Claiming Her Mate by Jess Buffett

destinies.”
    “How are we supposed to fight that?” Summer sighed, raking fingers through her long, chocolate brown hair.
    “You will. Because there is no greater power than a parent's love for their child.” Ruth took Summer’s hand in hers, comforting scared Summer. “I’m sorry I cannot offer more, but that is what I have for you...at least for now.”
    “Thank you, Ruth.”
    Evan followed as Ruth stood, making her way to the door. “You are most welcome, my dear.”
    He growled as he tripped over Ally again. “Oh, for God’s sake, Ally. Out of the way.”
    Ruth snickered. “I see you are bonding well with your familiar. Be mindful of how important she is to you.”
    “Yeah, I keep hearing that,” he grumbled. “But I don’t think I have to worry about someone going after her to get to me. She keeps this up, I’ll fall over her and end up breaking my damn neck.”
    Summer and Ruth both laughed, and while it annoyed him, he saw the amusement there.
    Ruth turned as she reached the front door. “Oh, one more thing before I leave…”
    “Yes,” he asked warily.
    “About your incident the other night.”
    Evan bristled. “She was attacked, it was more than a simple incident.”
    “Yes, I agree.” Ruth nodded in agreement. “While there are those who would stop at nothing to stop your children from being born, there are also those who would do even more to be a part of such a prophesy. Something for you to think on. Hmmm?”
    Summer’s eyes were glued to the door, and Evan noticed she flinched as it clicked shut.
    “Summer?” When she didn’t answer, he grew more concerned. Her skin was unusually pale, and her breathing came quickly. “Honey?”
    “That’s why he drugged me,” she whispered abruptly.
    “Why?” Evan had no idea what Summer was saying, and he feared maybe she was in some kind of shock. It wouldn’t surprise him after everything she had been through and discovered in the last twenty-four hours. Hell, if he weren’t so concerned for Summer, he’d join her.
    “He wanted to be a part of the prophesy, don’t you see? If I carried his child then it would be his children in the prophesy, or maybe even…”
    “Even what?” Dread filled him, he didn’t like where her train of thought was going.
    “Or even void the prophesy, because a child between Brad and I would be nowhere near as powerful as ours.”
    “Fuck!” Summer was right, he could feel it.
    Evan held her tight, unwilling to let her go. Thoughts and possibilities swirled through his mind, one more disturbing than the next. Bradley was the true kind of monster, and just the thought of the man getting his hands on Summer again nearly sent him into a fit of rage. Evan knew then he was going to have a hell of a time protecting the woman he loved, but he’d die trying if need be.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Two weeks passed without word and Evan grew more anxious and frustrated by the minute. While the time he had spent with his mate had been unbelievable, causing him to be happier than he ever had in his life, the thought of multiple threats to Summer out there had him on edge.
    That morning he had awoken after the worst night sleep. In a foul mood, he stomped to the bathroom not waiting for Summer like he had done every other morning, even after he had gone back to work.
    At least that thought made him chuckle. Summer had been true to her word when she had said he would need to take some time off. The tigress had been near insatiable for days after they had mated.
    “Should I be worried?” He felt the air stir behind him as his mate slipped into the shower, her soft, smooth skin rubbing up against his body. “I woke up alone this morning.”
    Enjoying the contact, he turned, slipping an arm around her waist. “Not at all. I just woke in a bad mood and didn’t want you to see it.”
    Her smile was so bright it lightened up the dark cloud that had settled over him. “Oh, I’ve seen your bad mood before. In fact,