Forgiveness
For My Mate
Sanctuary
For My Mate Book 1
by
Terri A. Wilson
Genre:
Paranormal Romance
Tatum’s
perfect, well-planned life crashed one piece at a time. After small
mistakes led to bigger ones, she’s ready to give up and walk away
from the only dream she ever knew. A trip to a New Mexico retreat
sounds like the best way to pull herself together. Then she met
Connor, a hot falcon shifter who shows her a whole new world full of
possibilities she never imagined. Connor’s falcon claimed her at
first glance. Now faced with her inner demons, can she learn to
forgive herself and stop the cycle of self-destruction? Will his love
be enough to calm the anxiety and fears that prevent her from finding
the life she never knew she wanted?
“Your whole family is like this?” She smacked
an open palm on her forehead. “Were you at the cabin when I first arrived?”
He ducked his head, embarrassed. “Yes.”
“Were you spying on me?”
“Not spying. I returned home when my falcon
noticed the dirt you knocked up. He wanted to see what caused the commotion.”
“Wait. Is what we did—am I going to turn into
something like you?”
“No, it doesn’t work that way. Sex alone
doesn’t make you into a shifter. There has to be a claiming to be bonded.”
“Claiming?”
“When shifters bond they claim each other.
Bonds are for life. It connects them on a physical, emotional, and spiritual
level. It goes way beyond a typical marriage.”
“How does this claiming work?”
Don’t
get excited.
He pulled out a dining chair, sat, and rested
his arms on his knees. “Well, it involves sex.”
“Of course, it does.” She rolled her eyes.
“Sex is the most intimate connection two
people share. During sex, the mate, normally the female, has to open her soul,
and the male connects to her spirit, and they click.”
“Click? You make it sound like a rom-com.”
“Well, it’s more than just clicking. It’s
hard to explain, but when the male bites the female—”
“Hold up. The guy has to bite the girl? And
why is it usually the man forcing this bondage?”
He put his head in his hands. After a count
of ten, he said, “Tatum, it’s not bondage. There’s a huge difference. Shifter
relationships are traditional. The male is alpha over the female. In shifter
packs, there is even one, again it’s mostly a man, but a few females have done
it, who is alpha.”
“Are falcons part of a pack?”
“A family pack. We stay close together.
That’s why my family hated me living so far away.”
“Are there other falcon shifters?”
“Yes. We have a big barn dance each year.”
Tatum cocked her head to the side. “Are you
making fun of me?”
“Maybe a little. We don’t all belong to a
club, and we don’t have yearly cons. But we keep an eye out for each other.”
“Do you get along with other shifters?” She
put the pillow away and crisscrossed her legs under her.
“Most of the shifters I’ve met are good
people busy living their lives. Just like everyone else.”
“Do you have special abilities?”
He scoffed. “Sure, I can shoot laser beams
from my eyes.”
“That’s it. I’m out of here.” She shot up to
leave, but he met her at the door. “Tatum. Tatum, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to
tease you. Look, I’ve never shared this with anyone outside of the shifter
community. I don’t know how it’s done.”
She faced him. “This is a lot to take in.”
He put his hands in his pockets. “I
understand if you need time to let this sink in, but I need to tell you
something before you go. Last night was not fun and games for me. I understand
we just met, but you have become someone special.”
She crossed her arms. “Well, that doesn’t add
any pressure.”
“I’m fantastic at reading people. Last night
was special for you too.”
“You’re right. There is something different
about you, but that only makes it more complicated.”
“How so? I’m still the same guy I was last night.”
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “The
problem is, I’m not.”
Harmony
For My Mate
Sanctuary
for My Mate Book 2
How
do you choose between two women, when only the love of both will
bring you harmony?
Cameron
was born a falcon shifter, but when his arrogance prompted a total
disregard to safety, he was attacked by a bear shifter. Living with
two predatory animals who want control makes it hard to find peace.
When he meets the new chef, Eliza, his bear recognizes his mate, but
his falcon longs for Skylar. When an opportunity presents itself that
will make all the three happy, Eliza’s heart fights against her
traditional upbringing. Faced with a choice, she retreats into fear
and uncertainty. Skylar knows her love is not confined to a
predetermined set of societal norms. She has to break through the
walls Cameron and Eliza built, but that’s not easy when Cam’s
heart is split in two and Eliza refuses to believe she deserves
happiness. Can three unique hearts turn their back on tradition and
forge a new type of bond in order to bring harmony to their life?
She pulled away and saw Skylar in a new way.
This woman, who was at least ten years her junior, showed more wisdom and
compassion than Eliza knew possible. Something in her eyes tugged at an intense
level of passion. High on emotion, she leaned in and kissed Skylar’s full
mouth. Skylar’s soft lips parted as she pulled Eliza against her. Years of
practiced decorum screamed in Eliza’s head as she cupped Sky’s face with her
hands. The contrast between the softness of this woman’s mouth and the strength
of Cameron’s elicited an emotion she was unprepared to experience. In a moment
of panic, she pulled back and glanced at the floor to hide her embarrassment.
“Oh, um, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done
that. I don’t know what came over me.” She reached for the cookie plate, found
a container, and put the cookies away.
