Carter nodded and turned to place the baby gently on the examining table behind him. He checked the color and respiration of the newborn, cleaning out the baby’s throat and nose of the amniotic fluid before wiping her down quickly. The baby’s healthy cry made him smile. Taking the stethoscope from around his neck, he set the ear pieces in place and gently held the end to the tiny infant’s chest. Turning to face Martha, he nodded to her and stepped back as she stepped forward and placed a protective hand on the baby.
“Keep the cub warm, Martha,” Carter told her softly, his rough voice raspy from lack of use. “You can start cleaning up this little beauty while I go and get her brother.”
Martha nodded silently, tears falling freely down her face. She handed Carter another sterile blanket and turned to gently place her newborn granddaughter on the small examining table with the warming lights above it.
“On the next contraction, you need to bear down again with all your strength so we can get this cub born,” Doc told Nikki, smiling up at her. “You’re doing good, Nikki. You’re almost finished.”
Nikki nodded and took a deep breath as the next contraction hit, pulling against Alex’s and Butler’s hands as she leaned forward and pushed with all her strength. Their baby emerged from her body, and Doc helped ease the cub into the world. He smiled and turned to hand the babe off to Carter’s waiting hands.
“You have a son, Nikki,” Doc told her happily.
Butler looked at the complete astonishment on Alex’s face. He was feeling the exact same thing. It took all his strength to remain standing.
“We’re going to have a daughter and a son,” Butler whispered, emotions nearly overwhelming him despite his efforts to remain calm.
Alex nodded. “How strong she’ll be to carry and birth two cubs for us,” he said, his voice showing his awe of their mate. “And we’ll be there to help her.”
Butler nodded and turned to walk toward the area of pack land they were scheduled to patrol. “Let’s finish patrolling. Then we need to find our mate and make that vision a reality.”
“I’m with you,” Alex told him, smiling as he walked shoulder to shoulder with him toward the north section of the Circle Three Ranch.
* * * *
“Doc’s home is over there,” Martha told her, indicating the beautifully built log home in the small cove of trees to the right. “His office has an entrance on the left side of the porch. You go on and talk to him. I’ll be fine.”
Nikki turned to look at her, concern evident on her face. “I’ll just make sure you get home first, and then I’ll go talk to him.”
“You’re sweet, Nikki, but I’m fine. Really. My mates will make sure I’m okay.” Martha’s chuckle made Nikki smile. “If I know them, they’ll keep me busy after I shift and heal.”
Nikki couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “TMI, Martha!” she finally said, blushing brightly.
Martha winked and laughed with her new daughter-in-law. “I’m so glad you’re here, Nikki. I can tell you’ll bring happiness and a wonderful future to my boy and Butler.”
Nikki smiled but was unable to speak. She was afraid to give credence to Martha’s statement. She was cautious about committing herself to staying with Alex and Butler. She wouldn’t hurt Martha with promises she couldn’t be sure she could keep.
“Go on and see Doc. I’ll see you later. Just remember, love only gets better with age.” Martha winked at her then turned and headed toward her home, knowing her two mates would take care of her and give her exactly what she needed.
Nikki nodded and turned to head toward the log home that Martha had indicated belonged to Doc Barrett. She smiled as she walked, chuckling softly to herself at Martha’s words. How wonderful that these people had such lasting relationships. Maybe this whole triad mating thing was a good thing after all.
She walked slowly toward Doc’s home, enjoying the peacefulness of nature and the clean scent of the morning air. It was so beautiful here. The Circle Three Ranch was located on the most gorgeous land in Colorado she had ever seen, and she felt the peace of it deep within her bones.
A vision suddenly hit her with full intensity, bringing her to her knees as she saw the birth of her daughter and her son. The realness of it scared her but, at the same time, made her feel such awe she could barely contain the emotions that assailed her. She had to pull herself together. She was afraid to hope that what she saw was her reality.
She knelt there in the lush grass, unable to move. Her heart was pounding against her chest, and she couldn’t prevent the moan of desperation that escaped her. She knew it was her own fear that prevented her from believing in the vision. She knew she was the one who was screwed up in the head. Despite that knowledge, she couldn’t stop the fear that raced through her. She didn’t know if she had it in her to take a chance and trust again, but she wanted to.
It was a long time before she was able to stand and make her way toward Doc’s home.
* * * *
Walking up the stairs on the left side of the porch to the door that led to Doc’s office, she reached up and knocked on it lightly. After a moment, the door opened and the man from her vision stood before her.
“Carter?”
His bright blue eyes widened with surprise. “Do I know you?” he asked firmly, his voice rough and raspy, just as it had been in her vision.
Nikki’s heart raced, realizing that the man before her made her fear lessen and her hope flourish. If her vision had been just a figment of her desires instead of an actual flash of her future, she wouldn’t know the man who now stood before her.
He sounded exactly the same as he did in her vision, and she remembered how gently he had held her babies after their births. His hair was a soft brown that held streaks of gray at the temples, and his eyes were the most intense blue she had ever seen. The long scar that ran from the corner of his left eye to his mouth was a contrasting white against his tanned skin. Just the fact that she expected him to look exactly that way made her scientific mind open to the possibility of the miracle of the visions she seemed to be having since she had met Alexander and Butler.
