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A Touch of Harmony

Magic, New Mexico Kindle World Novella

By Evelyn Lederman

A Touch of Harmony

A Magic, New Mexico Kindle World Novella

Chapter 1

The Planet Glacier

The visual splendor of Glacier never ceased to take Harmony Neutron’s breath away. Glacier’s vast sheets of ice were as deadly as they were lovely. From experience, she knew better than to judge a planet by its ethereal beauty.

Rather than docking her Tridbarrian transport immediately after contacting Glacier Space Command, Harmony circumnavigated the planet several times. It had been years since she had been home. Her job as a Space Ranger kept her off-world--mostly by choice.

Her father still lived on Glacier. Unlike her, Geo Neutron did not like to travel. Although he had married a woman from another planet, Geo never left the world of his birth. Father and daughter were as different as night and day.

Harmony did not have a permanent home. With all the travel her position required, it seemed a waste of credits to maintain her own quarters. The few belongings she possessed barely took up any room in her ship’s cargo hold. She had minimal material goods for a twenty-eight-year-old.

Figuring she had procrastinated long enough, Harmony guided her craft into one of Icela spaceport’s slips. Since Icela was the capital city, it had an enormous port. The facility was centrally located and attached to Glacier Space Command, as well as Space Ranger Headquarters.

A chill ran down her spine. Harmony was not sure if it was due to her cockpit’s temperature falling or being home again. She had a feeling it was not associated with how cold it became.

While she was on Glacier, she would be staying with her father. As soon as her dad had discovered she had been called back to headquarters, he contacted her and demanded she reside with him during the interim. If she was lucky, she would get her new assignment this afternoon and leave in the morning. She loved her father, but could not bear spending time with him. There was just too much history between them.

After the slip’s clamps adhered themselves to the ship’s hull, Harmony turned off the engines. She punched in the code for the post-flight diagnostic report. If any issues were detected, the Icela facility was the best place to get her craft serviced. A green light flashed, indicating no problems were found.

Harmony released her chair’s harness and rose to her feet. Normally she stretched her long limbs every several hours, but not this trip. Her legs were unusually tight. The cockpit was too small to perform any stretching that would relieve residual stiffness.

She was half-Titian. The Titian people had substantially more type-two muscle fibers than other species, making them the fastest race on foot in the known universe. Harmony was able to sustain her speed, since her Glacierian genetics allowed her to burn fat longer before her body started to breakdown sugar. There were very few outlaws who could outrun her.

Before Harmony left the cockpit, she grabbed the small duffle she packed with several outfits and toiletries for her short stay on Glacier. It also contained a small trinket she had purchased for her father. She had missed his last two birthdays.

The ship’s central walkway echoed with the thud of her boots as they moved along the metal grates. Her ship was usually quiet and her ears took in the clanking noise as an awakening. Maybe she should listen to music or training audios while she traveled from planet to planet. She had to admit, she enjoyed the peacefulness of silence.

“Open,” she said as she climbed the ladder leading to the forward hatch. The voice activated release option she had installed turned out to be well worth the additional credits she paid for the ship. A second exit was located in the cargo hold.

The openness of the port and the clean energy standards Icela required to dock within the city resulted in air not polluted with toxins. Her nose was not assaulted with noxious fumes she was accustomed to on some of the more backward planets she occasionally visited. She always preferred space stations and generally only accepted jobs requiring the apprehension of fugitives from such facilities.

Harmony nodded to a male Space Ranger she recognized, but did not recall his name. She did little socializing when she was on assignment and sought solitude when she was on vacation. Needless to say, she had very few friends.

Once she exited the port, Harmony walked down a hallway connected to a passageway to her father’s domicile. Where the docking facility was made of steel, the buildings were constructed of ice. Like other Glacierians, she had the ability to regulate her body’s temperature.

She passed a variety of people engaged in conversations. They laughed, smiled, and chatted with each other. The people seemed so at ease. Harmony felt like an alien. It was useless to feel sorry for herself. She chose to live a life in isolation, traveling from space station to space station. The sacrifices she made resulted in the universe being a safer place for others.

When Harmony reached her father’s building, she took the passenger conveyance to the third floor. The planet’s core energy powered the lift. Temperature resistant coating prevented the ice around the power source from melting. All Glacierian technology functioned in a similar manner.

When the doors opened, she walked directly into her father’s unit. She had grown up here. It was where she saw her mother waste away from a virus only the Titian race contracted. Harmony’s mixed heritage protected her from the debilitating disease.

Geo Neutron entered the hall and stopped in his tracks. Her father knew she did not like to be touched. Taking down an alien was part of her job, but any type of affectionate embrace was too difficult for her to accept. She had lost so much and could not handle losing anything more.

“You look well, Harmony,” her father said in greeting after surveying her.

Her father looked healthy and robust. He stood six-foot-six and possessed the muscle mass characteristic of Glacierian men. His light blue eyes shimmered. Harmony had inherited her father’s eye color, but not the glistening effect. She also had her father’s black hair, although his had begun to gray.

“Father, it is good to see you,” Harmony awkwardly responded.

She walked to her father, leaned over, and gently kissed his cheek. No other part of her so much as grazed her father’s body. Harmony swallowed with difficulty. How she wished she could show her father how much she loved him. It hurt too much. Echoes of her mother’s screams of pain still haunted the apartment. She caught a slight whiff of vanilla, her mother’s favorite scent. Harmony was not sure if she imagined it or if her father still used the fragrant candles her mom used to burn.

She placed the trinket she had purchased on the table next to him. The last thing she wanted was any fanfare related to the gift. Her father had ignored her birthdays since her mother’s death.

“How long will you be staying?” Geo asked. “It would be nice to spend some time together. I cannot remember the last time we actually talked. All you seem to do is run away.”

“My job requires I travel a great deal,” Harmony answered defensively. It was the standard response she gave her father. Her rote answer prevented her from falling into the trap of having to defend her lifestyle choices, yet again.

“Very convenient.” Her father’s brief response barely disguised his anger. “That way you never have to get close to another living soul and run the risk of developing feelings. Are you still afraid of animals?”

“I have a meeting with my supervisor in an hour,” Harmony informed her father. She needed to end this conversation now. “That leaves me barely enough time to bathe and change clothing.”

Harmony walked toward her room, not bothering to answer her father’s question. Her hands shook with anxiety from the small exchange, as it was. Bringing up the incident that altered her life forever seemed like a bad idea. She needed to be in top form when she met with her supervisor.

***

Space Ranger HQ was within the Glacier Space Command facility. Aliens from all walks of life could be seen socializing in the main hall, as well as, conducting various business transactions. Anything dealing with coalition space occurred here. Similar facilities were located on each planet and space station within Coalition territory.

The main hall was massive. Her ears were assaulted with the roar of conversations taking place. She was used to the quiet of her ship. Rather than loitering, Harmony headed straight for her meeting.

Her boss Flautron was a retired Space Ranger. He had been injured trying to apprehend a particularly nasty Learian. Flautron still bore the scars of the alien’s sharp teeth across his face. Although he could have had his facial skin replaced, Flautron bore the disfiguration as a badge of honor.

His office had Coalition banners covering the ice walls. It made the room seem warmer, although the heat pumped from the planet’s core made the room comfortable. Harmony did not have to adjust her body’s temperature.

“What is up?” Harmony asked. There had never been any semblance of a supervisor/subordinate relationship between the two of them.

Her boss rose from his desk and stood before her. He was tall, like her father, and just as bulky. Even after retirement from active duty, Flautron continued to start each morning in the gym.

“I have an opportunity for you,” her boss replied.

Harmony looked into Flautron’s glowing blue eyes. She did not like the way he said “opportunity.” Her suspicions were proven true when Flautron broke eye contact first.

“We have known each other for too many years to play coy,” Harmony remarked. “You trained me. No one knows me better than you do.”

Flautron’s eyes roamed her body. She knew his hungry look all too well. Harmony kept her eyes glued to his face rather than at his growing erection. Her so-called boss knew how to fulfill her sexually without all the pawing men generally tried. He helped her fulfill a physical need, not an emotional one. Sex with Flautron was a good workout.

“I thought we would have dinner, some recreation, and then discuss your new assignment,” Flautron said.

“Not a chance,” Harmony snarled, growing impatient. “What is going on?”

A loud sigh of disappointment came from Flautron. The massive Glacierian male knew he had lost that particular battle. He returned to the chair behind his desk. He extended his hand, an unspoken command for her to sit.

“We have established a small spaceport on the planet Earth,” Flautron shared with her. “Two of our people are already on the planet and the Ruling Director felt a female should be added to the team.”

“Earth?” Harmony questioned. She knew about the world because of the scandal surrounding a former Space Ranger Frost violating protocols and landing on the planet. “It is in an undeveloped star system. Does the Coalition know about the port?”

“The Ruling Director is running the project and all personnel assigned report directly to him,” Flautron explained. “Headquarters will be advised you are on special assignment. You cannot discuss this mission with anyone. A nice promotion and pay increase has been processed.”

Harmony sat up a little straighter in the chair. “Wait a minute,” she cried. “I did not accept the offer. You know I do not take assignments on planets, only space stations or sterile environments.”

“This is too big of an opportunity to let your phobia get the best of you,” her boss stated. “Besides, the Ruling Director will not take no for an answer. Although a magical portal exists between Glacier and Magic, New Mexico, you are to take your ship. Coordinates are in your craft’s computer.”

“Magic?” Harmony asked, trying to stifle her anxiety.

“You will have a lot to learn about the very unusual characters who call Magic home,” Flautron answered. “The spaceport is just outside town. I doubt you will run into any wild animals and certainly nothing your blaster cannot handle. Spend a couple of days with your father and then head to Earth. From this point on, you report directly to the Ruling Director. Dreyden Skye will provide more information once you reach Earth.”

As if in a daze, Harmony left Space Command and headed back to her father’s apartment. How had she been manipulated into taking an assignment she could not decline? Space Ranger leadership had always been very accommodating in allowing her specific location requirements to be honored.

Her father was there to greet her as soon as she stepped off the conveyance. He handed her a glass of Titian wine and started to toast her new assignment. How had he known?

“Are you responsible for my being forced to a backward planet?” Harmony asked in disbelief. “I would have assumed if you were going to meddle in my life, you would want me here on Glacier.”

“I had nothing to do with it.” Her father raised his palms, motioning he surrendered to her anger. “I became aware of the assignment when the Ruling Director came to talk to me about you. It turns out a resident of Magic, New Mexico, asked for you specifically.”

How was that possible? Harmony had heard rumors about the unusual relationship between the small town on Earth and the Ruling Director. Why had she been targeted?

Chapter 2

Magic, New Mexico

Earth

Chase Bishop walked toward Prudence Hardt’s house as if he was walking to his own execution. He needed to relax. It was only lunch with his two best friends. How he managed to have females as his closest confidants was beyond his comprehension. They were constantly prying into his life, particularly his nonexistent love life.

Prudence or Prue as everyone called her, had been his first crush. He had been devastated when she moved from Magic when they were six years old. Patience had been there to pick up the pieces. From that point on, Pati Harper-Zabare had become the closest friend he possessed. The two had become inseparable all through school.

Both Pati and Prue had found their mates and were determined to find his perfect woman. Despite how close the three of them were, the two women were terrible matchmakers. Chase knew lunch today was not going to be a peaceful meal, but a continuation of the mating inquisition. It was that painful to him.

The wooden step creaked as he walked onto the large dwelling’s porch. As a child, he had ridden his bike past this house a thousand times, just hoping to catch a glimpse of Prue when she still lived with her grandmother. It was the sweet old woman’s death that brought her granddaughter back into town.

He opened the door rather than ringing the doorbell. In the past, both women had chastised him for being polite and pulling them from their activities in the kitchen to let him inside. They were always brewing something, be it magical or edible. Chase headed to the back of the house where both women were preparing lunch.

When he entered, Prue was pulling bacon out of the microwave and Pati was removing chicken from a frying pan. His nostrils flared with delight. His inner wolf perked up at the smell of meat. There was a large salad bowl full of fresh greens, chopped hardboiled eggs, and dressing that awaited the two additional proteins to be added. He would have preferred a barely cooked steak, but he was here for the company, not the meal.

“Oh, good, you are here,” the blond Pati said.

Prue placed the bacon on the cutting board and proceeded to dice the strips into smaller pieces. Pati skirted around Chase and placed the chicken breasts next to the bacon awaiting Prue’s sharp knife. The smell of bacon permeated the room. His mouth watered and his stomach growled in response to the wonderful smell. As far as Chase was concerned, bacon was the sixth food group.

The table was set for three. Two pitchers of ice tea were in the middle, one unsweetened and the other sweetened. He couldn’t stand the cloying beverage, so the girls always had plenty of unaltered, black tea for his enjoyment.

Pati kissed him on the cheek. “How is my favorite werewolf?”

Chase was still taken aback by Pati’s now green eyes. When she was finally able to shift into her cat, her eyes changed from the baby blue he had grown up admiring. Pati always felt deficient not being able to change into her jaguar and a new confidence shown from within.

“I’m great,” Chase responded. “How is the kitty cat you married?”

Pati had mated with a jaguar shifter from another dimension. Although the two of them verbally sparred, Chase genuinely liked Danyal Zabare. His best friend loved him and Danyal valued Pati’s life above everything else.

“Keep calling him by that name and Danyal is going to show you how vicious his cat can become.” Pati’s voice barely disguised the humor behind her words. No one enjoyed the repartee between him and her mate more than Pati.

“I’ll be happy to meet with him during the upcoming full moon,” Chase informed her. “My wolf has been contained for too long. He’d enjoy the challenge. We are both tired of being locked in my basement three days every month.”

Pati leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Get yourself a girlfriend you can properly fuck and you won’t be so lonely.”

Chase could still remember the feeble sexual advances directed at Pati when he entered adolescence. Being best friends, she seemed the likely candidate to deal with his wolf’s continual horny behavior each month. After Pati’s magic turned him into various rodents, Chase’s wolf knew to avoid Pati when the moon was full and the two following nights. He still craved cheese from time to time.

Chase was not going to discuss Pati’s comment and sat at the table to watch Prue finish preparing lunch. A sideward glance in his best friend’s direction proved her attention had shifted to their mutual friend, as well.

Prue shoved the chicken and bacon into the bowl and proceeded to toss the salad. She served her two friends before sitting to join them. Prue was a powerful mage and was engaged to an alien from the planet Glacier. Like Danyal, Chase enjoyed spending time with Dreyden. Both men complemented his best friends.

“Tell us about your last date,” Pati asked, barely disguising her excitement. “Cheri is gorgeous and is adapting well to this dimension. You two would make a striking couple. It is amazing how many of Danyal’s former pride have decided to live in Magic. A jaguar shifter would be powerful enough to satisfy your wolf.”

Chase let out a heavy sigh. He was not going to escape without having this particular conversation. “I think girl is a better way to describe Cheri. I felt like I was babysitting, not on a date. She is barely eighteen. Besides, she can’t stand the way I smell, which she made abundantly clear. There is absolutely no future there.”

Jaguar shifters from the other dimension couldn’t tolerate the smell of wolf shifters. Chase assumed werewolves had to be distant cousins, based on her reaction to him. The girl refused to take air in through her nose and continually tried to talk while breathing through her mouth. When Cheri was forced to breathe through her nose, she had a coughing fit. He had grown up with jaguar shifters and none of them behaved as Cheri had. For goodness sake, Pati was one-quarter jaguar shifter.

“Well, I guess that was a mistake,” Pati admitted. “She’s just so cute.”

He took a bite of his salad. The dressing was sweet and the bacon salty; his taste buds rejoiced. Although he would have preferred steak, the chicken was perfectly cooked. One of these days, he was going to have to invest in an inside grill, like the one Prue had.

“What about your date with Bernice?” Prue asked.

It still felt odd talking about females with his first crush. She had grown into a beautiful woman. Prue still had alluring milk chocolate colored eyes and golden brown hair. Red highlights shimmered in the artificial light. He imagined he would ultimately end up with someone who looked similar to Prue. Certainly not Bernice.

“She’s old enough to be my mother,” Chase claimed. “The last thing I want to be reminded of when I am on a date is the woman who gave birth to me.”

Chase’s mother had been a tourist who had a torrid affair with his father. She returned ten months after she left Magic and presented her former lover with his son. At that point, his mother disappeared from his life.

His father didn’t want to alter his life taking in a baby, but Magic’s ruling council demanded he do so. When Chase was an adolescent and changed into his wolf for the first time, any question about his paternity ended. His father passed away eight years ago, leaving Chase the house.

“You cannot claim Deborah was too young or too old,” Pati added defensively. “I thought she looked perfect when she walked into the store. She was lovely.”

“I can’t disagree with you,” Chase admitted, but had more to share with his failed matchmakers. “Deborah was lovely on the outside. However, after three racial slurs in under an hour, she is the last person who can make a life here in Magic. Tourists come and go, Deborah needs to leave and never return. We can’t afford for someone like her to learn the secrets surrounding Magic.”

The town of Magic, New Mexico, was founded in the seventeen hundreds by a group of supernatural beings who wished to escape the persecution common place in Europe and other parts of the world. In Magic, they could live without fear of being burned, staked, or a variety of other horrible ways to die. A spell covering the city made all the beings in the community appear human.

“So, you are going to continue to lock yourself in your cellar each month during the full moon?” Prue asked incredulously.

A werewolf’s sexual drive was uncontrollable during the full moon and the subsequent two nights. He was a danger to every woman and living soul in town if he didn’t take precautions to isolate himself. Over the years he had several relationships with women, but never during a full moon. Few women would be able to survive the strength of a werewolf during that time.

“Topper stopped by the store this morning and said you would not be alone much longer,” Pati stated. Pati’s family had owned the mercantile store for generations.

The flamboyant witch was constantly making predictions, all of which eventually came true. She never gave specifics, only hinted regarding what was to come. Suddenly his interest was piqued.

“What did she say?” Chase leaned in, wanting to hear more.

“Just what I said,” Pati answered. “She told me you would not be alone much longer. I tried to press her for more information, but she got distracted by some new scarfs I had on display and refused to say anything more. If I didn’t know better, I would swear she left little crumbs just to irritate me.”

Chase took a bite of his salad and considered everything he just learned. Perhaps he was no longer going to be the awkward fifth wheel when he got together with his friends and their spouses. What type of magical creature would his mate be?

Chapter 3

Earth was a beautiful small blue planet with massive oceans. How different it was from her home world. Only the poles had massive glaciers characteristic of her planet. A single moon orbited the blue orb.

Harmony entered the landing coordinates into her craft’s computer that would take her directly to the secret spaceport. Her ship’s concealed approach would mask her descent from military and civilian radar. With the exception of the residents of Magic, New Mexico, Earth’s population would have to stay ignorant of extraterrestrial life a little longer.

Her path through the atmosphere was gradual, reducing the impact of the G-forces on her body. If she was lucky, the secret port would be near a body of water. It was high time she learned how to swim and enjoy what Earth had to offer.

She imagined the planet’s oceans would have less dangerous wildlife than whatever prowled its land masses. Harmony unconsciously rubbed her upper chest. It bore the scars of the animal attack that occurred when she was eight. The jagged marks on her body were a constant reminder of how dangerous a planet’s indigenous wildlife could be. That was the reason she generally only accepted assignments on space stations.

Her ship continued to slow as it made its way through the different layers of the planet’s atmosphere. The nitrogen/oxygen enriched air would allow her to breathe without a filtering device. Although Harmony did not want this assignment, suddenly she was excited about her new adventure. She had a sense of anticipation she never experienced.

