Mated To Magic (Stark Creek Shifters Book 1) by Barb Shuler (free ereaders .TXT) 📕

be a goner. They were freaking adorable. I just hoped they liked the boys as much as they did me. Max wouldn’t be a problem, his scent was similar to mine since he, too, was a wolf. Ty and Liam would probably be okay. The bear would be the one to freak them out, I’d think. Who knows? Maybe they would be able to sense he was just an overgrown toddler.

“Here you are, sir.”

The girl held out a basket with a pink and white ribbon tied around it. Both puppies were laying in it, a soft blanket under them.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” I sat the puppies on the counter and grinned. Mia was going to keel over with joy.

“We have a welcome kit for you as we discussed on the phone. Once you take them to a vet in your area, you’ll need to wean them off of this food and onto one of your choosing. Don’t just switch the food. Their tummies will start to backfire and trust me, you do not want that.”

“Mix in a little of the new and with each time you put less of the old, correct?”

“Yes. They will do a lot of sleeping; they’ll play a good bit as well. They love to be out in the grass. You said you were getting a kennel for them?”

“Yes, so when we are at work they are corralled.”

“Good idea. They have a few toys in that bag. Also a little water and food dish. Janna—”

“Their treats are in there too. I put two leashes that matched their collars, another blanket, and some of the coupons for doggy stuff are in there too.” She beamed.

“Thank you, such a sweet girl.” Mrs. Susie hugged her granddaughter with one arm and met my gaze. “If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call.”

“Yes, ma’am, thank you. I’m going to take this stuff out to my truck, then come back for them.”

“I can carry them for you.”

Before I could protest, the little girl picked up the basket and started out the door. I chuckled as she talked to the pups. “You have to be good now. No chewing on socks.” She stopped at the truck and I opened the door so she could put the basket on the seat.

“Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome. Bye!” She turned and ran back up the walk to the main door.

I strapped the basket in—yes, I was that guy now, and climbed in once everything was secure.

I pulled my phone out and texted Jay.

Dalton: Got the delivery.

Dalton: There are two of them.

Dalton: Can you get more supplies? Another food/water dish and a bed. Two should fit in that kennel.

Dalton: Maybe just one big bed?

Jayden: Dear God. Chill. I got it. Drive safe.

Dalton: Be back in three hours.

The drive home was uneventful. I stopped for gas, let them out to potty, and by the time they hit the basket again, they were asleep. To be that lazy, if only. I pulled into the driveway and shook off the fatigue that six hours of driving would give you and climbed out of the truck. Now that I wasn’t being watched by a little old lady and a child, I could make one trip with the dogs’ bags and them. I balanced the basket on my hip and made my way up the steps.

Jayden was to leave the supplies she got for me in the spare room. For now, that would be the puppies’ home, until Mia came home and followed the trail of paw prints. There were multiple bags in the corner and a crate, already set up. I was excited for Mia to get home this afternoon. The bar was closed, but she had to go in for a supply run, which I didn’t worry over because Nick, Angus, and Liam were all there with her. They hadn’t known they’d be stacking boxes today but, hey, that’s work for you.

I got the kennel set up with the potty pads, a bowl of food and water, and their big bed. This kennel was huge, so there was plenty of room for everything and for them to walk around.

I scooped them both up and held them. I walked to the living room and sat on the couch. “Your mama will be home in a couple of hours. We have time for a quick nap, then we’ll set up the trail for her to follow. She is going to love you both so much.”

I kicked my legs up on the couch, using my toes to kick off my trainers, before I fell back onto the soft cushions. I was beat. I tucked both puppies into my side, between me and the couch, and yawned. Only a little nap. I had to get things done before my girl got home. I wanted this to be a perfect surprise for her.

24

Mia

It had been a couple of days now since Sylvester showed up at the club and injected Jay with liquid GHB. Ty, Max, and I had rushed her to the hospital. Thankfully, her cat burnt it off quicker than normal and they released her. I didn’t like the idea of taking her home, so I set up our spare room for her. Ty was less than happy with that, but he was made to give in. I gave her something to help put her to sleep and made her breakfast the next morning. She didn’t remember much after Sylvester hit and drugged her. She knew there was someone with me, but didn’t know who. Not wanting to push her over the edge, I didn’t tell her that it was Ty and Max there with me. Her cat could only handle so much and I was worried about the nightmares, so I left it.

When Dalton met us at the hospital, I finally felt myself beginning to calm down. After seeing her like that, I wanted to go crazy and burn shit to the