Taken (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 2)

by Madison Johns

  Chase joined him between her legs now and took his turn at licking Katlyn while Brendan pumped away with his fingers until Katlyn screamed. Chase moved away, and Brendan gently pulled up Katlyn’s legs, placing them over his shoulders as he entered her tightness. She was always so tight and wet that it was no wonder she sucked the come out of him. He worked like a man possessed, a sheen of sweat glistening down his chest by the time he emptied into her as she squeezed so tightly around his cock that it about cut off his circulation. Katlyn was resorting to tears now for him as he had really found her sweet spot, and he lowered her legs, admiring the look of love and desire mirrored in her eyes.

  Chase waited a few minutes before he moved Katlyn to her knees and bent her over, taking her from behind. Brendan sat at the head of the bed, far from Katlyn’s reach. He didn’t want her to do anything for him now. He just enjoyed watching Chase pump against her and the look of pure bliss that came over her face that changed to ecstasy as a quite powerful orgasm that caused her eyes to snap open. Her blue eyes had never looked more beautiful to him, or quite as dark.

  Brendan’s fangs lengthened in his mouth and he was having trouble controlling his beast. He wanted to not just possess her again, but devour her as only an animal could. He had to leave the bed and head for the door as he went into full on shift. By the time he was outside, his bones cracked and his shape changed into that of a mountain lion. He ran off into the night enjoying the feeling of the wind against his fur. More sexually satisfied than he had ever been, happy that he had pleased his mate. His jealousy now ebbed away into the night, and by the time he came back to the cabin and shifted back, Katlyn was snuggled up to Chase in their king size bed, which he was happy about. How would he ever begin to explain to Katlyn how his beast took control of the moment and that he had to leave, or it would become quite the awkward scene indeed.

  Chapter Eleven

  Katlyn yawned when she woke up, both of her mates long gone. What had happened to Brendan last night? First, he took her to the brink of pleasure and back again, and in the next moment, he ran off. She wished she knew where they both were. It was very unlike them to be gone when she woke up, not since after they reconnected anyway. She had grown accustomed to waking snuggled up to them.

  After she had showered, Katlyn dressed comfortably in one of her dresses and wandered into the barn to check on her filly, Raven. She stood at the stall door and the filly was nowhere to be found. In a panic, she raced outside to tell someone, anyone.

  “Hold on there, now,” Angus said as he came walking up. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

  “I-I can’t find ... Raven is gone.”

  “Oh? Well, I’m sure Brendan and Chase might have taken the filly over to the corral. It’s about that time that Raven has more room to move around.”

  “But she’s just a baby.”

  “Yes, and a horse, don’t forget. They about get up and are ready to go right after they’re born.”

  Katlyn wasn’t so certain about that, but Angus took her over to the corral where Clover and Raven were. Brendan and Chase stood in the corral with the horse, too, swinging a lasso that Raven tried to avoid at all costs as Clover looked on. They looked so different from one another. While Clover was all white, Raven was black.

  Brendan looked over to Katlyn and waved, before making way over to her. “I thought you’d have left for school already.”

  “I was going to, but I went to check on Raven and about panicked when I didn’t see her.”

  “She about ran me over. It seems that your mate was worried someone might have taken the filly,” Angus said.

  “Not on this ranch,” Brendan laughed. “What I own, I keep.”

  Katlyn didn’t like how he said owned, so she said, “Well, you don’t own me, mister. I’m late for school.” She stomped away, angry at how he was acting, and after he’d run off to who knows where last night after they made love. It was downright peculiar is what it was.

  Brendan’s attitude this morning was a little abrasive, unless he really was joking. Of course, pregnancy hormones just might be coming into play here. Katlyn just was feeling a little off center about his departure last night after they’d made love. She vowed not to allow it to ruin her entire day since she’d be in the classroom and didn’t need the aggravation.

