Startling Revelations

by Becca Van

  He’d glanced at his frowning brothers then back to her when he heard her gasping for breath, and when her breathing had slowed, she’d turned to face them with a cocksure look on her face he knew she was far from feeling.

  “I’m Bastian Tenant and these are my brothers, Byron and Beck. Welcome to Gambell,” he said.

  “Thank you.” The smile she flashed their way didn’t reach her eyes. She dropped her chin to break their eye connection and hurried toward her bags the pilot had set on the ground beside the plane.

  “Let me get those for you,” Bastian said as he moved up behind her.

  She glanced at him over her shoulder. “That’s not necessary.”

  “You don’t need to struggle with your luggage by yourself, Krista. We’re here to help you and see you settled.”

  She huffed out a sigh, nodded, and stepped back. “Thank you.”

  Bastian picked up the bags and stared at her as she glanced toward the town. Right now, there was nowhere for her to stay other than their spare room, and he was exuberant over that fact.

  When Campbell had asked him and his siblings if they’d mind putting the teacher up in their home until one of the rentals became available, Bastian had been pissed. Nevertheless, he and his brothers had agreed since there was no way they could leave anyone out in the freezing elements to die. When he’d checked in to see how long the fishing group was staying, he’d wanted to tell Campbell he’d changed his mind and to find somewhere else for the tutor to bunk, but now he was glad he’d kept his mouth shut.

  School wasn’t starting for another two weeks, and while he, his brothers, and their friends were going to be busy building the small schoolhouse, he was hoping to get to spend some quality time with his mate.

  From the few minutes he’d been in her presence, he’d figured out she was scared of them, but he was also sure he caught the faintest scent of arousal on her, too.

  A low rumbling growl started in his chest, but he quickly cut it off in case he scared Krista more. Was she aroused because she was attracted to the pilot? Or hopefully she was aroused because that was the way things worked between sabear shifters and their mates.

  But most of all, he wanted to know why she was scared of them.

  Had someone hurt her? Was she in danger?

  Bastian was determined to find out the answers to those questions as well as woo her into his arms and bed.

  Failing to win Krista over wasn’t an option.

  If they didn’t, he and his brothers were doomed in more ways than one.

  * * * *

  Byron was aware of every breath and every step his mate took. He was also highly in tune to her fear and her desire. His sabear was driving him crazy trying to get out so he could claim their mate, but he kept his beast on a tight leash. The last thing he needed was his inner animal escaping the rein and scaring the crap out of the love of his life. He and his brothers might not know much about Krista Oscar, but he had plans to find out everything he could about her. Not by nefarious means, but by talking to and spending as much time with her as he could.

  He gained the steps to the veranda and landing to the front door. After opening it, he stepped aside to let Krista precede him.

  She glanced warily at him, nodding her thanks as she stepped inside. When Bastian and Beck had followed her in, he did, too, closing the door behind him. His gaze zeroed in on Krista as she gazed about with a frown on her face.

  She turned to briefly look each of them in the eye before glancing about again. “Does someone live here?” she asked.

  Byron hoped one of his brothers answered her, because he was too busy taking her sexy body in. She had thick, shiny brunette hair that came to the middle of her back. He knew she was twenty-six years old from the dossier Cam had shown everyone about two weeks back. He knew her height was five-two and that she weighed a hundred and ten pounds. Her eyes were blue, but he hadn’t known what she’d looked like until he’d seen her on the plane. There was no way he could describe how stunning she was and give his description justice. Her face looked so fucking soft with her peaches and cream skin. She was slim, but her curves had him practically drooling.

  As soon as he’d scented her and set eyes on her, he’d known she was his and his brothers’ mate. The love surging into his heart had been instant.

  There was so much he wanted to tell her, but he kept his mouth shut. He was worried that if he opened his mouth he was going to roar one word. “Mine!”

  “Yes, we do,” Beck replied to her question.