As she got closer to her destination, the greens and blues of the surface turned to brown. The port was located in a desert, not in a secluded canyon with a pristine lake nearby. Disappointment clouded her mood.

The secret base was closer to town than she had expected and was terribly exposed. Harmony did not understand how the port and her existence was going to be kept hidden from Earth’s inhabitants. Her contact, Dreyden, had a lot of explaining to do.

Her ship’s autopilot smoothly docked into its slip. The facility was larger than she expected, since Earth was not a sanctioned Coalition planet. It was clear the Ruling Director was going to push Earth’s addition into the body of planets earlier than she was informed. No wonder he wanted to round out his team.

Harmony released her safety harness after turning off her ship’s engines and completing her post-flight status report. She closed her eyes and attempted to clear her mind. Now that she reached her destination, the constant fear that descended when she was not occupied threatened to re-emerge.

The last doctor she consulted about her crippling anxiety suggested she practice visualizations when she felt a spell coming on. Harmony imagined she was on Glacier climbing the Astoff Ice Cliffs. The sport required not only excellent physical conditioning, but total concentration.

The Astoff Ice Cliffs were fenced off with lasers to ward off the planet’s dangerous wildlife. Harmony had just purchased a new pair of boot crampons that provided her ankles adequate support. She kicked her leg and the front point of her left crampon entered the ice. Once secure, she swung her axe into the ice above her head.

A loud beeping from her ship’s communication system pulled her from her visualization. Although her mind had been focused on climbing for mere moments, the crippling fear no longer threatened to manifest itself.

Harmony flipped the switch on her console, allowing her to speak to whomever attempted to contact her. “This is Harmony Neutron on the spacecraft Neutromic. I am ready to receive your transmission.”

“Are you ever going to disembark your craft?” a female voice inquired.

Rather than responding, Harmony stared at her ship’s control panels. What an odd communication. It did not follow Coalition protocols. The female did not even identify herself. Dreyden Skye ran the port; the Ruling Director did not mention a female.

Harmony slipped out of her Space Ranger uniform and into an outfit that would allow her to blend in with the indigenous population. She felt almost naked in the shorts and sleeveless shirt. Fortunately, the top had a high neck and covered the scars on her chest. Her heavy boots were replaced with shoes that barely covered the top of her feet. The computer informed her the people of Earth called them flip flops.

Her new shoes made a clopping sound as they traversed the metal walkway leading to the ship’s hull exit. She carefully climbed the ladder leading to the hatch. Her new shoes continually threatened to fall off her feet. At one point, she almost lost her footing on a rung toward the top. It would have been safer climbing barefooted. Once Harmony had native currency, she was going to purchase a different pair of shoes.

“Open,” Harmony said when she neared the hatch.

The first thing Harmony saw when her head emerged from the craft was a hand extended to help her exit her ship. Her eyes followed the arm to see a woman with golden brown shoulder length hair and an enormous smile on her face.

“Hi, I’m Prue,” the woman said. “Welcome to Magic, New Mexico. I am Dreyden’s Chosen One. He wanted to greet you himself, but he joined the search for some missing teenagers lost in the canyons outside of town.”

The universal translator installed in her brainstem allowed Harmony to understand what had been communicated. Harmony was used to useless information being shared. She was not sure what to react to first in the wealth of news Prue provided.

It was rare for a Glacierian to find their Chosen One. A male could identify his mate by flowing waves of color on her skin only a true mate could see. There was not one specific way for a female to identify her Chosen One. Her parents had fallen in love, but her mother was not her dad’s Chosen One. Since Harmony was half Titian, she was not sure what would occur if she was blessed in finding her soul mate.

However, it was Harmony’s sense of duty to help others that won out. “I am an expert climber. I can help with the search. Wait a minute while I change.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Prue said. “I can provide you with everything you’ll need.”

The universal translator adjusted itself, reacting to the use of contractions in Prue’s speech. Harmony needed to adjust her speech accordingly if she was going to fit in.

“That sounds great,” Harmony replied. “Let’s head directly to the canyons.”

Harmony did not grab Prue’s extended hand, but exited the ship on her own. She set the lock on the hatch, but didn’t arm the self-destruct protocols normally required on unsanctioned planets. The port itself was set to explode if unauthorized persons entered within its perimeters. She recognized the low hum of the explosive devices located throughout the facility. At least, Dreyden got that part right.

They entered the port’s office and Prue grabbed a broom. Her actions stupefied Harmony. Lives were at risk and the woman was going to sweep the office?

“Let’s go,” Prue said. “Flying will be faster and more practical once we reach the canyons. Oh, I forgot about your clothing.”

Prue muttered some words the universal translator did not understand. The next instant, Harmony was dressed in a short sleeve shirt and long pants with extra padding around her knees. The outfit was comfortable, allowing her body to move freely. Her scarred chest was appropriately covered, alleviating any discussion about how she received her injuries.

“How?” Harmony asked in wonder.

She was given a questioning look. “They didn’t tell you anything about Magic?” Prue asked.

“Nothing,” Harmony replied. “You can explain on the way. Where is your craft?”

Prue let out a loud sigh. “Actually, we are taking this,” Prue said, referring to the broom in her hand.

“Explain,” Harmony asked in frustration. What kind of planet had she landed on?

“I am a witch,” Prue explained. “My abilities allow me to manipulate matter. I can conjure spells or call upon elemental magic. Actually, I am a mage.”

“The portal between our worlds,” Harmony concluded. “Your use of magic was explained to me. I just never witnessed it firsthand. With such power, I thought you would have a machine to assist you in generating energy.”

Harmony watched in wonder as the broom hovered before her. Prue sat on the wooden dowel and the broom supported her weight. She moved forward, questioning whether she should join the brown-eyed woman. After making her decision, without hesitation, Harmony sat beside Prue on the broom. When they scooted forward, Harmony grabbed Prue’s waist and held on tightly.

“You can relax,” Prue said. “I placed a force field around us. It will help you keep your balance and prevent you from falling.”

As Prue’s words proved true, Harmony released the other woman’s waist and began to relax. No longer fearing she would fall, she surveyed the ground below.

The land near Magic, New Mexico, was a reddish color, but transformed into a dry sand and gravel as they entered the desert. Various small flora littered the arid land. Some plants were blooming, painting the desert in fuchsia and yellow hues. After living in a world covered in ice, Harmony found the desert beautiful.

Soon they entered the sandstone canyons. The undulating formations and winding passages fascinated her. Maybe once she researched the wildlife in the area and deemed it safe, she would return and do some rock climbing. However, for the time being, her focus had to be on the missing kids.

Prue pulled out some kind of communication device and had a short conversation.

“The kids still have not been located,” Prue advised. “We have been assigned the north sector to investigate. Dreyden asked me to pass along his thanks for your assistance.”

Harmony nodded her understanding, although Prue was not looking in her direction. Like Harmony, her attention was on the canyon passages below. They appeared to be some kind of maze.

Every now and then Harmony spotted a small reptilian creature, but no teenagers. Humans were no different than many of the species she encountered across the galaxies. Children, regardless of race, had no sense and continually got into trouble. Their parents would be so relieved once they were found. The kids’ punishment would in the end not reflect what was involved in their rescue or the anguish the parents were currently suffering.

Another broom carrying two individuals came into view. It appeared another couple was also assigned to search the northern section of the canyons. A woman sat in the front, but it was the man sitting behind her who captured Harmony’s attention.

The universe was populated with good-looking men, but this one put them all to shame. Her body’s temperature rose without her direction. Her system continued to react to him the closer the broom came. His eyes were glued to hers, similarly impacted.

Chapter 4

Who was the female behind Prue? His body warmed and his cock hardened in response to what he saw. She couldn’t be a mirage; he was certainly reacting to her as if she was flesh and blood.

Her long black hair sailed behind her, almost as if it had a life of its own. The darkness of her hair highlighted the paleness of her skin. Her lips were pink and plump, extremely kissable. As they drew closer, he could see her eyes were a light blue.

“The parents just delivered something belonging to the kids,” Pati shouted to the two women on the other broom. “I just performed a locator spell. Follow me, we are close.”

It was the wrong time of month for him to shift. The moon would not be full for another week. All Chase could offer was the strength contained in his human form. Danyal and his pride members could prowl the canyons in their cat forms.

Pati landed the broom near a chasm in the rock. If the children somehow found their way down the narrow gap, their rescue would be challenging.

Prue brought them down beside him and both women quickly got on their feet. The unknown woman towered over her companion. She was easily six-foot tall. He liked tall women, especially since he was six-foot-two-inches in height.

“If we find a chasm a little wider, I will be able to make my way down to search for the children,” the mysterious woman said.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend, Prue?” Chase asked.

Although Prue was born in Magic, she’d left when she was six years old. Her friend could be from Chicago, where Prue recently lived.

“This is Harmony Neutron,” Prue replied. “She is the pilot from Glacier Dreyden was expecting.”

Harmony seemed surprised by Prue’s introduction. The existence of extraterrestrials was supposed to be a secret, along with the spaceport. Residents of Magic were aware of both. Since Frost’s first visit to Magic, the residents of the town were aware of Glacier and its people. After all, they opened a magical portal between the two planets.

He walked toward Harmony and extended his hand in friendship. “Hello, I’m Chase.”

It was not the type of environment he wanted to meet this beautiful, intriguing woman. He was as hard as a rock and there were still kids to be found. His focus needed to be on the missing teenagers, not the effect Harmony had on his body and soul.

“Are you a witch, too, Chase?” Harmony asked.

“No,” Chase answered. Now was not the time to tell her what he was.

Every supernatural creature who lived in Magic closely guarded what they truly were to strangers. The horrors of past prejudices toward their kind was still too fresh in most of their minds. The town already had two aliens, making Harmony a welcome addition. Chase doubted she even knew what a werewolf was.

Harmony’s attention was soon directed away from him. She shifted her gaze to Pati. “Your magic led you here, yet I don’t hear cries for help. What others spells do you have that can assist us?”

“I can turn us into birds,” Pati replied. “We can fly through the canyon’s openings and search for the children.”

“Once we find them, I can levitate them, drawing them out of the chasm,” Prue added.

Harmony looked skeptical, but nodded her unspoken agreement. Over the years, Pati had turned them into different animals for short periods of time. The human side of him loved experiencing life through different animal’s eyes, his wolf did not. It had been years since Pati worked that type of magic on him.

“The spell will last thirty minutes,” Pati said. “When your vision becomes cloudy, the spell is losing its energy. Immediately, exit the chasm. You don’t want to convert back in a narrow passage.”

Chase walked beside Harmony. He would safeguard her until she was released from the spell. Her willingness to allow Pati to change her into a bird showed how open-minded the alien was. Perhaps, the truth about what he was would not be an issue after all.

He felt the magic take over his body. It was different from the sensation that brought about his wolf. Chase wondered how Harmony felt and her reaction to seeing the world through different eyes.

Harmony’s finch immediately took to flight and dove through an opening in the rock. He followed behind her, as Pati and Prue headed in the opposite direction.

Even his bird was attracted to her. Was her cloaca swollen? He was prepared to perform the bird mating dance.

His attention was diverted when Harmony reached a dead end and soared toward the sky. He followed in her wake. For a short time, they both traveled the same wind current. It felt natural being next to her, regardless of their form.

He heard faint cries east of their position. Harmony lifted her wing slightly to communicate she too heard the cry. They reached the weakened, thirsty children just as his vision began to cloud.

Chase nudged Harmony, indicating they needed to head for the rock’s surface. She followed him without any complaints. They rested nearby as their bodies returned to their former shape.

“That was amazing!” Harmony exclaimed. “I’ve never experienced anything that can compare. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alive.”

He stood paralyzed as her lips fell onto his. There was no mistaking how he now felt. He had found his mate.

***

Harmony had no idea why she kissed Chase, but she knew she turned a corner in her life. There were various crossroads a person faced in their lifetime. Kissing this man was one of those moments.

She ran her hands through his tawny brown, thick hair. His strands were coarse, as tight as the sinewy muscles in his arms.

Flying in bird form gave her the greatest high she ever experienced, but kissing this man was mind-shattering. Emotions and sensations overwhelmed her ability to reason. At this point, she was just reacting, incapable of rational thought.

His lips were tentative at first, no doubt stunned by her action. As reality sunk in, Chase deepened the kiss and his hands fell onto her hips. Her body warmed to his touch, even through the clothing she wore. What would occur when he touched her naked flesh?

She had kissed men before, but none of them tasted this good. There was a slight mint-like flavor to him. Harmony took in more of his deliciousness as their tongues tangled.

The cries of the children below brought her back to reality. She reluctantly pushed away from him, immediately feeling the loss of his touch. In the past, she hated to be touched, but now she craved it from this man.

“How do we contact Pati and Prue?” Harmony somehow found her voice after what she experienced. “The children need water and lifted to the surface.”

Chase put his fingers into his mouth and generated a loud whistle. How had he created such a loud, high-pitched sound? She was still mystified as he produced the sound again.

A returned whistle indicated the women heard his message. It was not long before Pati and Prue arrived on their broomsticks.

“They are directly below us,” Chase advised the two. “The opening is too small to levitate them out in their current forms. They must have entered the canyon miles from here and got lost in the passages. It appears they brought no food or water with them.”

“Stupid,” Pati muttered under her breath. “No matter how many signs and warnings we post, there are always some who think they know better.”

“These kids won’t make the same mistake twice,” Prue assured them. “I will go down and get them. My elemental gifts are required here. Notify your mate we have found the teens.”

“Your mate?” Harmony asked Pati.

“My soul mate is a jaguar shifter,” Pati informed her. “We used magic to turn us into birds. Danyal can use the magic of his ancestors and shift into the form of a large cat.”

Harmony consulted the small computer on her wrist to investigate more about jaguars. The animal was of the Panthera genus. Well, that didn’t tell her anything worthwhile. Her eyes widened as she read on. From the nose to the tip of their tales, they could be six-feet in length and a large male would weigh as much as three hundred fifty pounds. She was almost brought to her knees as she read about a jaguar’s bite force.

She could feel her normally pale complexion lose what color it had. A shudder ran through her body in reaction to the dangerous animal she just read about. How could Pati have mated with such a creature?

***

Chase’s attention was focused on Harmony, rather than the attempt to rescue the teens. At one point, he was afraid she was going to faint. Whatever she read on the screen on her wristband had clearly distressed her.

“Are you all right?” Chase asked as he studied her wobbling body.

Harmony backed away from him as if he had hurt her. “Are you one of those jaguar shifters?”

“No,” Chase answered.

His pulse raced, hoping she would not ask what he was. If a jaguar frightened her, how would she react to his wolf? The smartest thing he could do now was to divert her attention. He pointed in Prue’s direction right before she turned into a peregrine falcon.

The falcon was the size of a large crow. She was a gorgeous bird with a blue-gray back, barred underparts, and a black head. He found it amusing Prue would change into a sexually dimorphic bird. The female peregrine falcon was larger than her male counterpart. Prue took to the air and dove into the chasm.

Moments later, she returned carrying a small rodent. As soon as the chipmunk was on the ground, it materialized into a human boy. The beautiful falcon returned with the second child as the first boy started to ask questions.

Either by witchcraft or Dreyden’s ability to wipe minds, the children would not remember anything about their rescue. Medical science would explain their amnesia a result of their dehydrated state. Only the residents of Magic would know the truth. Pati worked a spell that would save the children’s lives until they were turned over to the local health clinic.

Chase heard the sound of propellers whipping the air before he caught sight of Sheriff Theo’s helicopter. The dragon shifter lawman landed and Chase carried one of the children to the craft. After the second child was aboard, Theo lifted off, returning to town.

“Harmony, you’ll be staying with me and Dreyden until you find a place of your own,” Prue said as soon as she could be heard over the retreating helicopter. “There is plenty of room. My grandmother’s house is huge.”

Chase wondered how long it would be until Prue called the home she inherited her own. It had been six months since she had returned to Magic. It was clear his first crush was going to remain in Magic.

He didn’t want to lose Harmony’s company just yet. Chase needed to concoct a reason to invite himself to Prue and Darden’s home tonight.

“It’s been a trying day,” Chase said. “Why don’t I pick up some pizzas and beer. I doubt anyone feels like cooking tonight.”

Prue and Pati saw right through his barely disguised plan and they both smiled. Fortunately, they said nothing to alert Harmony to the real reason he was playing pizza delivery man.

“Sounds great,” Pati said. “Danyal and I will be there by seven.”

“The gigantic cat?” Harmony shrieked.

It was clear the female alien was freaking out. If he had any hope of a relationship with the beauty, he needed to find a way to eliminate her fear of animals. He had a week before the moon was full and his wolf was freed.

Chapter 5

Harmony’s heart beat so quickly, she was afraid it would burst. As it was, her breathing was just as erratic. An all too familiar panic attack was upon her.

She was in what Prue called a living room while her hostess was in the kitchen preparing for guests. The walls seemed to be closing in on her as she contemplated sharing space with a jaguar shifter.

“Are you all right?” A voice broke through her muddled mind. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”

Before Harmony had time to react, Prue handed her a green cup. Harmony grabbed the handle, not immediately able to see the liquid contained within. Earth had discovered how to make ceramics. It should not have surprised her, even primitive worlds baked their dishes.

“Take slow, shallow sips,” Prue instructed, concern written all over her face.

To her surprise, the woman did not totally release the mug she drank from. She must be in worse shape than she thought. Taking Prue’s advice, she sipped the cold, refreshing water.

In a matter of minutes, Harmony felt better. She was finally able to speak. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” her hostess immediately replied. “Do you want to tell me what caused your panic attack? I know one when I see one.”

Would it be wise to confide in a total stranger? Especially one who possessed magical abilities she did not understand? Prue was certainly compassionate and willing to help rescue perfect strangers.

“When I was eight, my family went to an isolated location on Glacier known for its spectacular ice cliffs,” Harmony started to explain. “At that age, I was reckless and didn’t heed warnings not to wander off alone.”

Prue shifted closer to her, intent on hearing the rest of the story. “Most kids that age are fearless, even when they get older,” Prue said. “Those teenagers we rescued today are perfect examples of the stupidity of children, regardless of what planet they are from.”

“Then, I was typical,” Harmony continued. “There had been sightings of ice weasels, but the warnings fell on deaf ears as far as I was concerned. The moon was full and I wanted to see the cliffs without anyone telling me I couldn’t climb them.”

“A weasel?”

“That was what my translator came up with,” Harmony admitted. “They are vicious small mammals with sharp teeth and sharper claws. Although they are no longer than the distance between my elbow and the tip of my middle finger, their speed makes them deadly. One was upon me before I could use my climbing equipment to hold him off. The animal tore through my jacket and clothing, seeking the warmth of my blood.”

Harmony had to stop and take a cleansing breath to calm herself. After all these years, she could still feel the claws and teeth tearing her tender flesh. She took several sips of water to soothe her now dry throat.

“I finally heard human cries and knew help was on its way. But the ice weasel kept attacking me,” Harmony cried. “They beat the animal to death because he refused to release me. When it finally died, they had to pry its claws from my bones.”

She tried to control the tremors telling her story created. Her wounds had finally healed, but her memories were still terrifyingly fresh. Harmony pulled down her shirt to show Prue the scars on her chest.

When she had the courage to look at Prue, she saw compassion reflected on her face. Harmony hated when people pitied her. That was one of the reasons she always covered her chest and rarely shared her story.

