His Lucky Moon Mate (The Macconwood Pack Tales #14)

Chapter 2

H is heart was beating so rapidly Binder didn’t know what to make of it. Sure, he’d started his day like any other. He was a stickler for routine, and his Wolf had certain needs. So, each morning he began with a thick protein shake, followed by a mug of coffee, six eggs, and today as a treat, he’d added a couple of the banana nut muffins his mum had baked fresh and dropped off at his place before he’d left for work that morning.

He’d recently bought a house in Maccon City to be closer to work, which was cool, since his little sister lived there with her mate. Eira and Cannon were good together and just welcomed his gorgeous niece into the world not six months ago. Hence why his parents were in town.

With his new promotion at Macconwood Law Associates, he had little time to spend with family, just lately. And this new assignment was unlike anything he’d ever come across. Seemed an honest to gods Leprechaun had managed to flout Supernatural Law, Pack mandates, several Shifter Council guidelines. He’d infiltrated Macconwood territory, setting up the Lucky Moon Casino smack dab in the pine barrens.

The man had been warned by a friend of the Pack, an Otter Shifter named Diego Manuel. He even got the casino owner to promise to cooperate with the ensuing investigation into his license with the various Supernatural Councils, but the man, a Leprechaun named Keegan O’Doyle had so far been elusive.

Which was why Binder was standing in the doorway to the Leprechaun’s office completely awestruck by two things. One, the woman before him who smelled like daisies warmed by the summer sun and the sweet fruit jams he loved to spread across his toast. Two, her large breasts which were currently being manhandled by some soon to be dead motherfucker who smelled a lot like moldy dirt.

She pushed the male off her, thank fuck, otherwise Binder was certain he was about to do something stupid. Like kill the man for touching his— his what? He shook his head and tried to get control over his suddenly unmanageable beast. This was highly irregular behavior for him. Binder was always the epitome of self-control.

Till now.

He straightened his tie and tried again, watching the woman as she frantically searched the desk for something. Christ, he bit back his groan as she bent over in her tight blue jeans, giving him a perfect view of her peach of an ass. The other male was looking as well, till Binder snapped his jaws, then the smaller male squeaked and averted his gaze. There was something to be said for self-preservation awareness, especially in the Shifter world.

We should eat him , his Wolf snarled.

Bloody fucking hell. It was official. Binder was losing his mind.

“Miss? Or is it Missus? Are you two dating?” Binder asked, trying to refocus himself.

“The name is Shannon O’Doyle. I am single. And it’s my father you’re obviously wanting,” she snapped, and the Irish lilt in her voice made him grin.

“Good,” he growled softly, ridiculously pleased that she was single.

The smaller Shifter traded a few more words with Shannon, and Binder stayed quiet for the most part. He was trying to listen to what they were saying, but that was pretty damn hard with his Wolf snapping and snarling, urging him to get closer to the woman.

Finally, after some more growling, sudden jealousy, and listening to the two volley back and forth over what he finally understood to be a very serious problem with payroll, Binder understood a couple of things better.

One, Shannon O’Doyle was the daughter of the man he’d come to find to kick off Pack lands after O’Doyle had failed to comply with Supernatural Law.

Two, her father, Keegan O’Doyle, had skipped out on Shannon and his entire casino of Supernatural employees, failing to send their overdue pay.

Three said employees were forming a mob to come after any O’Doyle on the premises as he stood there trying to sort through the crazy dialogue between Shannon and the man, Ollie, who’d been grabbing her tits when he’d walked in. Not to mention Binder’s Wolf and senses had been going fucking crazy the second he’d scented her.

Which led him to four, Binder was pretty fucking certain Shannon O’Doyle was his mate.

Bloody. Fucking. Hell.

They both started running before he could completely wrap his head around the fact, she’d told him she’d cast some sort of Fae magic spell on the casino that was about to go off. As they were running, Shannon almost fell, and he couldn’t have that, so Binder picked her up and carried her the rest of the way, sprinting like mad.

“Thank you. Oh gods, that could have been bad!”

