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    The Changing Years
    The Changing Years
    The Changing Years
    Ebook125 pages1 hour

    The Changing Years

    By Amber Kell

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Previously published

    The most important show of strength is to embrace one’s true nature.

    The death of his ex-wife grants Shaun McKellan custody of his only child, and the chance to know his son after years of separation. Now a full-time father, Shaun thinks his life is finally complete...then he meets the Alpha running the town where his son attends school.

    Grant Thornlin has always resisted the temptation of other men. As the Alpha, he must be strong and give his pack the impression he has invincible power. Falling for a blond, blue-eyed artist with a half-shifter son has bad idea written all over it.

    How can Shaun show Grant that loving another man doesn’t have to affect his position as Alpha?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAmber Kell
    Release dateJan 4, 2017
    ISBN9781370376926
    The Changing Years
    Author

    Amber Kell

    Amber Kell is a dreamer who has been writing stories in her head for as long as she could remember.She lives in Seattle with her husband, two sons, three cats and one very stupid dog. To learn more about her current books or works in progress, check out her blog at http://amberkell.wordpress.com.Her fans can also reach her at amberkellwrites@gmail.com.

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      Book preview

      The Changing Years - Amber Kell

      Chapter 1

      Shaun McKellan stood before his wall of memories and examined his collection. Photos covered the entire north side of his studio, a tribute to one boy’s evolution. Baby pictures, young boy pictures, teenage pictures, all of the same child were displayed in a dizzying array of frames. They’d documented every important moment of Kerry’s life in brilliant color for the father who couldn’t be there for him. Blue eyes, perfect duplicates of Shaun’s own, peered back at him from the wall their gaze accusatory or maybe he was projecting.

      Damn shifter rules.

      I can’t wait to meet you, Shaun whispered to the latest picture of his son. Even after a dizzying number of phone calls and signing paperwork in triplicate, he still struggled to believe Kerry would be living with him soon. He’d had waited fifteen years to meet his son again and his heart ached at this new reality. A tragedy had resulted in him getting his heartfelt wish. Guilt nibbled away a bit of his joy.

      Shaun had only been able to hold his baby for a few minutes before his wife took Kerry away. Violet had met her mate while pregnant with Shaun’s baby and with shifters, mates trumped husbands every time. He could’ve taken the divorce in stride—Violet had never truly loved him, but the loss of his son had been a wound from which he’d never recovered. He’d missed Kerry every day they’d been apart.

      After Kerry’s birth Violet had insisted Shaun stay away to prevent Shaun from imprinting on their baby. If Kerry had bonded with his genetic father it would’ve been impossible for Shaun to live apart from their son. For the sake of everyone’s peace, he’d kept his distance from his son, but that hadn’t stopped Shaun from loving him.

      He’d kept track of Kerry’s life through a series of photographs and emails. Whatever anger he felt toward the situation depriving him of his son, Shaun couldn’t say Violet or her mate, Dale, hadn’t kept him informed. Weekly updates, monthly pictures, and a flood of emails told him of his son’s soccer games and school grades. Over the years Shaun had sent Kerry presents, pictures, and little mementos so he wouldn’t think his father had abandoned him. Over email Shaun shared details of his latest art exhibit, and Kerry wrote about his sport scores or the bad jokes he’d heard from his friends. They’d made tentative plans for Kerry to come visit Shaun after he graduated high school in a few more years. That one hope had carried Shaun through more than one bad night. Shaun had once asked about seeing Kerry once he reached his teenage years, but Violet had told him it might trigger Kerry’s aggressive tendencies since Shaun was virtually a stranger.

      Last month a drunk driver had killed Violet in a head-on car collision even a shifter couldn’t survive. After much reflection and several phone calls from Shaun, Dale decided to allow Kerry to live with Shaun. Apparently Kerry’s hormonal surges were too much for him to handle.

      Shaun didn’t blame Dale for wanting to hand Kerry off to him. At fifteen years of age Kerry was entering the Changing Years, or at least that was what his ex-wife, Violet, used to call them. Dale didn’t have the time or energy to deal with a boy who, according to Dale, had never bonded with him despite Shaun stepping aside. As much as Shaun had wished Violet a long and happy life, excitement bubbled through his veins like he was mainlining joy. He could barely believe the time had finally come.

