He shifted back to his human form and groaned at the wounds in his neck and stomach that hadn’t completely healed yet. Going over to Max, he pulled his triad partner’s body into his arms and held him carefully. Max was bleeding from the bullet wound in his side.
Morphing his hand into a claw, he pressed the tip of it into Max’s side to search for the bullet. Max’s low whine of pain made him cringe, but it had to be done. The bullet was made of silver. It would poison Max.
Feeling the lump of silver, he tugged it free and dropped it to the ground. He watched as Max’s wound slowly closed and said a silent prayer to the Fates that his triad partner and best friend would be okay. There was nothing more that he could do except wait for Jace and Jackson to return and bring them back to pack land. Max needed to be seen by Drew. He hoped their pack doctor would be able to heal his wounds and make sure that Max lived.
Jace walked toward Eli as he cradled Maxwell’s head in his lap. He began to dress as he took in the situation before him. He could see that Maxwell had been shot and knew that the gunshot that they had heard must have been the cause of the injury that Max had received.
“What happened, Eli?” he asked calmly.
“Webber grabbed for the gun,” Eli answered, his voice angry. “He and Max struggled and the gun went off.” He looked down at his triad partner and saw that his side was still bleeding profusely despite the fact that he had been able to shift into his wolf form and initiate the healing process. “I took the bullet out with my claw. I hope I got it out in time.”
“There’s a good possibility that you did,” Jace offered. “We need to get him back to pack land so Drew can take care of him.”
Eli nodded. He looked up at Jace and couldn’t help but show him the depth of his worry and anguish. “Webber shifted and tried to get away when I grabbed for Max. I couldn’t let him get away, Alpha.”
Jace nodded, stepping forward and touching the back of Eli’s neck in reassurance. “You did what you had to do, Eli,” he said quietly. “There was no dishonor in your actions.”
Eli nodded and looked back down at Max. “He can’t die, Jace,” he whispered.
“He won’t,” Jace said firmly, his deep voice resonating through Eli as he sent the power of his magic through him. “We need to get him into the bed of the truck. We need to get him home.”
Eli nodded and stood carefully. He leaned down to pick up his unconscious partner, but Jace pushed him aside gently and reached down to gather Maxwell’s massive black wolf, lift him into his arms, and carry him carefully to the bed of his truck.
Eli reached out and opened the tailgate, stepping up into the bed and helping Jace place Max within it as comfortably as he could. Eli sat beside his triad partner and waited while Jace secured the tailgate.
“Thank you, Alpha,” he said firmly.
Jace only nodded and walked around to the driver’s side door. He looked at Meeka, Reece, Wade, Eric, and their newly born daughter Maizy as they sat in the rear bench seat of the cab and smiled. He was relieved that everyone was safe and healthy. It had been one hell of a day. He needed to get them all home.
Looking at the body of Ethan Webber, he shook his head as anger coursed through him. He was not about to waste any time taking care of the dead shifter. He had pack family to get home. They needed medical attention.
Growling softly, he opened the truck door and climbed inside. Once his people were taken care of and he was assured that all of them were well, he would send Alexander and Butler to clean up this mess. Starting the truck, he put it in gear and pulled away from the cabin with one thought in his mind—getting everyone home.
Jackson watched in silence as Jace dealt with Eli and Maxwell. He could feel the anger and the worry in his triad partner. He knew Jace would assure Eli that he had done the right thing. It was the only thing he could do in order to ensure that Webber didn’t get away and commit unspeakable acts of horror upon anyone else. It would take all of them time to heal from this experience, but Jackson was certain that being back with the rest of their pack would be the key in helping them to remember the goodness in their lives.
Jackson realized that both Max and Eli had been hurting for a long time. He knew it was because Shelly had been lost to them so many years before. Seeing Ethan Webber had probably made that old hurt fresh in their minds. What worried him was that both men might be stuck back in that time and reliving that day. He suspected that they were thinking of Shelly as their lost mate, but he wasn’t certain. It was something he was going to find out about once Max was completely healed. What concerned him right then was the intense sorrow and feelings of isolation that he could sense deep within each of them.
