Her Werewolf Lover: Michael and Samantha (The Macconwood Pack Tales #15)

Chapter 14

“ I don’t know why I have to go with you. Really, Dad! I’m practically a grown up! Can’t I stay home alone?” Maya asked her father for the hundredth time since he’d picked her up from a friend’s house that morning.

“Maya, you’re twelve years old and that, in my book, is nowhere near practically grown. Besides, I thought you would be excited to meet Samantha,” he said.

He’d already explained her importance to his daughter, and Maya had been reticent to say the least.

“Yeah, totally,” she replied and nibbled on her full bottom lip in that cute little way she’d done ever since she was a baby .

“Maya, spill it,” he said, knowing his kiddo was feeling something big right now.

They had a good relationship, and since she’d had her first Shift earlier that year, Maya understood about Wolves and instincts. He and Aunt Eileen had both talked to her about what it meant to find his fated mate.

But he could not help his daughter understand if she didn’t tell him what was wrong.

“Will she mind me coming along? I mean she is this famous model, and I’ll like be in her house, in her way. I mean, Dad, what if she doesn’t like me at all? You’re her fated mate. What if she sends me away?”

“Maya, hey,” he said, trying his best to reassure her. “Samantha is a good person. She likes kids, too. You’ll see. She has this new neighbor with two kids, and they are always coming over. You just have to give her a chance to get to know you.”

“Really, Dad? Are you sure?”

“Yes. Either way, kiddo, I promise you, no matter what, no one is ever going to send you away from me.”

“I guess I already knew that,” she said and looked a little sheepish.

Michael grinned at her. She was growing so quickly, but he understood her hesitancy. It could be difficult for children to know where they fit in when one of their parents found a significant other.

It would be okay. He was sure of Samantha and her innate goodness. Maya just needed to meet her. He grabbed the tray of over-priced smoothies from the drive thru window his daughter had insisted on picking up.

Eight dollars for a smoothie , he mused with an eye roll. But everyone at the sleepover had been raving about them, and Maya was no different in wanting to try them so she could add something to the discussion at school on Monday.

He’d swear on a stack of bibles that pre-teen girls were from another planet. But hey, at least she was talking to him. That in and of itself was worth every dollar he’d spent on the overpriced beverages.

He pulled into the long driveway that led up to Samantha’s house. The dumpster had been taken away already, and though the outside hadn’t really been touched, it was all neat and clean.

It looked better to him because he knew she was inside.

His mate.

Michael was completely besotted with the woman. They had a lot to discuss, such as the fact he’d bitten her last night, staking his claim as man and Wolf.

In the Shifter world, that was akin to marriage, only Samantha did not know that. Hell, she didn’t even know what he was yet.

Shit.

“Come on, Dad. Why are you so weird?” Maya asked, shaking her head and grabbing the tray of smoothies from him since he’d turned into a block of ice outside of his truck.

Samantha meant so much to him. She was smart, funny, and kind. Her outward beauty was just a plus.

Della and her children were just coming outside to enjoy the morning no doubt, and he nodded at the woman, who greeted him back in the same manner. He still did not know what she was, but he’d alerted his Alpha and that was all he could do for now.

“Dad? Is that smoke?” Maya’s question shook him from his reverie, and he ran up the stairs.

“Shit,” Michael cursed. “Maya, stay here while I check this out. Do not come in!”

“Okay Daddy,” Maya answered.

Her large brown eyes went wide as she noted the tone of his voice. Michael rarely raised his voice, but this situation warranted it.

A cloud of black smoke was pouring through the kitchen windows, and he could hear the new smart smoke alarm system he’d had installed blazing before he opened the door, punching in the code on the keyless entry system.

He raced forward, his Wolf snarling. This was dangerous. Smoke meant fire and he could barely think as it was, knowing Samantha was in there.

“Sam? Samantha!”

He ran to the kitchen and stopped short at the sight that greeted his eyes.

“I’m in here! Oh, it’s alright. I’m okay! Damn it!” Samantha called back to him while waving a large Chinese fan at the charred contents of a soup pot on the stove.

Of course, it was pretty hard to decipher what she’d been trying to cook. He took the pot off the stove and placed it in the sink, pouring cold water over the twisted, burned concoction.

It smelled sort of like meat, but the charring left its origins indiscernible.

Far as he knew, Samantha wasn’t the least bit domestic. But this endeavor only endeared her to him even more.

