Lycan Mate

By Anastasia Maltezos

Stella O’Sullivan is one of three sisters with incredible gifts. She is a finder, a person who can locate anything lost, stolen, or missing. She is also a healer, an individual with the power to enter a person’s psyche and mend their broken spirit or simply cure their headache. When the ruggedly handsome, Gunnar Eriksson, enters her bed and breakfast and books a room for ten days, she soon realizes the fates have brought them together for a reason. Gunnar is in desperate need of her healing abilities. She discovers this man lives with an unbearable pain, a grief so devastating, she wonders how he functions at all. 

All is not what it seems, however. Gunnar has deep, dark secrets and Stella faces a shocking truth that will change her life forever. 

Gunnar Eriksson is an old and powerful lycan. Although he is an immortal who possesses great strength and speed, he does not possess the one thing he needs to bring his tortured soul peace. He cannot change the past. 

As soon as he books a room at The Serenity, a bed and breakfast in a remote town in Vermont, his connection to Stella O’Sullivan is instant and powerful. His inner beast wants to be released to claim the pretty innkeeper, but Gunnar resists. His heart is black and his spirit is dead. He cannot love. 

The fates, however, have a mind of their own. Since the start of time, Stella O’Sullivan has been destined for Gunnar Eriksson and from the moment they meet, a shocking turn of events sends them through a maze of danger, threatening their chance for true love. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anastasia Maltezos
• Release date: Jan 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524280260

Anastasia Maltezos

Although Anastasia Maltezos loves to read all genres of romance, she does have a particular interest in the paranormal field. When she's not busy writing her next book, she enjoys spending time with her family. You may send Anastasia an email at [e-mail]. She loves to hear from her readers. Other books by Anastasia Maltezos on Smashwords: Lycan Prince, Lycan King, Lycan Warrior, Lycan Mate, Her Vampire Lover, The Lycan and his Witch.

Book preview

Lycan Mate

Anastasia Maltezos

Published by Anastasia Maltezos, 2016.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Lycan Mate

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

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

Lycan Mate

Copyright © 2015 Anastasia Maltezos

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Previously published by Devine Destinies.  This is a revised and updated edition.

Cover design by Melody Simmons from eBookindiecovers

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Lycan Mate

Author:  Anastasia Maltezos

Chapter One

Gunnar parked his car and glanced at the bed and breakfast before him. He drew his gaze around the two-story cottage and saw nothing but fields, a long, winding rural road, and a spatter of homes. It was perfect for a man who wanted anonymity. A man who had dark secrets.

He picked up his gun from the seat next to him and leaned forward as he shoved it in the waistband of his jeans. Grim-faced, he opened the glove compartment and grabbed a box of silver bullets.  Gunnar’s gaze fell on the picture of his two-year-old son taped to his dashboard and his gut clenched.  He used to think hell was the beast he had become more than two hundred years ago. It was not. Losing his son was hell, an eternal hell.

A low, deep growl rose from his throat as he tightened his grip around the box of silver bullets. Gunnar would have given anything to take that day back. He shut his eyes and drew in a long, hard breath as his inner beast stirred.

Dammit!

He had to control himself. It was still daylight and someone could see him. Gunnar brought his racing heart back to normal and swallowed hard. He always controlled his turning, even on a full moon, but since losing Tyler, he could not control the beast raging to escape. Anger, grief, guilt, it was all there, every day because the one person he had loved most in all his existence had been torn from his life.

Tight-lipped, he got out of the car and strode to the trunk. He pulled out his laptop and duffle bag. He unzipped the bag and dumped the box of silver bullets in it.  Straightening with a bag in each hand, Gunnar strode to the three steps going up the entrance of the B&B.  He stiffened on the top step as a feminine scent wafted around him.  He froze.  What the hell—

The scent seduced him, aroused him.  Gunnar’s heart thudded against his chest and his beast within growled as it rose on its haunches.  He staggered to the front door, unsteady on his feet, as a primitive, ancient force pulled and dragged his mind toward an astounding realization.

He could not believe it.

The feminine scent was alluring, intoxicating, stirring his inner wolf.  Gunnar clenched his jaw, fighting the overpowering hold the female inside the inn had on him. He had always picked up on feminine scents, but this woman was different. She was not just another female. A heat began to course through his veins, stirring his loins, and he swore under his breath. Only one woman could make him feel this way.  Only one woman could make his senses explode.  He had found her, Gunnar thought with cold resignation. His one, the woman the fates had destined to be his since the stars and heavens formed, was inside, and he was not pleased.

