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  “Clara, I don’t understand why the techniques aren’t working.” Jenna tried to focus on creating a remote out of thin air.

  “Because you’re not dreaming.” Michael answered for Clara. He watched her out of the peripheral of his vision and knew she was trying to create a weapon from the IV stand. Clever girl.

  Clara managed to break the stand apart at the rivets and created three metal clubs. “Heads up.” She called as she tossed one to Michael and one to Jenna. Michael caught it easily and used his light weight metal baton to block another slice of the dagger toward him.

  “I’ve been banished to this disgusting earth plane until I’ve fixed my failed mission.” Spittle seeped out of the demon’s lip creases as he spoke. “Every reincarnation, I’ve killed her. Waiting until she turned twenty-three, torturing her for years with dreams, waiting for you to come and rescue her. Every incarnation you never showed, until this one. Why is that? Is it her last you think?”

  “Highly unlikely!” Clara swung the hollow metal baton at his head from behind and smiled as she heard the satisfying crack of his skull. She knew it wasn’t hard enough to kill him, but her distraction gave Michael time to morph into the wolf and lunge for the demon’s throat.

  Jenna stared in shock for a moment as her dream boyfriend transformed. When the demon flung the wolf across the room she reacted, hurtling toward the once meek doctor, now dangerous demon. Just before the dagger cut into her skin she twisted his wrist and angled it back toward him. The shock of her fighting back was enough of a diversion for her to sink the dagger into his gut. “How do you like being stabbed?” She twisted the knife and watched as the demon’s eyes glazed over. It was that moment she realized what she’d done. She killed a man…no she’d killed a demon… in self-defense, right?

  It didn’t matter. She stumbled backward and Michael, in human form, was there to catch her. Clara was trapped on the floor under the lifeless demon’s body. She tried to push it off her, but he was too heavy. “A little help please?”

  Tears sprang to Jenna’s eyes, and Michael helped her into the chair then went to help Clara who was now covered in the black goo that was the demon’s blood.

  “What do we do now?” Clara asked, the adrenaline coursing through her body kept her analytical mind focusing on the fact that demons and werewolves existed. She believed in past lives, reincarnation, and psychic abilities, why couldn’t the creatures from nightmares exist too?

  Michael pulled out his phone and called Seren. “We need a cleanup in…” He looked at Clara, “what room are we in?”

  She held out her hand and took the phone to give directions. Michael went to Jenna’s side. “I killed him.”

  “Yes, but if you hadn’t, he would’ve killed you.” Michael tried to reassure her, but deep down he knew it wasn’t something she was comfortable with. Her soul was kind, loving and giving, the farthest thing from a killer. She was going to have a hard time dealing with this, but he’d be here for her to help her through it.

  “But he’s dead. I had to because he was hurting you.”

  “And he was hurting you.” He focused on using her current name. “Jenna, look at me.” She did. “You did what you had to, understand? He was hurting us both. No one will fault you for what happened here.”

  She shook her head and burst into tears. She did understand and she didn’t. How could any of this be happening? She was vaguely aware of the other people who entered the room to clean up the mess she made. She was more focused on the arms that held her. How was her dream man alive? How was he here with her, her cherished gift just in time for the holidays? She’d died over and over again on Christmas Eve, but this year she had a feeling she’d find a way to live happily ever after.

  Epilogue

  Clara watched as her friends; Jenna and Michael, danced in the park to the carolers. He’d just asked her to marry him and she said yes. It was something of a dream, a dream relived, a chance to do things over again, and she was witnessing it with them. Someday she’d find her own dream come true, but for now, she needed to focus on her practice and help Jenna with the preparations of her wedding. She had no doubt she was going to be the maid of honor.

  In the year since the incident at the hospital, she and Jenna had grown close. She knew becoming friends with a client was a big no-no so she recommended her to her colleague, Roger. After all, a friendship formed in the kind of paranormal experience they shared was one that would stand the test of time. The petty things that could destroy their bond seemed miniscule in the grand scheme of things.

  “Are you waiting for me to acknowledge you?” Clara asked Seren. She knew the she-wolf was there without having to turn around. It seemed her third eye was getting stronger all the time, as long as she allowed herself to be open to the things around her she was able to experience things on a different level.

  “Very good. Almost as good as shifter senses.” Seren smiled as she stood beside Clara. They both watched Jenna and Michael spin around the snow covered park, avoiding other innocent bystanders and enjoying the last moments of the season. Another Christmas Eve almost gone. The dreams no longer haunted Jenna, and the only thing she needed to come to terms with was the paranormal world that surrounded them, and that her boyfriend, correction, fiancé, was a werewolf. With the dreams no longer tearing her apart, Jenna was able to develop into a strong woman who was more than capable of handling her alpha wolf husband to be.

  Clara pulled her jacket closer to her body to stave off the cold. “Too bad you can’t help me overcome the chill.”

