“Laurie told me they run a garage in town,” Meeka offered softly. “She suggested that I work for them to help run their office. She said she won’t mention it to them until I tell her that I’m interested.”
“That sounds like a good suggestion,” Suzie agreed. “I know you’d be good at organizing and keeping their books. What do you think?”
Meeka shrugged, blushing guiltily as she realized that her friend couldn’t see her actions. “I’m not sure,” she whispered. “I need to work, but I’m afraid to be close to them.”
Suzie nodded, completely understanding her best friend’s fears. “Before I had the dream about my brother coming to Beckett’s pack and finding his triad partner, I had a dream about you.”
“You did? Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“The silver inside of me was affecting me, and I didn’t know if I could trust that my dreams were accurate.” Suzie paused and lifted her hand to allow the soft sand to filter through her fingers. “I knew Mitchell had to leave before Randall killed him, and I hoped that the dream I had that showed me that he would find his triad partner would come true. If my dream was wrong, he would still be away from Randall, and I knew Jace Beckett would protect him. Either way, Mitchell would be better off. But the dream about you wasn’t as cut and dry. I saw two men waiting for you, but I couldn’t make out their faces.”
“What did you see?”
“I saw scars.”
“Where were these scars?” Meeka’s voice was soft. She held her breath as she waited for Suzie to answer her.
“One man had scars across his throat. The other man had scars across his forearm.”
“Holy shit!”
“Mommy said a bad word,” Eric told them, looking up from his pail of sand.
“Yes, baby,” Meeka agreed, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I won’t say bad words again.”
“Okay, Mommy,” Eric told her, smiling before looking down at his pail and shoveling more sand into it.
Suzie chuckled softly. “Good save, Mommy,” she told her best friend. “Why did you say that bad word?”
“Suzie,” Meeka whispered, leaning toward her so that only she would hear her. “Reece has scars across his throat and Wade has scars on his forearm.”
Suzie smiled. “Looks like you just found your mates.”
“No. I can’t be their mate.”
“Honey, you are. Don’t be afraid. You have to understand that when you meet the men who are meant to be your mates you will find that you’re drawn to them first by their scent. You’ll begin sharing visions of your future with them. Their souls will reach out to you, and you’ll find that you’ll care about them deeply. It will happen pretty fast, Meeka, so don’t be afraid.” She reached out, searching for her friend’s hand, grasping it tightly when Meeka reached out to her and touched her fingers.
“That’s what scares me, Suzie,” Meeka whispered. “I am drawn to them. They smell so good!”
Suzie laughed out loud, her joy making Eric look up and smile at her. He stood and walked over to her, plopping himself down on her lap and tugging at her long hair.
Suzie hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek and rocking him back and forth in her arms. “Don’t worry about anything, Meeka. Just let it happen. The Fates will guide you.”
Chapter 16
Suzie sat on the large couch in the living room of the family lodge. Mitchell sat to her left, and Meeka stood beside the couch with Eric in her arms. She was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer numbers in the room. It was filled with family members who had welcomed her warmly. She looked about the room slowly, taking in the many shadows and realized that she was beginning to see colors more vividly.
She had met Laurie’s best friend Nikki, and Nikki’s mates Alexander and Butler and had been made aware of their confrontation with Boyd after he had kidnapped Nikki and held her in the third cabin on Randall’s pack land. Boyd had shot both Alexander and Butler and had intended to kill Nikki and the baby she had just found out she was carrying. If it hadn’t been for Nikki’s experience as a nurse and Mia’s help, both men would have been killed by the silver infused in their bodies from the silver bullets Boyd had used.
“How are you feeling, son?” Silas asked Alex as he reached out and ran his hand lovingly over the long, black hair on his son’s head as he, Nikki, and Butler sat in one of the huge recliners in front of the fireplace.
“I’m good, Pop,” Alex told him softly, reaching up to touch his father’s hand and hold it carefully within his own.
