Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
Daddy’s Innocent Mate Chapter 18

Francine

Classes went on as usual. It was only a week out from Elias's free fall that could have killed him. Dr. Windsor said he'd avoided getting gravely injured because of the bite on his neck. If that was true, then why did I still feel like a mere attachment to his life? The sun beat down from the sky and reflected off the top of the playground as the kids ran around in odchips. Archie trailed after Inez and Dean while Shannon and Pamela whispered underneath the slide to each other. To be a child again would be wonderful if it didn't also mean giving up my independence.

Simpler times called to me. I missed the days when my mother had made my meals and cleaned my bedsheets. Doing it myself wasn't a problem. It was all the things that came with it-like Archie's hidden dishes and random moodiness. The teen years would soon set in. I had to enjoy him as he was now before the hormones took over.

I sighed into my palm. I wasn't interested in reading any of my books. This week had taken too much conversation would help catapult us into the future. It meant life or death for us.

Quite literally, it would be death if we didn't mate properly. He had already recklessly bitten my neck, would have to travel here to mourn my loss of sanity.

Because that was what happened to rejected mates.

he, especially since Elias had taken to sleeping on the couch instead of in our bed. All I wanted was honesty from him. Why couldn't he do that? One

meant his rejection would make me wither away. What had I been thinking, trying to leave? I would have merely progressed my fate, and then my parents

Bennie darted up to me with Archie in tow and Inez wobbling right after him. I stood up from the bend and knelt down to hear them better over the roar of playing children. "What's going on?" "Reagan said she found something in the sandbox," Bennie explained. "It looks like a box or somethin Archie nodded while grabbing Inez's hand. "Inez tried to eat it."

I chuckled while standing up and pointing toward the door. "Archie, would you mind getting everyone "Okay, Mom."

I'll go check the sandbox."

Mom. I was still getting used to hearing that one. Though it would have been strange a month ago for him to call me that, I was growing fond of the title, taking to calling him son every so often to see how it felt. And I liked that too.

Shannon and Pamela corralled the remaining kids toward the classroom door. I listened to their voices fade as I approached the sandbox on the other side of the playground. The door slammed shut and the voices cut off instantly, leaving me with the birds chirping and the sounds of building coming from the Bravecrest land.

Sure enough, sitting in the coral pink and tan beige sand was a tiny ring box covered in lush pink velv Mint and spice-that was Elias.

died it carefully, turning it around in my hand while trying to figure out why it looked so enticing. Was it the smell? I raised the box to my nose and sniffed. The moment I stood up and flipped around, I collided with a warm body, squealing loudly and flinging my arms wide to keep myself from falling on my bottom in the sand. Strong hands caught my waist. Amber eyes, one clouded with dots of white, snatched my attention.

"Elias!" I squeaked. "You almost made me fall over. What are you doing? What were you thinking? I'm in the middle of work and-"

And why the heck was he sporting such a proud smile?

I held up the box. "Is this your idea of a joke?"

"No, it's my idea of a proposal."

My heart stopped right then. No more attacks. Now I was just plain dead. The flatline sound that rang through my skull reminded me of the ER dramas I used to watch late at night when I couldn't sleep. Hot romances, passionate encounters, and deathly situations had been my addiction to fill the void of being alone.

Now that I wasn't alone, I didn't need them anymore. But I longed for the same passion to infect me again, to have someone grip me just the way Elias was clinging to me now.

He dug his nails into my hips, effectively keeping me in place. "Listen to me, little Fran. Don't turn away. Don't close your eyes. Listen."

I gulped as I held his gaze. The power in his eyes drilled me to my core, igniting a furious desire that I had tried so hard to keep at bay.

No longer could I deny it.

"I'm sorry I lied to you," he whispered gruffly. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I hurt Archie too. And I did it because I thought my hobbies were more important than your feelings."

My eyebrows scrunched up as my lower lip quivered. Everything was twisting inside me like a steel pipe twirling in a bed of wire.

"I'm wild and I'll never stop being wild-but you temper my dangerous streak in ways I can't even begin to describe." He bowed his head, connecting his forehead with mine. "I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you."

The crying came easier than it ever had. I tried to peek over his shoulder to check on the kids, but he shushed me, stroking the back of my head and urging me to focus on him.

"I've got Isaiah in there. He's entertaining the kids."

A mighty roar exploded from the other side of the playground, muted by the glass windows. Yep, that was definitely Isaiah. It seemed like his head was doing much better.

"I put his life in danger," Elias continued. "And I put yours in danger by putting mine in danger. I'm never doing that again."

"How can I trust you?"

He held up the box and opened it, revealing a gorgeous white opal wrapped in gold. The double band hosted a smaller opal and twinkled in the afternoon light. He plucked it from the satin and slid it over my ring finger without even asking.

"This is my promise," he replied. "I'll stick to bikes and rock climbing. You could be my hot rod biker girlfriend. If you're feeling up for the challenge."

His eyes glittered with mischief. Nothing but genuine affection glowed there. I could sense his commitment, his dedication to making things right. These weren't empty words and promises. These were true statements.

The bite on my neck burned. I scratched at it, feeling a strong inclination to tackle Elias to the ground and either kiss him senseless or beat his chest with my fists. Maybe both. That was the passion in me encouraging me to act.

I stared at the ring on my finger. "How about a hot rod biker wife?"

When he held me at arm's length, I thought he was about to let me go. But laughter burst from him and chased away any ideas about him leaving. I hoped that meant he wouldn't be sleeping on the couch anymore. My face met his chest, and his scent assaulted my senses, inviting me to bask in the glory of spice and mint. Being this close again put to rest the worries I had carried since his return from that botched jump.

I pushed back an inch. "Wait, biking and rock climbing?"

"Yeah, motorcycles." He grinned. "I haven't gone for a ride in a while. I figured you might want to come with me."

I cringed. "What about-?"

"There's a side car for Archie. I'll go the speed limit. We'll wear helmets."

I did say I wanted passion, didn't I? "Alright, fine. I'll try it. But you have to go five below the speed limit, deal?"

He groaned playfully and yanked me into his arms. "Deal. Hot rod biker wife sounds so much better than girlfriend." "I think so too."

"I can't believe you're going to marry me."

I laughed. "I can't believe you convinced me to get on a bike without a fight."

He smiled as he tilted my chin. "I guess that means we're getting better at this whole being honest thing, huh?"

My whole face boiled to a crisp with mortification. "Actually, Elias, there's something I should-"

Another roar interrupted us. That sounded like the kids were getting a bit too rowdy with Uncle Isaiah. Elias and I shared a chuckle while joining hands and heading back into the classroom. As suspected, the room appeared to have been hit by a hurricane and the only one concerned with cleaning up was Archie.

I planted my hands on my hips. "Just what are you all doing? Isn't it reading time?"

Every child froze in place, some of them hanging on Isaiah's shoulders while he went as still as a statue.

I shook my head with a chuckle. "Remember, we play rough outside, right?"

Relief swept through the room along with plenty of agreements. Isaiah hustled the kids to the door, letting some of them hang on to his massive arms. I followed the bunch to the door and sighed while leaning against the frame.

"Does your friend want to come in a few times a week for exercise time?" I asked.

Elias looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yeah, well..." I smiled at Archie who was helping Inez into the toddler swing. "You've helped me realize my kids need a lot more running around time. They need shifting time too."

"I think I could talk to Isaiah about it." He pointed to Archie. "You think he's wanting a sibling soon?"

More heat spattered my features as I nipped my lower lip. "You know, we could always talk about that later."

"I think that's a great idea."

I just hoped Elias wouldn't be mad at me for keeping a secret of my own.