He felt the truck shift violently and looked out the back window to see what was going on. What he saw scared the hell out of him.
“Jace! Pull over!” he yelled, glad when Jace did as he asked immediately.
The truck rocked to a stop. Jackson had the passenger side door open and was jumping out within seconds. Bounding over the side of the vehicle, he landed with a thud in the bed of the truck. Max was in his human form. Eli was holding him tightly as Max swung and growled, snapping at Eli’s arm as he held him.
“Max! Stop!” Jace roared, pressing his alpha power into the man as he jumped into the bed of his truck.
Max froze for the moment then started to struggle once again. It was as if he had no control over his actions. Jace suspected that it was the silver that was coursing through his body that was causing him to lose control.
“We’ve lost her,” Max said on a groan as he tried to pull from Eli’s arms.
“No, we haven’t,” Eli assured him.
“We have. Shelly’s gone. Her mother beat her. Our mate looked right at us and chose to leave us. We weren’t good enough to make her want to stay.”
Shelly, sweetheart, Max has been injured, Eli called to their mate. He’ll be okay, but the silver bullet is causing him to react to the poisoning. He doesn’t remember that you’re with us. He thinks it’s ten years ago and you’ve left us.
Maxwell Oliver, don’t you dare think you can get away from me, Shelly told him angrily. You promised me that we would be together forever.
Shelly? Max’s voice was filled with confusion. He ceased his movements as he tried to make sense of what he was hearing.
Who else would be talking to you through our mating link?
Shelly. Baby. I love you. Please don’t leave us.
I’m waiting for you at the ranch house, Shelly told him gently. Our baby is waiting for you, too. Remember our little girl? Allison needs you, Daddy.
Allison, Max whispered, trying to remember.
Yes, Allison is growing inside of me. Remember how wonderful it was when you and Eli scented my pregnancy? That’s something that still makes me cry when I think about it. I guess I’m pretty emotional now that I’m carrying our cub.
Baby, Max whispered through their link. Is our cub okay?
She’s fine.
Are you home, Shelly?
No, Max. I’m at the main house waiting with everyone for all of you to find Meeka and Eric, Shelly told him again calmly.
Did we find Meeka and Eric, Eli? Max questioned, overwhelmed with worry.
Yes, Max. We found them, Eli assured him. She had her baby. They named her Maizy. She’s really beautiful.
That’s good. Babies are beautiful, Max whispered. Our baby will be beautiful— just like Shelly.
She will, Eli agreed.
I think she’ll be beautiful just like you two. You need to come home so Drew can look at your injury, Max. Eli, have you been hurt? Shelly asked him suddenly. I can feel that you’re hurt.
I’m fine.
Eli Granger! Don’t you dare lie to me!
Shelly, sweetheart, don’t get upset. I’m fine. Really.
Eli, why do I feel pain? What happened to your neck and your stomach?
Webber bit me and swiped at my stomach with his claws, Eli answered gently.
But I’m okay. I was shifted when he attacked. My wolf has helped to start the healing process. Max had shifted, but he fought the shift and returned to his human form.
Max, please shift back to your wolf form, she said gently. My wolf wants to cuddle with yours.
No, baby. You can’t shift now that you’re carrying, Max cautioned her.
You’re right, Shelly said, happiness filling her that Max was finally pushing through the haze of pain and delusion that he had been submerged in. I still want to cuddle with your wolf, though. You, too, Eli. I expect you both to allow your wolves to help heal you.
Yes, sweetheart, Eli said, chuckling softly at the direct order from their mate.
Okay, baby. Please promise me you’ll be waiting for us.
Always, Max.
