Shelly's Forbidden Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Lynette Bernard

  “What?” Gabe asked, finally finding his voice.

  “Can either of you cook?”

  Chapter 42

  Shelly sat beside the lake, completely relaxed and at peace. Her life with Max and Eli had proven to be better than she could have ever imagined. Each day made her count her blessings as her men continued to amaze her. Their goodness and kindness constantly surrounded her with calm and love. Her omega abilities no longer made her feel like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. It seemed that her sweet wolves had calming abilities of their own—all used to help her.

  Baby, where are you?

  I’m at the lake. What’s wrong?

  Meeka and Eric have been taken by Ethan Webber, Max told her gently, unable to shield the worry and concern that he was feeling from Shelly.

  We’re going with Jace to get her back, Eli added. We need you to get to the main house and stay with everyone there. We won’t be able to help if we’re worried about your safety, sweetheart.

  Shelly struggled to stand, her swollen belly making it difficult to gain her balance easily. She grunted with the effort. Standing and stretching slowly, she rested her left hand on her lower back to ease her tired muscles. Caressing her belly with her right hand, she laughed softly as their daughter kicked strongly against her palm.

  Our cub is moving, Eli stated, pressing his love into their connection.

  She is, Shelly confirmed. She’s very strong. She’s also very sweet, just like her fathers.

  I want to feel her moving when we come home, Max told her. Please go to the main house, Shelly. We need you to be safe.

  I’m on my way.

  She walked slowly toward the main house, loving the warmth of the summer afternoon. She was worried for Meeka and hoped that Max and Eli would be safe as they helped Jace find her and take her home. She could just imagine how desperate Meeka’s mates Wade and Reece had to be. A wolf was territorial. A mated wolf was vicious in his protection of his mate. Meeka was close to the time when she would deliver their baby, which had to be adding to the anxiety of her men. Shelly knew there would be nothing that would save Ethan Webber once they found him. Justice would be served. A mate was sacred. So was her cub.

  Shelly felt the niggling of worry seeping into her bones. As much as she tried to keep a positive attitude, the fear that her sweet wolves wouldn’t return to her had taken deep hold within her heart.

  “Mother Fate, please watch over my mates,” Shelly said softly as she stepped up onto the back deck of the main house. “Please help Meeka and Eric return to us safe and sound.”

  She reached out to take hold of the handle of the sliding glass door and slid it open, going inside and seeing that Martha was waiting for her. Laurie, Nikki, Suzie, Julia, and Abbey were already there, each of them cuddling their babies against their chests. It was surprising that the cubs were so quiet, but Shelly reasoned that each child probably sensed the worry in their mother and comforted her in their own way—through their touch and cuddles.

  The men that filled the kitchen watched in quiet awe. Their women gave them such beautiful gifts. Their love and the babies that were born to them just gave them more to fight for in order to protect all of them.

  Shelly knew that Abbey’s mates Hunter and Clay were already on their way to join the men who were hunting down Ethan Webber. It was good that both men were police officers. They would be able to help bring Ethan to justice if they had to. Shelly didn’t think it would get to that point, though. She believed that Jace and Jackson would deal with the man themselves, and she didn’t question the pack laws that would determine his fate.

  Shelly looked at Nikki’s men and saw the look of love on their faces as they watched their woman hold their beautiful babies. She wasn’t surprised that Jace had left the enforcers behind to watch over all of them. They were powerful and strong. They evoked feelings of safety and calm. They were good men.

  Alexander and Butler looked down at Nikki and had to reach out to touch her face as their twins nuzzled against her neck as they settled against her and gave in to her calming scent. They were asleep within seconds.

  “You look beautiful holding our cubs, sweetness,” Butler whispered to her as he kissed her forehead lightly.

  Nikki looked up at him and gave him a wide smile. The love that shone at him from her light blue eyes sent a bolt of happiness through him.

  “I’ll take Crissy,” Alexander offered as their daughter began to stretch within Nikki’s arms.

