“Will you both stop,” Marsha laughed and growled interrupted their conversion, making Shelly’s cheeks’ turn pink. “I asked Anna if she would like to stay the night with us, but I’m afraid she wants to be with her new family.”
“Of course, she’s not ready. She hasn’t spent the night in her new room yet,” Shelly said. “But thank you for asking, and how can you talk to us on our private path?” she asked just as the wedding march started to play.
Bo’s mother only laughed, and Shelly sighed.
Jaycee stepped up to him as she was passing him. “Don’t you hurt, her big brother,” Jaycee growled. “That goes for all of you.” She got out before Dane came over and pulled her away from them to have a serious talk with her. His hand slapped her ass hard once.
“If you even think it, one week,” Dane growled.
Tears filled Jaycee’s eyes as she nodded. Bo would definitely have to have a word with Dane later to find out what he had threatened Jaycee with to cause that reaction.
“Sex,” Shelly hissed out. “I’m going to—”
“No, this is between my sister and her mates,” Bo said. “Now smile, Little Wolf, it’s not every day you get married. Well in your case, you never will again,” he snarled.
Shelly’s father hugged her tight before kissing her and turning his gaze on Bo, growling. “Don’t hurt my baby.” He looked at each of them before he released her into Bo’s arms while Argo, Buck and White Eagle surrounded them. The look Shelly’s mother shot them backed up his threat.
Bo might have been bigger in cat form, but no one messed with a papa—or a momma, for that matter—protecting his daughter. Bo lowered his head to the man, giving him the respect he deserved, knowing one day he would be doing the threating when it came time for Anna to marry.
* * *
Shelly hid her smile as she felt Bo flinch, knowing her momma had given him one of those looks. She leaned over and whispered, “Not to worry, I’m sure you’ll be doing the same for our daughters when they find their mates,” she teased, having read his thoughts.
All four of her men snorted, and fur rippled beneath their skin as Aurora and her men appeared before them.
“Problems?” Aurora asked.
“No, just reminding my men we have a daughter too.” Shelly smiled. The room seemed to vibrate with tension till Shelly and her friends started to laugh.
“It’s not funny,” Argo muttered.
Shelly glanced at him. “No, it’s not. It’s cute and I’m proud to call you husband, soon.”
“Well then, let’s get this marriage started.” Aurora said. “On our world, when a family unit is joined a circle is formed. One of the heart, of the soul, and one of the body. Once this bond is sealed and committed to, there is no separation—divorce as your world would say.” Aurora glanced at everyone around them. “With this new beginning, all of you must understand that a bond here is made for life.” Aurora turned her gaze back on Shelly. “If something happens to one mate, it happens to the other ones. Where there is a beginning, there is no ending.” Aurora smiled down at Shelly. “Do you pledge to stand by your men even in trying times, and will you allow us to bind your spirits so there will not be one individual, but one life force, a stronger one that no man or woman will be able to destroy even in death?”
Shelly didn’t hesitate. “Always.”
Aurora stepped back as Iceman slid forward. “Gentleman, one great man from your world once said, ‘Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a never-ending battle, love is a war, love is growing together, not apart.’ We must always remember our women are the light to our darkness. There can never be another star as bright as her life force. With this joining, you control how bright your star will shine. This task does not end, and is always changing.” Iceman glanced back at Aurora. “But it is one that will blossom under your care.” He turned back and looked at Bo, Buck, Argo and then White Eagle. “You now have the knowledge and power to secure your woman, joining yourselves together. Remember, this is more than a marriage, gentlemen,” Iceman said, holding out a blade. The handle was covered in what appeared to blood rubies and seemed to be alive as it moved above Iceman’s hands, hovering, waiting.
Bo stepped forward first, offering his right hand up. “I gladly take what has been offered. Our woman is ours to protect, love and spank.” Bo glanced over his shoulder at Shelly with a look she loved to see. Her body heated up from the promise written in his eyes, which had her almost falling to her knees next to him.
