Karen sebeika

Living on a beach teeming with shifters wasn’t how I pictured retirement. Neither was becoming one’s mate.

At 46, I went back to college to learn about mythical creatures. I never thought my hot professor would turn me into one.

Christmas is supposed to be the season of miracles. But seeing my ‘90s high school boyfriend change into a bear isn’t the miracle I’d hoped for.

When I said I needed a midlife reboot, growing pumpkins in a town full of bear people wasn't what I had in mind. Neither was falling for one of them. I should've been more specific when I asked the universe for a change.

I thought Gage and I were destined to be together forever. Until he rejected me and abandoned our pack. I found my fated mate over twenty years ago, but got impatient waiting for him to admit his feelings. In my infinite teen wisdom, I cast a love spell to give him a nudge. But my plan failed miserably when I botched it, And Gage rejected me in front of our whole pack instead.

Have a divorce party, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. It was, until I ended up in handcuffs. A group of Karens rained on my parade at the winery And in my drunken haze, I mooned every last one of them— Along with the responding officer called in to arrest my ass. Not a good look for a teacher starting off in a new little town. When he cuffed me, I stumbled into his rock-hard body, But he softened up once he brought me down to the station, Taking pity on me and caring for me throughout the night.

When Max and I got into an argument all those years ago Over deciding the best way to raise our little boy, I needed to blow off steam and take a walk. Little did I know my father would have me captured, Demoted to the lowest member of our pack, And living a life of servitude. As Alpha of the Greystones, He never accepted me being mated to a Glenwood, Knowing a witch bloodline runs through their veins. So when I discover I’m pregnant, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my baby girl safe.

My divorce from my controlling ex was final, but I had one last thing to check off on my list: Covering the tattoo of his name on my inner hip. I’d made an appointment with a fellow female, but she was overbooked and referred me to her colleague: Her ripped, gorgeous, very male colleague. Her ripped, gorgeous, very male colleague. My skin flushed thinking of him working so close to an intimate spot, but Brody was a complete professional—both during the appointment, and between my sheets days later.

My husband sent pics of his eggplant to every woman in Florida. And once I caught on, it was time to divorce the pig. I packed up the RV we’d planned to drive cross-country together, and headed off on an adventure, all on my own. I rolled to a stop in Carlton after finding a paramedic job.

A portal ripped open, thrusting me into a strange new world. And then, I met her. I must return to my guard post at once, but she ignites a fire in me strong enough to threaten the sacred vow I've made to protect the Crown.