  Nikki gave up her daughter and sighed with relief. She always worried that she would drop one of her twins when she held them at the same time. Her men assured her that she wouldn’t, but that didn’t make her worry any less.

  “Give me Bryan,” Butler said gently, reaching for their son and settling him quickly against his chest.

  “Now I have empty arms,” Nikki protested.

  Alexander and Butler knelt down beside her and kissed her cheeks softly. Both men eased back and smiled at her, their knowing smiles making her blush.

  You’re carrying our twin boys, darlin’, Alexander said gently, his love for her filling her mind.

  It’s too soon to tell, Nikki admonished him.

  No, sweetheart, it’s not, Butler told her quietly. You’re pregnant. Alex and I scented it this afternoon. Remember, we’ve seen our twin boys in our vision, Nikki. This pregnancy will give them to us.

  Nikki was quiet for a moment as she covered her flat belly with both of her hands. She concentrated on the warmth that kissed the palms of her hands and knew that her men were correct. She was pregnant again.

  She couldn’t get angry with them for not telling her. Things had moved pretty quickly when they had found out that Meeka and Eric had been taken from the grocery store parking lot. Her men really hadn’t had much time to talk to her after they came home to check on her and their children that afternoon.

  Do you think it’s too soon for me to be pregnant again? she asked them worriedly.

  No. Alexander’s voice was firm as he answered immediately.

  I think the timing is just right, Butler added.

  Nikki nodded, glad that her men wanted these babies to join their family just as much as she did. I do, too, she said finally, glad when both men touched her belly and sent their love to their babies.

  Watching them holding Crissy and Bryan and touching her belly, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for being so happy while Meeka and Eric were in such danger. She was also worried for the baby that Meeka was carrying.

  “Our men had better find Meeka and take her home,” Nikki said angrily. “I hope they kick Ethan Webber’s ass.”

  Alex and Butler laughed softly at their mate’s angry declaration. Being enforcers for Beckett’s pack, they had a much darker scenario in mind for the man who had dared to kidnap and threaten two of their own. They were certain that Meeka’s mates were of the same opinion that they were. There were no halfway measures in this type of situation. Shifter justice was swift and harsh. No one was allowed to cause such threat or harm to pack family—especially a female who was carrying.

  Shelly smiled at Nikki’s words and couldn’t help but agree with her. This situation had better be resolved quickly. Meeka and Eric needed to come home safely. Ethan Webber needed to pay for his crime against them both.

  She looked at her sister and could feel that Synthia was in agreement with her. She was pregnant, just as Shelly was. Shelly loved that she was sharing such a beautiful event with her sister. She also loved that Synthia and her mates lived in the home where Jackson’s parents had once lived. It was close to hers and allowed the sisters to walk together to work at Abbey’s home each day.

  She noticed that Cammy, Kaley, Nathaniel and Brett were standing just inside the archway to the kitchen. Kaley had her arm wrapped protectively around Cammy’s shoulder. Shelly had to add two more women to the list of those being pregnant. It stuck her as ironic that the kitchen was so filled with life while they waited to hea
r if Meeka and her son were alive.

  Martha came to Shelly at once and embraced her gently before leading her over to one of the empty chairs at the kitchen table so that she could sit next to Synthia. Synthia reached out and took her hand to squeeze it gently.

  “How’re you doing, Shelly?” she asked quietly.

  “I’m okay. What about you?”

  “The babe and I are fine,” Synthia whispered. “I’m worried about Meeka and her son. I’m also worried about Simon and Warren.” She took a calming breath and looked over at Cammy with concern. “Ryker and Garrett are with our men. Cammy is a mess.”

  Shelly looked at Cammy and saw the kind woman shaking. It wasn’t good for the baby that she was carrying. Shelly understood her fear. She held the same fear for the safety of her own men.

  “We have to help,” Shelly whispered.

  Synthia nodded then closed her eyes, never releasing her hold on Shelly’s hand. Shelly took a calming breath as she closed her eyes and linked her omega abilities with her sister’s. Together, they sent out waves of calming love to those present. It wouldn’t take away their worries and fears completely, but it would give them the strength and calm they needed to get through this difficult time.

