by Jane Jamison
“Cuz,” whispered Dylan.
“Yeah,” answered Chance.
She looked back at Dylan then turned toward Chance again. They had the same expressions, tense, needy yet determined, ready to make their move together.
Shifting enough to bring out his fangs, Chance opened his eyes. “We love you, Rachel, and claim you as our mate.”
The same words came from Dylan. “We love you, Rachel, and claim you as our mate.”
Chance sank his fangs into her left shoulder. A moment later, Dylan’s fangs broke through the skin of her right shoulder. At first, the pain was so intense it prevented her from crying out. It seared through her, making her heart flutter. She opened her mouth as the final orgasm, the one she’d known would be massive, erupted inside her. A scream escaped her lips.
The men’s voices filled the air around her as they turned their climaxes free. Clinging together, they held on, needing each other’s touch to survive the avalanches barreling through their bodies. Their shudders flowed into her from both sides to join hers. Their sweat mixed with hers.
“I love you.” Did they hear her?
“We love you, too,” answered the cousins, as though they were one man. As though the three of them were one person.
Happier than she’d ever been, she slumped to the floor along with her men.
* * * *
“Rachel, wake up.”
She groaned and fought against leaving the blissful dream. She and her mates were playing in the warm sunlight, delighting the babies with noisy rattles and funny sounds.
“Sugar, you have to wake up.”
Peeking open one eye, she groaned again, this time at the light above her head. Suddenly, it hit her. She sat up, gripping the bed as she did. Stabs of pain came to her shoulders. Reaching up, she fingered what were already healing wounds.
They claimed me.
A smile formed even as the urgency in Dylan’s tone hit her. “What’s wrong? Are the babies all right?”
Dylan stood over her. The anger and the worry reflected on his face frightened her.
“More people just showed up. You need to get out of bed.”
Physically and emotionally exhausted, she’d fallen asleep after taking care of Holter and Brooklyn. The late-afternoon sun filtered through the thin curtains. “Are my brothers here again?”
“No. It’s a group of townspeople, both from Forever and Twisted. They’re angry.”
The sounds of angry voices came to her. Chance’s voice boomed over the others, ordering them to go away. She pulled her boots on and got to her feet. Thankfully, she’d been so tired she’d taken a nap with her clothes still on.
“Hurry, sugar. I’ve got to get out front with Chance.”
She rushed out of the bedroom toward the living area where the children were amazingly still sound asleep. Letting out a sigh of relief that they were still there, she rushed to the window and peeked between the blinds. What she saw sent chills through her.
Chance stood alone in front of a large crowd. Some of the people were from Twisted. The others she assumed were from Forever and were probably werewolves. “Why are they doing this? Why can’t they leave us in peace?”
“Because there are stupid, bigoted people everywhere, even in good towns. Forever and Twisted are no different.”
“We have to get out there and help Chance.”
Dylan tugged her away from the front door. “No. It’s getting too dangerous. You need to leave.”
“What? I can’t go. Not without you or the children.”
He picked up Holter and handed him to her. The baby squirmed but didn’t wake up. Lifting Brooklyn with as gentle a touch as any loving father could have, he carried the baby toward a large backpack resting on the coffee table.
“What are you doing?”
Taking care not to wake the sleeping child, he worked the small blanket-wrapped infant into the opening of the bag. “We don’t have a baby carrier or whatever they’re called. This backpack will have to make do.”
“Make do for what?”
The crowd grew louder with several men shouting at Chance to move aside and let them “take the babies to where they belong.” She trembled and held Holter closer.
“Like I said. For a papoose or whatever.” He zipped the backpack up as far as he could then wrapped another blanket around the baby to protect it from the hard edges and tines of the backpack. “She won’t fall out. I’ve got her secured.”
“Secured?” She sounded like an idiot asking one question after another. “I don’t understand.”
Dylan moved behind her. “Put the boy down for a moment.” Once she had, he slid a strap of the backpack along her arm. “You’re going to carry her on your back.”
“Are you kidding me? Why?” Her fear took another notch up. “You’re scaring me, Dylan.”
He got the backpack settled against her then tightened the straps. “Get Holter.”
She scooped the baby boy into her arms again. “Please, Dylan.”
Another shout startled both of them. Chance’s loud voice came, demanding that “Everyone stay back or else.”
Dylan forced her to look directly into his eyes. “Listen to me, sugar. You’re going to sneak out the back way and escape. Chance and I will hold them off as long as we can.”
Panic seized her. “No. I can’t. Why don’t you both come with me?”
“Then all of us would get caught.”
“I’ll get to the car and start it. Then you can run out to me.” She struggled to find another answer, but the fear wouldn’t allow her mind to think straight. How could she leave them behind? What if the crowd grew violent?
“No. They’re too close to the cars. You’d never make it.” He took her arm and tugged her with him.
Her legs felt wooden, too stiff to move. Still, he dragged her along, going through the living room and into the kitchen. A side door led outside, far away from where the vehicles were parked.
“I can’t do this. Not alone. I can’t.”
