Sure, it still snowed at least once a week. It was only April. But at least it didn’t last, and it wasn’t ever enough to keep the men from pressing forward.
The spot Col had picked for their cabin was just gorgeous. It sat on a low rise, but high enough that they could see a winding river running through the valley from the front porch. Behind them the Denali range rose in all its glorious majesty, snow-capped peaks, and jagged cliffs that she had first-hand knowledge of from when Sefa had abducted her.
That was behind her now. She rubbed her belly. The firm ball in the center of her abdomen was just starting to pooch out. Not that anyone would notice. She typically wore Col’s flannel shirts over her own t-shirts. The scent of her mate settled her stomach and her dragon.
Male laughter to her right caught her attention. Kann and Tor were sawing another tree and had to jump out of the way to avoid the falling timber. Penny stood right next to Kann wielding a small hatchet, smiling and laughing too. She’d really come out of her shell over the past weeks.
Kann and Penny and Tor started hacking at the branches, laughing again about something, she couldn’t hear what. The guys had already gotten a dozen trees down this morning. It wasn’t even lunch time yet.
Her stomach rumbled at that thought. She was always hungry, and it’d only gotten worse with each passing week. Not surprising, since she was having triplets. She still couldn’t believe there were three tiny lives growing inside her. Crazy. Happy. Terrified. Excited. Those were only a few of the emotions that rolled through her brain every single day.
She ducked out from beneath the shade of her tree and walked toward the big red pickup they’d bought off of Douglas. She unlatched the tailgate and yanked on the oversized cooler. As a human, no way would she have been able to move it, but now that she shared her body with the spirit of a dragon…that hundred-pound packed cooler was like moving her purse. No. Big. Deal.
“Seriously, let one of us do that for you.” Tor’s voice scolded from behind her. He and Kann and Penny closed the gap between them in a few seconds and Tor took the handle of the cooler from her, pulled it to the edge of the tailgate, and then put it down on the ground at her feet.
“Why?” Naomi’s dragon growled a little in her chest.
“Because your pre—” His voice faded away and his face reddened to match his hair.
“He told you?” Naomi’s voice broke and tears welled in her eyes. She’d wanted to surprise them.
Tor shook his head and backed away, taking a quick glance toward her mate. Toward his chief.
Col and Saul had abandoned the tree they were sawing and were walking toward her.
“He didn’t, Mahadhri. I swear. It’s just that—” Tor rolled his shoulders forward and tried to shrink in place. A feat quite difficult for a man who stood over six and a half feet tall and was built like a prize fighter. Penny stood next to Kann with the smallest hint of a smirk curving at the right corner of her mouth. The you-knew-this-was-coming look didn’t help deflate the disappointment that somehow Tor knew about the pregnancy.
“I didn’t tell them anything, shuarra.” Col swept her to his side, wrapping both arms around her waist. Her irritation was soothed almost immediately. He had that effect on her. A mere touch could relieve almost anything. “You forget we are not human. They can smell that you are with child. Hear the heartbeats, just like we can. It was only a matter of time.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. We just made it to the doctor last week.” Naomi looked up and met Col’s dark gaze.
He slipped a hand over hers and squeezed. Warmth seeped into her skin at the contact like she’d touched a red-hot ember. It wasn’t painful, in fact she loved it. Heat was a part of her now—fire. Her pulse roared in her head and her dragon buzzed, just as excited as she was to finally be letting the cat out of the bag. Well…apparently the babies had been out of the bag for a while and she just hadn’t realized.
Penny had known about the pregnancy since almost the beginning, but she’d kept it under wraps like a good girlfriend. Naomi really liked having another woman around. The guys were great, but there were times when she just really wanted another girl to talk to. Not that she didn’t talk to her sister and mom on a regular basis, but it was different than having someone in the flesh. And having a friend that wasn’t related.
“It appears I’m officially announcing that Naomi is with young…err, expecting.” Col quickly corrected the announcement. Young made it sound as if she were having little dragons, instead of a baby. Well, babies.
Naomi glanced back at Col and couldn’t help but smile. She’d never seen him like this. The pride on his face. The excitement. The love and devotion. It was enough to make her melt into a molten puddle right there on the ground.
The clearing erupted into roars and cheers of excitement.
These guys. The tears tried to return, but she sniffed them back.
All of them made her feel so at home. She missed her family back in New York for sure, but this was her place and she could feel it all the way down to her bones.
