by Burke, Brynn
I remember working a case about a girl whose parents locked her away in the basement for half her life. She was practically starved and when one of the other officers gave her food she reacted the same way. Only word I can think of is feral. It is like she is afraid that someone is going to take the food from her, so she attempts to fold in on herself in the corner, trying to hide it from everyone.
I see Wyatt grab another box with the same exact contents with in it and watch as he approaches her, popping a squat on the floor right next to her. Killian stands propped against the wall near Oksana, like some sort of protector. Elliot is on the opposite bed, two empty containers sprawled out in front of him as he works on his third and Lynx approaches me from behind.
Picking up the box that contains nothing but a salad. I can see it has tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives, cheese, but no meat. I just look at him with a raised eye brow.
What is that about?
He gives me a sly smile and returns back to the chair he was sitting on earlier.
I grab the container of buffalo chicken fingers and french fries, sitting right on the bed with all the food. I really don’t trust these people, so I am going to keep my distance until some of my damn questions get answered.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Elliot staring at me.
I finish chewing my food and then stare back, narrowing my eyes.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that? It’s fucking creepy.”
He quickly looks down and continues stuffing his face with his third box of food.
I huff out a breath and slam my food down on the bed.
“Am I the one who has to address the elephant in the room? I need answers and I need them no-” I don’t get to finish my train of thought because Oksana causes me to stop. I don’t know how I noticed it, but the glow is so bright. Jesus…her eyes start to glow, her gaze is directed right at me. My mouth hangs open and as Oksana’s body comes flying in my direction but is caught in the arms of both Killian and Wyatt. She is scratching and biting, shoving and pushing. Her eyes continue to glow, and fangs protrude out of her mouth. It’s not one set, but two.
She is fighting her hardest to get to me. If I wasn’t confused before, I’m even more confused now.
One moment Lynx is sitting in the chair in the corner, the next he is standing in front of me. Protecting me. The look on his face is murderous and he looks at the two men holding my best friend and starts to yell.
“I will ask you this yet again, please… tell me that you two claimed your mate properly. Please tell me that she is not suffering because of your ignorance!”
The two men just look at each other and back at Lynx. Clearly, they have no idea what he is even talking about.
He points to Killian, “You are a vampire, a race who struggles to control their bloodlust, craving it… needing it. And you…” he points to Wyatt. “Are a Lycanthrope, you crave the hunt, the chase of your prey. Your race is just as blood thirsty as a vampire’s…” He shakes his head and looks at Oksana with sympathy. I was right earlier when I called Oksana feral. That’s exactly what she is right now.
“That poor girl is fighting two different races inside her head because of your ignorance. Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?”
They both remain quiet.
“Do you not know nothing?”
“Hadley and Oksana are both changelings. They are rare and the only two females left of their kind, in existence. Throughout Otherworld history, the changeling women have more than one mate. They are cherished and special. In order to keep her alive, you need to claim her properly, or she could die. Do you hear me?”
Now it’s my turn to speak up. “What do you mean by claim her properly?” I ask.
He turns, looking at me he nods once, letting me know that he will answer my question.
“There is so much about these two women that you need to learn, especially since you two were chosen as her mates. I am going to tell you this now… there will be more, so if there is any hostility or jealousy you need to let go of it now. She will be unable to choose because she is destined to love you all. Now, have you exchanged blood with her?”
Holy shit. This is all too much. How am I to process this?
Yes, they say in unison.
“Have you fornicated, had coitus… fucked?” He asks and Wyatt speaks up.
“She… erm… had sex with me I guess.”
I look at him. “What the fuck do you mean ‘you guess’? Was your cock inside her pussy?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Then you guys fucked.” I shake my head and hear Oksana’s snarls getting angrier.
“Did you claim her as a lycan should?” Lynx asks.
“I don’t even know what that means. I didn’t ask to be a werewolf, lycan or whatever… it was forced upon me. I don’t know what it means to claim a mate.”
Killian speaks up, answering Wyatt before Lynx gets the chance.
“Did you leave your mark? Bite her?”
Wyatt lifts down his t-shirt showing a teeth mark scar on his shoulder.
“She claimed me.”
“No wonder she is acting this way. You didn’t finish what you started. You need to bite her too. And Killian?” Lynx asks.
“We only exchanged blood. No fucking at all even though I wanted to and so did she.”
“That doesn’t help. You only gave her half. You need to claim her and claim her now. It can be together or apart, but it needs to be done. The two species are fighting a battle in her mind and body. Being a changeling means she can take the form of her mate, but she can’t take more than one at a time. This is tearing her apart – literally. Elliot, Hadley… let’s give them some space.” He turns grabbing me by the hand. I don’t cause a fuss, I just grab the rest of my food and walk out of the hotel room with the two men.
I have a lot of questions, but I don’t even know where to start.
How about the beginning…
Yes, that is exactly where I need to start.
