Clarice had been saddened to know that she would not give her mates any more children. She had been visited by Mother Fate and had been told that she had been destined to watch over the entire pack. It had helped, but her sadness had never really left her. She knew that she should count her blessings that she had a wonderful son and two mates who gave her such complete love. A woman was very lucky to have such gifts.
“Your daughters are welcome here. Don’t worry about anything. All of you can stay with us as long as you need to,” Clarice offered.
Stepping aside and allowing Kurt to walk forward to carefully settle Shelly on one of the twin beds, she couldn’t help but smile at the loving way Kurt hugged his tiny daughter before turning to smile at Synthia. Neil led Synthia over to the same twin bed and sat down beside Shelly, pulling Synthia onto his lap and cuddling both girls gently.
“We’re going to be safe here, girls,” Neil said quietly. “Alpha William and Beta Michael will protect both of you. Queen Clarice will love you and show you how a mother loves her children.”
“Will you and Daddy be here with us, Poppa?” Synthia asked quietly.
“We have to go and talk with your mother first, Synthia,” Neil explained softly. “But when we finish, we’ll come back and stay here with you and Shelly. Alpha William has welcomed us into his home.”
“Do you like the Alpha’s home, Shelly?” Kurt asked, smiling down at the way Shelly’s face brightened at once.
“I do, Daddy. It’s just like the home in the storybook that you read to me every night,” Shelly answered. “I like the story about the little girl who goes to the house with the three bears.”
“She likes that book, Daddy,” Synthia said, laughing softly.
“I guess so,” Kurt said, a deep chuckle escaping him. “I think we should probably change it to wolves, sweetheart.”
“Yes, Daddy. Wolves,” Shelly said excitedly. “Just two wolves.”
“Why not three wolves, honey?” Neil asked, confused.
“Because you and Daddy are wolves, and there are two of you,” Shelly explained, holding up two fingers to show them. “I want the house to have two wolves just like you.”
Kurt looked at Neil and saw the emotions playing across his triad partner’s face. How had they ever gotten so lucky to have such sweet and loving little girls?
“I want to live in this house with my two wolves,” Shelly said, smiling brightly. “This is a very good house. It feels good.”
“Yes, baby, it’s a very good house,” Kurt agreed quietly. “You’ll always be able to feel the goodness here.” He touched his little girl’s chest and pointed to her heart. “You and Synthia have the ability to understand the truth in people. You both can sense the goodness in their hearts. Trust yourselves, girls. Your instincts are strong. You’re both very powerful wolves.”
“We are?” Synthia asked, surprised by her daddy’s words. “We aren’t wolves yet, Daddy.”
“You are, honey,” Neil insisted. “It will take some time for you to experience your first shift, but your wolves are inside of you, watching and listening. Always listen to your wolves. They’ll protect you and tell you when you can trust someone.”
“All you have to do is close your eyes and concentrate on your wolves,” Kurt explained carefully. “Close your eyes, sweethearts.” He couldn’t help but smile when both of their daughters closed their eyes without hesitation. “Now, search for your wolves. Picture them in your mind. Synthia, your wolf will be golden like mine. Shelly, your wolf will be the color of midnight like Poppa’s.”
Synthia and Shelly concentrated, searching for the wolves inside of them. Kurt and Neil wrapped their arms around their little girls and sent the power of their wolves to help. When they heard Shelly giggle and Synthia laugh softly, they knew that they had been successful in helping their children to meet their wolves for the first time.
“Do you see how beautiful your wolves are?” Neil asked them softly.
“She’s so pretty, Poppa,” Shelly said as she leaned into Synthia and hugged her tightly. “Synthia, is your wolf pretty?”
“She is,” Synthia said quietly. “She looks very strong, Daddy.”
“Good. Your wolves need to be strong to help you grow,” Kurt said, relief filling him that their daughters would have their wolves to protect them when he knew that he and Neil could not.
