by BA Tortuga
By the time she was back in her part of town, she felt comfortable enough to head to the path where Mike had been attacked. He’d been going to buy some Coke and some cashews when the wolf had jumped him from behind, tried to drag him off into the bushes. Given that Boulder was one of the best walking towns in the country, no one would have thought it was odd to walk to the store.
She followed a dip in the trail, watching for changes in the light, for anything that might give her an impression of what happened, magickal or otherwise.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Wendy’s voice came from behind her, making her jump a mile.
“I’m,” looking for hairs or something for a spell so she could identify who hurt Mike, “walking.”
“Bullshit. This is where Mike was attacked. Jesus, Steph, you’re covering for them, aren’t you?” Wendy looked so mad.
“Oh, fuck off, Wendy. I am not! They didn’t do anything. I thought you were my friend!”
“I am! You’re just not rational about those two.” Wendy ran a hand through her hair, which was down, bushy and blonde. So she was off duty.
“They were with me, Wendy. They didn’t hurt Mike.”
“With you?” Wendy stared, hands on her hips. “You went out with Mike and then let them come over?”
“They came over. Lord and Lady, Mike and I didn’t work out.”
What a bitch. Wendy could really be a hard-ass, but she’d never taken it out on Steph before.
“Oh, Steph, I’m sorry.” Wendy blew out a hard breath. “I’m just freaking out, thinking it’s my fault he got hurt.”
“Your fault? Why would it be your fault?”
“That’s something I’d like to know.” A big, hairy man Steph had never seen before came up behind Wendy.
Wendy twirled around and took a step back. “Who are you?”
The man growled deep in his throat, the sound making Steph want to flop on the ground and whimper. “That’s my question for you, stray.”
Drawing herself up, Wendy growled. Steph felt the magickal energy in the air, crackling like lightning. She backed up a little.
“I’m a police officer and you’re about to get your ass taken to jail, mister,” Wendy said, low and snake mean.
“You’re a wolf and you’re in my Packlands, threatening my pack.”
“Oh!” Steph gasped. “You’re Brett!”
Jordan and Shaw’s Brett. The alpha with a capital A.
“You’re the mate, huh?” He circled Wendy and came to her, holding out a hand. “Thanks for having the boys’ backs.”
“I have to.” She loved them. They were connected, even if it wasn’t the way the boys thought. She shook Brett’s hand. “They didn’t hurt anyone.”
“I know.” Brett smiled at him. “So the question is, who did?”
“Hello! Are we all one little happy, furry family?” Wendy looked as if she was going to blow a gasket. “I set him up with you and then he gets torn up. I can’t— Arrrr.”
“Wendy, I swear to you, my boys didn’t do this.” She was going to find something—fur, a claw, something—to prove it.
Wendy arched an eyebrow. “Yours?”
“Oh, stop. It’s a long story, and if you’re still my friend after all this, I’ll tell you over tequila.” Steph had taken all she could stand.
When Wendy opened her mouth to argue, Brett slapped her butt with one huge hand. Steph had never heard her friend squeak like that. Heck, she’d never thought someone could do that to Wendy and not lose an arm.
“You’re lucky I don’t have my piece with you, you fuck!”
“I’m lucky? You probably would have drawn down on Stephanie here in the state you’re in. I can fucking smell your panic.”
Steph couldn’t smell anything, but the air itself was snapping with heat, fury, something odd. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but she’s freaking out.” Brett casually shifted, moving halfway between her and Wendy.
“I am not freaking out!” Wendy was shouting, though, shaking, her face red.
“I don’t… Wendy? Honey?”
“You just…” For a second, Wendy looked panicked, truly panicked.
“Stop.” Something magickal popped, just like a cork, when Brett barked at Wendy.
Wendy immediately rocked back on her heels, her face crumpling up as though she might cry. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Steph went to her, wrapped her arms around her best friend. “What’s wrong, honey? You can tell me.”
