She pushed herself out of Hunter’s and Clay’s arms, going to stand in front of Suzie, her blue eyes flashing with anger as she turned to face the men who were fighting to get to her. She was not going to let that happen. She was more than done with any man controlling her and hurting her. She was not going to stand by and allow any man to hurt this woman. She pushed back her long, brown hair so that it hung behind her shoulders to curl slightly to the middle of her back and squared off to face these men. They were going to have to go through her to get to Suzie.
Drew. Carter. Listen to me, please. Suzie’s voice was calm, and the love she sent them through their bond was warm and soothing.
Both men stopped moving, looking directly at Suzie as she stood slightly behind a woman that they had never seen before. They breathed deeply, low growls rumbling from them as they tried to focus on their mate’s words.
Suzie felt a moment of sadness that she was causing her men such distress. She never wanted them to feel that way. She had to calm them.
I love you, Mates.
She watched as both her men focused on her and calmed somewhat.
Suzie, what’s going on? Why do you want us kept from you?
Drew’s words hurt her heart.
I don’t want you kept from me. I want you always. I just need you to go home and get something for me.
Both men looked at her, their faces filled with confusion, but they had calmed considerably at her words and the feelings of love and need that she was sending to them through their mating bond.
What do you need, sweetheart?
Suzie smiled at Carter, relaxing as his words and feelings calmed and he was once again himself.
I need you to go to our bedroom. Go to my bureau and open the second drawer from the top. There are two boxes inside of it that I need you to get for me.
Both men stopped struggling against the men who held them securely. Jace looked at Suzie and saw her nod. He released his hold on Carter and stepped aside. Jackson, Alex, and Butler followed his movement, but all of them stayed vigilant, prepared to reach out and hold the men if they tried to lunge for Suzie.
“Suzie,” Drew whispered. “Please, baby, let me hold you.”
“I will,” Suzie promised. “I just need you to get the boxes from my bureau first.”
“I don’t understand, honey,” Carter told her softly. “Will you come with us and get the boxes?”
Suzie shook her head. “You need to get them for me. Once you do, you’ll understand.”
After one last look of longing that they directed at the woman who was their life, both men turned as one and left through the sliding glass door, not stopping until they had arrived at the home that they shared with Suzie. Neither man spoke, so determined to get to the damn boxes that their mate wanted them to gather.
Carter pushed open the front door, not caring when it slammed against the inside wall of their home. He strode through the living room and raced up the stairs, not stopping until he was inside their bedroom. Drew was right behind him. They both stalked over to Suzie’s bureau and pulled out the second drawer from the top as Suzie had instructed them to do, each man taking hold of the drawer pull and tugging together to open it.
When they saw the two boxes inside the drawer, they paused in surprise. The two boxes were of equal size, wrapped in white tissue paper. They were identical except for the words written with black marker on top of them. My Drew was written on the top of one box. My Carter was written on the top of the other.
Both men reached into the drawer and grabbed the box intended for him, taking it out and holding it tightly.
Do you have the boxes?
Yes, Suzie.
Drew spoke for the both of them.
Before you open them, I want you both to know how much I love you and how happy you’ve made me.
All anger left Carter as he felt her love fill him. He looked at Drew and knew that he felt the same.
Open the boxes, Mates.
Both men peeled the tissue paper from the boxes, dropping the ripped paper to the floor in their haste to get to whatever was inside the one that they held. Pulling the small covers off the boxes, they stared down into them in stunned silence.
Inside the boxes were two tiny T-shirts—one a pastel blue and one a pastel pink. There was lettering on each shirt.
The T-shirts inside Drew’s box read I love my Daddy.
The T-shirts inside Carter’s box read I love my Poppa.
“Suzie,” Drew whispered, looking down at the tiny T-shirts. “You’re pregnant, honey?”
Yes.
Suzie walked the remaining distance to the home that they shared, leaving behind her adopted family at the family lodge. She opened the kitchen door, closed it softly behind her and made her way up the stairs to their bedroom. She opened the door and stood quietly, waiting patiently for her men to turn and face her.
“I’m sorry I upset you. I didn’t want you to be able to tell that my scent has changed. I went to Martha to make sure I was right. I thought I scented that I was pregnant. My new scent makes me feel calm and happy.”
Carter walked over to Suzie, reaching out to touch her face gently but pulling back before he actually made contact. “Our cub is growing inside of you,” he said softly, his awe evident in his voice.
“Are you afraid to touch me, my Carter?” Suzie teased him, laughing. “Are you going to be afraid to touch me every time I’m pregnant?”
“Every time you’re pregnant, huh? You plan on getting pregnant often, baby?” Carter asked her, stepping toward her and standing directly in front of her, his blue eyes shining brightly with love as he looked down at her.
Drew stepped forward and touched Suzie’s belly lightly, lowering his head until he was nuzzling against her neck. “Thank you for this beautiful surprise, Susannah,” he told her softly. “I love the shirts for our baby. Do you think we’ll have twins? Is that why you gave us one for a boy and one for a girl?”
Suzie laughed with surprise. “No! Goodness, no! I just wanted to make sure there was a T-shirt for whatever gender we end up having.”
