Fighting Destiny

by Tamsin Baker

  Jeremy coughed and cleared his throat. “Yes, it was far too extreme, and they must answer for it. We’d better contact someone within their community tomorrow and find out what cause they think they had. We don’t want them coming here unannounced. We need to sort this out.”

  Natalia nodded at him as they walked out of the village and into the woods. They needed privacy for the next part of the conversation, and they needed space. Jeremy also knew that he needed to be honest with her. He wasn’t going anywhere. He was here to stay, and if he needed to fight for her, then he would.

  “I also asked you out here so that I could get to know you a bit better.”

  Natalia laughed and tossed her head. Her black hair shimmered in the sunlight, healthy and beautiful. She was mesmerizing.

  “You should have stayed then. You could have gotten to know me while I was growing up.”

  It was Jeremy’s turn to laugh. He couldn’t dance around this. He had to be really honest with her.

  “Yeah, and at twenty-one I would have had to look at you and want you at eleven? Then twelve? Fuck no!”

  The violence in his voice seemed to startle her. She turned her head and looked straight at him for one of the first times.

  “What do you mean?”

  Jeremy kept walking, running his hand along the trunks of the trees as he passed them. Anything to stop him from reaching out and touching her.

  “You know we’re mates, don’t you?”

  A muscle ticked angrily in Natalia’s jaw, and she looked away.

  “We are both tigers, yes.”

  Her answer surprised him, yet made him more determined to get her to understand.

  “It’s more than that, Natalia. So much more.”

  She shook her head, and Jeremy kept walking. How was he supposed to talk to her about this if she didn’t want to discuss anything to do with them?

  So against his better judgment, he stayed quiet and kept walking. After about ten minutes, just before they reached the town once again, she spoke.

  “Why did you leave, Jeremy?”

  He turned and leaned up against a tree.

  “Because I had to. I couldn’t stay with how I felt about you.”

  She swallowed, tears shimmering in her eyes.

  “I wanted you to stay.”

  Jeremy couldn’t stay away from her a moment longer.

  He stepped closer and cupped her jaw.

  “You don’t understand how hard it was to leave. You, my parents, the pack. But I was attracted to you, and you were a child. I couldn’t live with myself. Plus, I wanted to give you the choice.”

  She broke away from him, and her breathing and heart rate increased. He took a few more steps back into the forest.

  “Well, you stayed away too long, Jeremy! I waited for you, but you’re too late. I’m in love with Tommy!”

  The words registered, yet what Jeremy knew to be true was at odds with that.

  “That may be true, yet you are unclaimed. You’ve been waiting for me to return, haven’t you?”

  Some of the fight seemed to go out of Natalia as she blushed and nodded.

  “Tommy told you, didn’t he?”

  Part of Jeremy hadn’t truly believed what he had been told, but he now knew it was, and the knowledge filled him with confidence, power.

  “You want me.”

  Natalia took another few steps back as she shook her head.

  “I was only waiting until I turned twenty-one. Then I was going to bind myself to Tommy and have his babies. Screw the legends.”

  Jeremy growled, low and loud. He didn’t mean to, but she was deliberately baiting his tiger now.

  Natalia swallowed. “I still want to.”

  Jeremy shook his head, trying to dispel the image of Natalia wrapped around Tommy’s beautiful cock. The thought did not help his arousal. If anything, it intensified it.

  “We’ll talk about Tommy later. First, we need to talk about us.”

  Natalia huffed and made a dismissive gesture with her hand.

  “There is no ‘us’, Jeremy. You’ve been gone for half my life doing God knows what with God knows who. I am a tiger shifter, and I know that part of me is attracted to you, but it isn’t enough. I don’t need to birth pure bloods. I’m happy to bind to Tommy and have his babies. I’ll see what sort of shifter our mix creates.”

  “You will have my cubs!” Jeremy growled at her, his skin heating, blood racing through his veins at a break-neck pace. He was either going to shift or fuck her blind. He was feeling dangerous for the first time in his life.