Chapter 44
Shelly lay in the middle of their bed, finally relaxing after an intense evening. When the men had returned to the main house, there had been a flurry of movement as their pack doctor Drew, his mate Carter, who was a licensed EMT, Nikki, who was a nurse, and Martha, who knew just about everything there was to know about healing herbs, went to work on the members of the pack who had been injured.
Synthia had been calm as her men were seen to. It wasn’t until Drew had declared that Simon and Warren would be fine, as long as they remained in their wolf forms and rested throughout the night, that she had allowed herself to cry. She had been determined to be strong so her mates wouldn’t resist the necessary medical attention that they needed. Nathaniel and Brett had helped bring the men to the old beta home that they now shared with Synthia. Shelly was thankful that her sister and her sister’s mates were now resting comfortably.
Meeka and her family were also safely tucked away in their home after Drew had checked all of them over and had proclaimed that everyone was healthy. Reece and Wade were absolutely adorable as they fussed over Eric, Meeka, and their new baby daughter Maizy.
Eric was given the welcome of a king. Jace and Jackson couldn’t say enough about his bravery and his intelligence. Eric could only smile as he was hugged and kissed by everyone who had been waiting for them at the pack home. When he stood in front of Julia as she held her son Owen, he whispered to him that he was safe and that his partner didn’t have to worry about him, then took Owen’s hand and squeezed it gently. Shelly thought the entire group was going to cry. When Eric kissed Jace, Laurie, and Jackson’s daughter Cassy on the top of her little head and whispered that he was home, what little control they had over their emotions had been completely shattered. The future triad of Eric, Cassy, and Owen was going to be a beautiful one. Not one of them had any doubt that those three destined mates were going to have a mating that was filled with love, tenderness, and deep friendship.
The feelings of happiness and relief had been strong the moment the group had finally crossed the border onto Beckett pack land. It had only been when all of them had been cleared of any danger to their health that a collective sigh of relief was expelled by all of them.
Shelly didn’t need her omega abilities to understand the emotions that everyone was feeling. She and Synthia had joined hands and worked together to help soothe their family once it was time to go back to their own homes in order to rest and heal.
Shelly knew exactly how everyone felt. Once her mates had returned to her and had been looked over, all she wanted to do was get them home and hold them. Drew expressed some concern over the silver in Max’s system, but had assured them that Eli’s quick thinking to remove the bullet had saved his triad partner from a lot of pain and suffering.
She was thankful that Max and Eli were resting peacefully beside her in their bed. She looked at Eli and sighed as she took in the beautiful white wolf that was her mate. Turning to look at Max, she smiled at the way his black wolf nudged at her shoulder and whined softly as he encouraged her to get closer.
“I can’t believe you’re actually whining,” she teased him, laughing at the soft bark that escaped him at her words. “Oh, be quiet, you big bully. Don’t you dare tell me what to do.”
She snuggled closer to him, slipping her hand beneath his warm body and hugging him carefully against her side as he rested his snout on her shoulder. When Eli did the same, she snuck her arm beneath him and pulled him closer to her. Both wolves rumbled with contentment as they nudged their noses into her neck and breathed in her scent.
She closed her eyes as she finally was able to relax. It was when Shelly felt them rest their paws across her belly that she allowed the tears of relief and joy to fall free. Even in their wolf forms, they searched out their cub. How beautiful was that?
“Welcome home, Mates,” she told them softly. “I love you.”
Shelly snuggled closer to the warm body to her left, knowing it was Max who was holding her so tenderly as she rested her head on his chest. She reached behind her and searched for Eli, but found him gone. She was about to get up to go looking for him when the scent of bacon reached her.
Her belly rumbled in anticipation of the delicious breakfast that she knew Eli was making for them. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought that both Eli and Max always saw to her comfort and care.
Max’s arms tightened around her suddenly, making her jump in surprise. She looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes, afraid that the silver had sent him deep into another delusional episode. When she saw him looking down at her with golden eyes, she relaxed. She was not looking into the eyes of a confused man. She was looking at Max’s wolf as he pressed forward and demanded their mate.