“My magic can remove the scars, even the memories,” Prue said.

Harmony shook her head. “The doctors say the skin is too damaged. I have tried various mind-control techniques. Even though the memory fades for a period, my nightmares only intensified. There is no way to purge my subconscious of what happened. I have a crippling fear of animals.”

Prue’s eyes grew larger, finally understanding what brought on her latest attack. It was obvious the woman was struggling with what to tell her to ease her fears.

Harmony’s mind went back to the instant she was rescued. All she could remember was seeing all the blood on the ice. It was obvious she was never going to get over the accident and couldn’t stay in Magic.

***

Chase leaned against the white frame structure, three pizza boxes resting in his hands. Prue had left open the windows to draw the cooling afternoon breeze into the house. He heard everything Harmony shared.

“Although Danyal is a shifter, his human mind is aware of his animal’s movements,” Prue assured Harmony. “The only time he becomes violent is when his mate or someone he cares for is in danger. Otherwise, he is just a big pussy cat.  He isn’t a wild animal.”

He was once again relieved there was no mention of him being a werewolf. He needed to rely on Danyal and the other shifters to prove to Harmony there was nothing to fear. Although, the shifters had more control of their cats than he had of his wolf during the full moon.

Chase needed to drop off the pizzas and get the beer from the car. There was a possibility the aroma of the pies would permeate through the screens, alerting the women to his presence.

It appeared the conversation had momentarily ended. Now seemed the best time to let them know he arrived. Chase took the four steps to the front door and shouted, “Prue, I’m here with the pizzas.” He tried to sound as normal as possible.

The sound of Prue coming to the door was audible on the hardwood floors. He had mere seconds to remove any signs he heard their conversation from his expression.

“I didn’t hear you approach, Chase,” Prue said. “Your wolf is ready to run wild.”

Chase gave Prue a warning glance. Why would she mention his animal now after Harmony’s confession? Fortunately, her comment had been no more than a whisper. Prue winked at him and opened the front door. She obviously wanted something.

He followed her into the kitchen, nodding his acknowledgement of Harmony as he made his way through the living room. Just that short contact made his heart race. With care not to mess up the hot cheese in the delivery boxes, he placed the pizzas on the granite countertop.

“I’ll get the beer,” Chase commented and headed toward the kitchen’s exit.

“You heard her story?” Prue asked in hushed tones.

“Yes,” he answered in kind. “What am I going to do? She’s the one.”

It was quite a revelation to admit to his first crush.

“I know.” Prue moved forward and embraced him. “It’s a week before the moon is full. We’ll figure it out. Get the beer. Harmony has been alone in there too long.”

As soon as Prue released him, Chase moved through the swinging door into the living room. Finding their mates was not easy for Prue or Pati. It gave him hope he would have his own happily ever after with Harmony. Both couples were now the epitome of romantic bliss.

“I’ve got beers and sodas in the car, if you’d like to stretch your legs and give me a hand,” Chase said as he approached Harmony.

He was rewarded with a brilliant smile. Harmony was obviously not a woman used to sitting around with nothing to do. Before she stepped outside, Harmony touched her weapon, assuring herself it was still there. He hoped she was not going to shoot Danyal.

“This is your conveyance?” Harmony asked as he opened his truck’s passenger door and handed her a six-pack of his favorite beer.

“It’s called an automobile,” Chase informed her. “Car for short. Although, we are capable of flight, most of us are restricted to land vehicles. My conveyance is a truck because of the open bed in the back. It is used for hauling equipment, furniture, soil, or whatever is required.”

Chase grabbed a twelve pack of sodas and one of the remaining six-packs of beer. Harmony looked expectantly at him, no doubt expecting to carry more.

“I am half Titian,” Harmony said. “My muscle fibers make me stronger and faster than I appear. I am capable of carrying more than this trifle.”

Not wanting to insult her, Chase handed over the six-pack and grabbed the remaining beer. Although Harmony expected to carry more, he closed the truck’s door and headed for the house.

She followed him, not a word shared between them. At this point, it was clear, she did not fear him. If things went well between her and Danyal tonight, maybe his anxiety regarding how she would react to his wolf would lessen.

When they entered the kitchen, Harmony stood by the refrigerator as he tried to find room for the beer and sodas. As it was, he had to pull the sodas out of the cardboard box and placed a couple in the fridge’s door. How could two people eat so much food? He had only seen a fridge this full on Thanksgiving eve.

“Would you like a beer now?” Chase asked her.

Harmony looked questioning at the green colored glass bottle he handed her. “I have never had beer before.”

“Try it,” Chase said. “If you don’t like it, we’ll give you something else to drink.”

Chase grabbed the bottle opener and removed the cap. Harmony watched his every move. After he handed her the open bottle, Harmony sniffed the contents. Her head immediately jerked back in reaction. She then gave him a questioning look.

Not altogether sure if she was reacting to the smell or the carbonation, Chase struggled to justify an explanation for what she may have experienced. “It tastes better than it smells and it’s quite refreshing. You may not be used to the carbonation that creates those bubbles.”

She gave him a skeptical look. “It’s my experience that food or beverages that smell badly, taste worse.”

Harmony took a tentative sip. Her nose wiggled at the impact of the carbonation. The fact she had not spit the beer in his face was a good sign. She then took a healthy gulp of the beer.

“It’s interesting,” Harmony commented. “I assume it contains alcohol.”

“Yup.” Chase took a healthy drag from his own bottle. “One beer on an empty stomach shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll eat as soon as the others get here.”

He had no idea how a half-Glacierian and half-Titian metabolized alcohol. One beer could knock her out or have no impact on her entirely. If he was lucky, the beer would relax her, making first contact with Danyal go smoothly.

Numerous voices were now audible from the living room, including the low timbre of two male voices. The hour of reckoning was upon them.

“Take a large swig,” Chase said. “You are about to meet your boss and Danyal.” He didn’t feel it necessary to address his friend as a jaguar shifter. Harmony was fully aware of that fact.

Chase offered his hand and Harmony readily accepted it. There was a slight tremor visible when she moved her hand. If she viewed him as a safety zone now, all the better.

His eyes were glued to Harmony’s face as they entered the living room. Her glance first went to Dreyden and then to the tall black man next to Pati. He spared a glance at the jaguar shifter, humor depicted in his green eyes.

“How are you doing, dog?” Danyal playfully asked.

Pati immediately gave her mate a jab in the ribs. Danyal sent his mate a questioning look. Pati must not have done an adequate job of describing the situation to the jaguar shifter.

Harmony didn’t react to the short interchange. Her attention was still locked on Danyal. Her grasp on his hand tightened.

“This is my husband Danyal, Harmony,” Pati said in a smooth, melodic voice. “He comes from a parallel dimension. Members of his pride came to Earth centuries ago. They have been united here in peace. The shifters have been members of our community and many of them work in our mercantile store.”

“Hello, Harmony,” Danyal purred. His friend didn’t extend his hand or make any other movement. “I promise not to shift into my animal form.”

Harmony bit her lower lip. “Maybe if I saw your jaguar, I would be less worried.”

“Do you fear me?” Pati asked. “I am one-quarter jaguar and can shift as well.”

Harmony turned her head toward Pati in surprise. That tidbit of information had not been shared earlier because they had focused on saving the teenagers. Pati primarily considered herself a witch and had only recently been able to shift.

“I would like to meet your cat, Pati,” Harmony said, fear causing her voice to quake. It was a courageous request.

“I’ll be back in a second,” Pati said. “I have to get naked before I call upon the magic of my ancestors. This is my favorite shirt and I don’t want it ruined.”

After Pati left the room, Dreyden came forward. He had yet to greet his employee. Dreyden removed his sunglasses that hid his glowing, light blue eyes. The corners of Harmony’s lips curved in the beginning of a smile. Her boss’s eyes must have reminded her of home.

“Welcome to Earth, Space Ranger Neutron.” Dreyden leaned over and removed Harmony’s weapon from her holster. “We do not want you killing my Chosen One’s best friend. I will return your blaster after our guests have left.”

Pati’s jaguar slowly entered the living room. She had been his best friend since high school. In those days, she had been ridiculed by the other jaguars because she could not shift. Chase still couldn’t believe how beautiful she was in her cat form.

“May I pet your mate, Danyal?” Chase knew better than to approach Pati without her mate’s permission. Danyal was still working through his former world’s prejudices toward wolves.

Danyal nodded his consent and Chase gently released Harmony’s hand. As Chase approached Pati, he continued to gauge Harmony’s breathing.  She seemed to be doing all right. Pati fell onto her stomach when Chase was near, preparing to be petted.

Chase ran his hand along Pati’s coat, stroking from her head down her back. The jaguar purred in response to his touch. He spared a glance toward Danyal to make sure he hadn’t stepped over any boundaries. He then shifted his gaze to where Harmony stood. Chase was surprised when she knelt by his side.

“She is beautiful. May I pet her?” Harmony asked Danyal.

At this point, Pati was resting her head on her front paws. Her claws were not visible. Never taking his eyes off Harmony, Chase heard Danyal give his permission.

Harmony’s shaking hand slowly descended toward Pati’s powerful shoulders. Her beautiful hand ran down Pati’s soft coat while Chase’s hand remained close to hers. She smiled in reaction to the vibrations caused by the cat’s purring.

A large black masculine hand came down upon Pati’s head. “Harmony, you have nothing to fear from shifters, witches, werewolves, or any creature living in Magic, New Mexico,” Danyal assured her. “The aliens you track and capture are more of a risk to you than we are. We run at dawn each morning through the desert in both our human and animal forms. You are welcome to join us. Our cats enjoy running in open spaces.”

“How have you not been discovered?” Harmony inquired. “I understand there are tourists in town.”

“There is a magical shield that protects us, as well as our spaceport,” Dreyden informed her. “We appear human to the tourists and the port appears to be a construction area. The spell extends into the desert where the jaguars and I run. Fortunately, your eyes do not shimmer like Frost and my eyes do, requiring we wear sunglasses.”

Chase watched as Harmony’s hand inched toward Pati’s head. When it finally descended between the jaguar’s ears, they both sighed in relief. Now, they just had to introduce her to his wolf.

Chapter 6

Her wristband beeped, waking her from a deep sleep. Between the beer and the delicious pizza she consumed last night, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. 

The reoccurring dream related to the ice weasel’s attack didn’t manifest itself last night. After meeting Pati’s jaguar, she was convinced she’d have a difficult night. The exact opposite was true. Harmony couldn’t remember having a better night’s sleep. What dreams she had were related to Chase and sexual in content. A slight smile crossed her face when she remembered a specific part of the dream.

She turned to the window to see that the sun had not risen. Harmony couldn’t believe she agreed to run with the jaguars this morning. It must have been the alcohol in the beer that made her so daring. Now, she had to live with her careless decision. In addition, she was disappointed the subject of her dreams was not going to join them.

“He likes to sleep in,” Pati explained Chase’s refusal.

An instant pang of jealousy stabbed her knowing Pati possessed knowledge about the man she was so attracted to. Seeing no signs from Danyal all evening related to his own jealousy caused her to dismiss her initial reaction. She didn’t possess a close relationship with anyone, with the exception of maybe Flautron.

It was part of her routine to exercise every morning, unless she was on a hunt for a criminal. Space stations were well equipped with gyms and running tracks. Being unfamiliar with the area, running with acquaintances made sense, even if they were animal shifters. Who better to protect her against any indigenous wildlife in the desert?

Spring in the desert resulted in cold nights, so Harmony put on her ranger uniform. Before she left her ship, all insignia was removed from the outfit. Although she could regulate her internal temperature, she didn’t want to stand out by being inappropriately clothed. After she was dressed, she quietly left the house. Being a guest, the last thing she wanted was to wake her hosts.

Harmony walked the four blocks to meet the others. Magic was built on a grid, so she had no problems locating Pati and Danyal’s store. After all, she navigated galaxies. She headed for the back entrance as she was instructed to do last night.

Pati exited the building dressed in leggings and a jacket. She was followed by eight jaguars. For an instant, Harmony’s heart raced and she reached for her weapon, but did not remove it from its holster. Pati’s smile and the cats not breaking formation caused her to relax a bit.

“Oh, my God!” Pati reacted to something behind Harmony.

In a panic, Harmony turned to see what had startled her new friend, this time she drew her weapon. There was Chase dressed for running and his eyes were glued to her blaster. Embarrassed, Harmony put away her gun and couldn’t stop the blush reddening her cheeks. A warm sensation flowed through her body in reaction to seeing Chase.

“Don’t get all excited,” Chase growled. “I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to join you.”

“Since you’re here, I’m going to let my jaguar run free,” Pati informed the group. “Start without us. Danyal and I will catch up.”

Pati went back into the house and the jaguar in front of the other cats pulled back. The large cat must be Danyal, planning to wait for Pati. Harmony noted the shifter purposely went to his left to prevent crossing directly in front of her.

The jaguars took off running. They were beautiful in motion. She had not expected such a large animal to be so graceful.

Harmony and Chase jogged after them, slowly increasing their pace. She was not sure how fast humans could run, but Chase’s speed and agility surprised her. Increasing her pace, Chase matched her speed.

“Are all humans as fast as you are?” Harmony projected her voice to her right, where Chase was several steps ahead of her.

Chase took his time answering her. She noticed he had problems swallowing when she was running even with him. His reluctance to answer her was concerning. Harmony grabbed his arm and stopped running.

He came to an abrupt halt and stood mute before her. It appeared he was just about to answer her question when he grabbed her shoulders and adhered his lips to hers.

Her question was all but forgotten as sensations caused by the kiss swept through her body. She readily opened her mouth for his tongue’s welcome invasion. She grabbed ahold of his arms, afraid her legs would no longer bear her weight.

What was happening to her? It was not as if she hadn’t been kissed before. But no kiss ever impacted her the way Chase’s did.

Her hands caressed his hard muscles through the thick material covering his arms. She longed to touch his naked flesh, craving the heat it produced. With an unexplainable urgency, Harmony lifted his shirt and pulled at the second layer of clothing tucked into his pants.

When her fingertips finally touched skin, it was burning hot. Her digits dug into his flesh, wanting more of the heat it produced. A groan came from Chase and he pulled her closer to his body.

As suddenly as the kiss started, it ended. Their breathing had become erratic and it had nothing to do with the short run. Harmony cried out at the loss of the contact.

“I am not unlike Danyal,” Chase said between breaths. “But I cannot shift at will into my wolf as Danyal can his cat.”

“Dog…werewolf,” Harmony muttered. Bits of conversations played in her mind. She had heard what was said, but had not processed the meaning until now.

“Yes,” Chase replied. “I am faster than a human due to my preternatural speed. The passion you just experienced is due to both the man and the wolf contained within me.”

Harmony was still dealing with what Chase shared when two jaguars approached. The larger of the two roared, drawing her back into Chase’s arms. It was an immediate reaction to the enormous cats. She felt safe with Chase, regardless of what he told her.

“It’s only Danyal inquiring if anything is wrong,” Chase said. He rubbed her back trying to calm her.

“You understand him?” Harmony whispered in his ear.

Being this close to him, she could not help taking in his scent. He smelled fresh. She liked the aroma of whatever soap and shampoo he used this morning. There was a tinge of menthol that caused her nose to burn slightly. It was not an unpleasant experience.

“No,” Chase replied, “I inferred what he communicated. Although he has a telepathic channel to his pride members and a private link with Pati, I cannot communicate with his cat.”

There was so much to learn about her temporary home. She had never encountered such creatures before. Her instincts told her there was nothing to fear, but her subconscious continued to push doubts forward.

Harmony reminded herself about her experience of being changed into a bird. Her consciousness was with her the whole time. Although it was magic, she had to believe Pati and Danyal were still present when they were in their jaguar forms. Neither had made any aggressive moves toward her. Perhaps there was nothing to fear from the wolf within Chase, as well.

“We should rejoin the run.” Harmony took off running knowing Chase would follow.

She didn’t comment on Chase’s earlier words. Now wasn’t the time to discuss what he was or come to grips with her attraction to him. There was nothing ordinary about the passion she continued to experience when they kissed. Was it the man or the beast within who caused her unprecedented reaction to him?

***

Chase concentrated on running, not his reaction to Harmony or her passionate response to physical contact with him. It was a good sign she didn’t start running in the opposite direction when he told her about his wolf. He half expected he’d be forced to run after her.

His wolf made him feel unusually anxious. The beast within recognized his mate during their first kiss. Somehow, Chase had been able to control the wolf’s desire to claim her on the dry desert ground. The more time he spent with Harmony, the harder it became not to consummate their destiny together.

Harmony now ran between two smaller cats. She must have realized they were the only females present among the runners. The Titian part of her allowed her to keep pace with the shifters. Chase ran at the back of the pride, while their alpha led them through the desert.

The sun was rising, but Chase didn’t lift his eyes from Harmony’s back to enjoy the beautiful sky. Nothing could be more wondrous than the sight of her body in motion. She was as graceful as the cats.

They ran for another half hour before the cats stopped and sniffed the ground. Chase picked up the scent as well. The smell of diesel fuel permeated the air. It had been hours, but still evident using their superior sense of smell.

Danyal shifted into his human form. Harmony immediately turned toward him, away from the naked man. Shifters felt comfortable in their natural state, it obviously made Harmony uncomfortable.

“Return to town, Chase,” Danyal ordered. “We will follow the trail. A large conveyance should not be out here. Alert Sheriff Theo.”

Immediately after finishing giving him orders, Danyal shifted back into his cat and led the jaguars off to follow the scent. Chase didn’t take offense to Danyal giving him orders. It made sense for him to return to town and the others to follow the alpha they shared a telepathic link with. Harmony stayed behind.

“What has happened?” Harmony asked in confusion.

“I don’t know.” Chase ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “We destroyed a rogue government base not far from here. It could be a large truck carrying off-road vehicles, planning on enjoying some recreational endeavors in the desert. But we should head back to town and let the sheriff know.”

Harmony surveyed her surroundings. Chase could almost hear her mind struggling with what to do next. Even though he knew he should head for town, he would follow Harmony in whatever she decided to do. There was no way in hell he was going to let her go off on her own.

“There is more at risk than just Magic,” Harmony finally shared with him. “I have our spaceport to consider. Earthlings outside your little town cannot know about its existence.”

She raised her wrist to her luscious mouth. “Dreyden, Danyal has picked up the scent of a large conveyance in the desert. The cats are following the scent to investigate who left the tracks. Chase and I will follow and provide backup if needed. Message over.”

“Message received.” Chase could hear Dreyden’s reply from where he stood. The little communication device had better speakers than Chase’s smart phone. “Do not engage in laser fire unless lives are at risk. I will advise Frost, the sheriff, and Topper. Message over.”

“Who is Topper?” Harmony asked.

“One of the most powerful witches in town,” Chase informed her. He didn’t mention Topper’s prediction that he wouldn’t be alone much longer. The old witch had an uncanny ability of knowing things before they occurred. “The witches will reinforce the spell shielding the town and the spaceport. They will arrive on their broomsticks if more assistance is required.”

“Will the sheriff arrive in the same manner?”

“No, he has his own means of transportation.” Chase decided to leave his explanation short and sweet. If Theo was going to join them, only then would he explain to Harmony what a dragon was. With her phobia related to animals, the last thing he wanted was to give her relevant information before it was absolutely necessary. The first time he saw Theo’s dragon, he nearly wet his pants. No sense having her freak out now.

Harmony pulled out her weapon and checked its settings. He had no idea what capabilities the weapon had. She returned the blaster to its holster after she seemed satisfied. Rather than taking off running, she gave him a probing look.