“Oh, Daddy Bo’s going to spank Mommy Shelly,” Anna whispered to someone as the men nodded and the women snorted.
The red stones lit up the blade as it cut four small lines on each of her men’s arm as they knelt, giving their vows as Bo had. Four drops of blood from each man floated into the air, joining together as Iceman turned to her.
“Do you accept their pledge?” he asked, and Shelly knew then and there that Aurora wasn’t the one who was in charge of their group; Iceman was.
Shelly didn’t know why, but the urge to kneel and bow her head had her doing just that. The words rolled off her tongue. “Let this family be born and never dissolve. I accept my partners.” She smiled. “And I promise to give them something worth spankings,” she said, adding her own twist to the words as Bo had.
Whistles and cheers went up from the women as the men groaned, as if knowing they had just been issued a challenge. Shelly glanced up to see the blood swirling in the air move toward her and attach to her breast. Her skin burned as though she was getting tattoo, only more intensely, before her body was bombarded with every memory, thought and feeling from her four men.
“It is done,” she heard before Bo lifted her up and slid the most beautiful ring on her finger. “You’re ours forever, Little Wolf,” Bo said as Argo stepped up and put a choker on her, White Eagle took her right foot and slipped an ankle bracelet on it, and Buck stepped in front of her, opening a box.
“Later you’ll be fitted with these also,” he murmured, sending a shiver down her spine as he showed her the nipple and clit studs. Then Buck yanked her into his arms, kissing her senseless.
She slid her hands up and around his neck. “Never doubt my love, Buck,” she told him in his head.
“Or mine for you, our little wolf wife,” he said, stepping back as White Eagle took his place. He gripped the back of her neck to hold her still as he plundered her mouth.
“Mhh, were you a pirate in your last life?” she asked as he slowly allowed her to break away before nipping her bottom lip.
“I think it’s having you in my arms,” he said, stepping out of the way to let Argo step in front of her.
He slid his arms around her as if she would break, surprising her with his unusual gentleness as he lowered his head and slid his tongue into her mouth to dance with her tongue. “You will always be my star and my heart, Little Wolf,” he told her, then lifted his head and winked at her. “But I won’t hesitate to spank your cute butt.” He brought his hand down on her ass hard, almost making her bite her tongue.
“Argo…” she started to growl at him, but Bo turned her around and dipped her down.
“Your attention should be on me now, my little wolf, and what I have planned for you tonight. What we all have planned for you. Now shut up and kiss me already,” he growled before nipping her nose and covering her already-bruised lips with his thick, warm pair. His hands slid into her hair, grabbing a handful and tugging on her head till she tilted her head back as he nibbled a path down her chin to her neck, then sank his fangs into her, marking her.
“Bo!” she moaned, grabbing hold of his head as he lifted his own head and stared at her.
“Mine.”
“Always,” she said as he lifted her up, but not before he placed a kiss on the mark he had left on her breast.
Aurora and Iceman were there waiting as Bo lowered her down. Aurora took Shelly’s hands into hers. “I give you two gifts. One for the little one you to
ok into your heart,” she said, smiling as Anna came forward and pushed between Shelly and Bo. “Look up, sweet child,” Aurora said, causing everyone to glance up at the open scene of the water above them. Two of the strange creatures looked down at them now.
Anna squealed and jumped up and down. “He has a mate! Thank you so much.” She flung herself at Aurora and hugged her tight, which brought tears to Aurora’s eyes.
“You are very welcome, even though I can’t take the credit for this one.” Aurora nodded to Iceman, and Anna flung herself at him and hugged his leg.
The big man actually looked uncomfortable as he glared at his mate, who only laughed. “For your other gift—” Aurora stepped aside, revealing Shelly’s hope chest.
