by Dances
"How did we get into this mess?" Lucas asked quietly. "We should have just taken off the damned masks on the first night. We knew she was different, should have told her it all then, before she got pregnant! What a state of affairs."
"We have to tell her soon, early today if possible. When she was crying, I asked her what she was thinking about. She said the day after tomorrow-her return to the States. She obviously doesn't want to go, maybe doesn't want to leave us. We have to tell her, can't be good for the bairn if she's weeping all the time! It's not good for her either, but the bairn puts a little more urgency on this."
"The bairn does nothing. I don't want her to even catch that flight without one of us seated beside her and with the sole intention of packing everything up to ship over here! She's staying. I'm not losing my mate because we've fucked up this situation. Mo chreach!" he cussed angrily and smacked a hand against the chair. A small splintering sound could be heard in the silence of the room.
"Calm down, Caden. Getting angry won't help. None of us want to lose our mate, but it's her choice!" Lucas replied quietly.
"It's not her fucking choice. I will not live without my mate, Lucas," Caden warned, his golden eyes shifting to those of his wolf.
"Alright, Alpha," Lucas said, trying to appease, but there was snap in his voice, "we just have to phrase it differently to Jada. If we turn up with a fait accompli, she'll just return to the US anyway! Tact and subtlety is necessary here. The babe might sway her mind a little. I can't imagine Jada wanting to be a single mother, so that's in our favor. But she's a modern woman with a career in America. We must tread with care."
Caden tilted his head, his beast very much in presence. "I need to run," he growled. "She should be at the homestead, Beta," he told Lucas quietly, "Protected. Our bairn is in her womb. It's not secure here." As he spoke, the hair on his head rippled, shifting from shining black hair to a long coarse fur. That he was unable to control that small shift spoke of his unease.
"Alpha, she's fine. The others know she's ours. They won't hurt her. They know the consequences. We'll get her to the homestead soon, a few days won't hurt. The bairn is safe as long as she is and nothing will happen to her here. It's her friend's house. Larissa is aware that Jada is our mate. I spoke to her about it only yesterday. Jada is safe."
Caden's eyes clenched shut, his nails shifted and transformed into long claws, which ripped at the cloth on the arms of his seat. "She'd better be," he growled roughly.
Phelan, who'd watched the scene with interest, intervened. "Jada wants to go for a walk. Alpha, you shouldn't go." When Caden growled, Phelan lowered his eyes, submitting to the Alpha. "It may be wise for Lucas to go. He's used to being diplomatic. Perhaps he can soften her up to the idea of her living with all three of us."
Lucas answered calmly, fully aware of the flashing eyes that glared at him. "Phelan's right. Your beast is in control. That won't change by being around our pregnant mate. Do you want to frighten her?"
"Nay." Caden thrust his jaw out angrily. "Watch her. Ensure her safety, Beta."
"Of course." Lucas bowed his head and stood up to take his leave.
As the door shut behind him, Caden's head spun around to face Phelan. "I hope you treated her carefully, Gamma."
"Aye, Alpha." Phelan cocked his head to the side. "Fear not, I would rather you rip out my throat in a challenge than harm one hair on my mate's head. She's prepared for all three of us now." It had been risky to tell him that, but Phelan knew that he'd had to tell Caden what had happened the night before.
The meaning behind that sunk in and a flash of approval tinged Caden's face. "Good. That's the way it should be."
* * * *
With a tired stretch, Jada stood in front of her closet and chose a dress for the night's dancing. She couldn't believe it was the final night with her three men. Just the thought made her feel queasy, but it also meant that she wanted to look damned hot! A girl could feel sexy and sick at the same time, right? She damn well hoped so!
Grimacing, she dragged a green dress off the rail and shoved it over her head. It was tight and clung to her body. She was too tired to really take in her appearance, but she thought she looked good. The three of them would like it. That was all that counted.