Once they were safely through the magical veil that surrounded the casino, Shannon exhaled and pressed her small hands against his chest, which only made Binder more determined to carry her. His Wolf was totally onboard with the whole keep the female in his arms thing he had going on. Hell, he was practically vibrating with his growl.

“Um, Mr. Sidak? You can put me down now,” Shannon said.

“I don’t think so, Butterfly.”

“Butterfly? Why’d you call me that?” she asked, eyes wide.

“I don’t know. There’s something about you that reminds me of one, I guess. You must know you’re beautiful, Shannon, slightly fragile looking with those big blue eyes and soft, pale skin. But I’d wager you are strong enough to stand against hurricanes, aren’t you?” he asked, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.

“You don’t know me, like at all. And you can’t be carrying me around like I’m some skinny little miss. I’m too heavy, put me down before you do yourself permanent damage,” she said, eyes flashing with her annoyance.

Fuck, but she was cute when she was angry.

“First, I’m a Wolf Shifter, remember? I got the whole supernaturally enhanced strength thing going for me,” he said as he continued walking until he found the trail that led to the plot of grass where he’d left his car. “Second, and listen to me very carefully when I say this Shannon O’Doyle, there is absolutely nothing wrong with how much you weigh. In fact, I rather enjoy the feel of you in my arms.”

To punctuate that statement, he pulled her closer and let her feel the growl reverberating inside him. His Wolf was typically easygoing, but there was something about this woman that had him pretty on edge. Binder narrowed his eyes, studying her expression as she absorbed his words.

“Oh,” she said finally.

“Oh?”

“I mean, um, thanks. So, where are you taking me?”

“To the Pack house, Shannon. We have some things to discuss.”

“With the Alpha? But no, I mean, I have to find my Da!”

“And I will help you do that, but first, we have to check in with the Alpha and his Wolf Guard.”

“Och. That’s bollocks that is! My Da is one of the most conniving little supes I have ever met. I need to find him before he hightails it back to the Fairy Realm.”

“The Fairy Realm?”

“Aye. It’s only open during certain lunar cycles, you know. And this last one will have the portal closed off for a hundred years or more. If he gets inside, we’re all screwed—the employees and I, I mean,” she muttered.

“Wait, so you are saying there is a Fairy Realm with magical portals that will close for a hundred years during sometime soon, and your father would actually leave you here to deal with his mess?”

“Yes, that is what I am saying,” she murmured, and he would have sworn he smelled her sadness then, and it was heavy. “I think I’d prefer to walk now, if you don’t mind.”

“It’s a moot point now, Butterfly. We’re here,” he whispered and leaned down to set her gently on her feet.

“What—”

Binder unlocked the car and held the door open for her, eyebrows raised expectantly. Shannon heaved a sigh and climbed into the seat of his luxury SUV. He was ready to give her a hand, but she managed fine without him, much to his disappointment. He circled the car, got into the driver’s seat, and started the engine before she could object.

“You’re going to turn me in, aren’t you?” she asked, pretty little hands folded on her lap.

“Turn you in for what?”

“Well, for everything, I guess. Operating the casino without the proper permissions, license, and stuff. And I assume there is some law about Fae magic,” she mumbled and shrugged her shoulder.

Fuck, she was so damn cute. He wanted to reassure her, but how would that look? He’d been sent there to do a job, Binder might as well act like it. But there was one thing he needed her to understand, and he was going to settle that right now.

“Look, I need to check in with the Alpha. It’s Pack law, understand? But I promise you, Shannon Rose,” he said, noting the way her eyes flashed when he used her middle name. “I will let no harm come to you. Okay?”

She nodded.

“Say you believe me,” he demanded.

“I don’t know why,” she replied after a brief pause, her blue eyes going even wider if that were possible, “but I believe you Balvinder Sidak.”

“Binder,”

“Bin-der,” she repeated, drawing out the syllables, then again, faster. “Binder.”

He nodded, his Wolf grunting inside him. Satisfied she called him by his preferred name, the animal settled, watching the pretty female beside him with more than a mild interest.

Binder wasn’t sure what he was going to do once they got inside and figured out where they were going. He only knew she wasn’t going to do it alone.

Not now. Maybe not ever.

Grrrr.