“Can you turn into your wolf?” Harmony asked.

Chase shook his head. “Not until the full moon. I will explain everything you need to know about werewolves later. Right now, we have to determine if there is a threat to the town and the port. We should follow the pride in case Danyal and the others need our assistance.”

Harmony was the first to set off running and Chase followed. The scent of the jaguars was strong, if they lost the visible trail.

It was only a matter of time before they caught up with the pride. All signs of the truck’s tire marks were gone, as well as the diesel fumes. If Chase wasn’t concerned before, he was now.

Chapter 7

With no trail left to follow, Harmony took latitude and longitude readings of their current location. She ran alongside the jaguars and Chase as they made their way back to town. It was surprising how at ease she was now with the shifters. Due to the security concerns related to the spaceport, she was ordered to accompany Chase, Danyal, and Pati to the sheriff’s office.

She was once again alone with Chase as the jaguars headed back to the mercantile store. Pati and Danyal would change and catch up with them.

Now that the immediate danger was over, the attraction she felt toward Chase was again front and center. The internal struggle between her pure lust for the man and her fear of the animal within him was palatable. What would happen when he got excited?

“Ask your questions,” Chase said.

His voice was tentative. He didn’t want to answer questions any more than she wanted to ask them. Where did she begin?

“Why a full moon?” It was as good a place to start as any.

Chase took a deep breath. “Eons ago, lycanthrope was a curse perpetrated by gypsies. They had limited magic, not like the witches who live in Magic today. Their curse was tied to the cycle of the moon, activating when it was full and the subsequent two nights. Back then, the lycan couldn’t control the beast within. Any bite from the wolf would result in any survivors carrying the disease.”

“Disease?” Harmony asked. “Then there is a cure.” She tried not to sound as excited as she felt.

He shook his head. “It’s part of our DNA now. We reproduce through our mates, not our bite. Over the centuries, the wolf became an intricate part of who we are.”

“Then you can mate with only a female werewolf?” This time she couldn’t disguise the deep disappointment in her voice.

Tears she had not expected welled in her eyes. She needed to get control of her emotions or she would embarrass herself. Harmony had only known this man for two days and there was no guarantee she would not be reassigned at the whim of the Ruling Director. If she didn’t get things into perspective, she would lose it.

“The lycan gene is usually recessive in our females,” Chase informed her. “However, I can reproduce with any compatible species. Simon married a half-vampire. Their twin boys are part-werewolf. Although Simon was bitten, not born a werewolf.”

Relief coursed through her. She was absolutely giddy. Harmony tried to stifle the nervous giggle that threatened to escape. It was as if she was an inexperienced teenager again.

Harmony lightly bit her tongue, struggling with how to ask her next question. She could feel her face turning bright red. Chase lifted his right eyebrow in response to her heightened coloring.

“Ask,” Chase demanded in a dreamy, lover’s voice.

“What happens when you get aroused?”

Now Chase’s coloring changed to match her own. She was partially petrified of the answer. However, a greater part of her was excited. She held her breath waiting for a response. Her internal temperature was causing her to perspire. She brushed off the few drops of sweat resting on her nose.

“Nothing the woman objects to, I assure you,” Chase responded.

His answer was both frustrating in its incompleteness and thrilling in the promise it held. She enjoyed the turmoil taking place in her body. The heightened sense of awareness within her had not been present until she met Chase.

She was about to kiss Chase when Pati and Danyal came up from behind. The two were dressed and eager to meet with the sheriff. Harmony would have to find another opportunity to be alone with Chase and pick up where they left off. She regulated her body to cool her down in the meantime.

The sheriff’s office was two blocks from where they were. Meaningless chatter filled the air for the remainder of their journey. It gave Harmony the opportunity to collect her thoughts and focus on the port’s security.

Across the universe, law enforcement offices looked pretty much the same. Desks and cells, not much more populated the sheriff’s office. Dreyden and Prue were talking to the sheriff when they entered. Harmony’s eyes went directly to the silver star on the Earthling’s massive chest. The man was almost as large as a Glacierian Space Ranger.

“What did you see and hear this morning?” Sheriff Theo asked. He pulled out a small pad from the pocket across from his badge to take notes.

Danyal provided a detailed report of what occurred in the desert. He was brief and to the point, leaving nothing relevant from his recollection. Harmony provided the coordinates of where they lost the visual of the tire tracks and the scent.

“It was smart of you to record the spot,” Theo commented. “I will make an aerial surveillance of the area. Danyal and Dreyden will be advised of what I find, if anything.”

With those words, they were dismissed from the sheriff’s office. It was clear he wanted to head for the desert and assess the risk himself. Her companions didn’t seem as annoyed by their expulsion as she was. Didn’t the sheriff realize she was a Space Ranger, a sister in law enforcement?

“It’s over, just like that?” Harmony asked with equal parts disbelief and annoyance.

A coy smile spread across Chase’s face. “Hardly. There are ways to still research what is out there without physically being there.”

“While you mess around with your computer, I have to head to the port,” Dreyden said. “I am late filling out reports. If I had known how much paperwork was involved in running a hub, even one not functioning, I doubt I would have agreed to being the administrator.”

“Stop complaining.” Prue planted a kiss on Dreyden’s lips. The chemistry between them was obvious. “It gave you a reason to stay on Earth.”

Dreyden took the brunette into his arms. “I would have stayed regardless. Even if I had to ask our resident cat for a job. Harmony, you might as well go with Chase. There is no reason for both of us to be bored out of our minds.”

Harmony had been trying to come up with a reason to stay with Chase. Now that she’d been practically ordered to, she willingly complied.

“Yes, sir,” Harmony replied, not bothering to hide how pleased she was.

For an instant, Harmony wondered if she would have been so excited if tonight was a full moon. How would Chase change? More importantly, would she be safe with him?

***

Chase was relieved Harmony would be with him a little longer. He just had to concentrate on keeping his hands off her. His fingers itched to remove the damn jumpsuit and explore her naked body.

He knew she had powerful, toned legs. The shorts she wore last night showcased them perfectly. His mouth watered at the memory. Today’s outfit and yesterday’s T-shirt gave him no view of any cleavage. However, the outline of her upper chest indicated her breasts were plump and full.

“Did you hear anything I just said?” Harmony’s question broke through his lust saturated mind.

“I’m sorry,” Chase admitted sheepishly. “What did you say? My mind was elsewhere.” He didn’t bother clarifying his thoughts were focused on seeing her without clothing.

Now that she had his attention, Harmony seemed to struggle to ask her question again or repeat her statement. Her eyes continually drifted from his face.

“What if there is no moon?” Harmony asked.

Chase was taken aback by her question. Maybe his feeble brain was having problems processing anything other than his physical need for her. Harmony still had issues meeting his gaze.

“The moon is always there, even when the Earth blocks it from the sun,” Chase replied.

“No, you don’t understand,” Harmony answered in frustration. “What if you are in space, away from the moon’s pull?”

He was speechless. Chase knew aliens existed and a spaceship “garage” was on the outskirts of town. However, he never considered how leaving Earth would impact him. The beast within him stirred in distress.

“I honestly don’t know,” Chase said.

Chase had to admit the idea was intriguing. He wanted Harmony comfortable in his presence when they consummated whatever it was between them. Once that was accomplished, they’d deal with his wolf.

“Maybe we can find out,” Harmony suggested. “Dreyden and Frost have the port covered and Theo is investigating the disappearance of the tracks. Between the witches and the jaguars, Magic is well protected.”

Chase had accompanied Dreyden and Prue to the port on several occasions. He had secretly wanted a ride in Dreyden’s ship, but never voiced the desire. Now Harmony was giving him the opportunity to go into space.

“I’d like that,” Chase simply answered. “But even if we can contain him in space, the wolf will always be a part of me.”

There was no sense in setting unrealistic expectations in Harmony’s mind. Now that she knew what he was, he would keep no secrets from this woman.

“Let’s go then,” Harmony responded. “I will contact Dreyden from the ship.”

Chase followed like a well-trained puppy. If space alleviated the wolf side of him, would he ever be able to introduce Harmony to his wolf? The animal represented his courage, loyalty, and strength. What would he be if his beast was eliminated?

Chapter 8

Harmony knew she was asking a lot from Chase. It was comparable to someone asking her to no longer be part Titian. She was surprised he agreed so readily to her request. His wolf was a barrier she believed she couldn’t hurdle. Last night, she was surrounded by friends when she met Pati’s cat. Being alone with Chase when he was excited was something totally different.

She gave him a grand tour of her small ship. It was the standard sanctioned Tridbarrian cargo ship most Space Rangers flew. There was only one apartment aboard. If additional crew were present, they bunked in the cargo hold. The ship was built for transport and a lone pilot.

Chase stared at the bed that dominated her sleeping chamber without comment. His brown eyes lightened and sparkled a little bit brighter. Although, it could have been her imagination.

“We should head for the cockpit.” If Harmony tarried here any longer, she would have him on the mattress and perhaps release his wolf.

As they traversed the walkway that led to the cockpit, their footsteps echoed in the hall. There was a beautiful symmetry to the sound of his steps vibrating off hers. It was not a conscious thought, but a feeling generated by the sound. There was a completeness about it.

Enough wayward thoughts! She needed to concentrate on her pre-flight checklist. The last thing they needed was her ship malfunctioning during her assent. If Earth’s radar picked up her craft, there would be more than her fear of animals to contend with.

“The ship does its own diagnostics.” Harmony felt if she explained the process, she’d be better able to focus her mind. “However, I need to view each step to ensure the craft is ready.”

Chase nervously looked around the cabin. “Does the ship have an autopilot? Are you required to be in the cockpit while the ship is in flight?”

She wondered if he asked out of curiosity regarding the ship’s operations or concerned they would be adrift when they had sex. Harmony had thought of little else since she came up with the idea of eliminating the moon’s effect on Chase. Only the routine associated with the pre-flight checks made it possible for her to complete the task. She could barely focus on anything other than the man beside her.

“The craft pretty much flies itself,” Harmony replied. “The wide-range sensors will alert me if there is something out of the ordinary impacting the flight plan.”

“Something out of the ordinary?” Chase choked on his words.

Harmony placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him. “A meteor shower, comet, or a dwarf planet out of sync with its expected orbit. The navigation system is only as good as the data provided. Earth is not in Coalition space. My computer’s sky charts are not as detailed as other regions of space.”

She could feel Chase’s body stiffen under her hand. Space travel was natural to her. As a child, her mother often took her to Titan to visit her grandparents. This was all new to Chase.

“I will navigate the ship out of your atmosphere and to our destination,” Harmony informed him. “The long range sensors will pick up the outlying planets and their satellites. Many of them have multiple moons. I don’t want to get too close to any of them. Let me know if you get overly aroused.”

Harmony regretted saying the last statement as soon as it left her lips. Chase’s complexion reddened in response.

A wide smile graced his handsome face. “You’ll be the first to know.”

Rather than responding to his statement, Harmony navigated her ship out of its slip. During her pre-flight process, she contacted Dreyden advising him of their short trip. His immediate approval followed. There was nothing to delay their departure.

“I’m taking us out of the atmospheric layers at a moderate pace, reducing the impact of the G-forces. We need to avoid being detected by Earth’s radar, so our ascent will not be as gradual as I would have preferred. Just concentrate on breathing. The more air you take into your lungs, the easier it will be on your system. The cabin will be continually pressurized.”

“Will things start floating?” Chase inquired.

“The ship is equipped with an artificial gravity system,” Harmony replied as she checked the various gauges. Everything was operating within normal parameters.

They had already blasted through Earth’s troposphere and stratosphere. Instead of stealing glances at Chase, Harmony turned and examined him closely. His hands were clasped to each armrest, his knuckles white from the effort. Chase’s breathing was labored, but not dangerously so. Considering this was his first ascent from Earth’s surface, he was handling it well.

“How are you doing?” Harmony asked, knowing appearances could sometimes be misleading.

“You do this all the time?” His voice shook with physical stress.

It was clear he was doing poorly, although Chase wouldn’t admit it. Fortunately, his color was still good and he wasn’t vomiting. She had to do or say something that would distract him as they transitioned from the mesosphere to the thermosphere.

“When you make love, do you prefer being on top or the bottom?”

“Bag!” Chase shouted before clasping his hand over his mouth.

Harmony pressed a button on the console and a mask connected to a tube catapulted from the panel. As if he had made the trip before, Chase grabbed the mask and place it over his mouth as he emptied his stomach.

By the time Chase finished being sick, they had successfully left Earth and headed away from the sun. There was a perfect spot between Uranus and Neptune that would suit their needs.

Chase finally released the mask from his face. He sat back and watched as different planets came into view. The navigation system kept them far enough from both the planets and their moons’ gravitational pull. When they arrived at their destination, she powered down the engines.

“There is a bathroom attached to my sleeping quarters,” Harmony advised him as she started her post-flight checklist. “The green bottle contains a liquid that will refresh your mouth. I buy it in large containers because I get sick on some of the more dramatic landings and takeoffs.”

Harmony wasn’t exaggerating to make Chase feel better. She often became ill from the impact of the G-forces. Her inability to handle some of the hairier assents was another reason why she preferred to visit space stations when apprehending criminals.

“The ship will drift slightly, but we are safe from getting caught up in any planet or moon’s gravitational pull. My long range sensors will pickup anything of consequence heading our way. We are not the first ship to power down for sleep or recreational purposes. Go ahead, I will join you shortly.”

After Chase left the cockpit, she let out a sigh of relief. Harmony could barely think due to his earlier proximity. She had a nearly uncontrollable urge to stroke his back while Chase was ill. She could almost hear herself telling him he’d be all right. Never had she been the soothing, maternal type. What was this man doing to her?

After completing the post-flight status and placing the ship in drift mode, Harmony leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. It was ridiculous her body was actually tingling for his touch. She couldn’t think of anything else.

Why was she hesitating? Her body was literally crying out to his. Her mind could focus on little else, yet she continued to sit staring into space when she finally opened her eyes.

His scent still lingered. There was a slight musk nuance that added to his allure. Was that what was impacting her body? She was not similarly impacted by Danyal or any of the other jaguars, only Chase.

“Enough of being a coward,” she thought to herself. It was time she claimed what she wanted from the instant she saw Chase on the broomstick. Her body was close to becoming an inferno and she needed the burning fire within her extinguished. The attempts to regulate her body’s temperature failed.

Harmony unfastened her seat’s harness and straightened her clothing as she stood. Would Chase demand she remove her top? She didn’t want her scars to dampen the mood or repulse Chase. Worse, she didn’t want him to feel sorry for her. All the negative thoughts cluttering her brain slowed her pace.

When she entered her chamber, Chase was leaning against the bed’s backboard. A sheet covered his lower body. She couldn’t take her eyes off his naked chest.

Since he was a werewolf, she expected him to be hairy, but his chest was bare, except for rippling muscles. How she longed to run her hands down the contours of his upper body. Her mouth became suddenly dry.

She headed toward the bed, his arousal evident underneath the sheets. She placed her knees on the bed and crawled toward him, never taking her eyes off the bulge underneath the linens.

“I feel better,” Chase cooed.

“I can see that.” Her eyes were still on his hidden erection.

Harmony pulled back the sheet and greeted the evidence of his desire for her. She boldly took ahold of his rod, taking what she knew belonged to her.

Waves of color shimmered from Chase’s chest. Her attention was now diverted by something she never expected to see. The indisputable evidence he was her Chosen One.

***

Chase had been unable to stifle the groan when Harmony grabbed his engorged penis. Now it was as if she was frozen in place, her eyes glued to his chest. He glanced down to see what had stolen her attention.

As far as he could tell, there was nothing extraordinary about his upper body. Perhaps other aliens she had been with were formed differently. That was a disturbing thought. Was his body a disappointment to her?

“What is wrong?” he managed to ask without the concern he felt reflected in his delivery.

Her eyes shifted from his chest to meet his gaze. He sensed she was debating how to respond. Seconds felt like hours.

“The swirling colors,” Harmony muttered.

He once again looked down, lost related to what she was talking about. Was she expecting to see a lightshow reflected on his chest? He let out a frustrated sigh.

A brilliant smile lit Harmony’s face. “Glacierians can identify their Chosen Ones from swirling colors only their mates can see. As soon as I touched…you, I saw proof of what we are to each other.”

Chase was speechless. Prue was Dreyden’s Chosen One. He never imagined the same would be true of him and Harmony, regardless of how attracted he was to her from the beginning. He was beset with an overwhelming sense of wonderment.

Her smile waned in response to his reaction. He never again wanted to see any negative emotions cross her face where he was concerned.

Chase clamped his hands on her hips and flipped their positions. As soon as Harmony’s head hit the pillow, his lips were adhered to hers. Her mouth opened in surprise. He took advantage of her momentary reaction and invaded her mouth with his tongue.

She tasted sweet with a touch of spice. A hint of the cinnamon roll she had for breakfast still lingered. He continued to devour her lips.

Her hands grabbed his when he started to remove her shirt. “Later, she muttered between kisses. I want you inside me.”

Harmony wiggled beneath him, removing her pants. She wore no undergarments to further slow his progress. He knew she didn’t want him to see the scars on her chest and wanted to distract him. She certainly succeeded.

His hands explored her bare hips. She was soft, curvy, and feminine. Her uniform certainly hid the wonders underneath.

The wolf within him was silent, not pushing for a quick release. Chase wanted to savor the experience, but the woman underneath him had other ideas. When she grabbed his rod again, any thought of taking it slowly evaporated.

Urgency to make her his consumed him. His fingers found her feminine folds and a single digit entered. A near silent cry escaped from Harmony. He moved within her already wet passage, further preparing her for his girth. He was rewarded with a louder moan when a second finger joined the first.

Harmony wrapped her long legs around his hips. It felt right having her body wrapped around his. She was ripe and ready to be taken.

Chase braced his right forearm against the mattress and with his other hand, he guided his shaft between her folds. From her behavior, he knew Harmony wanted to be taken fast. He entered her with a single, powerful thrust.

For the first time in his life, he was truly home. Being inside Harmony was unlike anything he experienced. Pure joy engulfed him as he withdrew and entered her again. With each subsequent thrust, his enjoyment heightened and Harmony’s screams became louder.

Harmony slid her legs up his hips to capture his waist, driving him farther than before. His moans harmonized with her screams. He set a frantic pace, not seeming to be able to get enough of her.

He felt her nails dig into his back. It hurt so good. He found his true mate. The wolf was quiet, but he felt his presence and what he believed to be true confirmed.

Harmony’s breathing had become labored, as was his. Still, he continued to love his mate. They were building to a climax that would catapult them both into a realm of sensations he’d never achieved before.

A female’s scream echoed with his as they both climaxed within seconds of each other. It felt like every nerve ending in his body pulsed with pleasure.

Exhausted, Chase fell on top of Harmony and then rolled them both onto their sides. He held the woman he would follow throughout the galaxy if need be.

His hands ran across her sweat clad back. Her shirt was saturated. He ran his tongue along her neck, enjoying the salty taste of her. In the past, he left after his wolf was appeased. Now, he enjoyed the aftermath of making love to Harmony.

His mouth watered to taste her breast. He maneuvered Harmony back against the mattress and began to push the material of her jersey off her body.

“No!” Harmony cried.

Chase released the material as if it was electrified. He had forgotten about her scars. Surely at this point in their relationship, some scar tissue on her chest was insignificant.