“I don’t know. I thought for sure I wouldn’t ever.” Wendy gasped a little, hugging her back. “This is all my fault.”
“Nonsense.” Whatever happened, Wendy was one of the good guys.
“No. He followed me here. I can smell him now. I thought at the hospital I could, but it was so medicinal. He—”
“He who?” Brett asked, coming to peer into Wendy’s face. God, he was big.
“It’s not your problem!” Wendy snapped.
“My Packlands, my problem.” Brett got right in her business, which put him right at Steph’s ear.
“Guys. Guys, careful.” Things were getting a little intense.
Brett grabbed Steph by the upper arms and moved her by the simple act of picking her up and setting her down out of the way.
Okay. Okay, whoa. Also, wow. Steph didn’t have the foggiest idea what to do next.
“You’re an asshole. The goddamn alphas always are. I really need to find a town without a goddamn pack.” Wendy poked Brett in the chest with one finger.
Brett’s nostrils flared, then the man’s eyes went gold as she’d only seen her boys’ do. “Who is attacking people in my town!”
A low growl sounded behind Steph and she spun, staring at a huge, dark wolf crouching there in the grass, teeth bared as it watched her.
“Uh. Guys?”
“Shit!” Brett whirled, and it was as though she was watching a movie or something. Where there had been a man, there was a wolf, a big, fuzzy gray one. He snarled, hackles up. That was damn impressive.
“Wendy?” Steph backed up a step. “Wendy, oh Goddess.”
“Go, Steph. Run. You’re just going to get hurt if you stay.” Wendy’s eyes were glowing. “I’ll call you.”
“Okay. I… I’ll have my phone…” She took off in a dead run, her heart slamming in her chest as she sprinted to her car. She could hear war happening behind her and she got to her Prius and slammed the door, grabbing her phone to call 911.
When Jordan answered, she almost dropped the phone. She hadn’t called the boys, had she? She pulled the phone back, Shaw’s picture on the screen. Damn
“Steph? Baby girl, what is it?”
“Jordan? Jordan, there’s a big wolf and Wendy and your boss, I mean the big guy, the lumberjack one, they’re all fighting and I was going to call the police because they told me to run and I did, but I’m in the car and I don’t know what to do and I called you!”
“Breathe, baby. Just breathe. Are you out of harm’s way?” Jordan could sound so reasonable, so calm. It gave her confidence.
“I’m in my car.” She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and tried to center.
“Good. I want you to come here. To the ski shack out past Mountain Park. Okay?”
“Now? Shouldn’t I help…” She wanted to go to them, more than anything. Steph started the engine, starting to roll away when something hit the hood with a thump. A wolf, running hard, followed by two others. She couldn’t help her scream.
“Steph? Baby?” She could hear Jordan’s voice, sounding tinny where she’d dropped the phone to the floorboard.
“Jordan!” She stepped on the gas, in pure panic mode. “Jordan, I’m coming!”
Wendy and the big guy looked as though they could handle themselves.
Chapter Ten
Jordan paced, waiting for their girl to show up. He wanted to go after her, to make sure she was safe. Shaw had pointed out that they might miss her, or
worse, hit her on the road if she was driving too fast.
Her tiny little blue car was making the incline, just barely, but he could see it now, crawling toward them.
Shaw ran out to the end of the short drive off the road, waiting for her. They’d both been frantic, but Shaw was going to make himself sick.
The car stuttered, then came on, Steph pulling into the drive, Shaw pacing her on the short distance in.
When she sprang out of the car and came at him, Jordan caught her, holding her close. “I’ve got you, baby girl. I’m sorry we weren’t there.”
“Jordan.” She was shaking. “Jordan, I just left Wendy out there. I just… I’m so sorry. I was stupid and scared and…”
“Shh. Come on.” He picked her up while Shaw dealt with shutting down her car and getting her lights turned off. She was shaking, shocky and pale.
She stayed close, sniffling. “I knew you didn’t do it. I told them. My boys wouldn’t do that.”
