“And you should, but remember that being told you’re someone’s mate is shock enough, but to discover that you are about to be shared by brothers would unnerve even the most open-minded people.”
“Maybe I’ll tell her that first and then the shape-shifting part afterward. It might not be as intimidating after she meets my brothers.”
Brenna wrapped her arm around Sloan’s and walked down the boardwalk with him. “I’ve known Carol for a very long time, and it takes a lot to shock her. She’s the calmest person I know.”
Chapter Four
Later that afternoon, Carol wandered up and down the two aisles that made up the local liquor store. There wasn’t an LCBO in Ecstasy Lake, but Carol remembered passing one as she drove along the highway into town. Since there weren’t any animals left to pick up, she closed up the clinic a bit early, which allowed her enough time to run a couple errands. She didn’t want to show up at Gordon’s house empty-handed and decided that a nice bottle of wine and some flowers would do the trick.
Walking along the wall lined with spirits, beer, and liquors, she found that the two center islands were home to the wine selection. In the end, she decided on a red and a white wine from Ontario. She couldn’t go wrong with VQA. Balancing the wines in one arm, she dug through her purse to get her wallet. She never noticed the large man in front of her until it was too late.
“Oomph!” She staggered a moment, expecting to drop to her ass and smash the bottles, but it never happened. Instead, for the second time today, she found herself caught up in a man’s arms. Looking up, she half expected to see Sloan’s face, but she didn’t recognize the man holding her.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bang into you like that.”
He didn’t say anything, staring down at her as if she was a prime rib and he was ready for dinner.
“You can let go of me now.” Juggling the bottles, she tried to step back, but instead the man tightened his hold on her arms and pulled her closer. “Um, excuse me, I don’t think I am who you think I am.”
“Yes, you are, and I believe the line is, I don’t think that means what you think it means.”
“A man who can quote The Princess Bride? You are a rare species.”
“You have no idea. Come home with me.”
Okay, anything you want. Carol jumped all over her crazy inner voice. “Are you insane?”
“Maybe, but I need you to meet my brothers.” He pressed his face into her hair. Is he sniffing me? To each their own, but she’d never heard of a hair fetish before.
Carol couldn’t say the man wasn’t gorgeous. Exactly what was in the water in these parts anyway? She was tripping over handsome men. Unlike Sloan’s cinnamon lengths, this man’s hair was shorter, dark brown, and spiked around his head, which looked incredibly sexy.
“Right. Well, that’s kind, but I have a dinner reservation already.”
“Cancel it.” His words were as direct as his gaze. This man radiated an intensity that set her nerves twitching. “No.” She extricated herself from his grip and walked up to the counter. “I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. I’ll pass.”
He followed her up to the cash register, standing close enough that she felt an urge to lean back against him and let him take all her problems away. No, you made that mistake once already, Einstein. His actions reminded her so much of Sloan. Really, should she be acting like this toward more than one man in a day? Her dormant libido had roared to life earlier today, and she was having a hard time reminding herself why she shouldn’t go home with Mr. HunkaHunkaBurninLove.
She paid for her wine and scooped up the brown paper bag as he reached for it.
“I’ll carry that for you.” He looked slightly offended when she prevented him from taking the bag.
“No, that’s all right I can take care of myself, thanks,” she replied.
He followed her toward the door, but the cashier’s voice echoed in the small store.
“Kaden, you planning on paying for that beer?”
She looked over her shoulder and noticed that he carried a couple six-packs in one hand. Is he that intent on me that he forgot to pay, or is he using me for cover?
“Shit. Sorry, George. Give me a second.” He placed the beer on the counter, and she quickly left the building.
He easily caught up to her. He had to be a good six inches taller than her, and she wasn’t a short woman. “Now you know my name, what’s yours?”
“I don’t think that is a good idea.” Carol quickened her steps as she headed to her car. An old VW Bug wasn’t much protection, but she didn’t want to be out in the parking lot all by herself with a weird-acting stranger. At least, if she screamed, the cashier would still hear her.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Isn’t that what all serial killers say? Carol unlocked the car door and used it as a barrier between the two of them when she opened it. She wasn’t surprised that his senses picked up on her fear, especially after he’d tried to sniff her earlier. Kaden held back a few feet as if uncertain what to do. He shoved one hand in his pocket and scratched the back of his head with the other. His brows drew together over his intense gaze. He looked like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.
“Listen, I’ve made a mess of this, I know. You caught me off guard, because I never expected to meet you like this.”
“What are you talking about?” Carol quickly got in her car and slammed the door. The window might be open, but she knew that she could drive over him if she had to. She had the car started before he got any closer.
Kaden held up a hand for her to wait but didn’t get too close to her door. “I’m sorry for scaring you. Please, all I’d like to know is your name.”
What harm could a name do, especially if it meant he would back off? “What’s your name?”
“Kaden Henderson.”
At least now she could ask Brenna about him. In a small town everyone knew everyone else, right?
“I’m Carol McKade.”