Rummaging through her bag for a clip, she hastily grabbed her hair and twisted it, attaching the twist to her head with the clip. Taking a peek in the mirror, she was relieved to see that it looked sexy in a 'you've just been tumbled' sort of way. Flicking a hand, she headed for the door and started the walk to the dining hall. Looking around in shock, she noticed that instead of the one long table that ran down the center of the room, there were over twenty smaller tables, each seating a minimum of two and a maximum of four. She glanced around the room and saw the table where Lucas, Caden, and Phelan all lounged casually. Heading over to that table, she smiled as they stood for her and Caden pulled out the seat beside him. Taking it with a quick grin, she took a sip of the water one of them had poured for her. "Why the change of scenery, I wonder?" she asked.
Caden answered. "I requested it."
Her head spun around in shock. "What?"
"I asked Larissa to seat us this way, I don't want to share you with the others," Caden replied easily, ignoring Lucas' glare of reproach.
Jada's eyes opened wide in surprise, "And Larissa complied? That's unlike her!"
"Of course."
It was said so simply that it was obviously something he'd taken for granted. "What the hell do you mean 'of course'? It's Larissa's castle. You're not her boss!"
Lucas cleared his throat, replying diplomatically. "What Caden means is that he pulled in a favor. Larissa didn't mind." He smiled. "You look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you, Lucas, I'm glad you think so," she answered warmly, a little flustered. As a diversion it worked magically, but the thought didn't stray altogether. Her best friend never complied with anyone's wishes unless she had to. Larissa was far too mule-headed and stubborn to just change her plans overnight for one lone guest. What the hell did Caden have on her? Was she in some sort of trouble with him? She chided herself at the thought. What kind of trouble could she be in with Caden? It wasn't as though he was a cop or anything!
"Lucas isn't the only one," Phelan murmured, eying the emerald green dress she wore with pleasure and possession in his eyes. A lace insert covered her breasts from view, but they were on sight nevertheless. The material clung to everything her body possessed, spotlighting a body made for all three of them to fuck.
She grinned mischievously at them all and took another sip of water, moving back uneasily when two waiters served the starters. She took a look at the dish in front of her and grimaced as that queasiness returned full blast. Her stomach churned a little as she eyed the plate filled with food. With a sigh, she realized it was one of those meals that Martha would have made for her, what with it being her final night here in Scotland. Just thinking of the woman made her feel intensely guilty. She hadn't been to visit her in the kitchen! Had been so hung up on these three guys instead, she hadn't even thought about it. She would have to make time to see her before she left tomorrow. She'd never forgive herself for not visiting with the old woman who looked upon her as family.
Lifting her fork, she played with the small salad for a moment, tried for Martha's sake to eat a little, even pressed a slice of tomato into her mouth, quickly swallowed it and regretted it. She managed not to make a fool of herself by throwing up into her dinner plate, but it was a close thing. She sat back and gave the men an uneasy smile. "I'm not hungry."
Phelan frowned. "You ate no breakfast nor lunch, Jada. You must eat something! It's not good for the ...." He broke of abruptly then said quickly, "It's not good for you to have eaten nothing all day! At least have some of the quail. The protein is good for you."
"I can't. I feel a little queasy," she admitted, knowing that had she continued to fob them off with trite platitudes, they would have demanded to know the real reason for her lack
of hunger.
They all nodded in understanding and on reflection said surprisingly little. Only Caden said anything at all. "Would you like a cup of tea to settle your stomach?"
Jada refused with thanks, but her eyebrows quirked in surprise at their lack of comments. The topic of conversation soon changed and she joined in, eager to focus on something else rather than the food in front of her! Conversing with these men was a wonderfully freeing experience. She could be herself, no airs and graces were necessary, no need to pump up their egos or soften her words. They took her as she was and she loved them for it. There, she'd said it- well, mentally! The more she thought it, the easier it became to even contemplate.
The meal passed quickly, too quickly. She wanted to cry at how unfair it was. Why did the time she had left with these three wonderful men have to pass so fast?
