Shelly laughed softly as the recorded music of the lute, guitar, violin, and keyboard began. She was surprised by the sudden whirl that she was swept into by Jace. She gripped his strong arms fiercely and held on as he swirled her around the floor. She felt like a princess being waltzed around the dance floor in front of her pack family. Jackson danced beside them, his arms encircling her waist as Jace led them around the massive floor.
Jace spun Shelly so that she faced Jackson. He took her quickly into his arms. Shelly couldn’t help but laugh with complete abandon. For two such big men, her brothers were certainly agile dancers. It was so easy and fun to dance with them. Those watching probably thought they had rehearsed the dance, but Shelly knew better. Jace and Jackson had natural rhythm. They also had the perfect symbiotic relationship. They were triad partners. They were alpha and beta. They moved without thinking about the other’s place. It just naturally held an elegance, an understanding, and a knowledge that they would always be there for each other.
When Jackson spun Shelly so that she faced Jace once again, she looked over Jace’s shoulder and saw her two wolves standing near the area of couches. Their eyes were blazing golden as they watched her. Instead of being concerned, a thrill raced through Shelly at seeing their possessive gazes.
My wolves.
“Jace, do you think it would be okay if I went to Eli and Max?” she asked softly.
“I’ll bring you over to them,” Jace said quietly. “Allow me to place your hands in theirs so that the entire pack will know that I support your mating.”
“Thank you, Jace,” Shelly said, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. “You’re a really good big brother.”
“Hey, squirt! What about me?” Jackson asked, glad when Shelly looked at him in concern before laughing.
“You’re a really good big brother, too, Jackson,” Shelly told him firmly.
“Yeah. I am,” Jackson said with smug satisfaction.
“Yeah, you are. Even if you’re a big pain in the butt sometimes,” Shelly added.
She was rewarded with the twinkle of enjoyment in Jackson’s brown eyes, and the bark of laughter that exploded from Jace. She loved to see both of them so happy. It concerned her that they didn’t enjoy themselves much. They were good men who were good leaders of their pack family. Shelly knew that only finding the woman who was meant to complete their triad would end their loneliness.
“You’re both really the best,” Shelly whispered. “You know that, don’t you?”
Jace hugged her gently. “Don’t tell anybody that I’m a softy when it comes to you and Synthia,” he warned her, growling deeply as he held her. “My reputation of being a hard-ass will be ruined.”
“Jace! You don’t have a reputation of being a hard-ass!” Shelly protested, laughing softly.
“Give me time. I will.”
Shelly just shook her head and walked with Jace as he led her over to the two men who were waiting patiently for her. The music had stopped and a hush had fallen over the crowd. It was as if the entire pack family knew that something incredible and wonderful was about to happen.
Stopping in front of Max and Eli, Jace placed his hand on the back of both men’s necks and squeezed lightly. It was symbolic of accepting them into his pack. Jace was going to be certain that no one misunderstood exactly what was happening. These men were now pack. They were part of his family. They were destined to be mated to Shelly.
He took gentle hold of Shelly’s right hand and placed it into the waiting hand of Eli. He took her left hand and placed it into Max’s. Both men tipped their heads in deference to his position, but their eyes never left the woman before them. It was telling to Jace that the men found importance only in the possibility of touching their woman.
“I expect you to dedicate your lives to protecting Shelly,” Jace said quietly so that only they could hear him.
“We will, Alpha,” Max answered for them both.
Jace nodded and stepped away, allowing the men to gather Shelly within their arms and hold her between them. “The pack now knows that I support your mating. No one will challenge your claim.” He started to walk away then turned back and growled softly. “Be certain that you are gentle and loving to my little sister.”
Eli and Max nodded. There was no need for Jace’s warning. How could they be anything but gentle and loving to their woman? She was everything that was good and beautiful in their lives.