Carter’s hand joined Drew’s as it covered Suzie’s belly. He caressed it tenderly, amazed by the miracle of the conception. All the years they had been separated, all the nights he had dreamed of being reunited with her, and all the pain and loneliness they had suffered, were washed away in the intense joy this moment gave them. Every wish he wished for what their perfect life would be like was being realized at this moment.
“The Fates have certainly blessed us,” he whispered. “There is something I’m not pleased about, though.”
“What?” Suzie asked, horrified that he wasn’t happy.
“I don’t like that you’re covered in another man’s scent,” he told her firmly, growling as the scents of Silas and Grant permeated his senses.
“I’m sorry,” Suzie apologized at once. “I was trying to mask my scent so I could surprise you with the T-shirts and tell you about the baby in my own way.”
“You know what that means, baby?” Carter asked her.
“What?”
“It means Drew and I need to wash that scent off of you right now,” Carter told her, smiling devilishly.
“Yeah?” Suzie asked, a surge of desire rushing through her.
“Yeah,” Carter answered.
“I want to scent our baby,” Drew told her softly.
He reached up and pulled at her shirt, dragging her gently toward the master bathroom. Suzie’s soft laughter filled his heart with happiness.
“I think our Suzie needs to be scrubbed from head to toe, Carter,” Drew told his triad partner, soft growls erupting from him as he scented the other wolves on her body.
“I agree,” Carter told him. “Do you know who you’re going to smell like once we rid you of any other man’s scent, Mate?”
Suzie reached up and touched both of their faces, smiling tenderly.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m going to smell like our baby.”
Chapter 28
“The blood samples I took yesterday show a higher level of change to your DNA, Dean,” Drew told Mitchell and Dean as they sat in the chairs before his desk.
Carter stood beside them, waiting patiently until Drew needed his help. It was his day off, and he always worked with Drew in his clinic on his day off. He was glad to be home. Since Suzie had shared with them the news of her pregnancy, neither one of them wanted to be far away from her for very long.
“I believe your DNA will be fully adapted by the end of this month, Dean,” Drew continued.
“Wow, that’s fast,” Dean answered. “It’s only been a few days.” He turned toward Mitchell and smiled. “You have one hell of a bite, Mitch.”
Mitchell blushed and shook his head. “Not funny, Dean,” he told him.
Dean laughed and reached out to settle his hand on Mitchell’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. Don’t stress so much, partner. Everything’s good, right, Drew?” Removing his hand from Mitchell’s shoulder, he pushed at him gently, trying to ease his friend’s worry.
Drew nodded. “My fathers told me the change happens quickly,” he explained. “Both of you should continue to come to my office so I can supervise the bonding bite Mitchell gives you. Have you noticed any increase in your senses, Dean?”
“I have. My vision is sharper, and my sense of smell is off the charts. I think I’m a little stronger, too.”
“That’s great, Dean,” Carter spoke up. “You’ll find that the wolf attributes you’re gaining will be positive enhancements. Sometimes we take for granted just how blessed we are as wolf shifters.”
“I think your ability to heal has also been affected,” Drew told him. “We can’t really check on that, but it will steadily improve as Mitchell continues to bond with you through his bite. The ability that will take longer to manifest will be the one that will allow your canines to drop so you can bite Mitchell in order to bond with him. Once that ability is in place and you’ve completed the bonding with Mitchell, you’ll both be able to claim your third when you find her.”
Dean and Mitchell shared a look, sorrow filling both of them as they thought about Janey. They had talked about her, accepting her decision to distance herself from them, but they couldn’t prevent the deep longing that filled them when they thought about her. They wanted her to be a part of their lives.
“Drew, what happens if our third doesn’t want to be claimed?” Mitchell asked him seriously.
Drew looked at Carter briefly, seeing the surprise on his triad partner’s face. He saw the way Carter was trying to contain his smile.
They’ve found their third, Drew.
I think you’re right, Carter.
Drew faced Mitchell quietly, turning to see that Dean held the same sad expression on his face. “Give her time,” he suggested. “You’re both young and have a few years of college ahead you. Your third may not be ready to be claimed right now, but that doesn’t mean she won’t be ready to accept your mating in the future.”
The two men looked at each other silently. Dean’s brown eyes held sadness as he met Mitchell’s equally sad gaze. Despite the gravity of their situation, Mitchell’s eyes held hope.
“I’m pretty new to this triad relationship thing,” Dean spoke up. “I don’t understand something.”
“What, Dean?” Drew’s voice was calm as he faced them.
“Is it possible to want someone as your triad third but that person not be the third that is destined for you?”
“Well, there’s a difference between an attraction you might feel for someone and the way you feel about your intended third,” Drew explained, choosing his words very carefully. “An attraction can be strong, but the feelings would be more superficial. When you meet the one who is destined by the Fates to become your third, the feelings are more profound. The need to be with that person becomes almost like an ache. You don’t feel complete without them in your life.”
Dean nodded and turned to Mitchell to see him nodding in agreement as well. He felt that ache of separation just as Dean did. They had talked about it the night before.