His expression softened as a large smile lit his face, causing her heart to skip a beat. “Thank you, Carol.” He stepped away from the car, and she reversed out of the parking lot. As soon as she hit the main road, she stepped on the gas, not wanting him to know what direction she was headed. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she could see that there was no need to worry. He wasn’t chasing her. Instead he stood in the middle of the parking lot watching her until she turned the corner and the trees blocked her view of him.
Stranger and stranger and stranger…
Carol never attracted that kind of attention from men, and here she met two gorgeous men who made her feel like the sexiest person on the planet. One at a time for Pete’s sake. She’d thought her sex drive had gone into reverse or at least gone into permanent hibernation. Meeting Sloan woke it up, and now she apparently was about to fall all over every man she met. Well, not every man, but she couldn’t explain her reactions today.
* * * *
Kaden stood in the middle of the gravel parking lot and stared at the car driving away from him. Karma was a fucking bitch who decided to yank his chain. One thought pounded against his skull over and over. My mate is human. There was no doubt in his soul that she was his True Mate. He could taste her scent on his tongue. A delicate floral scent still hung in the air from her perfume and branded his soul.
He wanted to run after her car and find out where she lived, but his feet felt glued to the gravel. His inner wolf snarled in frustration at his inaction. She was getting away, and he was letting her go. People lived their entire lives wishing they would meet the one person destined for them, and he was watching her leave. He memorized her license plate. He knew enough guys on the force that he would be able to find her as soon as he got used to the idea.
Trouble was, he already felt used to the idea and wanted her back here. Now. He thumbed his phone open, and paused. He was about to call Jaxon and tell him everything, but why bother? He couldn’t mate with a human and put t
he entire pack in danger again. Last time it was his best friend Jack who lost his life trying to protect a pack member’s human mate. What if something happened to her and this time it was one of his brothers killed trying to save her life?
A sharp pain radiated in his chest and echoed out through his body. How was he going to live with the fact that he let his mate slip through his fingers?
Chapter Five
Carol’s heart pounded for the entire drive to Gordon’s house. It wasn’t until she pulled into the long driveway that she started to relax again. Brenna’s father lived on the outskirts of Ecstasy Lake in a big A-frame house that looked almost like it had grown there and not been built. Carol pulled up next to a few trucks. It made sense that in this area she would need a bigger vehicle. Her VW Bug would never survive the amount of snow that got dumped on them every winter.
“Carol!” Gordon’s voice boomed across the yard, making her jump. Damn it! I almost dropped the bottles again. She waved at him and then adjusted the gift bag holding the bottles before reaching in and grabbing the two bouquets of flowers.
“Didn’t I tell you that you didn’t have to bring anything but your beautiful smile?”
“Yes, you did, but I don’t like going anywhere empty-handed.”
Brenna’s dad was a big man with salt-and-pepper hair and the biggest smile. She always felt safe with him. He had this calming way about him. He collected the gift bag she handed him and wrapped his other arm around her shoulders as they walked up to the house. Helen waved to Carol from where she stood leaning against the porch railing.
“I’d give you another hug, but you know how jealous Brenna’s moms are.”
“Good thing we chose not to marry such a massive flirt,” Ann quipped from where she stood waiting at the open door. She might sound sarcastic, but Carol knew it was all in fun. Ann looked amazing as usual, and Carol hoped that she looked half as good when she reached her age.
“I can’t help but flirt with him, he’s so cute.” Carol played along and batted her lashes up at Gordon, who rolled his eyes at her actions and laughed.
“Oh sweetheart, please don’t feed his ego any more. We work very hard to keep his feet on solid ground.” Helen commented this time.
“I’ll take the wine in for you, Carol.” Gordon pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He kissed both Helen and Ann’s cheeks as he passed on his way into the house.
Ann always reminded Carol of Lynda Carter—she never looked like she aged, either. Helen was a bit older, but she, too, was aging beautifully. Helen was Brenna’s other mom, and she came up behind Ann, wrapping an arm around her wife’s waist. Brenna shared the uniqueness of her parents’ marriage a long time ago, and Carol often wondered how they made it work so well. She didn’t think she would be able to share a man, but then both her moms loved each other as well. Maybe that made a difference?
“Welcome to our home, Carol. Come on in.”
Carol handed a bouquet of flowers to each of the women, who both oohed at them. “We love flowers so much. Thank you, darling.” Helen collected Ann’s flowers. “I’ll go put these in water.”
Ann came forward and kissed Carol’s cheek. “Brenna told us about that jackass you left. Good girl.” Leaning closer, she whispered loudly, “Do you want me to ask Gordon to feed him to the wolves?”
“Tempting, but I’d hate for the wolves to get indigestion.”
“They have a very strong constitution. Don’t worry about them. I’d happily make him disappear for what he did.”
“As difficult as it is, I’m trying to be the bigger person, but I reserve the right to change my mind. Where’s Lulu and Willow?”
“Willow’s napping, and Lulu is sleeping over at a friend’s house,” Ann answered. “School starts in a couple weeks, and she is all excited about being in senior kindergarten. She says she’s a big girl now and isn’t scared of anything. Which means she will make it until about ten or eleven tonight and want to come home.”
