My Secret Mate

By Melissa Keir

Growing up, Macy Waters leaned on a special pet who came to her during some of her most trying times. Now she's grown up and must face returning to her childhood home alone, after the death of her parents.

Sean MacKenzie waited years for his mate to grow up, silently watching over her. Now, he's ready to claim her and make her his.

As Sean shares his secret with Macy, can she learn to love a man who is something more, or will she give up on her own magical happy ending?

Fall for a Shifter Who Has Waited a Lifetime for his Mate….

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melissa Keir
• Release date: Mar 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393526728

Book preview

My Secret Mate

Melissa Keir

THE CHARACTERS AND events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this stripped book.

MY SECRET MATE

Copyright © 2018 Melissa Keir

All rights reserved.

5764 Woodbine Ave.

Pinckney, MI 48169

Edited By Kate Richards

Cover art By Eva Talia

THIS BOOK, OR PARTS thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

My Secret Mate

Fall for a Shifter Who Has Waited a Lifetime for his Mate....

Growing up, Macy Waters leaned on a special pet who came to her during some of her most trying times. Now she’s grown up and must face returning to her childhood home alone, after the death of her parents.

Sean MacKenzie waited years for his mate to grow up, silently watching over her. Now, he’s ready to claim her and make her his.

As Sean shares his secret with Macy, can she learn to love a man who is something more, or will she give up on her own magical happy ending?

DEDICATION

To my baby sister who always was last to be picked during Red Rover

And to my husband who knows how to make my heart soar each day!

CHAPTER oNE

O lly olly oxen free ! The small ten-year-old girl lifted her head off the tree trunk and looked around for her sisters and friends. No one could be seen. She paused to listen but heard only the rustling of the wind through the fallen leaves. Ready or not, here I come, she called out then headed toward the large flat boulder they’d claimed as their home base. Maybe someone would be close by so she could tag them before they were safe.

Macy jumped over the fallen log and then stopped. Had she heard a noise? Was someone behind the copse of trees? She tiptoed over, careful where she placed her feet. Make no noise...make no noise...repeated over in her head as she selected each step. As she approached the shrubbery, she leaped around to the other side, hoping to catch someone, but the only thing she scared was a squirrel who squawked and let her know exactly how upset it was.

I’m going to find you, Cheryl, she hollered and then headed back toward their home base. The large boulder was the size of a compact car with many nooks and crannies for hiding. Macy, herself, had hidden there earlier. Last week, the boulder had been their pretend home when the girls were playing house as well as the hideout from the bad guys when they’d pretended to be secret agents. Romping in the woods on a summer afternoon was a daily occurrence for the girls. Never ones to hide from adventure, the sisters and the neighbor girls loved to climb trees, swing from vines, and even eat the sweet clover flowers hidden among the rest of the weeds.

Macy plopped down beside the boulder and tugged her legs up under her body. She yawned. They had been playing hide and seek since lunchtime. The growling in her stomach, told her that the afternoon was almost over. Soon their mom would call for them to come in. But first—I want to win. They’ll be back when they think it’s safe. I’ll trick them by hiding here. No one will think I’d do it. Then I can surprise Cheryl and be crowned the best hide-and-seek person of all time! Her older sister, Cheryl, was sometimes her biggest nemesis and, other times, her best friend. Another yawn slipped from her mouth. Leaning back, she rested her head against the trunk of a tree. The warmth from the sun filtering through the trees lulled Macy to sleep.

A cool breeze blew through the leaves and down the back of Macy’s T-shirt. The chill raised goose bumps on her arms and woke her up. She quickly stood and looked around. Night had fallen. Not a soft twilight but a dense darkness. Stretching a hand in front of her, she waved it but only saw a shadow of a movement. In all her life, Macy hadn’t seen such a black night. Could it only be because she was in the woods, away from her home? She’d never recalled it being this gloomy when they’d chased fireflies or lay on the grass and made up stories about the constellations.

Hey. Cheryl, Jennifer, Sherry. Where are you? Her voice echoed in the now-silent woods. Stupid Cheryl. I’m telling. Mom’s going to ground her. She and the others left me here, alone, at night. Quickly the burning anger turned to fear. The shadows appeared to close in on her. The silence was absolute. Not a single bird call nor squirrel chattering in the trees. Not a cricket or bullfrog singing in the dusk.

Wrapping her arms tightly around her body, Macy started down the path toward home. After three steps, she stopped and looked around. The night felt suffocating. Nothing seemed familiar. I thought this was the way. She turned in a circle on the leaf-strewn ground. It’s too dark. I don’t want to walk and end up falling in a quarry or get more lost. Mom will send Dad to find me.

Determined to be brave, the child sat down and hummed a little song to keep her mind off the shadows. Hmm, hmm, hmm...I’m not scared at all. Rustling sounds had her pause. Hello. Anyone there? Her voice cracked with fear.

The noises grew louder as the rustling drew closer. Eeek, she screamed and jumped as a cold wet nose touched her bare arm. Her legs twisted underneath her, causing her to stumble and fall on her hands and knees. The soft, wet caress of a tongue slid over her arm like sandpaper. She squinted at the shape in front of her. Oh doggie, you scared me. She reached out tentatively to touch it. Only by squinting could she catch a glimpse of the animal.

Face-to-face, she could make out his features. His fur was as dark as her favorite black T-shirt, making him even hard to see. Even his eyes were black, without the whiteness surrounding her own irises. On her hands and knees, the animal stood as tall as her shoulder. They were matched for size. Again, its tongue rasped across her skin. Each spot it licked radiated warmth much like the sunshine through the trees earlier in the day.

Keeping her one hand on the warm fur, Macy pushed up and stood. Not willing to release her only companion, she wiggled her fingers into the deep, soft fur. Do you know how to get out of here? She stared at the animal. Or are you lost, too?

The canine slowly moved forward, tugging the girl along with it. Not willing to let go of her new friend, she kept pace with the animal as it moved through the woods. What’s your name?