ChoosingHisChristmasMiracle Read Online Free PDF

surprise in his tone.
    Sean shook his head.
    Well, he certainly hadn’t been expecting that. Who the hell didn’t drink coffee? Well, other than a certain elephant shifter Raul knew, Sean would be only the second person he knew who didn’t drink coffee at least on occasion.
    “Okay, then,” Raul said with a shrug. “Would you prefer some tea? Or juice? I can run to the kitchen and get something else for you,” he offered.
    “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Sean quickly replied.
    Before Raul could think of a way to assure the clearly nervous shifter that it would be no problem, Sean blurted out, “How come I’m allowed in here without several guards? What if I attack someone?”
    “Who are you going to attack?” Carson asked, leaning forward. “Me? I’d take you down. My mate? No offense, little wolf, even though Jared is human, he could still take you. Or were you thinking of attacking your mate?” he asked, waving a hand toward Raul. “Declan allows you in here with us because he knows nothing will happen.”

Chapter Four
    Sean couldn’t believe the strength of conviction in the enforcer’s words. He’d never seen a pack before where the alpha, especially a mated alpha, didn’t have at least one enforcer living with him, but he couldn’t scent anyone in the home but them. Sure, there were traces of other’s scents, but only one had a strong enough presence to signify a permanent living arrangement, and that scent was from an adolescent.
    Jared shrugged. “Relax, bud. Stop thinking about it so hard. The fact that you saved Raul’s ass at the expense of your own goes a long way, too.”
    “How do you know it caused problems for me?” he asked warily.
    “I can smell the arsenic in your blood, Sean,” Carson stated softly.
    “Arsenic! You’re sick?” Raul dropped onto the seat next to him, rested a hand on Sean’s leg, and peered closely at him.
    Sean really just wanted to lean forward and capture his mate’s mouth again. The kiss in the car hadn’t been nearly enough. However, Sean saw the concern in his mate’s beautiful green eyes and the need to reassure him kicked in.
    “Relax, sweet,” he crooned, lifting his free hand to brush away an errant strand of Raul’s red hair. For a second, Sean found himself caught up in the softness of the lock. Giving himself a mental shake, Sean said, “I’m fine. He whipped me with a poison coated flogger. He wanted me to suffer, not die.” Sean smiled. “It’s already almost worked through my system. I’m actually kind of impressed your enforcer could scent it,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.
    “ Almost worked through your system?” Raul snarled. “Your old alpha did that to you?” His gaze snapped to Carson. “Where the hell is the Shifter Council keeping him? I’m going to tear him apart.”
    “Whoa, whoa,” Sean cried out. He shifted the arm holding Lily so the girl was lying on his lap with her head supported by the crook of his elbow. With his free hand, he grabbed the back of Raul’s neck and held him in place, looking into his eyes. “You can’t do that. I’m fine. Just breathe for me,” he ordered gently.
    “Stand down, Raul.”
    Declan’s order rolled through Sean. He knew it wasn’t for him, but his wolf still wanted to turn over and show its belly to the far-more-powerful wolf. To Sean’s relief, Raul must have felt the power in the command, too, for his shoulders slumped and the fight seemed to go out of him.
    Raul grimaced, grabbed his coffee off the end table where he’d set it, and flopped back on the couch.
    “Now, I understand ye were punished for helping me people while they were in yer territory,” Declan stated, turning his intense dark-eyed gaze on Sean. “For that selfless act, I grant ye clemency. Ye’re welcome in me territory for however long ye need to stay.”
    Sean’s brows shot up. “Just like that?”
    “Would you rather he make you jump through hoops?” a slender blond human