  Katlyn drove the UTV to Melody’s house since she promised to pick her up since she was injured. She had brought a helmet, too. The last thing she needed was to see Melody further injured than she was already. She was glad now that she carried the mountain lion pups. It would just drive her crazy with worry if she carried a shifter child that really was a red-tailed hawk. It worried her enough that Melody had attempted to jump from a tree trying to learn how to fly.

  She cut off the engine when she arrived at Melody’s house and made way for the door, knocking softly. Melody opened the door and slipped out through a crack, only big enough to allow her to fit.

  “How is your mother this morning?”

  “Mama’s sick. I’m glad I’m going to school today. She really gets testy when she sobers up.”

  Melody settled in the UTV and put on the helmet Katlyn offered with little resistance. When she didn’t say anything, Katlyn said, “I’m sorry about arguing with your mother last night, Melody.”

  “It’s okay. Mama wasn’t too kind to you, either. I just wish she’d stay home more.”

  Katlyn remembered the night before quite clearly. Carrie had pushed Melody away after she’d defended her. “Is Ariel staying with you, too?”

  “No, she left when mama came home. They don’t get along very well.”

  “Are you close to your sister?”

  “I guess,” she shrugged. “Closer than I am to my mama since she ignores me most of the time. Sometimes I think she hates me.”

  “I’m sure that’s not the case.”

  “Ariel doesn’t think she ever wanted to be a mother. Probably why she stays gone so long. I’ll be surprised if she’s even there when I get home from school. They should have just left her at the saloon. She’s never happy when she’s home.”

  Katlyn screeched the UTV to a halt as they came up to the schoolhouse, simply appalled at how Melody’s mother chose to treat her.

  Melody looked over at Katlyn and nodded, a tear glistening in her eye. Katlyn gave Melody a hug, holding her tightly for a moment, tears pooling in her eyes. Trying with everything in her, not to weep for the child as she released her. This little girl always had such a tough exterior, but now she was showing some real, raw emotion. Who could blame her after how her mother treated her, even after she had stuck up for her mother the night before?

  They waited until Melody’s tears had subsided and made way toward the schoolhouse. The entire day, Katlyn thought about Brendan, hoping that he wasn’t planning on pulling away from her. She had called her parents before she left for the day and invited them to Shadow Creek. She hoped that whatever was bothering Brendan would be resolved before they showed up. It would be hard enough to explain to her parents that she was pregnant by mountain lion shifters.

  * * *

  Katlyn had mixed feelings about taking Melody home, but she had no other choice since she couldn’t prove that Carrie had abused her other than neglecting her emotionally. Ariel waved when she pulled up and ran toward the UTV with a bounce in her step.

  “Hurry up, Melody. Your dad’s here.”

  Melody bounded toward the house where a man stood—well, two of them, actually. One was the alpha, Raphael, and the other Seth, whom Brendan basically hated. Raphael made his way toward Katlyn and she waited until he stood next to the UTV. “Fancy meeting you here,” Katlyn said with a smile. “Are you Melody’s father?” she asked hopefully.

  “I’m sure you know better than that. I’m sure Brendan told you all about why he doesn’t want Seth around Shadow Creek.”

  “I know he took Wenise to abort Brendan’s baby years ago and he’s held a grudge against him ever since.”

>   Raphael raised a brow. “Is that it?”

  “You mean there’s more?”

  “Actually, yes. Seth is Melody’s father.”

  “Oh ... that I didn’t know. But didn’t he desert Carrie when she became pregnant?”

  “No, Carrie gave Brendan some outlandish tale about how Seth had abused her. If Seth hadn’t left town, Brendan would have killed him. He has this thing about men abusing women, you see, especially in regards to the ones who live at Shadow Creek.”

  It irritated Katlyn that Brendan had all but denied that he really knew who Melody’s father really was, but she understood that Brendan just had a problem seeing past Seth’s role in Wenise’s abortion years ago. “So Brendan still thinks it’s true, that Seth abuses women?”

