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

Chelsea looked at herself in the mirror of her mate’s bathroom. She frowned at the messy hair and puffy eyes. How could he have found her anything but disgusting?

“Chelsea?”

She looked at the locked door when her mate jiggled the handle. She can’t stay hidden from him forever, but what is she supposed to do?

Goddesses, why me? He deserves so much better.

Now that she’s no longer in heat, she can think straight. And Tate, the most powerful Vampire, deserves better than a mongrel like her.

“Chelsea!” Tate growled as he pounded on the door. “If you keep that thinking up, I will bend you over my fucking knee!”

She squealed as she jumped back away from the door. How the fuck can he hear my thoughts? I thought Vampire’s can’t hear Shifter’s thoughts. Am I so weak…?

“Chelsea!” He hollered as he pounded harder on the door.

She started to cry as she backed further away from the door.

The pounding stopped, and Tate took in a deep breath. “You’re not weak, love. I can hear your thoughts because you’re my mate.” He said softly as he leaned his head against the door.

Chelsea sighed as she sat on the toilet. She’s not a weakling who can be read by Vampires, that’s good… Right?

“Chelsea.” He said softly as his knuckles tapped on the door.

“I’m going to take a shower.” She whispered. “Can I have some time alone?”

“Okay, sweetling.” He whispered, then turned and walked away from the bathroom.

Chelsea felt the tears stream down her cheeks. Why her? What is so special about her?

****

Tate growled as he walked away from the bathroom. Everything was going great; they had even fucked a few more times; before she’d run from him and locked herself in the bathroom. Now that she’s no longer in heat and horny as hell, it seems her mind is clearer… He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. He knows why she’s no longer in heat.

He opened his eyes and disappeared.

He re-appeared in Dustin and Shar’s house and looked over at the long couch against the far window and found exactly who he was looking for.

“It’s time you paid your debt.” He said as he walked towards the couch.

Shar jumped and turned to him, her eyes open wide. Lyvia turned to him, her lips quivering, fear in her eyes.

He could see that they had forgotten the debt Lyvia owed him from over two years ago. Did they honestly think he would forget a debt?

“Tate.” Shar squealed as she jumped to her feet.

Tate watched her as she stood there seething, then smiled. “Nothing to worry about, little mama. Not like I’m going to ask her to kill someone for me.”

Shar eyed him for a moment, then sat down and took hold of Lyvia’s shaking hand.

“Do you want me to stay or go?” Shar asked softly.

“Stay.” Lyvia whispered.

Shar looked over at the Vampire. “I’m not leaving.”

Tate nodded. “That’s okay. You can help me too.”

Her eyebrows drew together, and he chuckled as he ran his hand through his hair. He hadn’t ever planned to cash in on Lyvia’s IOU. Now Raj, on the other hand, he’d already had the man do a couple of favors for him to pay him back.

He sat in the chair closest to the couch they were sitting on and rubbed his face with his hands.

“Tate?” Shar asked softly.

He looked at her and smiled a crooked smile. “I’m having trouble with my mate and need a woman’s advice.”

Shar and Lyvia looked at each other, then broke into fits of giggles.

Tate grunted. “Come on, I’ve never had a serious relationship before.”

“What about Bridget?” Shar asked in between giggles.

Tate snorted. “She doesn’t count. It was never serious with her.”

“What do you need help with?” Lyvia asked once her fits of giggles died down.

“Yeah. She seemed so sweet and tame.” Shar said with a grin.

Tate sighed. “Everything was going great. Then she ran and locked herself in the bathroom. She doesn’t think she’s good enough for me.”

Both women blinked at him.

“What the fuck did you say to her?” Shar demanded as she jumped to her feet.

Tate held up a hand. “Calm down, little mama. I didn’t do anything but worship her body.”

Shar snorted.

Lyvia pulled on Shar’s arm, making her sit back down on the couch and looked at Tate. “Tell us everything.”

And he did. Right up to the part where she locked herself in the fucking bathroom.

Shar and Lyvia shared a knowing look, then turned to the Vampire.

“Sounds to me, like she has had a horrible life. And was treated like pond scum.” Lyvia said softly.

Tate nodded. He’d figured that out already.

“She believes what her father and the other pack members said about her.” Shar said softly.

Tate looked at them, sorrow in his eyes. Both women sighed as they leaned in closer to him.

“You’re a good man, Tate Umber.” Shar said as she patted his hand.

He looked at her and smiled. “What do I do?” He asked, his voice scratchy.

Lyvia reached over and patted his knee. “The only thing you can do; is show her that she’s worth more than the pond scum, her pack made her believe she is.”

He grinned at them. “I love you two.” He said, then stood and leaned over and kissed each of them on the cheek.

“Yeah, but we all know Shar is your favorite.” Lyvia said with a giggle.

He chuckled and looked at Shar. “You know it, little mama.”

Shar grinned at him. “I have one quick question before you go.” She said as she watched him.

He paused and raised an eyebrow.

Shar giggled. “You’re not a Shifter. How do you intend to get her pregnant if you can’t knot?”

Tate snorted. “I was thinking the same thing; until she tightened so tight around me, I thought she was going to squeeze my dick off.”

Both women looked at each other, then burst into laughter as they covered their ears.

“TMI!” Sharissa hollered.

He chuckled as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek again. “You asked.” He said as he stood up.

She grinned up at him. “So, I did.”

“So, I take it the Goddesses made it so a Shifter female will do the knotting if the male isn’t a Shifter?” Lyvia asked.

He looked at her with a shrug. “What can I say, the Goddesses are crazy.”

Both women giggled.

He smiled at them, then nodded. “Thank you both.” He said, then disappeared.

