“My mother told me that the alpha would be the son of Clarice and the beta would be the son of Cara. She told me these women would not live to see their sons grow to manhood, but the pack would help them grow, and these boys would be friends who would share a bond that only they knew about.”
Jackson turned to Jace in shock. No one knew about their ability to see each other’s thoughts or talk to each other in their minds. These abilities were gifted only to bonded triad mates, but it was something that had manifested in both of them as teenagers. Despite their young age, they knew it was something unique to be kept only between them.
Before either man had an opportunity to speak, Martha reached forward to take Jace’s hand in hers and turned it palm up to place her hidden treasure in it. She took her hand away, and both men stared down at the delicate gold bracelet that looked so tiny and fragile in Jace’s large hand.
Jackson reached for the bracelet and lifted it gently from his friend’s hand, allowing the small golden charm to dangle free. “Jace,” he whispered as he saw what it was.
Jace looked at the charm and turned to his friend, unable to speak. The charm was of a woman sitting on the ground with a wolf on either side of her. Her arms were wrapped around the wolves’ bodies, her head was tipped back, and her hair was in motion as if a breeze blew its shoulder length tresses back from her face to reveal what could only be described as pure joy on her face. Each wolf’s face was turned inward to nuzzle against her neck.
Jace looked up from the bracelet and found Jackson’s shocked brown eyes studying him.
It does look like Laurie, Jackson.
Jackson looked down at the charm and then back at Jace. And it’s exactly how we looked when we were with her on the deck last night.
“This bracelet was given to me by your mother, Jace,” Martha’s voice pulled their attention back to her. “She told me I was to give it to you when you both found your mate. Only then was I was to tell you about the prophecy.”
Taking the bracelet gently from Jackson, Jace’s hand closed around it as he fought with his emotions. The joy he was feeling was incredible, but the anger he fought was undeniable. This was not something that should have been kept from him.
“Is there anything else you’ve been keeping from me, Martha?” he asked her, his voice cold and hard as the anger seeped through him. Even Jackson’s calming touch on his shoulder could not stop the fire burning within him.
Jackson could feel his alpha losing control. Each day, it seemed it was more and more difficult to help ease the pain and anger that was constantly growing within his friend. Laurie’s appearance had given him hope that they could finally ground him and offer him a sense of calm that Jackson knew was needed to center him and save him from himself. If this prophecy were true, and he hoped with all his heart that it was, then their mate was going to help them both finally find inner peace and a sense of belonging and love that had so far eluded them.
“My mother also told me that this mate would be in danger from outside the pack as well as from within the pack,” Martha told him, reaching out to touch both of their arms as fear gripped her. “She said some would not want a human to have such influence over our leaders and would do all that they could to destroy the woman and, in doing so, destroy both of you.”
Jace’s head snapped up, and his wolf howled to be set free. Someone was threatening their mate. Looking at Jackson, he saw that his beta’s wolf was fighting within him as well. “When did she leave, and where did she go?” Jace growled, holding on to his human side with every ounce of strength he possessed.
“About two hours ago,” Martha told him fearfully. “I saw her walking toward the tree line.”
Jace pushed the bracelet into Martha’s hand. “I want this back when I return,” he told her, turning to stalk outside, pulling his clothes off as he strode across the deck. Jackson was right on his heels, ripping the clothes from his body as he followed.
Neither man broke stride as they bounded off the deck in wolf form and ran with lightning speed in search of their mate.
Chapter 7
Laurie’s scent was strong. Jace and Jackson ran together toward their mate, their powerful bodies never tiring as they raced toward the one woman they were destined to love and protect. Worry spurred them on, and they ran in silence, afraid to voice their deepest fear of losing her before they had even gotten the chance to love her.
The sound of Laurie’s laughter had them both stopping short and looking across the open expanse of field that bordered the rushing stream that ran through the middle of their ranch. She was running toward the stream, holding little Tammy’s hand as the four-year-old giggled and skipped beside her. Seth and Ben, the two rambunctious ten-year-olds that had often been the recipients of Jace and Jackson’s guidance over the years, were balancing precariously on the fallen tree that extended out into the rushing water.
“Come on, Tammy!” Ben called out to the small girl as he hung from the tree, kicking his feet into the water as he taunted her. “Climb on the tree and see if you can reach the water!”
Tammy pulled her hand from Laurie’s and started to run toward the water. She didn’t even get two steps away from Laurie when she was scooped up into Laurie’s arms and held protectively against her chest.
“Absolutely not,” Laurie told them, her voice firm, with a touch of anger letting the young boys know she was deadly serious. “You two get over here right now.”
Seth and Ben started to protest, but Laurie cut them off before they had a chance to really deny her.
“Don’t make me come over there and get you,” she warned them seriously.
“Oh, come on, Laurie,” Seth whined. “We won’t get hurt.”
“You two get your butts over here right now,” she told them in her firmest teacher voice. “And don’t even think about telling Tammy to go toward that stream. What are you thinking putting her in danger like that?”
Both boys carefully made their way off the fallen tree and walked up the incline to stand beside Laurie and Tammy, their shoulders hunched and their heads hung in shame. Laurie stepped back and gently lowered Tammy to her feet, keeping firm hold of her hand.