Music sounded up in the ballroom as the guests finished their desserts and although she tapped her feet to the beat, Jada knew that she didn't have the energy to dance or any real desire to work up a sweat in the crowded ballroom. When Caden stood and pulled out her chair, taking her arm as he stood, she asked quietly, "Can we walk in the gardens?"
"Of course," he conceded with a smile, as they neared the front door, he removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. Caden walked next to her. Phelan and Lucas walked behind and to the side of her. She was flanked on all sides by them once more and Jada realized with a sigh that there was nowhere else she'd rather be for all time.
"Let's walk around the back. I prefer the kitchen garden. All the herbs and vegetables that are grown there perfume the air." She sighed wistfully. Within a few moments, they'd walked around the perimeter of the castle and had reached the kitchen garden. Little was said, but she picked her way to the mint plant and crushed a leaf between her fingers. The pungent smell seeped into the air. She smiled a little as she lifted her fingers to her nose.
"Jada, we have to talk." Caden's voice broke into the quiet night air.
"We do?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course, we do!" he replied impatiently. "I-we have never asked you how you feel about us, but I like to think that we haven't had to. I believe you feel the same way as we do. I know you have a career in America, but we-we would like to ask if you would be willing to try staying with us for a while ...." His voice trailed off, although she could see he wanted to say something else.
Compressing her lips, she pressed down hard as she realized that she had to tell them about her infertility now, before they got any deeper. It was only kind, both to them and herself, to tell them now. She said nothing, head still turned to the mint plant, eyes clenched shut. When Caden grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him, he sighed as he took one look at her sad face.
"Jada, what's wrong?" he asked softly. "Is this such a surprise?" When she shook her head, he smiled quizzically and questioned, "Well then, what's upsetting you?"
She opened her eyes, looked at the feeling in his. They burned meaningfully at her, telling their own story. No word of love had been mentioned, but his eyes told her how he felt. With a broken sob, she realized that she couldn't tell him, couldn't tell them. How could she? To see that look of intense love change to one of disappointment, for any growing closeness between them to fade, for him-them to start distancing themselves from her. She couldn't stand it. Her heart wouldn't take it. Pulling herself out of his grasp, she lifted her skirt and ran to a copse of trees that littered the back garden of the castle. She heard him say, "Leave her be." The other two had obviously started to run after her and for his order to be obeyed made her sigh in relief. No way could she outrun those two, not in these heels!
She slowed down as she neared the trees, but continued to walk into the tightly clustered mini-forest. Her eyes were fogged with tears. She looked around and headed to the tree with the thickest trunk. Leaning against it in misery, she slid to the ground, head bowed.
All the pep talks over the past had been for naught. There was no way in hell she could bear seeing the disillusionment darken those expressive golden eyes when she told him the truth. It would kill her, rather she left now, never seeing any of them again, living for eternity with a broken heart than tell them that she couldn't bear their children. There were so many promises in his eyes, pledges of a future together, assurances of a happy life .... She couldn't stand to see those declarations turn to ash in an instant. Her heart couldn't stand it. Her mind wouldn't be able to bear it. To find not one but three men who wanted her, wanted to be with her for life, yet she had to say no, reject them. Mother Nature really had played a cruel joke on her. She was meant to bear their babies, could feel it written in her genetic code. Her body screamed in longing for their seed to have planted in her womb, for their joinings to have borne fruit. But she was barren, would never feel their child kick against her stomach, would never hold their baby in her arms, never feel the pull of milk being suckled from her breast. With a sob of misery, she buried her head in her hands and prayed to forget them, to forget this pain. Survival demanded she ask no less.
* * * *
"Well, that went well," Lucas muttered, sighing wearily.
"Enough, Lucas. She'll come around. She wants it like we do. Jada's receptive, just unsure that's all. Telling her of the bairn will help. She's far too traditional to raise the child alone!"
Phelan snorted. "Traditional women don't contemplate living in a menage à quatre!"
"Don't be tiresome, Phelan," Caden grunted, "You know perfectly well what I mean!"
"How do we tell her of the bairn without telling her what we are?" Lucas asked.