They walked into the warm house, and Carol felt all the tension from the past few weeks evaporate. She wasn’t close to her parents at all, and this feeling of home made her want to move in and never leave.
“You have a beautiful home, Ann.” The inside of the house looked as natural as the outside with large dark-wood beams that looked like branches of a tree stretching through the house. It was warm and inviting, much like the family that lived here. Large, colorful area rugs covered the polished wood floors.
“Thank you, honey.”
“What took you so long?” Brenna gave her a hug and pressed a glass of sparkling wine in her hand.
Ann rubbed Carol’s arm. “While you two chat, I’m going to go check on Willow and have a quick nap.”
“We’ll see you at dinner, Mom.” As soon as Ann left the room, Brenna turned on her. Her eyes narrowed, and she moved closer. “Something happened. I can tell by the look on your face, now spill.”
“You would not believe it if I told you. Do you know a Kaden Henderson?”
Brenna blinked and then one brow arched slightly over her curious gaze. “Yes, why?”
“I met him at the LCBO. He’s a bit of a strange guy. I’m not certain what his problem is.” She took a generous swallow of her wine. Even thinking about him made her heartbeat go wild. “And I don’t want to discuss my reaction.”
“Like what? Oh my god. You look like you have a sunburn, you’re so red.”
Brenna might be her closest friend, but Carol wasn’t sure how to explain her reaction to Sloan, and then to Kaden.“There must be something in the air around here,” she muttered and took another swallow from her glass.
“You might need a refill before dinner. In fact, why don’t you stay the night here?”
“Why?”
“Because you and I will end up polishing off at least one bottle of wine before you start to tell me the truth of what happened, and after that I bet we knock off another one. I’m staying over, too. It will be like old times.”
Carol wasn’t immune to her friend’s enthusiasm, and TC was fine hanging out at the clinic for the night. “Top me up then.”
* * * *
Jaxon McKade came by earlier to tell Gordon about the hunter they arrested the other day. While it wasn’t a direct threat against the pack, he knew Gordon would want the details. At the end of their conversation, Gordon invited him to stay for dinner. Jaxon loved Helen’s cooking and jumped at the chance. A warm evening, cold beer, and a good meal, life didn’t get much better.
He didn’t expect to be suddenly contemplating his future. He never really believed he would ever find his True Mate. Women came and went in his life. He shared some with his brothers, and others left at the mention of being shared. Deep down he never really believed that one day he would have to choose. That was until he heard a musical laugh dance along a summer breeze. The sound was like a siren’s call to him, pulling him away from the group he was talking with. He stalked across the lawn and stopped dead mid pace.
Standing on the upper balcony, looking out over the lake with Brenna, was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever set eyes on. The breeze shifted slightly, carrying her scent to him—a combination of vanilla and honeysuckle that wrapped around his head and shot straight to his cock. Her dark hair brushed her shoulders, and red streaks in the strands framed her big brown eyes. She had the softest-looking mouth. Her curves made him think of spending the next week in bed with her.
He stepped back into the shadow of a nearby tree and watched her. She smiled and laughed, clinking glasses with Brenna as if the two of them came up with a plan to rule the world.
His wolf demanded he get closer to her, whimpering for more. Was her skin as soft as it looked from here? To be on the safe side, he didn’t take his eyes off her as he headed across the grass toward the side door of Gordon’s house. Every animal instinct he had clamored for him to take what was his. She was most definitely his.
His elation from moments ago deflated like a balloon. The thre
e of them had planned on sharing a woman. It would take a special woman to take all three of them on. This woman was human. She wouldn’t know a thing about his animal side or his need to share with his brothers.
“Whoa there, mister.” A delicate hand stopped him mid stride as he entered the kitchen. “You’re looking like you’re about to eat someone. Is everything all right?”
“I hope so, Helen.”
The wolf bristling inside wanted to rush past her and reach the luscious woman who ensnared his senses, but Jaxon didn’t want to show Helen any disrespect. Gordon’s first wife looked older than his second, but that was because she wasn’t his True Mate. Those meant to be together aged at the same rate, but Gordon met Helen before Ann. Jaxon was too young to remember their wedding, but he remembered the whispers when Ann came to town.
“That sounds ominous.” Helen placed the vegetables in her hands on the counter. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
Considering the abstract conversations he and he brothers had in the past were about to become a reality, he realized Helen might be the perfect person to speak to about this.
“Helen, I have an incredibly personal question to ask you. If you don’t want to answer, then I’ll completely understand.”
She pulled up a stool and pointed at it. “You’re not the first one to begin a conversation like that with me, Jaxon. Sit and ask your questions.”
Jaxon suddenly found himself at a loss for words. His future wasn’t as certain anymore, and he didn’t know how to handle it. “I think I might have found my mate.”
Helen paused as she chopped celery and smiled. “That’s wonderful news, but I imagine you have your concerns. Did you want to ask me about my relationship with Gordon and Ann?”
“Yes. You’re not True Mated with either of them, are you?”
“No, sadly I’m not, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love them any more or any less. It means that my time with them is shorter than they have with each other.”
Davies, Corrine - Embraced by Fur [3xtasy Lake 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 4