“No, I’ve never met you before,” Nikki told him honestly. “But I’ve seen you in a vision. Does that sound weird?”
Carter’s face softened at her words. “No, it doesn’t sound weird,” he told her calmly. “It sounds like you’ve been gifted with visions because you’ve met your mates.”
Nikki held her breath at his words. She could not admit to what he said, for in admitting it to Carter she had to admit it to herself—chickenshit that she was.
“What do you do, Carter?” she asked instead.
“Do?”
“For a living.”
“I’m an EMT. Why?”
Nikki hesitated, not knowing how much to say. Carter stepped back and opened the door wide.
“Why don’t you come on in and tell us what you can,” he offered, smiling sadly.
Nikki’s heart went out to him. He seemed like such an old soul for such a young man. He couldn’t be much older than she was, but she saw a sadness in him that nearly broke her heart.
She saw the man who was the pack doctor as she walked through the doorway. Her memory of him after her injury was hazy at best, but she had certainly gotten a good look at him in the vision she had just experienced. His surprised expression made her smile. “Hi, Doc,” she greeted him, smiling.
“Nikki!” Doc came to her immediately. “Come in and sit down. How are you feeling?”
“I’m actually feeling better,” Nikki admitted, blushing slightly at the thought of why she felt better.
“Nikki has had a vision, Drew,” Carter told his triad partner. “She said I was in it.”
“Really?” Doc said, indicating the comfortable chair in front of his desk for Nikki to sit in. “Carter was in your vision?” He sat in the big leather chair that sat behind the large desk that was cluttered with books and papers.
Nikki nodded, unable to stop the blush
that crossed her face. “I saw you helping me deliver twins. You handed them off to Carter, and he checked them over before handing them to Martha.”
Doc sat back in his chair, smiling broadly at Nikki. “That’s wonderful,” he said softly. “Congratulations.”
“Wait a minute,” Nikki stopped him. “It was just a flash of a vision. It doesn’t mean it will come true.”
Doc’s smile left his face and he looked at her very seriously. “The Fates gift triad mates with these visions, Nikki,” he explained carefully. “I suppose you can change these visions of your future if you make a conscious effort to do the exact opposite of what is destined to be.” He hesitated a moment, looking at Carter for guidance. He wasn’t sure how much he should tell Nikki.
Carter shook his head slowly. He turned and walked over toward the far wall of Drew’s office to stand before the large picture window. He stared out it to the beautiful scenery of the pack land.
Doc knew his triad partner was weighing his words. Carter didn’t talk much. If he said anything at all, it was important.
“The gift of finding your triad mates is one that you should cherish, Nikki,” Carter finally said softly, his voice sounding almost painful from the effort. “You can ignore the destiny the three of you will share. That’s your choice, of course,” he continued. “But there will never be another destined mating waiting for you.” He turned and faced her slowly, his eyes heavy with sadness. “So you should think very hard about this. Don’t walk away from the happiness that you’re meant to have just because you’re afraid.”
He walked toward the office door. Reaching out, he removed the black cowboy hat from the hat rack next to it. Placing it on his head, he nodded to her once before turning and leaving the office, pulling the door silently closed behind him.
Nikki watched him leave, feeling the deep sense of sadness that surrounded him. Turning to face Doc, she saw the same haunted look on his face.
“Doc?”
Doc Barrett looked at her, his hazel eyes slowly focusing on her. “I’m sorry, Nikki,” he apologized softly. “Carter is right. These visions that you’re having are meant to help you know that the men of your triad are destined to be yours. They’re also gifted to you so you can see and understand what your future will be with your mates.” He paused and leaned back in his chair, tipping it back slightly as he turned it so that he was facing the windows that Carter had been standing in front of just moments before. “I just know of one case where the triad members have ignored them for one reason or another. In that case, the mating was delayed indefinitely. I don’t really know if any other destined triad mates have refused the truth of their visions.”
Nikki watched Doc silently. His words were softly spoken, but she felt that what he had to tell her was going to be very important to her.
“What happened to that triad?” Nikki asked him quietly. She thought of Alex and Butler, and how her choice of ignoring the visions and refusing them would affect them. “Have the men found another woman to be their mate?” At that moment, she truly didn’t care what would happen to her. Only Butler and Alex and their future happiness were important.
“No,” Doc told her sadly, turning to face her. “They didn’t. And they won’t. The Fates only gift triad partners with one mate, Nikki.”
“But can they at least find another woman to have a future with?”
Doc was quiet for so long, Nikki thought he was going to refuse to answer her.
“Doc?”
“Please, call me Drew,” he said finally. “I don’t want to have this conversation as a doctor. I’d prefer that you know me as the man whose triad has been ignored.”
Nikki’s eyes widened in surprise at Drew’s admission. “What happened that made you and Carter ignore the mating?” she whispered.
