Forbidden Desires: Spring Lake, #2

By Prometheus Susan

Desperate to break free from her father's oppressive control, Nella hides the dragon side of her as she settles into the tiny town of Spring Lake. But in the process of renovating the bar she bought, she finds more than she bargained for in making her dream a reality. Namely, discovering her two true mates. 

 

Jackson is a sheriff. 

Jake a rancher. 

Both are wolf-shifters. 

A fact that will make steam shoot from her father's ears. 

 

To Nella's ultimate delight, she quickly learns these sizzlingly hot men are ready and willing to generously share... everything. Will Nella put aside her forbidden desires to fit into the role her father is forcing upon her? Or, embrace her chance for a blissful future?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prometheus Susan
• Release date: Jun 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201129781

Prometheus Susan

Prometheus is the mother of two boys, 19 and 26. As well as a loving wife to her husband of 31 years.  She lives in northern Illinois with her family, two cats,pet bunny, Fred and a puppy, Bear.. An avid Chicago Bears football fan regardless of how bad they play. But differs from the rest of the family in regards to baseball. They are Cub fans while she is a Brewers fan.  For years, Prometheus has had stories floating around in her head when she finally decided to put them to paper. Following a long-held dream of being an author. Bringing the crazy muses that she had to life, sharing them with everyone else.  Besides her love for her family and friends, coffee is her biggest love and addiction. The summer will find her at the beach or waterpark, soaking up those beautiful rays of sunshine. She finds cooking to be very relaxing, experimenting with new recipes. Crafting is one of her other ways to relax and unwind. Pink and sparkly is her signature. 

Book preview

The closer that she came to him, her scent was carried to him on the gentle breeze. His wolf was screaming one word in his head. Mate! Jackson was taken aback, tongue-tied as she spoke. This woman was their mate. He couldn't wait to tell Jake. Hello, beautiful. You can call me Jackson, Sheriff seems too formal.

She rolled her eyes. About ready to set him straight when she got a whiff of his scent. Oh, hell, no! Not now. Her timing sucked. Finally, finding her dream, she finds her mate as well. A forbidden mate at that. Fuckity, fuck, fuck, dragons didn't mate wolves. You did not mix the species. What was fate thinking when she decided this pairing? Blowing out a breath, she had gone from an arranged mating to finding her mate. Neither of the scenarios was going to work. She was screwed. Nice to meet you, Jackson. I'm Nella, The new owner.

Table of Contents

Forbidden Desires

Chapter 1 

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

About the Author

Other titles by the Author

To all my dear friends and family.

Thank you for your understanding, support, and love.

Without all of you, this dream would not be a reality.

Thank you for being there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, bounce ideas off of, or when my mind is going a million different directions and I’m not making much sense. Or when the writer’s block hits and so does the frustration.

Each of you mean the world to me. Love ya all. 

Chapter 1

She couldn't stop her eyes from rolling as she stepped inside her father's office. He felt the need to summon her when a call, text, or facetime would suffice. With her father, it was about the power he held. He was all about having control over every aspect of his life, including his children.

That was all about to change. Nella was tired of having her father dictate her life. She was an adult, more than capable of living her life by her standards. Her brothers, Ridge and Rowan, may let their father determine the path their life took. They listened to the speech, followed by dear ole dad's rules. It was not happening with her.

No way in hell was her father picking out her mate. She saw how an arranged mating worked. Her parents were an arranged mating. They barely tolerated each other, there was no love between them, no affection. There was plenty of hostility and indifference. Nella loved both of her parents but was closer to her mother. She didn't want that life for herself.

It was her mother who argued alongside her with her father. First, it was over college, then it was traveling the world. Now, Nella knew it was about some male that was supposed to be her mate over some stupid political arrangement her father set up. The further she stepped into his office, her assumptions were proven correct as her eyes stopped on the male sitting in one of the chairs.

