Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (books for men to read TXT) 📗

“After my mom’s last breakup with a troll named Matt—”

“An actual troll?” I ask.

“Are they real?”

I nod.

Kenna’s big eyes widen. “No, just a jerk. Anyway, my mom moved I guess, but stayed in Portsmouth because of her job.”

She goes on to tell me about the old port city and the ocean. In truth, it reminds me of some areas in Concordia and Scotland but on another continent.

After getting a couple of hours rest, we touch down early the next morning. I hire a limo service to bring us north of Boston to New Hampshire. I hold the door open for Kenna.

When I get in, she says, “I’d like to say my mom will flip about how fancy this all is, but if she didn’t bat an eyelash about you being a wolf, I fear this won’t impress her a bit. However, I am. It’s a far cry from the bus, train, plane, tram, and the second train I took to get to Concordia.”

I chuckle. “Get used to it, babe.”

We travel north. This time, I take in the new-to-me landscape as Kenna talks about points of interest. The traffic isn’t bad, and soon we’re in Portsmouth. Kenna gives the driver her mother’s new address.

She slows as we walk up to the shabby apartment building. “It had always been just her and me. Everything is different now, do I knock or—?”

“She’s still your mom. That hasn’t changed. Also, she’s a vampire. I have a feeling she sensed your approach the moment the car pulled up.”

“Good point. I was going to text her, but—”

The front door to the apartment flies open. “Kenna,” Jackie says with wide-open arms. She snugs her daughter in a hug. I give a wave and then Jackie dives toward me for a hug.

“Haven’t hugged a wolf shifter in a while,” she whispers. “You stink.”

“Don’t tell your daughter that,” I whisper back.

“I can hear you both,” Kenna says.

We all laugh.

“Come on up. I got pizza from Kenna’s favorite place.”

Kenna’s shoulders relax pretty much for the first time since we’ve met. A faint smile plays on her lips. This is home to her.

“I didn’t know how much I could miss someone,” Jackie says as we dig into the pizza.

“I’ve been homesick,” Kenna admits. “Glad to be back.”

“But not for long,” Jackie says. “I got your message. I understand that you want to try to find your father.” She doesn’t look hopeful.

“We need to start somewhere. Alister mentioned he was romantic and adventurous. Anything come to mind?”

Jackie tilts her head back and laughs. “Our relationship was fiery, passionate, unlike anything I’d experienced previously or since. Maybe it was because it was forbidden. Perhaps it was due to our various natures.” She shrugs. “But yes, plenty comes to mind.”

Kenna makes a gagging face at the idea of her parents being romantic.

I chuckle.

“We met after I lost my purse—remember, this was a long time ago. I was beside myself. I searched everywhere, reported it to the authorities. The next day the most handsome man I’d ever seen showed up on my doorstep, holding it. Of course, I scented wolf and fae. He recognized I was a vampire. We were both living among humans because back then magicals tended to keep to themselves. How boring. It didn’t take much to convince him to take me on a date.”

“Mom, did you mesmer him?”

She shimmies her shoulders. “Didn’t need to.”

Kenna grumbles. “Maybe I don’t want to hear about this.”

“Oh, come on. It’s a love story. I just wish it had a happily ever after.” Jackie sighs.

Kenna glances at me. I sense the question in her heart. Will we have a happily ever after? I wish I could answer her. But the way her presence, her voice, and her determination connect with my wolf, I’d like to say yes. Our present reality tells me otherwise.

“It was love at first sight.” Jackie glances at me. “Fated mates aren’t limited to wolf shifters. Or perhaps it was the wolf in him that connected with whatever good exists inside me. But it was hard for us. We had to be secretive. Greyson hated that. He wanted to change the way magicals kept apart.”

Kenna’s eyes slip toward me. Heat builds under my skin. Now that I’ve met her and our wolves have bonded, I understand. There is nothing, no Council member, Accord, or power in this world that could keep me from fighting to be with her. Nonetheless, I have to be careful.

“Anyway, after Greyson and I got married, we wanted to go somewhere private and secluded for our honeymoon so we didn’t have to hide our relationship. There is a small town in Mexico that welcomes our kind. Or at least it did. Kind of like a resort for magicals.” Jackie laughs genially. “It’s on the Baja Peninsula and called Bahia Magia.”

“Clever,” Kenna says. “Is it still there?”

“Kenna, are you planning your wedding?” Her eyes flash to me. “There is no arguing with fated mates. But remember how much trouble I’ve had. I just want you to be happy.” Jackie squeezes her daughter's hand.

“No, we’re not quite there yet. First, we have to stop that werewolf and bring down the Klave.”

Jackie sits back in her chair. “Well, in that case, I suppose you’re on the right track. I imagine Greyson will be of great help. If you can find him. No one has. Though plenty have tried.”

“Including Clove.”

“Is that the young man we met at Lonsdale?”

“Yes, and yesterday, I found out he’s my brother.”

Jackie goes still. “I’m certain I only had one child. I’d remember something like that.”

“He’s fae.”

Jackie’s face slackens. “I knew something was different about him. But not that he was your brother. Greyson is—” She finishes her sentence with