by Bec Adams
Brigden could feel love flowing between all three of them, the true-mates bond growing even as they just stood talking. Unable to fight his instincts anymore, Brigden opened his mouth wide, his sharp incisors growing from his gums just as he made contact with Suzanne’s soft skin. He held her close as he bit her, keeping her still as he punctured the skin. Heightened arousal flowed through all three of them, Brigden’s urge to bury his cock inside her almost too overwhelming to ignore. He could sense the same need from both his mates. He wasn’t certain how he was interpreting and separating their emotions from his own, but it seemed to be a natural evolution of their true-mates link.
“That is so beautiful,” Gideon said as Brigden finally eased his teeth out of her flesh. He licked at the small drops of blood, his wolf side howling in his mind as he tasted his mate’s essence. “You two lay down for a while, and I’ll grab some essentials for Suzanne to take back to Dry Creek.”
“Uh-uh. No way,” Suzanne said with a laugh. “Werewolf society might be different from what I’m used to, but I’m guessing males in your culture don’t have a clue what a woman considers essential either. The last thing I need is you packing the wrong underwear.”
“Underwear?” Gideon asked with a laugh. “Why would I pack that? Brigden and I both prefer our mate naked anyway.”
“Nice try,” she said as she pressed a quick kiss to Brigden’s lips and stepped away. “How about I pack and you two get some rest?”
Brigden’s heart sped up at the idea of spending some intimate time with Gideon far from the prying eyes of other wolf-shifters.
“Well I guess we know who’s going to wear the underpants in this relationship,” Gideon teased as he grabbed Brigden and rolled onto the bed. “But just this once, we’ll let our bossy mate pack while we stay out of the way.”
Suzanne gave them both a loving smile and then turned to her closet to begin the task of choosing what to take to her new home.
* * * *
“Make love to him, please.”
Gideon was surprised by the soft plea that reached his mind.
“We don’t really have time,” he answered as he held their lover close. As much as he wanted to be intimate with the man he loved, he also didn’t want to draw attention to them by not following the alpha’s orders in a timely manner.
Of course, he’d let the alpha believe that Suzanne lived in town, even though he’d known from her driver’s license that she lived far closer. He’d had some vague idea of perhaps keeping the cabin available for some sort of honeymoon destination until Suzanne’s lease ran out. The fact that she owned it actually complicated things just a little, but as long as they could cover the property taxes each year, they might even be able to hold on to it indefinitely. The idea of having a place where the three of them could relax and be themselves appealed greatly.
“Please, Gideon. Please make time.”
“Suzanne? Why is it so important right now?”
He could sense her despair and for a moment worried that she regretted letting Brigden claim her. But their connection was strong enough for him to realize the problem was more complicated than that.
“I don’t think it worked. I can’t hear him. I can sense his emotions, but it’s not much stronger than it was before. Very little has changed.”
“Relax, Suzanne. It probably just takes time. Our connection grew slowly.”
“The claiming bite usually forces the mate to orgasm. I know that from your memories. And you know that I didn’t climax. Please, Gideon. Please make love to him, just in case I’m right.”
She sounded so worried that he couldn’t deny her. Of course, just the thought of making love to Brigden again was enough to have his cock standing up and taking notice.
“Okay, baby girl.” And then because he wanted to lighten the mood that she was feeling added, “It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.”
Suzanne laughed softly in his mind, her relief flowing through their connection very clearly.
“Thank you.”
* * * *
Suzanne managed to hold back her grief, knowing that Gideon would feel everything she was feeling. She wanted her men to make love to each other without worries for her crowding Gideon’s mind.
His telepathic voice had been almost frantic when she’d wobbled at the front door earlier. She hadn’t meant to be so melodramatic, but standing on the front porch of her ordinary life, flanked by the two men who represented a future she’d never dreamed of had suddenly hit her like a two-by-four between the eyes. Somehow the past twenty hours or so had taken on a surreal quality, almost like she’d been living a fantasy.