“So, are all the formalities finished, baby?” Max asked, releasing her hand and turning her to position her safely between him and Eli. He rested his chin on Shelly’s shoulder and breathed in the delicious scent of her. “I’d really like to kiss you right now.”
“You and me both, Max,” Eli agreed, slipping his hands up her arms and holding her carefully as he leaned in and rested his forehead against their woman’s. “What do you think, sweetheart? Is it okay for us to kiss you in public now?”
“Shelly,” Vera Moore said angrily as she stepped up to stand before her daughter and the two disgusting men who were pawing at her.
Vera knew that they were lowlife wolves, just as Kurt and Neil had been. Just the thought of the two men that she had been mated to made her stomach revolt. She had hated their touch. She also hated that she had been forced to live in this pack because of them. Well, that was all going to change.
Shelly faced Vera calmly. She saw the anger in Vera’s eyes, but for the first time, it didn’t frighten her. She was now an adult according to pack law, and she was soon going to be a mated woman. Vera was just a blip on her radar of annoyances that she had to deal with.
“Vera,” she said calmly, glad when Max and Eli slipped their hands into hers and squeezed them in support. “Are you going to wish me a happy birthday?”
Vera smiled, but the smile never reached her eyes. “I am,” she said softly. “I’ve been waiting for you to reach the age of adulthood.”
“Why is that?” Shelly asked, her forehead furrowing in confusion as she faced this woman who had given her nothing but pain and sorrow her entire life.
“Now that you’re of age, you will be given to a suitable mate,” Vera said calmly, repeating her earlier declaration in front of the two men now that they were in their human forms.
“I’ve already found my mates,” Shelly said softly. “Do not interfere, Vera.”
“These men need to know that you can’t be theirs,” Vera said firmly, her voice low so that no one else could hear her.
Shelly heard the low growls coming from her mates and was fortified by their anger. Her own growls were joining theirs, but what was amazing to her was that she felt absolutely no fear.
“Is there a problem, Shelly?” Jace asked as he stepped up behind Vera, his bulk filling the area behind her. Jackson came up beside him, lending his support and protection. His triad partner was a good friend and a strong beta. He couldn’t imagine anyone else by his side.
“I don’t think there is, Jace,” Shelly said softly. “Is there a problem, Vera?”
“No problem, Alpha,” Vera said as she turned to face Jace Beckett and Jackson Scott as they stood with their arms crossed defiantly across their chests and looked down at her. “I was just offering birthday congratulations to my daughter.”
She tipped her head to the side, offering her neck in deference to his rank within the pack, and waited. At his soft growl, she couldn’t help the rush of fear that filled her as his power and anger surrounded her.
“You are no longer guardian of Shelly, Vera,” Jace told her softly, his deep voice holding clear warning. “I will not take kindly to any interference you are foolish enough to make. Are we clear?”
“Of course, Alpha,” Vera answered quickly, knowing better than to defy Jace Beckett—at least not so he was aware of her doing it.
She walked away quickly. She knew it was best to leave the party right then. There would be plenty of time to do what she had planned. It wouldn’t be long now. Alpha Hayward would have what he wanted, and so would Vera.
Chapter 16
Max and Eli walked toward the home that they would share with their mate. Shelly was comfortably nestled between them. They held hands as they walked in silence. There was no need for words. The contentment that encompassed them was gentle, yet deep. Shelly’s omega ability to calm and support was a subtle glow within their hearts.
Shelly could feel her men’s happiness. She could also feel their relief that the three of them were finally alone. She had to admit to herself that she was equally relieved. It had been a wonderful party, but she was glad to be going home.
“Did you have a nice time tonight, baby?” Max asked her gently as they stepped up onto the porch steps. He opened the door to the enclosed porch and stepped back to allow their woman to enter. Once she did and Eli followed her in, he entered behind them, closed the door, and locked it securely.
“I did,” Shelly answered without hesitation. “Did you two?”
