doesn’t mean I’m not…”

“Bite me.” Shar said, then shoved her best friend back into her own booth.

Lyvia chuckled as she sat up straight in her booth.

“Keep it up, and I’ll come separate you two.” Pearl said from the other side of Lyvia.

Shar stuck her tongue out at Pearl. “You’re Human too.”

Pearl snorted, then turned back into her booth.

“I wonder how many guys will be interested in our sexy as fuck wolf.” Shar said as she turned to look at Josiah, who was lost in thought.

“Yeah.” Josie said from the other side of Josiah as she leaned in closer to him. “Do you think Gerald will be able to hold himself back when the men flock to him? He seems to be the most possessive of the Alphas.”

Josiah grinned but didn’t turn or answer either of them. He liked how possessive his mate is of him. It turned him on and made him want to fuck the large man. Didn’t matter where they were, either.

They once had to have Tate and Bridget to wipe the memories of a whole store, because they’d gotten caught fucking in the changing room.

“I think the games are starting.” Sharissa whispered.

“Wait, I smell something.” Bridget said as her head whipped to the entrance. “Ah, fuck.”

The girls all turned to the entrance and sniffed the air. Yep, the next Fated Mate has been activated.

****

“Shit. Do you smell that?” Dustin asked as he sniffed the air.

The men turned to the entrance and watched as a beautiful redhead walked through the entrance, the greeter all over her. She looked so innocent. She had no idea what was going on.

Tate turned when his friends did and paused.

WOW! He thought as he stared at her.

He has never been this attracted to a woman before. Especially not a Shifter. And she was definitely a Shifter. He wasn’t sure what yet, but her long red hair had tan stripes, and they weren’t done by a beautician. They were natural.

He sniffed the air. She’s been activated, but she wasn’t in full-blown heat. Which meant she hasn’t found her mate yet.

Fuck, they need to get her out of here before some asshole cockblocks her mate.

“We need to stop this and get her the fuck out of here.” Dustin growled.

Tate agreed.

“We can’t.” Shar hissed from her both as she turned from the newly activated Fated Mate, to look at them. “We need to shut these fuckers down.”

“I’ll get her.” Pearl said as she jumped to her feet and headed over to where the greeter was pawing at the newcomer.

“Be careful with her. She seems skittish.” Dylan whispered to his mate.

Pearl smiled. “I’ve got this.”

“Okay. So, what do we do?” Drezden asked as he watched his sister move over to the greeter and new Fated Mate.

“The girls will protect her.” Dustin said with confidence as he watched Pearl pull the greeter off the unclaimed Fated Mate and gently show the girl over to the rest of the Fated Mates.

The girl seemed to calm once she was amongst the other women. She even smiled at Josiah and sat down on the other side of him when Josie moved to the other booth.

“One fucker blocked, we need to figure out who her mate is, and if he’s not here, we need to take her home with us.” Daryl said with a growl.

His pack looked at him, and he nodded. His control of them was not disabled by the Spell Enchantress.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” A man started, getting everyone’s attention.

They listened halfheartedly to the rules and knew what was coming after. An auction, because they have found what they’ve been looking for.

Fated Mates.

The joke was on them. Their Alphas are here too, and none of them are going to let anything happen to their mates.

***

“Well, hello there.” A man said as he sat down in front of Sharissa. “Aren’t you a pretty one.” He said as he leaned forward to touch her cheek.

“No touching.” Lyvia said with a growl.

The man looked at her and grinned. “And a pretty Shifter too. Wow, this is definitely my day.”

Shar snarled at him and he jumped out of his seat, then smirked at her. “I’ll whip that out of you, little girl.” He said as he leaned in closer to her, so his face was in hers.

Shar’s eyes turned silver, and the Shifter who was trying to dominate her took a step back. Her eyes turned back to blue, and the man cleared his throat.

The call to switch seats came over the intercom before the man could say another word to her, and he huffed, then moved to sit in front of Lyvia. Who was shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

The man didn’t say anything to Lyvia, and Shar ignored the man who had sat across from her as she stared at the man who had thought he could dominate her.

The voice came again to switch, and Shar turned her head to the new man across from her when he laid his hand over hers. She sucked in a relieved breath when she looked into the silver eyes of her mate.

“Are you okay?” He asked as he rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand.

She shook her head and he sighed.

He leaned across the booth and whispered. “We heard everything. Don’t worry, he’s getting his.”

Her lips twitched into a partial smile and he smiled back.

“I love you.” He mouthed, and she grinned.

The announcer told them to switch, and Dustin lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, then moved over to the seat in front of Lyvia.