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

Chapter 4

“ T o summarize, you are saying Miss O’Doyle here had no knowledge of her father’s subterfuge and refusal to cooperate?” Rafe asked.

“That’s correct,” Binder replied carefully.

“You realize the danger she, or her father, has put us all in, don’t you? Having a group of Fae and other supes in our lands without going through the proper channels creates all sorts of nightmares, the least of which are not the political implications!”

“Maccon City does seem to draw more than its fair share of supes,” Seff, the Pack Beta, added.

“Don’t you know why?” Shannon asked, eyes flitting to each male in the room in turn.

“Why do you think that is, Miss O’Doyle?” Rafe asked.

“Well, first you’ve got your ley lines which normally would only attract supernatural beings of this realm. But Maccon City sits squarely over one of the few veil breaks between realms. Your ley lines line up with ley lines in dozens of universes, thereby attracting well I guess just everything,” she said with a shrug, stunning all the men present into a moment of a silence.

Binder was now an official member of the Macconwood Pack, having emigrated to the states from the UK with his family when he was a small child. But there had been a very long probationary period. Still, he was an avid reader, and autobiographical accounts and histories of the area were two of his favorite topics. Crescent Moon Books, a local bookstore half-owned by one of his boss’ mates, had an occult section just for supes that had some of the best. And yet, none of the books he read said anything about the possibility of veil breaks or ley lines.

After his sister, Eira, came to work at the local hospital as an ER doc, Binder decided he might as well make a go of living in Maccon City, too. It was a bit far from where the folks had settled in Brooklyn Heights, but close enough for their monthly dinners and holidays.

Still, even with his law degree and a prominent place with the law firm owned by two of the Alpha’s own Wolf Guards, Binder felt slightly flustered as he addressed Rafe. Maybe it was because he could hear the racing heartbeat of the sweet, soft female sitting beside him, worrying her lip with her teeth. Shannon did not trust him, or any of them. Not yet. And while he did not blame her, it was making his Wolf agitated.

“And now, her father is missing, is that right?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“Convenient that she doesn’t know where he is,” scoffed Connal, one of the Wolf Guard currently bracketing Rafe.

“Don’t speak about her like that,” Binder warned and felt his Wolf rise within him.

A small hand grabbed his, and he looked down, stunned to see her pale fingers wrapped around his darker hand. And tightly, too. Fuck. That did something inside of him. Pulled at something long dormant. An instinct. A need. Call it whatever you wanted, but Binder felt powerfully confident their hands belonged just like that.

Entwined. Together. Mine.

Shannon straightened in her seat.

“Mr. Sidak has been quite thorough in his telling you everything he knew of the situation, but I have not yet shared with him that there are places I know of my father might be hiding. Places only I can get to,” she announced, capturing the attention of every Wolf ear in the room.

“How could I allow you to simply go, Miss O’Doyle? You’ve admitted to trapping your people and your casino on my land with Fae magic, and from my understanding only the fae who cast the spell can break it—is that correct?”

“Yes, that is so. I give you my vow, Alpha?—”

“Not good enough,” Rafe said, cutting Shannon off.

The rumbling growl that followed his statement seemed to shock everyone. None more than Binder when he realized it was coming from his chest. He cleared his throat, shaking his head slightly. Then, he returned his attention to the small hand clinging so assuredly to his.

“I see,” the Alpha said, his lip curling on one side. “Balvinder, I am assigning you to be her guard during her journey to find her father. You have three days to bring him back or Miss O’Doyle will receive her father’s punishment for disobeying both me and the Shifter Council.”

“Three days?” Shannon gasped. “But time doesn’t work the same in the Fae Realm! I can’t guarantee?—”

“Three days, Miss O’Doyle. That is all the time I have for this mess your father created.”

Just like that, Binder and Shannon were summarily dismissed, and they were once again situated in his car. He hadn’t forgotten the rumble of her stomach earlier and was pulling into his favorite spot in the parking lot of the Wolf Down Diner not five minutes later. The silence between the two of them ended the second he turned into the lot. Shannon was adamant they didn’t have time for this, but Binder was actually incapable of driving away.

“Are you mad? You want to eat now?”

“We need to eat,” he said.

“I’m not hungry,” she tried, but he shot her stomach a knowing look when it rumbled again.

