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

Chapter 6

C lara Lowell, co-owner of Crescent Moon Books, mated to one of the Lowell brothers whose law offices Binder worked for was very accommodating, granting them the use of the store after hours. He loved getting lost in their acclaimed occult section, but trying to do anything other than watch Shannon was damn near impossible.

Not even his beloved books could get his mind off the sweet, curvy female. She was astute and witty. Her knowledge of the Fae Realm was much more detailed than the broad education he’d received from his English Mum and Werewolf Dad. She was able to fill in the gaps, and when he’d explained about which laws her father had knowingly broken, she understood.

It broke his fucking heart how understanding she was. Shannon might not be his yet, but he felt indignant on her behalf. How could her father just leave her to deal with his mess?

“So, in total, my father violated several known Supernatural Laws upheld in this region by not only the Shifter Council, but the Guardians of Chaos, and the Enforcers?” she asked, blinking her beautiful blue eyes up at him before sinking down into a cushioned chair.

“Feck’s sake. He’s such a bastard,” she muttered.

“It’s probably not right, but I agree with you. He is a bastard leaving his daughter to clean up his mess,” Binder growled. He was expecting her to yell at him, but when she squeezed his hand instead, he felt surprised.

“Thanks, I appreciate that, Binder. It’s been a long time since someone had my back.”

“Well, you know why, Shannon,” he murmured, rubbing his thumb along the soft skin across the top of her hand.

Tension sizzled between them, and he watched as she worried that lower lip of hers. Without intending to, he leaned forward, kissing her mouth and groaning at the sweetness he found there. He’d intended to simply make her stop biting herself, but instead he wound up sucking the plump flesh between his lips and getting drunk on the taste and feel of her.

“Mmm,” she moaned. “I know you think you have feelings for me?—”

“I know it's fast, but you’re Fae. You understand the Fates and likely a lot better than I do. Listen to the truth in my voice though, Shannon. From the moment I saw you, everything became clearer. I’ve got a big family, lots of siblings, lots of noise growing up, and with my job, things are always loud and complicated. But for once,” he said, cupping her cheek.

“Everything is crystal clear. You’re the one Shannon. I’ll keep telling you that until you believe me.”

He bent to kiss her again, unable to resist. Only the timer he’d set on his cell phone went off. It was three AM and time to go. Shannon stepped back, ducking her face down. He frowned, but let her get away with it. For now.

You can’t hide from me forever, Butterfly.

The ride back to the portal was quick. He had the sort of steel trap mind that meant if he drove somewhere once, he could find it again. Easy peasy. Binder stepped through the portal, hand wrapped around Shannon’s much smaller one, ready to throw himself in front of any dangers that might appear.

The passage through the veil between realms was like walking through a pool full of gelatin and static cling. The very air was thick and sizzled with electricity. One pinky out of place, and you got shocked, as he learned fast enough. But he hadn’t expected to feel so winded upon entry into a different world.

Foolish.

They both panted like Olympians, trying to catch their breath as they stepped cautiously behind some tall purple trees covered with low hanging yellow-skinned fruit. Shannon had already warned him about the food thing, which any supe worth his salt knew to avoid eating in other realms. Especially Wolves with English mothers who loved telling them all the old fairytales. The real ones with bits of blood and gore the widely published varieties had left out of their retellings.

“That was easier than I expected,” he growled softly.

“Hush,” Shannon whispered, holding one hand up. “It’s already twilight, and we mustn’t dally at crossroads.”

Binder took a moment to look around. Really, it looked a lot like the forest they’d just been in, only where there’d been snow and little signs of the life sprouting beneath the bare branches and still frozen ground back in New Jersey, the forest in Fairy seemed to be in a state of constant bloom. He rather liked the way Shannon switched from calling it the Fae Realm to Fairy and back again, as she liked.

Her face was scrunched up as if she were trying to focus on something in the distance as the darkness softly fell around them, encompassing everything in an ethereal dark purple light. Binder sucked in a breath, wondering how she could possibly be more beautiful than she appeared a moment ago.

He was trying not to be a creeper, but he could not stop staring at her. The second they’d stepped through the portal, it was like whatever reservations he’d kept on his feelings had been stripped away. Her scent seemed stronger here, keener to his supernaturally enhanced senses, and it was like a punch to his solar plexus.

“This way,” Shannon whispered, still tugging him along by the hand. “We’ve a safe house set up close to the portal for when we’re needing to hideout.”

“Are you often needing to hideout?” he asked, concern for her safety growing.

Werewolves were notoriously protective of their mates, and claimed or not, Binder was more certain than ever. This little beauty was his. He just had to convince her of that.

“Sometimes. I mean, over the years we’ve had more than our share of hijinks and shenanigans. Da made promises to me this last time. Said he changed. More fool me for believing him. Come this way,” she said, and turned suddenly into a grove.

Shannon released his hand and tugged so he would let go as well. He frowned, reluctant but giving in at the last second. She shook her head, sending waves of her dark locks rippling across her shoulders. Still wearing his sweater, Binder liked the way the gray seemed to complement her black tresses and brilliant blue eyes.

