Shifter Nation: Marked Over Forty

When my husband ran off with our saloon’s hostess, I left Montana, joining my college-aged son in Oregon. Eugene’s a far cry from my little hometown, But I did my best to blend in with the locals, And tried heading out for a jog. I thought I saw a hippie gathering deep into the trail— Until they changed into a pack of wolves.

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.

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.

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.

When my mate of twenty years started growing distant, My best friend offered to give him advice. Little did I know she'd end up pregnant with his baby. I left Portland and my daycare job behind, Ready to start anew in my friend's pack down in Eugene. The Glenwood pack gave me a warm welcome Especially Kane, once my wolf caught sight of him. The ruggedly handsome cop stood in the doorway, A single dad holding a tiny newborn in a baby carrier. A woman had dropped the shifter baby off at the precinct, Making him a father in an instant.

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

As if being a 40-year-old runaway bride wasn’t bad enough, I had to shift at the altar and become a runaway wolf. My human fiancé may not be my fated mate. But we share a child, so I thought I could make it work. I never understood how a wealthy real estate mogul could be interested in a meager seamstress like me anyway, but he was persistent on making me his bride. Fast forward to today, I’m walking down the aisle. I think I'm having wedding day jitters.

At 48, running a café while wrangling twin wolf toddlers was hard enough. Then fate decided to mate me with a rock star, just in time for Christmas. Welcome to my midlife crisis, holiday edition.

At 45, I finally found my fated mate. Too bad he’s a feral wolf. After years of being alone on New Year’s Eve, I finally had someone to kiss. My new BF took me to a party at a packhouse in the Cascades. Right before the biggest snowstorm hit in decades. Being snowed in up in the mountains sounded romantic—Until I caught him with another woman at midnight.

As a 47-year-old veterinarian, I thought I’d seen it all when it came to animals. Until an injured wolf shifted into my high school sweetheart. An ordinary hike became a rescue mission When a wolf lay in my path, barely clinging to life. I rushed him to my clinic and hoped for a miracle, But I hadn’t meant it literally. The wolf transformed into a man, But not just any man— Bennett Westbrook, my high school ex, Now standing before me with a world of secrets.

A midlife career switch just ignited a new chapter—With a single dad wolf as hot as the flames he fights. After my divorce, working in the same ER as my arrogant ex was off the table, so I decided to try visiting nursing instead. When I accidentally set off the smoke alarm at a patient’s home and the fire department showed up, my first day was proving to be a hot mess—But not as hot as the firefighter at the door. My inner wolf didn’t want Hayden to leave, not knowing I’d soon meet him again—in his own home.

Falling for a wolf on a business trip was the last thing I expected—Other than getting pregnant at 43. I flew to Eugene for a dreaded team-building event, kicking off with a tubing trip down the Willamette. Wearing a swimsuit in front of my coworkers was bad enough, but it turned into a disaster when I nearly drowned. A hunky firefighter dove in and saved me, but I didn’t need mouth-to-mouth to know Pierce was my mate.