“Sure you can. You’re a weretigress and our mate. You can, and you will. For the babies’ sake, you will.”
Rachel struggled to keep back the tears. Her men and her babies needed her to be strong, even if she felt as weak and vulnerable as a newborn kitten. “Okay.”
“Go as fast as you can without waking them up.” He opened the door and peered out. “Try to get to Twisted before nightfall. Can you get to someone you can trust?”
She’d have thought there were a lot of people she could trust in her hometown. Now she wasn’t so sure. Still, one person came to mind. “I’ll go to Lena Fortran’s bed and breakfast. I’m sure she’ll help me.”
“Good.” He peeked out. “It’s clear.” He moved out of the way. “Go, sugar.”
She couldn’t leave. Not before she did one last thing. Clutching Holter to her chest, she buried her fingers into Dylan’s hair and tugged his mouth to hers. She kissed him hard, pouring every ounce of her love for him and his cousin into it. He moaned and cupped her cheek.
But the kiss couldn’t last long. Gently, he pulled away from her. “Damn it, sugar. Don’t kiss me like we’re never going to see each other again.”
She swallowed back a cry. What if it was the last time? What if he and Chance were killed?
Dylan skimmed his thumb along her cheek. “We’ll get through this. All of us. I swear it. Now go.” With a little shove, he eased her through the door.
She glanced around quickly as the door closed behind her. Taking a breath, she crouched as low as she could while holding Holter and ran for the trees behind the house.
* * * *
“This is getting ugly.”
Chance chuckled as his gaze swept over the crowd of shifters standing on the front lawn of William’s home. “What do you mean getting? This is already downright nasty.” He kept his attention on the men to his left.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Dylan kept close by while watching those on the right side. “Th
ink she’s had enough time?”
“I hope the hell so.” He checked with his cousin. “We might have to bring out the wolves. Not sure how else we’re going to get out of this mess.”
“You might be right.” Dylan grinned. “But that’s okay. It’s been a long time since we had a good old knockdown fight. I could use the practice.”
“Just make sure we stall them long enough for her to get away. I’ll take the ones on the left if you can handle those scrawny ones on the right.”
Dylan snorted derisively. “Bullshit. I can handle all of them if you aren’t up to it. Just say the word and you can go hide in the closet while I show them what a real wolf can do.”
“Then let’s do this, cuz.” Chance took a step toward the crowd. He’d done all the explaining he was going to do. The people gathered there weren’t representative of either Forever or Twisted. They were the kind of folks that only showed their heads when they thought they had the upper hand. As soon as he and Dylan showed them not to fuck with them, they’d hightail it back under their rocks.
A shot rang out, startling all of them. Jackson Carr and his brothers, as well as the Asher men, hopped out of a pickup, rifles pointed in the air.
“Looks like the cavalry showed up.”
Chance shook his head. “Don’t be sure. Maybe they’re here to lend the others a hand.”
“Well, shit. Couldn’t you be the optimist for once?”
Chance chuckled, feeling good that he had his cousin by his side. “Sorry. That’s your job.”
“Everyone, listen up.” Jackson got on top of a stump, commanding the crowd’s attention. “I understand how you feel. A group of us were here not too long ago, but things have changed, and clearer minds have prevailed.”
Jackson paused, letting the crowd murmur their discontent.
“No matter what kind of shifter you are, we’re not a bunch of vigilantes, and we’re sure as hell not a gang. You may not agree with what’s happened, but the Asher boys and my brothers are here to make sure you’re not going to do something everyone will regret.”
Chance let out a relieved breath, suddenly realizing how tense he’d been. “Well, what’d ya know? It is the cavalry.”
Jackson shifted his rifle from the crook of one arm to the other. It wasn’t a threatening move, but it was definitely a warning. He’d use it if he had to. “If you want to talk, we’re planning on meeting in Twisted later on. Until now, get the hell out of here.”
“We don’t take orders from a werewolf.”
Chance didn’t see who had spoken, but it was obviously a weretiger.
“Then you’ll take orders from me.” Heath Asher waved his rifle over his head, drawing the crowd’s attention. “I’m speaking for the council. Like Jackson said, get out of here while you can. Otherwise, both our towns are going to give you hell about it.”
More grumbles came as the people talked among themselves. At last, however, they started walking away, many of them going to the vehicles they’d parked down the road.
Jackson jumped off the stump and strode toward the house. “Where’s Rachel and the babies?”
“Are you asking after their safety?” Chance narrowed his eyes. “Or are you going to take over where you left off earlier?”
Jackson cocked his head. “I was only doing what I thought was best, and frankly, I’m not real proud of it, but like I said, things have changed. Miss Clara and Lena got together and made us all see the light.”
“Hopefully, Rachel’s on her way to Twisted with the kids,” added Dylan.
“On foot? Then let’s go after her.” Jackson turned to his brothers and the Asher men. “You guys make sure no one follows us. I’ll tag along with these boys, just in case they need help.”
Chance bristled. He hadn’t asked for help. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Chapter Six
Rachel’s breath burned in her throat. It felt as though it was closing up. Fear propelled her. She heard the sound of the crowd in front of the house change.
