Piper's Piping

By Dylan Newton

Werewolf Aribella Lupari-Gray is on her long-awaited honeymoon. Or at least, that was the plan. When she and Mason land in Ireland just before Christmas, their dream holiday turns into a nightmare: the pack’s werewolf children have all vanished. To top it off, the werewolf king—who was supposed to sanctify Ari’s marriage to a human—is away searching for the missing pups and may not return in time to grant his official blessing, jeopardizing her family’s future status within the pack. If things don’t change fast, there may not even be a marriage to bless. Ari’s desire to help puts her life—and her relationship with Mason—in jeopardy. With Mason gone, presumably back to the States and Christmas on the doorstep, Ari sets out on one final mission to find the lost pups. Her life and the pack's young in the balance, will Ari be able to perform a holiday miracle or will she die trying?

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
• Release date: Nov 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781628306019

Book preview

Inc.

Ari unfolded the note, and glitter cascaded down from the folds.

Santa loves sparkly things, Keeva said, anxiously eyeing the lost glitter. So after I wrote my Christmas list, I outlined it in red and green glitter. See?

Ari’s smile faded as she scanned the child’s crayoned letter.

Dear Santa,

Can you please find my cousins for Christmas? Even Phaedra, but do not give her candy, as she is not a good sharer.

I know you won’t have room in your sleigh for toys with all those kids, so you don’t have to give me anything else.

But maybe you can fit a kitten in your pocket? Mum says no way can a werewolf have a cat, but if you bring one she will have to say yes.

Thank you,

Keeva Carney

P.S. I like black kittens best.

Ari carefully refolded the note, and Keeva stuffed it into her stocking once more.

Mum said Santa is busy Christmas Eve, but if that’s all I ask for, he’ll bring them back. He won’t let them miss Christmas, right? Keeva looked up at Ari.

Ruffling the girl’s ginger hair, Ari mustered a smile.

When a good girl asks Santa for something, how can he resist?

As Keeva scampered to the kitchen for dinner. Ari stared fixedly at the festive decorations. Santa was in way over his mythical head.

Piper’s Piping

by

Dylan Newton

Twelve Brides of Christmas Series

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Piper’s Piping

COPYRIGHT © 2014 by Dylan Newton

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover Art by Diana Carlile

The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

PO Box 708

Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

Publishing History

First Black Rose Edition, 2014

Digital ISBN 978-1-62830-601-9

Twelve Brides of Christmas Series

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

To my daughters, Devon and Ava.

Without your brilliant ideas

and back-seat brainstorming sessions in the car,

this story would literally not exist.

And to Mike, who took me to Ireland

to experience its beauty first-hand.

Love you, mo anam cara.

Chapter 1

The urge to phase to wolf and rip out the woman’s throat was so intense, Aribella Lupari-Gray’s jaw ached with the tension of keeping her human form.

"I couldn’t imagine leaving my children at the holidays! I’d feel so selfish, I know I wouldn’t enjoy a minute of Ireland. The woman in the seat next to Ari rounded her eyes as she shook her head, making the Christmas bell earrings jingle with the motion. I mean, not that you’re selfish! With twin toddlers running around, I’m sure you deserve this vacation. I just meant—"

Ari opened her mouth, but a man’s low baritone neatly intercepted whatever insult her subconscious had queued.

Actually, we’re on our honeymoon. One we’ve waited three long years to take. And don’t you worry. Mason Gray raised Ari’s fisted hand to his mouth, his lips brushing her knuckles, smoothing away the tension. My lovely wife will enjoy every moment. I guarantee.

Oh my. The woman flushed as she took in the eye-candy in the aisle seat. Ari held back a growl. Her husband had that effect on all women, yet Ari never got used to the wave of possession that rolled over her at each greedy glance.

Alpha wolves don’t share their mates.

Ari snuggled closer to Mason, her thighs clenching as his mocha-colored eyes did that R-rated thing, like he was projecting naughty fantasies in the back of his mind.

A guarantee, hmm? Ari whispered, her lips brushing against his ear. I’ll hold you to it.

Ari knew Mason was distracting her with the promise of sex. It was one of his best tricks. Yet even as her body quivered in anticipation of their first honeymoon night—hell, the first night away from their kids in almost three years—Ari dreaded the nightmare waiting for her on the Emerald Isle.

Her wedding. Third, to be exact.

Ari’s first experience at the altar was being left at it, unmarried, when the human groom decided he couldn’t marry a werewolf after all. Nuptial number two happened three long years later, and was a shotgun wedding. Or, more accurately, an Uzi wedding, complete with dead bodies, a newly pregnant bride, and gun-shot-victim groom. To say she dreaded another trip to the altar would be a monumental understatement.

Ari watched the city of Shannon expand beneath them, absently scrolling through the pictures of her twins on her phone. Only for Lucas and Lacey would she put herself through a third ceremony. As the Alpha werewolf of the Lupari pack, having your union sanctioned by the Fionn—the hereditary name of what equated to a Werewolf king—wasn’t necessary. Unless that union was with a human. And even though Mason wasn’t your average man, being a lab-created shape-shifter still didn’t make you an equal in the were culture. So here she was. In Ireland. Jumping through hoops to ensure her children’s future.

You okay? Mason asked, his