“The true test would be that you have no desire to be with any other woman,” Drew told them, pulling them both out of their thoughts. “A wolf mates for life. Mitchell is wolf. You will have all the characteristics of a wolf except for the ability to shift. No other woman will draw you or excite either of you. If you find this to be true as time goes on, you can be sure that the woman you think is your triad mate truly is the one destined to be yours.”
“So we should just give it time?” Dean asked softly.
“That would be my suggestion.” Drew looked at both young men and smiled. He hoped the two of them had indeed found their third. He wanted them to be just as happy as he and Carter were with Suzie.
“You’ll both be guided toward your mate through visions,” Carter added. “There won’t be any doubt in your minds once that happens.”
“Okay,” Dean agreed, knowing both he and Mitchell had already experienced a very small vision of Janey holding them both. He turned to Mitchell and smiled sadly. “We’ll see if our attraction is puppy love or wolf love.”
Mitchell groaned at Dean’s joke. “You’re bad, Dean,” he told him, smiling despite his sadness.
Drew, Carter. Are you in the clinic?
Suzie’s sweet voice filled their minds, and happiness filled their hearts instantly.
Yes, baby. Is everything okay?
Carter, are you going to ask me that every time you talk to me? Suzie’s voice held warmth as she teased him.
Come into the office, sweetheart. Carter and I have missed you.
Suzie’s soft laughter made them smile. It was only a matter of moments before she entered the clinic through the door that connected the clinic to their home.
“Hi, guys,” Suzie greeted Mitchell and Dean as she walked toward Drew’s desk. “Everything okay with you two?”
“We’re good,” Mitchell assured her.
“How are you, little mother?” Dean asked her, grinning at the immediate happy expression that covered Suzie’s face.
“I’m great,” Suzie answered without hesitation. She smiled as Carter walked around the desk and took her in his arms. When Drew stood and sandwiched her between him and Carter, she was more than content. “I’m better now.”
Both men growled softly, leaning forward to kiss her neck before biting down on her shoulder lightly. She leaned into their arms, smiling as their hands ran down her body to cover her belly possessively.
“Saying hi to our baby?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Drew told her, kissing her shoulder lightly. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
“I’m feeling wonderful,” she answered immediately. “Your baby makes me calm—and happy.”
Dean looked at Mitchell and saw the happiness on his triad partner’s face. He understood his happiness. He would be feeling the same if his sister Mia was with her mates and happy about having a baby. He wished that happiness for her. He wished that happiness for himself and Mitchell. The sudden image of Janey standing between them and smiling up at them as they rubbed her pregnant belly flashed through his mind.
Mitchell’s attention snapped to him immediately. His mouth dropped open, and his eyes glowed golden as his wolf pushed forth. A low growl rumbled from deep within his chest. The vision that they had just shared had sent instant need to take and claim their mate.
“There’s no question, Dean,” Mitchell told him, his voice filled with determination.
“No. There isn’t,” Dean agreed.
“So you two think Janine is your mate?” Suzie asked them as they walked along the lake that sat deep within Beckett land. She looked at the beginning construction of the house Nikki and her mates were building and smiled, knowing how happy the three of them were to be starting a family and building a home.
“I know it, Suzie,” Mitchell spoke up. “Dean and I just shared a vision about our future with her
.”
“It was a really nice vision,” Dean added, looking at Mitchell and seeing the contented smile that covered his face.
“And she smells amazing, Suzie,” Mitchell added. “I’ve always heard that the draw to your mate’s scent is strong, but I never realized how intense it is.”
“She really does smell good,” Dean agreed.
“So what’s the problem?” Suzie asked, stopping before the thickly wooded area that surrounded the lake.
“She’s not interested,” Mitchell told her softly. “At least, that’s what she says.”
“I think you should just give her some space,” Suzie advised them. “She’s probably overwhelmed with the feeling of the mating pull.”
“I think it’s more than that,” Dean spoke up. “She’s a really sweet girl. You should see her with her niece Tammy, and she’s been great with Meeka’s son Eric. She’s also very kind and caring when she’s alone with Julia or my mom. I don’t really know why she’s such a brat when she’s around the rest of the pack, but I don’t believe for a minute that she’s the person she projects herself to be.”
“There has to be a reason she acts that way, Dean,” Mitchell spoke up. “We’ve seen her shut down and become something she’s not, and we’ve seen her be open and loving.”
Suzie looked at her brother and Dean, wishing she could help them, but there was nothing she could do to clarify the mystery of Janine. Only Janine could do that.
A sudden sound to their right brought all their attentions to the trees. The scent of Alpha Randall reached Suzie and Mitchell at the same time. Mitchell grabbed for Suzie’s hand and Dean’s forearm, pulling them both with him as he ran in the opposite direction toward the family lodge.
Alpha Randall is here on pack land! Suzie screamed the words to her mates as she, Dean, and Mitchell ran with all their strength.
Where are you, Suzie?
Carter’s panicked voice boomed and echoed in her mind.
I’m at the lake where Nikki, Alexander, and Butler are building their home. Please help us!
We’re on our way, baby. Try to stay away from him.
Susannah's Saviors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 33