  Martha felt the power of her sweet little omegas and smiled. Shelly and Synthia may not be her biological children, but they were her daughters nonetheless. She walked over to them and touched their heads tenderly, gently caressing their hair as they continued to surround everyone with their gift of calm.

  Martha added a prayer of her own to the Fates that the men would be successful in finding and saving Meeka and her son. She felt the warmth that Shelly and Synthia were sending out to the pack family and was so very proud of her girls. She was also thankful to belong to such a kind and supportive pack family.

  Kneeling down beside them, she kissed their cheeks lightly as they held each other and concentrated on helping everyone. Feeling her mates Silas and Grant placing their hands on her shoulders, she sighed with happiness at the love that surrounded her and her family.

  Nothing was more important than love and family.

  Chapter 43

  Eli stood before Ethan Webber, gun in hand. Everything that he and Max had been through the day that Shelly had been lost to them ten years earlier was crashing down upon him. It nearly blinded him with pain. His chest felt like it was being crushed from the agony of that awful day.

  He looked down at the man who sat on the front step of the remote cabin that Ethan had brought Meeka to with clearly evil intent, and noticed that even though he looked different because he was older, his heart was just as black as it had been when he worked as one of Alpha Randall’s enforcers. No. Not enforcer. Henchman. What Ethan and Boyd did for Randall was not done to protect the pack. What they did was to threaten, frighten, abuse, and punish pack members—including him and Max.

  “I have the gun, Alpha,” Eli said as he straightened and stepped back, pointing the gun directly at Ethan Webber’s head. “Go ahead and try something, Webber. I would be more than happy to be the one to take you out.”

  Ethan looked up at the man holding the gun. He looked like someone he had known a long time ago. He couldn’t quite place him though. He had been away from Randall’s pack for quite a while. Running a successful business in the city had taken up most of his time over the past few years.

  “Do I look familiar to you, Webber?” Eli asked, his deep voice angry. “You should remember me. You followed me and Maxwell when we were meeting our mate. You and your brother held us down while Randall whipped us for daring to love a woman who belonged to a pack that supported triad matings.” He squatted down beside Webber and snarled, his canines dropping as he faced the man who had destroyed their chance for happiness.

  Maxwell stepped forward, his eyes flashing golden as he viewed the man who had not only hurt them, but more importantly, had hurt their woman. Because of him and his brother, Max and Eli had been powerless to stop the cruelty that had been directed at their mate. Their woman’s mother had beaten her, had destroyed her spirit and had shamed her, and had made her submit and think that she wasn’t worthy of any happiness. He reached out and wrapped his large hand around Webber’s neck, using his powerful grip to inflict a good amount of pain on the man.

  “Our mate was hurt because of you,” Maxwell said softly, the coldness in his voice typical of the man he had become. “You deserve to die.”

  He kept remembering how he and Eli had struggled to go to Shelly to protect her. Ethan and Boyd had prevented them from helping their woman. They had held them still as Randall whipped them. They had laughed cruelly as Shelly’s screams of pain filled the area. They had ransacked their home.

  Jace was busy with Simon and Warren. Max knew that both men had been injured in the fight with Ethan Webber. He also knew that Jace would be busy taking care of the two men who were mated to Shelly’s sister Synthia. Max was going to be sure to take advantage of the time he was given. He wondered if he had it in him to enjoy the pain he planned on inflicting on the man who had made it possible for Randall to cause the loss of their mate.

  Yeah. He had it in him. He had a lot of hatred in him when it came to Randall and the men who had caused such pain to them all.

  Max, I don’t know if I can control myself, Eli said, his voice breaking through Max’s angry thoughts.

  Don’t. I don’t plan on holding back, Eli, Max told him, growling softly as he stalked closer to the man.

  “You men stay here with Webber,” Jace said to Eli and Max. “Jackson and I are going to help find Meeka and Eric.”

  “Yes, Alpha,” Eli answered for the both of them.

