Panther's Pride [Black Panthers 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Leah Brooke

  As soon as the waitress left, Leland sat forward, still holding her hand. “Did incidents like the one you had tonight happen often?”

  “No.” Glenna smiled her thanks when the waitress brought the milk and their coffees. “Not like that. Except for the guys who stole my purse, usually, it’s kids just out to make trouble. I worked a double shift tonight so I got off later than usual.” Stiffening, she slapped her hand on the table. “Damn it. I won’t be able to get paid.”

  Frowning, Leland sat back to sip his coffee. “You don’t need whatever pittance he would have paid you. I can’t believe he’d have a pregnant woman working two shifts and going home alone late at night. I hope he chokes on the fucking money.”

  Joe took her empty glass and placed it at the end of table. “You’re stomach’s rumbling. When the hell was the last time you had anything to eat?” He looked up at the waitress’s approach, sitting back as she unloaded the food from her tray. “Another glass of milk, please.”

  Glenna smiled at the waitress, understanding her awestruck look. “I had a cheeseburger at the cafeteria, and a cookie with a glass of milk at the diner. It was even busier than this place is.”

  Sitting back, Leland clenched his jaw and waited until the waitress left. “So you have two jobs—and you worked both of them today, along with an extra shift?”

  Digging in to her steak, Glenna eyed Joe’s, her stomach rumbling at the delicious smells. “I was trying to work as much as I could before the baby comes. The doctor didn’t want me to work much longer, and Fiona was already worried.”

  The steak tasted like heaven, and she was still chewing when she cut into it again. “I hate that she worried. I’ve been such a burden to her, and I hated that.”

  Leland’s eyes narrowed, the anger in them unmistakable. “You’re seven months pregnant, and would rather work two jobs standing on your feet all day than call us?”

  Joe handed her the glass of milk the waitress brought. “Your feet are probably hurting like hell, and then you walk in those worthless shoes that can’t possibly keep them warm.”

  Bristling, Glenna lowered her knife and fork. “Look, I left because the two of you told me—repeatedly—that you couldn’t have a family and having a woman in your life would put your friends in danger. The pack always comes first. I did the only thing I could do. I went to my sister for help. I’m not stupid, but I didn’t feel like I could come to you. What would you have done?”

  Joe sighed. “We’d already told the others that we were leaving.”

  “And I told you that I wouldn’t let you make that choice.”

  Leland inclined his head. “We’d already chosen.”

  Looking from one to the other, Glenna could only gape at them. “You were going to leave them—for me? But, you were so adamant about protecting the others against what happened to your parents!”

  Joe nodded and dug into his own steak. “We were protecting them—by leaving.”

  Glenna shook her head, her stomach knotting. “Thank God, that didn’t happen. I wouldn’t have gone with you.” Before they could speak, she shook her head again. “There’s no way I could have lived with knowing that you’d left the farm and all of the people you feel responsible for because of me.”

  Waving her hand, she dug back into her steak again, remembering the looks on the others’ faces when they’d caught her there. “It’s better this way. I appreciate your help. As soon as I have the baby, and I’ve recovered from the birth, I’ll leave before anything bad happens. In the meantime, I’ll make it clear to the others that I have no intention of staying and jeopardizing your lives.”

  Joe sighed, sharing a look with Leland. “Honey, we know we made mistakes with you.”

  Shrugging, she looked out the window, frowning when she saw that it had started to snow. “We all made mistakes. I don’t see the need to rehash them—or repeat them.”

  Leland’s eyes shot sparks. “Damn it, Glenna, we—what’s wrong?”

  Taking her hand from her abdomen, she reached for her glass of milk. “Nothing. The baby’s kicking.”

  Joe held her gaze as he flattened his hand over her abdomen, his eyes going wide when the baby kicked against his hand. “He’s moving! Holy hell, he’s kicking against my hand.” His voice lowered, raw with emotion. “Does it hurt when he does that?”

  Smiling at his concern, she shook her head, surprised that the baby settled under his hand. “No. It just surprises me sometimes.”

