by Mia Allen
“You know about everything, don’t you?” he asked me.
I blushed, but then, I shook my head.
“I don’t know all there is to know about you, but I do know your secret,” I said.
He frowned, looking at me and sighing.
“Then I guess it’s time to explain everything,” he said.
“You’re not going to hide it?” I asked him.
“I don’t see the point anymore. I mean, you know the truth. You know about us, so I guess it’s only a matter of time,” he added.
I nodded.
“Thank you,” I said.
“The only thing I ask is for you not to tell anyone else about this. I don’t want it getting out. If you can promise that, then I’ll explain everything,” he said.
Could I really keep this a secret? I didn’t know for sure, but maybe it was possible. Maybe I could learn to understand this man, this creature in a sense. I wanted to, but I felt scared of what the consequences of this might end up being, that was for sure. I braced myself for what I was about to hear, hoping that I could learn to accept that nobody would know the secret.
Chapter 4
Richard turned into a wolf, motioning for me to ride on his back. I blushed, but I did so, feeling how soft and warm he was. I had to admit, this was such a foreign feeling, something so weird, but in a way, I really liked it. I wanted to indulge in this feeling forever, or at least for a little while.
We got back to the mansion a lot quicker than I thought. When we got in, he motioned for me to go to the conference room. I did so, following him along with Spencer. Spencer seemed almost excited to tell me everything, whereas Richard had almost a barrier up. I mean, I wouldn’t say anything, even though I wanted to.
I went into the room and sat down. Spencer was next to me on the left and Richard was on the right. Richard sighed, looking at me before speaking.
“So you know that I’m the legendary red wolf, correct? And that Spencer is the legendary white wolf,” he said to me.
“I know that. Well, I kind of stumbled upon it,” I said to him with a blush.
“I understand. We’re actually protectors of the land, two people that have a lot of power here. We need to make sure that power is maintained, for if it does fall into the wrong hands, it can spell the end for us,” he explained.
I nodded, taking all of this in and understanding it.
“I see,” I replied.
“Yeah. It’s why I’m always afraid to tell people. I’m here for a reason, not because I want to be. I changed my whole life so that I could protect this place. I’ve been a shifter for as long as I can remember, a werewolf in a sense. I grew up outside of here, but my parents were guardians,” he said.
“What happened? If you don’t mind me asking,” I said.
He paused, tensing up and looking at me.
“They died,” he said.
Oh. That wasn’t what I expected. I looked at him, understanding what was going on.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You didn’t know. But that’s why I came back. I needed to protect the forest and I’ve been doing so for the past twenty years,” he said.
Twenty years? How old was this guy?
“How old are you?” I asked.
He paused, shaking his head.
“Forty, but age doesn’t matter when it comes to being a shifter. Spencer here is thirty. He’s been my companion ever since I’ve taken on this duty. I’m glad to have him,” he said.
I listened to his story, understanding the impact this man had on him.
“That’s good at least. I mean, I’m glad that you have someone. All of this is so interesting,” I said.
“It is. I mean, I’d love to find a mate eventually, but I know for a fact that it won’t be immediately. I mean, you’re beautiful, but I can’t ask that of you,” he said.
I paused, looking at him with a serious gaze.
“You’d really consider me for a mate?” I asked with an incredulous gaze.
He paused, blushing as he tried to hide the obvious reddening of his face.
“I mean, if you want to. I don’t want to scare you away. It’s why I’m not asking right away. But, if you consider it, I wouldn’t be against it,” he said.
I looked at him, thinking about it for a bit.
“I’ll consider it,” I said.
“I mean, I wouldn’t mind having you around. Both Spencer and I do enjoy your company. We kind of hoped you’d make your way back when the time was right,” he said.
I flushed, listening to this and nodding in assent.
“Same. I wanted to come back. At least to see you two,” I said.
There was an obvious tension in the air. I mean, I shouldn’t let my feelings get in the way, but at the same time, I liked the way this all played out.
“Can I ask you one thing?” Spencer asked.
I looked at him, a curious glance across my visage. “What is it?” I asked.
“If you do choose to stick around, to be a mate and all, will you tell them about us?” he asked.
I paused. That’s what I was still struggling with. On the one hand, I do want to report this, especially since it was an interesting find, but at the same time, I knew how it was going to affect them if I did.
“I don’t know yet. Give me time. I’ll see what I can do,” I said.
“Remember, if you do say anything, it might come back to bite you,” he said.
I knew that. I was honestly kind of scared of what might happen to me, of what might come about now as a result of this decision. I wanted to be with them, to be their mate, but I didn’t want to scare either of them away. I sighed, looking at both of them with a smile.
“Can I at least stay here for the night?” I asked.
“Sure. You can stay longer if you’d like,” Richard offered.
I appreciated that. I nodded, agreeing to this. They led me to a room, where I slept there soundly. They seemed perfect, and I didn’t want to ruin this. The feelings of desire, of lust, of everything else, ached in my heart, making me want to be there for them no matter what.