She couldn’t help but watch as Gideon quickly stripped them both of their clothes, his hands roaming over Brigden’s abs, hips, and thighs as he slid down the bed and took the man’s cock into his mouth. Brigden moaned, his hands massaging Gideon’s head as he sucked even harder.
Finally realizing that her men would be more comfortable using lube, Suzanne reached into the bedside drawer and handed the tube to Gideon. He moved off Brigden’s cock long enough to give her a wicked smile and squirt some of the slippery fluid onto his fingers. Brigden’s reaction was very satisfying as Gideon returned to sucking his cock at the same time that he pushed two lubed-up fingers straight into his ass.
“Holy shit,” Brigden said breathlessly as Gideon slowly finger-fucked him, wickedly aiming for his prostate with every thrust.
“Since you seem to be watching instead of packing, maybe you could spread some lube over my cock while I drive our lover insane.”
Suzanne moved quickly to the bed and did what Gideon asked, very tempted to throw off her clothes and join them.
She felt Gideon’s agreement even as he lifted Brigden legs up and pushed his cock straight into Brigden’s ass.
She was worried that they would take more time than they could afford. The absolute last thing she wanted to do was create problems with an alpha werewolf. “Later,” she promised
“Count on it,” Gideon said as his telepathic voice faltered and he started to move faster, fucking Brigden harder as his need to mark this man as his mate swelled through him. Suzanne felt his anger at the weakness, at the need that if acted upon would put his mates in danger. He suppressed it ruthlessly, moving faster as Brigden writhed underneath him.
“I love you,” he said to Brigden a moment before he leaned forward and took the man’s mouth in a savage kiss. Together they were beautiful, sleek muscle and raw power, but it was the blissful agony that took them both that left her breathless.
She watched them for a moment longer, trying to drag her arousal back under control, before finally returning to packing her clothes. But she couldn’t stop the warmth that flowed through her. As strange as it would seem to an outsider and despite the shortness of their acquaintance, Suzanne knew without a doubt that this was exactly where she belonged.
Chapter Seven
“Jay,” Suzanne called as she and Gideon caught sight of her soon-to-be-former workmate climbing into one of the four-wheel-drive vehicles used by the park service. He gave her a wary look but waited for her and Gideon to walk to him. His smile faltered as they moved closer.
From his scent, Suzanne was sure the man was a shifter, but just like the raccoon-shifter had described the smell of Jay’s animal was unfamiliar, even to Gideon.
“Suzanne,” Jay said, glaring at Gideon. “I see you’ve made yourself a new friend.”
“I…um…” she said nervously, “this is Gideon Barclay.”
“Barclay,” Jay Holks said with a low growl in his voice. “Perhaps you could explain the sudden change in my workmate.”
“Not until you explain why you were spotted in the same area where a young child was abducted.”
“Yesterday?” he asked. “Damn it!” He reached for his cell phone immediately, his reaction seemingly one of anger, not guilt or remorse. “We missed him.” The words were practically growled into the receiver. “You were ri
ght about the location. Now what?” He listened for a few moments, ended the call with “Give me an hour,” and then hung up without saying good-bye.
Gideon reached into the vehicle and removed the keys from the ignition. “Explain.”
“You first,” Jay said irritably. “Suzanne didn’t know you until yesterday. Why is she now one of you?”
“How would he know we only met yesterday?” Suzanne asked through their link.
“He would have picked up my scent on you previously. Shifters have a very well developed sense of smell. Or haven’t you noticed?”
“I noticed,” she answered, amazed that he could tease her at the same time he was confronting another shifter—one suspected of trying to expose a young bear-shifter to human scrutiny.
Gideon answered Jay’s question in a low voice. “Suzanne is true-mate to me and one of my packmates. Your turn.”