Chapter 9

Harmony had been so lost in the sensations still rocketing through her body, she almost missed Chase’s attempt to remove her shirt until it was almost too late. Panic ran through her, spreading like a wild fire.

The look of confusion and hurt on Chase’s face would haunt her for the rest of her life. Their lovemaking had been extraordinary. She expected nothing less, considering he was her Chosen One. How could she spoil it with her own insecurities?

“I’m sorry,” Harmony choked out. “My chest is deformed and I don’t want to ruin our first time together by you seeing it. Sex with you was wondrous. I don’t want to sour the incredible way I feel right now.”

Chase stared at her clothing covered upper body. She knew he was looking at how the material clung to her perfect mounds. Her breasts weren’t the problem, but the skin above was marred with horrible scar tissue.

“Close your eyes and let me look.” Chase ran his fingers over her cheek. “You are my true mate. I accept the whole package, even your few imperfections.”

She laughed to herself at his word usage. It was better than crying. Harmony did as she was instructed, she closed her eyes. It was a leap of faith she had to make. As she felt the material pushed upward, she squeezed her eyes shut with more pressure. When the jersey brushed against her breasts, she held her breath. Any time now, she’d hear his groans of repulsion.

Nothing. There was no audible sound to Chase’s reaction to her scarred upper chest. Had he turned in disgust?

Harmony nearly bucked him off the bed when his lips captured one of her breasts. Its nipple hardened in response and he sucked harder, sending sensations of pleasure throughout her body. Her shock at his reaction overshadowed her body’s physical reaction to Chase’s actions.

She nudged Chase’s shoulders, wanting his attention. “Didn’t you see the scars?”

Chase released her breast and met her gaze. “What? Those barely visible white lines that crisscross your upper chest? I barely noticed them. Your lovely breasts were too much of a distraction.” Once again, Chase proceeded to enclose his mouth around her breast.

In her mind, the scars were still red, swollen, festering claw marks. She dressed and undressed every day, never looking at her body. When she bathed, she used a cloth, never touching the scars. Had the ripped flesh healed as the doctor promised it would?

Chase lifted his mouth from her breast and ran his tongue along one of the scars. There was no pain. If anything, his actions aroused her.

Harmony looked down and gently moved Chase’s head away from her chest. She needed to see it for herself. The angry red marks were now white scar tissue. When she returned her gaze to Chase, she was rewarded with a knowing smile.

“Tell me what happened,” Chase placed his lips against the scars and sprinkled kisses along the rough edges.

Her body hummed with sensations as his mouth worked its wonders. One of her greatest fears had finally come to light and Chase found a way to make it enjoyable. Now he drew her out of the dark place she always went when memories of the attack haunted her.

“An animal attacked me when I was a young girl. My skin was ripped to shreds,” a tremor made her voice unsteady. On the rare occasions she talked about the worst day of her life, she never was able to control her emotions. “I can still see the ice painted red with my blood. To this day, I have nightmares about what happened. That is why I travel and live alone. No one can hear me cry out in my sleep.”

Chase nodded his head in understanding. “That is why you fear animals. Anyone would who experienced what you did. But you have nothing to fear from my wolf. Harmony, he would kill to protect you.”

An invisible mask lowered over his face, leaving a blank expression on his otherwise animated features. It was obvious something was troubling him. She had bared her soul to him. It was only fair he do the same.

“What is wrong?” she asked.

“It’s nothing,” Chase answered too quickly.

Harmony jabbed him in the shoulder with her fist. “You’re lying to me. Chase, you can’t even look at me.”

In order to prove her wrong, he returned his gaze to her face. But she knew he was holding something back. The wrinkles at the sides of his eyes were more pronounced. Whatever he was keeping from her was causing him pain.

“Trust in me, the way I trusted you,” she told him. “You are my Chosen One. You can tell me anything.”

His eyes were hooded as he took in her words. A large sigh escaped him, indicating she had won this battle. She braced herself for what Chase was about to share.

“Shape shifters and werewolves often mark their mates with a bite on their shoulder,” Chase admitted. “It is our way to announce to other males in the pack our female is off limits. Pati carries Danyal’s mark.”

Harmony could feel her face drain of color. She had studied wolves on her ship’s computer. They were beautiful creatures, but they had big, terrifying teeth. There were depictions of the legendary werewolf with glowing red eyes that had grabbed her attention.

As if reading her mind, Chase said, “My wolf wouldn’t bite you, I would. At the height of passion, a male werewolf in human form will leave his mark on his mate. I understand the female will climax after the claiming. But understanding your fears, I would never do such a thing.”

“Did you hold back today?” Harmony asked.

“My wolf was silent.” Chase shrugged his shoulders. “He couldn’t complete our bonding.”

Harmony’s heart sank with that information. Her fears would prevent Chase from completing a mating ritual. She was denying her Chosen One the ability to claim her in the ways of his people.

“Maybe it’s time we return to Earth and I meet your wolf,” Harmony announced.

“I don’t believe that would be wise,” Chase admitted. “The moon will be full in five nights. My wolf is nearly uncontrollable the night of the full moon. Maybe we can stay out here a little longer.”

Dreyden ran the port without her assistance up to this point. What would little over a week matter? She had enough supplies on the ship to sustain them both. Harmony knew the answer before she finished thinking about the question. She would be putting off the inevitable. Chase was her Chosen One. Every part of him. It was time she stopped running from what occurred that night so many years ago.

***

Chase couldn’t let their interlude end on a sour note. His wolf was part of him, but he needed to bring his mate back to a sexual high.

His lips were once again upon hers. She immediately opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to enter. He loved the taste of her and reveled in it. He would never tire of kissing her.

His fingers were about to once again breach her feminine folds when an alarm went off. Chase immediately pulled back his arm as if he was burned. The bed shook with Harmony’s laughter.

“I have some kind of message,” Harmony advised him. “It wasn’t a proximity alert.”

They quickly dressed and hand-in-hand walked to the cockpit. Whatever awkwardness temporarily existed between them had been forgotten. Dreyden was possibly concerned about the length of their absence. A full day on Earth had passed.

After Harmony took her seat in front of the control panel, she pushed a couple buttons. A voice speaking a language he didn’t recognized ambled on. Whatever he communicated didn’t seem to concern Harmony. She merely sat back and listened.

“I have been ordered to return to Earth,” Harmony advised when the recorded message was completed. “There has been activity at some kind of quasi-governmental facility everyone believed was destroyed. Do you know anything about it?”

“The Department of Paranormal and Extraterrestrial Division of the U.S. government had a facility outside of town,” Chase informed her. “When Frost originally entered the Earth’s atmosphere chasing a fugitive, both their ships were detected by government radar. That brought Agent Redman and Dr. Barker to town. They imprisoned Frost and the doctor dissected the vicious reptilian alien one of our witches had neutralized by shrinking it with a spell.”

“How did Frost escape?” Harmony leaned toward him, entranced by the story.

“They made the huge mistake of also taking Lacey—the witch who changed the alien. You don’t want to piss off a family of witches. Between Topper and Lacey’s sisters, they singlehandedly took over the base. The sheriff and the other townsfolk helped, but the witches had things well in hand.”

Chase had not been involved in liberating Frost and Lacey. Each time he heard the story, Topper and her nieces’ roles became grander. Frankly, he never underestimated any witches’ powers. They had even created a magical portal to the far side of the universe to rescue one of Tory and Simon’s twins.

“Then it sounds like we need to return immediately,” Harmony surmised. “Our secret port may be at risk. The threat needs to be eliminated. Not all the directors were in favor of the relationship that was forged with the residents of Magic. There is a lot of politics involved in offering a new planet membership into the Coalition. I try to stay away from politics, but unfortunately, it can’t always be avoided.”

For the first time, Chase considered what Earth’s membership with the Coalition would mean to the citizens of Magic, New Mexico. Currently, both parties had reasons they didn’t want the area under the scrutiny of the United States government. The secrets of the citizens of Magic could not be revealed. Chase had a feeling the people of Earth would have an easier time believing and dealing with extraterrestrials than werewolves, vampires, powerful witches, and the other beings who called this part of New Mexico home.

If Earth was brought into the Coalition, what would that mean for Harmony? Would she be re-assigned? If she was, would he be able to go with her? So many questions ran through his mind and he didn’t have an answer to a single one.

“How much choice do you have in the assignments you are given?” Chase asked.

“My supervisor is a friend and generally he assigns me to space stations.” Harmony stared at him for a moment. She clearly understood the reason for his question. “My latest assignment was at the request of the Ruling Director. One of the residents of Magic, New Mexico, made the request according to my father. You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you?”

Although he didn’t know for a fact Topper was involved, it was a logical guess. One of the meddlesome witch’s nieces was involved with the Ruling Director. Topper had a talent of knowing things before they happened. She had foreseen Pati being dragged to a parallel dimension where Danyal was on the other side of the portal.

“I can’t be sure,” Chase admitted. “Topper had stopped by Pati’s store and informed her I would not be alone much longer. It had become Pati and Prue’s mission in life to play matchmaker where I was concerned. Whether Topper just foretold our union or actively got involved in getting you to Earth, I can’t say. Either way, I’m happy with the outcome.”

Harmony rose from her chair and closed the distance between them to sit on his lap. “To answer your real question, if I have to, I will resign from the Space Rangers if that is what it takes to stay with you. If for that reason alone, my father is going to love you.”

Chase leaned forward and brought his lips to hers. He wanted to do nothing more than continue kissing Harmony, but there were pressing matters on Earth. His mate had a job to do and he respected her abilities. There was more at risk than just the clandestine port. Magic and its secrets were once again in danger.

Chapter 10

Fortunately, the trip back to Magic was not as hard on his body as their ascent. The whole time he stared at Harmony and pondered what to do about his wolf. She said she wanted to meet him, but he could feel the hesitation behind her words.

The physical scars on her body were easy to deal with once she trusted him. However, the psychological impact of her childhood attack wasn’t going to be as easy to overcome. Not for the first time, he wished he hadn’t been born a werewolf.

It was hard being different. That was the reason he stayed cloaked from the world in Magic. Now his universe had shrunk to the woman beside him who feared animals. Fate sure had a crappy sense of humor.

If only he had been born as the being that Magic’s shield presented to the world. A human. He would no longer have to deal with the moon’s monthly cycles. Locking himself in the basement each full moon would no longer be necessary.

The beginning of a plan germinated in his mind. He needed to speak to Topper. Although he didn’t want to leave Harmony, Chase was hesitant to delay implementing his plan. Time would bring a logical light to his impulsive decision and stop him from taking action.

“I’ll walk you to the sheriff’s office,” Chase said as he jumped from the ship’s hull.

Harmony gave him a questioning look, but didn’t comment. She probably felt there had been enough honesty for one day. He didn’t want there to be any lies between them. Omissions were a different matter. What Harmony didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. The path he was about to take was for her benefit.

When they reached Theo’s office, Chase took Harmony into his arms and kissed the crown of her head. The shampoo she used had a floral scent. Holding her was as natural as breathing.

“I won’t be long,” Chase said. “Stay near Dreyden and Prue while I’m gone.”

Harmony’s eyebrow rose and she patted her blaster. Fortunately, there was humor in her eyes. He didn’t have a morsel of a doubt that under normal circumstances, Harmony could take care of herself.

“You are in Magic, New Mexico,” Chase replied to her unspoken response. “Our motto is the unusual is usual here. The norms that apply across the universe are different. Between spells and our supernatural community, you never quite know what is coming at you.”

Harmony grabbed his forearms and demanded his attention. “I will listen to what the sheriff has to say and take my orders from Dreyden. It’s my job, after all.”

Chase debated giving Harmony a goodbye kiss, but decided against it. He couldn’t leave if he had any further physical contact with her. Her touch was addictive. Reluctantly, Chase backed away from Harmony and started on his way to Topper’s house.

During the four block walk to Topper’s, Chase rehearsed in his mind what he was going to ask the witch. It was a request he never imagined he’d ever make. He wasn’t even sure it was possible.

Topper’s home was adobe architecture, like many homes in New Mexico. It blended into the desert around the town. Her garden was landscaped with drought resistant local plants. He had planted most of them for her. Like the desert, the garden was in full bloom. There was nothing like the desert in the spring.

Chase was about to knock, when the door opened. No one was present to greet him. Topper no doubt knew he was coming before he did.

As soon as he entered, a spell cleaned his shoes. He wouldn’t be tracking the red soil into her home. If he had been wearing dress shoes rather than the sneakers he currently wore, a beautiful polish would make his shoes shine.

He followed a wonderful aroma into the kitchen. Topper stood over a large pot, a wooden spoon exiting her mouth. Her lips smacked several times as she judged what she just tasted.

For a woman in her sixties, Topper had a youthful appearance. Her hair was always a flamboyant color and her clothing was a mishmash of bright hues. Today, she was a subdued brunette, but her clothing would be perfect for a crossing guard to wear. Her dress was a mixture of hot pink, dazzling yellow, and neon orange. It almost hurt his eyes to look at her.

“Clean,” Topper commanded and then snapped her fingers. She proceeded to put the spoon in the pot and withdrew some sauce. “Does this need more salt? I put a half-teaspoon as the recipe asked, but I think it needs more.”

Chase blew on the sauce and then tasted what remained on the spoon. He nearly choked on the overwhelming taste of brandy and salt. She must have doubled the amount of Cognac the recipe called for and overdid it with the bacon and the salt.

“I am of the philosophy your guests can always add salt,” Chase diplomatically replied.

“Do you know that true Coq Au Vin is made with rooster?” Topper took another spoon full of the sauce. “Rooster is too gamey in my opinion. Besides, my nieces would complain bitterly if I used anything other than chicken. Those girls don’t have adventurous palates.”

Topper could use magic and produce the Coq Au Vin served in the best French restaurant in the world. Instead, she slaved over a hot range. It never made sense when Magic’s witches used their craft or manually performed a task. He gave up guessing where Pati was concerned years ago.

“I want you to change me into a human,” Chase blurted out.

Rather than reacting, Topper stirred her French ruin. She added a pinch of Kosher salt and tasted the sauce again. Chase tried not to cringe.

“Julia Child’s cookbook still contains the quintessential French recipes,” Topper claimed. She covered the pot and lowered the flame. “I don’t know why I used a recipe off the Internet. But I would like to know why you wish to be human.”

“Harmony is terrified of animals.” Chase couldn’t lie to Topper. She’d know the truth regardless.

Topper pulled out a deck of cards. Rather than being a Tarot set, it was an ordinary deck. She dealt out two hands, seven cards apiece, and pushed one pile in front of Chase. When he was a child, he played rummy with the witch.

Chase picked up his cards and grabbed the ace of clubs, Topper had turned over. He would play her games until he got what he needed. Harmony had become his world. He discarded a queen of hearts.

“The wolf is part of you,” Topper said as she picked up a card from the deck.

After years of playing cards with her, he never knew if she cheated using witchcraft. They tended to split winning hands, so he doubted it. Topper discarded a jack of clubs and Chase picked it up. He then placed a club royal flush on the table. She was obviously not paying attention.

“I am her Chosen One and she is my true mate,” Chase responded.

“Humans don’t use the term ‘mate’,” Topper pointed out. “Soul mates, yes. Mates refer to shifter and werewolf partners. Your wolf recognized who she truly was. You lose your wolf; you lose the connection.”

Chase tossed his remaining cards on the table and then ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Topper had realized something he had missed. Maybe he just needed time. The full moon was quickly approaching.

“How about making me immune to the pull of the moon this month?” Chase asked. His desperation brought him into bargaining mode.

“You underestimate your mate.” Topper shook her finger at him like an elementary school teacher.

“Topper, there is nothing rational about her fears. I have lived and worked in this town my whole life, never asking for anything. Well, now I’m asking for help.” Chase’s voice had cracked several times he was so overwhelmed with anguish.

The witch let out a loud sigh. It was the first sign he was wearing her down. “Why didn’t you ask Pati? She is your best friend, after all.”

“For two reasons.” Chase wanted to give the impression he had thoroughly thought out his plan, not acting impulsively. “First off, she’d say no. She met Harmony and likes her. Hell, even her jaguar likes her.”

“And secondly?” Topper inquired.

“You are one of the most powerful witches in town,” Chase reasoned. “I can’t afford the spell failing the night of the full moon.”

He had heard too many horror stories over the years about werewolves killing humans because of the uncontrollable hunger they experienced. Even before his first shift, Chase locked himself in his father’s basement each full moon. It was a practice he continued to religiously observe.

Topper shook her head. “Your wolf would never harm its mate.”

“I can’t take that chance,” Chase countered. “Particularly during the first full moon of our relationship.”

After a long silence, where Topper just stared at him, she finally got up and headed for her grimoire. He doubted she knew a spell to quiet a werewolf off the top of her head. Chase joined her, looking over her shoulder.

The grimoire was centuries old. Topper was the keeper of her family’s spells. Each one was handwritten and beautifully illustrated. She turned each page with great care and love.

Somewhere in the massive book was the spell Topper search for. It was the prescription to his future happiness. After going through half the book, as each page was turned, Chase was weighed down with disappointment.

“Yes, yes,” Topper muttered. She continued to run her finger underneath the words on the page. “This will do quite nicely. It is a dampening spell. No external stimulant will impact you, including the moon.”

Chase considered her words. He was not sure what type of spell he was expecting. Would a generic spell be powerful enough to stop his conversion?

Topper began to chant the words for the spell. He was not sure what language she spoke. The longer she chanted, the louder her voice became. Finally, she snapped her fingers to activate the magic she cast.

If he was supposed to feel any different, he didn’t. Maybe he wouldn’t know until the night of the full moon if the spell worked. Chase wouldn’t put Harmony’s life in peril. He would lock himself up in his basement as he always did.

“The spell will last a week, long enough to get you through the full moon and the two subsequent nights.” Topper closed the grimoire.

“Thank you, Topper.” Somehow the words seemed inadequate compared to the gift he was given.

“Next time you visit I need the smoke alarm batteries changed.”

Yet again, Chase marveled at when Topper chose to use her magic. He could only hope when the moon rose in five nights, he wouldn’t feel the pull of the big rock. Only then would he have the confidence to see Harmony.

***

Harmony found it difficult to concentrate on the conversation taking place in the sheriff’s office. Where had Chase gone? When had any man’s movements become so important to her?

“I don’t like it!” Sheriff Theo’s booming voice drew Harmony out of her wandering thoughts. “A helicopter took off from Holloman Air Force Base with an undisclosed destination. A low flying bird could have easily destroyed any tread marks made in the desert.”

“Were there any reports of a helicopter seen so close to Magic?” Danyal inquired. “Did your equipment pick up anything, Dreyden?”

Dreyden rubbed his forehead. “Our system is activated when a craft enters the exosphere. I never dreamed we would have to monitor Earth vessels. It will be easy to modify the program to pick up any flying objects near Magic. We can also enter parameters to ignore planes communicating with your nation’s traffic control system. That will prevent us from chasing after passenger jets and your air force’s regularly scheduled maneuvers penetrating Magic’s air space.”

In the short time Dreyden had been on Earth, he had learned a lot about the comings and goings of the planet’s population. Harmony needed to focus on her job and stop obsessing over Chase. At this point, she hadn’t shared the true nature of her relationship with him to anyone. Their concentration needed to be laser focused on the external threat. It was disturbing she had to continually remind herself of that fact.

“Where is Chase?” Prue asked. So much for keeping him out of her thoughts.

Harmony liked the fact it was unusual to see Dreyden without Prue and Danyal without Pati. It had not occurred since her first day on the planet when everyone was looking for the missing teenagers. Would the same be ultimately true between her and Chase?