“Oh my God! How did you find it?” she asked, running her hand over the wooden top. “You don’t know how much this means to me.” Shelly looked up at Aurora and smiled. “Then again, maybe you do. I, too, have a gift for you—well, I helped your man.” Shelly nodded to Iceman, smiling. “Are you ready?”
The crowd parted as soon as Iceman nodded. Darla stood there holding Trish Valley’s hand.
“Trish?” Aurora glanced at Iceman.
“Didn’t you think we would know where you have been spending your time? I’ve spoken with Bo and Shelly, and they helped us. Trish is our daughter now,” Iceman said.
“But how? We left her alone. It’s not fair for her,” Aurora said as Trish came up to stand in front of them and slipped her hand into Aurora’s.
“She’ll stay here until this is over for her safety. Trish has agreed to help with the children with the new couple there. But as soon as this fight is over, she’ll come to live with us. She’ll be able to move back and forth when needed.” Iceman glanced at Aurora. “We’ll have to change our home, but it’s time for us to start our family, and what better way to do that than with the little girl you have fallen for?”
Blue tears rolled down Aurora’s face as she stared down at Trish. “Are you sure, Trish?”
The teenager smiled and hugged Aurora. “I can’t wait.”
“Now this is a day for celebration.” Aurora hugged her back and looked at Shelly. “Thank you.”
She shrugged. “Every child deserves to have a home, no matter what or who they are. I knew from watching you and Trish together that you belong together. So now we both have the same date to celebrate.”
Aurora opened her mouth to say something, but stopped, looking up as the lights flickered and the ground shook. “They’re searching.” She looked down at her daughter and out at the crowd. “I’m afraid our time is short,” she said as Owen and Valda came running in.
“One of their ships is flying around our world, and it’s not a small one,” Valda said.
“No one is to go above until we find our other member. Remi, Nikola, Dominic, Bo, Gourd, we need you five now. I’m sorry,” Owen said.
Shelly glanced up at Bo, who leaned down and kissed her lips. “Go with Argo and help the children back to the home. I’ll meet you at home soon,” he said as White Eagle followed him out.
“Go with them, Trish, and help get the little ones settled. I’ll come and check in later after we see what is going on,” Aurora said, then kissed the top of Trish’s head.
“Listen to the house parents, Trish, but don’t worry, we won’t allow anything to happen to you,” Iceman said before he disappeared with Aurora.
“Come, you can help us, and I have to say I’m very proud of you,” Shelly told Trish as her dress changed to jeans and a blouse as Marsha joined them.
“I put your dress in your home. Let’s get these little ones settled. They’ve got to be nervous now,” Marsha said as Argo wrapped his arm around her, and Buck lifted Anna up into his arms. “I know it’s not a good way to end your special day. If I could, I’d turn all those stupid Heliokillers into damn toads.”
Shelly laughed. “Jaycee is so much like you, but they kind of have their skin. If it wasn’t for their warty wings and the stink they emit, I’d swear they were part frog.”
“I hate frogs,” Anna said, burring her head into Buck’s neck and holding on to him tight.
Chapter Fifteen
Bo followed Owen, Remi, Dominic, Gourd and Nikola to the center of the ship, impressed with what he could see. Two of Valda’s men stood at some kind of console.
“We have two ships now circling our planet,” Griffin said, pointing the large screen in front of them.
“Is it just me or are their ships just as disgusting as they are?” Dominic said, moving around the room to get a better view of the picture on the screen. “Tell me, do we know what the machines are made of? I mean it’s obvious it’s not steel or anything like that.”
“Agreed, it’s some kind of metal they created on their planet, which is amazing in itself,” Iceman said as he and Comar appeared in the room. “As for your question, your fire might harm it if it was aimed at the underside of the ship. For some strange reason, the underside is the most vulnerable, but is also well protected. We have fought these ships before. These are the smaller ones, and they hold about ten of them. They are used in fighting and scouting, making it obvious that they’re studying our planet. Dominic, I’d like you and King Landon to work with Comar. He’ll inform you all about their ships. I’m afraid you and Gourd’s men will have to deal with them. Remi, you and your men will be working with Leagur. He has a file on what these things are like, their weaknesses and such. Bo, you and Nikola have the biggest job, and the most important. Your men will have to work at keeping anyone from harming your women.”
