Astrid Cielo Read online

  The tantalizing mix of jasmine and forest made his mouth water, but he'd never smelled it quite from the source, having never met Aspen in person before. He was totally unprepared for the immediate connection he felt with her when her particular scent reached him in the passenger seat of Sky's Tahoe. The subtle scent of her sadness only enraged him and his wolf to the point he didn't know who he was anymore. Before he could piece together his intentions, he'd ripped Aspen from the unknown male's arms and punched him in the face. His wolf howled in satisfaction, even as his human side gloried in the satisfying crunch of a broken nose he'd dealt. No one touched his mate.

  "Xavier!"

  Someone tackled him, taking him to the ground. His first instinct was to growl, but familiar lips claimed his, familiar but rough hands pinned his arms above his head and soothed his beast in the way that only Skylar knew how. Xavier's wolf whined with need--not only of Sky, but of the tantalizing cat whose scent still teased his nostrils.

  "What the hell is going on here?"

  Skylar relinquished his lips, but the firm grip on his arms, and the firm way Sky's hips held him to the ground mixed with the stern look in Sky's eyes had Xavier nodding, agreeing to an unasked question. Xavier went loose and pliant underneath his mate.

  Xavier looked up at the bare-chested male with brown hair and golden-brown eyes who stood in the middle of what Xavier could only describe as chaos. Xavier looked to the porch and found Aspen, her face pale and tears tracking down her cheeks. She'd curled herself into a ball, and even from this distance, he could see the terror in her grey eyes. Xavier knocked Skylar to the side with ease and would've made it to his mate had three men not tackled him.

  "Calm the fuck down, Xavier!"

  "Get your friend under control or I will take care of this!" The bare-chested male stated.

  Xavier continued his struggle, his only goal to hold his Aspen who so obviously needed him. The scent of her pain and sadness were torture to both him and his wolf, and his wolf howled in protest.

  "What's going on?"

  A petite brunette sat on her knees, pulling Aspen's head into her lap, soothing Xavier somewhat, especially when Aspen clung to the unknown female. Xavier stopped struggling, and worked at getting his wolf back under control. He ignored those around him, listening to the petite brunette speak to his Aspen.

  "Aspen, sweetie, what's wrong?"

  "I...my stomach hurts-"

  "Oh my god! Caleb we've got to get her to the hospital now! Andrew!"

  Xavier found his voice, his wolf struggling against him to reassert control.

  "What is wrong with my mate?"

  Xavier felt Skylar release him to move toward Aspen and the bare-chested male intercepted him, taking him to the ground. Xavier's wolf howled and his control snapped. There was no way anyone could watch two mates in trouble.

  "I don't see how anything gets done with you men! Stop this instant! Aspen needs help now!"

  Xavier's wolf whined, but relinquished his control over Xavier as the petite brunette's words reached his brain. She was right. They needed to stop fighting and focus on Aspen. He swallowed a growl when the male known as Andrew stepped onto the porch and bent to look at Aspen.

  "Andrew! You're bleeding!"

  "It's alright, Sis. Just a broken nose, I'll be okay. Now, Aspen, tell me where do you hurt?"

  "In my stomach."

  "I'm going to need you to point to it, okay. Great. Now, we're going to load up and go to the emergency room. I'm sure it's nothing since I didn't see you receive a blow, but better safe than sorry with your condition. I'll call Dr. Sanchez on the way in. Okay."

  Xavier breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Aspen's face regain some color. He stepped cautiously towards her and when she would've gotten up by herself, Xavier stopped her.

  "Let me carry you."

  Aspen's pupils dilated as she took in his scent and he knew the moment she knew.

  "Mine."

  "Yes, sweetheart, let me carry you."

  Aspen bit her lip as she looked toward the petite brunette.

  "It's up to you, sweetie."

  Aspen took a deep breath and her grey eyes returned to his. He'd never believed in love at first sight, even with Skylar he'd fallen in love weeks into an intense courtship, but with Aspen something inside him shifted into place, something he'd not realized he'd been missing. He was undeniably in love with this woman.

