Cherished: True Mates Book 5 (BBW Wolf Shifter Romance) (A Craggstone Paranormal Romance) by Olivia Arran Read Free Book Online Page A

stood off to the sides, their faces stricken as they viewed the loving scene before them. These kids had no one, their mothers having lost their lives in this fight.
    One by one they were gathered into loving arms, scooped up with the rest of the children, their faces wiped dry and showered with kisses.
    We were a family. Circumstance had made us one.
    One of the women who had arrived with the rescue team moved to stand by my side. “Their moms?” she asked.
    “Dead.”
    She cursed under her breath. “Then they’ll find a home at the Colstone Pack.”
    “Are you sure? I don’t want to lie to them. They’ve been through enough already.”
    “I’m sure. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Kara, James’ mate.” She nodded at me in greeting.
    “James?”
    “The Alpha of the Colstone Pack.” She chewed her lip, the gesture speaking of hidden nerves. “He’s not back yet. He went to capture Bert.”
    Ah.
    “But he’s fine, I’d know if he wasn’t,” her words came out in a rush.
    I raised an eyebrow in silent question.
    “Of course, you’re human. I’d feel it through the bond if he were badly hurt or—” her voice broke, worry creasing her brow.
    “Bond?” I asked, mainly to take her mind off things, but also because I had a nagging feeling I knew just what she was about to say.
    “The mating bond. When shifters are true mates they mark each other and say the words, binding their souls together before The Mother of All. It’s a little more complicated than that, obviously, but that’s the gist of it.”
    My heart sunk. I swept back my hair. “Like this?”
    Kara sucked in a startled breath, leaning closer to inspect the ravaged mark on my neck.
    “You’re mated.”
    It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “Yes. To Bert.” I looked around, spotting Josh standing to the side with some of the other children. “That’s my son over there.”
    Kara followed my gaze. “Does that mean—?”
    “Bert’s his father.” It felt like an admission of guilt, and I had to keep reminding myself it wasn’t my fault. Screw that, this whole messed-up situation had given me Josh, and that was something I would never regret.
    “Did you mate him?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Did you say the words back? Did you accept him as your mate?”
    I picked up on the urgency in her voice. “No.”
    “ Shit! ”
    “Why? What does that mean?”
    She looked at me, sympathy twisting her lips in a frown. “It means you can’t disown him as your mate. He has to do it.”
    The hope that had been building quickly sank like a rock. “That’s what Oliver must have been talking about.” There was no way Bert would let me go. He wasn’t that kind of man. He didn’t have a shred of decency in his body, let alone compassion or kindness.
    “Oliver? Talking?” Kara smirked, then catching my expression her eyes widened. “You’re not joking are you?”
    She’d lost me.
    Luis sauntered over, a smug smile tugging at his lips. “Ana is Oliver’s true mate.”
    “Oh! But...wow!” Kara stuttered, her face flashing from shocked to worried then back to shocked.
    What the hell what that about? I was his true mate?
    “You didn’t know?”
    Kara shot Luis a furious look, one promising a roasting later.
    Hell, no! I already had a mate I didn’t want. I sure didn’t need another!
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Oliver
    Shoving all thoughts of Ana to the back of my mind, I stalked up to the small shack and shoved open the door. I could finally let go of the rage that had been threatening to consume me, burning inside of me the second I had laid eyes on Ana.
    There she was again, invading my thoughts!
    I shook my head, searching for the focus I was known for. Concentrate!
    But it looked like I was too fucking late. Bodies lay broken on the floor with Gregg and Sean—still in wolf form—standing sentry around the room, their gazes focused on the two men who circled each other in the center.
    My fingers cracked, balling