Brendan chuckled. “This sure is going to be interesting. I can’t begin to imagine how they’ll handle it when they find out who and what we are, and that—”
“Shhh, Brendan. I don’t need to deal with that tonight. Thanks for not blurting out the truth.”
“That’s your place, honey. It would be in poor taste to just put all that information on them when they just got here.”
“Thanks. Let’s go before they decide to come back down, asking more questions.”
“Can I go with you, too?” Angus asked. “I about swallowed my tongue when they found that room.”
“Good call, Brendan. I didn’t know how to even begin trying to explain that,” Katlyn said.
He nodded and they left a white-faced Angus in the main house since Paige hadn’t yet returned, even though Katlyn knew Angus would rather be elsewhere. Once they were outside, Brendan asked, “Would you prefer to sleep in Tessa’s cabin tonight?”
Katlyn bit her finger. “No, I refuse to allow my parents to make me feel like I’m doing something wrong. I’ll have to make them understand how this all works.” If only she did herself. All she knew was that she had two mates and they didn’t believe in traditions like marriage, but then again, it was still against the law to have more than one husband, according to the United States of humans. Sure, shifters had their rights, but they didn’t differ from what humans were allowed to do. Of course, since they hadn’t gotten married legally, it wasn’t so much of an issue.
Brendan held the door open for Katlyn and she waltzed into the cabin, with Chase coming in last. It drove Katlyn nuts that her parents already made her feel like she had something to hide, something that she just wasn’t allowed to do.
She crawled into bed with Brendan and Chase and wished she could just fall into their arms, and do so much more with them, but now she was on high alert. She just hoped that her father didn’t barge in here, demanding they leave his daughter alone. She had no choice. She had to come clean to her parents tomorrow.
* * *
Katlyn had barely come out of the shower, wrapped in a towel early the next morning, when her parents were standing in the cabin, enjoying a cup of coffee with Brendan and Chase.
“Oh, there’s our little pumpkin,” George said with an arched brow. “Go on and get dressed and join us. We really need to talk.”
Katlyn gulped, gathered up her clothes and dressed in the bathroom before she returned. She moved to take a coffee cup, but her mother stopped her. “Caffeine isn’t good for the baby. It causes colic.”
“Baby?” Katlyn asked as she sat down. “What are you talking about now?”
“Just that I’m not an idiot. I knew when I hugged you last night you were pregnant.”
“I just want to know which one of these men I’ll be forcing to marry you. They call it a shotgun wedding, where I came from,” George said with menacing intent.
“Good luck with that,” Brendan said with a smile. “Perhaps we should let Katlyn tell you. It would hardly be fair for me to speak out of line with you.”
Katlyn demanded, “Would somebody please give me a cup of coffee? It’s about as stiff of a drink that I can have right now.”
“You should be drinking milk,” Lena reminded her.
“I do and I hate it.”
“But you always drank it as a child,” Lena said in mock shock.
“Exactly why I hate it,” Katlyn whispered under her breath.
Brendan filled Katlyn’s cup with coffee, sliding the half and half her way, which she poured and mixed in ever so slowly, avoiding this conversation at all costs.
She then took a sip and said, “Fine, I’ll tell you whose baby it is, but you won’t like it. The truth is I have no idea whose baby it is, but it’s twins and I have the feeling that they’re fraternal and both Brendan and Chase are the fathers of my children.”
Lena gasped. “Whaattt?”
George half rose from his chair, blurting out, “What in the hell are you saying, Katy? That you sleep around so much you don’t even know which one of these men fathered your child?”
“She certainly didn’t learn that from me,” Lena said, eyeing Brendan and Chase thoughtfully.
“Actually, I don’t sleep around like you mean, Dad. I’m in a relationship with both Brendan and Chase. In fact, I have two mates.”
“That’s unheard of,” George said. “Mates, indeed. You make it sound so strange.”
“You mean you’re intimate with both of them at the same time?” Lena asked, her face flushing. “Just like in one of those steamy romance novels?” Lena began fanning her face now, winking at Chase. “Sounds like fun,” She quickly corrected herself when George stared at her. “I mean, just shameful. Whatever would the preacher say at home?”
“Like group sex?” George asked, his face completely red now.
“Double impa—”
“Mother!” Katlyn shouted. She could almost laugh if the situation wasn’t so out of hand. “They call it a ménage. I have two mates and I love them both, but there’s more to it than that.”
George slapped his head now as he sat all the way back down. “What else could there be?”
“Well, you remember I called you that one time and told you about how shapeshifters—”
“They’re one, aren’t they? Werewolves?” Lena interjected, her face totally red and flushed like she was getting turned on.
“Actually, mountain lions. There are shifters that are different animals, not just werewolves. I’ve met some that are bobcats, red-tailed hawks, even werebears.”
“This is insane. I heard all about this from Fox news, but I had no idea it was as widespread as they said,” George muttered. “But I’m not about to allow my little girl to shack up with shifters. Get up, Katy. We’re taking you home.”