“I have no idea,” Harmony admitted. “He didn’t volunteer the information and I didn’t ask.” Now she wished she had.

Pati frowned at her response. “What is that wolf up to?”

Earthlings had a strange habit of asking questions they didn’t expect answered. Harmony merely shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t going to even venture a guess. That was how little she knew about her Chosen One.

As if conjured by magic, Chase entered the sheriff’s office. He immediately came to stand beside her. A now familiar warmth spread through her body at his proximity.

“Where were you?” Pati asked her best friend.

A charming smile crossed Chase’s face. “Why do you always have to know my business? Isn’t the pussy cat satisfying you?”

Harmony instinctively stepped in front of Chase when Danyal growled. The need to protect her Chosen One overshadowed her fear of what Danyal’s jaguar could do. Her reaction startled her. No one seemed the wiser related to her behavior, all eyes were on Danyal and Chase.

“A dog needs to be kept on a leash,” Danyal countered. “There is no telling what mess you will leave behind.”

“Enough!” Sheriff Theo screamed. “I know you both like to banter back and forth, but we don’t have time for that nonsense. The ground around the old government facility has been disturbed, but there is no evidence they have taken up residence again.”

“There may be another facility we are not familiar with or sections of the original complex we are unaware exists,” Dreyden said. “Frost and Lacey are familiar with the place. I suggest Prue and I accompany them to the old lab and see if we can discover anything more. Harmony, can you modify our monitoring system based on our earlier conversation?”

“That won’t be a problem,” Harmony answered.

“I’d like to observe what you do,” Chase said. “Computer programming is my bread and butter. Another set of eyes monitoring our skies will also be helpful. My learning your technology will help protect Magic beyond whatever spells Topper and the other witches have in place.”

“Danyal and I better get back to the store,” Pati said. “Chase is a computer wiz. I wouldn’t have passed a couple classes in high school if he hadn’t helped me.”

The meeting ended and they all went their separate ways. Harmony and Chase walked to the spaceport in silence. She wanted to touch him, but Chase kept his distance. Her curiosity finally got the better of her.

“So, where were you?” Harmony finally asked. “You evaded answering Pati’s question by riling up Danyal. I won’t be so easily sidetracked.”

Harmony honestly didn’t know if Chase was going to take exception to her demands or willingly tell her what he had been up to. She felt uneasy waiting for an answer. The next few moments were pivotal in what direction their relationship was going to take. She stopped dead in her tracks, wanting an answer.

“Tell me,” Harmony demanded. Her voice shook with anxiety and anger.

“I asked Topper to quiet my wolf,” Chase admitted. He took ahold of her hands, demanding her full attention. “The moon’s pull will not impact me this month. It will give us a chance to get to know each other before my wolf is released. We won’t have to travel into deep space to make that happen.”

Harmony would be a liar if she claimed she wasn’t relieved. It just proved how much of a coward she was. Would she ever have the courage to face what Chase was during a full moon? She knew it was critical to their future how she responded to what he had done.

Chapter 11

Harmony leaned her body into Chase’s and kissed him. They were in the middle of a busy sidewalk and people walked around them as if people kissing passionately on the walkway was a regular occurrence. It certainly wasn’t where she was from.

Chase reacted by pulling her in closer and deepening the kiss. Their physical contact bought her an extra couple precious moments to think of a response to what he had done for her. It wasn’t what he did that was paramount, but why he did it. That was what she responded to.

She placed her hands on the sides of his face and released her lips from his. “Your selfless act is the most precious gift I have ever received. I am humbled by your actions. How can I ever reciprocate the love behind what you have sacrificed? I love you.”

Had she just mentioned the L-word? It had not been her intention, but she suddenly realized she truly loved this man. He was her Chosen One, but her feelings toward him were so much more than the legendary connection. Her body’s reaction to his, the way he looked at her, putting her fears before his own needs, were just some of the reasons she came to the realization she loved him.

“You love me?” Chase asked in bewilderment. There was a new vitalization about him. He almost glowed with happiness.

She ran her fingers through his coarse hair and kissed him before she answered. “I know it has been only a matter of days, but I can’t imagine life without you. At first, I was angry about this assignment. I want to meet Topper since she is responsible for me being here.”

Chase nodded, confirming her suspicions about the witch were true. “And I’m sure she will want to meet you. But first, we must modify your scanning program. Afterwards, I believe we need time alone so I can properly show you how much I have come to care for and love you.”

Her heart fluttered at his statement. She blushed for the umpteenth time since arriving in Magic. This quaint little town full of magical beings had been her destiny from the beginning. No wonder it was here she found her Chosen One.

They continued their journey to the spaceport and Harmony did her best to explain how the space monitoring software worked. Chase asked a number of questions she readily answered. She was surprised how quickly he adapted to Coalition technology. Maybe his future was to leave Earth and travel across the universe by her side.

“I have an uncanny ability to learn different computer languages,” Chase informed her. “As soon as I took my first computer class, I knew what I would do for a career. My programming abilities have allowed me to make a good living and stay in Magic.”

“Did you ever want to live anywhere else?” Harmony asked.

“The people of Earth in the past have not responded well to creatures different from themselves,” Chase admitted. “Their literature is full of what most believe folktales about beings such as myself. Most are considered horror tales. For centuries, Magic has been a haven for us. We welcome anyone different, including aliens. When Frost first arrived, there was no panic or experiments performed on him. That didn’t happen until that quasi-government agency discovered him. It’s why it is important we successfully modify your monitoring program.”

It broke her heart he had stayed in Magic out of fear of what lay outside its protection spell. He was not so different from her. They both adjusted their lives to accommodate their fears. If anything, she loved him more for it. He made her feel less like a freak.

When they reached the port, she entered the code that would momentarily turn off the failsafe protocols. Together, they walked past the three ships stored in the nearly empty facility. The office was a temporary structure, barely suitable for their needs.

“There are galaxies out there for us to explore together,” Harmony said as they entered the office. She couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice. The universe opened itself to her and all the possibilities it provided. Since the attack, Harmony merely existed. Now it was time to live!

“We have a lot to discuss after we identify what threat is out there. The town would appreciate any help you can provide. I doubt whoever is out there has a clue three Space Rangers now reside in Magic.” Chase laughed out loud. “I almost feel sorry for the bastards. Either Frost or Dreyden can make any of our enemies into popsicles with the ice that shoots out of their wrists. Can you do that?”

Her inability to produce ice, like true Glacierians, had always been a disappointment to her father. She sometimes believed he thought less of her because of the deficiency. But she had inherited her mother’s race’s speed and agility. Those abilities made her an efficient Space Ranger. Although it would have been nice to freeze a criminal in place, rather than having to run after the fugitive.

“No,” Harmony replied. “My father’s genetics provided me with my size and black hair. I have his eye color, but not the shimmering essence. Everything else about me, I inherited from my mother. My muscle structure and flexibility is all Titian. I’m sure you prefer those qualities, rather than the ability to shoot ice from my arm.”

He laughed. “I certainly do.”

A thrill ran through her at the sound of his merriment. There had been little laughter in her life. Chase was more than she could have wished for.

Harmony quickly finished coding the revisions to the monitoring software. She wanted to further explore the physical aspects of her relationship with Chase. The full moon was a mere five days away. Would her Chosen One be different now that they were back on Earth? Her body heated at just the thought of their being together again.

After she saved the modifications, Harmony stood and moved to position herself on Chase’s lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck before he had a chance to react. There was no comfortable spot in the office for them to make love, but she didn’t care.

Chase grabbed the bottom of her shirt, pulling the material toward her head in an attempt to remove it. The breast cups stalled his progress. Harmony placed a finger underneath the cup to release the suction molding her breasts to her uniform’s top. Most Titian fashions were like second skins. She had her various Space Ranger outfits tailor made with that in mind.

Harmony was not used to removing her shirt in a man’s presence. It seemed natural and liberating with Chase doing the honors. For the first time since the attack, Harmony didn’t feel panic when her shirt was lifted over her head.

Almost immediately, Chase placed a hand on the small of her back and leaned her torso back to allow full access to her breasts. His lips adhered themselves to one of her hardened nipples. Sensation shook her body as he sucked harder. He took her to a level of pleasure with a mere touch no man had ever led her to.

When her head bumped against the computer’s console, Harmony tightened her hold on Chase and lifted her head and shoulders, rubbing against him. Chase muttered something incoherent and moved them both to the floor. The cold tile against her naked back cooled the inferno building inside her.

Harmony could barely think as the internal fire consumed her. Somewhere along the line, Chase had removed his clothing and her leggings. Her smooth, silky legs rubbed against the hairs growing along his long limbs. The friction caused a whole new set of shivers running up her spine. With every touch, it was as if Chase was playing her body like a musical instrument. Her ears took in the harmonies they produced as their moans and cries mingled.

Chase entered her with a single finger, while his lips released her breast. When his rough digit rubbed against her clit, Harmony cried out in triumph. As his finger continued to move within her, Harmony lost the sense to reason. It was as if each nerve ending played off the next, creating a domino effect of cascading pleasure.

“Tell me you want me.” Chase grunted out the barely audible words.

He had to have gone mad! Couldn’t he sense she was putty in his hands? She was almost afraid to verbalize what she was feeling and give up what little control she had.

“Say my name.” This time Chase growled his command.

Harmony knew she was on the edge of something incredible. “Chase, take me,” she cried out.

He rose above her in a triumphant stance. Their eyes met as he slowly entered her. Never breaking eye contact, he slid inside, inch by luscious inch. Her body welcomed his girth, only to have her muscles contract and embrace him the next moment. She felt a sense of victory when Chase took a deep breath through clenched teeth.

When he filled her to the hilt, Chase started to exit and reenter her body. With each additional thrust, his pace increased. He had initiated a mating dance as old as time. It didn’t matter they were different species; they were born to be together.

She’d had sex in the past, but this was something else. It was more than the sensations rippling through her system that made what they were more significant. Her lust-crazed mind just couldn’t figure out what. Were there words that adequately described what she was feeling?

A crescendo of sensations spasmed through her as her body climaxed. She was helpless to stifle the cry that escaped her lungs. Even at the height of her passionate release, she knew something was missing.

Chase reared back his head and cried out his own release. When he lowered his head and she saw his beautiful white teeth, she knew what she had been denied. She did not bear his mark. A piece that would make her complete was missing. What had she done in voicing her fears and preventing Chase from truly taking her in the way of his people?

***

Chase rolled off Harmony, exhausted. Even though he only transformed during the full moon, his wolf was always with him. Now, the beast within him had been quieted. His usual strength had been denied him with the removal of his animal.

He grabbed Harmony’s hand, needing physical contact with her. The sex had been incredible, but he knew that a piece of him that could have made it so much more had been missing. It was too late to second guess the decision he made related to Topper’s spell. He did it for his mate.

His sweat-clad body grew cold. Chase needed Harmony’s heat. He rolled onto his side and reached for her, cradling her into his needy body. His cock was once again erect, demanding to be buried within her warmth.

“When I said we needed to spend time together, I didn’t mean on the floor. I’m sorry for my loss of control. You deserve so much more.” Chase pushed wet wisps of hair from her face.

Harmony’s body shook with laughter. “If you can’t remember, I should point out, I was the one who climbed on top of you. I would have been happy riding you in the chair, against a wall, or wherever our passion took us.”

His fingers ran up and down her back. The more he touched her, the more his craving for her increased. Her body was incredibly toned. Chase’s hands moved to her powerful arms.

“Are all Glacierian women as fit as you are?” Chase asked. Earth men would have something to look forward to once the planet was brought into the Coalition.

“Glacierian woman are bulkier, but most are in excellent shape. Titian females are generally petite, but their muscle and tendons are contracted and efficient in motion. They are more agile than Glacierian women.”

The possibilities related to Harmony’s potential flexibility during sex assaulted his mind. His mouth watered in response. He needed to focus. There was too much at stake to dally much longer.

“We should check back with Theo to find out if they discovered anything new,” Chase said.

Harmony stretched, opening her body to him. If he didn’t focus, they would make love again and take up valuable time when Magic was threatened.  Regardless, his mind toiled over what to do.

The communication device on Harmony’s wrist buzzed. It was the only article that remained on her body after they stripped each other of their clothing. He doubted they had any choice in how they were going to spend the remainder of their day.

His Chosen One let out a loud moan in response to the interruption. It was clear she would have been easily convinced to make love again. She rolled onto her side, with her back facing him. He listened to the conversation conducted in a language he didn’t understand. Harmony’s tone and inflection was different when she spoke Glacierian, as opposed to speaking English.

Harmony rolled onto her back after she finished her conversation. She draped her arm over her eyes. It was a similar pose he made when he wanted to savor his last minutes in bed. He couldn’t help the small grin that crept across his face.

“You’ve been ordered to join the jaguars and I’m supposed to head over to the sheriff’s office,” Harmony finally said. There was a touch of annoyance in her voice. “They shouldn’t separate us. I need to advise Dreyden of the true nature of our relationship. Theo also has to be made aware of the spell Topper cast.”

Theo would not be pleased. Since discovering he was a dragon shifter, the sheriff depended solely on magic and the supernatural beings who lived in Magic to protect the town. Humans fighting humans or outsmarting the enemy was no longer considered. Chase basically neutered himself in respect to the town’s defenses.

They quickly dressed. He finished first and enjoyed watching Harmony. Her fluidity in motion was like watching a ballerina dance. Yet again, he was as hard as a rock. This time, his mind didn’t chastise himself for basking in all that was Harmony.

The desert heat hit him as soon as they exited the port. He loved Magic in the spring when the desert came to life. This time of year it got hot during the day, but not as stifling as during the summer.

Chase realized his wallet must have fallen out of his pants. “I need to return to the port for my wallet.”

“I’ll get it,” Harmony volunteered. “The security system will not recognize you and won’t allow you access. There is even the possibility the failsafe will be triggered and the facility will be destroyed. Besides, if I have your wallet, it will give us an excuse to get together that much sooner.”

Chase liked how she thought. He needed to discuss his situation with Danyal and then join Harmony in the sheriff’s office. The sooner he talked to the alpha jaguar, the sooner he’d be reunited with Harmony.

He was just short of town, when Chase turned to catch one last glimpse of Harmony. She was walking leisurely, enjoying the beauty of the desert. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sight of a black SUV heading toward her. The car stopped and she had a short conversation with the driver.

Something wasn’t right. His wolf was gone, but Chase still sensed danger. He started running toward her when she crumbled to the ground. The driver exited the car, picked up Harmony, and then shoved her into the backseat.

Chase ran after the departing vehicle, but didn’t have his preternatural speed. Had his wish to be human already backfired on him? He was helpless to save his mate on his own. The threat Magic’s population was concerned about was real and they had his mate.

Chapter 12

Sweat ran down Chase’s back as he sprinted to the sheriff’s office. It was more than the heat that caused his perspiration. He was worried sick about Harmony. They had not validated the Department for Paranormal and Extraterrestrial Affairs was involved. But whoever the enemy was, they had her. She was unconscious and helpless.

He fought to control the bile that rose from his stomach at the thought of what they could do to his mate. Topper’s spell had eliminated his ability to properly protect her, even though Harmony would argue she didn’t need to be protected. He needed a posse to go after his love.

The thought he could lose her was too alarming to consider. He needed to focus on the positive. Negative thoughts would paralyze him, making him a worthless asset in Harmony’s rescue.

Chase nearly ran over the sheriff and Dreyden as they left the office. He steadied himself and took a deep breath. “Harmony was abducted by someone driving a black SUV not far from the cloaked spaceport.”

Theo’s eyebrows rose as he took in what Chase communicated. “You didn’t chase after them?” the sheriff asked, surprise evident in his voice.

The town would eventually find out about the spell Topper cast, but he hadn’t wanted it to be under these circumstances. He had not looked forward to explaining the motivation behind his decision. Now, he dreaded having to share with Theo what he had done.

“I am Harmony’s Chosen One.” Chase knew Dreyden would understand the significance of what that meant. “She was attacked by an animal when she was young and is terrified of wildlife. It was my decision to remove any obstacles my being a werewolf would present in our relationship. Topper used her magic and I am now human. I was helpless to do anything when the vehicle sped away.”

“You did what?” Theo asked in disbelief. The sheriff reveled in his newly discovered abilities. He would be the last person in this town to understand what Chase did.

Dreyden stood beside the sheriff, not joining into the conversation. He looked at Chase as if he was under a microscope. The alien had gone to the extreme of kidnapping Prue in what he felt was the only way he could protect her. Chase expected he would immediately jump to his defense. Dreyden’s silence just further frustrated Chase.

“Where is Prue?” Chase asked. It was odd not seeing Prue beside her alien lover. He figured she would have voiced her support related to his decision. Women tended to consider the romantic, not the practical side of things.

“She is with the other witches at Topper’s house trying a locator spell to search for other military compounds in the area,” Dreyden responded.

Normally an object belonging to whomever they were trying to locate would be required. The witches were trying to produce something out of nothing. But now they had someone they could track magically. Ironically, Harmony’s abduction was exactly what the witches needed to find the secret military base.

“We need something belonging to Harmony,” Chase and Theo said at the same time. A new glimmer of hope began to lighten his darkened mood.

“I’ll run to the house and get an article of her clothing,” Dreyden said. “Head to Topper’s and give them an update. See if Topper can reverse the spell she cast on Chase. We need all the able bodies we can gather. Theo, if you can lockdown the tourists as much as possible, that will be helpful.”

Dreyden was gone before Chase or Theo had an opportunity to respond. The alien’s reasoning was sound. No wonder he had been a successful Space Ranger. Would Harmony be as efficient in a crisis? His thoughts wandered back to the missing woman. She had volunteered to help rescue the teenagers when she first arrived and now the town was going to return the favor.

Theo kept giving him probing looks as they made their way to Topper’s. “How could you have done it?” he finally asked.

Chase wondered if Theo had ever been in love. Based on his question, he doubted it. Without so much as a thought, Chase would sacrifice everything for Harmony, even his life.

“I hope one day you will feel for a woman how I feel about Harmony. Then you’d truly understand why I did it,” Chase replied.

The sheriff shook his head in response. Chase knew so little about the lawman. When this was over, he wanted to spend time with Theo and get to know the man better. But for now, all his concentration needed to be on rescuing his mate before she was harmed.

Once they arrived at Topper’s, the door flew open. Dreyden had managed to stop by his house, pick up an article of Harmony’s clothing, and slipped in the house behind them. Before the spell, Chase would have been able to detect Harmony’s scent on the clothing, now he smelled nothing. His soul cried out for his wolf. The beast within him would have scoured the desert until he found his mate and freed her. Now, he was a helpless human.

Topper grabbed Harmony’s top without greeting them. She took it to the table the other witches congregated around. Prue had a crystal dangling from a chain and the six witches started to chant. The pendant continued to swing back and forth, not revealing where Harmony was being held. The witches raised their voices and the crystal began to glow. As the light from the stone grew brighter, it deviated from its earlier course.

A map of Magic and its surrounding area covered the table. Prue moved as the crystal indicated until it stopped over the location of the abandoned secret government base.

“We destroyed that base,” Topper said. She stared at the crystal still in Prue’s fist as if it would provide some kind of answer.

Theo stepped forward and placed his palms on the table, looking down at the map. “There could be another level we knew nothing about. We need to check out the base one more time and leave no stone unturned. The wolves and cats need to scour every inch of the facility until we find the entrance into the other section.”

