A Christmas to Remember Read online

  Table of Contents

  Content

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Copyright Information

  About the Author

  Content

  Start Reading

  About the Author

  Copyright Information

  Chapter One

  Shelly sat at a table in the back and glared at her mate, Bo Mandeville. He did have a nice ass up there on the ladder. But this was the stupidest thing his pack had done. Bo reached up and helped his brother Drew and others from his pack work on the last lighting problems of their new club, Second Chances.

  Oh, she wouldn’t mind a club, but to have it so far away from everyone, and have it restricted to his kind only, was a slap in the face to her. It was bad enough Shelly was still having trouble with his pack, but he was bound and determined to separate them more from her family.

  The club was deep in one of the mountains, set about forty miles away from their large underground city. There were three different entrances into the club. Of course one tunnel went all the way to their one city, but one also went to the top of the mountain. Another went to the center of the Leopards’ home base; another thing she had been disappointed in.

  More and more, Bo and his brothers were drifting further and further apart from the others, including her family. She got up and moved out of the main room towards the exit. She wouldn’t sit here anymore. Shelly had plenty to do at her new home.

  Instead of Thanksgiving dinner, Shelly was having her family over for an early Christmas/Thanksgiving dinner in three days. Shelly already made homemade ornaments to go on the tree when she could find one. She even had some of the children of the pack helping her make decorations, but that stopped when one of the moms found out.

  It was still hard to believe they had been on their new world for more than two years. Her sister-in-law, Jaycee, and the others were still looking for the last member of the circle, but so far nothing. They’d been lucky things had been quiet for the past six months.

  She threw open the exit door and stepped into the tunnel, but got no further. Strong arms wrapped around her from behind.

  “Where are you going, my little wolf? I thought we would try out the new toys in one of the private rooms,” Bo almost purred.

  “I don’t think so. I was dragged here but I have no intention of visiting this place. If you want to go for it, I’ll just hit the club in town where I belong.” She yanked out of his arms and shifted, running away from him, but he wasn’t having any of it.

  The roar behind her gave Shelly the first clue she was in trouble, but the sound of his massive paws hitting the cement floor behind her had her whimpering as she ran around the corner.

  When her husband shifted, his leopard form was much larger than her wolf and his claws could easily cut her open. Behind her, Bo nipped at her butt and she yelped as her feet went out from under her and she slid into the wall.

  Her head hit with thud and Shelly shifted back to her human body, moaning as she grabbed her head. “Damn it, Bo!” She glared at him as he shifted, then sat down next to her and pulled her into his lap.

  “You know better than to run from me. Let me see,” he ordered and gently removed her hand. “There is a nice knot there.” He leaned in and kissed her head. “You going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

  “I’m tired of repeating myself. You and your clan just go ahead and cut yourselves off from everyone, but I’m not having any of it. I’m going back to our home in the city. If you want to stay out here, go for it. It’s not like I’ll be missed here anyway.” She tried to pull out of his arms, but he held onto her.

  “Little Wolf, I’ve explained this. My cats are used to the mountains, the fresh air. We haven’t cut ourselves off, just making adjustments, is all. Don’t you think the others are doing the same? I know for a fact that the demons have their own club already up and running. They even invited us to it.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, his voice even and study.

  “I’m a wolf, Bo, or have you forgotten? You, your brothers, and the pack built this place with one purpose: to keep others out. Well, guess what? I’m the other. For the last month that is all I’ve heard from everyone. How you couldn’t wait to have a place to yourselves, where your cats could relax and not have to socialize with others.” She turned and looked at him tears filled her eyes.

  “Do you know how much that hurt each time one of you said it? Even the women now treat me as if I’m dirt.” She shook her head. “I want no part of this place and I will never step foot in it again.”

  Two women came walking down the path and stopped, seeing them sitting there. “Bo, do you need help?” they asked and Shelly growled.

  “Yes, he does. He needs a pussy instead of a wolf.” She bit down on his arm, surprising all of them and giving her the escape she needed. “He’s all yours.”

  She ran like the devil was after her and didn’t stop till she broke through the door to the underground city. Bending down, she rested her hands on her legs as the tears rolled down her face. “It’s better this way.”

  “Shelly, you okay?” Jaycee asked and leaned down to look into her face. “What happened and why is there a big black and blue bump on your forehead?” Jaycee wrapped her arm around her waist and walked her towards a table.

  “Mark, come help me!” she shouted, making Shelly cringe.

  “No, please. You guys have enough to worry about. I’ll be fine.” She tried to pull away before her brother saw her, but it was too late; he was there, lifting her face up to stare into his gaze.

  “What happened? Did he hit you?” Her brother snarled, causing others to gather around them.

  “I’m fine, okay. It’s between Bo and me. I just want to go home, so excuse me.” She turned and almost ran smack into Marsha, her mother-in-law, holding one of her twins.