“I did once you were with us. Being with you is all we want, Shelly,” Eli answered. “I have to admit, it was a little strange to be with a new pack.”
“They’re your pack now, Eli,” Shelly said, turning to face him.
She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him gently. She felt Max against her back and sighed, feeling the rightness of the moment. When he reached around her and held her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, she sighed, completely contented.
“You two are my pack,” she whispered.
“Baby…” Max said softly, closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of their woman. He rubbed his cheek against the softness of her sleek hair before kissing her neck lightly. “The things you say.”
“I mean every word, Max,” Shelly whispered. “I’ve been waiting for my two wolves my entire life. I just knew that when I found them, everything that my fathers said about them would be true.”
“What did your fathers say?” Eli asked, reaching up and tracing Shelly’s right cheek and following the feminine contour of it down to her neck to lightly touch the place where he would be placing his mating bite very soon.
“They said that my mates would cherish me always,” Shelly whispered. “They said I should love them and build a home with them. Daddy and Poppa told me to fill our home with kindness and caring.”
“You already do, sweetheart,” Eli said gently, meaning it with everything within him. Shelly had shown both him and Max unconditional acceptance and caring. She was beyond kind. She was also gentle and loving.
“More than we could have ever hoped for,” Max admitted.
My sweet wolves.
Shelly couldn’t help but whisper the thought in her mind. She loved these men so very much. She loved their strength. She loved their caring. She loved the way they were so comfortable with each other and with her. It was going to be a marvelous future creating a family with them that was going to be so contented and loving.
In that moment, she saw her men sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace in the living room. Their little Allison was resting in Eli’s arms while they read a book. Their son Matthew was curled up, sound asleep, in Max’s arms. Her men were gazing down at those sweet children with such looks of love and happiness, Shelly nearly cried at the vision.
“Poppa, will you read me another book?” Allie asked him, looking up at him and laughing when he leaned down and kissed her cheek, growling softly against it and hugging her tightly. “Poppa, your wolf is growly.”
“He is,” Eli agreed. “Is your wolf tired?”
“No, Poppa.”
Max laughed softly as he reached out and tugged on Allie’s foot, pulling on her pink sock and grabbing for her toes. “Miss Allie, you are very tired,” he said softly.
“No, Daddy. I’m not tired. Honest.”
“Your beautiful blue eyes are nearly closing,” Max said gently. “It’s time for bed, Allie. Your brother is already asleep.”
“Matty is really tired,” Allie agreed.
“Mommy is tired, too,” Eli said softly as he looked up and smiled at Shelly as she sat on the couch nursing their baby. “Are you tired, Mommy?”
Shelly smiled softly, caressing the black fuzz on their baby boy’s head as he nursed. He was sucking slowly, sleep claiming him as he nestled against the warmth of her body. He was such a good baby, and he looked exactly like Max, except for the eyes. His eyes were all Eli’s. Her sweet wolves certainly made beautiful babies.
“Yes, Mommy is tired,” Shelly whispered, standing up slowly and shifting their son to her shoulder, patting his back lightly to keep him content. “Luke is ready for bed. Come on, everyone. It’s time to hit the hay.”
Allie giggled as her poppa stood, scooping her up along with him. She hung her head back, her long hair flowing over his forearm as he carried her up the stairs to her bedroom.
Max rose slowly, careful not to disturb Matty. He walked over to Shelly and smiled as he looked at their mate holding their newest child. He saw the sweet smile on Luke’s face and laughed softly at the adorable way he pressed his hand against his mouth and sucked on his fist.
“You’re beautiful, baby,” Max whispered.
“He sure is,” Shelly agreed.
“I was talking about you, Shelly,” Max told her, his hazel eyes twinkling with joy as he looked down at her.
Looking at her exposed breast, he growled softly when he saw the wetness of her milk slicking the soft swell of it. Bending forward, he lapped up the sweet milk slowly, drawing Shelly’s nipple into his mouth and sucking on it firmly. He was rewarded with a good amount of milk and couldn’t help the appreciative hum that escaped him.
