Danger and Mayhem

by Becca Van

  Justice was in a quandary and wasn’t sure what to do next. So instead of thinking around and around with no conclusions, he pushed his introspection aside and started to help serve up the bacon, eggs, pancakes, and toast. Weldon was pouring coffee and as he put a stack of pancakes on each plate, Rhys served the bacon and eggs.

  He and his brothers had just put the plated food on the set table when Sierra entered the room. Her face was pink and shiny from her shower, and even though she was wearing a pair of worn jeans that fit her to perfection and a sweater, he’d never seen a sexier sight.

  “Can I help with anything?” she asked as she moved further into the room.

  “No thanks, baby,” Justice said. “Come and have a seat.” He pulled a chair out, and as she sat, he carefully pushed it back in.

  “Thanks.” She smiled up at him, blushing.

  Has no one ever helped to seat her before? What type of men has she been dating?

  Justice sat on her right, and Rhys was on her left. Weldon was sitting across from her, and by the frown on his face, his brother wasn’t happy with the seating arrangements. Right now, Justice didn’t give a shit. Weldon had fucked up big time and didn’t deserve to sit next to their woman.

  “How do you like your coffee, honey?” Rhys asked.

  “Black, please.”

  Rhys pushed the steaming mug of coffee closer to her. “You’re going to fit in here just fine. We take our coffee black, too.”

  Sierra nodded and then gazed down at her plate. She raised her gaze and looked at their plates, too.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Justice asked.

  “I hope you don’t expect me to eat all this.”

  “We didn’t put as much on your plate as we did on our own.” Justice frowned. “We forget that humans don’t need as much fuel as we do. We have fast metabolisms. Just eat what you can.”

  She nodded again and started eating. He and his brothers dug in, too. While he ate, Justice tried to think of how to ask her questions without coming across as if he was interrogating her.

  “What brought you to this part of the country, darlin’?” Weldon asked after swallowing.

  Sierra shrugged, blushed, and lowered her gaze. “I just needed to get away for a while.”

  Justice scented the lie instantly, and from the way his brothers’ noses were twitching, they had, too. He gripped his knife so hard he felt the metal begin to bend and eased up his hold on the utensil. The silence after her statement was fraught with tension. Some of it was sexual, but the rest of it was anger on his and his siblings’ behalf. Justice, Rhys, and Weldon hated being lied to.

  One of their superiors in the Marines had lied to them and had nearly gotten him and his platoon killed. The worst part about that was he hadn’t known because the changed orders had come to him over the radio. Luckily, they’d come out of the situation mostly unscathed thanks to their enhanced senses and quick reactions. None of the other Marines in their group had noticed that he and his brothers had moved faster than they should have been able to since they’d all been busy firing upon the enemy and trying to stay alive. As soon as they’d gotten back to base camp, Justice had gone above his superior’s head and reported him. The fucker had been stripped of his rank, given a dishonorable discharge, and imprisoned. Apparently, he’d been feeding the enemy information for money as well as selling U.S. arms to the insurgents. If Justice and his brothers hadn’t been shifters, every single man in their team would be dead. Including them.

  “I don’t like being lied to,” Justice said in a cold voice.

  Sierra whipped her head up and met his eyes. She nervously licked her lips and looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Another lie,” Rhys said in a growly voice.

  Justice sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face.

  “We’re wolf shifters, darlin’,” Weldon said. “We have enhanced senses. We can smell, see, and hear way better than a human being can. We can also smell emotions. When you’re scared, you emit a very sweet, almost sickly aroma. When you lie, there’s an acidic tinge to your scent. Your last two answers were lies.”

  * * * *

  Sierra had never been so embarrassed and aroused in her life. She’d figured out that Justice and Rhys had more intense and serious personalities than Weldon. From what she’d seen, Weldon was more laid back and found it easier to smile, but it seemed as if he could be just as hard-ass as his brothers when the situation justified it.

  Why their take-no-prisoners attitude had her motor revving, she had no clue and wasn’t about to try and analyze her reaction to them now.

  They’d called her out on her lies, and she was ashamed of herself since they’d been nothing but honest with her as far as she knew. Each time they’d spoken to her, sincerity rang in their tones.

  She nibbled on her lip, trying to decide what to do next. Sierra wasn’t sure if she should thank them for their hospitality and leave or tell them what they obviously wanted to know.

  She was very attracted to them and just thinking about leaving caused her heart to ache. What would she feel if she actually got the gumption up to walk out the door?

  Trying to buy herself some time, she rose and started cleaning up the table. Three chairs scraped across the floor as the men stood, too. Justice removed the plate from her hand, put it back on the table, grasped her shoulders, and turned her toward him. He cupped her face in his big, warm hands, and she pressed her thighs together when cream leaked out of her pussy onto her damp panties and her clit started aching. Her areolae ruched and her nipples hardened.

  “You feel it, too, don’t you, baby?” Justice asked as he leaned closer to her.

  She frowned up at him, trying to hide the fact that she knew very well what he was talking about. His light blue eyes were hazed over with hunger, and they had the ethereal golden glow.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She cringed over the lie and knew by his fierce gaze and the way his nostrils flared that he’d smelled her fib.