  “Come with me,” Marsha said taking her hand as her father-in-law Ben followed, carrying their other son. “Ben, find your son and drag his ass home.”

  “Please, I’d rather just be by myself right now.” Shelly tried to move away from Marsha, but the woman had a grip that rivaled any man’s.

  “You are going home with me so I can put something on that goose egg. Then we’re going to talk about why you’ve been so down in the dumps for the last few weeks.” Marsha gave her one of those Mother looks like, “you are not going to argue,” and Shelly sighed.

  “I swear between you and my mom I can never get past that look.” She grumbled, then moaned as she noticed her mother headed her way. “Just great.”

  * * * *

  Bo sat there against the wall, totally stunned at the words that came out of his woman’s mouth. Two sets of warm hands rubbed up and down on his arms. “I can’t believe she said that to you, but she is a wolf. Maybe she’s right and you should find one of your own kind,” the blonde said and he snarled just as his father came walking down the corridor.

  Ben stopped in his tracks, looking at him, then at the women. “Your wife is sitting in our home crying her eyes out and you’re sitting here with two women on your arms? I never thought—” His words stopped when Mark came around the corner next with Dane.

  “Why, you two-ti
ming piece of shit, tell me, did you enjoy hitting my sister?” Dane snarled, but Remi came out of nowhere, pushing the brothers back.

  “Enough! Dane, Mark. This is for Bo and your sister to work out.” He turned his eyes on him. “But if you don’t want your mate, I suggest you tell her before you go screwing around, because I won’t step in next time.”

  Tired of their accusations, Bo jumped up, pushing the women away from him. “I have no intention of leaving my mate or taking any other woman.” He looked at the two women. “Where are you from? You’re not from my pack.”

  The blonde lifted her head and jumped up. “We were from Southern pack. There are about six of us that decided to join yours, but there are about two hundred in all from other packs that came. We were sent to speak to you about joining your den.”

  “Go. I’ll speak with you later, but let it be known that anyone who thinks about disrespecting my woman will answer to me personally. Do I make myself clear?” He snarled and stepped forward. The both of them bowed and backed away slowly.

  When they left, he turned to Dane. “Your sister ran into the wall, even though I shouldn’t have to be telling you this. You should know I would never hit your sister. I promised to take care of her and protect her, not harm her.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  “For the last three weeks anything sets her off. She’s either crying or angry. I thought she’d like to spend time with me here at the club. We’ve been so busy getting everyone settled.” He looked up at Dane and he frowned.

  “Let’s go see what your Momma and hers have found out,” his father said and turned to leave.

  “I’m sorry about earlier, but Shelly has always been there for everyone. To see her tears...” Dane said as he walked next to him.

  “I love your sister and I’ll do anything for her, that I promise.” Bo reassured them.

  Chapter Two

  Christmas songs played on the radio as Marsha pointed to the kitchen. “Go on while I put this little one to bed and, Shelly, we will fix this. He loves you.”

  She mumbled, “Love isn’t the problem.” Her mother and Jaycee followed them into the kitchen, all of them sitting down at the table.

  Not needing their stares, Shelly got up and started to make coffee, knowing where everything was. “I know you’re busy, Jaycee. You don’t have to stay.”

  “Excuse me? I don’t think I heard you right, because what kind of sister would I be if I left before I know how you got hurt?” Warm arms hugged her from behind. “You’re my best friend, Shelly. You’ve saved my life I don’t know how many times. No matter what, I’ll always have time for you.”

  More tears fell down her cheeks. “Sometimes I wish we could go back to those days. At least then I knew who were my friends or not.” Shelly went to the sink and splashed some cold water on her face.

  “What do you mean? Your friends are here. We haven’t gone anywhere,” Jaycee said, turning her around.

  Before she could say anything Marsha came into the room. “Sit and tell us.”

  Going back to the chair she left, Shelly looked up to see her Mother giving her that look. The look like “you’d better start talking or you’ll hear it.” “We’re waiting, young lady.”

  “I told Bo to find someone like him. He needs a cat, not a wolf, as his wife.” Her lip started to tremble. “Every time I try to do something for the pack, it’s either, ‘oh, we don’t do it that way,’ or ‘What does a wolf know about how to run a den?’” She shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m doing and every time I try something it’s wrong. I can’t do it anymore. The disappointment I see in his face…” She crossed her arms on the table and rested her head.

  “Sweetie, we all went through that. Hell, you know how long it took me with you brother’s pack.” Jaycee rubbed Shelly’s shoulders.

  “No, this is different. Every time I turn around someone is saying something. At first I just ignored it. I figured they’d get used to me, but it’s not happening.” She sat up and looked at her mother-n-law. “When they started to build this new club, do you know how many times I was told that is was for cats only?” She looked up as Marsha gasped.

  “In one day, twenty-two times. In all my life I’ve never had a group of people disrespect me so much. Bo can only do so much.” She looked down at her hands, tears filling her eyes. “I love him so much,” she mumbled under her breath. “I even heard a couple of women asking why I hadn’t gotten pregnant. They believe I won’t be able to give him children since we’re two different species.”