  Leland’s eyes glittered possessively. “We went crazy when we realized you’d gone. There hasn’t been a day since that we haven’t looked for you. Missed you.”

  “I don’t know why you bothered to look. Neither one of you is exactly the domestic type.”

  Leland smiled. “I think you’d be surprised how domesticated I can be.”

  Amused, Glenna wrinkled her nose at him, careful to keep her voice low. “A domesticated panther? I can’t imagine any woman taming you.”

  Joe paused with a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. “You’re our mate. It makes all the difference.”

  She couldn’t help but notice the emphasis he put on the word, or the possessiveness in the way he used it. “Don’t call me that.”

  “That’s what you are to us.” Lowering his voice, he bent low. “We found a notebook that explains everything. We can be with you and the others. Our parents only got into trouble when they started getting involved with women who weren’t their mates.”

  Pausing, he glanced at Leland. “They also didn’t realize that sometimes mates were meant to be shared. It caused a lot of problems.”

  Glenna kept her features schooled, not willing to get her hopes up again. “I can imagine. So, you suddenly found this notebook that told you all these things. Convenient, don’t you think?”

  Joe smiled. “We wouldn’t have found it at all if Leland hadn’t been enraged because we couldn’t find you. He kicked the desk and a panel fell out. The notebook was hidden inside.”

  Setting her fork aside, she glanced from one to the other. “You’re serious.”

  Leland frowned. “Of course, we’re serious. We wouldn’t lie to you. Evidently, Ed Tremaine didn’t get the chance to give it to us before he died.”

  Sitting back, she regarded them steadily. “So, because of this book, you now expect me to meekly fall into your plans?”

  Joe’s jaw clenched. “You’re. Our. Mate.”

  “And just how do you know that?”

  Leland’s eyes narrowed. “Because of your scent.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Leaning close, he inhaled deeply. “Because you smell like vanilla and honey to us. That’s how we know you’re our mate.”

  Folding her arms on the table, Glenna narrowed her eyes at him. “Let me get this straight. You want me to stay with you—live with you—and accept that we’re supposed to be together because you like the way I smell?”

  Joe sighed. “That’s a cold way of putting it and doesn’t even begin to describe what you mean to us. It doesn’t begin to describe how lonely we are without you, how possessive we are of you, and how much it hurt to be without you.”

  Glenna noticed that neither one of them had ever mentioned the word “love.” Picking up her fork again, she continued eating. “That’s no reason to stay together.”

  Leaning close, Leland lifted her chin, his eyes dark and hooded. “How about love?”

  Glenna’s breath caught, her heart pounding. She hadn’t dared hope…

  Leland smiled. “You love us, don’t you?”

  Swallowing the lump in her throat, she looked away, blinking back tears of disappointment. “I loved you when I left, so it obviously wasn’t a reason to stay.”

  “Damn it, Glenna.”

  Joe held out a hand. “This isn’t the time or place for this conversation. She needs to relax and eat. She’s worn out and we need to get back on the road. We can talk about this tomorrow.”

  They kept the conversation light, asking ab
out the jobs she’d had since leaving.

  Before she knew it, she’d finished everything on her plate, and had started to pick at Joe’s hash browns. “Working at the cafeteria was fun. It was getting harder to pick up some of the trays of food, but the kids were wonderful.”

  Joe moved his plate closer to her as the waitress came back to fill their coffee cups. “You shouldn’t have been lifting anything. From now on, the heaviest thing you’ll be lifting is your toothbrush.”

  Sitting back, Leland watched her closely, gesturing for the check. “It’s good to see you eat meat now.”

  Glenna grinned around another bite of Joe’s hash browns. “Ever since I got pregnant, I crave meat.”

  With an arm around her shoulder, Joe pulled her close. “It’s the baby. He wants meat. Did you ever stop to think about how you would raise him by yourself? He’s going to need a lot of guidance when he realizes that he’s different from everyone else.”