“I need my hand to unlock the entryway,” she explained, and the fact she even bothered soothed his beast.

After a few minutes of her touching the tops of a small ring of toadstools in a manner that reminded him of a passcode on one of those digital doorknobs everyone was using these days, the air around them began to shimmer. A few pops later and a cabin seemed to appear out of nowhere.

“Hurry, night is falling,” she whispered, her gaze darting around behind him as she pulled him inside with her.

Binder quickly stepped in front of her, arms wide as he looked cautiously around the tiny space. There was a card table with two chairs, and one bed along with a fireplace, a small kitchenette with a small stove and sink with running water, and a bathroom just off to the left. Not much space for anyone to hide, not even a Leprechaun sized person.

“He’s not here,” she said, frowning as she checked every corner. “Blasted, I really thought this was going to be easy.”

“Well, let’s approach the problem logically. Why did you suspect he would come here first, Shannon?”

“Because Da has a getaway bag—that’s it! You’re a genius,” she said, grinning up at Binder.

“Thanks. I’ll be sure to remind you of that later,” he teased. “Now, tell me what we’re looking for.”

“No need. Only an O’Doyle can find it. Hang on a sec,” she muttered and sat crisscrossed in front of the fireplace.

Binder joined her on his knees in case he needed to move fast. He watched her face, the expressions moving across it as she whispered words in a foreign tongue. Some kind of fairyspeak he assumed, fascinated by the way she started to sparkle and glow as she used her magic.

“Um, oh,” Shannon said, blinking up at him.

Binder felt embarrassment coming off her in waves and couldn’t fathom why she would feel like that. He frowned, wanting to reassure her. After all, he was the stranger there, the interloper, besides, nothing she did could be anything but amazing in his eyes.

“What’s wrong, Butterfly?”

Her unease was making his Wolf anxious. The beast was eager to soothe her frazzled nerves and bring her comfort. It wasn’t a surprise to him. It was more like biology, or super biology, he supposed. Shifters were hard wired to want to care for their mates. At least, the good ones were. And that was not conceit.

Striving to be a good man was a huge part of his life’s goal. Binder might not have expected to meet his mate, but he had. And now all he wanted, besides claiming her, was to make her happy, keep her safe and protected.

“It’s just, I might, well—” Shannon paused and took a deep breath. “Okay, I just wanted to warn you that my true form may come out during this part. When I access my Fae magic here, that is likely to happen.”

“That’s okay, Butterfly, I mean, are you afraid I would judge you? I turn into a freaking giant brown Wolf at will. Believe me, I am not judging anybody,” he whispered.

“It’s just, I didn’t want you to be startled,” she murmured, and he watched her cheeks turning pink before she closed her eyes again.

His heart thudded in his chest and his Wolf sat up, paying even more attention to the alluring female. Her true form? Binder could only wonder what that could be. She seemed worried, like he might be put off. As if that were possible when he was already so keen to make her his.

Brave, beautiful, sweet mate. Mine.

“Thank you for the warning, but just so you know, I already think you’re perfect.”

She frowned harder, closing her eyes to continue her work. Binder licked his lips, tasting magic on the air. This was his first time visiting another realm, and the changes weren’t what he’d thought. It was strange how much everything seemed the same. Only the most subtle differences made him aware of his foreign surroundings.

No wonder normals used to tell stories of accounts of unwittingly falling into Fairy. It was likely too easy back then to come across a ring of toadstools or walk through a veil or portal with no knowledge that you were someplace else , somewhere other .

But Binder was a Shifter. With his supernaturally enhanced senses, he could pick up on those things that were so very alien in this plane of existence. Such as the way it sounded. Most people never noticed the fact that the very land you lived on had a voice. It made noise, a hum, a ringing, a tone that only those attuned could pick up on. Where Earth’s tone was warm and deep, Fairy was high-pitched and elevated. Like a falsetto. The Fae Realm had been whispering to him in that falsetto voice since they’d stepped through the veil.

There was more, of course. Like the coloring, the lights, the scents. But most of all, there was the difference in Shannon. He watched her work her magic with awe. But it was the shift from confidence to wariness that washed over her which caused his Wolf’s hackles to rise. He did not like it. Not one bit. Shannon should always feel comfortable, safe, and protected.

“Holy fuck,” he whispered as she began to shake and blink in and out of existence.

One moment there, one moment gone. Her form

shimmered and blurred, moving so quickly with the vibrations of her spell that even his Wolf eyes had trouble keeping up. Law school had not prepared Binder for this! Then a brilliant blue light filled the room, and Shannon’s body became crystal clear.

And. She. Was. Beautiful.

Thin, long antennae-like growths sprouted from the top of her head. Her skin glowed pale and bright, her hair length more than doubled, spilling down to the floor. Her clothes fell from her body as large, iridescent wings, like butterfly wings , in a dozen shades of blue sprouted from her back. Nude, but covered by her dark hair, Shannon finally opened her eyes, and fuck, they were glowing too.