  “Yeah, that’s a great idea,” Max agreed, looking down at Ethan and grinning, his canines bared and his eyes flashing golden. “It’ll give us the chance to thank him personally for all that he’s done for us.”

  “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Jace,” Jackson cautioned him.

  Jace looked at the two men and felt the anger that was surrounding them. “Use whatever force is necessary to keep him contained until I came back,” Jace ordered. “Try not to kill him.”

  “That will be his choice, Alpha,” Eli said softly.

  Max and Eli waited, knowing the moment Jace and Jackson had shifted and raced into the trees to find Eric. Jace’s black wolf bounded away, followed closely by Jackson’s brown wolf. Max and Eli worried for the little boy and hoped their alpha and beta would find him quickly.

  Max looked down at the man who sat quietly between him and Eli. “I really hope he tries to escape,” he said calmly. “I want to have to do something about it.”

  Eli nodded, seeing the sad, beautiful face of their mate in his mind’s eye. He would do anything to erase the pain that Ethan and Boyd Webber had caused her through their actions. He and Max ached for her and the life they could have had as a loving triad.

  We have that life now, Eli, Max reminded him, the anger in his voice slowly ebbing as the soothing memories of their sweet omega wolf began to calm him.

  But we lost ten years of her love because of him, Max, Eli pointed out.

  Ethan Webber eyed the gun then looked at the two men who were watching him. He saw the hatred in their eyes. It didn’t bother him in the least. He was used to the hatred and jealousy of others. It just made him more determined to get what he wanted. He knew who these shifters were. He remembered that they were weak men. They were enforcers who wouldn’t do what Randall ordered them to do. They deserved the punishments that Randall had doled out.

  Lunging for the gun, he grabbed it and tried to wrestle it from Max’s grip. Eli slammed at him from behind, sending them all sprawling to the ground. He tightened his grip on the gun, determined to be the winner in this fight.

  He felt the tightening of Max’s hand covering his and knew that he was probably going to have broken bones. He howled in frustration, squeezing his fingers and firing the gun. The explosion of it sent them both slamming backward onto the
ground. He got up. The other shifter did not.

  Making the only choice he could, Ethan shifted quickly and started to run from the area. He stumbled slightly as his clothes twisted around his wolf form. Growling in anger and frustration, he tore at the material with his claws and teeth until he was free from it and turned to race away. He was tackled from behind, sending him forward to skid across the dirt floor of the forest.

  Twisting his body, he found himself pinned by the large body of a white wolf. It stood over him with teeth bared and saliva dripping from its open mouth. He bared his belly instantly, submitting to the stronger wolf. When the wolf slowly backed off of him, he rose to his feet and put his head on his paws to signify that he was no longer a threat. When the white wolf straightened, he saw his opportunity and grabbed for it, lunging at the wolf and clamping his jaws around the shifter’s neck. He bit down with all the strength he had. This wolf was going to die.

  Eli growled, his wolf furious at having been fooled. Never again. This piece of shit was going to pay for everything he had ever done in his life to hurt or cause pain to anyone. He thought of their beautiful woman, bruised and bloody, looking at him and Maxwell with such sorrow as she turned away from them and left their lives. He thought about Meeka and Eric being taken and terrorized by him. He thought about his triad partner Max injured and possibly dying because of this shifter’s cold cruelty. Enough. He had had enough.

  When Webber’s teeth broke through the fur and skin of his neck, Eli lost all control. His wolf took over. He became the killer that he had been trained to be. Twisting his body, he removed himself from Webber’s hold. In a practiced move, he reversed their positions. Gripping Webber’s neck with his open mouth, he exerted just enough pressure to let the wolf know he wasn’t going to survive this fight. He did it slowly, increasing the pressure and watching as the wolf below him realized his fate. When Webber sliced at his underbelly with his claws, he howled in pain as his stomach was opened wide.

  He did the only thing that he could do. He ripped out Webber’s throat and spit the offending fur and cartilage from his mouth. Looking down at the dead wolf, he felt no remorse. He only felt disgust with himself. He was nothing more than a killing machine.