13
Oksana
Once again, I find myself in a state I can’t seem to get out of.
I have this uncontrollable desire to hunt, to kill and to consume blood all at the same time.
My body feels strained, cold and what I crave more than anything is some sort of comfort, warmth. My body needs something… I just can’t quite decipher what that exactly is. It just all seems like too much, like my body is going to bust into a thousand little pieces any second.
I am aware of my surroundings, aware of who is currently in the room with me. I can sense them, sense their turmoil. Even though they are here with me, I have no idea what is going on with my body and that frightens me. No, it terrifies me.
I have been through a lot these past few years and not once have I felt something such as this. It’s different now. It’s not physical pain which I can handle or verbal abuse. That is so normal to me. This… it’s more of something going on inside my head and it hurts. It hurts so much. It’s a pain that I’ve never experienced before.
As much as I don’t want Wyatt or Killian hearing my thoughts, I need them to tell me what in the hell is going on. I am not like them. I don’t know their world or what comes along with it.
“Wyatt… Killian… I need…” I don’t finish the thought because I don’t know what I am asking for. I am hoping they do, though. They have to be able to help me. They just have to.
“I know, ma chérie,” Killian says as he bends down and grabs my face in his hands. He places a chaste kiss on my lips and immediately my body seems to warm up and the fog clogging up my head lifts. I lean into him, deepening the kiss. Yes. I need this, but it’s not enough. I rip my lips from his and turn to Wyatt whose lap I am currently sitting on. I grab him by the cheeks and kiss him as well. His tongue invades my mouth and I let out a groan of pleasure. My body starts to heat up, fire radiating through my skin and I crave them in a way I never thought possible. Nor did I ever imagine this
is something that I want. I want them both, together.
I need them, skin on skin and I am not taking no for an answer.
I throw my head back and feel something change within me. For so long I have fought what’s inside me, but this time I don’t. I let it come forth.
* * *
Killian
As soon as Hadley, Lynx and Elliot leave the room, I let go of Oksana and plop my ass on the bed. I run my fingers through my hair and let out a deep breath. I can handle a lot of shit, but this is almost too much. I am the reason my mate might die… well both Wyatt and I.
I watch as Wyatt sinks to the floor and cradles Oksana in his arms. She is breathing heavily and still has a crazed look in her eyes. If I know anything, it’s that we need to get this done and over with.
Sharing is not something that’s uncommon in our world. Being alive for a long time… well you tend to get bored sexually. I have shared many times but not with men. It’s always more than one woman. I just never had the interest of sharing with a man. She needs this, so I am going to have to put my pride to the side.
As much as I do in fact want Oksana, I feel as though this is taking advantage of her. She is not herself right now. I don’t even know if she wants something like this in her current state. Seeing all the things of her past… I don’t want to cause her any further damage and end up resenting us.
I look over to Wyatt, someone who I know, but have always had a kind of rocky relationship with. Not that it has been intentional by any means, I just feel like sometimes he and his brother can be a big pain in the ass.
He looks at me while running his hands through Oksana’s long blonde hair and asks, “What do we do?”
“We have to do this, or it could destroy her.” He nods his head at my words.
“Wyatt… Killian… I need…” Oksana says to the both of us telepathically.
I stand up from the bed and approach her, squatting down on my knees I tell her “I know, ma chérie.” I know what she needs but I need to approach this with caution.
I grab her face with my hands and place a light kiss upon her lips. She leans into me further intensifying it. Oksana leans back a bit, giving me a sexy little look under her eyelashes and then she quickly turns to Wyatt. Grabbing his face she kisses him even more passionately than she just did to me.
Right now I know that I will have absolutely no problem sharing.
Rather than getting jealous of seeing Wyatt and Oksana together I find it quite enticing. If I had any doubts before, the hardness pressed against the zipper of my jeans destroys them. Nope, this won’t be an issue at all.
* * *
Wyatt
Between Elliot and Oksana… I feel like my head is going to explode. Usually my brother is the level headed one… the one who is open and friendly with all. Basically, the complete opposite of me. But I’ve noticed something in the past couple hours, ever since Hadley came into the picture, he’s been keeping his distance. Not just from me, but from everyone. He is not acting like himself and ever since finding out Hadley and Oksana are actually sisters… I believe my brother has also found his mate. It makes sense as to why he felt so connected to Oksana upon first meeting, why he assumed that Oksana was his mate. It must have something to do with their blood. I feel the same kinship to Hadley as a brother would a sister, and for some reason my wolf considers her a member of the pack.
I thought things were finally looking up for us… well somewhat, we’re still on the run from Archer and his men, but I can’t help but wonder if the reasoning behind him wanting Oksana so bad is the same reason that my brother mistook her as his mate. I would have to analyze that at a later time because right now my mate needs me. No, let me correct that. She needs us.
