Chance on Love (Kagan Wolves) (4 page)

Chapter Seven

Sean had no trouble finding Jenna’s home a week later. While obviously old, the trailer appeared to be in good condition. A porch had been added to the front, and a freshly painted shed stood next to it. He scanned the garden, noting the types of vegetables she’d selected. Although too late in the summer to plant one, he could start reading up on them. He knew nothing about gardening, nor had he cared to learn. For Jenna, he’d figure it out. He’d do the grunt work. She could reap the benefits. Unless, of course, she enjoyed getting her hands dirty. Then they could work together. Actually, he liked that idea better. It would give them a chance to talk.

A smile on his face, he pulled into her driveway and parked behind an older hatchback with a dent on the passenger side. Concern rushed over him. Had she been in an accident? He jumped from the car and hurried to her door. Before he got to the porch, Jenna stepped out with two large boxes stacked precariously in her arms.

“Jenna?”

She sucked in a rough breath, and the top box tumbled to the ground. The sound of smashing glass followed.

“My china!” She shoved the first box into his hands and opened the one that had fallen. Her shoulders slumped. “Broken. I knew I should’ve taken the time to wrap them in newspaper.”

He placed the box he held on the plastic chair next to the door. “It’s my fault. I startled you. I’m sorry.”

She gave the ruined dishes one last glance, then pushed to her feet. “Well, I shouldn’t have been carrying so much, but I’m on a deadline. I need to be out of my house before sunset, and I can’t fit very many boxes in my car.” She motioned behind her. “Look at all the stuff I need to move yet, and it’s already after three.”

Stacks of boxes and dozens of garbage bags filled the room behind her. He looked from them to her. “You’re moving?”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded. “Unfortunately. Michael found out about my mate bite and ordered me off our lands before nightfall.” She sighed. “I’ve made three trips already, but I’m never going to get everything out in time, and nobody is allowed to help me since I’m no longer a Tanner.”

His mom hadn’t mentioned Jenna dropping stuff off at his old house, and he’d been at the new place all day. “Where did you take them?”

“Ummm, my apartment.”

“Your apartment?” A brick landed in his gut. “Aren’t you moving in with me?”

She frowned. “No. Why would I?”

“Because you’re my mate. That’s where you belong.”

The icy indifference she’d worn for him the morning after they’d mated returned. She stared at him for a long moment, then cleared her throat. “Are you evoking pack mating law?”

Which guaranteed him complete control over her, from deciding who she could associate with to whether or not they would have children. The antiquated law stemmed from a time when taking a mate was viewed as a necessity and a liability. The Kagan pack no longer followed the old dictates, but the Tanner pack did.

He shoved his hand into his pocket and toyed with the ring he’d driven five hours to get. Specially made by a coven of witches, the diamond band would mold to whichever form the wearer took, so it would never have to be removed. He had platinum wedding bands sitting in his dresser at home too. At the moment, it appeared as if he’d jumped the gun buying them.

“No.” He let the ring settle against the key to their house. “I’m not going to force you to live with me. I just assumed you would.”

“And I assumed you regretted me.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s been a week, and this is the first I’ve heard from you.”

“I figured I only had one chance to convince you to forgive me after the way I reacted. I didn’t want to blow it.”

“Why did you treat me so coldly?”

“I acted on my instincts and mated you without even knowing your name. I was afraid I’d only mated you because…” He exhaled slowly. “Because without Nic here, I feel the need to secure my position within the pack so I can take over.”

“And by mating me, you feel as if you’ve betrayed your pack mate.”

“Yes. Being alpha is his destiny, not mine. Besides, I’d make a shitty alpha anyway.”

She approached him and rested his fingertips against his jaw. “If fate demanded it, you would make a wonderful alpha.”

“You don’t know me. How can you say that?”

She laid her other hand over her heart. “I carry a piece of your soul, Sean. I know.”

A lump formed in his throat. He swallowed past it and blinked several times to ease the burn in his eyes. “You figured out my name?”

“Noah called to congratulate me.”

“I should’ve called. I was just busy getting our new house ready. I wanted everything perfect for you.”

“You bought a house?”

“Well, I can’t expect you to live with my parents, especially if we make a baby next month.”

The color drained from her face. “I don’t want kids. I should’ve told you.”

Her words rushed out, and her breathing quickened. He cupped her face in his hands. “Okay. We won’t have any then. My brothers can carry on our family line.”

“You’re okay with it?” A considering look passed over her face. “Mating law demands a female birth at least one child.”

He shrugged. “Well, it’s a stupid rule. I’m not going to force you to have my kid if you don’t want one.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, but I’m curious. Why don’t you want any kids?”

“I’d make a horrible mother. I’m too focused on my career. I can’t cook, and…” She lowered her gaze to his mouth. “I’m afraid my kids will end up crazy like Michael. We do carry the same genes.”

