by Jane Jamison
“Why does he want me?”
She had to know, had to be ready if Burac tried anything else. “The Cursed believe that if they mate with a human woman, then their children will have more human blood running in their veins. Then their children’s children can mate with a human and dilute The Cursed’s bloodline even more. They think that it will eventually bring their race back to human form and might even allow them to leave The Hidden.”
“He wants to mate with me?” Her hand came to her throat. “Oh, crap. That totally sucks.”
Her spunk always made him smile. “You can say that again. But we won’t let him get to you. Or at least, we’ll do our best provided you listen to us and stay put.”
The flash of anger in her eyes brought him relief. After everything she’d gone through and all that they’d told her, she wasn’t ready to acquiesce to his orders. Still, she had to realize that they were only trying to keep her safe. “It’s for your own good.”
“You can understand that, can’t you, Shay?”
Renkon’s softer approach reached her, as he saw the fire in her lessen. “Yeah. I can.”
“Good. Then we won’t have to worry about chasing after you again, right?” He knew he was pushing, but he had to make sure.
“I said so, didn’t I?” She tugged her dress over her knees. “I’ll stay until you can take me home.”
“If you still want to go by then, I will. But I’m hoping you’ll want to stay on. In the meantime, promise us that you’ll get to know the others. Look at how they live. Look at how they love.”
“I think I already got an eyeful of that part of their lives.” The corners of her mouth twitched up.
“I’m not talking about sex. I’m talking about how they treat each other. Get to know the people of The Hidden. Get to know us better before you decide. Can you promise that you’ll do that?”
“I can live with that. And until I leave, I sleep here? Alone?”
Rosh felt his cock twitch in anticipation. “Yes. But not alone. Renkon and I will be here.”
“And me.” Walker faced them, his eyebrow lifted to dare Rosh to argue.
Rosh ground out his words. “We haven’t told her about that.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “It seems you didn’t tell me a lot of things. So spit it out. What else don’t I know?”
“We want you as our mate.”
She gawked at Renkon. “As your mate? You want me to what? Live here for the rest of my life? With all of you?”
Rosh tossed a hard look at Walker. “When I brought you inside, that was the same as declaring to the others that I intended to take you as a mate. Along with Renkon. We’ve wanted to find one woman to share since we were teenagers living on The Outside. I thought that all came to an end when Renkon left home and didn’t return. But I found him, along with The Hidden, and we’re here to stay.”
“I want you, too. I knew it from the first second I saw you.”
Walker glanced at Rosh as though expecting him to argue, then went on. “In The Hidden, a woman has the right to choose who she will mate with. If one man doesn’t like the next man she’s chosen, then he can decide whether or not to stay with her. But I’ve never seen anyone turn down their mate or refuse to accept her choice in a lover.”
“Although Walker and I aren’t exactly friends, we both care for you and want you as our mate, along with Renkon. I think caring about you has made us see the light. We’d do anything for you. Even if that means accepting each other.”
Walker chuckled along with him. “He’s not right a lot of the time, but this time he is.” He winced at Rosh’s glare. “Sorry. That didn’t come out right.”
“What these two are trying to say is that the three of us have fallen for you. We love you, Shay. Sure, we’ve only known you for a short time, but as far as we’re concerned, love doesn’t have a learning curve. We knew you were the one before you’d even opened your eyes. We want you as our mate for the rest of our lives.” Renkon touched her hand. “If you’ll have us.”
“So let me make sure I’ve got this right. All three of you want to be my mate. Together. At the same time and sleeping in the same bed? Holy shit.”
Rosh couldn’t tell if that was a good “holy shit” or a bad one. “You don’t know us well, I realize that, and we don’t know you very well, either. But werewolves have a sixth sense about these things. Most of us recognize the woman we want as our mate within a few days, even a few hours of meeting her. Humans call it falling in love at first sight. It’s rare for humans, but for my kind, it’s the rule rather than the exception.”
“My father fell in love with my mother two hours after they met. He said he knew she was the one when she took a huge bite out of his ice-cream bar then wouldn’t give it back.” Renkon was all smiles. “Love isn’t logical, especially when dealing with werewolves.”
“You can say that again. Nothing has seemed very logical from the moment I woke up here.” Her mouth parted, tempting him to kiss her, as she gaped at Renkon. “Wait. Does that mean you were born a werewolf?”
“Yeah. All three of us were, but not all werewolves are. Some are born and some are changed.” Rosh hoped they weren’t overwhelming her with everything they were telling her. “If you agree to stay, you can decide to stay human or you can become a werewolf. But don’t think about that part yet. Make that decision later.”
“Shay, do this for us. Try listening to your heart before deciding. Humans may not have the instincts we do, but they do have intuition. After a few days, we’ll ask again for your decision.”
“We’ll accept whatever you decide.” Walker pivoted to glance outside again then turned back. “We’ll leave you alone for tonight so you can think. But soon, we’re going to want to lie with you.”
Rosh didn’t want to leave her tonight or for any night in the future, but he realized Walker’s idea was best. He had to give her time. “Renkon and I will sleep outside the hut and take turns standing guard. None of The Cursed has ever ventured this close, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
“I’ll take my turn watching, too,” added Walker.