  “Yes, you do.”

  Before she could reply, he covered her lips with his.

  Sierra moaned as he plunged his tongue into her mouth, swirling and tasting every inch of her depths. She clutched at his wrists for balance when she felt herself swaying toward him. Her insides went up in a blazing heat so hot, she wondered if she was melting from the inside out. One of his hands left her face, and then he hooked his arms around her waist and pulled her tight up against him. She gasped when she felt the hard pole of his erect cock pressing against her belly and hoped he couldn’t feel how hard her nipples were against his chest.

  When he released her lips, she sucked air into her lungs as she tried to catch her breath.

  “Why did you do that?”

  “Because my brothers and I are very attracted to you,” Justice answered.

  She trembled when she felt body heat against her back and glanced over her shoulder at Rhys. He grasped one of her shoulders as he brushed her hair away from her neck. “I’d have to say that attraction is an understatement.” Goosebumps raced over her skin when Rhys kissed and licked at her skin.

  She turned to look at Weldon when he came to stand at her side. Even though she was hemmed in by three big alpha-type men, she wasn’t scared in the least, and after what she’d experienced at the hands of her attacker, that was a surprise.

  “You can deny it if you want to, darlin’,” Weldon said, then tapped his nose. “By our sense of smell never lies. We can smell how aroused you are.”

  Once more, she felt her face heating with embarrassment and stepped out from between them. She took a deep relieved breath because Sierra knew that they’d let her go. If they hadn’t wanted her to move away, she would still be caged in their midst.

  She walked to the sliding glass doors, and after seeing the sun shining so brightly, she had the sudden need for some fresh air. Sierra opened the door and stepped out onto the large alfresco area. She moved toward the railing
and gripped it tightly as she tried to get her thoughts in order, but that seemed to be impossible. Justice kissing her had rattled her brain, and she couldn’t seem to think straight.

  “We’re not trying to scare you, honey,” Rhys said as he stepped up next to her. “And we won’t push you into doing anything you don’t want to.”

  “But there’s something else you should know,” Weldon said as he stood on her other side.

  Justice moved in behind her, and even though she was once more surrounded by the Channing men, they didn’t touch her and they didn’t crowd into her personal space.

  “You’re our mate, Sierra,” Justice declared.

  Sierra spun around to meet his eyes and gaped up at him. When she noticed her mouth was hanging open, she quickly closed it again and shook her head. “I’m not a wolf shifter.”

  “And we’re so glad that you aren’t,” Rhys said.

  She met his gaze and waited for him to continue.

  “If you were a shifter, then that would mean you were a male, honey.”

  “What?” She frowned.

  Weldon entwined his fingers with hers. “Only males have the shifter gene, darlin’.”

  “So, your mother couldn’t change into a wolf?” Sierra asked.

  “No.”

  “How do you know I’m your mate? You only met me last night. You don’t even know me.”

  “You’re right, we don’t,” Justice said, “but if you give us a chance, we’d like to get to know you.”

  “We want you to stay with us, honey,” Rhys said. “Please, don’t leave Ambrose, leave us, when the bus rolls back into town?”

  Sierra shook her head.

  Her mind was screaming at her to run, but her heart and body were telling her to grab hold of these three men and never let go.

  Why she had to meet these three handsome men now when she was running for her life, she didn’t know. Why couldn’t she have met them before she was attacked and stabbed?

  If she stayed and the bastard found her, she’d be putting them in danger, too.

  That was the main reason she’d left Pittsburgh, in the first place. She’d been scared that her nemesis would target the women and children at the shelter, as well as her work colleagues. Secondly, she’d been terrified for her life.

  They were retired soldiers, and if she told them she was on the run, they would probably think she was weak. Would they still want her when they found out she wasn’t brave?

  * * * *

  Rhys could see and feel her pulling away from him and his brothers emotionally as she processed what they’d told her. All expression cleared from her face, and when she pushed from between them and hurried down the back steps toward the yard, he didn’t stop her.

  His wolf was howling and growling and raking his claws down his insides trying to get to their mate, but he had a feeling it was way too late.

  He and his brothers had bombarded her with information. Maybe if they leaked bits and pieces to her little by little, she would have been able to deal with what they’d told her better.

  His heart ached and he was so dejected he wanted to go inside to bed, pull the covers up over his head, and stay there forever.

  When she disappeared around the side of the house, he gazed at each of his brothers. Their faces were pale and their shoulders were slumped, and Rhys had a feeling he looked just as disheartened as them.

  Instead of going after his woman like he wanted to, he headed back inside and started cleaning up the dishes. The only reason he didn’t go to his room like he wanted was because he knew that Sierra would be back eventually. All her things were still here, and she wasn’t going to leave without them. He prayed that when she did return, she didn’t pack up and walk away.

  Rhys wasn’t sure he could continue living without Sierra at his side.

  Now that he and his brothers had met the one woman meant for them, they would never have any interest in another woman. No female would ever measure up to their mate. She was the be all and end all to him and his brothers, and she didn’t even know it.