Nella had not seen this male around before, did not know him. First impressions: he was wimpy, sniveling, most notably, her dragon was ready to rip his head off. Nothing new there, her dragon was temperamental, kind of the way she was as a female. They fit together perfectly. Inhaling deeply, gathering the male's scent, she couldn't help to curl up her nose.

He stunk. First, she could scent fear. The second was the fact he didn't believe in deodorant. Third, there was the smell of deceit, lies. Her father picked out a real winner with this one. Nella was fairly sure she could send this one running back home to his mommy. If she let him survive, it depended on her mood. She was in a good mood when she woke up, but it was slowly taking a swing towards wicked rather quickly.

Smiling sweetly at her father as she let her dragon come forward. Twirling her fingers, allowing her magic to weave its way around the intended mate. Nella spread out her fingers as the lightning bolts that were her dragon shocked the shit out of him. Batting her eyes, pulling off an innocent look as she turned her gaze to the screaming male. It's electrifying to make your acquaintance.

Her father's voice took on that authoritative tone, telling her to reel in her dragon. The first time she ignored him, he went for, It's an order.

She snorted out a giggle, time for dear ole dad to learn she was stronger. Her attention turned to her father as her hand kept twirling the lightning bolts, shocking the male. Her father ordered her to stop, compelling her to follow his orders. Nella shrugged her shoulder as she laughed. His orders fell on deaf ears, she didn't feel compelled any longer to obey or follow them.

She saw in his glare the recognition, the realization of what happened. That all-familiar vein popped out on his forehead. Nella had a way of bringing that aspect out in her father, always had since she was a little girl. How many times he had commented on how much she was like her mother. Like that was a bad thing: her mom was stubborn, headstrong, and compassionate. She was more than happy to be like her mom.

Her dragon took after her mother's side, she wasn't just a fire-breather like her brothers or father. Nella had the dual nature of both her parents. The lightning part of her mom and the fire from her father. While she could easily breathe fire, she could also control lightning. Depending on her mood, she could brew up one hell of an electrical storm.

Something shifted in her as she grew older, her dragon came into her own while they were in college. Even more, she solidified her independence when she traveled the world, finding work to support herself, not relying on her parents. Nella made her own way. There was no way she was going to be stuck in a loveless mating with someone her dragon disliked. She had plans for how she wanted to live her life. Either her father understood, or he didn't. The end result was the same. He lost his control over her.

Chapter 2

Then came the threats, no more allowance, she had to move out. Nella rolled her eyes once more, she hadn't lived at home in years. As far as the allowance, the money her father gave her, she put it aside into an account that he had no access to, the living expenses she paid with what she received from working. She shrugged as he went off on one of his rants.

It was the usual. She needed to respect her parents, elders. Her place was to be mated, produce offspring, secure the clan with more land, or whatever. How her place was to be in the home and to be of service to her mate. Nella saw red with that comment, her dragon was ready to shock the hell out of their father.

Nella turned towards her father, taking the debit card that went to the account that he had access to, and throwing it at him along with the keys she had to their home. Guess what, Daddy-o? I don't need your money or home. Furthermore, you cannot control me, and you won't. It's my life. I will live it the way that I want.

She went over to her mom, hugged her tightly. Sorry, Mom, but I can't with him any longer. Love you.

With that, she turned on her heel, striding proudly out of her father's office. Nella didn't look back as he yelled her name, ignored her father when he demanded she return. Her eyes rolled once again as she heard her father disown her. Those she passed turned their heads. Didn't surprise her much, family friends and relatives would side with her father no matter what they thought.

She was almost to the back door when her brothers stepped out in front of her. She blew out a breath; her father she wouldn't miss in her life, but her brothers, she didn't want to lose. This may all be out of her hands. If they sided with their father, she had no other choice. Nothing you can say will stop me from leaving.

He understood more than his little sister thought he did. If he could turn back time, his path would be different. Ridge stepped closer to Nella, wrapping his arms around in her. Follow your dreams, sis. If you need anything, reach out to me, I will help you. Be safe, Nella, know that no matter what our father says or does, I love you.

