How to Lose a WolfA Fated Mates Holiday Short Story
Michelle Ziegler
Introduction
How to Lose a Wolf
He left her once. She won’t let him get away this time.
Paige is positive cupid hates her. The man of her dreams left and never looked back. Now it’s Valentine’s Day, again. When is she supposed to get her happy ending?
Tristan couldn’t watch the woman of his dreams mate another male, so he left before he ruined her life. Running away was never his thing, but he’d do just about anything to make sure she was happy.
Now he’s back and Paige isn’t mated, find out how their story goes.
Copyright © 2020 Michelle Ziegler
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical method, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial users permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher addressed “Attention: Permission coordinator,” at the address below.
michelle@michellezieglerauthor.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living, or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Acknowledgments
I’m just going to say this - without my crazy author friends I would probably be a little less crazy. But, I also would never push myself either. So thank you Aidy Award from the Romance Chicks.
I have so many readers to thank, but especially my Beta/Alpha readers. Thanks Lucia, Heather, and Carol! They have a knack for reading between the lines.
Of course, my review team is a group that has my undying gratitude!
ALWAYS thank you readers! Thank you for giving me a chance and escaping into my world!
For everyone who’s ever regretted a lost love. Remember there just might be a really bad in-law you dodged.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Holidays with the Romance Chicks
Coming Soon
Also by Michelle Ziegler
About the Author
1
Paige sniffed at the drink in front of her. Her nose wrinkled.
"What did you say this was again?"
Ellen wiped down the bar. "I'm calling it the deadly cupid. But, I'm not sure it's going to stick. Whatever. I have a few hours to get the specialty drinks out on the menu."
Paige's stomach rolled.
"Is there anything but alcohol in here? I get the deadly part, now. And really, after one of these I doubt I'll care any more about being single on yet another Valentine’s day."
She took a sip. It was sweet at first taste. Maybe not so bad. Okay. She could do this.
Down the hatch.
"Wow. It's not a shot, Paige. Geez. Does the pack normally drink like that? I know it's been a little while since I hung out, but... Should I call an ambulance?" asked Ellen.
Paige's eyes crossed, or at least she thought they might have.
"No. No. And no. Did that answer it all?"
A burp gurgled up her esophagus until it burst through her mouth.
Well, that was ladylike. No wonder she wasn't mated yet. It was that, or she still held out for someone that was emotionally unavailable. Of course she did. That was what she did.
"Wow. Pretty sure I just heard your liver scream for help," said Ellen.
Yeah. She deserved that.
"Funny, Ellen. You're a hoot. No. My liver is fine. My heart however, well yeah. It’s super aware of singles awareness day."
That was it.
Thunk.
Her head hit the bar as if it suddenly weighed too much to hold up. Hold your head high, they said. Well, they must never have been in love with someone that would never love them. Or at least, love them enough to go against their mother.
"Hey, there. Paige. Don't let that hard head dent my bar."
Rolling her head against the wood, Paige eyed the dents and dings. Ellen had better be kidding her.
"You named the bar the Drunken Rooster and you're worried about one more ding in the counter that looks like it's seen more action in one day than my vagina in the last two years."
Uh, oh. Ellen's hands planted firm on her hips.
"If you wanted a mate you could have one, Paige. Don't even. There are plenty of wolves waiting for a chance at mating you. All you have to do is say the word and I'll set you up on a date."
This was a Charlie Brown moment where the adult's words faded in a wha-wha-wha.
How was she expected to mate someone she didn't love? Sure, there were plenty of hot shifters within her own pack and packs surrounding the area. If she could talk her masochistic heart into getting over a guy that hadn't given a damn about her since he'd left, she would. Instead, Paige lived like a damn nun. No, worse. She was like a zombie. Going through the motions. Living day to day and in the back of her mind missing him.
She sat up, and the room did a tilt. Nibbling her lip, Paige was happy to realize it was numbing up nicely. That drink should be called the miracle worker. If she could just stay drunk for the next twenty-four hours, maybe she could get through the holiday with no more emotional scars.
"Hey, Ellen. Can I get another of those stupid cupid drinks?"
Glass grated against the wood.
"It's deadly, but I suppose stupid has a ring to it. And no. You're not even sitting up. Let me call you an Uber."
Huh. Paige eyed the bar and realized she was eye level again. Well, apparently she didn't have much of a tolerance for alcohol anymore.
Paige waved at her and moved her cheek up the bar. Maybe she could absorb some of the residual alcohol that sloshed out of the overfull drinks.
When the hell would she be able to forget
