Dana Bell: Steel Beauty

Sarah had been one of the only females willing to sit with her during her stay in the hospital, when Sheri’s brutal ex-boyfriend had been stalking her. Belle had broken her hip saving Sheri from being run down by a car, a fact that had earned her Adrian Giordano’s undying devotion. In fact, if Marie had tried to pull that cold as ice shit around the Marshall, she would have been in for a very rough time of it indeed.

“So, how’s Adrian?” Sarah grinned at Sheri, but Belle wasn’t fooled. Sarah had a serious crush on Adrian’s Second, Gabe Anderson. Too bad the man completely ignored her whenever they met. Belle knew that Gabe’s attitude was slowly beginning to wear away at Sarah’s cheerful façade.

“Fabulous.” Sheri drawled, fanning herself with her hand. She leaned in, waiting for the other women to join her. “I got him to agree to moonlight skinny dipping once the weather warms up.”

“Oh, you naughty girl, you.” Sarah reached into her voluminous purse and pulled out a notebook and pen, all without looking. She opened it with an evil grin. “Give me dates and times, so I can set up the hidden camera.”

Sheri cocked one eyebrow. “You are not filming my mate’s naked butt.”

“What about his naked—”

“No.”

“Damn. Foiled again.”

Belle grinned as Sheri snickered.

“Hey, Belle!”

Here we go again. She hid her grin by taking a sip of soda. “Hey, Frank!”

“What do you call a circle of blondes?”

She winked at Sarah and Sheri. “A dope ring.”

The entire diner erupted into laughter.

Belinda smiled at Chloe, Frank’s new waitress, as the girl set down Belle’s burger and fries. Two similar plates went in front of the other women.

“Thanks, Chloe.”

“No problem, Belle.” Chloe leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Congratulations on your mating, by the way.” She winked and sauntered off, much to the satisfaction of several of the male patrons. A few of them even leaned out of their booths to watch her ass as it sashayed over to the soda fountain. Her bright red ponytail bounced merrily between her shoulder blades.

Belle’s mouth hung open in shock. Chloe wasn’t Puma; how the hell did she know about Rick? She sniffed, catching a whiff of something elusive. Something definitely shifter, but whatever breed the girl was she’d never smelled it before.

“Belle?”

She turned, snapping her mouth shut and trying desperately to school her features. “Hmm?” She picked up her burger and took a bite, savoring the flavor of the meat. Frank made the best burgers she’d ever been privileged to taste.

Soft fingers touched the back of her hand. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise you that.” Sarah’s eyes had that far away look they sometimes got.

She’s probably daydreaming about Gabe. Admittedly, if Rick wasn’t such a hunk, she might be tempted to daydream about the black-haired, blue-eyed sheriff herself.

Peace flowed over her, as it always did when she was with her friends. She just wished she could pack them up and take them with her. She had the feeling she was going to need them.

Sarah leaned down and began scribbling something in her notebook, ignoring both her burger and the looks she was receiving. Everyone indulged Sarah in her eccentricities. She was just so sweet to everyone that they couldn’t help it.

Suddenly ravenous, Belle devoured her burger. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow. She’d get to see her mate for the first time in months.

And if he played his cards right, she’d mark him the moment she saw him.

Richard Lowell scowled at his Beta, David Maldonado, and his Marshall, Ben Malone. The only one who wasn’t falling under his eye was his Omega; he hadn’t informed her yet of her status. Until she recognized what she was, it would be a useless endeavor, ending only in more pain and degradation for her. “Let me rephrase that. I need you to pick up Belinda for me without arguing .”

Ben had a faint frown on his face, while Dave was openly scowling. “Why aren’t you going to get your mate yourself?”

Richard sighed and leaned back against his sturdy oak desk. What part of “no arguing” didn’t they get?

“Because the Pack females are giving me shit, that’s why.”

Ben nodded. “We know that, which is why we think it’s important for you to be the one to go get her.”

“First of all, the only reason she hasn’t been brought here before this is because her doctors are in Halle.

Second, the moment I show up, informally , with the Luna, the females are going to start giving everyone shit.”

“They’re demanding full protocol?” Dave looked shocked.

“No. Gina is demanding full protocol.”

The three men exchanged a look. The strongest Wolf female, Gina had been vehement in her outrage over a non-Pack Luna, and her loud protests were stirring up the other females. Nothing would do but for Rick to follow full protocol, forcing the Pack to accept his mate as their Luna. The fact that Gina was Dave’s sister made things even more awkward for the men.

“Shit. Sorry, man.”

Rick eyed Dave with some sympathy. “Not your fault.” He was beginning to wonder if it wasn’t time for Gina to go start her own Pack, somewhere far, far away. Like in Alaska. “But because of Gina, I need you two to go get Belle.”

The men nodded, all argument tabled. “I’ll protect the Luna, Rick. Don’t worry.” Ben grinned.

“Although from what I remember, she may not need much in the way of protecting.”

“She can’t shift, remember? Not until Doctor Howard says the pin can come out, and he told me it will be another six months before that happens.”

“How’s her physical therapy going?” Dave’s concern was written all over his face.

“It’s going well, but I’ve been warned she’s been pushing herself a little harder than she should be.” And when Belle found out he’d been monitoring her progress, she was going to be seriously pissed at him.

Not that he cared. Her Alpha had forced him to leave her behind four months ago, citing her injury.

He’d agreed, reluctantly, his Wolf howling in protest at the thought of leaving his mate. Now, his patience was at an end. Phone calls were not enough to still the raging in his blood for his petite, fiery, injured mate.

Belle was coming home, if he had to fight the Pride Alpha and his own Pack bitches the entire fucking way.

Belle stood outside her small apartment, one small suitcase in hand, ready to bid the town of Halle, Pennsylvania a somewhat fond farewell. All of her other belongings were already winging their way across state to the Poconos thanks to a trio of very enthusiastic Wolves. They’d shown up on her doorstep as promised, cheerfully packed all of her belongings into a truck and driven away, leaving her only her bed, a folding chair and a small dinner tray. They’d even taken the television. She had the feeling if she hadn’t hidden her little computer they would have taken that, too.

She shivered and wished Richard would hurry the hell up. The forecast had mentioned snow, and her hip ached like a son of a bitch. All of her belongings had been shipped the day before; the only thing left was good-byes.

Not that there are many of those to be said, which is why the farewell is only somewhat fond. Her parents had long since retired to Arizona; she’d talked to them more than once over the phone, but their relationship was distant at best. They hadn’t even bothered to fly down to see her in the hospital, and as far as Belle was concerned that was a good thing. The Alphas and Betas of the Pride were there to see her off, and Sarah had sworn she’d be here, as had Adrian and Sheri. They’d yet to show, but Belle had faith that they would. These people here, and the man who waited for her, were the ones that mattered.