BirthSign: La Patron, Birth Series, #6

By Sydney Addae

When you're the top wolf on the continent with the backing of the Goddess, how does an enemy topple your kingdom? By challenging you to a fight? 

No.

By changing the rules.

 

In BirthSign, Silas and Jasmine are in the midst of their mating celebration. Yes! It has been a long, difficult road, but Silas wants the entire nation to see his gift from the Goddess and prepares a lavish celebration that lasts four days. Before the first event the U.S. Government calls in a favor and the ceremony takes a hit.

Jasmine voices her concerns over the request but accepts her mate's explanation and the ceremony continues. Midway through the celebration, Silas discovers he has been duped and now has to deal with the Joint Chiefs, the President and worst… an angry mate.

As Jasmine comes to grips with just how powerful her mate is, he also realizes that she is just as gifted and that it will take both of them working in harmony to rule their nation in BirthSign.

This is the sixth book in the La Patron Birth series. Jasmine and Silas have persevered through so much and their love shines brighter than ever. Although this is book six, hold on, because the next book opens with Asia and her special connection to Jasmine. The story will continue…

Book one is BirthRight,

Book two is BirthControl

Book three is BirthMark

Book four is BirthStone

Book five is BirthDate

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sydney Addae
• Release date: Jan 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781937334567

Sydney Addae

Thank you so much for reading 'Dragon Master Crimson Thunder". For the past two years, I've been sharing two episodes a week of this story and fell in love with the characters and their world. In this series you'll see Silas, Jasmine and their family as well and new characters from the newly formed Shifter Council. There's a lot to come as Crimson evolves into a Master Dragon. Drop me a line at or my  page or join my Facebook group, , where discussions regarding Silas and the Wolf nation abound.  Also here, at my website, SydneyAddae.com. Of course I am on  as well. See there is no reason we can't be friends, lots of places to find me. If you want intimate details of La Patron and the Wolf Nation, make sure to sign up for a Free copy of Knight Chronicles Silas and Jasmine provide lots of insights on parenting, ruling a nation and how they make their relationship work. Also, there will be lots of give-aways and free reads specifically for K subscribers. If you haven't signed up, do it now, you'll be glad you did. Also, I have articles on my you might find interesting. Dragon Master Crimson Thunder – The Master's Heir is the first book in this series and I'd like to ask a favor. When you finish reading, please leave a review, whatever your opinion, I assure you I appreciate it. Thanks Sydney

Book preview

Chapter 1

I ’M DYING. ON THE happiest day of my life, I’m dying. Jasmine Bennett moaned. Curled in a fetal position on the king-sized bed in the large mansion Silas rented for their mating celebration, she gasped. Another cramp seized her lower back, pulling and twisting her insides. She bit her lower lip to keep from screaming. Sweat rolled from her forehead onto the pillowcase, leaving track marks of her discomfort.

Yesterday, Silas wiped out the local drugstore, buying every over-the-counter drug available. Her doctor had sent three prescriptions for pain. Nothing worked. The doctor didn’t know how to treat her. She was neither fully human nor fully wolf. Her physiology differed from female wolves. Their cycles lasted one to two days with very little bleeding.

Human breeders’ bodies fell into a different category, a complex mix no one ever correctly identified. Silas’ best researchers worked diligently for an explanation on breeder biology, but the women constantly displayed new characteristics which made them scratch their heads and scrap their notes. Jasmine knew her mate contacted the team in West Virginia to see if they had ever come across her situation before.

You’re still having cramps, I see.

Jaw clenched, Jasmine opened one eye and swallowed back the smart remark. Mom?

Victoria nodded and took the seat near the bed. Silas had a meeting this morning. He’s in the other room with my mate and a few others, not far. He asked me to sit with you until he returned, since he needed Jacques with him. Her mom touched her arm. You okay?

Do I look okay? No. Everything hurts. I don’t remember ever having cramps this bad. Or zits. She touched the offending mound. Or the heavy bleeding. Or the damn diarrhea. She wrapped her arms around her waist; another gut-breaking cramp tugged her insides. Oh.... no..... She breathed slowly through the intense pain.

That was a stupid question. Sorry, honey. Your menstrual cycles were so irregular as a teenager. I was surprised you got pregnant with the twins. Did you have a regular cycle after the boys were born?

