“So, what did Mother Fate tell you?” Clay asked, kissing her neck lightly.
“She said I needed to search my memories to help Reece and Wade find Meeka.”
“What memories?” Hunter asked. “Did you have a conversation with Meeka about where she might go?”
“No.”
“Did you talk about her sister?” Clay asked, reaching up and caressing her cheek slowly.
“Not really,” Abbey said thoughtfully. “I did sit with her when she talked to her sister over the computer video connection a couple of times. She was really nice.”
“Can you think about anything that was in the background that might give you an indication of where her sister was?” Hunter suggested.
Abbey was silent for a moment as she thought about the times she had sat with Meeka while she visited with her sister. In each instant, there was only the background of Kaley’s apartment. Only twice was Kaley at her job. Meeka had teased her about being the manager of the restaurant who sometimes had to act as the hostess. Kaley had laughed at Meeka’s comment that she couldn’t be her normal, sarcastic self when she greeted customers.
“I remember!” Abbey said suddenly, struggling to sit up.
Both men helped her, settling her against the headboard. Abbey brushed aside her hair then reached out to hold both men’s hands tightly against her chest.
“When Kaley was talking to Meeka from the restaurant, there was a drawing on the wall behind her,” Abbey said, smiling. “It was a scene of the restaurant and the date it opened.”
“How does that help, honey?” Clay asked softly.
“The drawing had the name of the restaurant.” Abbey smiled at her men, relieved and proud that she had remembered. “The name of the restaurant is Crystal Springs Bar & Grille.”
Hunter reached for his cell phone on the small table beside their bed. Scrolling through the dialer, he touched the name of their alpha and waited while the call connected. It only rang once when Jace answered.
“Alpha, Abbey remembered the name of the restaurant where Meeka’s sister works,” he said without preamble. “It’s Crystal Springs Bar & Grille.” He was silent for a moment, nodding as Jace spoke to him. “I would suggest you have someone go with Reece and Wade. They’ll need someone with them in case they lose control of their wolves.” He hesitated, waiting for Jace’s response. “Yes, Alpha. I agree.”
He disconnected the call then faced Clay and Abbey as they watched him in silence. Abbey reached out and touched his hand lightly.
“What did Jace say?” she asked him.
“He’s sending Nathaniel and Brett with Reece and Wade,” he said. “He’s also sending Ryker and Garrett.”
“He’s that concerned?” Clay asked, surprised. To send four enforcers with them just proved how much Jace was worried about the situation.
“Jace doesn’t want to take a chance that Reece or Wade will lose control of their wolves,” Hunter explained. “He’s hoping that having Wade’s brother Brett and Drew’s brother Nathaniel there will have a calming influence on them. Jace thinks that having family with them will make things easier for Reece and Wade.”
“The fact that they’re two of the top enforcers for the pack will help,” Clay offered. “Nathaniel and Brett will keep them safe.”
“Ryker and Garrett are good choices to go with them, too,” Hunter said thoughtfully, knowing the two new additions to their pack were good men. Others were leery of them since they had left Alpha Randall’s pack to join theirs, but Hunter saw the dedication the men had to the protection of Beckett pack members—especially their women and children.
“I agree,” Clay said softly. “They’re honest and good men.”
Abbey smiled at her mates. “Just like my men,” she whispered, laughing as she was immediately pulled down and covered by her mates. “Did you want something?” Her voice was teasing as she looked up at them and saw the desire burning in their golden eyes.
“You,” Hunter growled.
“You have me,” Abbey whispered, leaning up and kissing both men before settling back on her pillow and viewing her mates with eyes that mirrored her love.
“Abbey knows where Meeka is?” Wade asked as he faced Jace in his alpha’s office.
The sun had barely risen when he and Reece had been called by their alpha to come to his office. To hear this news was unbelievable. It was a gift from the Fates. Maybe his prayer to Mother Fate had been heard, after all.
