Growling For My Mate (Ash Mountain Pack Book 1) Read online

  Growling For My Mate

  Shaw Hart

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  About the Author

  Also By Shaw Hart

  Blurb

  Grier Taylor is just a lost girl.

  Abandoned by her parents when she was young, she was raised by the group of shifters who took her in. Now that she’s grown, she can’t help but notice all of the ways that she doesn’t truly belong. On her eighteenth birthday, Grier decides to leave Ash Mountain and the pack.

  That is until the Alpha comes for her.

  * * *

  Slate has been Alpha of his pack ever since his parents were killed by hunters. Lonely and overworked, he wonders if he’ll ever find his fated mate. That’s when he catches her scent.

  * * *

  Will this Alpha shifter be able to convince his mate that they’re meant to be and that there’s nowhere that she belongs more than with him and his pack?

  * * *

  *Warning: Growling for His Mate is an instalove romance with plenty of heat and over the top alpha love. This shifter book is safe, with no cheating and a HEA that will have you growling for more!

  1

  Slate

  * * *

  Ash Mountain is unlike any other place on Earth. Sure, the terrain, the forest, rivers, and mountains might look like other places, but what makes Ash Mountain really special, is the people who live here. It’s home to shifters, people who are able to turn between human and animal at will. Most who live in Ash Mountain are wolf shifters although there are one or two bear shifters that live on the outskirts of our land.

  The town is pretty secluded with only one road leading into town. There’s a road that runs through the mountains and every now, and then we get a couple of tourists but we’re not a big destination so that’s few and far between. Just in case some humans do wander into town, we have it set up like every other small town with a main strip where all of the businesses are lined up. The main street isn’t that long with just some store fronts and the town hall. There’s a couple of apartments above the businesses but most of the people live further out from the town square. Most houses are spread out throughout the woods, connected by small hiking trails.

  Everyone in the pack has a normal job like baker or carpenter, and we all help each other out. My job is sheriff, and I pull on my uniform as I prepare for my day. Growing up in a shifter pack was the best. I know that I don’t have anything to compare it too but I can’t imagine anything being better than Ash Mountain. The pack is so close, always banding together and everyone is always willing to lend a hand to help out.

  It wouldn’t have been safe to be a shifter pup growing up in the real world. Pups have a hard time keeping their skin, and it would be hard to explain transforming into a wolf right in front of regular humans. I was able to play and train with others who were just like me, although with my dad being the Alpha, I had more to learn and my parents gave me stricter rules.

  Most shifters are taller, and I’m no exception. I stand at 6’5”, taller than most in my pack. My black hair is getting a little long and I make a mental note to cut it soon as I brush it out of my grey eyes. My wolf looks a lot like me with black fur and grey eyes. My wolf is also the biggest in the pack and stands at a little over 5 feet.

  Most people probably think that it’s weird to have this other being, this animal, inside of you, but it’s all I’ve ever known. There were a couple of years when I was a pup where my wolf would push forward and take over but that happens to most pups. You have to learn to control it and then things run smoothly. For the most part, my wolf and I want the same thing so I haven’t had any problems trying to hold him back, although I heard that when you find your mate, you have to really work to keep your wolf in check.

  I live in a log cabin close to the center of town. As alpha, I have to be close by in case of emergencies. The cabin is nice but too big for just me. Hopefully, once I find my mate and we have a couple of pups, it won’t feel so empty. My wolf whines, pawing the ground as he thinks about finding his mate. I want to find her too; I try to tell him. I don’t know what has changed but the last couple of weeks have been like this. I wonder if my wolf knows something that I don’t.

  Every shifter is always searching for their one true mate, alone and celibate until they find each other. I’m the same, but ever since I became alpha, my desire to find my mate has ratcheted up. I want someone to share my life with and to share the burden of running a pack with. I sigh as I look back at my bed and picture someone else curled up next to me in it.

  I became the Alpha of my pack after my parents were killed by some hunters. The hunters had come past the state property line onto our protected territory and cornered one of the new pups who had gone out for a run. My parents had stepped between the hunters and the pup, and they had shot them. They saved the pup who came back to tell us what happened but by the time we got back up there, the hunters and their bodies were already gone.

  That was a year ago now, and I’m still trying to move past losing them while also learning all of my new responsibilities as Alpha. In a way, I’m glad that they went together. Fated mates can’t handle losing their mate and most will die shortly after losing their partner. It was still a blow to be left alone here though and to be put in charge of our entire pack. I was only twenty-three when I took over and I had a lot to learn about being in charge. I’ve been working hard for the past year to keep everything running effortlessly. My father had been a good leader and I just want to make him proud of me.

  I pick up my cell, calling my Beta, Finn, who is on a goodwill trip, visiting other shifter packs in the area. We do a visit like this every year to make sure that we stay up to date with everyone and to keep our alliance with them strong. I need to check in with him and make sure that everything is going smoothly before I head out for my patrol. He answers on the second ring.