I knew what I had to do about this information. It was time.
Chapter 5
The next few days were spent at Richard’s home, where I spent my days working there. I mean, even though I hadn’t reported to the editor yet about the red wolf, I started to imagine that this lie wouldn’t hurt my reputation. I didn’t want to ruin what I already had going with both of these men. If I could just keep it going, then I would be happy as a clam.
However, I knew that the potential for failure was close which was part of the reason why I thought about doing a few other pieces, so that when I broke the news, they didn’t get too upset. It’s why I spent the next couple of days around his estate, photographing wildlife and the like. Spencer stuck with me throughout most of it, and the two of us grew closer.
I wasn’t going to lie. I did like both of them a lot. It was weird, but there was something about each of these men that made me feel a strange warmth in my bones, a rush of excitement that seemed to know no bounds. I didn’t mind the fact that my heart raced slightly when I saw them, or when little, lingering touches seemed to ghost against my palms. I felt Spencer’s gaze upon me quite a bit, and Richard seemed to hold it as well. I knew for a fact that I couldn’t betray them. I wanted to help them, even if it was for my own personal feelings.
Spencer and I spent one of the days out in the field, and when I looked at him, he seemed to be thinking about something.
“What’s up?” I asked him.
“Just thinking about it all. You know, I didn’t think you’d be a human worthy of trust. I’ve never really had the opportunity to trust a human ever. When I was young, my parents passed, and I was on my own. Humans killed them, and I knew for a fact that if I didn’t fix my life up when I did, I would probably be with them. Richard saved my life, making it possible for me to have the life that I do now. I owe it to him. I mean,
I trust you Kiera, especially with all that’s going on,” he said to me.
I nodded, listening to this.
“Thank you. I trust you as well. I made up my mind of what I was going to do about the article. I have a feeling my editor won’t like it, but I don’t care. I’ve done so well up until this point that I’m sure one little no-report won’t hurt me,” I said.
“I understand,” he said.
He leaned in closer, looking at me before cupping my chin, looking at me in the eyes.
“If you did choose a mate, would it be Richard, or me?” he asked.
I paused. I had to choose one? I didn’t know if I could do that.
“I don’t know. I really don’t,” I admitted to him.
He paused, nodding as he pulled away.
“I understand. If I have to share, then so be it,” he said.
“I haven’t even made up my mind yet. I don’t know if I’m going to stay here or not,” I admitted to him.
“I know. I just thought you had a definite answer by now,” he said.
“I don’t. I’m sorry,” I said.
He seemed upset, but he also understood why I felt this way. We parted ways and headed back. There was so much to do, so little time to accomplish it, that even I didn’t know for sure what to do about half of it. However, I knew that holding myself back was only going to make everything all the harder.
I went back up to the guest room I was staying in. I popped open the email, writing to the editor of the magazine I worked for. I paused as I typed out the findings on the red wolf. I know I already did a piece on this, but I had to be honest.
I wasn’t going to out them. They’ve helped me so much that I couldn’t do this to either one of them. I told the editor straight up that as I’ve spent days in this area, the red wolf doesn’t exist. I said that it was probably just a legend that only a few knew, and since it got spread, it then evolved into what it was today. I then said that I had other articles and pictures, and these should be published in its stead.
I pressed the “Send” key, sitting back and sighing in slight nervousness, and frustration. I began to wonder if I was going to be fired or not, or if this was just another task in my life.
I tried to get my mind off of it by heading out, looking about at the various areas in the forest. I knew I shouldn’t go too far, but I had this urge to see what was out there. I walked around the perimeter, whipping my head back to see if anyone was following me. They weren’t, which was both relieving, and slightly terrifying.
I needed some time to think, time to determine if I wanted to stay here as a mate or not. I also wanted some time in case I heard back from the editor later on. I needed to prepare myself for whatever would happen next.
I walked down a path, but little did I know that the path would lead me to trouble and danger.
Chapter 6
I walked through the forest, not really looking back. I figured it would be a fitting time to collect my thoughts. I mean, there was so much that had happened even within the past few days that I didn’t know for sure whether or not I could trust my gut and go forward, or if it was best to just let things go.
On the one hand, the feelings I had for both of these men continued to blossom, making me want nothing more than to indulge in all of this. But on the other hand, I didn’t really know what this might pan out to be. I knew that the dangers of being a mate to two shifters were there, and I might have to give up my normal life, but I didn’t really know if there were any other potential issues that could come about. Not to mention, I also felt as if there was a lot of risk, but the risk was totally worth it in the end.
I then started to imagine if I did leave. They could come after me, yes, but I also didn’t want to live with the idea of knowing that I gave something like that up. I did feel a strange desire to be around them, almost like it was an intoxicating feeling. I didn’t really think that it was love, but it was a lust, an understanding of sorts and a need to evolve these feelings into something more.