Jace nodded and looked at Reece and Wade with a glare that would make most men shake in their boots. “We believe we know,” Jace said firmly. “But before I tell you I need to know exactly what your plans are for Meeka and Eric.”
“What?” Reece asked, confused. “You know what we want, Alpha.”
“No, Reece. I don’t,” Jace told him, his voice hard. Even Laurie reaching out to hold his hand didn’t sway him from his determination to protect the newest members of his pack. “I need to know what you and Wade intend to do about this situation.”
“We’re going to get Meeka and bring her home,” Wade said without hesitation.
“And what will you say to her about your behavior?” Jace asked, pulling Laurie closer against his side and smiling as he saw Jackson take his place on Laurie’s other side to effectively sandwich her between them. “You wanted to break your triad bond. You didn’t want the child that she may be carrying. How will you explain yourselves?”
“We can only be honest with her, Jace,” Reece said sadly. “We didn’t tell her about the silver levels in our bodies. We should have explained the danger to her.”
“Hopefully, Meeka will understand why we were reluctant to remain mated,” Wade continued for them.
“So you plan on holding sacred your triad mating?” Jackson asked, just as concerned as Jace. “Be sure about your intentions. We can’t allow you to bring Meeka and Eric back here unless you have your heads on straight.”
“What about the baby Meeka might be carrying,” Laurie asked softly. “Will you deny that child or tell Meeka you don’t want her to have the baby?”
Both men looked at each other, the anguish clear on their faces. Jace’s instant growls of anger filled the office.
“You’ll ask her to destroy her child?” he nearly yelled.
“No!” Reece answered immediately. Turning to face Drew as he stood in the doorway next to Reece’s brother Carter, he begged him to help. “Drew. Wade and I aren’t a threat to Meeka’s health, right?”
“Right,” Drew answered without hesitation.
“And we haven’t hurt our daughter?” Wade asked, looking at Reece and seeing that his triad partner needed the same reassurance that he did. They already loved the little sweetheart that they suspected that Meeka was carrying.
“As I told you before, Meeka’s blood will be the main contributor to the health of your child,” Drew told them calmly. “If Meeka is pregnant, the baby will be protected from the silver in your blood by hers. Just as Meeka has already started the healing process in the both of you, she is nourishing your daughter with a pure supply of blood to help her as she grows.”
“Have you realized that even though you were concerned for Meeka’s health, that was no excuse for breaking your bond?” Jackson asked calmly.
Both Reece and Wade nodded once.
“You will cherish your mate and your cubs?” Jace asked, determined to have Meeka come back to the pack with her mates. He needed Reece and Wade to be honorable wolf shifters who would be committed to love and protect her and their children above all else.
Once again, both men nodded.
Jace took a calming breath and wiped his hands over his face in frustration. “You know, all of this could have been avoided if you had been forthcoming with your health issues.”
“It wasn’t just the silver in our systems, Alpha,” Reece admitted, facing Jace and pushing aside his pride. “It was the lack of control over our wolves that made us worry the most. We didn’t want to be a danger
to our mate, our children, or our pack family.”
“Meeka has a calming effect on us that settles our wolves,” Wade admitted. “We haven’t had this much control since the night Randall attacked our families.”
Jace growled low at the mention of the man who had caused such damage and heartache to his pack members. He was glad that he had exacted justice from him when Randall had attacked and injured Dean. His son had shown such courage despite his injuries. If it weren’t for the quick medical help Drew, Carter, and Nikki had given him, combined with Dean’s future mate claiming him to help him heal, they would have lost the young man. All of them wished they knew who the woman was who was destined to be Dean and Mitchell’s mate, but that had remained a secret. Neither Dean nor Mitchell would reveal to them who she was. Jace, Laurie, and Jackson were certain that the young men knew, but they weren’t telling. They had to respect their privacy, but it frustrated the hell out of them. They all wanted their cub to be happy.