He stood and let Walker then Renkon go outside before facing her. “But if Walker snores too much and keeps you awake, just say so and I’ll smother him for you.”
“Sure. Will do.” She shot him a smirk then gaped at him. “You’re not serious, are you?”
He shrugged and ducked out of the hut.
* * * *
Shay stretched the sleep out of her body and looked through the opening in the top of the hut. Judging from the slant of the shadows, it was still early. Even after the harrowing day she’d had and all the revelations the men had told her, she’d slept peacefully, dreaming of the three fascinating men who’d taken her world and turned it upside down.
But what of the things they’d told her? She’d seen them change, but she still had a difficult time believing that werewolves existed. How could three amazing men change from human to wolf and back again? Had the stories and legends told the truth?
She shivered as she remembered The Cursed. If anything could convince her that supernatural beings existed, it was those poor creatures. Repulsed, she couldn’t bear the idea that their leader wanted to make her his by planting his seed in her to give birth to a child. What would such a child be like? Could she love the child even if it was more like its father than her? She pulled the blanket up to her chin. No, she’d rather die before she let Burac or his kind impregnate her.
“Is she awake?” Rosh’s voice was still strong even though he whispered.
“I don’t know. Want me to check?”
Renkon. She smiled. He had an infectious laugh and a quick grin. He was a nice counterpoint to his cousin’s serious and often hard manner.
“Naw. Let her sleep. We threw a lot at her yesterday.”
“Yeah. Maybe too much. But what choice did we have after she saw Burac and then us?”
“None. But let’s give her som
e time. Let her get to know everyone.”
She turned onto her side and waited in the silence that followed. Had they left?
“Do you think she’ll stay, cousin?”
She held her breath. What would Rosh say?
“I don’t know, and I don’t even want to go there. I can’t imagine life without her now. I love everything about her, even her fiery nature. What about you?”
Her breath rushed out of her then quickened. She bit her lower lip, mesmerized.
“Yeah, I feel the same way. She’s it for me. She’s more than we ever wanted. More than I’d dared hope for.”
“Not too bullheaded?” Walker’s voice came from the other side of the hut.
I’m bullheaded? Her stubbornness was like a VW Beetle compared to his Mack truck.
Renkon’s wonderful laugh took away a bit of her irritation. Would that be what life with them would be like? Rosh being irritatingly sexy with Renkon’s humor soothing the conflict between them? And what about Walker and Rosh? Would she have to referee their arguments? Although, they appeared to have settled their differences. All three men made her hot in a good way. A very good way.
Renkon chuckled. “Are you kidding? I love her spirit and fight. How many other women could’ve handled all this? Hell, most of the women I know on The Outside would’ve curled into a ball and cried their eyes out.”
“That’s true. She might annoy the hell out of me, but I still want to throw her around and shove my cock inside her.” Rosh groaned, and she imagined him flexing his muscles so that they rippled with power.
Her body heated as the memory of Rosh on top of her came back. Maybe she should invite them into the hut.
“About that. You and Walker have had a go with her. It’s my turn next. How else is she going to know if she wants me, too?”
“Yeah, yeah. Your time will come.”
“Besides, you two interrupted us.” She could sense Walker standing up and stretching.
She was enthralled by what they said. The way they’d spoken of her, their tones wondrous and deeply sensual, touched a place in her heart that no man had ever reached.
“We’re very lucky that it happened the way it did, cousin. Who knows how long it would’ve taken to find a woman like her on our own.”
“Our ancestors must be looking out for us.”
“Wow. I didn’t think you believed in that kind of thing. You sound like Walker.”
“Hell and damnation, don’t compare me to him.”
“Yeah, he pales in comparison, man,” joked Walker.
Renkon chuckled. “Come on, guys. Each of us wants her, and she might end up choosing all of us. We’re all in love with her already, so cut out the hostility and get along, okay? Besides, I think most of the huffing and puffing between you two is fake. Give the alpha routines a rest and let’s work on getting her to stay.”
She smiled at Rosh’s and Walker’s grumbles. Renkon was right. They were both a couple of boys too caught up in a pissing contest to let it go. She hugged her knees to her chest. They cared for her and wanted her to stay. No wonder she couldn’t stop smiling. Had she found what her friend Tee had? If so, she’d be a fool to turn them down.
“We’ll need to respect what and who she wants. Both of you need to realize that. Come on. Let’s do some hunting today and clear our minds. It’ll give her more time to think.” Walker cleared his throat. “What do you say, Rosh? A truce? Possible co-mates?”
“I say a day in the woods sounds good.”
Throwing off the blanket, she tugged on another dress, similar to the first one, that had been left by the bed along with a comb and a soft towel. A bowl of fruit as well as water sat on a wooden tray nearby, and she hurriedly ate a banana then drank a cup of water.
She ran her palms down her dress to smooth it out then pulled open the flap. Unlike her first day in the camp, lots of people were scattered around the area. Groups laughed as they shared food while children ran and played near the edge of the forest. Woman gossiped as they prepared vegetables and men challenged each other in wrestling matches. The whole thing would’ve looked like a scene from a historical movie about Native Americans except that the people varied from one ethnicity to the other. Modern-days tools were used as men worked on the roof of one of the cabins and a few of the women wore jewelry that she doubted was handmade.
