Her Three Werebears: Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance

by Natalie Kristen

  “Why don’t you work for us?” Ford said suddenly.

  All eyes turned to him.

  “We need a housekeeper,” he said. “We’re usually so tired by the time we get home, we just don’t feel like doing anything. We’re too tired to cook and clean, and it gets pretty messy real quick.”

  “A housekeeper?” Penny blinked at him.

  “We’ve been trying to find someone to come and clean the house at least once a week, but no one seems to be willing to travel all the way out here.” Ford shrugged.

  Ryder nodded. “Yeah. The forest is actually just behind the town of Nightbrook, but no one in town wants to make the trip out here. I wonder why.”

  “The pay isn’t attractive enough, so they don’t think it’s worth their while,” Dillon answered. “We’ve been putting our advertisements on the town bulletin board for months.”

  Ford turned to Penny. “You’ll be doing us a big favor. But we can’t pay you a lot. So if you don’t mind the pay...”

  “Mind?” Penny gaped at him. “You are offering me a job, an honest, decent job. Why would I...” She looked around the table and noticed that the three men appeared to be holding their breaths. They were all staring at her anxiously, not moving a muscle and keeping their faces carefully blank.

  They didn’t try to persuade or pressure her. They simply waited in silence for her answer.

  “You said you put up advertisements on the town bulletin board,” Penny began. “I’d like to take a look at your advertisements.”

  Ryder broke into a wide grin. “Sure! I put them up myself. Let’s go right now.”

  When Penny rounded her eyes at him, Ryder went on, “I need to get some stuff from town. Wanna drive into town with me, Penny?” he said, holding out his hand to her. She looked up and met his hopeful, earnest gaze.

  She found herself smiling. “Yes,” she answered, taking his outstretched hand. “Yes, I would very much like to see the town.”

  “Great!” Ryder tugged her up excitedly. “We’ll spend the whole day in town. I’ll show you around.”

  Ryder turned to smirk at Dillon and Ford. “You guys will be busy in the workshop anyway. You won’t miss us, right?”

  Dillon rolled his eyes. “We sure won’t miss you.”

  Ford waved a hand at Ryder. “Go on. You’ve done your share, so you have a free day.”

  Ryder steered Penny towards the front door. “Let’s go shoppin’!”

  Penny couldn’t help chuckling. Her mood had lifted considerably. Ryder’s excitement was truly infectious.

  “I’ll show you all the fun places in Nightbrook,” Ryder said, grabbing the keys from the table. “We’ll take the car. Ford and Dillon may need the truck. We have a nifty little car for running light errands. Come along, the car is parked out back.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Penny got out of the car and looked around. Nightbrook was a quaint, unassuming little town, and on the surface, it looked almost like her hometown of Grayrock.

  The people were polite and friendly, and Ryder smiled and waved at people he knew.

  Ryder called out a greeting to a group of little old ladies who were strolling down the street. Penny watched in amazement and amusement when the rowdy group bounded over to flirt with Ryder.

  Ryder widened his eyes at Penny and mouthed: Help me!

  But he was grinning.

  As Penny listened to their lively conversation, she realized that the elderly ladies belonged to a knitting club called The Ballsy Hookers. Ryder chatted and laughed with the ladies, complimenting some of them on their new hairdos and asking after their families and beloved grandkids.

  He was charming, sweet and gentle with the old ladies, and Penny’s breath caught as she felt a strange fluttering in her heart. Was she...falling in love with Ryder?

  Ryder frantically waved Penny over and said, “Everyone, I want you to meet Penny. Penny, come meet The Ballsy Hookers!”

  Bright, twinkly eyes peered at her over the top of glasses and she was greeted with warm smiles and a flurry of cheeky remarks. “Hello Penny, nice to meet you!”

  “Are you visiting Nightbrook?”

  “We all love Ryder. He has the biggest balls...of yarn!”

  Penny introduced herself and told them that she was staying with Ryder, Dillon and Ford.