Chase’s stomach churned, knowing he had no preternatural powers left to aid in discovering the entrance to the covert section of the base. All he would be able to do was stand back and allow others to rescue Harmony. He felt less a man now that he was human.

“Topper, can you reverse the spell you cast on Chase?” Dreyden asked.

The witch looked long and hard at him, then lowered her eyes. “Unfortunately, no,” Topper answered. “I used a short term, powerful dampening spell. To control his wolf, I had to make it irreversible by any magic, including my own.”

“Then we will move forward accordingly,” Theo replied.

“Prue, take Chase with you on your broomstick,” Dreyden ordered. “Harmony will need him, once we find her.”

Dreyden only had the best of intentions, but his actions only made Chase feel smaller. He was once a powerful werewolf, now he was a charity case.

“You are not helping Harmony by sulking,” Pati pointed out.

He had not realized his internal turmoil was visible to those around him. Perhaps only Pati identified his mood because they had been close for so long. Chase could feel his face redden and attempted to make a quick exit, but Pati grabbed his arm.

Pati’s grip on him was unusually strong. “We have a town full of knights in shining armor. What Harmony is going to need is for someone to be there after all the excitement is over. To comfort her when she wakes from a nightmare or nurse her if she is injured. We have no idea what shape we will find her in.”

Chase could barely swallow due to the obstruction in his throat. He knew Pati was right, she generally was. It would be his mental fortitude that would help Harmony through whatever was to come once she was free. All he could do was pray they would be in time to save her from whatever fate her kidnappers had planned.

***

A bright light blinded Harmony when she finally had the strength to open her eyes. She was so groggy. It had been so long; she couldn’t remember the last time she had issues waking. Harmony finally realized she had been drugged and was slowly recovering from the effects. Over the years, she had witnessed a number of her prisoners go through the same process.

When she turned her head, blinding lights still impacted her ability to check her surroundings. She attempted to move her legs but was unable to. Something was preventing her from moving. As her senses came alive, Harmony realized her naked flesh was on a cold metal table. A chill ran down her spine and it wasn’t because of the gurney’s temperature.

Should she cry out? If she did, it would only alert whoever was holding her. Memories of talking to a man in a conveyance near the spaceport came flooding back. Harmony had been concerned about him discovering the cloaked facility, she had not considered she was the target.

“Good, you are awake,” a male voice said. She still could not see anything or anyone. “You are a beautiful specimen. I’ve watched you since your arrival in Magic. Recently, I read reports I first considered to be fantasy, but I had to check this town out. Everything seemed normal until I saw how you moved. You are not human, although you certainly resemble one.”

The man ran his finger along the bottom curve of her breast. Harmony’s body jerked at his touch. She struggled to free her arms so she could wrap her powerful hands around the bastard’s throat. A cry of frustration escaped her lungs when she was unable to release herself from her restraints.

Where was Chase? He must have witnessed her abduction. If she held on a little longer, her Chosen One, Dreyden, and the residents of Magic, New Mexico, would come after her. They had been investigating the tracks that disappeared in the desert. With the powerful beings who lived in town, they must have discovered where they had taken her.

She heard a small chuckle. The sound only fueled her desire to liberate herself and bring down the Earthling who dared to touch her. Her breathing quickened as she continued to struggle.

“Stop provoking the subject.” A woman’s shrill voice startled Harmony.

The word specimen didn’t sound any alarms in her mind, but when the woman called her a subject, that panicked Harmony. Both words were used to describe a study or an experiment, not to refer to a prisoner.

“We cannot have her slashing about while we x-ray her,” the female said. “Jordan, give her benzodiazepine. That should settle her down for a while.”

“Yes, Dr. Argon. I’ll be right back.” She heard Jordan’s footfalls as he moved to the side of the room.

“Jordan was right about one thing,” Dr. Argon said. “You are a beautiful subject. My work on you will get me published in all the medical journals.” Harmony felt the woman’s cold hands roam her leg. “Your muscles seem to be different than ours. We watched you run with so little effort.”

Magic’s protection spell must have disguised the jaguars, but not the way she moved. After she escaped, she’d have to talk to whoever cast the shielding magic.

A sharp pain emanated from her arm and Harmony started to immediately struggled to stay awake. She didn’t want to lose consciousness. If she fell asleep, she would not be able to free herself.

***

A roar echoed through the subterranean base Chase and the others searched. The sound meant Danyal had discovered something. Danyal had an unusually good sense of smell, even for a shifter. After today, he would never call Danyal a disparaging name again. If they were successful, he was going to owe Danyal big time.

Chase followed the others to the spot the jaguar shifter was pacing. As far as Chase could tell, they were at the end of a hallway. There was no sign of another door.

Topper arrived, chanted where she stood and the wall slid open. He would have to ask Danyal later what had alerted him to this spot. If Chase had been searching this area, he would have missed whatever the jaguar spotted.

The shifters moved forward. They entered another maze of corridors. There was no guarantee Harmony was in this section of the complex. They would have to search every additional square inch they discovered and continue looking for hidden areas. He didn’t know how, but he felt time was running out for his mate.

When they reached another dead end, Chase smashed his fist into the dry wall. The physical pain he felt shadowed in comparison to his aching for Harmony. They’d been searching for hours. Another day had begun without his mate by his side.

“Let me see that,” Prue demanded.

Chase pulled back his hand. He did not want anyone fawning over him. “It’s fine. We need to continue the search.”

“I can use elemental magic to keep your hand from throbbing.” Prue grabbed his forearm. “Your mind and senses won’t be at their peak if your hand is in pain. Stop being difficult and let me help you.”

Harmony was suffering unknown terrors and his friends were ministering to him. His stupid act of frustration had temporarily refocused their efforts from the rescue of his mate. Chase stopped fussing. The sooner Prue finished seeing to his wounded hand, the sooner they could refocus on what brought them here.

“We’ll find her,” Prue said as she worked on his bruised hand.

Words of encouragement were not going to get Harmony back into his arms any faster or stop the churning in his stomach. He did his best to control his anxiety, but he was fighting a losing battle.

“We need to get back to finding Harmony. I don’t know what I will do if anything happens to her.” The blockage in his throat continued to grow as he shared his fears with Prue.

Rather than trying to further soothe him, Prue sat at his feet, ready to cast another locator spell. Magic’s town folks were all using their particular powers to find Harmony. He felt embarrassed at his earlier anger about giving to the community and getting nothing back in return. Now, he had obligations he would never be able to pay back in full.

Topper joined them. “Another passage has been discovered. We will continue searching every inch of this place until we find her.”

Chase followed Topper, ready to build his hopes on the latest discovery. At this point, that was all he had. Hope would have to pull him through until they finally rescued his mate.

Chapter 13

An argument pulled Harmony out of her drug induced sleep. She had problems deciphering their words. The universal translator was sending garbled data to her brain. Or was her mind the issue?

Harmony tried to move, but she was still strapped to the cold metal table. She was not in pain or felt any part of her was violated. Whatever they had planned, they had not started. That thought caused waves of unease to cascade through her body. With little information available about Earth, Harmony was not sure what to expect.

She needed to focus on escaping. If she tried to release herself, her captors would know she was awake and begin their nefarious acts. It was doubtful she’d enjoy what they had planned. The fact she lay naked on the table indicated they had no empathy toward her.

Her mind was clearing and her body continued to come back to life. Whatever they gave her was more of a means to knock her out, not a nerve agent that would incapacitate her muscular capabilities. She would wait until the last minute before she made her move.

A cold hand touched her arm, causing her to jerk. Whatever the argument was about had ended and their attention was once again on her. Not good!

“The subject is conscious,” Dr. Argon said. “All the x-rays have been taken. We should begin the internal examinations. The rest can be done during the post-mortem.”

Harmony attempted to free herself once the translator provided her with what the woman had said. Time had run out; she’d played the helpless alien for too long. It was time to take action.

“You humans are barbaric,” Harmony sneered at her captors. “There is a reason why technologically advanced races stay clear of undeveloped worlds such as Earth.”

Did they really expect her to lay silent while they did God knows what to her? If they were surprised she spoke English, they certainly didn’t show it. Her arms and legs barely moved as she fought the restraints. Her Titian strength was failing her.

“Do you think we will allow you to take over our planet without a fight?” Dr. Argon asked. “We will learn all we can from your body, ultimately your two male counterparts, and finally your technology. I don’t know where your spaceships are, but we will find them. Earth needs to be prepared for what will occur one day.”

“We don’t conquer worlds.” Harmony continued her futile struggle to release herself. “When a planet reaches a certain technological advancement, the Coalition invites the world into a trading partnership. Until that point, our people stay away and allow the world to evolve on their own.”

Dr. Argon laughed as if Harmony said something funny. “You expect me to believe that? I owe it to my world to learn everything about you to protect ourselves against the ultimate invasion. Enough wasting time, Jordan, put the silencer in her mouth.”

Jordan lifted her head and dragged a tight elastic wide band down her forehead, over her nose, and finally secured it over her mouth. Hair caught in the elastic band pulled at her scalp. Her fighting only caused a stiffening of her neck. Jordan’s clammy hands held her face while his fingers worked to finish installing the silencer. The plastic forced her mouth open and her tongue secured below the bottom section.

“Good,” Dr. Argon commented. “Keep holding her head while I take my cultures. I will then send the probe down her throat.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Harmony saw a long swab move toward her. She tried to pull away from the invasion, but Jordan’s grasp on her was too strong. The swab was placed in her mouth and rubbed against her throat. Harmony gagged as the cotton slid along her pharynx. Glacierian body scans were used to examine and diagnose illnesses. She had never been prodded in such a fashion.

Harmony tried to form words when the tool was removed from her mouth. Only unintelligible sounds exited her. Between her struggles and the stress, she was under, Harmony’s energy waned. Feelings of hopefulness began to replace anger.

After another swab was removed from the opening in the mouth silencer, her head was roughly turned to the side and something was placed in her ear. Feeling less violated, Harmony concentrated on her breathing and slowing her heart rate. She needed to gather her strength to ultimately free herself.

Her neck cracked when her head was moved from side to side and her other ear was examined. After each examination, Dr. Argon stepped away and recorded her findings. Jordan found opportunities to touch her in the doctor’s absence. She voiced her distress, but every sound she made sounded like the next.

Finally, her head was craned back, she could feel her tendons extend and her neck cracked again. A nasoscope was forced up her nose. At least, that was the name of the tool Dr. Argon had requested Jordan hand her. She could barely tolerate the number of fingers pressing into the skin on her face.

“Keep her right eye open, Jordan,” Dr. Argon ordered. “If she blinks, we’ll have to do the cornea examination again.”

Jordan situated his digits around her eyes and pulled her skin back. Between the repulsion of him touching her and the discomfort caused, Harmony renewed her struggles. Her actions were countered with a hand painfully squeezing her breast. In response, Harmony stopped moving and the pressure ceased.

Bright light assaulted her eyes, blinding her in a haze of red. When the light was removed, before her eyesight could adjust, Harmony felt a drop of liquid fall into her eye. She struggled to blink when a blue light replaced the earlier white light. It felt like a century had passed when Jordan finally released her. Tears pooled around her eye and finally ran down the side of her face.

“Start hooking her up while I perform the upper GI. The barium I administered earlier should be nicely situated,” Dr. Argon said. “You obviously understand English. I am sending a probe down your throat. The test will be easier on you if you stay perfectly still. She doesn’t seem adversely impacted by the barium, it will be safe to be used when we capture the other aliens.”

Before she could react, Argon was shoving something in her mouth and it snaked down her throat. Harmony was not sure what type of damage it would do if she struggled, so she followed the advice given. She continually fought the urge to gag. Meanwhile, Jordan was placing wires and tape on her head. They must be preparing to record her brainwaves. When he started to place similar wires on her chest, Harmony couldn’t help but struggle. Dr. Argon’s cold, merciless hand once again forced her squirming to cease.

Harmony lay perfectly still. There was nothing outside the room to alert her captors that Chase and the others had penetrated the base to rescue her. The sense she was all alone once again threatened to overwhelm her. These creatures could continue with their experiments until they were ready to kill her and there was nothing she could do.

***

Another dead end. Chase leaned back his head and screamed in frustration. His wolf had always absorbed the edge of whatever emotion he felt. Now, his human self could barely function with all the negative emotions swirling inside him. It was as if every nerve ending within him was on fire, and not in a good way. This was not like sexual stimulation, but pure dread.

“Don’t give up hope,” Theo said. “We are getting closer, my dragon senses it.”

For someone who had just discovered he was a shifter, Theo believed everything he felt was some type of communication from his dragon. Chase nodded in agreement, but his heart felt differently. With each passing minute, what hope he still possessed dwindled.

He couldn’t understand how the witches were powerful enough to open a portal to a planet in a distant galaxy, but couldn’t locate his mate. If Harmony was conscious, she had to be emitting all sorts of emotions the witches could connect with. Unfortunately, their greatest hope for finding her had been silenced when he became human. His wolf would have sensed and rescued its mate by now. A guilt so heavy, it threatened to weigh him down, continued to steal his sanity.

“Wouldn’t we be able to connect with energy generated by the electricity Harmony’s captors must be using?” Chase asked in desperation. “Doesn’t it leave some kind of heat signature equipment or magic can connect with?” He was grasping at straws, but if the possible wasn’t working, maybe it was time to focus on the plausible.

Theo was obviously not on the same wave length. He didn’t react one way or another to Chase’s comment. They continued to use magic to find new pathways and continually failed in finding Harmony. Even with the location spell that brought them to this location, Chase was beginning to question if Harmony was even present. Perhaps she had been here at one point and then they moved her outside of New Mexico to a more secure government base. If that occurred, she’d be lost to him.

Prue was still on the floor chanting, her crystal swinging back and forth. It had been an hour since she started the latest locator spell and it had produced nothing. He was about to turn away, when he noticed the gem had slightly altered its direction. The longer he watched, the more convinced he was the crystal was indicating she was east of their current location.

“Topper,” Chase yelled at the top of his lungs.

The witch arrived and gave him a questioning look. Chase pointed to the crystal, now pulling to the east. Topper reached for the necklace and Prue released it to the more powerful witch. Once it was in Topper’s possession, the clear rock started to glow.

“This way.” Topper walked in the direction she had come and then turned left.

When the crystal glowed purple, the group stopped, staring in wonder. They had never seen an enchanted crystal change colors. Chase had noticed they had traversed through two sections they had discovered and searched. As far as he was concerned, they were on a wild goose chase. He’d had enough.

Chase reached for the crystal and pulled it from Topper’s hand. She held on tightly and the chain broke, causing the crystal to fall to the floor. The stone shattered, scattering over the floor in a perfect circle. The magic was indicating they were to look down, not make directional changes on the same level.

They all stared at their feet in wonderment. By all indications, they believed they were on the lower level and no other floor was below them. Obviously, they were wrong.

“How do we get down there?” Chase asked. New hope blossomed in his heart.

“Stand back,” Topper said.

Topper mumbled something and snapped her finger. A small explosion occurred in front of them, but no one was hurt. When the smoke cleared, another dark hall was visible below them. Harmony had to be close.

***

Cold hands roamed up and down the back of her leg, waking Harmony from her latest drug induced sleep. She was now on her chest, her breasts jammed against the cold, unforgiving table. Her head was turned onto her left ear and secured to the hard metal. The silencer was still in her mouth.

Harmony didn’t survey her body to determine what procedures were performed on her while she was unconscious. The thought of what they could have done stopped her cold. She believed Dr. Argon had no barriers when it came to examining her body.

“We saw her run like a gazelle. I need to examine her muscular limbs,” Dr. Argon said.

“What about her sexual responses?”

Harmony tried to cry out, but the silencer still prevented her from communicating or screaming.

“We want to kill the aliens, not fuck them,” Dr. Argon barked at her assistant. “All the postmortems will be done together. We’ll keep her alive until I have completed the proper exams on the males. What you do to her during that time is unimportant to me. She’s just another animal as far as I am concerned. Conduct your own research after I am done here.”

Harmony sighed with relief. There was still time for Chase to rescue her. Or better yet, Frost or Dreyden would kill them both in their attempt to capture either of the Glacierian men.

“Hand me a scalpel,” the doctor requested.

Her stomach lurched at those words. She thought the woman would continue touching her legs, not cut her open. Harmony made another panic induced attempt at releasing her legs from the restraints. Her lungs released a scream, but her ears barely heard the resulting sound.

Searing pain emanated from her leg as the insane woman cut into her flesh. The incision was deep, exposing the bone and the surrounding muscles and tendons. Tears she was helpless to stop, ran down the sides of her face.

To manage her sanity through the pain, Harmony thought of the suffering her mother had endured as her genetic disease created an acid substance that ate through bone, muscle, and flesh until it finally killed her. She still remembered her mother’s screams as the degenerative disease started in her right ankle and progressed slowly.

Her cries were nearly silenced by the apparatus covering her mouth, but she continued her nearly quiet screams. She prayed the pain would render her unconscious, but she was not so lucky. Sharp bursts of agony resulted in continual unanswered cries for help.

Chapter 14

Chase stopped dead in his tracks. His mind sensed Harmony was in terrible pain. He couldn’t begin to explain how he knew where she was now.

“Follow me,” Chase called out as he sprinted in the direction he somehow knew Harmony was being held. Her pain was leading him to her.

Pati and Prue were beside him ready to cast whatever spell was necessary to remove any obstacles between him and his mate. Their men followed closely behind, Danyal in his leopard form. When they reached a dead end, Chase did not attempt to turn around. He knew Harmony was on the other side of the wall.

“Break it down or whatever you have to do,” Chase growled.

Prue chanted and the wall before them disintegrated. A man and a woman were visibly huddled over Harmony’s naked form. He could not tell what was occurring, but he knew Harmony was in tremendous pain.

Anger, the likes of which he never experienced, flashed through his body. The wolf he felt was gone surged forward and Chase shifted into the beast who would kill the beings hurting his mate. The humans were so focused on Harmony, they didn’t notice they had company.

Chase’s wolf launched himself at the woman he discovered cutting into Harmony’s leg. The table was saturated with blood. Danyal took down the man who assisted the female. If Theo wanted to interrogate one of his mate’s captors, he’d have to interview the male. His wolf launched himself at the arm of the hand holding the scalpel. The scientist, or whatever she was, would no longer be able to inflict pain or defend herself.

When the woman’s body lurched in response to his attack, Chase went for her torso next. He was going to make the woman suffer for what she had done to Harmony. His wolf, silent for too long, wanted blood.

He continued to rip into his victim as Pati and Prue released Harmony from the strips of wide leather restraining her. Whatever had been covering her mouth had been removed and his ears now heard Harmony’s cries. The sound broke his heart. As his teeth continued to tear at the woman’s flesh, he used his front claws to ravage her chest and legs. Blood seeped through her injuries, continuing to turn her white jacket a scarlet red.

“Let go of him, Danyal,” Chase heard Theo say. The lawman was not stopping Chase from exacting his revenge. “I need one of these monsters alive.”

It seemed a perfectly appropriate word to describe the beings who captured and attempted to dissect his woman. Magic was full of mythical and magical creatures, but the two humans before them were the true monsters.

“The woman is dead, Chase.” Pati ran her hand along his back, trying to calm his killing fury. “Take care of your mate.”

Chase released his jaws from the woman’s chest and leapt onto the table. His wolf straddled its mate and licked the perspiration from her face. Harmony grabbed the scruff at the back of his neck and pulled his nose into her shoulder. He whimpered in response to what had been done to her. His mate held him tighter. She was acting instinctually, no longer plagued by her subconscious’s fear of animals. His wolf provided her needed comfort.