Okay, Shay, time to get to know the natives.
She stepped out of the hut and hadn’t taken two steps before a petite woman, the same woman who had berated Rosh, entwined her arm in hers.
“Hi, I’m Myla. It’s about time you got up.”
Shay flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was supposed to get up, and I didn’t see an alarm clock.” They’d left her phone on top of the cliff along with her other clothes.
“Don’t worry about it. Once you’re here long enough, your internal clock will wake you up on time. Besides, the men wanted you to sleep in.”
“Oh, I don’t know if I’m going to stay that long.” Yet as soon as she’d said the words, her gut tightened. Did she want to leave? Could she return to her old life? A life without the men who loved her?
Myla released her arm and whirled to confront her. Her brilliant emerald eyes flashed with fire, making her red curls seem like a flame. “Are you kidding me? Don’t be ridiculous. Why wouldn’t you want to stay?”
“Because this isn’t my home.”
Myla’s fuse burned out as quickly as it had come to life. “Don’t worry, it will. Especially since you have the best-looking, bravest men chasing after you.”
Her description of Rosh, Walker, and Renkon was dead-on. “Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to pack it in and live in the woods. No matter how beautiful it is.” Or how sexy they are.
“Wow. I didn’t expect that. If they wanted me, I’d jump at the chance.”
“Then why don’t you?” Shut up! Her jealousy warred with her independent streak.
Myla laughed and took her hand. “Because I know they’ve set their sights elsewhere. Besides, I’ve already found my true loves. I shouldn’t ask for more than my fair share.”
“Your true loves? Do you really believe in true love? In soul mates?”
She looked taken aback. “Of course I do.” She tilted her head, searching Shay’s face. “Love doesn’t have anything to do with knowing what another person likes or dislikes. Real affection isn’t a result of a list of characteristics fed into a computer. True love comes from your heart and your soul, not from your head. Everyone on The Outside has forgotten how to recognize real love when they see it. They’re too busy with work, money, and running as fast as they can until they can’t run any longer. Don’t you believe in true love?”
Until she’d met the men, she would’ve answered quickly with a resounding no. “I’m not sure anymore.”
Myla nodded sagely. “You will. Give your heart time to relearn how to know your true loves when you find them. When it does, you won’t have any doubts.”
Shay let out her frustration in a quick puff of air. “So you’re with other men?”
“For a time I was mated to four great guys.”
“Was?” She caught the sadness in the woman’s eyes. “Damn. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay.” Myla held her head high. “I had five blessed years with my men before they were attacked and killed by The Cursed.”
Shay stopped in her tracks. “Those things killed them?”
“They did.”
“Oh, my God. Was there a war?” Yet it was difficult to imagine the peaceful people around her charging into battle.
“Some of the men wanted to exact revenge, but I begged them not to.”
“Really?” She blushed at her bluntness. If The Cursed hurt Rosh, Renkon, or Walker, wouldn’t she want them punished? “I’m sorry, but why wouldn’t you want them to pay for murdering your mates?”
Myla touched her hand and squeezed. “Hate only breeds hate, a
nd bringing more hate into The Hidden would only tarnish the magic here. Besides, I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else getting hurt. Would killing them have brought my men back? Then what good would it have served? I forgave The Cursed and, since it was my decision, The Council respected my wishes.”
“You’re a better woman than I, Myla. I don’t think I could’ve done the same.”
“It was purely selfish on my part. I forgave them so my daughter and I wouldn’t let the anger fester inside us. I did it for us, not for them.”
“Your daughter?”
She laughed and gestured toward a young girl with red hair as she dashed by them. “Yes. My mates gave me my wonderful daughter, Kira.”
Kira squealed as a lanky boy grabbed for her. She dodged him and ran toward one of the cabins, tossing off her clothes as she did. Turning around to make sure he was still in pursuit, she giggled then waved at her mother. Within the next minute, Kira was gone and a snow-white bunny replaced her.
“Holy shit. Did you see that?”
“See what?”
The bunny hopped away, and the boy tried to catch it. “Your daughter. She changed into a rabbit.”
Myla tugged on her arm, turning her in the opposite direction. “That’s my baby. She loves changing into bunnies and fawns the most. In fact, she was the fawn you saw that day on the road.”
“I can’t believe this.” She yanked on Myla. “They told me they were werewolves, and I saw them change. But when they said there were other supernatural beings here, I guess I couldn’t wrap my head around it.”
Myla patted her hand like an old woman would do when handing out sage advice. But Shay would’ve guessed her to be about her own twenty-five years. “You’ll get used to seeing things like that. But other wonders abound here, too. All you have to do is accept what your eyes are telling you.”
She glanced around, studying the people harder than before. “Can everyone here change?”
“No, only the shape-shifters and the weres. You know, like your men. Werewolves. Although we do have werecats, werebears, a couple of werecoyotes, and a few weredeer. We even have a werebadger, but he keeps to himself, the grumpy old fart.”