  “I’m their new housekeeper,” Penny supplied after a brief pause.

  The Ballsy Hookers beamed at her and invited her to hang out with them. “Don’t let those boys work you too hard,” one of them quipped. “Join our club if you enjoy knitting.”

  “We do lots of other stuff besides knitting,” another lady added with a wink.

  “Nothing scandalous though,” a petite, curly-haired grandmother clarified. “Don’t let the name of our knitting club scare you off!”

  Taking their leave of The Ballsy Hookers, Penny and Ryder made their way down the street, window shopping and just taking in the sights and sounds of the town.

  When Ryder took her hand, Penny blushed a little. It felt so comfortable to be walking hand in hand with Ryder. He was a very affable, approachable, good-humored guy, and she liked being with him.

  “So...you’re part of The Ballsy Hookers,” she teased.

  “Yup. I’m the only male member,” he said proudly.

  “You like knitting?”

  “I didn’t at first.” Ryder made a face.

  “So why did you join a knitting club if…?”

  “I...I had anger issues.” He hesitated a beat. “After my parents died, I became very rebellious and I got into trouble in school a lot. When I left school, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd and I got arrested for getting into fights. I could have ended up killing somebody if I continued down that path. Finally, Ford got tired of bailing me out. He saw that I was destroying my life. So he got me into this knitting club, and made me sit for an hour every week with these little old ladies.”

  “Tough love.”

  “You can say that again.” Ryder quirked a lopsided smile. “Knitting forced me to concentrate and be attentive to details that matter. Small mistakes add up, and at the end of the day, you realize that if you don’t apply yourself and use your energies wisely, you’re simply wasting everybody’s time. I didn’t just learn how to knit from those ladies. They taught me a lot more. We talked about everything, and I think you can tell that those women don’t mince their words. They tell it like it is.”

  Ryder stopped and gazed into the distance for a while. “The Ballsy Hookers turned my life around.” He blew out a breath and said, “Ford saved my life.”

  They stopped in front of a shop and Ryder drew her attention to a dress in the display window.

  “I think that will look absolutely amazing on you,” he said. “I got your jeans and t-shirt from this shop. The owner of the shop, Wendi, is the daughter of one of The Ballsy Hookers. She opened the shop early for me this morning, because I called her and told her I needed to get some clothes for a lady friend urgently. Oh, and she gives The Ballsy Hookers a special discount.”

  Penny giggled. “And you, Ryder, are a Ballsy Hooker.”

  “I sure am.” He thumped his chest.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Ryder stared at Penny as she tried on the dresses in Wendi’s shop. She looked so beautiful. And happy.

  She laughed and chatted with Wendi. And Ryder saw the delight on her face when she saw herself in the mirror. She twirled around giddily as she tried on the different dresses.

  Ryder loved the sound of her laughter. It filled his heart with joy and it just made his whole world feel right.

  It was clear that Penny was enjoying herself, and he loved seeing this carefree, cheerful side of her. He knew there was a lot on her mind, and there was a raw, gaping emotional wound in her heart.

  She was still coming to terms with her parents’ betrayal, and Ryder knew that it would take her some time to get over it. Heck, maybe she would never get over it, and he didn’t blame her.
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br />   He couldn’t even wrap his mind around what her parents had done. These creatures didn’t seem to have a heart or a conscience.

  They were self-serving and scheming, and he was glad that he never had to meet them. He didn’t know how he would react if he saw them. These people had caused so much pain and suffering to Penny.

  They might be her parents, but Ryder had nothing but utter contempt for them.

  Even animals in the wild knew how to care for their young. But Penny’s parents preyed on their own, on their own daughter who had shown them nothing but love, compassion and kindness.

  Ryder silently swore that he would give Penny all the joy and happiness that she had missed out on. He wanted to see that beautiful smile every single day.

  She deserved to be happy. So did he.