Like a goddamned alarm clock. The fact she was hungry bothered the fuck out of him and he felt like an utter failure for making her wait so long while they got through that whole ordeal with Rafe. What kind of male didn’t feed his mate? Disgust roiled through him and a thousand memories of his father putting his mother’s needs before his over the years filled his brain.

“Bin—”

“Wait for me,” he growled, walking around the side of the car before she could finish her protest.

“I said we shouldn’t stop now. It’ll be dark by the time we get to where we need to go?—”

“I don’t care if it’s dark when we get there, Shannon. I need to feed you.”

He took her hand and pulled her out of the care without stepping back, forcing her to rub against him as she slid down. Christ, that felt good. Her soft against his hard was the perfect foil and had his Wolf panting for more. Big blue eyes met his, and he saw her tremble slightly before she ducked her gaze and took her lower lip between her teeth.

“I’m sorry I made you angry,” she whispered.

Binder frowned. He made her upset, and he wanted to kick himself for being such a heavy-handed jerk. He cupped her check, lifting her face until she looked at him directly, rubbing his thumb against her lip until she released the bruised flesh there.

“I’m not mad, Butterfly. I just need to feed you. Will you let me?”

The air felt thick and heavy, and Binder practically fucking swooned on his feet. He bent his head, brushing her nose with his, those plump perfect lips so close. But her stomach growled again, and he stepped back, forcing himself to relax and not make things any more strained between them. Her cheeks were pink, and he couldn’t help himself as he tugged on her hand, he beamed, and it was all for her.

“Is that my big brother with a grin on his face?” Eira chuckled from her seat at the counter while her big hulking mate and husband stood on the other side, his chef’s hat sitting jauntily on his head.

“Wassup, sis?” I asked, bending to kiss her cheek as I pulled Shannon close to my side. “This is Shannon. Shannon, my kid sister, Eira.”

“That’s Dr. Sidak to you, buddy,” she said, one eyebrow raised.

“I think you mean Dr. Sidak-Bartolf,” her mate growled in reply.

“Oops!” Eira snorted a laugh. “I am so sorry, my love, it’s still new.”

The pair made goo-goo eyes at each other, and normally Binder was the first to say something derogatory. But not now. Not since he was looking at Shannon with his whole damn Wolf, if not his heart, in his eyes as she perused the menu.

“Can we get a little service, please?” he asked, clearing his throat.

Was it warm in there?

Binder tugged on his collar and frowned. He wasn’t even wearing a coat, and it was cold enough to snow outside, so logically, he knew it was not hot. But inside, he was burning up with a fever that had nothing to do with the weather and everything to do with the sweet-smelling female sitting beside him. He rubbed his thigh against her as he sat down.

“It’s like that, is it? Well, then, sure Binder. I will take your order right now. What can I get you two lovebirds?” Cannon asked.

A smirk teased the corner of the younger Wolf’s mouth, and it made Binder want to punch his brother-in-law right in his stupid face. Yeah. He knew he was being a moron. He just couldn’t help it. Shannon squirmed, and he frowned, growling at Cannon for making his, er , shit what did he call her? Was it too soon to say mate?

His Wolf disagreed, but his lawyer brain refused to indulge in even thinking the word until they discussed it. Anyway, he growled at Cannon for making her uncomfortable.

“Is your falafel good?” she asked.

“Best in town,” Cannon said.

“I’ll have the falafel platter with hummus and a small Greek salad,” she said and smiled, before turning to Binder with a look on her face that said he was a maniac.

“Ha! She’s got your number, brother,” Eira teased, then smacked his arm. “Seriously though, that table in the corner is normals. Quit it with the growling.”

Binder shook his head, cutting off the sound. Fuck. He needed to pay better attention to his surroundings.

“For you?” Cannon asked.

“I’m not that hungry,” Binder replied.

“Oh, um, you should eat now,” Shannon said, speaking lowly to him. “You must not eat a thing in Fairy, er, the Fae Realm, I mean. It’s not allowed. Well, I mean, chances are you’d die from poison, but likely you’d just be trapped there.”

“Die?” Eira asked.

“Trapped?” Cannon parroted.

“Okay,” Binder said, not doubting her for a second. “My appetite isn’t too big, Cannon. So, I’ll just take a burger. Double. With bacon. Extra crispy. Mushrooms, onions, Swiss cheese, and fries. An order of buffalo wings. The buffalo cauli-bites. Oh, and onion rings. Don’t forget the coleslaw and pickle!” Binder called out after Cannon as he made his way to the cooking station.