  * * * *

  Sierra’s thoughts spun in circles as she walked aimlessly. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t even taken any notice of where she’d come from or where she was going.

  She stopped in her tracks and gazed about and almost sighed with relief when she saw the sign for Louis B&B. She was thirsty and was hoping she could get a glass of water and directions back to the Channing men’s home.

  She slowly trudged up the long driveway, taking in the trees lining the gravel track. When the house came into view, she gasped with awe. It was huge and reminded her of the old colonel style plantation homes she’d seen on the TV from down south. The gardens out front were neat and tidy, and the flowers were in bloom. There was a small fountain in the middle of the circular driveway near the house, along with a beautiful statue.

  Just as she got to the bottom of the steps leading to the covered entrance, the front doors opened and huge familiar man stepped out. He gazed beyond her before meeting her gaze. “Can I help you? Are you lost, Sierra?”

  She nodded and swallowed nervously. He was a big man with dark hair and intimidating muscular physique. The aura of power surrounding him made her nervous, or maybe it was the way he’d crossed his arms over his chest and was frowning at her. She’d met him, his brothers, and their wife, last night at the diner, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember his name.

  “What are you doing, Preston?” a woman asked just before she came outside. “Hi, Sierra.”

  Sierra nodded and frowned trying to remember their names. The woman must have realized her dilemma. “I’m Elsa, and this is my husband, Preston Louis.”

  Sierra breathed out a sigh of relief at Elsa’s friendly greeting. “Hello,” she said as she ascended the steps, keeping a wary eye on Preston as she skirted around him and shook Elsa’s hand. “Nice to meet you again. I’m Sierra,” she said automatically, then rolled her eyes because Elsa had already called her by name.

  “Where are your men?” Preston asked abruptly.

  “Excuse me?” Sierra crossed her arms defensively.

  “Why don’t you come inside?” Elsa said, giving her husband a look as she clasped Sierra’s elbow. “Did you walk here? You must be hot and thirsty.”

  Sierra was glad to be led away from the intimidation of Preston Louis. She looked about as Elsa guided her through the B&B and into a huge kitchen. “Sage, this is Sierra. Sierra, Sage,” Elsa introduced the woman already in the kitchen.

  “Hi, Sierra, good to meet you. Have you had lunch?” Sage asked.

  “Yes, thank you.” Since she was still full from breakfast, she wasn’t hungry.

  Elsa got Sierra a glass of water, which she guzzled down thirstily. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. Would you like more, or something else? We have iced tea, hot tea, and coffee, or would you prefer a juice or soda?”

  “Iced tea, please.”

  “Have a seat,” Sage pointed to the table closest to the kitchen counter. “I’ll join you and Elsa in a few seconds.”

  Sierra sat and Elsa chose to sit in the chair beside her. The other woman had brought a jug of iced tea, three glasses, and a bowl of sugar to the table on a tray. She was aware of the women studying her as Elsa poured the tea. She turned to meet her gaze after she set the jug down. “They bombarded you, didn’t they?” Elsa asked.

  “What?” Sierra frowned.

  “Pixie, the woman from the diner, called me last night and told me you were in Ambrose and going to stay with the Channing brothers. She also told me that you’re Justice, Rhys, and Weldon’s mate.”

  “How did she know that?” Sierra snapped. When she realized how angry she’d sounded, she sucked in a breath, released it slowly, and tried to calm down her riotous nerves.

  “Pixie and her mates could smell the pheromones your men were putting out to attract you. She could also smell how aroused you were.”

  “Oh
god.” Sierra covered her face. This was all getting too much. She hadn’t even been in Ambrose for twenty-four hours and she found out that shifters were real and three men were claiming to be her mate.

  “We’ve been where you are,” Sage said as she sat.

  Sierra uncovered her face and wrapped her hands around the cool glass. She was so anxious, she was hot and sweaty.

  “Hey, don’t stress so much.” Elsa patted her arm. “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to in the end.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Sierra asked.

  “We know how strong the pull, the attraction is to your mates,” Sage said. “We felt it, too, when we first met our men.”

  “How many men do you have?” Sierra blurted out and felt her cheeks heat.

  “I have three.” Sage smiled dreamily.

  “So do I.” Elsa waggled her eyebrows and giggled. “I was so damn scared of Preston, Gabe, and Liam when I first met them.” Her eyes became shadowed with sadness. “I lost my parents and sister in a fire and had nothing left in my hometown of Austin, Texas, and I moved locations. The fire that killed my family was arson, and the arsonist was a crazy bastard intent on killing me, too. He followed me here, and if it hadn’t been for my mates and the other men in Ambrose saving me, I’d probably be dead.”

  “They’re all good men,” Sage said. “My mates, Bladen, Daxon, and Cason, along with the other men, rescued me from being shot and killed. I was beaten and nearly raped by a guy I was dating. He was a lawyer and his asshole of a father was the DA. The case went to trial, but the bastard got off on a technicality. The prick’s reputation was in tatters, and he was hell-bent on retribution. He almost succeeded.”

  “What have the Channing brothers told you?” Elsa asked.

  “That they’re wolf shifters, and I’m their mate.”

  “That was fast,” Sage frowned.