  Her frown deepened. “But I thought I was supposed to have a place of my own.”

  “You were.” Bastian moved closer to her, and Byron wondered if she’d scamper away again, but this time she held her ground. “There’s a group of fishermen that booked the rentals before we knew when you’d be coming to St. Lawrence Island. We didn’t expect them to stay as long as they have. We have a couple of spare rooms and didn’t think you’d mind bunking with us until one of the rentals is clear.”

  “How long are the fisherman staying?” Krista asked.

  “A couple of weeks.”

  Krista swallowed loudly as she nodded.

  “Let me show you your room,” Beck said as he lifted one of her bags from the floor. Bastian grabbed the other one. Beck led the way down the hallway, and Krista hurried after him. Bastian followed her, and Byron was on his brother’s heels.

  Byron couldn’t stop himself from eying her sexy body over. She had an innate sensuous grace she didn’t seem to be aware of. Her hips swayed sexily, and her ass was so fucking perfect he wanted to take a bite out of it.

  He pushed his carnal thoughts aside as he adjusted his hard, aching cock and watched Krista as she took in the master bedroom while his brothers set her bags on the bed.

  “There’s an adjoining bathroom.” Bas pointed to the partially open door. “So you won’t have to worry about sharing with us.”

  “When can I see the school?” Krista asked.

  “We’re still building it,” Byron answered.

  “You’re what?” She frowned up at him.

  As their eyes met, Byron felt as if his soul was reaching out toward hers. Whatever was going on between them, Krista felt it, too. Her pupils dilated as her eyes widened, and she shifted from foot to foot. The sweet musky aroma of aroused woman drifted to his nose, and he had a hard time keeping himself and his sabear in check. Man and beast wanted to sweep her up into his arms and take her down to the bed. Instead, he drew a deep breath in through his mouth as he tried to control the hungry blaze racing through his blood and body.

  Beck ran his fingers through his hair. “We’re in the process of building the school. We should have it finished by the time the school term starts.”

  “We want to know what equipment you’re going to need to teach the kids,” Bastian said. “If you compile a list, we’ll order everything and have it here for when it’s needed.”

  “I can do that,” Krista said.

  “Good.” Beck nodded.

  “If possible, we’re going to need to have that list ASAP,” Byron said. “We need to get the stuff flown in by plane.”

  “How many students will I have?” Krista asked.

  “Four to start with,” Bastian answered.

  “Only four?” Krista frowned.

  “There will be more kids in Gambell soon.” Beck smiled. “Some of our friend’s women are pregnant.”

  “I thought I’d have more students.”

  Byron cursed under his breath as he wondered if Krista was going to change her mind about staying on their small island off the mainland of Alaska. There was only one shop, and though it had everything in it a person could possibly want, there was no night life. Was Krista one of those women who loved to party on a regular basis? Fuck, I hope not. If she couldn’t handle being away from the hustle and bustle of a city as well as the nightlife, they were fucked.

  * * * *

  While Krista was disappointed she’d only have fo
ur students for a start, the prospect of more eventually had her belly fluttering with excitement. She loved kids and always had. Having grown up with bullying, abusive parents, she’d vowed that she would treat her kids with respect as well as show and tell them how much she loved them. She never wanted her children thinking they didn’t have any value the way she’d been taught.

  She’d been conditioned to feel guilty about everything she did and every decision she made from the get-go, and if she was ever lucky enough to meet that special someone and have children of her own, she was going to make sure her kids knew how precious they were.

  While her parents were still alive, she avoided them like the plague, and even though sometimes she felt remorseful, she knew she wasn’t culpable of being neglectful. Her brother and sister had also estranged themselves from their mom and dad, but what hurt Krista to the bone was that her siblings didn’t want anything to do with her either. Though she more than understood wanting to break ties with their abusers, it hurt her a lot to know her brother and sister didn’t want to see her or spend time with her.

  If she’d had friends like her parents when she’d been growing up, she would have kicked them to the curb long ago.