  Seren shrugged. “You’re human. Weakness like that comes with the territory.”

  “Thanks!” Sarcasm coated her words. Clara still wasn’t sure if she liked Serendipity, but she was thankful that she attempted to save Michael and Jenna all those lifetimes ago, it had to mean she was a good person under her overinflated ego- a personality she was learning most shifters shared.

  Seren laughed. “I’d give anything to experience the chill of winter again.”

  Clara never thought of it that way, but it made sense. People, and apparently supernaturals, always wanted what they couldn’t have. “How very human of you.” Clara chuckled at the curled lip Seren gave in response to her tease. “Did you want something or were you just here for the show?”

  Seren shook her head. “I witnessed this over a hundred years ago, and it’s still a beautiful sight to see. Two souls finding each other and falling in love, real love.” Tears moistened her blue eyes. “It’s one of the reasons I tried so hard to save them both.”

  Jenna’s contagious laugh carried over the music and the crowd to find them, and Michael’s infectious chuckle followed.

  “They still have a long way to go to keep this happiness, but we’ll let them indulge in the moment for now.” Seren smiled. “I actually came to talk to you.”

  “Me? Why?” Clara had no idea why Seren would need to discuss anything with her unless she needed some hypnotherapy or coaching. They really had no connection to each other over the last year.

  “We’ve been watching you and are impressed with how well you’ve kept our secret.”

  “Okay.” Of course she kept it. She wasn’t going to face the wrath of angry werewolves. Besides, they covered up the death of her demon boss. Who would believe her and why would she reveal a secret that could get her put behind bars?

  “The Order is so impressed we’d like to bring you on as a consultant.”

  Clara laughed, “Yeah, right.” The chuckle died in her throat when she saw Serendipity wasn’t laughing… or even smiling. “Seriously?”

  Seren nodded. “On a case by case basis of course.”

  “What would you need me to consult on?”

  “I’m just spit balling it here, but you have some very specific skill sets.” Seren rolled her eyes. “You’ve proven loyal by keeping our secret.”

  “But I’m human?”

  “That is also an asset. Perhaps you can help us understand humans a lit
tle better.”

  “No.” Clara responded too quickly. What she experienced last year was traumatic, and she didn’t know if she could handle that kind of thing ever again, let alone on a regular basis.

  “We’ll give you training.” Seren offered as though she was reading Clara’s mind.

  “I’m not a fighter. I’m a peacekeeper, a healer.”

  Seren struggled to keep her voice steady. “We don’t need more warriors. We need people like you.” Seren zeroed her eyes on Clara. “Trust me when I tell you this is a deal you can’t say no to.

  Other books by this author:

  The Winters Saga (young adult paranormal fantasy scifi adventure with romantic tension)

  Lone Wolf Rising

  Vampire Princess Rising

  Ghost Connection (new adult paranormal mysteries with romantic suspense)

  Lost #1

  Death Does Not Become Her #2

  PBI Case Files (adult paranormal mysteries with romance, action, and mythological twists)

  The Beginning #1

  Outbreak #2

  Lost Plane # 3

  Justice Driven #4

  Shifter Love Tales (adult paranormal romances with mythological twists)

  To Love a Dragon (available in Beau Coup Publishing Anthology Haunting)

  Mystery Springs (adult paranormal romances with action and mythological twists)

  The Witch’s Vampire

  Check out her Amazon author page for all her books here.

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  A Christmas Mating

  By S.L. Bull

  Copyright© S.L. Bull 2014

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written consent of the author except permitted by law.

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ♥One♥

  Adara’s life is spiraling out of control. She has just moved to the country in Montana to take a job offered by her large corporation and now is being laid off. She has no way to pay for her little apartment and Christmas is just around the corner. Adara is glad she doesn’t have anyone to buy gifts for, but she always decorates, and this year it isn’t looking like she is going to be able to. She is turning into a real Scrooge.

  It has been almost a month since Adara lost her job. She has been doing odd jobs around the tiny town she now lived in for the elderly to earn a bit of cash. While it isn’t enough, it helps her make it by.

  Adara is also getting very lonely and it isn’t helping her mood either. She doesn’t know anyone and it has been months since she has even gone on a date. Everyone there seemed to be caught up in their own lives, to even notice her arrival several weeks ago.

  Adara is always angry, sad, or just plain unhappy, and she doesn’t know what to do about it. She decides to go for a walk through the town and look at all the decorations since she can’t put any up herself this year.

  Adara bundles up for the cold, it is December after all, and heads out for a walk. Once she gets outside she starts to feel a little bit better. All the decorations have a way of cheering someone up.

  She walks down a rather small main street looking at all the shops. One has a six foot Christmas tree in the window decorated with purple, blue, gold, and red ornaments. There are presents of all sizes underneath, and a Santa with his sled and reindeer flying above it. Lights line the window, and they have put fake snow everywhere. It is beautiful.