  “Yes, but if you haven’t figured it out yet, Carrie is as unfit a mother as any you’ll see. She spends her time at the saloon with Jason, who really does abuse women. If given half the chance, he’d abuse Melody in time, but that’s why Seth came here today. He’s trying to convince Carrie to give him custody. Luckily, Ariel is here now. She’s more a mother to Melody than Carrie ever was.”

  “I agree with you there. I saw firsthand what Carrie was all about last night, how she pushed the child away from her, even. I can hardly believe that any mother would treat her child like that. I was actually worried about bringing her back today.”

  Brendan and Chase drove up in their truck, jumping out and making way for the cabin. Katlyn followed them, shouting to get their attention. “Please, Brendan, don’t get involved here.”

  “Carrie called me, telling me that Seth was here to take Melody from Shadow Creek, and that’s not something I’ll allow.”

  “And why not? If Seth is Melody’s father, why shouldn’t he be able to have custody of his daughter? You can’t believe that Carrie is in any way fit as a mother.”

  Brendan’s jaw tightened. “You don’t understand, Katlyn. Seth abuses women.”

  “Who told you that, Carrie? I wouldn’t believe anything that woman says.”

  “Please, don’t involve yourself.”

  “No? Perhaps you’re the one who needs to not get involved. Seth is here to simply ask Carrie to give him custody.”

  Seth walked forward. “She’s right. Carrie has denied me any rights to even see Melody. Carrie is using Melody to get at me, always has. I’d take a lie detector test if you don’t believe me. I’ve never, ever tried to harm Carrie.”

  “How does Melody know who you are, then?” Katlyn asked.

  “Melody is a willful child and she’s seen me a few times when her mother was gone for days at a time. I kept it pretty quiet since I know how Brendan feels about me, but I just want what’s best for Melody. Carrie’s a sick woman. Alcohol has taken control of her life.”

  Brendan massaged his chin in thought, and Katlyn watched his face soften and then harden again. “Don’t you understand how dangerous it might be to take Melody from Shadow Creek?”

  “She’ll be fine. I’m staying at Silver Creek now and that’s werewolf territory. They won’t let anything happen to her and you know that. You can’t control the whole damn ranch and everyone who lives on it. I know you still blame me for taking Wenise to that clinic, but I didn’t do that to hurt you, Brendan. I was just being a friend to Wenise. She shouldn’t have done what she did, but she was young and so were you. It’s time that you heal and accept that you can’t change it. That was a long time ago.”

  Brendan faced Chase. “What do you think?”

  “Look, Carrie’s not a good mother. We all know she’s not and if there’s a chance at bringing that child some happiness, I think she deserves it. Silver Creek is a good place, too.”

  Carrie ran over to where everyone was talking and she began hitting Seth with her fists. She then shifted to hawk form and went for his eyes until Chase shifted to mountain lion form and jumped at Carrie, holding her down with a paw until she shifted back, crying, “Fine. Melody can stay with you, but only until I get it together. I’ll go to alcoholics anonymous classes and quit seeing Jason Traxler, if that makes you happy.”

  “It’s not about what everyone wants, it’s about what’s best for Melody and you need to make changes because you want to make them, for yourself,” Katlyn said. “Otherwise, they’ll be short-lived.”

  Seth helped Carrie off the ground and walked her back to the cabin. The other men averted their eyes as she was quite naked, and Chase stayed in animal form, strolling over to Katlyn. She reached out to scratch him between his ears. She couldn’t stop herself.

  * * *

  They waited for another half-hour until Melody came racing out with a loaded suitcase from the way she tried to carry it. When Seth moved to help her, Melody said, “I can get it, Daddy.”

  Ariel gave her sister a hug goodbye and Katlyn watched as Seth, Melody, and Raphael piled into another pickup truck and left.

  “Is your mother okay?” Katlyn asked.

  “Actually, she’s getting ready to go into town.” Ariel shrugged. “She says she’s going to tell Jason it’s over. I really hope that she gets her shit together, but I know it won’t be easy for her. She’s been a mess most of my life. I’ll stick around for a while if she actually tries to change, but I really have my doubts. She’s been promising to do that for years.”