Gunnar did not need this in his life. He did not need her. He was incapable of loving, incapable of feeling, and the lust heating his loins was not enough to claim his mate because it would come with a price. Death.

Since losing Tyler, Gunnar had lost all desire. His heart blackened, his spirit died, and his guilt stabbed at his gut every damned day. He could have saved his son that day.  Gunnar was a shell of a man, a beast who had an eternity ahead of him filled with nothing but pain and anguish. He did not deserve to love. He did not deserve to be happy. 

He turned the doorknob, warring with his inner beast fighting for escape.  Gunnar would fight his baser need to claim this woman because he knew anyone he truly loved was doomed.

****

Stella tucked a long strand behind her ear. I’m just going to have a little peak, she murmured.

Slowly she put down her card and stared at it.  The Lovers.

She scowled at the entwined couple. It was all there for her in the next week, passion, desire, attraction. She raised a dubious brow.  This was obviously wrong. There was no way she was going to indulge in sexual pleasures any time soon. Her clients were mostly families, couples or students out for a long weekend. She chewed her lower lip and stared at the Tarot card.

Stella would be lying to herself if she did not admit she would have liked to feel the warmth and strength of a man in her life, but she seriously doubted it was going to happen any time soon.  She never went out. All she did was spend most of her time in her B&B, cooking, cleaning, and catering to her clientele.

She was almost tempted to draw another card, but stopped. She hated giving herself readings because disappointment always followed. She remembered the last time she had drawn cards for herself and stiffened. A cheating boyfriend had not been good news.

With a resigned sigh, Stella rose from the kitchen table and tucked her cards in the drawer next to the sink. Love had always been elusive for her. Apparently telling a man you were somewhat of a witch was a turn off.

Maybe in my next life, she murmured as she turned away from the sink.

She turned to her patio door to go inspect her vegetable garden in the backyard when she heard the sound of chimes in the hall signaling a new customer.  She turned around with a welcoming smile on her face and stiffened. The man’s aura hit her like a ton of bricks, anger, grief, hate...and...and passion. His lust was thick and heavy, consuming her and she was weak kneed and lightheaded.  She stared at his massive form filling the entrance and she willed herself to breathe again. Stella had never experienced such an assault on her senses by another person’s energy in her life and she was frightened.  Her connection to him was instant, powerful, and mutual because she clearly sensed his own shock at her appearance.

She ran a swift gaze over his appearance and her stomach jolted at the masculine energy emanating from his powerful frame.  He was well over six feet with massive shoulders and dark hair that fell past his collar. He wore black denims, a gray T-shirt, and a black leather jacket. Her gaze rested on his face and she had to stop herself from parting her lips in awe.  Good looking could not even describe him. He looked fierce, rugged, primal.

A thread of excitement flickered through her veins as she stared at him. He had a strong jaw, dark, deep-set eyes, and an angular face with a firm cleft chin. He deposited his bags on the floor and straightened. He stared at her and their gazes locked with such force, her breath caught.  He epitomized masculinity in its most primitive form and she swallowed hard, trying to regain her composure.  Her gaze flicked to his mouth. It was strong and firm with a sensual lower lip.

Welcome to The Serenity, she said, trying hard to hide the nervous pitch from her voice.

****

Gunnar gritted his teeth as her scent reached him. It was powerful in close proximity as it wrapped itself around him like a soft, sensual caress, exciting his beast. This woman was beautiful.  She was medium height, slim in tight denims and a green T-shirt, her hair cascading past her shoulders, like long strands of fire. Gunnar stiffened. Fire burned.

He sensed her shock. He smelled her fear. He felt her instant attraction to him.  Dammit!  He knew he should turn around and find another inn, but he could not. Her gaze held him captive, and he gritted his teeth as he fought her invisible hold on him. The animal within took over and all he could think of was how he wanted to taste her, to feel her, to take her. And the more he wanted her, the angrier he got.

There was no place in his life for her. She was human, he was a lycan. And the memory of Tyler reminded him that anyone who came close to him was doomed to die.

****

I need a room.

His deep voice drew shivers on her skin. How...how long will you be staying?

Indefinitely.

I have four rooms upstairs. Their prices vary—

I want the biggest one.

A lovely choice. It has a—

I will take it.

Stella stiffened. It’s a large suite with a private bathroom. You’ll find it very satisfying.  She went to the hall desk and opened a drawer. She