The Wolf's Peacock
Wild, Montana 2
The Wolf’s Peacock
Indigo is a rare peacock shifter with psychic abilities and is best friends with the clan’s alpha female. She knows Nico is her mate but he has been avoiding her and she’s starting to get mad.
Nico is one of the betas to the clan’s alpha male Caleb Grey. Nico has wanted Indigo from the first moment he saw her but nothing seems to be working in his favor. Through misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and some yelling, will anything be resolved between these two mates?
Then, the alpha needs the help of his betas and Indigo’s special talents to help rescue some shifters, one that is particularly close to his heart. Through the rescue, a very pregnant and moody alpha female and all the misunderstandings, will Indigo and Nico find their happily ever after in time? Or will it be too late for the peacock and the wolf?
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Shape-shifter, Vampires/Werewolves
Length: 21,854 words
THE WOLF’S PEACOCK
Wild, Montana 2
Jasmine Alexander
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
THE WOLF’S PEACOCK
Copyright © 2014 by Jasmine Alexander
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-311-6
First E-book Publication: September 2014
Cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
To all of my friends who have answered awkward, invasive questions and still let me call them friends. To AW and JW for making me laugh with all of their stories and to JM for giving me some inspiration for more than one scene, one of which is in this book and I hope he would approve of.
Love,
Jasmine
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
About the Author
THE WOLF’S PEACOCK
Wild, Montana 2
JASMINE ALEXANDER
Copyright © 2014
Chapter 1
The wind was pounding against her face and even though she was sweating profusely, she started to get cold. She couldn’t stop. If she stopped they would catch her and she couldn’t allow that to happen. Every muscle in her body protested the extreme treatment but if she stopped for even a second, she would die. She could hear the running feet behind her and she knew they were getting closer. Closer to her and closer to him. The only thing she could think about was keeping him safe. She would do anything.
Indigo sat straight up in bed, sweating and breathing heavily. She was having the dreams again and that was never a good sign. Her dreams were her mind’s way of letting her know that she would be running again. While her telekinetic and telepathic abilities were strong, they still came out of nowhere sometimes. When she got extremely emotional, particularly angry, her telekinesis could turn deadly for those she felt threatened by. Her telepathy was much more haphazard. She didn’t read minds but she had been drawn into people’s minds and memories before. She really would like a warning when something like that would occur, but the instability of her powers didn’t give that to her. Her secret hope was that once she found a clan and a stable life her powers would follow suit. That hadn’t happened yet and considering she was one of the rarest shifters, there wasn’t a fountain of knowledge she could take from.
Indigo slowly got out of bed and walked on unsteady legs to the adjoining bathroom. She winced as she turned on the lights. The headache was only a dull throb and it would soon go away but she was more worried about the intensity of the dream. Her entire body felt like she had been running a marathon. Though it had only been in the dream she was starting to feel it more every night. She threw cold water in her face and then dried it off. Indigo looked up into the mirror at her face. She had circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep and she was scarred.
What am I going to do? At any other time in her life she would tell her best friend and honorary sister, Eira, about the dreams. Then the two of them would prepare for whatever was coming, usually for Indigo and that would be that. After the inevitable confrontation they would move on to another temporary place to live. Indigo couldn’t do that now. She and Eira had finally found a place to stay. A home. Eira had a mate who adored her and there was family all around them. Now, Indigo was going to be an aunt. She couldn’t let Eira deal with her problems at a time like this. So where did that leave her?
Indigo knew she had to tell someone. Before it was too late. Her dreams were always an indication that something was coming. However, she was afraid that if she told Nico, her so-called mate, he would want to hide her and go on the offensive against anyone who came for her. She didn’t want that either.
When she had first discovered the sexy wolf she had been overjoyed. Her bird had demanded to let their mate claim her, but Indigo had been more cautious. Sure, she had wanted Nico desperately but she wasn’t going to jump headfirst into that kind of thing. He had been attentive and caring but he hadn’t even tried to kiss her with more of a peck on the cheek and she was getting more frustrated every time she saw him.