She did not look at him, rising to her knees, she leaned forward and plucked something from the fireplace. A large cauldron, or so it appeared to be. Her hair strategically fell, hiding her most secret places from Binder’s wandering eyes, and yes, they wandered.

“It’s still here,” she said. “He didn’t get it.”

When he still did not answer, Shannon’s eyes snapped to his, and he barely had the sense left to reply. Caught in her gaze, he felt his chest rumble with the strength of his growl.

“Binder? What is it?”

“You’re so beautiful. Is that why you were surprised I called you Butterfly? Because of your wings?” he asked, whispering reverently, eyes roaming over her like hands.

“Y-yes,” she answered.

He listened to her heart beating erratically from his position just inches away. He grinned at her. Joy filling him in this moment of sharing and secret telling. He wanted to listen to all her secrets, and to tell her everything about him. Imagine that? Having someone know you right down to the marrow? Someone who would always be there for you no matter what?

Like his parents had with each other. Like his sister Eira had found with Cannon. Like his bosses, the Lowell brothers, and their mates. Like Rafe and Charley.

Shannon was that for him, and he was that for her. Or they could be. They just had to trust in each other, and in the Fates to know what they were doing. If attraction alone was anything to go by, well, then he knew she was it. Binder never felt like this about anyone else.

Usually he was a let’s go to dinner and if it feels right, maybe we can go to your place and fuck kind of guy. He was not a will you come home with me Wolf. He didn’t play house or date. And he didn’t want that with Shannon either.

He did not want to play. He wanted the real thing. He wanted her. With him. Always.

“Guess it really is fate, huh? My Butterfly. So fucking pretty.”

“I’m called the Mariposa , the Butterfly Fairy. A rare breed. Endangered, actually. You see, in the Fae Realm all are fair game. Fairies hunt other creatures, one another, all to gain position and power in society. It’s why I spend so little time here. There are some who would want a Mariposa in their court to curry favor with other kingdoms,” she whispered, and his heart squeezed.

“I won’t let anyone harm you, Butterfly. I swear on my life.”

Fuck. He wished he could touch her. Wished he hadn’t made that stupid, rash promise. Even then, his cock thudded inside his pants, desperate to be unleashed. His Wolf snarled, the mention of her being hunted was almost driving his beast wild. He couldn’t bear the possibility of any harm coming to her.

Mine.

She nodded. Nodded as if she believed him, and fuck, but that was a balm to his soul. He breathed in deep, loving the way her scent always changed and yet always remained the same. To him. Shannon smelled of everything he loved. All his favorites. Freshly mowed grass, sweet carrot pudding with raisins, cool rosewater, and daisies warmed by the sun. She smelled like fresh bread on cold winter days. Vanilla ice cream on hot summer nights. And that sweet honey cream he liked to add to his tea.

She smelled good. Better than that. She smelled delicious. And he was starving for her. The need to taste her, to consume her, to lick every last drop of her arousal from between her thick thighs was damn near driving him insane. Binder felt wild with lust. He wondered briefly if it was Fairy, but he didn’t think so.

Binder was pretty sure he’d feel like this anywhere. Especially with her so close, and in her true form, looking so damn luscious. A temptingly sweet morsel, and his Wolfish hunger was growing by the second. Fuck, he did not think he was strong enough to deny it.

Shit. He rolled his shoulders and firmed up his resolve. Binder had made a promise, and he would keep it. Even if it fucking killed him.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“If I told you, Butterfly, I might frighten you,” he growled.

“I-if what you said before was true, that your Wolf thinks I’m your mate, then I ask you to tell me. I want no lies between us, Binder. Fairy has ways of playing tricks on you and if you tell me, I can help clarify them,” she said.

Her crystalline gaze was like staring into a star sapphire. It gutted him, her beauty, and the tumultuous emotions he saw in her eyes. Did she really think she was not worthy of such attention on her own? She thought only the Fae Realm could be responsible for his desire. He scoffed. That was a load of bullshit if ever he heard one. And as a lawyer, Binder had heard plenty.

“No tricks, Butterfly. No lies,” he said, leaning down to brush his nose alongside hers.

Shannon was so close. So beautiful. All that soft skin on display. So pale and pink. So tempting. He was practically drooling from the desire he felt spiking through his blood. Binder’s dick throbbed, twitching behind his pants, growing longer and harder by the second.

Shit. He moved back like she scalded him, needing the space to get control of his cock and his Wolf. Discreetly, he reached between his legs and pushed his dick down, not wanting her to see the fucking tent he was making in the material.

That was the last thing he wanted. To make her feel any undue pressure. Binder had made a promise not to touch her till she asked, and he always kept his promises. Even if at that moment he wished he didn’t.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.

“So, what’s in the pot?” he asked, sitting on his heels, pissing off his Wolf, and from the look on her face, he’d pissed off her, too.

Good job, asshole. You just alienated our mate. Grrr.