When Harmony quieted, he jumped from the table and shifted into his human form. Someone had covered Harmony’s body with Theo’s shirt. The lawman stood bare chested in the back of the room giving a variety of orders to people piling in. There was data to pull, equipment to liberate, a body to dispose of, and a prisoner to secure into custody.

The man who aided in violating Harmony was unconscious on the floor. His shirt was ripped to shreds and discolored with blood. Danyal had controlled his cat and had not killed the bastard. The sheriff would be able to gather what information he needed. Chase wanted what remained. His need for vengeance had barely been sated.

“Get a doctor down here,” the dragon shifter roared. “I want someone to look at her leg. Prue, perform a spell to stop the bleeding in the meantime.”

Chase stood back while his friends cared for his mate’s leg. Harmony reached out her hand to him and Chase took it. Her hand seemed so small in his.

Prue had the ability to manipulate elemental matter, but he wasn’t sure if the mage would be able to mend Harmony’s leg. She was working on getting the blood to clot. They may not know the extent of the injury to her leg until she tried to put weight on it.

“Maybe we should enter the portal between our worlds and have a Glacierian doctor examine her,” Chase suggested. The aliens were technologically superior. Perhaps, their medicine was more advanced than what existed on Earth.

After Prue was done working on the leg, first aid supplies appeared out of nowhere. “I’ve done all I can. I’ll wrap the leg and protect it from being bumped in transit. It makes sense to have someone familiar with her physiology take a look at her. Her muscle and tendon structure is different from ours and I don’t want to mess her up further.”

Topper entered the room, looking as flamboyant as she always did. Now that Harmony was safe, he truly looked at Topper. She was dressed in desert fatigues, which Chase found oddly charming. For as long as Chase could remember, Topper never did anything with moderation. He always found her to be larger than life. She stopped and looked at what he had done to the female scientist.

“Your wolf did this, didn’t he?” Topper asked.

Chase nodded. “As soon as I saw the scalpel cutting into Harmony’s leg my wolf materialized. Even before that, when only a wall separated us, I knew she was there. I thought your magic had eliminated my wolf for a week.”

“There is one thing I have learned over the years,” Topper said with a warm smile gracing her face, “true love will always trump magic. There is no stronger force in the universe. That is why love spells are so dangerous. They always tend to backfire. Your wolf shares the love you have for your mate. When she is in danger, from this point on, it will not matter the cycle the moon, your wolf will be unleashed.”

Everything he had seen with the pairings of his two female friends just reinforced what Topper had said. For Pati and Danyal, their love reached across dimensions. For him and Prue, it somehow brought their Chosen Ones across the universe. As far as he was concerned, miracles surrounded him and his dear friends.

“Harmony is ready to be moved,” Prue said. “I cast a spell to make her sleep. The leg shouldn’t be jarred, but I don’t want to take any chances. She’s been through enough. I don’t want to be wrong and have her suffer any more. When she is back on Glacier and the doctor has seen to her injuries, Harmony will awaken.”

Chase lifted Harmony into his arms, careful not to come in direct contact with the part of her leg that was injured. He was grateful Prue had knocked Harmony out. Nothing and no one would ever hurt his mate again. His wolf would make sure of it.

***

The Planet Glacier

Harmony slowly woke from the magical spell. Prue had asked for her approval to put her under until her leg was properly cared for. It seemed the easiest way to temporarily escape the physical and mental trauma over what had been done to her.

She immediately became aware of an animal sitting beside her prone body. Chase was watching over her in his wolf form. His eyes were glued to the room’s entrance. Harmony was in her father’s house. She moved her hand and stroked his back. His fur was so soft. A slight whimper came from Chase in response to her touch.

“The wolf has not left your side.” Her father sat behind her, out of her line of sight. “He growled every time someone new entered your room. I was afraid he was going to rip out the doctor’s throat when he drew out a sharp object to cut off the temporary cast and bandages. Your Chosen One would kill for you.”

“He already has,” Harmony replied. She had witnessed the wolf attacking Dr. Argon before she could further slice open her leg. Panic consumed her over what lasting effects the cutting of her muscles produced. “What did the doctor say?”

“Fortunately, the damage was not as bad as we feared,” her father said. “Your muscles were already healing themselves, thanks to your Titian genetics. You may feel some discomfort, but the doctor left medication that will take the edge off any pain you experience. The Ruling Director was here while you were unconscious. Word of what happened has been widely distributed. If you do not wish to return to Earth, he will certainly understand.”

Another growl came from Chase. She stroked his back, attempting to reassure him. It didn’t matter where she lived, Chase would be at her side.

“I need to discuss our future with Chase,” Harmony advised her father. “He is my Chosen One. If you will excuse us, I’d like to start the discussion now.”

Her father hesitated leaving the room. “You will always have a home here. I know things between us have not been easy since your mother’s death. When I heard what happened on Earth, all I wanted to do was hold my little girl in my arms once again. There is nothing I want more than to heal our relationship and be part of your life again.”

Tears welled in the corner of her eyes. Harmony missed what they once had and wanted her children to know their grandfather.

“I’d like that, Dad,” Harmony’s voice cracked with emotion. “After I talk with Chase, we’ll work something out.”

She watched as her father left the room and closed the door behind him. Once they were alone, Chase shifted into his human form. He gathered her into his arms, careful not to impact her leg. He treated her with such care, whether he was in his human or wolf form.

Chase pulled back a few strands of hair that fell across her cheek. He examined her face with such intensity. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to assess her mental state or merely studying her. Was the trauma of what she had been through evident in what he saw?

“I am so sorry for what you were subjected to,” Chase said. “If I had not asked Topper to remove my wolf, I would have been able to rescue you as soon as they abducted you.”

She didn’t know much about wolves, but she doubted they could outrun a motorized vehicle. He was taking the blame when he shouldn’t. Ultimately, it was Chase and the people of Magic who rescued her. If anyone was at fault, it was the Ruling Director sending her to a backward planet. But had he not, she never would have met her Chosen One.

“You stopped her, that’s what’s important,” Harmony finally said. “What did they do about the facility?”

“No one is ever going to use it again. The explosives Dreyden used to protect the spaceport from falling into the wrong hands were used to demolish the facility. Only a large hole exists. The witches have placed a spell over the area, making it appear as part of the flat desert.”

“The witches are one of the reasons why the Ruling Director has been able to get around Coalition law when it comes to Earth.” Harmony couldn’t help shivering as memories of what had occurred came flooding back to her. “When I speak to him, I will let him know I will not file a complaint. But Earth will not be approached for some time to join with other worlds. Overall, they are cruel, paranoid, and are not ready to be visited by other types of beings.”

Harmony could see Chase take a hard swallow, as if his throat had an obstruction in it. She needed to soothe his anxiety over whether or not they had a future.

“I want to return to Magic and make a life with you there,” Harmony said. “The portal between our worlds will allow me to see my father. But I no longer belong here. For some reason, I feel an affinity with the people of Magic over and above what I share with you. I am not the only one at risk in your world. The witches will have to find a better way to protect the town.”

She didn’t have a doubt Topper and the rest of the witches had already come up with some ideas to enhance the safeguards. There were children who were special and could be targeted. This time the scientists went after her, next time it could be a child.

“We can return in a couple of days.” Chase did not make eye contact. He was keeping something from her.

“Why not now? I’ll test my leg and we’ll go through the portal between our worlds.”

Chase ran a finger across her cheekbone. “It’s too dangerous. We have been on Glacier for two days. The moon will be full tomorrow night on Earth. On Glacier, it’s the end of one of your moon’s three-day cycles.”

A half-laugh escaped from her. “I am no longer afraid of your wolf.”

“You are recovering from what was done to you,” Chase said. “My wolf has an insatiable sex drive the night of the full moon.”

Harmony wrapped her arms around him. “Yes, please,” she purred. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sprint for several miles, but I can certainly handle anything your wolf can do to me in bed.”

She was actually looking forward to the experience. Different alien races had strong sexual drives and she never had any issues keeping up with any of them when she felt like having casual sex. It was her heart she feared for more than any physical strain his wolf could produce. For the first time since her mother’s death, Harmony was ready to care for another being.

Chapter 15

Magic, New Mexico

Harmony watched as the sky grew darker and the full moon became more dominate. In her travels, she rarely considered the satellites that orbited a planet. They were something to navigate around, not a celestial body that would impact a being’s behavior or physical form.

When they returned from Glacier, Chase immediately went to his basement and locked himself into the secured room. He had given her the choice to hold off any physical contact until after the pull of the moon was no longer a threat. A small smile crossed her face at the ridiculous thought of Chase or his wolf ever presenting any type of danger to her.

Her body ached for his touch. If things got a little rough, she didn’t care. She had tangled with alien criminals and always came out the winner. Her Titian genetics could easily take on a werewolf. Besides, a little physical activity would take her mind off the memories of her abduction that continued to plague her. Getting lost in the act of loving her Chosen One seemed like the best way to deal with her mental anxiety.

Harmony continued to look out the living room window, not focusing on anything specific. She was not stalling joining Chase in the basement because she was afraid of his beast, but because she knew she’d lose herself in their lovemaking. For now, she needed a little more time to reflect on what had happened to her.

Every time she cleared her mind, she could feel the sharp pain in her leg as Dr. Argon made her incision. There was no empathy where the scientist was concerned, she was just a test subject. Even when Harmony went after the most vicious criminals, she knew she was up against someone who had a family somewhere. But it was the family of his or her victims she concentrated on. It was the only way she could do her job.

The sheriff had stopped by earlier to give them an update on his interrogation of Jordan. He and Dr. Argon had found notes a colleague had left behind about a strange town in New Mexico. Their friend had disappeared, but Dr. Argon felt she could make a name for herself if what the information she collected proved true. It was Jordan’s observations regarding Harmony that caused her to be the target.

Fortunately, Dr. Argon had destroyed the notes she had found, not wanting to share the credit when her research was published. Jordan confirmed Dr. Argon’s notes were in the facility when the explosion decimated the underground bunker. The threat for now was over.

When Theo was done interrogating Jordan, Topper turned him into a rabbit. The prisoner was released into the desert. Some worthy predator would ultimately enjoy him for dinner. It seemed like a just sentence for a man who planned to rape and then dissect her.

Harmony’s experience had caused her to reevaluate her life. For the first time in a very long time, she wanted to spend more time with her father. However, she knew she had to come back to Magic to face her future. This little town because of the unusual beings who lived here would always be at risk. She would fight to protect Magic and its people. She had never felt this connected to a community before.

And then there was Chase. Warmth spread through her body just thinking about him. She could be in the middle of an ice drift on Glacier and the thought of him would cause her body to heat. It was time to join him.

She walked through his fairly sparse living room. She couldn’t wait to add her own personality to the room. It would be the first place she would call home since she left her father’s apartment to become a Space Ranger.

Chase had led her earlier to the hidden access to the basement below. She entered the code into the keypad and opened the door when she heard the lock cylinders open. The stairwell to another locked door was well lit. Nothing decorated the walls for her to investigate as she made her way to the bottom. When she reached the second door, she entered a second set of numbers. Chase had his beast well contained during the night of the full moon.

The room was barely furnished and what was there was partially destroyed over time by his wolf. There was a mattress on the far side of the room that had been torn to shreds. She wondered how often he had to replace the bed. Balls of hair were scattered around the room from the animal shedding his fur. How often did he sweep?

Her heart fluttered when she saw his wolf pacing. It wasn’t fear she felt, but anticipating what was to come. This animal had killed the woman who had caused her pain one instant and in the next whimpering into the crook of her neck. Harmony squatted to pet the wolf who charged forward with excitement.

The wolf’s forward momentum knocked her over. She started to laugh as a rough tongue licked her neck and face. He was a killer, but he’d never harm her.

In an instant, an animal no longer covered her, but a naked, fully aroused male.

“You are wearing too many clothes,” Chase growled.

“Then rip them off me,” Harmony countered. Even through her lust-saturated brain, she knew she wanted to buy clothing that would allow her to better blend in with the people around her. She couldn’t think of a more appealing way to eliminate pieces of her old, limited wardrobe.

Chase straddled her body, grabbed her top in both hands and roughly pulled on the shirt. The tearing of the material released the suction around her breasts and freed them.

“Promise me you won’t ever buy a bra,” Chase said as he brought his lips around one of her hardened nipples.

Harmony let out a moan as he sucked harder. Her mind was already faltering. Had he said something?

She pulled at his hair, wanting more. He responded by moving the hand that was fumbling with her slacks’ waistband to her other breast. He massaged her and finally started to play with her other nipple. The world could have been ending and she wouldn’t have cared. As far as she was concerned, Chase was her universe.

He released her breast and moved up her body to capture her lips. When she opened to him, his tongue ravaged her mouth. He flicked his tongue from spot to spot, never staying at one location too long.

“You taste so damn good,” Chase uttered between kisses.

His hands roamed up and down her naked torso, but there was nothing rough in his treatment of her. She was expecting to be overwhelmed and a little bruised. The gentleness he displayed confused her.

Harmony pushed at his shoulders, freeing her lips. “Why aren’t you drilling into me?”

Chase looked startled at her comment. “What?”

“You kept telling me about how uncontrollable your wolf is during a full moon,” Harmony informed him. “It seems you are in perfect control.”

His eyes roamed over her face as he considered what she said. Chase’s expression changed from surprised to confused. His forehead wrinkled as he searched his mind for some type of explanation.

“Did my wolf growl at you when you entered?” Chase asked. It appeared he was at a loss to explain his own behavior.

“He was like an excited puppy,” Harmony said. They had dog-like creatures on Glacier, similar to the ones on Earth. Her family had one before she was attacked. They had found another home for their pet before Harmony returned home from the hospital.

A smile lit up Chase’s face. “Maybe because you are my true mate, you calm my beast to the point he is controllable. My wolf recognizes the relationship between us. You will be the mother of our children. His feelings for you are protective, not aggressive.”

“And your feelings?” Harmony asked.

Chase gazed down at his engorged erection. That simple action spoke volumes about how much he physically desired her. His eyes were a lighter brown, displaying his warm feelings for her.  He didn’t have to say anything. Harmony knew how he felt for her, regardless of her question.

“You are my world,” Chase simply stated. “When you were taken, I could barely function. I even had to remind myself to breathe. Never in a million years did I ever believe I would feel this way about anyone. I love you so much, it hurts.”

An emotional cry escaped her. How could she respond to what he said in kind? She placed her hands on his stubble covered cheeks and gently kissed his lips. Tears ran down her face.

“I’ve been a nomad for years,” Harmony said between sobs she could barely control. “Maybe I was searching for you, I don’t know. You are my home. Love me, Chase.”

He planted his lips on hers and deepened the kiss. There was an urgency about the kiss this time. Chase was losing control, but for a very different reason. Harmony strengthen her hold on him, encouraging him to let loose his passion.

Chase groaned when he finally released her lips. He traveled down her body, planting kisses along the way. When he reached her uniform’s leggings, his hands jerked the material down her legs. She was treated to another groan when he realized she was not wearing the panties Earth women wore.

His lips returned to hers after his eyes soaked in her naked body. Her leg bore a scar, but he had not bothered to make an issue of her injury. One day it would resemble the marks on her chest. They were invisible where her Chosen One was concerned.

She was wet and ready for him. Harmony had enough foreplay, she wanted him inside her. Her hand reached between them and grabbed his rod, then guided it through her feminine folds. When he entered her, Harmony cried out in delight.

Chase did not waste anytime, driving in and out of her, setting a frantic pace. Harmony was lost in the sensations rocketing through her body. Her Chosen One grunted as her internal muscles embraced his cock. Her legs then slid from his hips to his waist and entangled around him. Chase’s continued thrusts caused her to slide a short distance along the tiled floor.

Harmony held on and kept up with the pace Chase set. They were building to a seismic climax. How much longer was she able to hang on? As it was, she gasped to breathe. No lover had ever gotten her to this point before.

Her body spasmed with her first orgasm. She cried out at its intensity. It felt like every nerve ending was impacted as waves of pleasure consumed her.

Chase loomed above her, close to his own release. He watched her as she reacted to their coupling. His eyes roamed to her shoulder, the exact spot Pati bore Danyal’s mark. A longing was evident in his face, she could no longer deny her Chosen One.

“Do it!” Harmony tilted her head, giving Chase better access to the meat of her shoulder.

Pleasure, the likes of which she had never experienced exploded when he bit her. Her scream still echoed through the room even after Chase released her. His cry joined hers when he climaxed and collapsed on top of her. She liked bearing his weight.

They lay there for several minutes gathering their strength. Harmony had never reached the sexual heights they managed to achieve. She doubted she’d be able to do the simple act of lifting her head.

Chase shifted his weight and rolled off her. She mourned the loss of his heat until he collected her in his arms and brought her onto her side. His fingers roamed over the mark he left on her shoulder.

“Are you all right?” Chase’s tone was hesitant. He must have realized the heights he had taken her to.

“I’m better than all right,” Harmony answered with a smile on her face. She ran her fingers across his face, needing to touch him.

“That damned cat,” Chase growled.

Harmony looked at him in confusion. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“Pati has mentioned on several painful occasions how much she likes to be held by Danyal and listen to and feel him purr,” Chase complained. “Wolves don’t purr. We bark, howl, growl, and whimper. My wolf cannot communicate how much he is impacted by what just happened.”

Harmony laughed with pure joy. She didn’t need any sign from Chase related to his wolf’s reaction to what passed between them. She could feel it in her soul. She connected not only with Chase, but his wolf as well. Their bonding would have been incomplete without his wolf. She knew it as soon as he bit her.

“I don’t need you to purr to know how any part of you feels,” Harmony claimed. “There is a synergy between us. That energy can be felt from the tips of my toes to my lust-infected mind. There is a sense of…”

“Harmony,” Chase finished her sentence.

She snickered at his usage of her name. “Shut up and love me again.”

Other Titles from Evelyn Lederman

Worlds Apart Series

The Chameleon Soul Mate: Book 1

The Crystal Telepath: Book 2

The Warrior Woman: Book 3

The Mind Control Telepath: Book 4

The True Ruler: Book 5

Nightshade Saga Series

Nightshade: Book 1

Feral Nightshade: Book 2

Lethal Nightshade: Book 3

Deadly Nightshade: Book 4

Drake’s Nightshade: Book 5 (12/2017)

YA Scifi Series: Zaratan Trilogy

Selected: Book 1

Chosen: Book 2

Magic, New Mexico Kindle World

A Touch of Patience

A Touch of Prudence

A Touch of Harmony

Southern Shifters Kindle World

A Twist of Fate (2/17/2017)

Haunted Savannah

The Ultimate Act of Love (10/2017)

About the Author

When Evelyn Lederman retired from her career as an insurance executive, she cheerfully anticipated the freedom to finally spend as much time reading as she’d always wanted. The twist in her story came when as-yet unwritten characters started cropping up in her thoughts, asking her to tell their stories. These characters ended up being the heroines of the Worlds Apart series. Now, she spends her days in Florida on the beach…with her laptop.

Evelyn has two adult fantasy/paranormal romance series: Worlds Apart and Nightshade Saga. She also has a YA sci-fi adventure series The Zaratan Trilogy.

Please visit her on Facebook and her website. Make sure to like her Amazon author page as well. You can sign up for her newsletter on her website.

http://www.evelynlederman.com

evelynlauthor@gmail.com