Jasmine took a deep breath, steadying herself. No, I’ve gone months without one. Last year I had two cycles. But never anything this heavy or... she took a deep breath, feeling the onset of another cramp. Painful, she wheezed, eyes closed tight.

I didn’t think so. Silas had Jacques doing all kinds of research last night regarding human women and our reproductive cycle. He’s scared. He thinks you’re bleeding too much. I tried to explain to Jacques that it was normal, but he agrees with Silas. They think you’re losing too much blood. Her mom’s voice held a question, as if she wasn’t too sure the men were wrong.

Jasmine groaned. Silas had been horrified when walked in on her yesterday. His bellow stopped her from entering the bathroom to shower and change from the blood-stained pants she wore. Thinking she had been attacked, he tore the room apart searching for the villain as if she would stand in the middle of the room if she’d been attacked. Even now her face heated in remembrance of his feral and then shocked expression.

Honestly, Mom. I don’t know what’s going on. It could be stress, or my body is just doing its thing. I have no control here. I tried thinking and wishing it away–

Why would you do that?

The breeders told me that was how to control getting pregnant. My mind supposedly controls my body. Well, the reproductive part anyway. That has worked so far, but not against the cramping.

Her mom nodded. Everyone is tiptoeing around Silas. He’s really upset.

Right now, Silas’ upset over her condition did not faze her. Cramps and diarrhea stole her focus. But her mom mentioned it twice. He told me. His thoughts are all over the place. He thinks this is barbaric. Can’t believe human women go through this every month and begged me not to do this again. Jasmine’s jaw clenched to prepare for another cramp.

Men, they’d never survive childbirth. Silly man. If you could control it, you wouldn’t be going through this now, especially on your mating day. You’ve wanted to marry him for quite a while. Her mom picked up a bag lying near her bed. I see you have your supplies handy. Do you need to go to the bathroom? Maybe take a long soak or warm shower? I read that helps.

The idea of moving held no appeal. She prayed this wouldn’t go on much longer. Her cramps started late last night, hours after the first signs of her cycle. But they had grown harsher each subsequent hour. Thankfully, the diarrhea stopped in the wee hours of the morning. It had been a rough night. A few times, Silas carried her to the bathroom and remained throughout her ordeal. Nothing says I love you like cleaning your woman during her violent cycle. He’d been the port in her storm.

Maybe later. I can’t move right now.

Okay, that was one suggestion from Jacques’ research; another is a gentle massage on your stomach, or a warm beverage, or a heating pad on your stomach. Her mom ticked off each idea like a clinical nurse. Want something to drink?

The idea of anything going into her stomach made her nauseous. No...not right now...thanks though. Her fingertips inched toward her face and brushed against each large zit that popped up overnight. Of all the days, I have bumps the size of rocks on my face. It’s a damn conspiracy to stop me from claiming Silas officially.

I think it’s because you’ve been a bundle of nerves for the past month. Honestly, the way you’ve worried over meeting a few thousand people...it’s no wonder you’re sick. Victoria patted her arm in a patronizing way that had Jasmine gritting her teeth.

I’m not sick.

Her mom’s brow rose.

Not sick, sick. Women have periods every month, Jasmine said, her tone defensive.

I don’t. Haven’t had one in thirty-five years. Still got pregnant a few times. Go figure.

Ignoring her mom’s smug comment, Jasmine listened intently for the low timbre of her mate’s voice. When she heard him, she pulled the sound close, wrapping it around her for comfort. She missed the warmth of his arms.

"I miss you too, Sweet Bitch," he said through their link. She snuggled into her pillow, wishing today was different.

They had been in Bently, Colorado, a mid-size town west of Aspen, the past week ramping up security, and finalizing details. For the past six months, Silas cracked the whip to make sure everything went according to his plans. Plans she had limited input, which probably accounted for her body committing high treason, and laying her low.

Her stomach clenched.

I’m dying. Revive me when it’s time to walk down the aisle. Her body throbbed in a constant ache. I’ve got zits inside zits. I am going to be a lovely mate tonight, she grumbled.