“Remember to talk to your wolves often, sweethearts,” Neil cautioned them. “They need to know you, just as you need to know them. They’ll protect you and guide you always.”
“Just like you, Poppa?” Synthia asked, suddenly afraid.
“Daddy?” Shelly whispered, feeling the fear in her sister.
“You must always remember how much Poppa and I love you,” Kurt said quietly. “We are so proud of you both. You’re good and kind, and you’re both so very smart. You will grow to be wonderful, loving women. You will be successful and caring. You will accomplish great things. And you will be gifts to your mates.”
“Be proud of who you are, Synthia. Help Shelly to understand that the life of a triad mating is a blessed one. Help her to understand that her mates will love and cherish her above all else just as you will be cherished, sweetheart.”
“Love your mates with all of your heart,” Kurt told them both. “Honor your bonding. Create a loving home so that your mates and your children will always know kindness and caring within it.”
“Daddy, I love you,” Synthia said softly. “I love, Poppa.”
“We know you do, sweetheart,” Neil said, smiling down at his little girl who had such compassion. She was truly an old soul who understood so many things that were way beyond her years. “And we know you love your sister.”
“I love Shelly lots,” Synthia said, reaching out and taking her little sister’s hand and pulling it to her mouth to kiss her knuckles lightly. “We’re bestest friends.”
Kurt laughed softly, looking at Neil and seeing the same joy in his triad partner’s eyes. “We have great kids, Neil,” he said softly. “They are the two gifts that Vera has given us. We have to focus on them.”
Neil nodded in agreement but couldn’t help the sadness that filled his heart or the way that his feelings were so openly displayed on his face. He looked up at Clarice and saw the empathy in their queen’s eyes.
“Will you look out for our daughters?” he asked softly.
“Always,” Clarice promised. She turned and left the room to give the men their privacy with their daughters. Her heart was touched by the love that both men had for their little girls.
“Shelly, Synthia, look at me,” Kurt said softly. He smiled when both girls looked at him immediately. “Poppa and I love you both so very much. Always remember that.”
Synthia began to cry. She could sense the sadness in her daddy and in her poppa. She needed to help them feel better. Reaching out, she took hold of her poppa’s hand.
“Shelly, hold Daddy’s hand,” she said, her little voice strong.
Shelly immediately grabbed for her daddy’s hand, completing the circle that Synthia had created. She scrunched up her eyes and concentrated, joining her ability with her sister’s to help their daddy and their poppa feel better.
“Such sweet children,” Kurt said as he felt the soothing emotions that their daughters were sending them.
“Always remember to use your gifts carefully,” Neil warned them, hoping they would understand. “There are some people who will try to take your gifts from you. Guard yourselves and your hearts.”
“We will always love you,” Kurt whispered. “We will always be with you.”
Neil reached up and removed the leather tie from around his neck. Kurt did the same with the one that he wore. At the end of each of the brown leather ties hung a single gold charm that was the sign of their rank within the pack.
“Girls, you must always keep these hidden,” Neil said with an urgency in his voice. “Don’t let anyone know that you have them. Not even your mother. Keep them
tucked away so that no one will see them.”
“You can give them to Queen Clarice to hold for you,” Kurt said softly. “She will protect you both. She’ll also protect your secret of being omegas.”
“You have a special place within this pack,” Neil continued for them. “It’s your destiny to help the members of our pack family. Be kind and caring to everyone. They need your love, babies.”
“We will love them and help them, Poppa,” Synthia promised, her brown eyes gentle as she looked up at her fathers.
“I have no doubt that you will, Synthia,” Neil said, smiling. “You and Shelly are sweet, loving children. You will ease the pain and worries of our pack family. You will do the same for the men who are destined to be your mates.”
“Love your mates, girls,” Kurt said sadly, wishing their mate Vera had loved him and Neil. “Your mates will value you. They will love you and make you the center of their world. You will both have a happy triad mating. I know you’re going to be wonderful moms.”