  “Maybe…” she muttered, averting her eyes.

  “There’s no maybe about it…”

  He grabbed Natalia and kissed her with all the pent-up passion of ten years apart.

  He lifted her and pushed her up against a tree. Her skirt rose high on her thighs, and Jeremy pushed it further up.

  Their tongues tangled. Moans erupted, and Jeremy tore open his jeans. He slid his fingers into her underwear and felt heated, slick flesh. The knowledge that she wanted him as he wanted her, further inflamed Jeremy.

  He groaned again as he set his cock to her entrance. They would be perfect together.

  She broke their kiss and stared up at him, her silver-blue eyes wide open and confused. Then those same eyes narrowed, and her anger vibrated over her skin.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  Jeremy stilled, cock in hand and set against her open body.

  She was a virgin. He had completely forgotten.

  He unwrapped her legs and set her on her feet.

  “I am so sorry…”

  She wrapped her arms around her body and nodded. She looked like a vulnerable child, and Jeremy had never felt like a worse man. What had he been thinking?

  Jeremy’s cock was out, heavy and red. He pushed his pants down and ripped off his shirt.

  “I’ll be back soon.”

  He shifted quicker than he ever had and began to run. He was in way over his head, and he was scared shitless.

  Chapter Five

  Tommy sat down at the kitchen table he had made for his parents and ran his hand over the smooth top. He should do another, one with a more intricate design or carved legs. His parents deserved the best.

  “Are you all right, Tommy?” His mother’s concerned voice cut through his musings, and he patted the seat next to him.

  “Mum, can I ask you a question?”

  His mum dropped down into the seat and laid a hand on his arm.

  “Of course, honey, anything.”

  His father’s footsteps sounded in the hallway, and Tommy swallowed. He wasn’t sure he could have this conversation with both of his parents present.

  “Hey, Dad.”

  His father, a proud wolf and an elder in their pack, nodded to him and looked at his wife. Whatever was communicated between his parents had his father dropping down into the seat opposite Tommy.

  “What’s up, son?”

  Tommy bit his lip and looked down at the table.

  “I wanted to ask Mum something, but it’s all right.”

  His mum moved her hand to his and squeezed.

  “Tommy, we love you. Your father and I couldn’t be more proud of you. Nothing you could say to or ask would ever embarrass us or make us turn our backs on you.”

  Tommy swallowed the lump in his throat that his mother’s words had created and looked up to see his father’s keen, sharp eyes watching him.

  “Anything, son.”

  Tommy took a deep breath and clasped what courage he had to him.

  “I need to ask about mating pairs.”

  His mother cocked her head in question, but his father chuckled.

  “I’m sure you know how mating pairs work, son.”

  Tommy looked away and began tracing invisible patterns on the table with his fingers.

  “Is is possible to have more than two people in a mating. Like, three?”

  Dead silence, but his moth
er’s hand stayed firm on his.

  His father cleared his throat roughly.

  “Between two women and a man, or two men and a woman?”

  Tommy’s head came up, and he stared at his father’s concerned expression. Didn’t they know what he was asking? Obviously not.

  He took a deep breath and swallowed.

  “Between two men and a woman.”

  His mother ran a soothing hand down his back.

  “Are you talking about you and Natalia, Tommy?”

  Tommy nodded, looking at his mother for respite away from his father’s intense gaze.

  “Yes. Natalia and I have always wanted to be mated, but she has been waiting for Jeremy. If he wants her, must I give her up? Or can we both mate to her?”

  His mother glanced at his father and then back to him.

  “Does Natalia want you both?”

  Tommy flushed and nodded. He could never admit to his parents that he wanted Jeremy, too. That would need to be his secret. This was scandalous enough.

  “Yes, she has said she would, if Jeremy agrees. But I want to know if it’s allowed.”

  He looked between his parents, who were now in deep silent communication.

  “Mum?” He probed, needing an answer.