  Chapter 4

  Xavier slipped into the backseat of Sky's Tahoe and tightened his hold on Aspen when she made to scramble off his lap. Aspen's eyes widened, but she stilled.

  "Don't worry, Aspen. I won't hurt you."

  "Who are you?"

  "Xavier. I'm Skylar's mate."

  Aspen's eyes widened."I...I-"

  Xavier cupped Aspen's cheek and rubbed his thumb over her smooth skin.

  "It's okay, Aspen, because you are my mate, too."

  She bit her lip and he longed to kiss her. Smooth pale skin, a heart-shaped face with black hair tumbling around her shoulders, and beautiful grey eyes completed a beauty that Skylar didn't possess. Xavier thought Sky was damn sexy, his tawny blond hair usually in disarray all over his head, green eyes and a hard body he could lick all day. But Aspen's beauty was different, feminine where he and Skylar were definitely male.

  Xavier settled his hands on the curve of Aspen's waist and schooled his smile when she gasped. Her body went rigid, but slowly relaxed against him. The buzz of conversation reached his ears and Xavier listened as Skylar spoke, his body tensing at Sky's obvious defense of him.

  "He's not going to hurt her, that man is her mate and would kill to protect her."

  "He won't hurt her? That's why we're going to the hospital now, because he yanked and threw her.”

  Xavier turned to look out the window and see the male that had once held Aspen poke Skylar in the chest.

  "I caught her," Skylar growled.

  The petite brunette placed herself in between the two, the once bare-chested male hissing as her body came into contact with Skylar's. Aspen's hands grabbed his and Xavier wound their fingers together.

  "Shhh, he can take care of himself," he whispered into Aspen's ear.

  The petite brunette pushed the two males apart.

  "I swear this is worse than when my kids get into an argument. We'll blame each other at the hospital. Now some one get in that truck and drive, Caleb will take the passenger seat and me and Andrew will hop in the back with Aspen and..."

  "Xavier," Skylar said.

  "Right, thank you..."

  "Skylar."

  "Ah, now let's go!"

  The door opened and the rest of Aspen's tenseness drained, leaving her relaxed against his body. He looked up praying it wasn't the male who'd held her--Andrew--and relieved to see that it was the petite brunette.

  "Hi, Xavier, I'm Miranda."

  "Nice to meet you."

  Xavier looked over to the other side of the Tahoe when the door opened and growled. The sound of the slap reached his ears before a slight pain welled on his shoulder. His anger forgotten he looked back over at Miranda.

  "That's enough of that, Xavier. Get in the truck, Andrew. You two will play nice, do you understand?"

  Xavier found himself nodding before he knew what he was doing. Aspen's laugh pulled him from his confusion. He loved that sound and knew he'd spend his whole life just to hear her laugh again. She dipped her head when Xavier looked back at her. He placed his fingers under her chin and brought her face up to his.

  "She's an elementary school teacher."

  Xavier nodded and dipped his head placing a small kiss on Aspen's lips. Her face turned a beautiful shade of red. She rested her head on Xavier's shoulder and he sighed. Maybe this was what he and Skylar had been missing. Why their relationship had seemed strained lately. Of course the past three months had been trying, but even before that it'd not been entirely blissful.

  There was nothing to do now but wait and see.

  ***


  "The baby is fine, Aspen."

  Aspen breathed a sigh of relief at Dr. Sanchez's words. She felt even more relieved when the alien picture of her growing baby graced the screen. Miranda squeezed her hand and Aspen tried to smile, but more was weighing on her than just the welfare of her unborn child. It was almost as though she was caught in a nightmare and she couldn't wake up. Had she actually been witness to the mate who'd left her kissing another man? More confusing still was the instant attraction she felt for that other man. It was like meeting Skylar for the first time all over again. Her body, soul, mind and cougar wanted him instantly.

  Xavier.

  But how could this be? Was her connection to Skylar false? Had she spent the last three months pining away for a man that wasn't even her mate?

  "Can I come in?"

  Aspen gasped. Skylar filled the doorway, his presence making her heart beat a little faster.