  Penny was everything to him, and he knew that he was never going to let her go.

  He had never felt this way about any female before. He enjoyed female company, but he never wanted anything permanent with any of those females he hooked up with.

  Penny was different.

  She was special.

  She was...his.

  Mine, his bear rumbled.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Ryder sucked in a breath. His bear had recognized his mate.

  Ryder heard the fitting room door open. He stood motionless for a moment when he saw Penny.

  “You look absolutely stunning,” Ryder said at last. “You have to get this dress!”

  “You think so?” Penny giggled and did a little pirouette in front of the mirror. The sundress swished around her knees and the straps showed off her smooth, pale shoulders.

  “Yes. You look gorgeous.”

  She blushed. “But I shouldn’t be spending so much money,” she mumbled.

  Ryder shrugged. “I’m deducting all these expenses from your wages,” he deadpanned. “So you’re spending your own money.”

  A big, glowing, proud grin split her face. “Okay. Since it’s my money, I’ll spend it! Thank you for the advance, boss,” Penny said and threw her arms around him.

  Her spontaneous hug surprised him. He hugged her back, loving the feel of her sweet, curvy body against his.

  He wanted her to have everything her heart desired.

  When they stepped out of Wendi’s shop, Ryder led Penny back to the car. “Let’s put all these packages in the car, and we’ll go for lunch.”

  They stopped for lunch at a burger joint, and it was obvious that Penny was a woman who enjoyed her food. When she licked her fingers, Ryder almost groaned. Her lips were smeared with ketchup and he wanted to lean over and taste those sweet, plump lips.

  She had a great appetite, and he suspected that her shifter metabolism was kicking in. Her wolf was forming, and Ryder wasn’t sure how he felt about her Changing into a wolf shifter.

  He was relieved and glad that her body could heal so quickly, but he was also angry that the Change was forced upon her. To her credit, Penny seemed to be taking her Change rather well.

  “I need to go grocery shopping,” she said when they finished eating. “As your housekeeper, I’m assuming my duties include preparing dinner. So I’m going to have to grab some fresh ingredients.”

  Ryder nodded. “The bulletin board is right in front of the supermarket. You wanted to take a look at our advertisements, right?”

  “Yeah. I...” She bit her lip. “I just...”

  “I understand,” Ryder assured her. “You want to confirm that what we’ve told you is the truth and that we’re not tricking you into staying with us. We really do need a housekeeper, Penny. This is a real job, and we will pay you your salary promptly. We’re not scammers.”

  “I know you’re not. You’re good men. I do know that.” Penny tried to hide her wince. “It’s just that...”

  “You’re right to be cautious. After what your parents did to you...” Ryder suppressed a snarl. “We will never do that to you. I swear, I won’t lie to you. Ever.”

  He paused and added, “Ford and Dillon are the closest thing to a family that I’ve got. I can’t speak for them, but...all I can say is, in all the time that I’ve known them, they have never lied to me.”

  Penny didn’t reply. She simply finished the rest of her coffee and stood up. “Let’s go grocery shopping,” she said in a cheery voice.

  As they made their way to the supermarket, Penny looked curiously at the people they passed on the street.

  “Can you tell which are the shifters?” she asked tentatively.

  Penny stared at the townsfolk who were merrily going about their business. “I am beginning to get a sense but I’m not a hundred percent sure.”

  “Your senses and instincts will sharpen as your wolf forms inside of you,” Ryder said.

  “My wolf,” she whispered. She reached for Ryder and slipped her hand in his.

  Ryder gave her a reassuring squeeze as they walked on. He would be here for her, through her Change and through hell and high water. He would always hold her hand and walk beside her.

  I love you so much already, Penny. And I will love you more and more each day.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Once they finished grocery shopping, Ryder showed her the advertisements that he had put up on the town bulletin board before they went back to the car.

  “Thank you,” Penny said softly as she got into the car. “Thank you for everything. I...I had a great time today.”

  “So did I!”