  “Ah, it is unusual, but, yes, you can do it Tommy. They have before.”

  Tommy’s heart lifted and squeezed. He needed to find Natalia now.

  His dad pushed his chair back and stood just as quickly.

  “Tommy.”

  Tommy turned back, his hand still on the door handle.

  “Yeah, Dad?”

  His dad looked worried. “You know we love you?”

  Tommy smiled and pushed open the door.

  “Yeah, Dad. Thanks.”

  Tommy walked out and started running towards his mates. Towards his future.

  ****

  Natalia stood on the edge of the forest and watched Jeremy get back from his run, her level of arousal still sky high. She didn’t want to be taken up against a tree, but she still wanted him. But why? Why did she want him so much?

  Was it really just the old legends that said as a tiger she must mate with another tiger? Or was it Jeremy himself?

  The gorgeous man who had come home after ten years away, just to help their pack save her? The man who had left town because he couldn’t stand to be so close to her when she was unavailable?

  How many times over the years had she damned their age gap? She hadn’t had any notion that he’d felt the same way.

  After ten years of thinking that Jeremy leaving had nothing to do with her, she now knew it was all her fault.

  She had a choice to make, and it was obvious to her what needed to be done. She walked through their village stopping first to give Tommy a soft kiss, which would get his attention, and then she walked up to her huge tiger mate.

  “Jeremy, can we go somewhere private to talk?”

  Jeremy stepped away from the woman he was talking to.“Yes, where can we go?”

  Natalia swallowed and turned, watching Tommy walk into his parent’s home. This was going to be a huge gamble, but she had to do it.

  “Tommy has his own lodge. Would you follow me?”

  She heard the growl that came from Jeremy’s chest before he swallowed and nodded, his blue eyes shimmering with so much heat she saw flashes of the tiger silver.

  Natalia turned and walked out into the forest. Tommy had built his own cabin after he turned eighteen. It was small, but it was secluded.

  They walked for a short minute, Natalia’s heart thudding in her chest. Faster and harder with every step she took. She hopped up onto the front step, slipped the key she held into its lock and stepped through the door. This is it!

  “This is pretty cool. Who built it?”

  Jeremy’s question surprised Natalia, and she turned to stare at the man whom she was born to stand beside.

  “Tommy. He’s a carpenter.”

  Jeremy nodded as he ran his hand over the bare wooden walls, inspecting the joints and quality of the wood.

  “He’s very good.”

  Natalia wanted to scream. Her belly was tight, her instincts to claim and be claimed clawing at her. Why were they talking about Tommy’s job?

  “What else would you like to talk about, Natalia?” Jeremy asked as though he had known exactly what she had been thinking.

  Natalia turned and pierced him with her best stare.

  “I want to talk about earlier. You had no right to do that.”

  Jeremy ran a nervous hand through his hair and looked down at the floor.

  “I’m very sorry about before. I had no idea my instincts would be so strong. It won’t happen again.”

  Natalia walked across the room, wanting some physical distance from the man she wanted so much, space to clear her head.

  “So you’re leaving? Going back to your good job and non-shifter existence?”

  Jeremy rumbled deep in his chest and clenched his fists at his sides.

  “I don’t know. You have a life here, and I have a life there.”

  Natalia needed to know. She couldn’t commit to Jeremy or Tommy unless she knew for certain how Jeremy felt. The best way to force him to make a decision about staying was to make him fight for her, make him realize that she was everything he needed, and she only knew one way to do it.

  “Well go then. I’m not going to wait for you anymore.”

  A louder rumble rolled out of Jeremy’s chest, and he began to pace up and down the room like the caged animal he was.

  “That’s not fair, Natalia. You know we are meant for each other.”

  Natalia smiled and crossed her arms over her chest. Her heart was racing with anticipation as the moment got closer. He would break soon.

  “I know you think we are mates, Jeremy, but just because you want me doesn’t mean you can have me.”