  However, knowing something and accepting her choices were another problem she was still trying to deal with.

  Plus, there were the gang members who were no doubt actively searching for her. The young man she’d shot to defend her innocent students had died from blood loss. While she hadn’t meant to kill him, and she lived with the guilt of taking a life, she wouldn’t have done anything differently. If she had, some or all of her students and herself may have died.

  Although Gambell was far from anything since it was surrounded by the Bering Sea between mainland Alaska and Russia, she liked it. From what she’d seen as she been guided to her temporary digs, there was a stark beauty to the cold, desolate island.

  She could see herself being happy and safe here even if she suspected she might end up lonely.

  Loneliness didn’t matter as long as she got to live out her life the way she wanted to.

  Krista glanced at the three handsome Tenant men, her breath catching in her throat. Bastian looked as if he was in his early to mid-thirties. He had dark brown hair, brown eyes and, scruff on his chin and jaw. He was ruggedly handsome and so damn muscular his T-shirt was stretched across his broad shoulders, wide chest, and thick biceps.

  Byron was an inch taller than Bastian, standing at around six-four or five and was clean shaven and just as muscular as his brother.

  Beck wasn’t as brawny as his brothers, but he was still fit and strong with toned muscles and a well-developed body. He also had scruff on his face and was more classically handsome in the looks department. He was also the shortest of the three, but still towered over her five-two by more than a foot.

  All three of the Tenant men made her heart beat faster and other places in her body light up with a hunger she’d never felt before.

  “Is that going to be a problem, Krista?” Byron asked.

  Since she’d been eying them over from under her lowered eyelashes and lost in her thoughts, she had to quickly think back over what they’d been discussing. She almost sighed with relief when she remembered. “No, there’s no problem. Every child deserves a good education, no matter what.”

  “So, you’re going to stay?” Beck asked.

  She frowned at him, cocking a brow. “Did I say I wouldn’t?” She glanced at Bastian when he sighed.

  “We’ll leave you to get settled. Dinner’s at six, but if you’re hungry, please help yourself to anything you want or need.”

  She nodded at Bastian and watched as all three of the men left the room one after the other. She sighed with relief and dropped down onto the side of the bed.

  “You are so fucked, Krista.”

  Chapter Two

  “Fuck!” Beck rubbed at the back of his neck.

  “What?” Bastian asked.

  “I thought for sure she was going to ask to leave,” Beck said.

  “So did I,” Byron said as he opened the fridge and grabbed three bottles of beer, then handed one each to his brothers before opening his own.

  “She is so fucking beautiful,” Beck said after swallowing a mouthful of beer. “How the fuck are we going to tell her she’s our mate, let alone that we’re shifters?”

  “Good question.” Byron gazed at Bastian.

  “Why are you both looking at me? I wouldn’t know where to start.” Bastian shrugged.

  “We should ask the other women over,” Beck said. “We heard how Kiana, Keisha, and Kailin explained everything to Kenna. I don’t think she would feel as scared if the other women told Krista our story. They’ve all been in Krista’s shoes and will know what to say and what she’d feel.”

  “When did you get so fucking smart where women are concerned?” Bas snapped, but before Beck could reply his older brother held his hand up. “Don’t bother answering, I already know. You listened to the other men talking when they were all trying to court their mates just like we did.”

  Beck nodded and frowned at Bas. Was his brother already starting to feel aggressive because of the mating hormones kicking in, or was he just being an ass because he was frustrated that he couldn’t do anything about making a move on their woman like he wanted to?

  “Do you want me to call them?” Byron held up his phone just as someone knocked on the door.

  Beck grinned and said, “I don’t think that’s necessary.” He walked to the front door and opened it. The four women smiled up at him, and he stepped back to let them and their mates inside.

  “Where is she?” Kiana asked.

  “Is she nice?” Keisha asked.

  “We have to make sure that our kid’s teacher is going to be good for them.” Kailin rubbed her mounded belly.