“How’re you feeling?” she asked him softly as she eased up and rested her body completely over his chest.
“Better now that you’re in my arms,” he said at once, growling softly as he felt her breasts rubbing across his chest and her legs splayed open so that she straddled him just the way he liked her to.
Shelly placed her hands on his chest and pushed up so that she was more comfortable. Her belly was getting bigger every day, which made it difficult to lie flat on top of either of her men. She eased back and moaned softly as she felt the head of Max’s shaft slip through her spread lips.
“Baby, I need you,” Max whispered, reaching for her hips to hold her gently as he moved his pelvis and rubbed the length of his cock through the warmth of her folds. He growled softly as he felt the wetness that was easing his movements.
“I need you, too,” Shelly told him, covering his hands with her own and steadying herself as she began a slow rocking motion. When his hard shaft slipped inside of her, her body opened to him easily and took him deep. “You feel good inside of me, Max.”
Max gritted his teeth and had to force his wolf to remain in control. Their mate was strong, but she was also carrying their cub. There was no way he was going to take a chance on hurting Shelly or injuring their baby.
Shelly leaned back just slightly, gasping as Max’s shaft grazed her G-spot. White sparkles of pleasure zinged through her. Rocking back and forth, she moaned as the sensation was repeated. In just a matter of seconds, her orgasm burst through her, making her cry out as every nerve ending within her body sang with pleasure.
Max slid his hands up her body, caressing her sides gently as she came down from her release. He smiled up at her, loving her passion. He traced the underside of her breasts with the pads of his thumbs before circling her nipples and pressing against the hardened peaks with just enough pressure to give her a slow surge of excitement.
“Max.”
“What, baby?”
“I need you to switch positions with me.”
Max didn’t hesitate. He carefully eased his cock from her body and helped her to kneel on the mattress on all fours. He brushed her long hair to the side so that it hung over her right shoulder, leaving her left shoulder bare to his gaze.
He kissed the back of her neck and traveled kisses down her spine. He needed to show her how much he valued her and loved her. He was not a man who was very good with words, but he knew that she would understand the depth o
f his love by his touches.
When he reached her sweet behind, he spread her cheeks and kissed her sweet rosette. Licking at it over and over again, he loved the soft moans that were escaping their woman. He growled possessively as Shelly rested her face against the mattress and gave him better access to her body. He wasn’t going to disappoint her.
Pressing two fingers of his right hand inside her back hole, he lined up his cock with her vaginal opening and pushed inside in one slow thrust. As he made slow love to her, he pumped his fingers inside of her anus, loving the way her moans were increasing in volume.
Slipping his left hand around her hip, he searched out her swollen clit and circled it slowly. The wetness that was dripping from her made his caresses slick and easy. He could feel Shelly’s body tightening with the pleasure he was giving her. As her body prepared itself for another release, he pressed deep inside of her, the hot velvet of her vaginal walls feeling like heaven around his cock.
He pumped his hips harder and faster. He rubbed her clit firmly and pressed deep into her back entrance with two fingers. He was about to lose his mind with the pleasure that she gave him so willingly.
Laying his body over her back, he licked at his mating mark on her left shoulder, loving the soft groan that escaped her at his touch. He was so close. He couldn’t hold off any longer. He needed to love and claim her again. His wolf needed it. He needed it. There was no denying it.
His canines dropped, he opened his mouth, and he bit down on Shelly’s shoulder. Pumping his hips just two more times, he came with a growl around the tender flesh in his mouth. He drank Shelly’s blood greedily, bonding with her once again.
Shelly gasped as pleasure shot through her body. She felt Max’s hot seed fill her. She also felt his love blanketing her as he reclaimed her. Most of all, she felt his happiness that she was his and Eli’s woman.
Shelly's Forbidden Mates [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 43