“We were hoping you’d announce it soon. It’s been so hard to pretend we didn’t know.” Tor stepped forward first and approached Col, kneeling as he reached him. “Vraka, I pledge to protect and cherish your young as if they were my own.”
Each man took his turn, kneeling and pledging. Col had explained that it was likely they would respond this way. It was customary in Reylea. It takes a village, right. They were certainly going to need some help with three babies on the way. Naomi was still reeling from that discovery. She hadn’t figured out how to tell her mother, yet, either.
After everything had been settled with Penny’s move from Anchorage, and they were fairly certain Penny wasn’t going to sprout fur or claws (total conundrum, no one could explain why Naomi had turned into a dragon and nothing was happening to Penny), Naomi had insisted that she and Col go to Fairbanks for a check-up. She had wanted to make sure everything was fine before telling the Tribe officially.
They’d found an OB and a hospital that would work with them on a payment plan for the baby. Col of course was confused that they would need to pay money for their babies. Apparently, the midwives on Reylea were paid with gifts of supplies and game meat. There had been jewels on Reylea and gold and other metals, but no system of currency. Col had assumed they would just need to give the doctor a moose or an elk. Which actually would’ve been nice, but the doctors here on Earth weren’t quite that flexible. However, the nurse at the front desk said Col’s response was the best she’d ever heard in her entire twenty years at the office.
They’d gotten the first sonogram picture last week on their visit too.
Col had been speechless.
The technology had been overwhelming, but when her big tough barbarian had seen the picture of their babies, his eyes had watered. They’d both been able to hear the younglings’ heartbeats for a while now but seeing the sonogram picture was so much more.
Three babies. She’d known there were three. She could hear them all when she’d sat quietly. But seeing them…It was so much more real.
“Congrats, Naomi,” Penny said, jarring Naomi out of her thoughts. She looked up and they shared a smile. “When do you find out the sex?”
“Find out the sex?” Col coughed a little and stared down the table at Penny. “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t the doctor tell you when they could see the…you know…whether it’s a boy or a girl.”
“Ahhh.” Col nodded his head. “He said it could be a long time. With multiples it is hard for their picture machine to see clearly.”
“Multiples? You’re having twins?” Penny’s voice came out in a squeak that reminded Naomi of her kid brother’s pet guinea pig.
“Three,” Col announced, the pride in his voice bouncing off the walls in the cabin like the announcer’s voice on The Price Is Right. Naomi grinned. She’d managed to keep that little tidbit a secret from Penny, but it’d been hard.
Penny turned to Kann and poked him in the ribs. “Did you know there were three? You never said there were three. Oh, God! Will I have a litter too?”
Air whooshed from Naomi’s lungs. A litter? She hadn’t thought of it like that before. She met Penny’s terrified look and fought for a breath. What if this happened again?
Kann eyed his mate tentatively, as if trying to decide what the best answer would be. Penny caught on though. He took too long.
“Tell me the truth.” Penny’s voice sharpened to a point.
Kann’s face shadowed with hesitation. Naomi noticed him glance quickly at Col and wait for the nod from his chief. Then he turned back to his mate. “We don’t know. Multiple births do happen on Reylea, but…”
“But it is not common,” Saul said, speaking up from his end of the group.
“So, I might have a litter, or I might have just one.” Penny’s voice held resignation and exhaustion. “I guess we’ll find out pretty soon.”
Naomi gasped, but didn’t say a word. She might as well just give up and let the tears fall now, no use in fighting the hormones. Col stiffened at her side and stifled a laugh.
“No matter what happens, we are all here together.” Kann nuzzled Penny’s neck and chuckled. “That’s why we plan to build the cabins so close together. The tribe will take—” He pulled away from Penny and grabbed her shoulders. “Wait. Find out what soon?” His voice rose in pitch. “Are you? Are we?”
Penny nodded, looking just the slightest bit pale. “If I have a litter of children, you are in charge of all the diapers.”
Kann shouted at the blue sky and then pulled Penny close to his chest, squeezing her until she squeaked just a little. “So happy, my love. You’ve made me so happy.”
Tor and Saul cheered again and clapped the beaming lion shifter on the back. Col chuckled and congratulated them both.
Naomi breathed deep, wiped away her tears of joy, and joined in the cheers. Her heart swelled, and she couldn’t think of a better place or better people to help her raise her children. They would be blessed by each and every person in this small group. And the people that were still to come.