“Are you okay with this, Suzanne?” Jay asked very seriously. She didn’t know the man very well, but she got the distinct impression that if he felt she was being held against her will that he would do everything he could to rescue her.
“I’m very okay with it.”
Jay gave her a serious look before finally nodding and turning his attention back to Gideon.
“My brother…” he started to say, but hesitated perhaps trying to decide how much to share with two people who were essentially strangers. “He’s not thinking clearly. I just need to find him and take him home.”
“We can help,” Suzanne offered quickly, not even consulting her mate despite the fact that Gideon was the security expert and she was the person who checked for potholes. Thankfully, she heard Gideon’s soft laugh at her eagerness to assist Jay.
“That’s not necessary. This is a family matter.”
“It ceased being a family matter when he put an innocent child at risk.” Gideon didn’t have to say out loud how much worse it could have been if humans had found the young bear-shifter. It seemed in that regard all three of them understood the most likely outcome.
“Fine, do what you have to do. If you find my brother, call me on this number.” Jay grabbed a notepad from his vehicle, scribbled his cell phone number, handed it to Gideon, and then held out his hand as he waited for the return of his keys.
“Is he dangerous?” Gideon asked quietly.
Jay looked angry at first, but then he breathed out heavily, ran a hand tiredly down his face, and shook his head. “I don’t know anymore. Don’t hurt him. Just call me.”
“Jay,” Suzanne asked quickly as he turned the key in the ignition and put the vehicle into gear, “do you know why he’s trying to”—she hesitated, unwilling to say anything too detailed where anyone could hear them—“cause trouble?”
“Ever since his mate and cubs died, he’s been struggling. He wants revenge.” He shook his head, clearly upset by his brother’s behavior and predicament. “He’s just confused. If I can find him, I can help him.”
“We’ll help,” Suzanne said again quickly.
Jay gave her a grim smile, nodded once, and then closed the vehicle door soundly. Gideon wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer, his agitation leaking through their link even though she sensed he was trying very hard to hide it.
“What is it?” she asked telepathically as Gideon turned her toward the building where she worked.
“It’s nothing to worry about,” he tried to say quickly.
He shook his head ruefully as she sent him a single word—“Bullshit.”
“Suzanne, I need you to resign quickly so that I can get you back to Dry Creek where you’ll be safe.”
“Why?” she asked, confused by the sudden worries crowding his mind.
“Things just got a lot more dangerous,” he said as he opened the door and ushered her inside. “Your friend Jay Holks is a grizzly bear-shifter.”
“We haven’t had grizzlies in this park for decades.”
“I know,” Gideon said, plastering a fake smile onto his face as Suzanne’s boss raised an eyebrow and headed toward them.
* * * *
Resigning took longer than he’d intended. Despite what Suzanne seemed to think, the men she’d worked with were disappointed that she was leaving. Her boss even tried to keep her there longer by reminding her that her contract required four weeks notice.
His mate hadn’t been impressed when Gideon had rubbed her belly as if she already carried his child, but her boss had smiled and nodded, and then wished her well without trying to enforce the contract. Finally able to get away without seeming suspicious, Gideon hustled Suzanne into his truck, stopped long enough to surreptitiously pick up Brigden from his hiding place in the tree line, and headed back to Dry Creek pack lands as fast as he could safely travel the winding dirt roads.
* * * *
Brigden glanced around the large room and ironically felt quite at home. He’d dealt with many of these shifters over the years, and even though he was often first greeted with hostility, most respected his expertise when it came to technology. The only person in the room guaranteed to make him feel uncomfortable was Shy River’s beta, Eadan Barclay—Gideon’s father. Brigden made certain to stay far away from the man.
Security specialists from packs, clans, families, and flocks from all over the mountain ranges they called home had converged on Dry Creek pack within hours of the alpha’s call. Grizzly bears had historically been a problem, choosing to alienate humans rather than try to stay out of their way, and in decades past, their animal counterparts had paid dearly for the grizzly bear-shifters’ arrogance. Nobody wanted to see a repeat of the past.