Katlyn lowered her head in defeat, but Chase spoke up. “It’s too late for that now. She carries our cubs in her womb, and she’ll give birth to shifter babies. If you really love her, you’ll try to understand that Katlyn deserves to live her life as she sees fit. Brendan and I love and will protect Katlyn and our babies when they’re born.”
“No, I’m not about to accept this. Come along, Katlyn,” George said as he stood.
“No, I won’t. I’m not leaving the men I love on your whim. I’m quite happy right where I am. If you insist on leaving, that’s up to you, but I wouldn’t have asked you here if I wanted you to do that. I just want to live my life the way that makes me happy, and want you both to be a part of your grandchildren’s lives.”
“I can’t. I just can’t,” George said as he went for the door.
“I’ll try to talk to him,” Lena said, racing after him.
Katlyn covered her face with her hands; the tears trailed down unchecked and she didn’t care. “All I have ever wanted was to live my life on my own terms. It’s the main reason I left home for college and never went back. My parents have always found a way to get me to bend to their will, but I’m not about to do it now.”
“It sounds like you haven’t done that since before college if you never went home after you left,” Brendan said.
“I suppose, but they make me feel like a child all over again, one who doesn’t make the best choices. I’m sure they expected me to find a nice man to settle down with and get married. That’s how us humans usually do it, but shifters are quite different.”
“Yes, from the moment we claimed you as our mate, that’s all there is to it for us.”
“I know. I just wish they knew that, too. I don’t doubt your commitment to me, and just because humans get married doesn’t mean it’s forever.”
Brendan’s face softened. “You sound like you’re sure about our life, but is this truly what you want, Katlyn?”
“We want you to be sure before you turn your back on all that you have known,” Chase said. “If your family refuses to accept us.”
Katlyn didn’t even have to think about it. “I’m sure,” she started. “I was posi
tive from that first moment that I met you both, that you’re the ones for me. I love you, Brendan and Chase, and I’m already in love with these babies growing inside me. I love my life here, the shifter children, and Shadow Creek. There’s nowhere on earth that I’d rather be.”
Her parents now stood in the doorway, and Lena said, “See, what did I tell you, George? Our little girl has grown up and has chosen her life’s path. Who are we to stop her?”
George sighed. “So she has, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. I hate having no choice other than to accept it.” He sighed. “But I’d like to get to know Brendan and Chase better, if that’s possible. I promise I left my revolver at home.”
Chapter Fifteen
Several hours later, George cast his line and it landed in the middle of the stream with a clunk. “Oops, it’s been quite awhile since I’ve gone fishing. Don’t shifters fish in the middle of the stream, not with poles?”
“If we were werebears, perhaps,” Brendan said with a laugh. “We’re mountain lions and not all that fond of water, unless we’re in human form.”
“How does that shifter thing work, anyway? Do you only do it on the full moon?”
“We can shift anytime we chose to, but only do it when we go hunting unless there’s trouble. We’re quite capable of protecting your daughter, but luckily trouble has taken a vacation.”
“I’m all for that. When the babies are due, I hope you’ll allow us to stay for a few weeks. It’s not every day our only child has a baby, let alone twins.”
“So Katlyn is an only child?”
“Yes, hasn’t she told you that?”
“I guess it didn’t come up,” Katlyn said as she stepped forward, carrying a picnic basket, setting it down on a stump. “It’s no wonder my parents are so overprotective.”
“Of course, you’re a girl,” George said. “You can’t be too careful when you have a daughter. I’ve chased more than a few off when she was younger.”
“I don’t look forward to that if we have a girl,” Brendan said. “But I’m sure I’ll be more than ready when the time comes.”
“I’m having boys, Palina says, fraternal twins.”
“She’s a very wise werewolf,” Brendan said. “So you might just at that.”
“Who’s this Palina?”
“She’s the maternal grandmother of most of the werewolves over at the Silver Creek Ranch. It’s not far from here,” Brendan explained. “You’ll find that us shifters aren’t all that different from humans.”
“Except that shifters don’t get married legally.”
There was just no easy answer to that. “No, but that makes us no less committed to your daughter, George.”
George’s pole bent down and he yanked back on the hook, reeling it in. “I’m sure Katlyn, here, will have many more babies with two shifters as mates. I’ve done some research and many shifters choose mates they stay with for life, but mountain lions are not an animal that usually does that.”
“You’re right, but Chase and I are different. We were raised together as brothers and have always had a close bond. My mother taught me growing up to choose a mate carefully, and one for life. She died when I was eighteen, but I’m sure she’d be happy that Chase and I decided to share a mate. It’s always good if one is away that the other can look out for trouble. With ranch life, you just never know how far away it lurks.”
“Seems like a peaceful place to me,” George said.
A scream pierced the air and Chase and Brendan sprung into action, shifting and racing through the shrubs just in time as a black bear had Lena cornered with a swipe of its mighty paw. One of them came between Lena and the bear and the other leapt on its back. The bear shook the big cat off, darting away through the trees with a roar.