Rowan waited till his brother stepped away to hug their sister. Hide your dragon, sis. Don't use her unless necessary. You know Dad will track you and try to bring you back against your will. Our father won't let this go, you defied his direct orders. Be safe and happy, Nella. Reach out if you need me, sis. I'm always here for you. Love you.

She stepped outside, only looking back to wave to her brothers and mom. They were the only three she would miss. Those three were the ones she called when she had good news, if she needed advice or when her heart was breaking. Nella was going to miss those calls, but she had no choice. Either be mated to some dimwitted ass kisser that her father picked out or be an outcast. She pulled her dragon to the forefront of her mind, envisioning her little apartment, and closed her eyes as she said a final goodbye to her homeland.

Chapter 3

Jackson was going about his morning the way he did every day. Stopping in at Aunt May's bakery to grab his bag of donuts, picking up extras to take back home, getting fresh coffee, chatting a bit with those who were enjoying their sugary delights the same as he planned. Life returned to normal after the incident with Ansley's ex-brother-in-law. The only constant reminder was that the Red Barn bar was boarded up with a for sale sign tacked to the door.

He had discussed buying the bar with his brother, Jake. They came to the conclusion that while Jake enjoyed bartending a few nights, semi-managing the bar, he didn't want to take on the responsibility of full operation. Jackson had to agree with his brother. Being the sheriff took up most of his time.

Then they had their ranch. What had started out as a pipe dream grew into a reality. They started out with four horses, adding as they went along to where now they started to breed. Two cattle turned into a herd that roamed the open pasture they had set aside for that purpose. The bunkhouse for the ranch hands that they built years ago was now in full use.

What started out as an add-on to their home for their mate turned into a full remodel. Their mom suggested that their kitchen needed to be updated. Nathan took the idea and ran with it, ending with them having a new gourmet kitchen. Jackson wrote the check, having faith that their mom was correct that their mate would love the chef's dream of a kitchen.

Growing up, he learned that when Mom said something, she knew what she was talking about. Now that she was family with Lydia and Vivian, it was eerie what those three knew. Some things were best left unasked. Jackson was like most of the males in the family, just go with the flow was the motto.

After he finished his walking path, Jackson got into his squad car, heading home to drop off Jake's share of donuts. The pool was being tiled today and he was nosy, wanting to see what it was going to look like. Seeing the tiles on display, then in actual use, was different. His mind couldn't wrap around what it was going to look like. Thankfully, once again, his mom, sister, sister-in-law, and Nathan were there to lend their opinion as well as guidance.

Somehow adding in the pool and hot tub grew into a paved patio circling the pool and a bricked fire pit. As well as a cook's dream outdoor kitchen. Jackson thought a grill was a grill. Fire it up, throw food on it, done. Did you really need a sink? According to the females, yes. It was essential. Evidently, he grilled wrong all this time. Not only was there a grill, but they had added a smoker to the setup. The bar designed off the cooking area that he could get behind and enjoy. Not blinking an eye at the refrigerator that was under it. Once again, Jake and he handed over their credit cards.

It also gave him a chance to patrol the outskirts of the town. Stop in to visit with his brother-in-law, Dillion, and sister-in-law, Ansley. His brother, Nathan, would be at his house overseeing the construction. Good thing, he bought extra donuts. Jackson was wondering, with all they were doing to the house in preparation for their mate, was it all in vain?

The self-doubts were there. What if they didn't meet her? Could she accept both of them? Jake and he were a package deal. They always knew they would mate the same woman. Their wolves refused to accept anything else. There was a connection between them. Jackson couldn't explain how he knew, just that he felt it deep in his soul. What if she didn't like the house? Was she going to be a wolf? Maybe a human? Vampire? Only time would tell.

Chapter 4

Her dragon liked pretty, sparkly items. Those were a must for her. When she settled, Nella would find a cave for her dragon to hoard her treasure. But for now, her SUV was packed front to back. What she didn't want to take with her, she donated. The items that wouldn't fit were