“Of course you did.” He wanted to howl his pleasure to the night. Her boys. They were hers again. Maybe this was a good thing, even if it had scared her. Deep down she knew what her thinking mind might not yet.
Her hair was tangled, and she looked exhausted. About as exhausted as Shaw did.
“She’s okay, mate?” The front door was closed, locked, Shaw staring.
“She will be. Our brave girl.” He was torn between being incredibly proud of her and wanting to beat her ass.
“Good.” Shaw headed over and grabbed her hand. “Don’t ever do it again.”
“Do what?”
“Whatever. Leave us.”
“I was at home.” She settled deeper into Jordan’s arms, just where he wanted her.
“You went out with that other guy!” Shaw just sounded outraged. So cute.
“Uh-huh. You asked me to do magick to find your mate.” Steph sat up and Jordan grabbed her, rumbling in his chest. His girl. Stay.
“You’re our mate.” Shaw leaned in. “You know that now, right?”
“I know I love you both. I don’t know how the rest will work.”
Jordan chuffed softly. She didn’t have to know. That was, sort of instinctively, his job. He was good at logistics, once stubborn women understood the basics.
She was still going to balk at biting.
Shaw leaned close, kissed her, then settled close. “Our mate.”
He was damn happy she was safe. He hugged her tight, then put an arm around Shaw to hold his other lover. Jordan was confident that alpha Brett would handle the real criminal, leaving them time to bond.
And if not, if that bastard came here, Jordan would tear his throat out, protecting his mates.
She stopped shaking after a while and Jordan nudged her face up so he could kiss her.
Her lips opened and she sighed, fingers reaching for Shaw.
Shaw moaned a little and pushed into the kiss. It was more gentle than hot, but the three of them connected and it felt good. So good.
Steph’s hand was on his belly, solid and warm, moving in slow circles. He could have stayed right there all night, but his damn phone came to life, the Lumberjack Song ringing out. Brett.
“Hello?”
“Do you have her?”
“You mean Steph? Yeah. You get him?” He sure hoped this was all over.
“No. The son of a bitch gave us the slip and his fucking scent is everywhere. I want you two to keep her with you, safe. He saw her, knew she ran.”
“Shit. I could help you with the hunt.” Not that he had any real desire to leave Steph and Shaw unprotected, but he would be handy.
“You could, but we’re heading back to the hospital, make him come to us.”
“We? That Wendy lady still with you?” Steph glanced up at his words, sniffling a little. He figured she’d want to know about her friend.
“Yeah.” He heard Brett’s growl. Oh, someone was riled. “She’s lucky I was here.”
“You leave Stephanie alone, you pushy fuck!”
“Get off me!” Man, that was pure command tone in Brett’s voice. That Wendy chick had balls of solid brass. “You keep her there, keep her safe. I’ll deal with the new crazies. Plural.”
“I will. She’s safe.” He wasn’t letting her out of their sight, not right now.
“Good deal. I’ll keep you updated.” Brett hung up and Jordan hugged Steph tight.
“Your friend is okay.”
“Oh, good. Did they catch the man?”
“No.” Damn it all. Shaw stiffened, pulling back to look at him. “They’re trying to lure him out.”
“I… Do you think I should go to the hospital? Make sure Mike’s okay?”
“No.” Brett had made his order extremely clear. “We need to stay here, stay out of the way.”
“But—”
He growled low. “No, Steph. We stay.”
Steph blinked at Jordan, that low growl infuriating and arousing as fuck all at once. “What do you—”
Her phone rang and she answered. “Yeah?”
“Don’t let that motherfucker tell you what to do.” Wendy sounded absolutely enraged.
“You mean Jordan?”
“No. I mean that fucking alpha son of a bitch.”
“Oh. I, I don’t know him. I’m okay.” She looked at Jordan, then at Shaw, whose hand was still around her thigh.
“You don’t have to stay with them, honey. After what they did…”
“I know.”
She could see Jordan’s nostrils flare, and that growl got louder. If Wendy wasn’t careful, she’d never get invited to dinner.