Iceman held up his hand as every one of them growled. “I know, believe me, I know. Don’t you think we hate it that Aurora is the one who will have to risk herself to protect our home? This pisses us off more than anything. But we must remember, the women are the heart of this planet. To save it from the Heliokillers’ attacks, they will need to be out in the open where they will be orchestrating the planet’s defenses. As Valda has found out, it has many. Each day we go without being attacked, the planet-ship grows stronger and adds new protections and weapons. No, we are not doing this. Yes, we started the process of this planet for your women’s protection, but once the we released the sphere, inserting your women’s DNA, the planet took it from there. The more of a threat it feels the women are in, the more resources it takes from other species that we can’t even comprehend. Only the women will be able to control this, as Owen and her men have seen. Already the planet is showing Valda things as your women are learning also.”
“What do you mean our women are learning, when?” Nikola snarled. “No one told us about this, and Lissa hasn’t mentioned crap to me.”
“Neither has Jaycee,” Remi snarled.
“All women?” Bo asked.
Iceman smiled. “Your woman might not be one of the five, but she is an important part of this planet, as your Anna is. Your woman.” Iceman frowned. “How can I say this? Just like your little Anna is understands animals, Shelly understands children. She has a small, but precious gift. Look at what she had accomplished with Aurora. It was Shelly who introduced the two, which is why I think it would be wise to have all the children moved together. Your woman and your den will be the ones watching and taking care of them.”
“Shelly knows of this?” Bo asked.
“She has been working on the problem and has spoken to the others. The fact children are drawn to her might also be why the ladies of your den were so threatened by her.”
“When the hell have they had time for all of this?” Bo growled.
Dominic rested his hip against one of the consoles. “The daily meetings, the bond they have with each other, right?” he asked and Iceman nodded.
“As each of you have been working on settling your people, your women have been preparing. The amount of food they’ve stored already is amazing. Even your Jaycee has learned how to save food—or can food as you call it. Each of you should be proud of what they have accomplished. I’ve never seen such driv
e from each of them, but then again they could be taking part of our side.”
Valda snorted, moving to the other console. “They have a few flying in closer now,” she said, pointing to the screen that showed a dozen Heliokillers exiting the ship coming from under it.
Bo had to admit these things were so ugly, he could see why so many of the children were having nightmares after seeing them. They had Bat-like wings, what looked like green-black slime covered their bodies, they had fangs and wart-like bubbles on their backs, and no hair.
“Bo, we will need some of your men in their other forms. Cat-like creatures live on this planet, so these things will think your people are just part of that species. It will give us some advantage later when we move this fight aboveground.” Iceman said, frowning as he glanced at Gourd. “What’s wrong?”
Gourd smiled. “My pets are hunting. Excuse me, I must leave. Comar, Dominic, I will be in touch soon.” He disappeared.
“Well, let’s hope that means he has a clue where his mate is, because they’re getting too close for my comfort. If you will excuse me, I have a woman to speak to,” King Landon growled, speaking for Dominic as they moved out of the room.
“I, too, must go. We’ll speak in the morning about Shelly’s ability with children,” Bo said as Remi followed them out of the room and into the tunnel that would take them up toward their little city.
“I hate the idea of any woman being in the middle of this fight,” White Eagle said next to him. “Do you think Gourd is close to finding his mate?”
Remi nodded. “It might be why those things are flying around. Maybe Valda’s father is still monitoring what we’re doing here. However, I know the sooner we find the fifth woman, the better I’ll feel. Can Iceman really keep his brother off the planet? There’s just too much uncertainty. I have a feeling we’re going to lose many to this battle,” Remi said.
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