I’ve lived my entire life under the shelter of my work. I’m a workaholic, with an innate need to go out and explore the world. However, I had never really experienced the feelings of romance, not until now. This was so different from the norm, different from what I was used to, that even I didn’t know for sure what to do about it. I wanted nothing more than to experience this, especially since romance was something I never really thought much on.
I sat down on a stump, thinking about the potential risks of this, knowing that I could end up getting hurt. But that hurt shouldn’t stop me from feeling the rapturous desire that nestled itself within me. I had a feeling that once I did experience this, I would want more.
I began to make my decision. I knew there was a whole lot of risk, but it was a risk that I was willing to take. I heard a sound, imagining that it might be the wolves and I relaxed.
“It’s okay. I’m here,” I said to myself.
There wasn’t a voice. I began to stiffen with worry. I felt the fear that laced itself within me rise up once more, and when I turned around, I realized who it was.
“There you are. I found you, princess,” the person said. I immediately knew who it was, even though I’ve never seen him before.
“You’re that bear shifter,” I said.
“Correct, and you’re my bargaining chip. I’m sure I can use you to get more land, and the bears will overtake the forest,” he said with a smile.
Before I knew it, I was picked up, carried somewhere and my vision went blank. I didn’t know where he touched me or what he did, but it was almost like a switch, causing my body to immediately go limp, making me feel as if I was unconscious. I was carried over somewhere, and when I finally came to, I realized where I was.
“Ahh!” I cried out. I was over a fire. I could feel the flames kissing my feet, almost burning them in a sense. I wanted to get out, but I was tightly tied up. The bears growled in happiness, watching my struggle.
“Just look at her. How pathetic,” the voice said.
I looked, and it was the man from before the one that kidnapped me.
“You won’t get away with this,” I said.
“On the contrary, we are. If they don’t show up in three hours, we’re going to kill you. How’s that for control?” he said.
I wanted to fight this, to go against what this bastard was doing, but it was no use. I was tied up, at their mercy, and unsure of where to begin with this. I wanted to get out, to free myself from this hell, but I was stuck, the bindings too tight, and my worries too large. I wanted to leave, but I knew that the only way to do so would be for them to show up, save me from this hell, and hopefully get me out of here before it was too late. The only thing I could do right now was hope, and even that was a weakened feeling in my bones.
Chapter 7
I looked at all of them as they made comments about me, saying how I was a “lowly human girl” and “probably tasted amazing.” I was happy that none of them tried to do anything lewd to me, at least not yet. The leader looked me over, lightly touching my leg.
“You know, you have some killer legs and thighs. Almost makes me not want to kill you, but instead take you and make you learn your lesson another way,” he said.
I immediately felt like retching at those words, but they didn’t mean anything by it. It was used in order to make me feel uncomfortable. I felt scared, unsure of what might happen now, but most of all worried that they wouldn’t come.
As I waited, I pondered what might happened now. Would they save me? Or was this the end? I hoped it was the former and not the latter. However, after about two hours, my hopes started to deplete and the comments kept on coming.
I waited, hoping more than ever that they would assist me, when I finally heard a sound. It was a rustle in the bushes, and when I looked, I finally saw them. It was almost like a blur, and as I heard the sounds, I then heard nothing but screaming, shifting, roaring and then growling as the wolves and bears went against one
another.
I only saw Richard and Spencer, nobody else. Did they have anyone in their den? I guess not. I watched as they tore the bears apart though, doing away with the lackeys before looking at the leader.
“Didn’t we tell you not to mess with our territory? And now you’re stealing our mate?” he said.
“Your mate? You’ve already chosen her? How pathetic,” the man said.
I watched as Richard immediately changed, almost having a fire in his eyes. He lunged at my captor, fighting the other man. While he did that, Spencer changed back, rushing toward me and getting me away from the fire.
When I was finally released, I sighed with happiness, knowing full well that I definitely didn’t want to worry about dying once more. I watched as Richard went toe-to-toe with the other creature, and that’s when Spencer smiled.
“Richard is going to win,” he said.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Look,” he said.
I saw the look in his eyes. It was that of determination, almost an inherent need to protect me, and that was when I saw it.
He delivered the final blow, a deep bite into the other’s neck, killing the bear instantly. Richard stepped back, morphing back into a human. He shook his head.
“Caleb, you knew better than this. Yet you still attacked me. Why?” he said.
“Because…I wanted power,” he said.
“Well, you certainly will have power in the hell where you belong,” he said.
I watched as the man passed on. When it was over, Richard moved toward me, pulling me into his arms. I embraced him and Spencer was right behind me. I looked at them, tears welling up in my eyes as I smiled.
“I made my decision,” I said.
“Good. Let’s head on back,” he insisted.
I did so, following them as we went to the mansion. I guess I wasn’t too far, which was a relieving to know. I then made my way over to where the sitting room was. Richard ditched his shirt, which was stained with blood. They looked at me, smiling warmly as I began to speak.