  Kenna nodded. “I second that.”

  “She’s getting settled,” Beck said. “Why don’t you all come into the kitchen?”

  “Hi guys,” Kiana waved to Byron and Bas. “Do you mind if I brew a pot of coffee?”

  “Go for it,” Bas smiled.

  “Don’t forget that not all of us can drink coffee,” Kailin said.

  Kiana frowned and pointed at her baby belly. “I know that.”

  “We’ve got tea somewhere.” Beck opened the pantry door, flicked the light on and scanned the shelves. When he found two different types of tea he grabbed the unopened boxes, turned the light off, stepped out of the large walk-in cupboard, and closed the door.

  “Yes!” Keisha pumped her fist in the air. “I love green tea.”

  Beck shook his head as he passed the packages to her then turned to greet the men.

  Just as everyone sat at the dining table and the kitchen counter on the bar stools, Beck heard light footsteps heading their way. He held his breath as he stared at the kitchen doorway with expectation.

  The footsteps stopped, and he heard Krista take a deep breath before she appeared in the entrance. Her eyes widened when she gazed about at everyone. Beck had been hoping to inform the women of their discovery in regard to Krista being their mate, but he hadn’t had the chance.

  “Hi, you must be Krista. I’m Kiana, and these wonderful ladies are Keisha, Kailin, and Kenna.”

  Krista held her hand out in greeting. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you, Kiana.” Krista said each woman’s name as she shook their hands.

  Beck wondered at the blush staining her cheeks and hoped she wasn’t too shy and nervous. It could be very intimidating for someone to meet him, his brothers, and all the guys since all of them were well and truly over six feet and muscular. He just hoped she wasn’t scared of them all. Especially him and his brothers. He let his sabear to the fore and sniffed the air trying to filter out all the other fragrances in the room and wasn’t too surprised when his inner animal latched onto Krista’s personal perfume with ease. A low, hungry grumble rumbled up in his chest, but he quickly quashed it before it escaped.

  “Let
me introduce you to everyone,” Kiana said as she clasped Krista’s hand and tugged her closer to the dining room. “These handsome devils are my ma…husbands.” Kiana placed her hand on the shoulder of each man as she said his name. “This is Campbell, Calvin, and Clint Mackenzie.” She remained where she was as she pointed out and introduced everyone else.

  Beck knew by the look on Krista’s face she was struggling to keep up with all the names being thrown her way, let alone matching them to faces. He was about to butt in and stop Kiana but decided to let things slide. He was sure it wouldn’t take his woman long to remember everyone as she spent more time with them all.

  “I know how hard it will be to remember everyone, but don’t worry if you get our names wrong or forget them. You’ll learn over time.”

  Krista surprised the shit out of him and all the others by pointing at everyone randomly, not in the order Kiana had introduced all his friends and rattled off their names. “Did I get it right?”

  “How the hell did you do that?” Byron asked.

  “I’m a teacher. I’m used to dealing with twenty to thirty students at any given time and had to train myself to remember quickly.”

  Beck was amazed and enamored by Krista and wished like hell he could tell everyone to get the fuck out of his house, but he also hoped the women would tell her what he and his brothers were in a way that wouldn’t freak her out. They could all probably smell the hormones he and his brothers were emitting and would quickly put two and two together.

  “That was spectacular.” Kenna smiled as she moved back to the kitchen side of the room. “Do you want something to drink? Coffee, tea, water, or something else?”

  “I’d kill for a coffee,” Krista answered quietly. Beck couldn’t help but chuckle at the desperation he’d heard in her voice. She turned to look at him and frowned. “Tell me you didn’t hear that. You couldn’t have possibly…” When Beck nodded, she sucked in a deep breath and crossed her arms over her chest. She stared avidly into his eyes for a moment or two and then turned her back to him. He sighed with relief. For a moment or two, he’d wondered if he’d somehow let the cat out of the bag.