“We better get busy on these cabins or these babies won’t have anywhere to sleep,” Naomi said. Moments later all four men were scrambling away, leaving she and Penny standing beside the cooler alone. Naomi opened the lid and handed Penny a bottle of water before taking one for herself.
“They all look so excited.” Penny took a sip of her water and turned to face Naomi. “I was worried how Kann would take it. I mean I know he loves me, but kids this fast. I just—” She met Naomi’s gaze and frowned. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel like you—I’m just going to shut up now.”
“Penny, I grew up with a huge family. Babies everywhere. Everyone loved them and everyone wanted them. When I found out I was pregnant, yes it was fast, but I couldn’t have been happier. If I can ever figure out how to tell my mother I’m having triplets, she’s probably going to faint from excitement. It’s okay to be nervous though. Your experiences were totally different than mine.”
Penny laughed weakly. “Like nonexistent.”
“Which is why it’s such a blessing that we get to do this together. Raise our children together. It’s going to be so much fun. Just wait.”
Naomi rubbed her belly and smiled encouragingly at her friend. Penny nodded and smiled back.
Fate definitely knew what she was doing by bringing this group together and she couldn’t wait to see how their family—their tribe—would grow from here.
Afterword
You have reached the end of Kann and Penny’s story…for now. Thank you for coming along on this fantastic ride with me. There’s so much more to come and I’m excited to share this world with you.
I hope you loved I’m Not Lion To You and the rest of the cast as much as I loved writing and getting to know them. They are like friends of mine and I can’t wait for you to read Owen’s book next. Yep, his story is next, along with some awesome updates on everyone in the Mystery Tribe.
This series is the ultimate combination for me. Not only do I get to write about more soul mates (which is a theme of mine, if you hadn’t figured that out already) I get to write about all different kinds of shifters from a different world. The town of Mystery gets to be my home for the next year or so and I’m just flipping excited. There are so many stories to tell. So much more going on beneath the surface that you’ll find out as the books progress and our cast of characters and Mystery family grows.
To learn more please connect with me on Facebook or in my Facebook Clubhouse! And on Instagram (if you want to see pictures of my dogs, lol) , and please consider writing a review of I’m Not Lion To You. They help. Really they do. Sometimes a review makes the difference between a new-to-me reader giving my books a chance or not.
If you really want to get all the inside goodies and news, be sure to join my NEWSLETTER!
About the Author
Krystal Shannan lives in a sprawling ranch style home with her husband, daughter, and a pack of rescue Basset Hounds. She is an advocate for Autism Awareness and shares the experiences and adventures she’s been through with her daughter whenever she can.
Needless to say, life is never boring when you have an elementary-aged special needs child you are homeschooling and half a dozen 4-legged friends roaming the house. They keep her and her husband busy, smiling, and laughing.
If you’re looking for a story filled with adventure, passion, and just enough humor to make you laugh out loud. Welcome home!
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Other Books By Krystal Shannan
Soulmate Shifters
Soulmate Shifters in Mystery, Alaska
Knock Down Dragon Out
I’m Not Lion To You
Bearly Hanging On (Coming Next)
Vegas Mates
Completed Series
Chasing Sam
Saving Margaret
Waking Sarah
Taking Nicole
Unwrapping Tess
Loving Hallie
Sanctuary, Texas
Completed Series
My Viking Vampire
My Dragon Masters
My Eternal Soldier
Mastered: Teagan
My Warrior Wolves
My Guardian Gryphon
My Vampire Knight
VonBrandt Family Pack
Part of the Somewhere, TX World
To Save A Mate
To Love A Mate
To Win A Mate
To Find A Mate
To Plan For A Mate
To Chase A Mate
Moonbound is spinoff series from the VonBrandt Family Pack…
MoonBound
Completed Series
Part of the Somewhere, TX World
The Werewolf Cowboy #1
The Werewolf Bodyguard #2
The Werewolf Ranger #3
Chasing A Wolf #4
Seducing A Wolf #5
Saving A Wolf #6
Broken Wolf #7
Hunted Wolf #8
Moonbound Box Set (#1-4)
Moonbound Box Set (#5-8)
Pool of Souls
Open House
Finding Hope
Bad Boys, Billionaires & Bachelors
Part of the Somewhere, TX World
Can’t Get You Off My Mind
What’s Love Got To Do With It
You’re The One That I Want
Accidentally In Love
All I Want For Christmas
Copyright © 2018 by KS Publishing
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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