****

Tate appeared in his small house and listened. She wasn’t in the bathroom anymore. He walked down the hall to the only bedroom in the house. He could hear her in the room and smiled.

“Chelsea.” He said as he knocked on the door.

No response.

“Come on, I know you’re in there.”

Still no response.

“Okay, just remember that I knocked first.” He said, then disappeared and reappeared inside the room, five feet from his mate. “Hello, love.” He said with a smile when she screamed.

“How…how…”

“Did you forget what I am?” He asked as he moved closer to her.

She backed away; her eyes open wide. “Please.” She cried. “Don’t hurt me.”

Tate paused and studied his mate. Her father and his pack had done a real number on her.

“Chelsea, I would never hurt you.” He said as he reached a hand out to her.

She whimpered and he pulled his hand back with a growl, which only made her whimper even louder.

“Damn that fucker.” he growled angrily.

She blinked at him and he smiled.

“Chelsea. I’m not your father. I won’t hurt you. None of us will. You’re a part of a good pack now. A family.”

“But why would you want me?” She asked softly. “I’m just a lowly Fox.”

He sighed as he moved closer to her. “You may be a Fox Shifter, but you said so yourself, you’re a strong woman. And I happen to like your Fox.” He said with a grin.

She sniffled. “I’m nothing…” She didn’t get to finish her sentence. He was on her, kissing her hard and with so much passion, her eyes fluttered shut and she moaned as she leaned into him.

He lifted his head and smiled down at her as her eyes blinked open.

“Chelsea. You’re beautiful, inside and out. You’re mine, and I’m yours. We were created by the Goddesses. Doesn’t matter what we came down to Earth as. So many of the Fated Mates are humans, and they’re more powerful than your father, or his pack.” He said with a grin. “Besides that.” He said as he licked up her neck. “Even if we weren’t destined to be together, I would still be very…” He kissed her throat. “Very.” He kissed her cheek. “Very.” He kissed her lips. “Attracted to you.”

She blinked up at him. “Really?”

He chuckled. “I was attracted to you before I knew you were mine.” He said, then captured her lips in a deep kiss.

She sighed against him. “But I’m nothing.”

He growled. “Finish getting dressed.” He said, then let her go and left the room.

Chelsea stood in the same place, staring at where the Vampire had once been standing. A tear slid down her cheek. Why would the Goddesses choose her, to be that man’s mate? He deserves so much better than her.

****

Tate grumbled as he paced the living room. He needs to have Shar and the girls take his mate shopping. He knows she only has the clothes on her back, and nothing else. And they looked like she’s been wearing them for years…

“Tate?”

He spun around when he heard his mate’s voice. He smiled when he saw her standing there in one of his shirts and a pair of shorts he hasn’t worn in ages.

“You look good in my clothes.” Her cheeks turned the brightest pink and his smile broadened. “Tell me something, Chelsea.” He said as he moved towards her.

“What?” She asked as she eyed him.

He chuckled. “If I didn’t want you. Why would I have accepted you as my mate?” He asked as he held his wrists out for her to see them.

She blinked at his wrists then looked at her own. “I…I…”

“Exactly.” He said, then pulled her against him. “Now please stop.”

She sniffled. “It’s hard to when all your life you’re told you’re not good for anything.”

He sighed as he leaned his forehead against hers. “They were wrong to say those things to you. And if the Goddesses had a say in where all of their souls were deposited, they would have chosen a better life for you.”

“But didn’t they choose where you would go?” She asked.

He snorted. “The Kraftman brothers and I, are the only ones they had control over. Too many to keep track of.”

She snorted. “They couldn’t keep track of your soul mates?”

He shrugged. “As I have said. The Goddesses are crazy.”

She smiled a shy smile. “So, I could have been a wolf or a bear?”

He smiled as he kissed her nose. “No. I think you still would have been a Fox. But raised with your own kind.”

She sighed. “Probably would have been a better life.”

He nodded, then nipped at her bottom lip. “Come on, we need to meet up with the pack.”

“Okay.” She whispered.

He saw her look down and lifted her chin up. “What?”

She smiled the sweetest smile, and his heart skipped a beat.

“Do we have to go right this minute?” She asked as she pressed herself against him.

He grinned. “Are you sure you’re not still in heat?” He asked as he pulled her up and wrapped her legs around his hips.

She shrugged. “I like how you make me feel.”

He groaned as he turned and slammed her against the wall. “Are you sure you’re a strong woman?” He asked as he nipped at her throat.

“Ye…yes.” She said with a moan.

He grinned, then pushed his shorts down her legs as he held her against the wall. When her legs were around his waist again, he released his cock, then pushed up into her.

“Fuck.” He growled.

“Tate.” She moaned as she held onto him.

“You were made for me.” He said as he kissed down her throat, then back up again. “Just for me.”

“Yes.” She said as she tilted her head back.

“All mine.” He said with a feral growl.

She giggled, then moaned when he pushed up into her. “Mine.” She said as she grabbed his hair and held his head against her throat.

He pulled out then pushed back in again. Their bodies moved up and down the wall, as he fucked her, in and out, in and out.

She started to get dizzy, then her vision blurred as her orgasm had her crying out his name and tightening around him.

“Fuck, yes.” He said with a groan as he spilled his seed deep inside her.

They waited for the locking, but nothing happened, and he chuckled.

“Guess it stops once you’re with pup.” He said, then kissed her lips.

He watched their wrists glow and smiled. “You’re perfect.” He said, then kissed her again.

He let her slide down his body, then bent down and picked up the shorts and held them out to her.

“Perfect.” He said again, with a wide grin.

She smiled as she took the shorts from him and slipped them on.

He saw the tear slide down her cheek and licked it away, making her giggle. He grinned at her.

“That’s better.” He said, then they disappeared.