Free Tessa, Vampire/Werewolf Romance, (Standalone) (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 3) by Maddie Foxx Page A

on with you lately, anyway? I thought we planned to be with her together.”
    “I’m not so sure. I mean, she’s not about to make up her mind anytime soon.”
    “Women do change their minds, you know.”
    “Why is everything always just sex with you?”
    Raphael felt his temper rising now. “What are you saying? I haven’t even been with a female since I’ve been back, werewolf or otherwise.” He gripped the beam of the porch and added, “I’m not sure where you’re coming from lately. I’m the one who should be on edge.”
    “For what, exactly? It seems like things are going just like you want them to, like always.”
    “For one thing, Maxwell doesn’t exactly like me, in case you haven’t noticed. And now, he seems to have a fixation about his mother.”
    “What are you worried about?”
    “That if he finds her, she might take him from Silver Creek. She’d have every legal right to do just that.”
    “What he needs is a mother figure. I think if he had one he’d settle down. Tessa didn’t mean to bring it up. She was just curious.”
    “I’m not blaming her. It’s just opened up a can of worms.”
    The door opened and Palina said, “Get in here, Seth. Melody is past upset about her mother. She needs you.”
    Seth went to Melody’s room and she was crying. “Oh, Daddy. What if that bad man finds Mama? I’m afraid he might hurt her real bad this time.”
    “She wasn’t home. Tessa went over to Shadow Creek to check. Ariel is staying closer to the main house now, too. I’m sure it’s Brendan and Chase’s top priority to find her. They won’t allow anything bad to happen to her.”
    Melody blew her nose on a tissue. “Promise me you’ll go over there in the morning to ask if she showed back up.”
    “Just as soon as I take you to school, I will. Now, get ready for bed.”
    “I already have my pajamas on,” she pointed out.
    “I can see that. Are your teeth brushed yet?”
    “Yes, Palina told me to get ready for bed while you were outside. Did Tessa get back home okay?”
    “Yes, she’s fine.”
    “Good. I like her. She’s pretty for a vampire.”
    “Oh, and what did you think one looked like?”
    “I don’t know, old and ugly like those black and white movies Palina watched with us a few times. She made us promise not to tell. Please, don’t be mad.”
    He tucked Melody in, kissing her on the forehead. “How could I ever be mad at you?”
    Seth joined Raphael and Palina at the table. He was handed a cup of jasmine tea, and he sipped it slowly. When he set it down, he asked, “So, what is the story about Maxwell’s mother?”
    “Shhh, not so loud,” she said. She checked Maxwell’s door and tiptoed back. “You both need to forget all about that woman.”
    “So, she’s still alive?” Raphael asked. “If that’s true, why haven’t you contacted her? Maxwell needs her.”
    “He doesn’t even know her. She left Silver Creek when Maxwell was only a baby.”
    “Why?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Raphael wasn’t buying that for a minute. “Yes, you do. Spill it.”
    Palina stood up at that. “I’m your grandmother, boy, and you’d do better to show me some respect.”
    “I am, but as alpha I need to know what I’m up against.”
    “If only that vampire hadn’t asked Maxwell that question. She’s the one who stirred this up.”
    “Don’t blame her. This should have been addressed after my brother died.”
    “Are you regretting your decision to raise your nephew?”
    “No. It’s just not fair to Maxwell to not know who his mother is. Are you telling me she just up and left one day, and that’s all there is to it?”
    “There might be a reason, but Nate never told me what it was. It would seem that he took it to his grave.”
    “How convenient for you, Grandmother.” Raphael didn’t stick around waiting for her to add anything. It was quite apparent that she’d never tell him the truth. Did he regret coming back to become alpha and raise Maxwell? Not a