“I love babies, Daddy,” Synthia said, smiling.
“I love babies, too!” Shelly said, touching her daddy’s face and patting his cheek lightly.
“I know you do,” Kurt said, laughing. “I wish Poppa and I could be there to see you with your babies.” The sadness that struck him at that moment was devastating.
Neil reached out and surrounded their girls in a gentle embrace. “We’ll always be with you,” he promised. “Remember that Queen Clarice will keep your charms safe. Visit her often. She is a good woman. She loves you very much. So do Cara and Martha. They’ll watch over you and make sure that you have someone to cuddle with when you need to.”
“Martha gives good hugs,” Synthia said, smiling up at her fathers. “Cara and Queen Clarice do, too.”
Kurt had to fight back the tears. How could they ever leave their little girls? How had life turned out so wrong for him and Neil?
We have been blessed, Kurt, Neil’s voice whispered gently within his mind.
Kurt nodded, unable to speak. He knew his triad partner could tell what was in his heart.
Both men slipped the leather ties carefully over their daughters’ heads and tucked them carefully within their blouses so that the golden omega charms were hidden beneath their clothing. They had identified both men as omegas. It was time to pass the identification to their daughters—their little omegas.
Clarice walked down the staircase of their log home slowly, doing her best to keep control over her emotions. She always trusted her feelings. She had a bad feeling about this night.
“Jace, Jackson, I need you both to be extra careful,” William said firmly as he stood before both of them. “Whoever this man is that Vera is talking to is not an honorable man. It’s obvious that he doesn’t hold respect for our tradition of triad matings.”
“How can that be, Dad?” Jace asked, confused. “The Fates have blessed us with our triad matings.”
“You have to understand, Jace, that there are many packs who have triad relationships, and there are many who don’t. It doesn’t make one pack right and another wrong. We must all accept the differences within each other. But we must also stand strong and be proud of the gift that we have been given the day that we recognize the woman who will complete our triad. The mating bond that will be formed as a blessed triad will be a true miracle bestowed upon us by the Fates.”
William’s voice was strong and sure. He was going to ensure that his son understood the importance of tolerance of others’ beliefs, but he also had to be strong in his own belief.
“Someday you will find the woman who is meant to be your mate,” Michael said as he stepped forward and placed his hand on Jace’s shoulder. “You and Jackson will be blessed to know true love with that woman. She will be perfect for you both. Don’t give up hope that you’ll find her. She is fated to be the queen of our pack when you are alpha.”
“As alpha, you are honor-bound to protect and care for your pack,” William continued. “Those little girls upstairs are your responsibility. I expect you and Jackson to look out for them and care for them. They have a special place within our pack that you must guard with your life. Both of those girls are a blessing to our people. Their births have given this pack something very rare. Others will covet them. You must not allow anyone to take them or hurt them. Protect them at all cost.”
“I don’t understand, Dad,” Jace said, looking to Jackson for help.
“I haven’t got a clue, Jace,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders.
“In packs, there is a hierarchy,” William explained. “You understand the role of the alpha, the beta, and the enforcers, but you don’t know about the role of the omega.”
Jace’s eyes widened in surprise. He turned to look at Jackson and saw his triad partner looking back at him with a smug smile.
We’ve been saying that Shelly and Synthia had a different scent to them, Jace.
We have, Jackson. Now we know why. We have to protect them.
We will.
“An omega has the ability to soothe the pack,” Michael explained. “Neil and Kurt have been doing that for us from the time they came in to their abilities when they were cubs. It’s like a blanket of kindness and calm that comes over us and makes us know peace. An omega is to be cherished, valued, and protected. Other packs often steal them to keep the peace among their people.”