“It’s ruined. I am so sorry,” she moaned, and he couldn't help it. He gathered her in his arms and rocked her gently .

“Sorry for what? I’m so glad you’re safe. Are you sure you aren’t hurt?”

“Only my pride, I promise. I was, well, I was trying to impress you by cooking a stew for dinner. You know, a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, or so they say. Anyway, the directions said to brown the meat first, so I walked away for a minute to check my email. But apparently, I was gone too long. Shit. I suck at this,” she groaned, and he chuckled and hugged her tighter.

“You don’t have to cook to find your way to my heart, Sunshine,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

“I don’t?”

“Nope. You just have to be you. Come on, I want you to meet Maya,” he told her.

“What? You brought her here now? She’s gonna think I’m an idiot,” she mumbled, and he laughed again, squeezing her hand.

“She’s gonna love you,” he said, stopping right before he added like I do .

Just acknowledging that to himself had serious repercussions. Michael paused, pulling her towards him.

Heat pulsed between them, and it had nothing to do with the lingering smoke in the air. Michael tugged on her robe until their bodies were pressed together. He could feel her heart pounding through their combined layers of clothing.

Or maybe that was his heart?

Either way, the result was the same. Primal lust shot through him.

“What?” she asked, tilting her head back as he caressed her throat and neck with his free hand.

“I’m crazy about you, Sunshine,” he whispered, and claimed her mouth

He felt her smile before he raised his head and saw it. Thank goodness he was standing still, because that look on her face would’ve sent him to his knees had he been walking.

Christ, she was beautiful. Her burnished red locks curled around her shoulders, and he itched to run his hands through them.

But not now.

Now, Michael had introductions to make. Afterwards, he needed some alone time with his mate to explain what last night really meant to them.

He was determined to chase away those ugly doubts she still had. Had to make sure she understood she was never getting away from him.

His fingers gripped hers as he guided her to the door. Thank goodness for the ventilation system he’d installed. The smoke had already cleared, and the lemon verbena air freshener Samantha had chosen was already getting rid of the stink.

Fear flashed through him at the thought of how badly that could have gone, and he stopped again and pulled her against him, hugging her tight.

“Shit, you could have been hurt,” he repeated.

“Michael, I’m fine,” she told him softly.

“Dad?” a small, uncertain voice sounded from the now open front door, startling both adults into jumping apart.

“Yeah, Honey. I’m in here. It’s safe to come in. Just a little cooking incident,” Michael said and smiled with that last word as he stepped back from Samantha.

“Wow, Dad, this is some place! What were you cooking, Sam? It smells like burned beef! I’m Maya,” said Michael’s daughter.

He watched approvingly as she held out her small hand for a firm, no nonsense handshake.

“Hi Maya,” she said and looked from Michael to Maya and back again, a small grin on her face. “Yeah, I had a little accident while trying to cook. It’s very nice to meet you, Maya. Your father speaks very highly of you. Please call me, Sam.”

“Really? Okay, then, Sam! And I get it. Dad used to burn stuff all the time before Aunt Eileen came and showed him how to use the oven,” she explained.

The little traitor.

“I didn’t burn that much stuff,” he muttered.

“Yeah, right, Dad.”

“Alright you. Get settled at the counter there with your homework please while I talk to Sam,” Michael said.

“Yes, Dad. But do I have to do that now? I want to explore the new WolfMoon avatars. And maybe later I can ask Samantha some questions?”

“Maya, you play that game all the time,” he replied.

“I know, but I told you I want to work for Graves Enterprises someday! I need to constantly keep up to date with all the upgrades in the software,” she explained.

“Didn’t I read Graves Enterprises is located right here in Maccon City?” Sam asked, following the conversation.

“Yes! Randall Graves is awesome, he’s part of the Pac?—”

“Pack of entrepreneurs that makes Maccon City so great. Maya, do your homework first. Now,” Michael said through gritted teeth.

“Okay. Oh, Sam, here is a smoothie for you. And maybe we can order dinner later,” Maya said, ignoring the adults as she sat at the counter and grabbed her backpack.

Michael tried to hide his grin as he turned away. She was so very like him. Nervous about what Samantha thought, he followed her into the hallway by the staircase.

He’d never kept his child’s existence from the sexy redhead. He always spoke fondly of his daughter, but he’d never asked Sam if she wanted kids.

Like all fated mates, his feelings for her had developed before he’d gotten a handle on all her likes and dislikes. Surely, the Fates would not have paired them if she didn’t.

He’d just have to find out.