“Don’t be sorry. I’m not. It was a genuine
emotion from you and I’m glad I was here to share it with you.”
Eliza tilted her head, confused. “I don’t
understand. You and Cameron are together. Right?”
“Yes, we are. Sorta.”
Eliza stood in front of the lady with an
opened, unsure what to say.
Skylar snickered. “I understand your
confusion.” She scanned the kitchen. “There’s no alcohol at the retreat, but
please tell me you have a stash of something stronger than coffee.”
Eliza winked. She went to a planter sitting
on her desk, pulled out the silk plant, and produced a bottle of vanilla vodka.
Skylar laughed. “You are too much. You hide
cookies and sweets all over the place for people to search and find, but vodka
sits in almost plain sight on your desk?”
Eliza nodded. “And as far as I know, no one’s
found it.” She put down two glasses and filled them with the tawny liquid.
“I’ve been working on Caleb to change the alcohol situation around here. I mean
he’s got his stash of wine and Cameron has his stash of beer. He’s worried it
will go against the image he wants for this place. It’s stupid. A good glass of
wine enhances a meal.”
“Caleb is a little stiff. I have a hard time
seeing him and Wednesday together, but they seem happy.”
“Yes, they do. Sometimes opposites attract. I
don’t know him that much on a personal level, but I get the impression he would
be worse without her.”
“I knew him before he met Wednesday. You’re
right.” She held up her drink. “To Wednesday.”
They clinked glasses and Eliza added, “To
Wednesday.”
An awkward silence fell between the two
ladies. Eliza wanted to say something but had no idea where to start.
“You don’t have to be afraid of what
happened,” Skylar said.
“I don’t know what came over me. I mean, I
don’t go around kissing girls. I’m not that kind of person.” She covered her
mouth with her hand worried her tone might have offended Skylar.
“And just what kind of person kisses women?”
“Um, I mean, uh…”
Skylar tipped her glass back and set it on
the butcher block. “Relax, Eliza. I’m joking with you. It’s okay to say
lesbian. It’s not a bad word.”
“Is that what you are?”
“What?”
Eliza’s mouth twitched. “What you said.”
“What did I say?”
“You know, what you called yourself.” She
furrowed her brow.
“Does that word make you uncomfortable?”
“No.” Eliza shifted on her stool.
“Then say it.”
“Fine. Whatever. Are you a lesbian?”
“No.” Skylar added more alcohol to their
glasses.
“I don’t understand. Did our kiss make you
feel uncomfortable?”
“No. As much fun as it is to watch you
squirm, let me help you out. I’m in love with love. I’m attracted to people
based on my need to love and be loved. Some people call me a bisexual, but that
label feels too narrow for me. I don’t go out and have sex with any and
everyone. When I first became sexual, I was attracted to females. My family
hated it but learned to accept it despite our priest damning me to hell. Then I
met Wyatt’s father. He identified as a homosexual, but our connection grabbed
me and wouldn’t let me go. Though we were compatible in bed, it didn’t go
beyond that no matter how hard we tried. My parents were elated because they
thought they cured me.” She used air quotes emphasizing the word cured. “I
understand that love isn’t as simple as we’d all like to believe. Intimacy is
the most passionate way to share that love.”
“How do you identify?” This subject was new
to Eliza and though it challenged some of her learned ideas, she respected her
friend.
“If I had to label myself, I’m what you might
consider a pansexual, but even that term is debated everywhere. So, I don’t
label myself. It’s not something I need to do to feel better.”
“Are you attracted to Cameron?”
Skylar finished her drink and poured another
one. “Very much so, but you already knew that, didn’t you?”
Eliza nodded.
“So, are you?”
Eliza nodded again. “It makes little sense to
me.”
“What doesn’t make sense?”
“Well, for one thing, he’s way younger than
me. And for another thing, I don’t want to come between the two of you.”
“Eliza, age is just a number. And you can’t
come between us if you are a part of us.”
Eliza poured herself another drink. “Bonding
was never an important consideration in my family, but I’ve learned enough to
know it’s between two people.”
“That’s what I’ve always thought too. But I’m
just as drawn to you as I am to Cameron.”
Eliza blushed and batted her eyes. “You are?”
“You’re cute when you play coy,” Skylar
teased. “Love and sex are different. I don’t think any of us are ready to
commit to love, but it might be worth exploring.” She held up her glass for a
toast.
Eliza didn’t understand the power of love,
but something pulled her to these two. She met Skylar’s glass. Maybe it was
worth exploring.
Terri
is a former English teacher and librarian. She taught middle and high
school and college. Now she works from home homeschooling her two
daughters and living out her dreams via her stories. She began
escaping into books a little later than most but was hooked after the
first book she read. It has been her dream to give back to the book
world since she was in second grade.
When
she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys binging on Netflix and
painting. Due to her crunchy lifestyle and free spirit, she considers
herself a recycled hippie. Her most important goal is to help others
jump and learn to fly.
To
find out more about her characters and the lives they live, check out
her website, http://www.terriluvsbooks.com.
Follow her on Amazon and Goodreads, or connect with through Facebook,
Twitter, and Instagram.
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1 comments:
Thank you for sharing my book. I appreciate it.
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