Page 26 of Claiming the Shifter's Heart

By the time he was finished, he stood up, looking over his work for a full thirty seconds before he realized he was not alone.He turned around swiftly, catching Della just standing there, watching him like he was something she craved.

“Della, I need to apologize?—”

But he didn’t get to finish before she was pressed against him, her hungry mouth plundered his.

Mmm. So good. So mine.

Chapter 15

Della’s head was reeling. It was the day before Christmas Eve and that douche-canoe decided to make an appearance!

She sat inside the offices of Macconwood Law Associates for two hours before she received the bad news that her ex’s brother, Blayne, and his mate, Cynthia, were in Maccon City, seeking visitation with the children.

Worse than that, the bastards were filing for custody! They claimed she was unfit, and they were better since they were a mated pair.

“They can’t do this! They never bothered to see Sean or Janie when we lived ten minutes away from them,” she sputtered.

“I understand, Della, and I think it’s despicable what they are trying to do,” her lawyer told her.

“So, does their case carry water?” she asked.

“It’s tricky whenever it comes to the safety of a child,” he began.

“Mr. Lowell, I will do anything to keep my babies safe.”

“Good. I am glad to hear it. We’re fortunate they decided to go through the Shifter courts first. Human ones are much moreunpredictable. Now, because they haven’t given us much time before the holidays to bring their claims forward, I have to be forward in what I am going to say next.”

“Okay,” she replied, bracing herself for whatever it was he was going to say.

Della’s mind overflowed with images of the past and the Murder.

The cold indifference.

The role females played.

The outright abuse.

“Your brother-in-law and his mate claim they can offer structure and security. What I am asking you, Della, is are you aware of any prospects for a mate for yourself here in Maccon City?”

“What? Why does that matter?”

“Because, if you were mated to someone, let’s say a Wolf, then you and your young would be safe under the protection of the Macconwood Pack. Just think about it. I will keep working on other ways, of course.”

“Thank you,” she said, and left the office in a daze.

There was simply no way her children were going back to that awful, hateful place. Her Crow cawed, the animal desperate to go to the one man she felt safe with.

But how could she bring him into this mess? No, she could not do that to him.

He was so kind, and he deserved much more than her.

It was better for Kris if she ignored his phone calls and messages. Better for him if she just stayed away from the tall, sexy man.

Her Crow pecked at her from where the animal rested in that metaphysical realm until they swapped skin. She was adamant now that Kris was her mate. The crazy Bird had already claimedhim when she’d given him her body and clawed his back. But he didn’t know that. And he didn’t know anything about this either.

How could she go to him now and tell him how she felt? He would assume she was using him, and that was something she never wanted.

The Fates really liked to mess with her. After all she’d been through. Now this?

---