“You both have certainly aged us all,” Grant added as he stepped behind the recliner to stand closer to his son and Butler, touching their shoulders and squeezing them firmly.
“Sorry, Dad,” Alex said softly, pulling Nikki tightly against him as she sat between him and Butler.
“Thank the Fates all of you are home and fully healed,” his mother Martha spoke up as she leaned into her mates’ arms and allowed their strength to support her.
“Mom, you’ve got to go and rest,” Alex spoke up.
“I’ll rest after dinner,” Martha protested. “I’ll be able to relax now that I know all of you are safe.”
“Our mate saved us,” Alex told them, smiling down at Nikki as she blushed adorably.
Nikki leaned in toward Alex’s neck and kissed him before leaning back and reaching out to pull Butler closer to her. “Both of you saved me and our babies,” she told them.
“We need to make sure Randall and Boyd can’t hurt any of our pack again,” Jace told them as he pulled Laurie onto his lap and covered her belly with his large hand, smiling at Jackson when he saw him leaning forward from his place beside them to kiss her cheek lightly. The fear that had filled him that something might happen to their mate and the cub she was carrying was deep. “They’ve caused enough pain and sadness.”
“Boyd is dead,” Butler spoke up. “Alex and I had no choice but to take him down. He was about to kill us all.”
Meeka’s gasp filled the sudden silence. An instant flash of Boyd hitting her raced through her mind. She cringed at the memory and held her stomach protectively. When he had hit her, she had been two months pregnant, and the memory of it sent a rush of fear and pain through her.
Suzie reached out, searching for her friend, glad when Meeka grabbed for her and squeezed her hand tightly. Suzie could feel the emotions that were filling Meeka and were nearly suffocating her. She heard the low growls coming from the two men who stood next to her friend and smiled with satisfaction that Reece and Wade were already showing how protective they were of Meeka and her son. She heard Eric laugh and realized that the little boy felt no fear with the massive men. That was a very good thing. Meeka would finally be able to relax knowing that her son accepted both men.
“Up,” Eric told Reece, holding his hands out to him, expecting to be lifted into his arms. Reece didn’t disappoint him. Once he was in his arms, Eric leaned against his chest, rested his cheek against him, and patted Reece’s chest with his little hand. “I like your wolf,” Eric told him. “He has a good growl.”
It was all Reece could do to remain stoic. This little boy touched his heart in a way he had never expected. He looked at Wade and caught the soft expression on his triad partner’s face. They were so screwed.
Jace was quiet for a minute. He looked at his enforcers as they sat with their pregnant mate and felt the fear they had of losing each other. As alpha, he was very much in tune with the feelings of the members of his pack.
“You did what you had to do,” he told them firmly.
“Yes. We did,” Butler agreed, knowing the shifter code of ethics governed and supported their actions.
“We have to make sure security is tight around the compound,” Jackson spoke up. “We can’t take a chance that we’re not prepared if Randall or any of his pack come here to try to get Mitchell and Suzie.”
“We’ll be ready for them,” Jace spoke up, his voice deep with power. “I want to speak with every enforcer over
the next few hours.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Alexander answered immediately as he stood carefully so as not to jostle Nikki.
“Oh, my goodness, Alex,” Nikki told him, laughing as she stood up beside him. “I’m not made of glass.”
Alex turned to face her, taking her face gently between his large hands. “You and our babies that you’re carrying are precious to us, Mate,” he told her softly. “Allow us to cherish and protect you.”
Butler came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, settling his hand protectively on her belly. “We could have lost you, sweetness,” he whispered against her temple. “That makes us want to surround you and protect you. Deal with it.”
Nikki melted under the softness of Alex’s eyes and the gentleness of Butler’s embrace. How could she deny them their need to take care of her and their babies? She felt the same way about them. She had almost lost them to the silver in the bullets that Boyd had used on them.
“Okay,” she whispered, taking both their hands in hers and squeezing lightly.