I run my fingers through her hair, trying to calm her. Well that’s what I tell myself but it’s more for me than her. I look over to Killian, “What do we do?”
I know for a fact he’d have tasted her blood. It’s the only way the infamous Killian would be able to track someone. He has always been a person you didn’t want to get a taste of your blood, because everyone in our world knew that he is able to see a person’s past. Able to get a view of everything you’ve done in your past. Every sweet moment to every past atrocity. He sees everything. There isn’t anything that can be hidden from his foresight. This is how I know that he is aware of what Oksana’s past entails. He’s seen it, I can tell by the way he looks at her sometimes. His eyes hold regret and what I perceive as sympathy.
“We have to do this, or it could destroy her,” he suggests as he nods his head.
Oksana whimpers a bit and says: “Wyatt… Killian… I need…”
We know what she needs but how are we to give her something that she doesn’t even fully understand. There’s no way that she is fathoming what she’s asking us for.
“I know, ma chérie,” Killian says to her as he gets up from the bed. He approaches and takes her face in his hands, giving her the lightest of kisses. His body stiffens up and then relaxes. I turn my head, trying to give them a bit of space, but a few seconds later my face is being grabbed and her lips are placed upon mine once again.
It’s not light as it was in the truck. This time it’s laced with passion and need. It does something to both me and my wolf. He wants her just as much as I do. As soon as her tongue snakes into my mouth seeking… I can feel that she wants us just the same.
The past wants to rear its ugly little head once again but I swallow it back down, not wanting it to ruin this moment.
I can do this.
I will do this for her. As long as Killian doesn’t touch me in any way, I should be fine. All will be okay, that’s what I will continue to tell myself. The thought turns the contents in my stomach. She wants both Killian and I. How is this going to work? I want to make sure my mate is happy, healthy and not on the verge of dying, but how far can I bring myself to go without lashing out?
How can I forget every horrible thing that was done to me in the past?
14
Oksana
My mind seems to clear. I think it’s because of the anticipation of what I want to happen. I quickly stand, bringing Wyatt by the shirt along with me. I want him. I want them.
No, I need them now.
I think he is just as shocked as I am with how I lift him because his eyes are wide, his mouth agape.
For the first time in a long time I feel strong and I realize that I am in control of the situation. Usually it’s someone else, but not this time. I don’t feel fear, rather excitement. I’ve already had a somewhat sexual relationship with Wyatt, whether it had to do with my current circumstances or the instant attraction I can’t tell you, but now things are different. We are in a safe place and instead of having sex forced upon me or me forcing sex upon him like I did the previous night, which I regret terribly. I want this to be done the right way and I know these two men want me just as much as I want them. I can sense it, feel their need as I stand between the two of them.
I look to Wyatt and then I look to Killian. For years, my choices were taken from me. In a sense my life was taken from me. I want this so badly, but the last thing I want is for either of these two men to feel like this is an obligation.
“This… whatever is about to happen between the three of us. I want you both to know that you don’t have to go through with it if you don’t want to, or if you don’t feel comfortable. I would never force myself upon anyone,” I turn to Wyatt, “What happened between the two of us, I couldn’t control myself and I am sorry. I am so terribly sorry. I knew, I had a feeling deep in my gut that you were going through something deep within and as much as you didn’t want me doing what I was doing… you didn’t lash out and hurt me. I don’t know how I knew, but I did and something inside me just wasn’t taking no for an answer. I needed to do what I did. What I am telling you probably sounds like some excuse and words only hold so much meaning…” I let out a deep breath because I know I am rambling on and on. I lower my head i
n shame, “I’m sorry,” I say as tears slide down my cheeks.
Wyatt grabs me by the chin and wipes my tears away with his thumbs, raising my face so I have only one choice - to look into his mesmerizing eyes.
“Oksana, there are many things you do not know about both Killian and I. We have so much to tell you. There are so many things you need to learn about the both of us and vice versa,” he pauses and looks to Killian. “But one thing you need to know is that you are our mate. We both want this and we both want you. You are our true mate… I guess in a way it’s like saying you are our true love, you have been fated to be ours and don’t ever, even for a second think that you are not something either of us want. There is just something about you that calls to me. I purchased you without knowing what you are to me, the way you carried yourself with your head held high, your defiance as you mocked Archer. You were something of beauty standing up to the person who had been nothing but cruel to you. You are special Oksana, and I would be the happiest man in the world if you will allow me to stand by your side for all that the future has in store.”
Tears continue to flow in rivets down my face. This is the sweetest, kindest thing anyone has said to me in such a long time, but I feel like there is just something he isn’t telling me. His brow is sweaty and even though those beautiful words escape his lips, his body language is just all wrong and I sense a disturbance coming from him.
I wipe my eyes and glance over to Killian who is still as calm as ever. I put my serious face on, one that is going to take no lies, no bullshit and say, “Wyatt… What aren’t you telling me? Something is clearly not right."
Is this about what I said?