Jace held the most frustration at his inability to know who she was. As alpha, he should have been able to scent the woman who was destined to be Dean and Mitchell’s mate, but he couldn’t. He believed that the Fates were shielding her from him for some reason that he just didn’t understand. He would welcome the young woman as his daughter. He would be forever thankful for her care and help in the healing of their son Dean. Why would the Fates hide her from him?
Squeezing Laurie’s hand, he pulled her closer against his right side as Jackson pressed against her other side. He could feel the worry within their woman, and he knew that Jackson could feel it, too. The three of them had been beside themselves with worry for their son.
Randall had caused more than enough chaos in their lives. This last bit of cruelty revealed to him made him that much more determined to make things right for Reece, Meeka, and Wade.
“What about now?” Jace asked Drew. “Are the silver levels in their systems a danger?”
“Both Reece and Wade have made considerable progress,” Drew said, reaching out and touching Carter’s shoulder lightly. “If Meeka returns and continues their relationship, I believe both Reece and Wade will be completely healed within weeks.” He looked at both men in concern before returning his attention to Jace. “I’m concerned that this time away from their mate may have had a detrimental effect on them, though.”
“Has it?” Jace asked as he faced Reece and Wade.
Reece looked at Wade, unsure how to answer Jace’s question. It was Wade who finally spoke for the both of them.
“We both had better control after we claimed Meeka,” Wade admitted.
Jace turned to face them, raising his right eyebrow in question. The striking blue of his eyes pinned them with the seriousness of the situation.
“And now?”
“It isn’t as bad as it was before, but we still don’t have complete control,” Wade admitted.
“Nathaniel and Brett will be going with you to Connecticut to get Meeka,” Jace said firmly. “I’m not taking any chances that something might happen when you’re away from pack land.” He looked at both men and growled softly. “Ryker and Garrett will be going as well. They will help you move Meeka and her sister back here. The flight for the six of you will leave out of Denver in two hours. I suggest you pack what you need to stay in Connecticut until the women can make arrangements to relocate. You can rent a moving truck and a passenger van to carry all of you home.”
“Jace, you have to allow for Meeka’s choice,” Laurie cautioned him. “What if she doesn’t want to come back?”
The immediate growls that came from Reece and Wade made Laurie smile. She found great satisfaction in seeing both men realize that Meeka had the final choice. It wasn’t a done deal. They had some major explaining to do. She hoped they weren’t going to be stubborn and not ask for forgiveness.
“She’ll come back with you if you honestly love her,” Laurie offered gently. “No woman wants to be without the men that she loves.”
“You’re right, Laurie,” Jace said gently. “And no wolf should be without the woman that the Fates have gifted them.”
“Reece, Wade, Meeka needs to know exactly what you’re feeling. She needs to know that you want a future with her and her children,” Laurie cautioned them.
“Do what you have to do to bring her home,” Jackson suggested. “If you have to grovel, that might not be a bad idea.”
Jace tried hard not to smile at Jackson’s comment. Jackson, you’re not helping me stay serious, he told him, growling in frustration.
Sorry, big guy, Jackson said, laughing softly. But these guys have to realize that they’ve messed up, big time. They need to let their woman know that she is loved and needed. They need to get her to come home and bring our future son-in-law with her.
Meeka needs her men and our daughter needs Eric, Laurie added, agreeing with Jackson. We need to make sure that Casandra has a chance to love as deeply as I love both of you.
Reaching out, she took Jace’s hand in hers, pulling it toward her mouth to kiss it lightly before turning and doing the same to Jackson’s hand. She laughed softly as both men leaned in and kissed her temples before touching her pregnant belly and caressing it lightly.
“If you love her, go and get her,” Jace demanded as he turned and faced the two men.
“Make sure she knows how much you love her,” Jackson suggested, hugging Laurie carefully.
Jace picked up the papers from his desk and offered them to Reece. “Here are the printouts for your tickets. Get your asses in gear and go and get your mate.”