Indigo had even tried some advances of her own and he had responded politely, but declined nonetheless. She had come to the conclusion that he didn’t want her. And even worse, she was sure there was another woman. He would spend many hours missing only to resurface smelling like a female wolf shifter. She wasn’t sure what to do. How was she supposed to compete with a wolf? Her mate clearly wanted someone his own kind, someone fierce who didn’t need protecting the way that everyone seemed to think she did. If she took her problem to him, he would just see it as another weakness and that would be more against her in his mind.
So for now, she would keep it to herself and be very careful. No one was going to get to her new family. She wouldn’t let them. It was time to stand on her own two feet. She would stand up and fight for herself.
Indigo walked into the kitchen to find her alpha mauling her best friend on the countertop. Indi was happy for her friend but really, that’s where they ate.
“Ewwe. Get a room,” Indi said as she passed by the couple and opened the refrigerator. Caleb growled but Eira just giggled.
“This is why we need to kick everyone out of this house,” Caleb grumbled and Indi snorted. The whole idea of having such a large house was for the clan to have room all around them. Not every clan member lived in the giant house but there was room for those who wanted or might even need the place.
“Sweetheart, you know that i
f you kicked anyone out you would be bored within an hour. Besides this is getting more and more uncomfortable for me to be on the counter,” Eira stated and tried to wiggle her extra-large frame off the counter. Caleb picked his mate up and gently set her on her feet.
“I’m sorry, love. Go get comfortable on the couch and I will bring you breakfast.” Caleb gently kissed Eira as he rubbed his hand gently along her extended belly. Indi held back her own tears for the loving couple. The two of them were so in love and even though it hadn’t been an easy road they were perfect together. Indi wished that her so-called mate would look at her like that.
Indi poured herself a glass of orange juice while Caleb made breakfast for his mate.
“Where is everyone?” Indi asked the alpha. Usually at this time of the morning the kitchen was full of shifters making and eating breakfast.
“Eira threw a glass at Soren’s head because he said she was as big as a house. His voice wasn’t low enough for her not to hear. So everyone went to the diner this morning. Giving their alpha female some space,” Caleb explained quietly.
Indi smiled to herself. Eira was getting big but anyone who was stupid enough to point it out deserved what they got. Eira after all was having twins. Twin shifters no less. On her petite frame it just made her belly stand out.
The front door opened and shut. Indi could feel his presence and her insides turned into those of a giddy little girl. Every time Nico was around she couldn’t help but want to be with him. His lack of affection was really starting to get to her. As he walked into the kitchen he immediately began speaking to Caleb.
“Morning. Where is everyone?” Nico asked the alpha. He hadn’t noticed her yet and that hurt Indigo even more. She was aware of him any time he was close to her and he didn’t even notice that she was in the room. Caleb grunted in response to his beta and Nico noticed.
“What’s wrong?” Nico asked Caleb as he moved things around in the refrigerator.
“You never being here is what’s wrong. Where the hell were you last night?” the alpha demanded. Indigo just watch the interaction between the two. However, the scent of female wolf drifted to her and she knew that it had come from her mate. She closed her eyes and buried the pain deep inside. She was done letting Nico make her feel this way.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you were my dad.” His flip comment made Caleb turn red and he moved faster than Indi had ever seen him move. He turned Nico and pinned him to the refrigerator.
“I don’t know what the hell your problem is but you better watch it. Brothers or not I am your alpha.” Caleb snarled into Nico’s face until the other shifter nodded his head in understanding. Caleb released him and turned back to what he was doing.
Nico turned his head and looked right at Indigo. The surprise and the guilt in his eyes made her turn around and head for the stairs.
“Indi,” Nico said from behind her and she ignored him. “Indi, wait.” Nico grabbed Indi’s arms and turned her around before she could reach the stairs. She allowed it but put an indifferent look on her face to hide her pain. “Indi, what’s wrong?” He had the nerve to look confused and Indi snapped. She broke his hold on her arms and pushed him away.