“Jace,” Laurie spoke up, waiting until Jace looked down at her before continuing. “Suzie, Meeka, and Eric need clothes.”
Jace looked at the three newest members of his pack and nodded briefly. “Lucian and Cole can take them to the mall.” He looked over at Wade and Reece, watching how they were taking a protective stance over Meeka and Eric, and decided it was about time both men took the chance to embrace their destined future. “Wade and Reece, I want both of you to go as well.”
Both men looked at each other in frustration. There was nothing they could do now. They could not deny their alpha. They nodded briefly, something in them settling at the thought of giving their protection to the beautiful young woman and her son, despite their reluctance to be with the woman they knew was meant to be theirs.
“I’m going, too,” Nikki spoke up.
“No, Mate,” Alex told her gently. “You have to go and see Doc. We need to make sure everything is okay with you and our cubs.”
“I can do that later, right, Butler?” she asked, turning to face her other mate, not at all happy when she saw him shaking his head before she even finished the question.
“Doctor first. Shopping after,” he said firmly.
“Stubborn mates,” Nikki grumbled, giving in after a moment when she realized that they were right—even though she would never admit it to them.
Looks like we’re going to have to paddle that sweet ass of yours for keeping your honest feelings from us, baby. Alex’s voice filled her head, his censure and frustration with her keeping her thoughts from them obvious.
In your dreams, Alex, Nikki sent back the sarcastic comment.
Alex stepped forward and pinned Nikki between him and Butler, pressing tightly against her just as she liked them to. He tipped his head down and kissed her lips lightly.
Butler wrapped his arms around Nikki’s waist, caressing her belly tenderly. He kissed the back of her neck, biting down on it lightly and causing her to moan softly.
“Sweetness, we’ll go with you to the mall as soon as Doc checks you out,” he told her as he leaned into the back of her neck. “As long as he tells us you’re okay and our cubs are okay.”
“If all of you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to be taken back to Drew,” Suzie spoke up.
“Are you okay, Suzie?” Mitchell asked her, standing before her and pulling her to her feet as soon as she reached out her hands to him.
“I think so,” she answered hesitantly. “I’m feeling a little dizzy. I think it’s because I’m starting to see colors. Maybe my equilibrium is off.”
“We’ll take you to Doc,” Butler spoke up. “Can you walk?”
“As long as you lead me,” Suzie told them, laughing.
“Carry her, Alex,” Nikki told him quickly. “We can’t take any chances.”
Alex immediately stepped toward Suzie and swept her up into his arms. Suzie’s squeal of surprise made him smile.
“You don’t need to carry me,” she protested.
“It would be faster and safer if I do,” Alex explained patiently.
Nikki’s sudden burst of laughter as Butler swung her up into his arms and cradled her against his chest made everyone in the room smile. Nikki didn’t care who was witness to his actions. It made her happy. Both of her mates made her happy.
Martha reached out and took her own mates’ hands in hers, feeling such complete happiness at the sight of her son’s triad caring about each other. She looked at her men and winked, loving how their gazes immediately softened as they looked at her.
Silas leaned forward and kissed her mouth, biting at her lower lip lightly and smiling at the instant growl of approval that left his mate. He and Grant never took for granted how much they had been blessed when they had found their Martha. She was an amazing woman, a loving mate, and a wonderful mother.
Martha touched his face tenderly, looking up into his beautiful, blue eyes. She could see the love he had for her shining brightly there and leaned against his chest. She reached out and found Grant’s hand, loving the warmth and strength of him as he moved closer to her.
Grant wasted no time in nuzzling her neck and kissing beneath her ear, smiling at the gasp of breath that escaped their woman as he licked at the hot spot that always seemed to push the right buttons for her. After all their years together, he still loved her more every day. As he watched their son with his own mate, his brown eyes sparkled with happiness as he realized that Alex and Butler would be equally blessed with their woman. He thanked the Fates that they had saved both men and had blessed them with a happy and loving triad. He couldn’t ask for a better future for the son that they had worried about over the years.