To have a rogue grizzly bear trying to expose them to humans was very worrisome.
“Do we have a last known location?” one of the chipmunk-shifters asked anxiously as he momentarily morphed into his humanoid form. Brigden was always amazed by just how tiny their humanlike shapes were. Very few of the smaller breeds of shifter stayed in their human forms for long. It was understandable. For many species their four-inch-high humanoid shape had little chance of escaping danger, but in their animal forms they were far more equipped. It was only the necessity of being able to speak to other shifters that forced them into shapes they weren’t entirely comfortable with.
“The grizzly was last seen in human form near where the young bear-shifter was abandoned, very close to a human camping area,” the alpha of Dry Creek said.
“Was he wearing human clothing?” another shifter asked.
“Yes. He was dressed in a park ranger’s uniform.”
Brigden handed the alpha the stack of photographs he’d printed. They were the copy of Jay Holks from the park’s website, but would do to identify the shifter they sought. “We believe he looks very much like his brother. The man in this photo is Jay Holks—a grizzly bear-shifter who has been working for the human park rangers for the past year. He claims the shifter we seek is his brother.”
“Do we know anything about them? Either of them? Is there a reason that he chose our mountain?”
It was a valid question, one Brigden had been asking himself over and over. He’d heard only one side of the cell phone conversation—Jay Holks apparently knew enough about technology to have his speaker set to the lowest volume possible—but the phrase “you were right about the location” had been bouncing through Brigden’s mind ever since.
Was it possible that this mountain was where the grizzly bear-shifter’s family had died?
He took a step away from the group, grabbed his tablet, and started searching the Internet for accounts of grizzly bear attacks in the area. Most referred to very old news articles and horrific accounts of mutilated human remains, but one story caught his attention.
He quickly moved to Suzanne’s side and showed her the grainy black and white picture.
“Is that your cabin?” he whispered urgently.
The picture was from a newspaper article over sixty years old, so it was a little hard to be certain. He was grateful that Suzanne took her time
to look it over carefully before whispering back, “I think so.”
He quickly searched for related files and found several dealing with the aftermath of a young child apparently abducted by grizzly bears. The hunting frenzy that followed was sickening. Dozens of grizzly bears massacred on suspicion of taking a young human child from its bed. No one had even bothered to ask how a grizzly bear—often too big to walk through a cabin door—could have somehow taken a child from its crib without leaving a heap of damage in its wake.
Even black bears and several other species unrelated to bears had been innocent victims of the violent attacks. The only good news Brigden could find was that it seemed to be the catalyst that eventually had most of this mountain declared a national park with regulated hunting seasons and exclusion zones. It was essentially why many of the shifters on this mountain lived in relative peace.
“What have you found?” Gideon asked quietly, having moved to Brigden’s side almost silently.
He passed over the tablet, not really wanting to say anything out loud until they were certain. He’d only been a baby at the time it had all happened, so he had no memories of the anger and fear that likely reverberated through all of the shifters at the time.
Gideon closed his eyes and breathed out heavily. Brigden sensed his need to pull his mates close but wasn’t certain if it was just a reflection of his own desires or not. He reached for Suzanne as Gideon nodded once and then headed back to the alpha’s side.
* * * *
Gideon quickly explained the information Brigden had found. He’d barely been more than a pup when it had all happened, but he remembered his parents’ and the alpha’s worry that the humans would accidentally learn about shifters when an injured shifter instinctively tried to change forms to heal a serious wound.
Within minutes every shifter in the room had a different opinion on how to handle a rogue grizzly bear-shifter who’d obviously been deeply affected by the loss of his family. They still weren’t certain that these events even related to Jay Holks’s brother, but it seemed like a fairly solid conclusion. All of the grizzly bear-shifters had moved out of the area soon after the killing had started, their animal counterparts left behind to face the violent actions of humans.