  Her mother snarled next to her. “Ignore them. When you and Bo are ready to have children I’m sure there will be no problem.”

  She shook her head. “Mom, we’ve been trying for the last six months. I was going to talk to Bo about adopting a little girl who lost her family back on Earth. She’s staying at the orphan house we set up, but once it was known I was interested in the little girl, the door was shut in my face. She was so beautiful and reminded me of Bo’s baby pictures, but she has these amazing green eyes.”

  “I’ve heard enough! What the hell has happened with these people? Never were they this cruel! Hell, I’m different! I don’t shift and I’m a witch they never treated me like that!” Marsha jumped up and spun around.

  “You’re right, they wouldn’t have. I would have killed anyone that hurt you and they knew it,” Ben said. “And I’m sure my son would do the same if you told him about these incidents.” Ben came around the table and kissed her cheek.

  “He loves you, Shelly, and would give you the world if he could.” Ben looked up to see Bo standing there.

  Behind him, her brothers pushed Bo out of the way. “Move out of the way so I can hold my sister,” Dane grumbled.

  “Hold it right there.” Her mother stood. “This is between those two. Now take your wife home to those babies and allow Bo and Shelly to work this out.”

  The three of them grumbled, but obeyed as they each gave her a hug and kiss, glaring at Bo before they left. “Make her happy,” Dane snarled before leaving, earning a slap on the head from their mom.

  That is what Shelly missed the most, being part of something. Bo leaned against the kitchen counter, waiting. Her husband hadn’t said a word since he arrived, but the anger in his eyes was not a good sign. “I should just go—”

  “Not another word!” Bo snarled and stepped in front of her. “Why didn’t you tell me? You are my wife. We have been through hell, but we survived it. I can’t believe you kept this to yourself.” He shook his head and started to pace.

  “Excuse me?” Shelly got up and snarled. “I can’t come running to you every time there is a problem. I should have been able to handle this and I’ve tried. I wanted to prove I could be an asset to you, but every time I turn around…I just feel like a failure and so alone.” Shelly sat back down, so tired.

  Before she could say another word, Bo was on his knees in front of her. He placed his hands on her face and held her there, staring at her. “I don’t need an asset. I want my wife by my side and you are that woman. There is no other Shelly. We’ll work on this together. I promise things will get better, but you have to talk to me.” He leaned over and nipped her bottom lip.

  His mother cleared her throat. “I have your brother Drew watching the twins. Sander is calling the den together now.”

  “Why?” She looked at Marsha when Bo stood and pulled her out of her seat into his arms.

  “Because we’re going to start on this problem right now and tonight you can tell me all about this little girl that’s stolen your heart,” he ordered and swatted her ass. “That is just a taste of what is to come. You have a lot to answer for.”

  Even though he was gentle and loving with her, Shelly knew he was hurt. One thing Shelly hated was to disappoint him. Just the tone of his voice made a few more tears slip down her cheek. She
said nothing as they made their way out of Marsha’s home and to the new club where all meetings would take place.

  Her mate held onto her; never once did he release her hand. Her in-laws walked behind them as did his other three brothers. She didn’t think this would help, but Shelly didn’t want to lose her man. Maybe I’m too weak, Shelly thought.

  “Enough!” Bo yelled and turned to her in the tunnel. Every one stopped as he shook her. “I swear…” He took a deep breath. “It seems I have a lot of work ahead of me and tonight we will start. You are not weak. You are one of the strongest people I know, but it’s obvious I need to show you.” With that he turned and started to walk again.

  Over the year with all the turmoil, Bo had held back his dominant side with her. She could still remember the night she was proposed to. Her nipples hardened as she remembered the way he took control of her. He’d notice any little thing, when she was cold, hungry, or sexually aroused. Those first few days had been magical. She sighed, remembering how he would even feed her.

  Never had she thought eating as a sensual thing, but with Bo it was. “Whatever you are thinking about, you will tell about it later.” Bo said and pushed open the door, almost dragging her inside the packed place.

  * * * *

  Stepping into the building, Bo pulled Shelly to his side. He was so furious at himself and everyone around him. “Come, we won’t be here long.” He nodded to his mom and dad as they stepped up onto the stage.

  With his family behind him, Bo stared out at the room waiting as everyone settled down. There were more than three hundred here which was pretty good considering it was last minute. The rest of their pack would hear about the meeting and spread the word.

  “I have been Alpha of this den now for twenty years and never once have I been so disappointed in it. Let it be known here and now, Shelly is my mate, my life, and I will step down as Alpha before I allow this disrespect to my woman to go on any further. It’s time to gather and prepare. The war isn’t over. We shouldn’t be fighting among ourselves. I will be watching and if I catch one person…” He looked around the room at the women and some of them looked down. “One person disrespecting her, you will leave our den to fend for yourselves.”