  Well, there goes the false connection theory. Aspen looked into familiar green eyes--green eyes that haunted her every dream and fantasy--and nodded.

  "We'll talk later, okay," Miranda said before releasing Aspen's hand and walking toward the door. She stopped in front of Skylar, barely reaching mid-chest on the male and pointed her finger at him. Aspen wanted to laugh at the way Miranda transformed from friend to alpha female before her eyes.

  "And you, whoever you are, better not hurt Aspen. She is a member of my pride and I also consider her my best friend. Consider yourself warned."

  Miranda nodded at Aspen before turning and walking out of the room.

  "And with that, I'll get all the paperwork filled out so you can be discharged, okay, Aspen."

  "Thank you, Dr. Sanchez."

  "My pleasure, Aspen. Oh, and do me a favor and tell Theresa hi."

  Aspen laughed. "Of course."

  Then Dr. Sanchez left and the tension in the room reminded Aspen of a dense fog. She took a calming breath when Skylar took a hesitant step toward her. She could do this. Couldn't she?

  "I missed you."

  "Then why did you leave?"

  Aspen slapped her hand over her mouth. Skylar's lips curled into a small smile and her cougar went crazy at the sight of their mate's sexy grin.

  "I didn't leave...well, I came back and you were gone."

  "You left me without a word. What was I supposed to think, and before you tell me I should have stayed and waited, I know you left me with the intention of never coming back."

  Aspen fisted her hands, her claws digging into her palms. The pain was a welcome distraction to keep her from tears. She would not cry in front of this man. He wouldn't know how much his leaving had hurt her. Skylar hung his head and sighed, his actions confirming what she'd always known. He'd never planned to return, but biology had overridden his own desires. And though it felt as though she were ripping a piece of her heart out, she knew how badly this would end. Hell, weren't her parents’ proof that sometimes fate got it wrong?

  "Skylar, sometimes fate doesn't get this mate thing right-"

  Skylar covered the distance between them in the blink of an eye. His hands framed her face and forced her to look into his beautiful green eyes.

  "I'm not letting you go, Aspen. You are mine and I don't care if that other male is your baby's father, I am your mate and you belong to me."

  His words were like a slap in the face. Aspen bit her lip and pulled away.

  "Go," Aspen said between tears that could and would not be stopped.

  "I said that I wasn't leaving."

  She swiped her tears and her cougar rose to the surface, the familiar ripple of fur erupting over her arms.

  "GO!"

  Skylar bent into her face, an obvious challenge for her cougar, his green eyes going wild.

  "No," he said between clenched teeth.

  "I believe my patient has asked you to leave, sir. Don't make me call security."

  Aspen shifted her attention to the short and curvy female standing in the doorway, her eyes cautious but firm as she regarded Skylar.

  "I won't leave my mate," Skylar said.

  The female smiled sweetly.

  "I believe you don't have a choice, sir. Now, mate or not, my patient has requested that you leave, so you can leave or I can make you leave."

  Skylar closed his eyes, his whole body shaking. He leaned down and took her mouth, his tongue invading on her gasp. She wanted to hate that he kissed her, wanted to push him away, but her traitorous body relaxed for the first time in months and basked in his dominance, the way he was rough until he got her acquiescence. How he gentled his kiss, dueling his tongue with hers. She hated that she wanted him so badly. Hated that she'd soaked through her panties with wanting him, and she was so confused because all she could imagine was Xavier joining them.

  "You're mine," Skylar said before turning and leaving her alone with the curvy female.

  "Are you okay?"

  Aspen nodded and touched her lips with her fingers. The curvy brunette smiled.

  "My name is Destini and I'll be your nurse. We just changed shifts, so I'll be taking over your discharge."

  Aspen nodded.

  "You need to follow-up with Dr. Sanchez next week. I know your previous appointment was next month, but in light of your visit to Pinewood Creek ER Dr. Sanchez thought it would be better if she saw you next wee...Are you even listening?"

  Aspen jumped when a hand touched her shoulder, pulling her from varying thoughts of clawing Skylar's pretty face and kissing him senseless. How dare he even think this baby was anybody's but his! She looked up into Destini's face and sighed.