  “I know.” Glenna set her flatware aside and reached for her juice. “I’ve thought about it a lot. I’m going to need you to help raise him.”

  “We belong together, Glenna. Because of that baby, our lives are intertwined.” Leland stood, reaching out a hand for the check as the waitress approached. “Forever. You won’t get away from us again.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Leland carried his sleeping mate from the truck, alarmed at how slight she felt in his arms.

  Something inside him warmed and settled as he carried her up the front stairs and into the big farmhouse—a home he’d helped create for the others.

  A home where he’d made them feel safe.

  Now, it would be a home for his mate—and his child.

  Filled with pride, he slowed as several of his pack mates rushed out to see her.

  Despite the lateness of the hour, they’d waited up for them.

  Vincent ran toward him, his steps slowing when he got a good look at Glenna. His eyes went wide and lifted to his. “Oh, my God.” Swallowing heavily, he lifted his gaze to Joe’s, who adjusted the blanket around her. “She’s pregnant.”

  His whispered tone, full of wonder, made Leland smile. “That she is. About seven months. It’s our child.”

  Graham grinned. “We know that. She smells like the two of you. She really is your mate. Congratulations.”

  Joe ran his hand over her leg. “She and the baby are to be protected and watched over.” He shot a glance at his brother. “I don’t want anyone upsetting her. She’s been through enough.”

  Mitch Landon moved closer, frowning as he placed a hand over her forehead. “She’s pale. Too pale. I want to check her out. Bring her by the hospital tomorrow so I can have a look at her. I want to make sure she has the right vitamins.”

  He lifted his gaze, meeting Leland’s and Joe’s. “She’s probably going to need more than a woman with a regular pregnancy. She’s carrying a shape-shifter. I’m going to go back and look at that notebook and see if there’s anything mentioned about pregnancy. We’re in new territory here, and I don’t want to overlook anything.”

  “I’m glad to have a doctor in the pack. I can stitch someone up, but this is out of my league.” Joe smiled. “She’s eating meat like crazy. She said she’s been craving it ever since she got pregnant.” Frowning, he met Mitch’s look of interest. “They haven’t been able to afford it. I want her to have all she wants.”

  Mitch nodded thoughtfully. “Good idea. I’m going to start some notes.” Grinning, he looked at the others. “Now that we know we can actually have families, I’m sure there are going to be a lot more little ones running around, and I’m going to need to learn all I can.” He smiled again. “They didn’t teach us about shape-shifters in med school.”

  Vincent reached out to touch Glenna’s hand where it peeked out of the blanket. “I’m gonna be an uncle.”

  Leland grinned, letting his gaze touch each of them. “You all are. This little one’s gonna need our guidance. You can all see her tomorrow. We want to get her tucked in for the night. She’s exhausted.”

  A barrage of questions followed as Leland started up the stairs. “Once we get her settled, we’ll be down to answer your questions.”

  Carrying her into his room gave Leland a great deal of satisfaction, fulfilling a possessiveness inside him that Glenna seemed to bring out in spades. Once he placed her in the center of his large bed, he worked at removing her shoes and socks.

  Joe shook his head. “She’s not going to be very comfortable sleeping in her clothes. I’ll get her one of my T-shirts for her.”

  Leland began to strip her out of her clothes, careful not to wake her, crooning to her when she moaned and shifted restlessly. “It’s okay, baby. Go back to sleep.” He smiled when she settled again, lifting her carefully for Joe to slide the T-shirt over her head. “That’s it, my mate.”

  Once they’d settled her, Joe lifted her shirt, bending his head to touch his lips to her swollen abdomen. “I can’t believe she’s carrying our baby.”

  Leland smiled, covering her again, the surge of protectiveness so intense, it brought a lump to his throat. “She’s home now.”

  “That she is.” Joe straightened. “I’ll leave the bathroom light on and the door partially open in case she wakes up before we get back up here. I’ll move my things in tomorrow after we get hers unpacked.” He tossed her ill-fitting clothes aside with more force than necessary. “After we take her to see Mitch, we’ll take her shopping for things that fit her better.”