“We would never let Tammy get hurt,” Ben told Laurie quietly. “She’s our mate. It’s our job to protect her.”
Laurie looked down at the two boys, her brow furrowed in confusion. Mate? What?
“We love her,” Seth told her, his tone sincere. “She belongs to us.”
Tammy let go of Laurie’s hand and walked toward the two boys, reaching out to take hold of their hands. “They’re mine,” she said happily as she looked over her shoulder at Laurie. Giggling, she turned and pulled the boys toward the main house. “Come on, let’s go play on the swings,” she told them as she tugged them along.
Both boys smiled at the little imp before turning to run with her toward the small playground that Jace had built for the children of the pack. Laurie couldn’t help but smile at them as they ran at Tammy’s pace to keep even with her. They really were adorable together.
She’s good with the young ones, Jackson.
Jackson turned to face his friend and nodded his head. She is.
She’ll be good with our cubs.
She will.
The two large wolves walked toward Laurie slowly. She recognized them immediately. The small moment of fear she felt at their appearance quickly left her. She sat down on the ground, smiling as the two wolves made their way toward her and sat down beside her to rest their heads on her thighs. Without hesitation, she ran her fingers through the soft hair of their bodies before hugging them closer to her.
She didn’t really understand why she felt the need to cuddle them to her, but it was a need that she couldn’t deny. The happy growls coming from the two wolves made her smile. If she could have growled, she would have mirrored their sound. Their softness and their warmth made her feel safe and calm.
“You two sound pretty happy,” she told them, smiling as
she pet them gently. The large black wolf turned his head toward her and looked up at her with the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. Hauntingly familiar eyes. The slightly smaller, brown wolf did the same, his deep brown eyes tugging at her heart as she looked down at him.
Jace, I need her.
I know. I feel the same.
Laurie lay back, unaware of the silent conversation the two men were having. As she settled back against the soft grass, the two wolves moved against her, resting their heads on her shoulders.
“I love it here,” she told them as her hands stroked their backs. The constant happy growls from the two wolves made her smile. “You guys are so easy to please.” Her soft laughter made them both chuff in contentment at her joy.
They cuddled in closer, unable to stand any space between them and their mate. Her warmth, her laughter, her gentle touch, called to them on a basic level. They found the peace they needed as she held them. The simple joy she gave them settled them in a way they could never have hoped for.
“Those kids sure are adorable,” she whispered, stroking her fingers through the wolves’ silky pelts as she spoke. “I wish I had been able to have more.”
She does want more kids, Jace. Jackson’s voice was relieved, and Jace could sense his happiness immediately.
Jace remained silent. He hoped Laurie would continue with her thoughts so he could understand why she was so upset with Martha’s comment.
“I always wanted a big family,” Laurie continued almost wistfully. “People would laugh at me when I said I wanted eight kids.”
Eight! Jace couldn’t prevent his voice from echoing in Jackson’s head.
Jackson’s burst of laughter made him look at his friend warily.
I’m just getting used to the idea of having met our mate, Jackson. I need time to adjust to having eight children as well.
Just think about what a great mother she’ll be, Jace. And how wonderful it will be to see her filled with our cubs and nurse them at her gorgeous breasts.
Jace couldn’t prevent the picture of Laurie pregnant and nursing their babes from filling his mind. Rather than feel panicked, he felt a sense of calm and rightness in it.
And think how much we’re going to love getting her pregnant. Jackson’s voice was heavy with desire for their mate—a desire that Jace felt as well.
The image of Laurie between them, naked in bed, welcoming them into her body, made Jace growl. He leaned into Laurie’s neck and inhaled her scent, relaxing as the smell of their mate reached deep into his soul.
Laurie held him to her tightly as if she could sense that he needed her touch. When the dark brown wolf leaned into her, she held him tightly as well, needing the comfort of them both without really understanding it.
“I know it’s too late for me to have eight kids now. I know that’s one dream I’ll have to let go. My life just didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped.” Her voice was sad as she spoke, her hands gently stroking the two wolves as she thought silently. “I guess it’s for the best. I couldn’t bring myself to have even one more child and raise it alone. I did that with my two kids, and I don’t want to do it alone again. I want a man who wants to be a part of his baby growing inside of me. I want him to want to touch me and feel his child growing. I want him to want that baby with every bit of his soul and share with me in the joys and the worries. I want my baby’s father to want to love me and his baby with everything he is, and protect and cherish us. I can’t go through all that again without someone who really loves me and wants our baby just as much as I do.” She hesitated a moment, sadness heavy in her heart. “You just can’t make someone love and care about you. I tried to get him to love me and the kids. He just didn’t.”
Laurie shifted slowly, turning to gently kiss each wolf tenderly on the top of each of their heads. Both men growled at the contact, wanting to shift into their human forms so badly they ached. They wanted to hold their mate tenderly and kiss her until she forgot all about her sadness and thought only of the pleasure and happiness that they would give her.
“It’s just not meant to be,” she said sadly. “I’m not meant to have that in my life I guess. And staying here at this wonderful ranch to be reminded every day that I’m not good enough to have any man desire me is too much.”