Shelly slid the fingers of her left hand into the dark curls at the nape of his neck and held him there. She loved when Max and Eli tasted her. She loved when they made love to her. She loved when they held or played with their children. She loved absolutely everything about the life that they shared.
“Max, you’re making me crazy,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Max eased back, kissing the tip of her nipple one last time and lapping at the milk dripping from her with the flat of his tongue. Shelly’s blue eyes were glazed with desire as she looked at him. She made him feel like the most powerful man in the world. How could he not be when he had her to love him?
“Let’s get the kids to bed,” he said softly. “Eli and I have a woman to make love to.”
“I suppose if you must,” Shelly said, sighing dramatically.
Max laughed softly as he wrapped his right arm around Shelly’s waist and led her to the stairway leading to the bedrooms. Life was good—because of Shelly.
“Did you see that?” Shelly asked her men, looking at them with wide eyes.
Max nodded. Eli reached out and drew their woman close. He was too overwhelmed to speak.
“You saw the beautiful vision of the both of you sitting in front of the fireplace in the living room?” Shelly questioned, laughing softly as her men squeezed her tightly between them. “Our Allison was sitting on your lap, Eli. She was reading a book. Little Matthew was sound asleep in your arms, Max.”
“We saw our son Luke, too,” Eli said quietly.
“You looked beautiful nursing him, baby,” Max told her, his eyes flashing golden as his desire spiked. “I can’t wait to taste your mother’s milk.”
“Me, too,” Shelly whispered, blushing lightly.
She leaned forward and kissed Max’s neck before turning slightly so she could do the same to Eli. The vision that they had just seen make her incredibly happy.
“I really liked seeing what good fathers you’re going to be.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Max said softly.
“You’ll be wonderful, Daddy,” Shelly said, smiling at the immediate grin that came to Max’s face. “You’re going to be wonderful, too, Poppa.” The words she spoke to Eli were heartfelt. She could tell that both men were going to be hopelessly smitten with their children.
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“I can’t wait to hear our cubs call me that,” Eli said sincerely.
Shelly turned and reached out to open the front door of their home and walked inside. She felt her men’s warmth as they stepped inside behind her. She loved the feel of their warmth. It seeped deep into her body and soothed her soul. She would never be alone again. Her wolves were going to be a constant presence in her life and in her heart.
Keep that beautiful image in your head, sweet child, Mother Fate whispered gently within Shelly’s mind. That is your future. No matter the trials and tribulations that you will go through, that is your future with your mates.
Are you trying to caution me about problems, Mother Fate? Shelly questioned Her, knowing a moment of fear as she thought through Mother Fate’s words.
Yes, sweet child. You will face problems, Mother Fate answered sadly. But do not lose sight of what is most important. Your men will love you forever. They will always be there, waiting for you to come home to them.
I love them so much, Mother Fate.
It is as it should be, child.
We’ll have beautiful babies.
You will, Shelly. Trust in the joining. Trust in the love that your mates have for you.
Thank you, Mother.
Shelly felt the warmth of Mother Fate’s love touch her cheek and sighed. She was thankful for the wonderful woman’s support and caring. Shelly wasn’t foolish enough to think that her life was going to be perfect and free from problems, but she did have hope that whatever the problems were, she would face them with Max and Eli.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Eli asked worriedly, reaching out and steadying Shelly as she began to sway on her feet.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Max asked, alarm filling him as he saw how unbalanced Shelly was.
“I’m fine,” Shelly assured them. “Mother Fate just spoke to me.”
“She did?” Max was stunned by the connection that Shelly had to Mother Fate. “What did She say, baby?”
“She told me not to be worried by the problems that we’ll face,” Shelly said softly. “We’ll be able to get through anything because we’ll be together.”
Shelly's Forbidden Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 19