“We’re lucky that we don’t need that ability to survive,” William continued, proud of his pack. “Our pack is family. We care about each other and look out for each other. Kurt and Neil help to calm us, but it is more of a loving embrace than an ability to control those who are angry or out of control. We’ve protected them from other packs for many years. If they were found out to be our pack omegas, they would be at risk. Another pack might think that in killing or capturing the men for their own pack, ours would be weakened. In some packs, that would be true, but not in ours. Always remember that we’re family, Jace. We’re strong because of that. Kurt and Neil are valuable to us because they’re a part of our family. We do not use omegas to control our pack members. Their gifts are given freely and where needed. Those times are determined by Kurt and Neil with the help of the Fates. ”
“Son, you need to know that Shelly and Synthia are both omegas like their fathers,” Michael said quietly, looking at Jace with such intensity, his wolf shone through in the golden glow of his eyes. “Those little girls don’t understand their gifts yet. They don’t understand their importance. They’re family, Jace, but more importantly, they’re under our care. You and Jackson are now responsible for keeping their secret and ensuring their safety. You must take that obligation to heart. They both deserve a life that is as normal as possible.”
“They will both come in to their gifts as omegas as they mature. We suspect that they already have some ability to soothe and search out others’ feelings and emotions,” William continued. “It will be your job to look out for them. You’ll be alpha, Jace. You must protect them at all cost.”
“I will, Dad,” Jace promised.
“Jackson, you must help Jace protect those little girls,” Michael said as he stood before the two teenagers. “Sometimes you have to hide them in plain sight. Be smart. Be clever. Their lives will depend on your ability to take care of your pack.”
Jace looked at Jackson and saw that his triad partner had just realized the importance of their roles within the pack, just as he had. Shelly and Synthia needed them. It was time for him and his triad partner to take the responsibility of their roles seriously. All teenage pranks suddenly felt unimportant and a waste of time. They had two little girls to protect.
Chapter 2
Kurt and Neil faced their mate Vera as she stood beside Alpha Hayward in the small backyard of their modest home. They walked toward their woman and could feel the hatred pouring off of her. How had it come to this?
“Vera, have you made your choice to leave us?” Neil asked, his voice calm despite the pain that was filling
him.
“No.” Vera’s voice was firm as she called out to the two men who were her mates.
Both men stopped, looking at each other in surprise. Turning back to face Vera, coldness filled them as they saw the hatred on her face that was being directed at them.
“I don’t have to leave you,” Vera said smugly. “Hayward is here to take care of this.”
“Take care of what, Vera?” Kurt asked, anger filling him as he saw Hayward, completely naked, stepping forward. Eight enforcers from his pack in their wolf forms stalked out from the area of trees that bordered the small yard. They surround him and his triad partner.
Hayward was an imposing sight, nearly six and a half feet tall, broad across the chest, and packed with muscle. He had green eyes that betrayed the coldness in his soul. His hair was completely gray and fell to his shoulders, but it did not give testament to a man who was wise and honorable in his years.
It was exactly the opposite. Kurt and Neil knew him to be heartless, brutal, and dishonest. There was nothing honorable in this alpha. There was nothing that commanded respect in his leadership. He ruled with cruelty. His punishments were swift and final. The rules he made and expected his pack members to follow were his own. There was nothing fair or just about him.
“This travesty has to be made right,” Hayward said angrily, his deep voice commanding.
“What travesty is that, Hayward?” Neil asked, his own anger making his voice hard.
He would not give this man respect by using his title. He didn’t deserve the reverence that the title of alpha evoked. Alpha William was the epitome of what a good alpha was. Hayward was nothing but a bully and a lunatic. He was known for his cruelty.
Hayward was also known for his determination to take the land from Alpha William. Kurt and Neil had seen the members of Hayward’s pack commit acts of vandalism. They were also suspect of the animal kills that had been made on William’s pack land. To hunt game in wolf form was acceptable. To kill and mutilate the animal and leave the carcass behind was not.
Shelly's Forbidden Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 2