  Chapter Twelve

  When they came back from Carrie’s cabin, Brendan excused himself and Chase went into the cabin to shift back and dress since they had ranch work to do.

  Katlyn wanted to check to see how Tessa was doing today and knocked a few times at the door of the main house. It was opened by the maid and she was directed upstairs, where Tessa was resting comfortably with Paige cleaning and disposing of the empty plastic bags that had contained blood.

  “How is Tessa?”

  “Seems good now. Her lesions are even smaller.”

  Katlyn walked to the foot of the bed and smiled. Tessa’s skin was pasty white, like it had been since she’d been turned, but this time, her cheeks were rosy looking.

  “She looks so much better,” Katlyn said. “I had so worried about her.”

  “I know. I promise nothing will pass her lips unless I check it over first.”

  “Thanks, Paige. I appreciate you helping Tessa the way you have. Tessa’s not used to being sickly. She’s always been the strong one.”

  “What was she like back where you came from?”

  “Active. She liked to jog and play basketball. She’s the one person I could always count on for sound advice, unless I had planned to do something like going to a club for hot ménage sex,” Katlyn laughed. “If Tessa had known, she’d have never have let me go that night that I met Brendan and Chase.”

  “That would be a shame, since you’re both such a great addition to Shadow Creek.”

  Katlyn went on to tell Paige what had happened with regards to Carrie and Melody.

  “So, Seth took Melody from Shadow Creek. What a shocker that Brendan allowed him to do that.”

  “Yes, he sure swallowed his pride—one of his better qualities.”

  “He’s a stubborn man, for sure, and I really hope he can forgive Seth one day. What happened with Wenise was unfortunate, but you can only hold bad feelings against someone for so long. The strange part was that it was Wenise’s decision, but Brendan has only ever blamed Seth for what happened.”

  “So they never were involved, then?”

  “Seth and Wenise? No. You should go on home now. I’ll let Tessa know you were here. She’ll be up and about tomorrow. Right now, she needs her sleep.”

  “I will, but I did want to give you a heads up. I called my parents and they’re planning to head out here. I’m just not so sure if it will be tomorrow or the day after. They just told me it would be soon. Can they stay at the main house?”

  “They’ll have to. I’ll make sure I have a room readied for them. It’s so exciting. It’s been a long time since I’ve had any houseguests.”

  Katlyn hated to a
sk, but before she was able to ask Paige, she said, “Don’t worry. I promise not to make them my midnight snack.” She winked.

  Katlyn hated that she was poking fun at something that was very real to Katlyn, considering Tessa’s condition. “Fine, then. I’ll head on home. I’d sure like to have a calm dinner tonight at the cabin for a change.”

  “As you wish,” Paige said as Katlyn left.

  * * *

  Katlyn gazed at her roasted chicken with pride, inhaling the fragrance of the garlic, rosemary, and lemon she’d used to season it with. After bringing the mashed potatoes and corn to the table, Brendan and Chase waltzed in with huge grins on their faces.

  “You can cook?” Brendan asked with raised brow.

  Katlyn’s hands fell to her hips. “Why is that such a surprise?”

  “I didn’t mean anything by that, I swear.”

  “Of course he’ll say anything to get a home-cooked meal,” Chase said with a wink. “I could smell that chicken cooking from a mile away.”

  “Go on and wash up, the both of you. It’s not going to taste good if it gets cold.”

  Katlyn had barely settled herself before they returned and Brendan cut the chicken. “I like white meat,” Katlyn said.

  “I’m also partial to the breast,” Brendan said.

  When their plates were filled, they ate with little to no conversation. Katlyn enjoyed the smiles on their faces that told her more than words could that they enjoyed the meal.

  “I love to cook,” Katlyn said. “I’ve just never had anyone to cook for before. Now I have two somebodies.”

  “Now that I know, you’ll be cooking for us more regular.” When Katlyn gave Brendan a look, he quickly added, “If you want, I meant.”