The thought almost made her giggle.
“Don’t get involved with them. Don’t let them bite you.” Wendy was growling too. “Fucking men.”
God, they made her head hurt.
Jordan finally just took the phone. “She needs to rest. Brett will keep us posted.” Then he clicked her phone off.
“Jordan.” That was incredibly bossy. Incredibly. He had to stop that.
“What? She’s freaked out and she’s taking it out on you.” Shaw was the one to answer and he looked incredibly sure.
“It’s been a freaky day! Has it only been a day?”
“Yeah.” They both said it together. Jordan chuckled. “Do you need anything, baby girl? A drink or some food?”
“No. I just need to figure out what I’m doing. Good thing I fed the cats last night.”
“Yeah.” Jordan made a face. He really didn’t get along with her cats.
She chuckled. “I promise not to move in with you and infect you with kitty germs.”
“Bullshit. You’ll just have to leave the cats at the shop when you move in.” Jordan pinched her butt.
“What shop?”
Shaw chuffed. “The one you’ll do your magick in, lady-mate, when you move.”
“Our place is too far out of town for all your customers. Hell, we’re up here during the moon most of the time. That’s even farther. You’ll have to have a shop.”
She’d lost track of the conversation, somehow. They obviously had a plan she didn’t know about. Something that involved her moving.
“I have a place. You know, the house where I live?”
Jordan’s hand was stroking her back, moving in long, slow strokes. Soothing. He was mesmerizing.
“Mmmhmm. You could make it your shop. It’s cute.”
“It already…” Her eyes crossed, nipples going hard.
“Exactly. Why move the cats?” Jordan kissed her neck.
“I wasn’t.” Her lips parted, her body flushing with heat.
“Oh, good.” Shaw moved in, his hands on her hips, his lips sliding along to her ear.
She’d lost the train of the conversation altogether; her focus on those touches. They’d always done that to her, their bodies and hands and mouths overpowering her good sense. Now that she’d admitted they were her boys for good, she couldn’t even worry about it.
Her shirt was pushed up, Jordan murmuring ha
ppily when he found she’d run out of the house without a bra.
Shaw helped drag her up, lifting her enough to work at her jeans and her undies.
Jordan moaned as she slipped up along his body, his hands cupping her breasts, thumbs sliding across her nipples. He always knew when it was time to take it to the next level, always knew when she was moving from comfort to arousal. She rocked against him, her body heating up.
“My mates.” Jordan’s words brushed against her skin, and she shivered.
Shaw made this happy noise, crowding up against her, his body warm and hard. “Our girl.”
“My boys.” She blinked at Shaw. “When did you get naked?”
“I’m like lightning.” He grinned at her before kissing her silly.
She moaned, then arched as wet heat surrounded one of her nipples, Jordan’s mouth hungry. Her boys were ready for her, both hard, both eager. It was as if she could almost hear their thoughts, and they were all pornographic. Between that and the buzz of magick that seemed to be growing in the air, it made it impossible to think.
Jordan bent her back against Shaw, lips moving over her breastbone. He was hot as fire.
“Want you.” She moaned as his mouth found a hot spot on her throat.
“How do you want us, honey?” Shaw kissed her shoulder, her upper arm.
“Hmm? Now is good.” Her chin lifted, Jordan starting to nibble. “No biting.”
“Oh, I think biting is mandatory.” He nipped at her, not enough to break the skin, but that might be on the way.
She shook her head. “You…” God, that felt so good. “You know the rules.”
“The rules have changed, baby.”
Shaw’s lips met Jordan’s on her neck, and she moaned, needing them to touch her, love on her. They teased her with kisses, and she could hear them kiss each other, right there next to her.
She reached down and unfastened Jordan’s jeans, fingers searching for his cock.
He lifted up, letting her get to him. His cock pushed right into her hand, so hard it bounced a little.
“Yes…” Steph groaned, her thumb sliding over the slick heat at the tip.