  “Yes, Slate. Everything is going fine.” He answers as soon as the call connects.

  A reluctant smile tugs at my lips. Normally, no one would be allowed to talk to the Alpha like that, but for Finn and our other three friends, I allow it. Finn is the Beta and a good guy. He’s laidback and easy going and everyone likes him. He’s also the second-best fighter in the pack and that’s how he became my beta.

  Then there’s Krew, Easton, Kai, and Rylan. We’ve been tight, best friends, since we were all pups. Or in Rylan’s case, cubs. Easton is serious and the best tracker in the pack. He and Kai are the pack’s top hunters. Kai is a jokester who always knows how to lighten the mood. They work well together and the two of them have always been the closest of our group. Krew is in charge of training the pups. Rylan is the only bear shifter in our pack. He joined when he was just a cub and tended to stick to himself. He lives in a cabin at the edge of the property.

  “How is the Ridge Pack doing?” I ask Finn, wanting to get this call over with.

  Finn runs through everything that is new with our neighboring shifter packs before we say our goodbyes. My wolf wants to go for a run, and I realize that it’s been a while since we’ve let loose like that and just run for the sake of running. Tonight, I promise him as I pick up the keys to my jeep and head into town. He whines, turning in a circle before he lays dow
n inside of me.

  2

  Grier

  * * *

  I lean my head out the kitchen window, enjoying the cool breeze. The AC broke this morning in the Shifty Diner, and it’s been sweltering in the kitchen all day. Luckily, Bill Hooper is already here working on fixing it, and if I’m lucky, it will be up and running soon. Normally I love working in the diner, probably because I’m able to hide in the kitchen. I like cooking and I’m good at it, really good.

  It’s getting late now, and the diner is closed. I just need to scrub everything down and wait for Mr. Hooper to finish up before I can lock up and head home. I grab my rag, wiping down the last two counters and starting on the grill. I get halfway done with the grill before I’m back at the window once again, trying to cool off. My thick white-blonde hair is tied up in a messy bun on top of my head so that my neck doesn’t get too hot. I fan my face, trying to cool off when I hear Mr. Hooper coming in. I turn around and lean against the counter as he messes with the thermostat and then finally, the sounds of the air conditioner kicking on fills the room.

  “Oh, you’re a miracle worker, Mr. Hooper!”

  He chuckles, telling me it was no problem before he grabs the takeout containers of dinner that I made for him and his wife.

  “Thanks for these, Grier.”

  “No problem. Thanks for fixing the AC on such short notice.”

  I walk him out, locking the front door behind him. I stand at the door, staring out at the dark streets. I hear voices coming around the corner onto the main street, and I duck back into the shadows of the diner when I recognize them. Tonight is the night of the school dance and I watch as a group of kids in my class walk by, laughing and joking around with each other. I watch them until they pass before I let out a sigh.

  No one asked me to the dance, that’s why I’m still here at the diner. I should probably be used to it by now. No one ever asks me to anything. Being the only human in a town full of shifters can be lonely. It’s not just the kids at school that make me feel left out. They do pack stuff all of the time that I can’t participate in like Pack runs and hunting trips. I tried to go with them the first year that I was here, but they’re all too fast for me and I could never keep up. I felt bad making my adoptive family slow down to stay with me so I stopped going. No one seems to notice though. I don’t have many friends in the Pack, just Fallon actually, but she’s a year younger than me and busy with her own family and job.

  My adoptive family owns and runs the Shifty Diner, and I started helping out here as soon as I could. I was a busboy when I was a kid, then a dishwasher, waitress, hostess, and now I’ve finally proven myself enough and I’m a chef. Whenever the pack leaves for a weekend on one of their trips, I spend the whole time here in the kitchen, trying to come up with new recipes. Lately, I’ve been working on baking and making fancy cakes. Mrs. Leginin, who owns the bakery, is getting older, and I sometimes help out in her bakery. I’m hoping that when she retires, I can take over.

  I came to Ash Mountain when I was a kid. I don’t remember much about my real parents, just my father telling me that we were too poor and they couldn’t afford to take care of me anymore. They had left me at the national park campground, thinking that someone would take me in there, but I had wandered and soon found myself on the Pack’s land. When I told them what happened, they had taken me in and the Taylors had taken me in. They’ve been nothing but kind to me since I went to live with them. Most of the pack is nice; I just hate feeling like an outsider all of the time.

  I close my blue eyes, taking a deep breath before I turn to head back to finish cleaning the kitchen. I only make it two steps before a knock at the door has me spinning around. Slate, the pack’s alpha stands there, and I smile slightly as I rush over to unlock it.

  “Hey, Alpha.” I say, letting him in.