“What’s wrong?” she yelled at him in disbelief. She pushed him again and let all of her anger out. “You are what’s wrong! You are out every single night, all night long! You ignore me constantly! When Caleb was being a jackass to Eira you were so down on him and now you’re doing the same thing to me!” Nico started shaking his head in denial.
“Baby, it’s not like that. I can’t be near you right now.” As soon as Nico said it he paled at the fury crossing Indigo’s face.
“You can’t be near me? I’m supposed to be your mate!” Indi was gritting her teeth but she continued even as he tried to speak again. “Don’t want me to catch the scent of your female wolf?” she demanded and Nico’s face turned to anger.
“What are you accusing me of?” Nico demanded and Indi was glad he was mad so she wasn’t tempted to listen to anything he told her.
“I’m not accusing you of anything. I don’t have to. You stay out all night and come home smelling like a female wolf! If you didn’t want to be my mate, all you had to do was say so.” Her anger fuelled his and the words just poured out of him.
“A female wolf wouldn’t need to accuse me. Her senses would tell her the truth.” Indi sucked in a breath after her so-called mate insulted her.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing you found one. I’m sure she never questions you. It’s not like you have ever gone to her smelling like me!”
“That’s what this is about? I’m not following you around like a little puppy the way I did when you first showed up, so I’m a bad mate? Maybe I just got tired of you keeping me at a distance!” After Nico took a breath he continued to carve out her heart and hand it to her with his words. “Or is this about sex? You need some attention, sweetheart? Because if that’s all it is I can certainly oblige you.” He said the last part in such a way that made Indigo feel dirty.
“Hey!” Eira yelled at Nico and pushed in between the two fighting shifters with her belly leading the way. “Don’t you ever speak to her like that again! You should go cool off somewhere else. Now!”
“Yeah, I’m going,” Nico said and turned away. The front door slammed and Indi’s heart was in pieces. She and her bird had been overjoyed when they discovered their mate. But now it seemed that it didn’t matter one bit because he didn’t want her.
“Indi.” Eira’s voice had Indi looking at her friend. The gentleness in her eyes made Indi want to cry. Eira had been taking care of her for years. When will I be able to stand on my own?
“He just needs some time to cool off. We can fix this.” Eira’s no-nonsense way of dealing with things made Indi feel like smiling but she couldn’t force it.
“Don’t worry about it. You just concentrate on my niece and nephew growing in your tummy.” Indi succeeded in changing the subject when Caleb called out.
“Bite your tongue. I already have one teenage daughter. I don’t think I can do it again.” The large alpha lion looked a little green at the prospect of more daughters but Indi and Eira knew he didn’t really have a preference. Those cubs were going to be loved by everyone they came into contact with.
“I’m going to town for a while. I’ll see you later,” Indi announced and went upstairs to get her things. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about the dreams and a mate who clearly didn’t want to trouble himself with her. She grabbed her keys and purse and drove Eira’s jeep into town. Eira didn’t need it anymore because she couldn’t fit behind the wheel.
Chapter 2
Nico stormed out of the house and shifted into his wolf form. He ran into the woods surrounding the pack house as fast as he could. He needed to burn off the energy his mate had brought out in him. He didn’t want to fight with her but she was making him crazy. She smelled so delicious all the time that it was hell staying away from her.
Nico knew he had been a first-class ass with Indi but he wasn’t ready to tell her the truth. Why couldn’t she trust him? Why would she trust you? She barely knows you. His wolf made a good point but he decided to ignore it. It wasn’t his fault she wouldn’t open up to him. He had made it perfectly clear that he would always be there for her and she pushed him away. On top of all that he was still making plans for them and hoping she would come around.
Nico ran and ran until he was near exhaustion. He lay down in front of a stream looking across it to the building that was almost finished. He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes, imagining what his life was going to be like. With any luck it would be with the mate he was head over heels in love with.