A Curse of Fate (Shifter City Fated Mates, #1)

by Jaymin Eve

“You can have your pick of jobs across our businesses. Save all of the money for your plan to run away.” He stated it so matter-of-factly it was clear he was well aware of my intentions to run again. “But you will not live by yourself or with another pack.” His expression darkened as he morphed from businessman to hurricane in a split second. When he stepped into my space, I had to tilt my head back to keep his face in view. “If a male shifter gets too close to you, Emmeline, I will kill them.”

I opened it and immediately found the group chat titled: *Alpha Quads Unite to Woo our Omega*

Golden Boy: Welcome to the family chat. I’ll be your host this evening, so buckle in and enjoy the ride. I secretly loved that he’d used my nickname for him. Daddy Alpha: Kellan, what the actual fuck are you doing? My lips twitched as I imagined Hunter’s face when he wrote that message. Kellan had called him Daddy Alpha before, which I’d wisely ignored, but it was apparently no secret. *Daddy Alpha has changed his name* Alpha Hunter: Stop messaging me during work hours unless the omega is in trouble. Golden Boy: Uh, Emme is in this group chat, asshole. Try not to fuck it up for us. *Grouchy Bear has left the conversation*

*Slade has left the conversation* Ouch. Well, it’d be easier without them in here by the sounds of it. Daddy Alpha: Emmeline, is everything to your liking at the pack house? Daddy Alpha: What the hell, Kellan? How did you change my name again? Golden Boy: A magician never reveals his secrets. *Grouchy Bear was added to the chat* It hadn’t escaped my notice that not even Kellan fucked with Slade, which had me itching to add him back to the chat myself. I mean, yes, he was legitimately terrifying, but I refused to let anyone scare me that much. Grouchy Bear: Spiders. *Grouchy Bear has left the chat* Golden Boy: Fin might be out for a while. For my safety’s sake.

picked up the phone and scrolled through the numbers already listed. To my surprise, Cora was there with BFF in brackets next to her name. Awww. Kellan made me hope for impossible things.

“Relax, Shortcake,” he murmured, the nickname apparently stuck now. His breath brushed over my ear. “Or do you need a little help with that?” Oh, fuck my life. HALP! Abort mission. I was going down with this ship and there was no lifeboat in sight.

Kellan swung his legs off the side of the bed and stood, and my gaze was immediately drawn to his gray sweats. Or more accurately the clear outline of his massive erection in gray sweats. Oh my. I jerked my gaze up, but short of a sharp blow to the head resulting in amnesia, there was no way I’d ever forget what I saw.

grabbed a mug and poured myself a coffee too. Hunter nudged the cream and sugar toward me before I could ask. Like a good stalker, he already knew how I took my coffee.

she’d walked out glowing from the hot water, a mere towel separating her naked body from me. Fuck towels. Fuck them right off. Who the hell even invented them?

“You can hear my wolf’s unease?” He leaned down until our faces were close enough for me to see the pigments of gold in his stormy eyes. “I’m your alpha, little omega. Your wolf belongs to me, and I feel her.”

“How do you know Alpha Hunter?” Kitty’s tone wasn’t quite as friendly without Hunter’s presence. Forcing a smile to my lips, I shrugged. “He kidnapped me off the streets, but his house is nice so I’m going to stay for a while. Let’s call it a rapid case of Stockholm Syndrome.” Confusion creased her expression. “But aren’t you the omega who was living out in the human world as a rogue?” She examined me from my hair to toes, clearly finding me wanting. “Why in the world would you try to stay away from a pack like Reeves? They’re top freaking tier.” “Why in the world would you ask me how I knew them if you were already well aware who I was?”

“Tell me everything that happened today, Emmeline.” Oh fuck. He’d full-named me.

Hunter: One. Emmeline: A total fucking puppet.

His fingers stilled again, and I wanted to scream. Could you die from being edged like this? Not asking for a friend.

Kellan crossed his arms and leveled the other alpha with a get fucked stare. “I will bring her to the cafe. If she arrives home with your scent all over her, you’ll have World War Three on your hands. And that’s just from me. Hunter will level the planet.”

“You know I like you…” Kellan sounded cheery and casual. “…but it’ll take very little convincing for me to murder you right here in front of your office. If you proposition my omega again, I will rip your arms off and beat you to death with them.”

“Granted, Soren has woeful taste in cars, but either way, you’d never have considered his pack. One alpha isn’t enough to handle you, pretty girl. You need a pack of them. Starting with me.” When I grew up, I wanted Kellan’s confidence. Hiding my smile, I pulled from his grip and headed for the truck. Kellan might not be the alpha I expected, but fuck if he wasn’t the exact alpha I needed.

“Don’t call her a bitch. I swear to fuck, I will suffocate you in your sleep.”

“And what about when you’re not here? How do I deal on my own after you get me used to having support?” Kellan answered from the open doorway of the bathroom. “Easy. You’ll never be alone again. I will follow you to the ends of this world and into the next, Emme. There’s no point to this life without you in it.”

Goddess, just kill me now and bury the corpse with a nice view.

The sound of wet clothes hitting the tiles distracted me as I turned to find Hunter shedding his suit and stepping from the shower. Butt freaking naked. I reminded myself to be as respectful as they’d been and keep my gaze on his face, but yeah, that was never gonna happen. One day I’d be a stronger wolf, but until then I was all perv.

ordered a rare rib fillet steak with mashed potato as a side. Potato was the best of the vegetables, without the audacity of being green. It was also delicious deep fried and could be turned into vodka. It was the true MVP of the vegetable world, and I had a full debate prepared for anyone who disagreed.

I’d never decorated a house in my life, but an opinion was for everyone, so I happily shared mine.

Mate. My wolf’s whine this time was filled with a thread of insecurity, as if even she was unsure we could handle a mate like Slade. Don’t get me wrong, she wanted him, but that need was diluted by fear. You and me both, sister. You and me both.

distance. I wanted to ask if that was where the pack raced, but tall, silent, and deadly wasn’t exactly inviting conversation.

soothing

Her curves though… fuck me dead. I’d kept my hands to myself. Barely.

I’d never be embarrassed to show up for my girl. If you weren’t a little obsessed, was she even your mate?

Oh, and by the way… How did you all find the cliffhanger? Loved it, right? Aw, come on. Don’t be like that. I’ll make it all better, I promise. All you have to do is trust me. ;) Can I say… this series has absolutely destroyed me. Captivated me. I wrote A Curse of Fate in a frenzy because my obsession was next level. The characters wouldn’t leave me alone, they invaded my actual soul and forced themselves onto these pages in frantic hours of writing. I haven’t felt like that since the Shadow Beast Shifters series. Utterly Consumed. This is what I live for as an author, and I hope you felt that same obsession with my characters when you were reading.