Reece took the papers and walked from the office, Wade striding closely behind him. They walked beside each other, striding with purpose as they walked through the family lodge.
“Do you think she’ll want to come home with us?” Reece asked Wade as they made their way outside, and trudged through the foot of snow that already covered the ground from the recent snowfall.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Even though our little rabbit has run from the big bad wolves?”
“Yes.”
Wade’s determined strides toward their home made Reece feel just a little bit of hope. He wished he had his triad partner’s optimism. He didn’t have much hope that Meeka would even listen to them let alone forgive them. If she refused to see them or talk to them, he wouldn’t be surprised, and he couldn’t blame her one bit. They had denied her and their baby. They didn’t deserve her love or the happiness she would give them.
Wade stopped and turned to face Reece as his partner’s thoughts filled his mind. His gray eyes were hard as he looked at Reece.
“We do deserve her, Reece.”
His chest was heaving with emotion as he fought to control his wolf who was clawing at him to be released to go and hunt for their mate. Looking at Reece, he saw that Reece’s wolf was also fighting for control. Reece’s usually blue eyes were completely golden attesting to the fact that despite what both men truly feared, their wolves were completely under control. Meeka had done that for them.
“We need to close up our shop and pack our bags,” Reece said finally, heading toward their shop. “I need to get to our mate and hold her in my arms.”
Wade nodded. “I’m with you,” he said. “Let’s go get our sweet little rabbit and show her that the big bad wolves are really big bad teddy bears.”
Reece snorted with laughter. “You’re getting corny in your old age, Wade.”
Wade laughed and quickened his pace. “Yeah, well, that’s what happens when your brain turns to mush because you’re in love.”
Reece smiled as he followed Wade through the open back door to their shop. Yeah. Brain plus love equals mush.
Chapter 24
Meeka looked down at the positive display on the pregnancy test stick. Despite her worries, she couldn’t help but experience a rush of happiness so profound she could barely breathe. Tears pricked her eyes as she thought about the two men wh
o had helped her create the new life growing within her. Covering her belly with her hand, she rubbed it tenderly and sent love and good thoughts to her daughter.
“Welcome, Maizy,” she whispered.
Walking over to the bathroom door, she opened it and headed into the kitchen, her step light and her heart filled with hope. Kaley looked up from her spot at the kitchen table beside Eric. Her blue eyes were cautious as she looked at her.
“Well?” Kaley asked her. “Yes or no?”
“Yes,” Meeka said, smiling.
“Awesome.” Kaley reached out and grabbed for her hand. “I’m glad. Are you?”
Meeka nodded, unable to speak. There were so many thoughts and emotions churning within her, she doubted she would be able to verbalize exactly what she was thinking and feeling at that moment.
“I think it’s going to be a great day,” Kaley said, winking at Meeka before reaching out and setting a glass of milk before Eric. “Finish up your scrambled eggs, Eric.”
“Okay, Aunt Kaley. Can I come and see you and Mommy at work today?” he asked her around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Kaley answered. “I’ll tell Cammy when she comes to watch you that you two should come for dinner.” She stood up and cleared her dish from the table. “Be sure to bring your backpack with some books and toys. You can stay at the restaurant with us until it’s time to come home.”
“Yay!”
Meeka laughed, stepping toward her son and tugging on his black hair lightly. “Do you like staying at the restaurant with us, sweetheart?”
“Yes, Mommy. I like sitting in the big round booth in the corner,” Eric told her, smiling up at her and leaning against her body. “I like to stay with you and Aunty Kaley. Cammy likes it, too.” Eric looked up at Meeka, his face suddenly looking much older than his years. “I think Cammy feels better when she’s with us. I think she likes to eat the food that you bring her, too.”
Meeka looked at Kaley, concern showing on her face. They both worried about the young woman who looked after Eric. She was a wonderful person who treated Eric as if he were her own son. The sadness in her made both of them worry.
Meeka's Reluctant Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 21