So dramatic, her mom said in a glib tone that tap-danced on Jasmine’s nerves. Put on makeup, no one will notice, drink a little tonic to settle your stomach, and... hmmm, we may need to have the seams let out of your dress, though. You’re holding water like there’s some kind of famine.

Jasmine snatched the cover from her head and looked around. Rolling to the side, she leaned up on her elbow, holding her stomach. Strands of her long dark hair wrapped around her neck and fell down her back to the bed. She spit out the hair that landed in her mouth, pushed some behind her ears, and glared at her mom who stood near the closet holding a dress. When had the woman moved? She hadn’t heard a sound.

That was not nice, that was mean. She paused, tilting her head. Why do you have my gown? She inched up further in the bed. I...I haven’t gained much weight, have I? It’s only been a day, not a full twenty-four hours. She patted her cheeks. They felt fuller. Her breasts had swollen, making Silas smile at first, but they hurt like fire when he touched them. His wolf did not like the word no. Not at all.

Her mom’s silence screamed her answer.

That’s all I need. No... I don’t need that. I paid over five thousand dollars for that designer to create that gown for me. The sparkly beads are shaped with Silas’ crest; it’s visible when I walk. I planned to surprise him tonight with my wolf-head creation. She exhaled, thinking of all the fittings and trouble they’d gone through to make tonight perfect. She rebelled. I am going to wear it if you have to stuff me into it like sausage. Jasmine slid to the edge of the bed and stopped, dizzy.

Not fair...not fair...I finally meet the man of my dreams. He wants to marry me... well, mate with me, and I’m on my fucking period. I can’t remember the last time I had a period. She shook her head. The room spun. She froze for a second and lay back down. Another cramp tore through her, leaving her gasping. I want drugs. Drugs will fix this.

Mm-hmm, her mom said in a nonchalant tone. The doctor already gave you medication, and the nurse gave you that shot you demanded. It didn’t work. None of it worked, honey. They don’t know enough about our bodies yet. You have to ride this one out. It’ll be okay.

Promise? she asked, her voice small, needing reassurance. She could not imagine canceling tonight and going through the planning again. She wanted to return to their compound in West Virginia. There her babies could laugh and run free in safety in the security of familiar faces, not a constant stream of well-meaning strangers. No matter how much Silas assured her everything was under control, thoughts of the past months assailed her. Their enemies had broken into the compound, taken her son, stormed the walls, attacked her mate, and tried to kill her. In the marrow of her bones, she knew they waited to strike again; the war was far from over. Fear, like an ill-fitting girdle, clung knowing her babies would be exposed to so many people and there was nothing she could do about it. Silas insisted it would be fine, but experience kept her on edge.

Her mom turned, and their gazes met. Neither spoke. Returning the gown to the closet, her mother walked to the bed, sat on the edge, and took Jasmine in her arms. I promise to do everything in my power to make your mating celebration everything you want it to be. You’ve been through so much, having the twins at such a young age, married to a man who couldn’t love you, finding out about wolves, and now you’re mated to the top dog.

Jasmine lay complacent in her mom’s arms, needing comfort and understanding. It has been hard.

Her mom stroked her hair, smoothing the wild strands from her face, offering a calmness Jasmine desperately needed. Yes, but you’re tough, you’re strong, you’re the A-team. Davian was just a practice round. You proved you could birth and raise exceptional sons. No one matches Rone or Rese, and yes, I am biased over my grandsons.

Jasmine nodded, her face securely planted on her mom’s chest, keeping the pain at bay.

You proved yourself capable of handling half-breed sons. Silas is the final round. His decisions impact millions of people. He needs your wisdom and strength to be an even better leader. You gave him four kids. Poor man never thought he’d have any. He’s been distraught and suicidal. Not good for the leader of wolves. And after three hundred years, can you blame him?

No, not really. Jacques must’ve been chatty regarding Silas’ personal history because Jasmine never told anyone about Silas’ despair at not having a den. The steady strokes from her head down her back were magically healing.

Her lids drooped. The noise from the other room dimmed, and she drifted to sleep.

Chapter2

The lyrics to the song , the dog in me, broke the silence of the room. Tyrese picked up the phone, did not recognize the number, and returned it to the nightstand.