Drew looked at her finally, smiling sadly as his soft hazel eyes met hers. “Carter and I left our previous pack many years ago,” he told her calmly. “We had no choice at the time. It was for the good of my parents, our families, and Carter. But mostly, it was to protect our mate. She was used as a pawn by our old alpha. He captured and tortured Carter and threatened to do the same to our mate if we didn’t leave.” Drew closed his eyes at the memory. When he opened them they were suspiciously moist. “Watching our mate being hurt tore us apart. We couldn’t allow it to continue.”
He looked so tortured himself at that moment, Nikki reached out and took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. “It sounds as if you had no choice,” she offered softly.
“No,” he agreed. “At the time we didn’t. Carter was nearly dead when I was finally able to get us all out of there. The alpha had used silver in each of the injuries he had inflicted on him. Carter’s brother had also been injured.” His eyes mirrored the horror of the memory as he looked so seriously at Nikki. “As much as the decision to leave haunts me, I realize that we really didn’t have a choice. Carter was dying. He still carries the scars. My parents had heard that Jace was a strong but fair alpha and they told us we would be safe and treated fairly and with respect as members of his pack. We were quite the group of misfits when we arrived here at the Circle Three Ranch. We petitioned to join the pack and were accepted. It’s been a safe home for us.”
He stood slowly, removing his hand from Nikki’s as he walked around the desk to sit on its edge to face her. He crossed his legs at the ankles and his arms across his broad chest as he looked down at her with such calm it unnerved her.
“So what about you, Nikki?” he asked finally. “Are you going to find a home here? Will you accept the triad mating you were destined to be a part of?”
Nikki sat back in the chair and faced him calmly. “I don’t know, Drew. I want to,” she told him honestly. “I’ve never had trouble making decisions in my life, but this is a big one. I don’t want to make the wrong choice.”
“Understandable,” Drew said quietly, nodding his head in agreement. “Know this, though, Nikki. Your decision should be made on what is best for all three of you. Don’t push this chance aside lightly.” He looked down at her, smiling sadly. “Somehow everything will work out. The Fates wouldn’t have chosen you for Alex and Butler if it wasn’t going to be the best future for all three of you.”
Nikki looked down at her hands, realizing that she was clutching them tightly in her lap. She knew what she wanted. She wanted to be with Alex and Butler for the rest of her life. Laurie had told her that her feelings would come hard and fast, but it was still scary to feel so much and care so deeply so quickly. She wished Laurie was around to discuss this with her.
I swear I will kick her ass when she comes back!
“I know you hold a nursing position at Denver Memorial Hospital,” Drew’s voice interrupted her silent ranting. “If you decide to stay here and don’t want to make the commute to work, I could use you around here. Carter helps when he’s not on duty, but I really do need someone here with me on a more regular basis.”
“You take care of wolf shifters!” Nikki blurted out. “They shift and heal. You don’t have much to keep you busy.”
Drew smiled and turned to walk back around his desk to take his seat. “True,” he admitted, “but we have several humans here, including one of my fathers, and there are many women who have become pregnant within the past few months. Now that Jace and Jackson have mated, there will be more matings and more pregnancies.”
Nikki laughed out loud. “What are they, fertility gods?”
Drew smiled slowly. “Actually, in a way, they are,” he admitted. “Pack history shows that when the alpha bonds in a triad mating, something happens to the rest of the pack. It’s as if every member’s fate falls into place and triad matings are formed throughout the remaining non-bonded members of the pack. I don’t really understand why, but I’m trying to conduct scientific research on it. I’ve taken blood samples of all of our pack members and am comparing them to see if I can figure out the anomaly that occurs in single triad partners in comparison to bonded triad ma
tes. I even have one new member of our pack who has no triad partner and is unable to shift. Mitchell just might be the key I need to understand all of this. He’s a good cub, and Carter and I have taken him under our protection.” He turned to face Nikki and smiled. “I could use a lab technician to help me with the research and an experienced nurse to help with the influx of babies we’re going to be delivering—including your babies, Nikki.”
Nikki’s smile left her face as she remembered her vision. Her heart sped up at the thought of having twins.
“I have a lot to think about,” she said finally as she stood and walked toward the door. “Thanks for your time, Drew.”
“Any time,” he told her as he walked toward the door, holding it open for her to pass through, and following her out onto the porch. “Just think about what I said. Don’t throw away your chance for happiness because you’re afraid. You’ll regret it if you do. It will haunt you every waking moment, and every night will be filled with dreams of the life you gave up on.”
Nikki turned and faced him silently. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him to her tightly. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I hope you and Carter can get your mate back.”
She stepped away and walked down the porch steps, her heart heavy as she thought about Drew and Carter’s sacrifice for their lost mate. As she put distance between her and the medical office, all she could think about was the sadness that surrounded both Drew and Carter. Could she live with herself if her decision made Butler and Alex feel that same loss for the rest of their lives?
* * * *
Nikki took the stairs two at a time as she ran up the three flights to the suite that belonged to Alex and Butler. Closing the door behind her, she walked toward the window and looked out across the open expanse of land that was spread out before her. She felt peace and contentment wash over her as she surveyed the beauty of the ranch. She didn’t know how long she stood there deep in thought, but it must have been a while because the rumbling of her stomach brought her back to the present with the very real need for food.
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