  Leland nodded, knowing he needed to talk to the others, but impatient to get back to her.

  Barely an hour later, he crawled into bed next to her, gathering her close as Joe got in on the other side of her.

  Flattening a hand on her stomach next to Joe’s, he breathed in the scent of her—and slept as he hadn’t in months.

  * * * *

  They’d brought her home with them.

  He’d followed about a mile behind them, knowing where they would be headed.

  When they’d stopped at the diner, he’d driven on to be there waiting for them.

  He hadn’t been able to miss the way they looked at her, the affectionate way they held her and fussed over her.

  They had a huge soft spot for her that would play nicely into his hands.

  Before long, he’d have his revenge.

  The pack was supposed to stick together, but because of the falling out between them, some had been separated.

  By the time he and the others went searching, the adults were all dead, and the rest of the children were gone.

  They’d left them to fend for themselves. Left them to die.

  They had to pay.

  Chapter Twenty

  Glenna woke up, smiling at the feel of the baby moving inside her—so warm and comfortable she didn’t want to move.

  Nature called, though, and she didn’t have any choice.

  The feel of a large hand moving over where the baby kicked had her eyes popping open, the memory of the night before coming back in a rush.

  Joe’s smile waited for her. Propped on an elbow lying next to her, he ran his hand back and forth over her belly. “He’s very energetic, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah. Sometimes too energetic.” Sitting up, she spotted Leland leaning against the bathroom doorway sipping coffee. “He likes to kick my bladder.” Throwing off the covers, she shook off the hand Joe wrapped around her arm. “Let go, damn it! I have to go to the bathroom.”

  Looking down at herself, she grimaced at her exposed legs as she rushed to the bathroom. “Damn it. Where the hell are my clothes?”

  Leland smiled, lifting his hands and hurriedly stepped aside, out of her path. “First things first, my mate.”

  Glenna glared at him, closing the bathroom door on his confident smile.

  After taking care of her immediate needs, she washed her hands, grimacing at her reflection.

  The black circles under her eyes hadn’t been there six months ago, and her skin and hair hadn’t
looked so dull. Turning away from the mirror in disgust, she went to the door again, pausing to draw a shaky breath before opening it.

  Unsurprised to find both Leland and Joe waiting for her, she tugged at the hem of the T-shirt they’d dressed her in. “Where are my clothes?”

  Leland gripped her chin, lifting her face and eyeing her critically. “I think the ones you wore last night are in the dryer now, but they belong in the trash. I brought your suitcase up, but I don’t know what fits and what’s comfortable. After we take you in to see Mitch today, we’ll take you shopping.”

  Frowning, Glenna searched her memory. “Mitch? Do I know Mitch?”

  Joe lifted her suitcases onto the bed and opened them. “Mitch Landon is a doctor. He saw you last night, and was concerned at how pale you are.”

  With a gasp, Glenna stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself. “You didn’t let him examine me or anything, did you?”

  Joe turned, smiling as he rubbed her shoulder. “Of course not. He wants to see you today, though, and check you out. He’s going to be very involved in the rest of your pregnancy.”

  Leland wrapped his arms around her from behind, burying his face against her neck. “Because our baby’s a shape-shifter, he wants to make sure you’re getting everything you need. He’ll do blood work and keep everything confidential—even from other doctors. He takes care of all of us, and he’ll be your doctor from now on, too.”

  Glenna tilted her head to give him better access, forcing a smile when Joe reached for her.

  “It doesn’t bother you that I’m pregnant?”

  Running his hands up and down her waist, Joe smiled. “Both Leland and I knew that we could have made you pregnant—and we were both kinda hoping we had.”

  Leland nuzzled her neck again, using his teeth as his arms tightening around her. “Your scent changed after we took you, but I thought it was because we’d become your lovers. I thought we’d marked you with our scent.” His hands went to her breasts, massaging gently. “I loved that. Now, I know that it was because you were already pregnant with our baby, and I love that even more.”