Dylan’s with Chance now.
Part of her ached to turn back. How could she leave them alone to face the danger? Yet she knew she couldn’t. Her men were ready to sacrifice themselves for her and the babies. They trusted her to get them to safety. As soon as she made it all the way to Twisted, she’d get Lena to call the council of weretigers and Jackson Carr, too. Surely, they’d come to help Chance and Dylan.
But it was going to take a while to get to town. She’d have to travel several miles. As a shifter, she could draw on some of her inner tiger’s strength, but she couldn’t shift completely and carry the babies.
She moved as swiftly as she could through the brush, shielding Holter’s face from the branches. Fortunately, Dylan had pulled the second blanket around Brooklyn so she was protected. She ignored the slices of pain as the bushes scratched her skin.
Please, let them be okay.
The prayer was for the babies as well as the men.
As she pushed ahead, she couldn’t help the questions whirling in her mind. How could any shifter be against love? Who cared what kind of animal was hidden inside the human? As shifters, they should understand how difficult it was to find love. Even with the connection drawing mates together, there was no guarantee that a shifter would find her mates. Too many people had been left alone or had given up waiting for their fated mates to come along. When that happened, they had no choice but to find love with someone else.
Before finding the babies, she would’ve bet cold, hard money that the people of Twisted would accept everyone into their community. It wasn’t as though the small town didn’t already have hybrids. Even other shifters and humans lived among them. Why couldn’t they love Brooklyn as much as they’d love Holter? How could they think of breaking up the twins? Shifters had heightened senses. They should be able to understand how important the link between twins was.
The more distance she put between her and the house, the better. Slowly, surely, the sounds of the shifters outside the home faded away. Pushing through the brush was getting harder.
Remembering where she was, she changed position. If she could reach the one-lane road that ran to the vampire’s house, she could make better time. She’d have to forget about hailing down a passing car. It wasn’t worth the risk.
“We’re going to make it, babies.” She was relieved and surprised that one or both of the twins hadn’t started crying yet. Thankfully, they were sound sleepers.
She kept moving, her body going on autopilot. Her thoughts turned back to the men.
Were Chance and Dylan hurt? Should she go back and check? Maybe it was safe now? Yet, she couldn’t go back. They’d entrusted her with the promise of getting the babies to safety and she would keep her promise.
She almost ran into the woman before she realized she was there. Dirt covered the haggard woman’s clothing. Her hair was snarled, and bits of twigs were stuck in the dull brown strands. Shoeless, the woman glared at Rachel, her dark eyes glittering.
“Oh.” Rachel dragged in a breath, leveling out her breathing before she could finally talk. “Who are you?”
“Give them to me.”
Rachel tightened her hold on Holter. “What? No.”
Light slashing through the trees glinted off the steel edge of the long, vicious knife the woman held. “I told you to give them to me.”
“No.” She’d spoken softer this time, noting the strange nothingness in the woman’s eyes.
She’s insane.
“They’re mine.”
Oh God. No. She can’t be…
“No, they’re not.” Even if the woman was the mother, she couldn’t take care of them. She couldn’t take care of herself.
“They’re my babies.”
“Who are you? What’s your name?” Could she find a way to reason with her? How could she convince her to leave them alone?
“Elizabeth.”
At least she’d given her a first name. “Elizabeth, please listen. Your babies a
re safe with me. If you don’t want them, then I’ll take them. I can give them a good life and a safe and loving home.”
Insanity blazed in the woman’s eyes. “No, I can’t. There’s no other way.”
No other way? Fear strangled her, but she forced herself to remain calm, her tone as soothing as possible. “Elizabeth, please try and understand for the sake of the babies.”
“They’re mine.”
“You left them.” Anger filled Rachel. She wouldn’t turn the defenseless babies over to a mad woman. “You abandoned them in a barn.”
The woman blinked in rapid succession. “I—” She shook her head, denying the truth. A frowned formed a dirty crease in her forehead. “I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t know what? That you wanted them?” How dare the woman leave them and want them back now? As far as Rachel was concerned, she’d abdicated her motherhood the moment she’d walked away from the babies.
“I didn’t know what they were.” A sneer formed on her lips. “Not until it was too late.”
Rachel glanced down at a mewling Holter, who was trying to wake up. How could the woman have known what the twins were? Shifters didn’t go through their first transformation until later.
“But you do now?” As much as she didn’t want to, she felt pity for the woman. Having shifter babies had to have been a shock. “And now you want them?”
“They’re my babies.” The woman’s fury flowed out of her. She lowered the knife and moaned. “I didn’t know what they were.”
Somehow she knew she didn’t mean the babies. “Who are you talking about?”
The woman took a step closer. Rachel backed up, determined not to let her touch, much less take, the twins.
“Those fucking animals. I didn’t know what they were.”
Rachel’s gut twisted. Something awful had happened to the woman. Something no woman should ever have to go through. “What about the men? What did they do to you?”
The glittering eyes welled with tears. “They raped me. They raped me, and then they showed me what they were.”