      Tires crunching to a stop on the gravel driveway outside pulled Shaun’s attention away from the wall. His heart skipped and pounded in an alternate rhythm as he swung between excitement and anxiety. Stepping over to the window, he pulled back the curtain. A silver sedan sat in his driveway. The exact type of car he’d expect a lawyer to drive.

      He’s here! Shaun shouted. He slapped a hand over his mouth. Werewolves had amazing hearing. He would have to learn to keep his voice down or deafen his son.

      He dropped the curtain with shaking hands. Old insecurities twisted through him in a dark and anxiety-ridden path. What if Kerry decided he didn’t want his father after all? He took a deep steadying breath before running down the steps to reach his front door, then one more inhale and exhale before yanking it open. He barely had time to brace himself before a tall, skinny boy raced up Shaun’s front steps and slammed into his arms.

      Oof, he gasped, in his son’s surprisingly tight hold. Kerry’s left shoulder slid under Shaun’s chin, giving his son a few inches over him. Kerry had the gangly build of a young man with the strength of a shifter. Shaggy curls tickled Shaun’s nose as Kerry bent his head and sniffed at him. A low rumble vibrated Kerry’s chest.

      Refusing to be put off by his son’s odd behavior, Shaun squeezed him tight. The missing piece of his life seamlessly clicked into place and for the first time in years he didn’t feel the holes peppered through his soul. He didn’t even try to stop the tears from dripping down his face and dampening Kerry’s shirt. A soundless sob burst from his chest. He gripped Kerry tighter.

      I missed you. Kerry’s soft voice barely reached his ears.

      I missed you too, Shaun choked out. Days and nights of dreaming hadn’t prepared him for the emotional reality of holding his son after all this time. He squeezed a bit tighter until Kerry laughed.

      Maybe I got my strength from you after all. Kerry groaned and hugged him back.

      Shaun’s laughter had a few sobs mixed in. He blinked back the rest of the tears. Kerry didn’t need a lake pooling on his shoulder. They stayed wrapped around each other until the sound of a throat clearing broke up the reunion.

      Shaun looked over Kerry’s shoulder to find Dale Marin, watching them with an uncomfortable expression on his face. Shaun gently pried Kerry off him. Trying to regain a semblance of control he swiped at the wetness on his cheeks and awkwardly slid his damp palms across his jeans to dry them off. Kerry, why don’t you go inside and get yourself something to drink out of the refrigerator while I talk to Dale? The kitchen is down the hall and to the right.

      Okay. After a long, considering look Kerry went into the house without bidding Dale goodbye or sparing a glance in his direction.

      Shaun didn’t know what to make of his son’s actions, but he couldn’t miss the longing in Dale’s eyes as Kerry walked away. The reason behind Dale bringing Kerry to Shaun had nothing to do with the lack of love.

      It’s nice to meet you in person. Violet only had good things to say about Dale over the years. Although Shaun hadn’t been able see his son, he’d never lost touch of what was happening in his life. If there had been any hint of abuse he would’ve gone and retrieved Kerry, imprinting be damned.

      Dale offered a hand to shake. The man looked uneasy in his designer suit while standing in Shaun’s working-class neighborhood. It wasn’t a bad area but the residents in this part of town generally didn’t wear expensive wool suits that cost more than their mortgages either.

      For what it’s worth I never agreed with Violet about you. I thought you should be able to see your son. It’s obvious you care about him a great deal or you wouldn’t have kept in touch over the years. Dale shrugged. But I’m not a wolf, so I followed her rules.

      Shaun wished he could argue about how they’d handled things but they’d made the best decision they could at the time. I talked to a werewolf consultant once and he verified what she said. It didn’t make it hurt any less though.

      Shaun had wanted to double-check the imprinting story. When he’d found it to be true it had hurt worse than if she’d lied to him.

      Dale’s half-smile carried a world of regret. I know. I checked on it too. I didn’t want to keep a father away from his son. It doesn’t matter now, I guess. He doesn’t want me. He’s never wanted me. I think he’s always resented that I’m not his father. Maybe at some level I’ve resented it too. Violet was never able to have another baby after Kerry. We tried, but it never worked out.

      I know. I’m sorry. Shaun didn’t share the late-night conversations he’d had with Violet. How she’d cried over the phone at what she saw as her failing. No sense in bringing up the past. Dale seemed like a nice guy who got a bad deal with a kid who didn’t want him, and a dead wife. Shaun blinked back tears as memories of better times threatened to crush him. They might have lived miles apart but Violet remained dear to him.

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