  Jeremy gasped, and his eyes widened.

  “Why the hell not? I know you want me, too, Natalia. I can smell you.”

  Jeremy stalked straight across the room and grabbed Natalia up into his arms. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around him, pulling his lips down to hers.

  “I do want you, you big idiot!”

  Jeremy plunged his tongue deep into her mouth. Natalia was desperate to feel his passion, to know it was as strong as hers.

  She sucked hard on his tongue and scraped her nails hard down his back. She wanted to mark him, possess him, let everyone know that he was hers.

  Jeremy groaned against her lips and squeezed her ass hard.

  A movement behind them must have caught Jeremy’s attention, and he turned, pulling his mouth from Natalia’s.

  It was Tommy, and something within Natalia grew hungrier.

  Natalia climbed off her tiger and ran straight over to her wolf. She had them both. It was all coming together.

  “Tommy.” She kissed him gently on the mouth, but he pulled away quickly and stepped towards Jeremy.

  “I know, I’m not a tiger, and you may not want me. But please. I need to be with Natalia, too.”

  Natalia was shocked. Why was he asking Jeremy and not her? She should be the one to decide.

  So she was surprised once again when Jeremy moved towards Tommy and took him into his arms. He pulled Tommy’s head against his shoulder and cradled him like you would a babe, or a lover.

  “You were very brave today. I was very proud of you.”

  Natalia’s mind was whirling with the implications. Could the men want to be lovers also? How would that work?

  She shook her head to clear the thoughts and continued to watch. Tonight was about her. Her tiger would take her virginity, and then she would deal with her men tomorrow.

  After a minute of cuddling, where Tommy’s eyes were shut for most of it, he finally pushed out of Jeremy’s arms.

  “Thank you, but what do you say to me joining you?”

  Jeremy looked towards her, his eyes searching. He knew her love for Tommy ran deep. She
had told him as much.

  “It’s Natalia’s choice. If she wants you as her mate also, I will accept it.”

  Pure happiness pulsed within Natalia, and she felt her pussy begin to heat and throb. She would take them both tonight.

  She nodded and gave them her biggest smile.

  “Yes, I want you both.”

  Jeremy nodded and stepped towards her.

  “Then tomorrow you will bind to us both in front of the whole community, and we will vow to protect you forever.”

  She nodded, overwhelmed by how swiftly she had gotten everything she had ever wanted. To think that only yesterday she was in the very pit of despair and now her world was on the verge of being complete. Jeremy turned to Tommy.

  “And tonight?” Tommy asked, his breath catching in his throat in excitement.

  Jeremy growled deep in his chest.

  “Tonight we claim her flesh as our own. But I fill her first.”

  Tommy nodded, his eyes hungrier than ever, despite the restriction placed upon him. They both turned to her, blue eyes and green burning into her flesh as effectively as any iron would.

  Chapter Six

  Natalia’s breath caught in her chest. This was the night she would lose her virginity. To not one man, but two. Her tigress purred. She had her Alpha and her beta mate. Both of them would give her beautiful, strong babies, and both of them would die to protect her.

  Yet her human side was a little scared. She had seen them both naked. Would their size hurt her?

  Now was not the time for doubts. She pulled her dress off her body in one movement, and she was naked beneath.

  An inhuman growl and rumble greeted her.

  Natalia knew her body was young and fit, yet she worried she would not be enough to keep both of these men happy.

  “Please, be gentle.” She begged, staring directly at Jeremy, the mate who would claim her first. The pain was something she had often feared, yet she hoped her mates would know how to make this good for her.

  Jeremy pulled off his t-shirt and pushed down his jeans in one movement. His large cock sprang out, reaching out towards her.

  Fear and desire raced through Natalia, and her belly quivered. She would soon have that piece of flesh inside of her. How was that going to feel?

  Jeremy stepped up to her and lifted her. Her arms went around his neck, and her legs went around his waist as naturally as though she had done it a hundred times before.