It’s too early to be calling anybody, Opal, daughter of Alpha Chase, complained, easing closer to him.

Inhaling their mixed scents from hours of uncomplicated sex, he nodded. Yeah. His hand rubbed her naked ass and squeezed. His cock hardened in memory of her insatiable flexibility. She had twisted into positions and done things with her mouth last night that warranted a repeat in the light of day.

She giggled and moved his hand to her large breast. The sound she made reminded him of the main drawback of dealing with her. He hated the way she laughed. It grated on his nerves and caused his wolf to balk. Rolling over, he kissed her to kill the noise. His wolf sat up, interested again.

He widened her legs with his own and rubbed against her, letting her know what he wanted without releasing her mouth.

She got the message and eased into position.

His phone rang again.

She slapped the bed in frustration as if he planned the interruption. Leaning back, she turned away from him. Since you can’t turn it off, answer it, they’ll keep calling and I can’t function like this.

He looked down into her face, noting her displeasure, and was unsure how he felt about her demand. On the first day of their arrival, she’d sought him out and made it clear she wanted to share his bed. Since her father, Alpha Chase, and their host did not seem to mind, Tyrese fucked her that night and every night since. But he made it clear, and she agreed. They were both scratching an itch. She was not his mate, and this was a temporary arrangement. The fiasco with Arianna taught him some women would go to extremes to be with the man they wanted.

He picked up the phone again, noted the strange number, and looked at her. You sure?

She nodded. Her hands roved up and down his back, pulling him closer.

Yeah? he said.

Tyrese Bennett?

Yeah? The voice sounded familiar, but he could not place it.

This is Major Townsend; I have been trying to reach you.

Tyrese stilled as the voice of his former commander resonated. His twin, Tyrone, had died from a wound in Afghanistan. Tyrese had sent his strength and energy to revive his brother, which caused him to black out in the middle of a critical operation. He had been given an honorable discharge and now worked for Silas. This was the man who sent him home.

You have? he pushed Opal’s hand to the side and held them both in one hand. She pouted. He increased the pressure. She grinned.

Yes. We need your services for a special operation.

If he hadn’t been sitting down, he would have fallen. He noticed Opal stopped moving and gazed wide-eyed at him. Damn, he’d forgotten she could hear both ends of the conversation.

One second. He sat up and looked over his shoulder at the slender, fair-complexioned beauty. I need to take this call. I’ll be right back, okay?

She lay back on her elbows, her eyelids at a lazy half-mast, her tongue trekked turtle-slow across her lips before she nodded. I’ll be right here, super-soldier, she purred, batting her eyes.

He shook his head at her antics and stood. Good.  Naked, he stepped out of his room and walked outside to the courtyard. It was early, the sun peaked over the mountains, the smell of meat cooking and bread baking in the kitchen filled the air. Curious about the call, he sat on a metal bench to say no, to see if he could gain more information. Why did they want him? Did the Marines know he was a half-breed?

I’m afraid I cannot help. My schedule is full. He had no intention of leaving his mom or siblings while they were so far from home. Silas could protect his den. There was no question about that, but as the head of the Wolf Nation, he had many obligations. Tyrese had one, to protect his family.

There was silence on the line for a beat. When you were discharged, it was with the condition that you would serve when an emergency arose. I am telling you, we are in an emergency situation.

Tyrese’ brow rose. He hadn’t known there were conditions on his release. Did Tyrone know about this? Really? As responses went, his was lame, but he’d been too surprised to think of anything else.

I don’t have time to fiddle around with this. Lives are at stake and every second we dance about, someone dies. You are to report to duty in eleven-hundred hours. A car will pick you up. The call disconnected.

Three hours? First off, how did they know where he was? Or how to contact him? He stared at the phone as if it were a diseased limb. His mom and Silas’s mating ceremony was tonight. His brothers and sisters would be presented to the Wolf Nation. Silas expected him and Tyrone to be presented as well. No way he could leave, not with so many wolves in attendance. Not with the rebels warring against half-breeds. The Major’s timing sucked.

Tyrese sat on the bench, thinking, wondering, and delaying the inevitable. He had to talk to Silas. If a condition regarding his discharge had been made, then La Patron would know. Torn between a sense of duty to both worlds, Tyrese pushed down the sizzle of excitement lingering in the background of his mind. The idea of holding a weapon in battle again, working with a team using his wits and wolf skills, tempted and teased. With enormous effort, he shook off the enticing sensations.