“Th-They saved my life, George. Did you see how they drove that bear away?”
“Yes,” Katlyn said. “Like a little too easily.” Her hands went to her hips and George gave Lena a hug.
“If anything had happened to you, I’d be lost. I’m too old to figure out how to do this grandparent thing on my own.”
“From the looks of it, we don’t have anything to worry about. Our Katy has grown up and chosen two very charming and great protectors. Isn’t that what we have always wanted for her, for her to be happy?”
“Yes, except with possibly one less man,” George smirked.
* * *
A few days later, they were all at the main house for dinner and instead of questioning Katlyn or her mates, George was questioning Paige. “So, you’re a nurse Brendan says. It’s sure strange that someone would come to get a blood transfusion at a ranch like Shadow Creek.”
“It’s a good thing she does,” Tessa said. “I have a rare blood disorder that requires frequent transfusions.” She took a sip from her silver goblet.
“What do you have there?” George asked. “Is that red wine? I’d sure love to try it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any that shade before.”
“Sorry, there was only enough left for Paige and me.”
Raphael and Seth, who were invited, about roared in laughter, and George eyed them suspiciously. “What are you two laughing about?”
“Oh, nothing. You should have seen the look on Tessa’s face. She’s not one to share her wine,” Raphael said.
“Which is good, since I need it on account of my rare blood condition.”
Katlyn began laughing now and it was just too much trouble trying to even begin to explain how Paige and Tessa were, in fact, vampires and they were drinking blood. It was hard enough for her parents to accept that they’d have grandchildren that would be shifters in another six months, and that their daughter had two mates, but they seemed to be adjusting. She had lectured Brendan about asking one of his werebear friends to nearly frighten her mother half to death, but ever since, her parents sure had a change of heart about her life. Sure, in the beginning they hadn’t been the happiest, but they had relented when they realized that Katlyn was truly happy. Still, Katlyn didn’t think her parents had been a hundred percent there until the bear incident.
Katlyn glanced over at Raphael and Seth who had been courting Tessa ever since the bazaar in town, although it hadn’t gone past the flirting stage as of yet—or so Tessa claimed. It was quite apparent that Tessa was well on her way to finding mates of her own, or at the very least her own journey was beginning.
* * *
When Katlyn saw her parents off later that same day, she promised that she’d call them when the time grew closer to when she’d deliver her twins. Brendan and Chase each had an arm around her as she watched her parents leave.
“I never realized how much I missed my parents until they showed up. I really hope to keep them involved in the lives of our children.”
“I agree,” Brendan said, as her mates led her back to their cabin where they were making plans to have an addition constructed soon. She fell into the arms of her mates when they entered, feeling closer to them than ever as they tenderly kissed her rounded tummy where the twins were growing. Not only were Brendan and Chase her forever mates, they were the only men and shifters she’d ever call her own.
Epilogue
Six months later...
Katlyn grabbed Brendan’s hand with a vise-like grip as she bore down. Her other mate, Chase, was white-faced and Dr. Jenna McKinney snapped out orders to a nurse, “Would someone please help that man to a chair? I don’t need the distraction right now.”
Chase stumbled toward a chair nearby, easing himself down on it, his eyes glued to Katlyn who was working to deliver their twins. Luckily, Brendan was able to handle the labor part, even though he was currently wincing on the hold she had on his hand. Her mother, Lena, was on the other side, choosing to witness her grandchildren emerging into the world. Katlyn was weirded-out that she wanted to be here for the birth, especially watching it from where she was, but at this point, she really didn’t care. All she wanted was to get through her labor with as little discomfort as pos
sible. Katlyn began laughing now in torment as another contraction began. She’d had no idea that labor would be this bad, or it would last this long.
“I-I can’t do this,” Katlyn said with tears in her eyes as she glanced up at her mate, Brendan.
“Yes, you can. You’re strong and beautiful and the most amazing woman I have ever known.” He squeezed her hand. “You got this.”
“I-I don’t feel like any of that now.”
“Come on, Katlyn, your babies need your full attention now,” Dr. Mckinney said. “Give us a good push.”
A nurse took the opposite side of the bed where Chase had been and helped her lean up and into the push. “Auggh,” Katlyn sputtered. She took a brief rest and pushed again.
“Good job. With the next one, I need you to push harder. The head is almost crowning.”
Katlyn gazed up at Brendan. “Promise me if I die that you’ll keep my babies here in Wyoming.”
“You’re not going to die,” Lena said. “This is how childbirth feels.”
“Your mother is right, and I have never been more proud of you,” Brendan said.
Chase came back to the bed and the nurse kindly moved aside. He offered his hand and Katlyn took it. His eyes were tear-filled and Katlyn was never so happy than when she could see the love displayed in the eyes of both of her mates.
The contraction began again, and Katlyn pushed up and screamed, then began to puff the rest of the way out of the contraction.
Taken (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 2) Page 12