  Another shop has put inflatables in their window. Santa in a chimney, Rudolf smiling, and Frosty the snowman waving, all take up the large window. Adara lets out a little chuckle at the sight of them. Yeah, it was a good idea to come on this walk after all; she is starting to feel better.

  She makes her way down one side of the street and heads back going up the other side. Adara is too busy looking at the decorations to see a patch of ice. She slips and falls. A man who sees what happened rushes to see if she is okay.

  ♥Two♥

  Tase was born and raised in this town. His family is well known and they own one of the largest farms. They supply the town with most of the vegetables and dairy products. They are also wolf shifters and wolves seem to have a way of getting attached to their lands. His family has never really been a part of a pack. They are lone wolves, they don’t bother anyone and no one bothers them. Life is better this way.

  Tase has always enjoyed living here, but lately he has felt as if something is missing from his life. He is unhappy and wants to settle down. The problem is, most of the women have already settled down, or they are not his type. He can be a bit picky. He really wants to be mated to another wolf, but there doesn’t seem to be many around. It’s one of those times where, he wishes they had been a part of a pack even just long enough for him to mate.

  His mother keeps hounding him about getting mated and giving her grand pups. She has even set him up on blind dates, most of which didn’t work out so well. He has been thinking about moving because of this. He also wants to see if they can expand the business to nearby towns, but his father doesn’t want him to leave. Tase thinks it may be the only way for him to find a mate.

  Tase just finished rounding up the cattle and headed to town for some supplies. He enjoys being near the shops with all the decorations and cheery people. It is his escape from reality and he can feel free if even for a moment.

  He is walking down the street when he sees that he isn’t the only one who enjoys Christmas decorations. There is a beautiful young lady walking the street peeking in all the shop windows. She is headed his way, but not paying attention she slips and falls.

  Tase goes running over to check on her and help her up. After all, his father did raise him to be a gentleman.

  “Are you okay?” Tase asks, offering her his hand to help her up.

  “Yeah, I think so.” Adara takes his hand.

  While she starts to stand up, she puts pressure on her ankle and starts to fall again. Tase catches her before she hits the ground.

  “Whoa there! I don’t look as if you are okay to me.”

  “My ankle hurts. I can’t put my weight on it.”

  “Did you drive or walk? We need to get you home and put that ankle up before it starts to swell. You may have sprained it.”

  “I walked. I just live up town in the small apartment building.”

  “Oh, you live at the Anderson’s apartments. I’ll help you get back to your house. I’m Tase, by the way.”

  “Thanks, I’m Adara.”

  Tase helps Adara get back to her apartment. He helps her inside and has her sit on the couch. He tells her he will be back to wrap her leg for her and then leaves.

  ♥Three♥

  Adara feels like an idiot. How could she not see such a handsome man walking toward her and then fall on ice? She always finds a way to make a fool of herself.

  While Tase is gone, Adara hobbles around her house picking stuff up and cleaning herself up to look more presentable. This may be her shot at finally having some company around more often and not always being alone.

  She takes off her jacket, hat, and scarf and hangs them in her bedroom closet. She changes her sweater to a nicer one and decides the pants she has on are nice enough. Adara brushes out her hair and puts on a little bit of make-up. She really wants to leave an impression on him; after all, she does think he is cute.

  H
e must be about six foot two because he towers over her and she is only five foot one. She loves his dreamy green eyes, and his golden blonde hair is just long enough for her run her fingers through. She couldn’t tell with his jacket on, but from the way he helped her up, she could tell he has to be well built.

  There is something different about him. She isn’t sure what it is, but she can tell by the way he carries himself he is not like other men. Not that she really minds, he is gorgeous after all.

  After she finishes up, she goes and sits back down on the couch. Her ankle is really hurting now, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to be up and moving. She really wishes she listed to him and just stayed sitting down until he got back.

  She is happy he was around when she fell, or she would still be sitting out in the cold trying to get home on a bummed ankle. Maybe, just maybe, her luck will start to change. Hell, she may even find a job if things keep looking up, aside from her ankle that is.

  ♥Four♥

  Tase cannot believe how beautiful Adara is. Her long brown hair peeked out from under her winter hat. Her bright blue eyes stared at him in amazement, and her tiny frame fit perfectly in his arms. He hasn’t looked at a woman that attractive in a long time. She isn’t even a wolf and he can feel a stir inside.

  He wants to get to know her more. The whole way to the store he thinks about all the possibilities that could come from this unfortunate event. Tase almost wishes he met her on different circumstances, but she needed his help nonetheless. He also wonders, if they start a relationship or head that way, how he would tell her he is a shifter. He doesn’t want to scare her off, but she would deserve to know.

  When he gets to the story, he grabs what he needs for Adara’s ankle as quickly as possible and heads back to her apartment. He doesn’t want to keep her waiting too long, besides in order for her ankle to heal quicker it needs to be wrapped and elevated for swelling.