Jace closed his eyes as she held him against her side tightly. His heart broke at her words.
Jackson, we have to show her today what she means to us. I don’t care that it’s too soon. Why should we hide our attraction to her? She’s our mate, and she damn well will know that we desire her.
Jace, I’m with you one hundred percent. Maybe she’ll finally realize just how much she means to us when we claim her.
“I’m going to really miss this place when I go home,” Laurie told them, sinking her hands into the softness of their fur, petting them as they moved restlessly against her. “I don’t even think I’ll be able to stay the full two weeks.” She was quiet for so long, Jace lifted his head to look down at her. Jackson soon followed his lead and leaned up to look down at Laurie, concerned by the sadness that he saw on her face.
Laurie sat up, pulling away from them and standing slowly. Brushing off the seat of her jeans as she walked away from the two of them, she folded her arms across her chest and looked toward the rushing stream.
“I can’t stay here feeling the way I do about Jace and Jackson,” she said finally, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke to herself. “I’ve never seen such kindness from men before. They really care about the people here. And they’re absolutely wonderful with Tammy.” Laurie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to focus herself. “I’ve never seen such gentleness and honest caring with a child before. And the way she loves them!” Opening her eyes, she let her tears fall freely. “Kids know,” she whispered. “Kids always know.”
Hugging her arms around her torso, she couldn’t prevent the deep feelings from echoing through her body. “I don’t really understand it. How can I feel so strongly about them so quickly? And for two men!”
She walked toward the stream, wiping at her eyes as she went. Jace followed her silently, knowing Jackson was right beside him but never turning to look at his friend, unable to look anywhere but at the woman who had already captured his heart with her kindness and gentleness.
Laurie turned to look at the two wolves who seemed to sense her anguish. “There’s something wrong with me,” she told them quietly. “I’ve never even kissed anyone but my ex-husband. I’ve never dated. I have no experience with men. And here I am having such erotic dreams about two men that are the kindest men I’ve ever met.” She hesitated briefly, sighing sadly. “I don’t know what it is about them, but they call to my heart. And it’s something I’ve never felt before. How can I want them so much? It’s like I can feel their sorrow. I can sense their feelings.” She walked toward the water’s edge, aware that the two wolves mirrored her moves, feeling a sense of rightness as they walked beside her.
Turning to face the two beautiful wolves, she reached out and touched the top of their heads, sliding her fingers back into their fur to lightly scratch them behind their ears. Both wolves leaned into her touch, and she felt the rumbling of their soft growls against her hands. She smiled down at them and leaned forward to kiss the top of each of their heads quickly, laughing with pure delight at their contentment.
Leaning back, she stood silently for a moment, staring down at them. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she looked into their eyes, the crystal blue of the black wolf and the soft brown of the dark brown wolf, and felt a flash of recognition that made her step back as a vision hit her of the two men who haunted her waking and sleeping hours.
Kneeling down before them, she reached out to touch each wolf tenderly. “You remind me of Jace and Jackson,” she whispered, standing slowly and looking down at them with eyes that were quickly filling with tears. “I really am losing my mind. I am so desperate for them to be with me, I’ve given in to this fantasy of believing I
can feel their thoughts, and dream that they could want me.” She turned and walked toward the stream, wiping at her eyes angrily. She hugged herself and looked toward the crystal-blue stream. “And what kind of sick slut am I that I want both of them?”
She stepped up onto the fallen tree that she had warned Ben and Seth off of just moments before and made her way out across it to balance herself several feet above the stream. “See, that’s exactly what’s wrong with me,” she told them both as she turned toward them, teetering dangerously as she faced them. Here I am fantasizing about those two incredible, gorgeous men. I’m so pathetic.”
She was quiet for so long as she looked down at the water, each man couldn’t prevent their worry from transmitting to the other. Laurie took a deep breath and hugged her arms around her waist.
“I’ve lived my life alone, without any love, and I just can’t do it anymore.” She was quiet as she looked out across the stream, swallowing to push back the tears. “I can’t live my life with only fantasy dreams to give me the love I want.” Her voice was beyond sad, and it made both men feel true fear at her heartbreak.
She turned then and wiped at her eyes. Losing her footing, she fell forward into the stream, pulling herself up as quickly as she could but not before becoming totally soaked in the uncomfortably cold water.
Before either man could shift, Laurie righted herself and stormed out of the water, her clothes drenched and her sweater hanging heavily on her body from the weight of the water. “Okay, God,” she muttered as she strode past the wolves and headed toward the ranch house. “I get the hint. Cool off, Laurie girl! Stop your crazy thoughts about men who could never want you!”
Grabbing her small backpack, she flung it over her shoulder as she walked quickly and determinedly away from the stream, making it to the ranch house in less than fifteen minutes. By the time she arrived, she was shivering violently. Although the morning had turned quite warm, she felt cold down to her very core, and she knew she had better warm up quickly or risk getting sick. As she stepped up onto the big deck behind the house, she saw Martha open the sliding glass doors to meet her, her eyes filled with concern.
Bernard, Lynnette - Laurie's Loves [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 6