“Once Doc examines all of you and gives me the okay, call me and let me know if you want to take Suzie and Meeka shopping,” Jace told them firmly. “No one is going anywhere until we know everyone is cleared and in good health.”
“Why don’t we just plan on going another time instead,” Laurie suggested.
“Good idea, baby,” Jackson told her, smiling down at her. “That will give us more time to make sure pack land is completely protected and every member of our pack is safe, too.”
“We’ll meet with all the enforcers today and go over pack security,” Jace told them. “Those of you who want to go with Suzie and Meeka on their shopping excursion need to let me know so I can assign enough enforcers to go with you.”
“Reece and I will be going, but I think we should take Brett and Nathaniel, too,” Wade spoke up, watching Meeka as she looked at him with wariness in her eyes. “They’ve proven themselves to be worthy wolves.” His words were directed at their alpha, but his eyes never left her sweet face. He was proud of his younger brother Brett and Drew’s younger brother Nathaniel who was his triad partner. Both men had grown to be powerful enforcers within Jace’s pack.
“Good,” Jace told them. “We could use the extra protection.”
Meeka was about to protest when Reece stepped closer and shook his head. When she saw the way Eric was lying against Reece’s chest, she lost the ability to speak. It was the sweetest thing she had ever seen.
“We go where you go,” Reece’s raspy voice told her firmly. “We cannot take a chance that you or the cub might be at risk or injured.”
“I’m going, too,” Mitchell spoke up.
“Me, too,” Mia added.
“Lucian and Cole, you’ll go with them,” Jace told them, his words firm.
His orders would be followed without question. He knew he could trust the two young enforcers who had already spoken to him about their claim on Mia. They had told Jace they would wait for her to finish college, but there was no doubt in their minds that Mia was theirs. It was just a matter of time before she admitted that they were destined to be her triad mates. They hoped.
Both men nodded, stepping forward to stand beside Mia instinctively. Mia looked from one man to the next and crossed her arms across her chest. She blushed pr
ettily as she realized their gazes followed her arms and soft growls of desire left them as they saw how her shirt conformed to her full breasts.
The look she gave them was enough to quell their desires. They smiled at her and stepped back just a bit, giving her the space she needed. They had a lifetime ahead of them to spend with her. They could wait her out—for just a bit longer.
“Well, I’m not staying behind,” Dean protested. “Want to come along, Janey?” he asked Janine, winking at her boldly.
Janine stiffened as she saw that all attention in the room was now focused on her. She saw the gentle way her fathers looked at her and saw the happiness in her mother’s eyes as she looked at her with complete love.
“No thank you,” she told Dean softly, stepping back to stand in the archway of the entrance to the living room. “It’s my turn to take over the front desk in the visitor’s lodge. I’ll see you at dinner.”
She turned and left them, unable to get away quick enough. Her hands were trembling, and she was barely able to walk away as her legs began to shake. She knew in that moment that she had better make her plans to leave Beckett land—and soon. She could not take a chance on staying and possibly having her heart broken or hurting the two men who had been so kind to her. There was no point in delaying the inevitable.
Chapter 17
Drew opened the door to his office the minute he scented their mate. When he saw Alex carrying Suzie up the three stairs to stand before him, his heart nearly beat clean out of his chest with fear.
“What happened?” he asked, barely able to get the words out. “Suzie, are you hurt?”
Alex stepped into Drew’s office and walked over to the small examination room where they had removed Suzie’s collar and shackle the night before. He set her down on the examination table carefully, stepping back and leaving the room. Drew reached for her immediately, only calming when his hand touched hers.
“I’m fine, my Drew,” she told him, smiling. “I’m just a little dizzy, and they didn’t want me to walk the distance from the family lodge.”
Susannah's Saviors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 20