Tonight, his mom would mate with the most powerful wolf in the country, possibly the world. He needed to be here. Not in some dark hole across the globe. He glanced at his phone. An hour had passed.

Idly, he wondered if Opal still waited for him.

Silas glanced at his phone in the middle of his meeting with Jacques, Angus, his brother, Alpha Chase of Colorado, Alpha Theron of Texas, and Alpha Jayden of Maryland, his core team. Excuse me; I need to take this call.

Yes, sir, all but Angus chorused. His brother nodded, but watched him leave the room.

I hope this is vital. I am in the middle of an important meeting, Silas said to Lieutenant General McNeill, the director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Of course, sir. We would not bother you otherwise. However, a sensitive situation has arisen and we need to call in a favor.

Hearing, We and Sir, Silas knew something significant had happened. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, thinking of the horrible timing. His mate was sick, unable to get out of bed. A few rebels caused a disturbance fifty miles away in a small rural town, much too close with his pups in the mansion. More wolves arrived in town than expected, creating traffic jams and a shortage of supplies.

What do you need, Jim? His voice was resigned, unenthusiastic.

I need to reactivate one of your men for a special assignment. Should take no more than three days. We need him to go in, extract the package, drop it off, and then return.

Nothing was ever as simple as the man said. When Jim’s successor introduced them, Silas appreciated the man’s no-nonsense approach, and for the past three years, they worked well together. Jim had helped to get Cameron shipped stateside and discharged within days of his accident. In a way, Silas owed the man. Okay, who and when?

Tyrese Bennett. A car will be at your location to pick him up at eleven hundred hours.

Silas’ jaw clenched at the name. No. Pick someone else.

The window is too short. His former team is already in place, and there is no time to send in or set up another team. Lives have already been lost. Too many. We need his expertise to end this now.

Today is–

The day you marry his mother, we are aware of that complication and if there was any other plausible solution, we would take it. But the situation has turned worse; the enemy used Lupine forces and killed innocent humans in the town. They are holding two hostages that must be retrieved. That’s all I can tell you right now.

Silas froze.

Lupine? Wolves? You’re telling me humans are fighting against full-blood wolves? He sat down slowly, digesting this news. It went against everything every wolf had always been taught. Secrecy had been their mainstay for centuries. Humans suspected, whispered, but were never sure. The worldwide impact of humans gaining proof they existed slammed into him. Especially with some humans’ ability to birth wolves, it would create havoc on a worldwide scale.

Yes. That is what the footage shows.

His thoughts raced. How had this happened? He was the peacekeeper on this continent; other parts of the world were not as organized and lacked discipline. Even his rebels were cautious against discovery, to a point. Each of his alphas used experienced techs that cleaned up evidence of their existence, yet... Could this blatant act be a part of the Liege Lords’ plan? Force them into the open? No...that had been Griggs. The Lords operated and depended on secrecy.

He reined in his free-flying thoughts and refocused on the conversation. There are men from my pack already in the field. Why don’t you use them? Why Tyrese? What makes you think he can do what you need him to do?

There was a pause, and then Jim cleared his throat. As I stated earlier, his old team is already in place. Tyrese worked with these men and they perform best as a unit. Also, we have seen footage of what he is capable of. It was apprehended by one of our field agents.

What? Silas roared. You did not mention this before now. I want to see the damn tape and then I want it destroyed. You cannot keep information like that in your database; it violates our agreement.

It came into our possession last week. It’s not in our database, and no one other than the Chiefs has seen it or the one with a female from your pack, Asia.

Silas gritted his teeth to keep from lashing out. You crossed a line.

We are protecting our country. The country where you and your people live in peace. We do that by any means necessary. You know that, sir. Jim sounded apologetic, but Silas knew the man would do it again if he thought the nation was at risk.

He cannot come today. Tomorrow.

Tomorrow will not work. He must leave when the car comes for his. That is the condition of his discharge. You and I have an agreement that he would still serve when needed. We need him now. Today.

Silas thought of Jasmine and her disappointment. She