  "I'm sorry."

  Destini sighed and looked at her watch before taking a seat on the stool sitting beside Aspen.

  "Okay, spill it. What's bothering you?"

  "Not-"

  "Don't give me that crap, girl. I may be twenty-five, but that doesn't mean that I'm naïve. Pfft! I’ve been a nurse since I was twenty. Seen and heard it all...Ok, maybe not all, but a lot...so spill."

  Aspen bit her lip and stared at the curvy brunette. She leaned forward and took a deep whiff of the female's scent.

  "I'm a platypus."

  "Huh?"

  Destini smiled.

  "You were sniffing me to figure out what I was, well I'm a platypus."

  "Okay."

  Destini laughed. "Okay, now that you've determined It is okay to talk to me about super secret shifter stuff, tell me."

  Aspen's tenseness slowly eased when she realized that if she told this person who didn't know her at all she could relieve a lot of the stress she'd felt for the past three months.

  "Skylar's my mate...or at least I think he is..."

  "You're not sure?"

  "Well, I was the night...the night we-"

  Aspen smoothed her hand over her abdomen and the baby resting there.

  "Got freaky?"

  Aspen knew her eyes were the size of saucers and she couldn't help but laugh when Destini broke down into giggles.

  "I guess you could put it that way. Anyways, He didn't claim me and left me three months ago. I moved. I've never told him or anyone, but I watched him for months before I got the courage to go up to him, and then I did and it was like wham! He was the one. I couldn't stay and see him after he left me, so I came back to my childhood home."

  "So what made you doubt that he was your mate?"

  Aspen grimaced. This was where it truly got freaky.

  "Before we came to the hospital, I met Skylar's mate an-"

  "Whoa! He's already mated?"

  "Yes and I'm pretty sure that his mate is also my mate."

  "Phew! No wonder you're freaking out."

  Aspen threw her hands in the air. "I know! So, do you have any advice?"

  Destini sighed and patted Aspen on the knee.

  "Honey, if I had that kind of advice then I would still be at home instead of here. I will say that I believe fate can get it wrong sometimes. I mean, who’s to say that biology is always right? Now, let's go over yo
ur discharge instructions and then you go home and rest, then tomorrow you can figure this whole love triangle out, okay."

  Aspen smiled. "Okay."

  ***

  Skylar left Aspen, his mind churning with thoughts of her caught in another's embrace. He knew she'd been locked in the mating heat, knew her body would demand release. But the evidence spoke loud and clear. Aspen abdomen swelled with her pregnancy and he wished it'd been him that had planted that seed. That was supposed to be his child, his and Xavier's. Skylar slammed his fist against the waiting room wall and Xavier was there almost immediately.

  "Calm down, Sky, you don't want to get kicked out of here Aspen needs you."

  "She doesn't need me, Xavier. She just asked--no demanded that I leave."

  Skylar hung his head. Nobody wanted him. He'd never said it, but he always thought Xavier stuck around because he had nowhere else to go. Xavier sighed and pulled his arm. Skylar followed, though he didn't know why anymore.

  "It's time for you to suck it up, Sky. If you want her then you'll have to fight for her. I saw the hurt in her eyes when she saw you. You hurt her and she's not going to forgive you easily."

  Xavier's voice echoed in the vacant bathroom. Skylar slammed his hand on the marble sink.

  "She's pregnant."

  "Does it change the way you feel about her?"

  Did it change the way he felt about her? His last words to Aspen were evidence that he and his wolf were in this for the long haul. Aspen was his mate.

  "Of course not!"

  "Look, Sky. I love you, but it's time for you to focus on gaining her trust back. She ran for a reason and we've got to figure out how to keep her from running again."

  "Like you ran?"

  Xavier's growl echoed through the restroom and Skylar winced wishing he could take those words back.

  "I'm-"

  Xavier pinned him to the wall, his brown eyes glowing with his wolf's need to get out.

  "I'll forget you said that, chalk it up to you not thinking straight from this thing with Aspen, but just to be clear, my circumstances and hers were completely different and you know that."