The younger Wolf flashed him a thumbs up and Binder patted the counter. He felt Shannon’s eyes on him and turned to see her gaping.

“What?”

“Oh, um, nothing.”

“Seriously, what?” he asked, more than a tad bit curious.

The diner was busy for being a weird time in the afternoon, but Binder tuned out everyone there—even his sister, who was undoubtedly listening to them. Damn Wolf Shifter hearing. But really, he did not mind. Captivated as he was by the beautiful creature sitting next to him, Binder honestly did not give two figs for anyone else at that moment. Especially not once he saw her cheeks turn rosy just for him.

“Well,” she began, shrugging her shoulder and looking too fucking adorable. “If that’s you ordering when you’re not that hungry, I’d hate to see you when you are, boyo,” she teased.

“Ha! Try growing up with five of these behemoths, it’s a bloody miracle I ever got a meal!” Eira cackled right in his ear, and Binder went cross-eyed at the sound.

“I don’t recall you starving, sis,” he growled, cupping his hands over his ears before giving his sister a playful shove.

“Did you say you have five brothers? Wow! Are they all like this one?” Shannon asked.

“Worse. Binder’s actually not that bad. Mom and Dad had five boys and one girl. My parents were just trying to get to me, is all,” Eira said.

“Yeah, right. She was an oops baby ,” Binder said and rolled his eyes.

“That’s it, I’m telling, Mom!”

“Don’t you dare, Eira, or I’ll tell Mom what really happened to her grandmother’s vase,” he replied, eyes squinted at her.

“Dirty rat.” Eira sniffed.

“You two are devils to each other!” Shannon gasped, but her dimples indicated she was fighting a losing battle with another giggle fit.

“We are certainly spirited. But I won’t lie to you, Shannon. Truth is my mother and father nearly lost it after they had this brat here,” Binder play growled and tickled Eira.

After some squealing and laughter, his sister got away, leaving him with Shannon. Alone.

Finally.

“Bollocks! I can see you love each other, and I imagine your Mum and Da are the same, doting on you all. No wonder he’s like this,” Shannon said conspiratorially to Eira.

“Order up,” Cannon said, interrupting them to place some of his mammoth sized order down on the counter.

“Ooh! That smells divine,” Shannon murmured, picking up her fork.

“This is the thanks I get for rescuing and feeding you, I suppose? You and my sister ganging up on me,” Binder said, shaking his head.

“Oh yeah, you’re really suffering now, aren’t ya?” Shannon said, pursing her lips in a way that made him want to just grab her and kiss her.

“Here, try this.”

“Oh, I don’t eat meat,” she replied regretfully.

“I guessed as much. It’s cauliflower,” Binder said and watched her eyes widen in surprise.

She moved to take the piece of food from his fork with her fingers, but he pulled back, eyebrow raised. Sighing loudly, she leaned forward and opened her mouth. Fuck. He should have let her grab it with her hands. His cock hardened painfully at the sight of those plump lips opening wide as he fed her a bite of cauliflower. Binder bit back his groan, but his brain would not stop working. He could already picture what her mouth would look like, opening wide for him as he fed her his steel-hard dick.

“It’s good,” she said, then choked and reached for her glass of water. “Spicy.”

“Yes, a bit. So, what’s it like in your family?”

Binder had all his attention on Shannon now, as he spooned food onto her plate. From her order, he’d guessed she was a vegetarian and had no problem giving her the non-meaty portions of his meal.

She was biting her lower lip again and giggling sweetly at something he’d just said. Wasn’t that fucking amazing? That Binder had the power to make this sweet creature laugh. had to admit he liked her playful. Sure, they had a lot to discuss about where they were going and what her strategy was for finding her father, but right then, he was just going to enjoy the contentment that came from eating beside a beautiful woman.

“Dessert?”

“After the half a cow you just ate and the seventeen side dishes, you’ve room for dessert? Good thing you weren’t hungry, eh?” she joked.

Christ. The woman was a knockout, looking up at him with her sparkling baby blues. Her eyes were the most gorgeous color, with streaks of navy running through them. Binder was completely besotted. He tucked his finger beneath her chin and lifted her face, saying one thing before dropping a fast peck on those lips that had been driving him crazy all damn day.

“Just stick around, Shannon Rose, and I’ll show you hungry.”