"We can't. I'd prefer to tell them separately, but fate has forced our hand."
"Damn," Lucas muttered.
"Yeah." Caden grinned sourly. "My thoughts exactly. This isn't going to be easy. She's fighting herself, not us. That never bodes well, but there can be no alternative to her coming with us tomorrow, cousins. She will be with us. My beast expects no less," he warned, looking pointedly at his brethren.
"Mine either," Phelan admitted, watching Lucas nod in agreement.
When a scream sounded loud from the small copse of woods Jada had run to, all three men's heads snapped up and they quickly sprinted to the trees. Scenting the air, Caden snapped in confusion, "Wildcat?"
The other men muttered, "Yeah." Lucas and Phelan shifted, Caden followed and ran behind them, scenting Jada's position within the cluster of trees. Finding her sobbing against the tree made Caden's heart turn over. "Jada!" Her head snapped up, she lifted her arms for him. He quickly jogged over to her and dropped to the ground hauling her into his arms. "What happened?"
"There was a … a bobcat? I think it was a bobcat. It was some kind of big cat. It-it sniffed at me. I know they don't usually attack, but he came really close and I thought he was going to bite me. They don't go near humans unless they're rabid, I know. I freaked." She lifted her head and met his gaze. "Thank you." Turning her head to look for the other two, she noticed two wolves. Stiffening in his arms, she began to shake as they sniffed at the ground near her, obviously looking for the cat to chase for food. She didn't understand why they weren't sniffing Caden and her. Weren't they a lot easier to attack and eat?
"Caden," she whispered forcefully. "There are two wolves there, look at them."
"It's alright Jada. They won't attack you. They're making sure the wildcat's gone from the trees."
"How the hell do you know that?" she whispered in a hiss.
"Phelan, Lucas," he called out.
Jada watched fearfully as the wolves stepped closer to them and before her very eyes, a charge of electricity not dissimilar to what she'd experienced in Lucas's arms the other morning, shot over their bodies. She could literally feel her body start to pump adrenaline as the two wolves transformed themselves into her two lovers. She froze for a second, contemplated the space where the two beasts had stood and looked at the two men she'd fucked, before she could even think, before a scream left her mouth,
she ran. Ran blindly from the copse of woods back to the castle, uncaring of whether they followed her or not.
Chapter Nine
The sudden burst of adrenaline had caused a mini panic attack. She couldn't breathe, her heart beat too fast, her head spun and that queasiness returned at full force. She ran as fast as she could, trying to be careful in her heels but to no avail, she cried out as she fell to the ground, her knees brushing the rough grass. She could feel a graze on one of her knees, felt the sting of some dirt in the wound, but quickly jumped uncaring to her feet and continued back to the castle. She had to slow down some as she reached the gravel driveway. Her heels caught in the stones and she stumbled a little until she walked to the stone steps and once more increased her pace. Her breath came in pants as she ran through the hall, uncaring if any of the guests witnessed her tumbled appearance or saw the panic creasing her face. Hurrying up the stairs, she quickly sprinted to her room and banged the door shut, locking it for the first time in days to the outside world.
What the hell had just happened, Jada asked herself? Had she momentarily turned insane? Had she really seen Phelan and Lucas turn from wolves into men? Leaning her hands against the foot of the bed, she bowed her head in consideration. Her breathing and heart rate had slowed, but it was still far too fast, making her feel a little dizzy. Clutching the sides of the bed, she stumbled around to the open side, toed her shoes off and lay flat on the mattress. A gasp of sound filled the room as she tried to control her breathing, holding it for a second in an attempt to slow her heartbeat. She succeeded to some extent. Feeling a little less terrible physically, Jada stared blankly at the ceiling of the four poster bed. Was she crazy? Had she dreamed that whole episode? Surely she had. Men couldn't turn into wolves. Werewolves didn't exist. They were fabled legends, mythological creatures who had never existed outside of the minds of frightened peasants and they'd passed the horror stories on to their offspring. Of course, they didn't exist. Logic told her they couldn't, so what the hell had just happened then?