  “What’s Ford and Dillon doing today?” she asked as Ryder slid behind the steering wheel and started the engine.

  “They’re putting the finishing touches to the dining table that we made for a family in town,” Ryder replied with a grin. “Making it shiner and prettier. We take turns to drive into town to run errands and grab the supplies we need.”

  He sighed and smiled. “Life is good. We love being near nature and we’re able to let our bears roam free.”

  “It’s nice...to be doing what you like,” Penny said, staring out the window. “And living the life you’re meant to live.”

  “What do you like to do?” Ryder asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

  “I...” Penny swallowed and grimaced. “I never really thought about it,” she said at last. “I don’t know when I stopped thinking about my own dreams and desires. I just catered to my parents’ whims and wants, and along the way, I stopped...living. I thought that if I made them happy, they would...love me. But they were never happy.”

  After a long silence, Ryder cleared his throat and said, “I’ve heard people say that you can’t choose your family.”

  When Penny turned to him, he went on, “I don’t agree with that at all. You can absolutely choose your family, and your future.”

  Penny widened her eyes at him.

  “Dillon and Ford are like my brothers,” Ryder said. “All three of us lost our parents when we were teenagers. Ford had just turned eighteen, and he stepped up to become our guardian. We became a family. We stuck together and looked out for one another. But we were always free to make our own choices. We chose to be a family. Blood ties don’t make a family. A real family is not about control, coercion and manipulation.”

  He glanced at her and said quietly, “Your parents chose not to be your family when they chose to lie to you, manipulate you and exploit you. They knew what they were doing. I know it’s harsh, but...”

  “It’s the truth,” Penny finished.

  Ryder drove along the dirt track that cut through the forest. A little distance from the cabin, Ryder parked behind a cluster of trees and killed the engine.

  He could sense that Penny wanted to talk. She had turned to him a few times, then abruptly turned away again.

  “Penny,” he said gently. “You can ask me anything, anything at all, and I will answer you truthfully. And anything you tell me will be kept in the strictest confidence. I may be loud and brash at times, but I’m not a blabbermouth.”

  Penny swallowed repeatedly. Finall
y, she whispered, “I’m scared. The more I think about it, the more frightened I feel. I’m really scared, Ryder.”

  She took a shaky breath and said, “I didn’t choose to be Changed. But I know I can’t reverse the Change. I don’t know anything about being a shifter. I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know what I’ll Change into.”

  Ryder cupped her tear-streaked face in his hands and thumbed away her tears. “You will still be you, Penny. You will become a shifter, but you are still you. We’ll help you through the Change. You are a survivor, a fighter. You are going to be okay. More than okay.”

  He pulled her closer. “You don’t have to go through this alone, Penny. You are not alone. Not anymore.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  They reached for each other at the same time.

  The kiss was hot, fevered and urgent. Ryder could taste her tears on her lips. He could taste all her sorrow and fears and he wanted to take all her pain away.

  Penny dug her nails into his shoulders and clung to him as she kissed him with a frenzied hunger. She was still sobbing as she kissed him desperately, wanting to feel his desire and love for her. She wanted, needed to be close to him, to feel loved and wanted.

  Ryder kissed her back, letting her know just how much he desired and wanted her. He would always want her. She wasn’t unwanted and unlovable.

  She was his everything, his life, his future.

  His mate.

  Ryder grabbed Penny and pulled her closer to him. He could feel her soft breasts pressing against his body and he growled low.

  When he cupped one breast in his palm, Penny moaned and arched into his touch.

  He caressed her curves and when he stroked his thumb across her erect, sensitive nipples, Penny gasped and whimpered in pleasure.

  Ryder kneaded her breasts as he deepened the kiss. Their tongues tangled as they tasted each other thoroughly. He kissed down her neck and pushed her t-shirt up to expose her breasts. Penny panted as he suckled her. Her dusky nipples were puckered and Ryder licked and sucked them greedily.