  “Hey, Grier. Is it too late to get a bite to eat?”

  “No, of course not.”

  I lead him back to the kitchen. Slate comes in after-hours at least twice a week. He gets so busy during the day that he doesn’t get a chance to eat until late. By now, we have a pretty good routine and I smile at him before I head over to the walk-in cooler.

  “What are you hungry for?” I ask.

  He lets out a sigh, scrubbing his hands down his tired-looking face.

  “Maybe just a sandwich? I don’t have a lot of time before I have to head out to Graham’s place.”

  “You need more than a sandwich.” I try to argue.

  “Maybe two sandwiches.” He says as his stomach lets out a growl.

  I giggle before I walk into the cooler, coming out with stuff for a couple of sandwiches and the extra brisket that I had planned on taking home and eating for dinner. I warm the brisket up while I put together a couple of sandwiches. Slate devours them in minutes, and I laugh before I slide him the plate of brisket. He licks his lips and shoots me a thankful look before he practically inhales that as well.

  “You want another sandwich?”

  “No, that was good. Thanks, Grier.”

  “No problem.” I say before I disappear into the freezer, coming out with a few ice cream sandwiches.

  These are my absolute favorites, and I know that Slate likes them too so I always keep a box hidden in the back of the freezer. I pass two to Slate and his eyes light up before he tears the paper off of it and takes a big bite. I unwrap mine slower, savoring each bite and I’m just finishing my one when Slate finishes his second.

  “Isn’t the school dance tonight?” He asks me.

  “Yeah.” I say, turning away to finish cleaning the kitchen.

  “Why didn’t you go?”

  “No one asked me to.” I admit quietly.

  Slate pauses, and it’s silent in the kitchen as I continue to scrub the counters.

  “Do you want to dance with me?”

  I freeze, my whole body tensing up.

  “What?”

  “These young pups are stupid not to have asked you. Let me make up for their mistake.” He says, offering me his hand.

  I smile shyly. I would never admit it, but I’ve always had a huge crush on Slate. Not only is he smoking hot, he’s also the only one in town besides the Taylors who has ever treated me like he’s happy that I’m here. I clear my throat before I throw the dishtowel down on the counter and take a step towards him.

  The silence in the kitchen is broken by his cellphone going off, and I freeze when he shoots me an apologetic look before he answers it.

  “Hello?....yeah…. ok, I’m on my way.”

  He turns to me, and I’m already backing away and picking up the dishtowel.

  “Sorry, Grier. I’ve got to run.”

  “Ok. Have a good night.”

  “You too.” He says, but he’s already headed out the door.

  I shake my head at myself before I turn around and finish cleaning the kitchen. I lock up and head home, and as I walk along the dirt path leading to the Taylor’s house, I wonder if maybe I should just leave Ash Mountain. I’ll turn eighteen in two days and I have enough money saved up that I know that I could find a cheap apartment somewhere and find another job. Maybe I could go to culinary school and I could meet some new people, some human people. I could find a boyfriend and maybe get married one day.

  The Taylors haven’t mentioned me moving out or leaving, no one in town has, but I still can’t shake the thought that maybe I don’t belong here. I try to shake those thoughts off as I climb the steps to the front door and let myself inside. I say hi to the Taylors before I head up the stairs and collapse on my bed.

  I grab a pillow, hugging it to my chest before I curl up and try to fall asleep.

  3

  Slate

  * * *

  I feel bad leaving Grier, but I need to head up to the north ridge. Our land is protected and separate from the national state land that borders it on two sides and usually, the signs stating so is enough to deter anyone from wandering into our territory. Lately though, I’ve been gett
ing calls from some of the pack saying that they’ve been smelling humans along the north ridge. It’s probably hunters that missed the signs so I’m headed up there now to make sure that the signs are still up and visible.

  I drive my jeep up the backroads and then get out and run along the border. I’m fast, even in my human form, and it only takes me about twenty minutes before I’ve run the whole length. The pack scouts were right; humans have definitely been on our land. I growl at the reminder of what happened to my parents. I don’t want that to happen to anyone in my pack and, as alpha, it is now my responsibility to make sure that everyone stays safe.

  I turn and jog back to my jeep, making sure that the signs stating private land are visible before I slip back behind the wheel. I head down the dirt road and back to my cabin. It’s too late to call a pack meeting tonight, so I’ll have to do it tomorrow. I pull up outside my place and head inside, already thinking of my to-do list for tomorrow. I call Finn again and let him know that humans have been scented on our land.

  “Do you need me to come back?”

  “No, I’m going to call a pack meeting tomorrow night and tell everyone to be on the lookout and to stay away from that north ridge. We’ll put up some more signs and a fence or something in the meantime and hope that takes care of it.”

  “Okay, well, I’m almost done so I should be back probably late tomorrow night.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you then.”