He tipped up her chin. “Michael isn’t crazy, nor was he always a bad alpha. I don’t know why he stopped caring about his pack or why he became power hungry, but I can guarantee you’re nothing like him and neither will any child that carries your genes be like him.”

“You can’t promise that. One night, Michael snapped. What if I—”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “Yes, I can. I trust my instincts, and I trust Noah. He said I couldn’t have picked a better mate. I agree.”

Tears collected on her lashes. “You’re a good male, aren’t you?”

“Would you have chosen a shitty one to spend your life with?”

She grinned and shook her head. “No.”

Sean dug out the ring and the key to their house, then dropped to his knee. She stared at the diamond, and her eyes widened.

“I’m not asking you to marry me.” Even though he wanted to drag her to the courthouse and make it official. She wasn’t ready. Her reaction to him proved it. “I’m asking you to accept this promise ring and key. I want you to live with me and get to know me, then when you realize how amazing I am, you’ll agree to be my wife, not just my mate.”

She fingered the three-carat ring and raised a brow. “This is a pretty expensive promise ring.”

“You’re worth it.” He took it and poised it at the tip of her ring finger. “Say yes. Take a chance on love, Jenna.”

“Yes”—she grinned—“but I’d rather take a chance on us.”

He slid the ring into place and pulled her into his arms. “Then we win, because I won’t ever give up on us.”

About the Author

A true romantic at heart, Nancy Corrigan is convinced there’s a knight in shining armor for every woman (or man), but you won’t find damsels in distress in her stories. She adores pairing alpha heroes with women strong enough to match them and bring them to their knees. She also enjoys flipping the traditional roles in romances because her motto is—love and people should never be forced to conform to anyone’s norm.

She holds a degree in chemistry and has worked in research but now focuses on ensuring quality. She considers it the perfect outlet for her as she’s the first to admit she has some OCD tendencies. It carries over into her writing life too. While engrossed in a novel, she has a habit of forgetting to eat and sleep. Fortunately, she’s married to her own knight in shining armor who understands her oddities and loves her anyway. They reside in Pennsylvania with their three children, dog, snake and guinea pigs. Her other interests include tattoos, animals, classic cars and all things spooky and sexy.

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Look for these titles by Nancy Corrigan

Now Available:

Kagan Wolves

Bridged by Love

Chance on Love

Wild Hunt

Hunter Sacrificed

Hunter Deceived

Hunter Forsaken

Coming Soon:

Kagan Wolves

Shared for Love

Don’t miss the other titles in Nancy Corrigan’s Kagan Wolves series!

Follow his head, he breaks her heart. Follow his heart…he breaks his pack.

From the moment he was born, Nic Kagan’s future was sealed. He’ll accept a mate, have kids, and eventually take over his father’s role as pack alpha. There’s just one problem.

Long ago, his heart settled on Riley, the pack’s human doctor and honorary member. Except only half of him can have her. The other half—his wolf—won’t give a weak non-shifter female a second sniff.

No one—human or shifter—has left a mark on Riley’s soul like Nic. But with his father hospitalized, any hope things could work out between them is slipping away. Yet Riley understands something else about pack life. Power isn’t always a physical gift; love is just as strong. What she and Nic have is worth fighting for.

With rival threats mounting, Nic realizes he can’t simply turn his back on Riley. Though his wolf could tear his heart out for it, he must fight for what he wants before he loses his mate. His pack. Maybe even his sanity.

Warning: Contains a reluctant alpha with only one roadblock between his heart and the woman he loves—biology. And a woman who isn’t giving up on him, even if it means risking her life to fool Mother Nature.

He was born to kill her…but he’ll risk all to save her.

Wild Hunt
, Book 1

Every day, Harley fights the urge to embrace the dark heritage that could turn her Unseelie. Evil.
Bad
. A nightmarish monster like the ones that wiped out her family. The only thing keeping her on this side of Seelie is a promise made to the ghostly man who saved her that terrible night.

Whenever she’s tempted, she calls up a vision of his eyes. Hears his voice calling her back from the brink of madness. Years later, when she returns to the scene of her living hell, he’s her only hope for salvation.

Calan, the leader of the Wild Hunt, was created to protect mankind from the Unseelie Court, not love one of them. He never expected the rightness he felt with her all those years ago would explode into desire.

But saving her from a fate she can’t escape could damn them both…and leave the world open for destruction.

Warning: Contains a half-fae woman who could really use a Seelie version of AA to stay clean and monster-free. And a rider of the Wild Hunt who’ll take any risk to keep her safe from her enemies. Including himself.

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

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Chance on Love

Copyright © 2016 by Nancy Corrigan

ISBN: 978-1-61923-385-0

Edited by Linda Ingmanson

Cover by Kanaxa

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First
Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
electronic publication: February 2016

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