by Becca Van
Gabe took over and Tessa turned her head toward him as he spoke. “We want to protect you, Tessa. It would kill us to see you hurt in any way. We want you happy and safe.”
“But you don’t even know me. Why would you want to protect me and what does it matter if I’m happy or not?” she asked a little belligerently.
“Ah pajarito, it is our job and pleasure to see you happy and safe. We know more about you than you think. You are courteous, you have a temper, and you are twenty-four years old. You currently have no home, no family, and your ex is stalking you. You also desire us, little bird, and we desire you.”
Tessa gasped at Lucien’s arrogant statement and tried to lever herself from his lap. She wiggled and squirmed until she exhausted herself, her efforts futile as Lucien had tightened his hold around her waist.
“You are such an ass. I do not desire you!”
Rafe leaned into Tessa pressed his lips against hers and whispered, “Liar.”
Tess tried to rein in her raging desires as Rafe’s lips slid across hers. She tried to pull her head back and pry her lips away from his but she couldn’t. She loved the way he tasted and wanted more. She was surprised that she was turned on by him as much as she had been when Lucien had kissed her and wondered if she would feel the same way about Gabe. She clutched at Rafe’s shoulders as his tongue brushed back and forth across her lips, seeking entrance into her mouth, and even though she knew she was behaving out of character, she couldn’t seem to help herself around these three men.
Every time she inhaled she got another whiff of their delectable scent and her body reacted even more. She couldn’t fight her desire for them anymore. Her body was an aching mass of need and she knew only these three men could quench the flames burning inside her.
Acquiescing, Tessa opened on a moan of pleasure and Rafe began to explore the interior of her mouth. Tangling her tongue with his, Tessa lost herself to the pleasure.
Rafe was the one to pull back from the kiss as he slowly released her lips, sighing against her mouth. “You want us.”
Tessa exhaled raggedly, opened her eyes, and blushed furiously as she met first Gabe’s and then Lucien’s heated stares. Quickly pulling her eyes away from theirs, she let them wander around the room, trying to think of something to say. Clearing her throat so she could speak without squeaking or sounding hoarse, she grasped at the first thing that popped into her mind.
“What is an Omega?”
Gabriel moved from the sofa to his knees on the floor in front of her and Lucien.
“In the werewolf hierarchy an Omega is below the Betas of a pack and a Beta is second in charge. They usually handle security of the pack. Rafe and I are the Betas of this pack. Lucien is our Alpha and you, Tessa, are our mate.”
Tessa’s eyes widened as she registered what Gabe had just said. She’d read paranormal romances and even though she heard of Betas and Omegas she hadn’t expected those words to be related with werewolves. Tessa shook her head slightly but kept her gaze centered on Gabe. Raising his hand slightly, he ran his palms soothingly along her calves.
Tessa’s heart was beating so fast it was a wonder it wasn’t pounding out of her chest and she was gasping for air. When she began to shake Rafe also moved from the sofa and knelt on the floor next to Gabe. Rafe took one of Tessa’s hands into his and ran his thumb soothingly along the back of it.
“No,” she whispered. “No,” she said again in a louder voice. “Y–You’re not saying…There is no such…You’re crazy.”
“Show her, Gabe,” Lucien commanded.
Gabriel slowly rose to his feet in front of her and took a couple of steps back. His hands moved to the waistband of his pants and then started undoing the buckle of his belt.
“What are you doing?” Tessa gasped.
“Shh, shh,” Rafe shushed as he ran the pad of his thumb along her full lower lip. “It’s okay. Gabe won’t hurt you, baby.”
Gabe slid his jeans down his legs and off, his briefs followed the path of his jeans until he stood before her in all his naked glory.
He was magnificent with a hard-muscled, lightly haired chest that rippled and flexed with his movement, tapering down to an eight-pack washboard stomach and narrow hips. A line of hair led down to his groin where Tessa saw what he was packing. He had to be at least ten inches long and the width of his cock was the size of her wrist. He had the longest, thickest muscled legs she had ever seen. When she realized what she was doing, staring at his hard cock, she tried to drag her eyes back up to his face but she couldn’t stop staring at his erection. The man was huge!
All of a sudden the air around him seemed to shimmer and the edges of his body began to blur. His face elongated into a long nose and muzzle, and hair grew rapidly over his body. Gabe went down to his hands and knees and then his arms and legs shifted and contorted. His body changed shape with popping and snapping sounds. One minute Gabe was standing in front of her and the next there was a massive wolf with a brown coat of fur standing where he had been. Tess stared in shock as the large wolf moved closer to her and she whimpered. Lucien rubbed the palm of his hand up and down her arm in a soothing manner as Gabe nudged her hand with his head.
What is he trying to do? Is he trying to get me to pet him?
A nervous giggle formed in her throat and she was just barely able to suppress it. Tessa finally managed to get her brain to engage and her hand slid along the top of Gabe’s head and she scratched behind his ear. Feeling his silky fur under her touch, Tessa couldn’t prevent a hysterical giggle and then watched in awe as the line of his body delineated. She snatched her hand back as Gabe changed back from wolf to human again.
Gabe gave her a grin as she once again focused on his aroused cock. When her eyes met his he winked at her and then he redressed.
“What…How…” Tessa gasped when Lucien turned her face to his.
“But I’m not a–a w–werewolf,” Tessa stuttered with fear and awe. She could not believe what Gabe had shown her. Maybe she was dreaming. Giving herself a quick pinch before meeting Lucien’s stare again let her know that she was very much awake.
What the hell?
“You do not have to be a werewolf to be a werewolf’s mate, Tessa. We can mate with humans.”
“How do you know I’m your mate?” Tessa managed to ask, although her tongue felt like it was stuck to the roof of her mouth.
“We can tell by your scent. Every person’s pheromones are unique to each individual. When a werewolf scents his mate it’s the most delicious of smells to him or her. You are mate to Lucien, Gabriel and me, baby.” Rafe gave her a gentle smile.
“The three of you? I’m to mate with three werewolves? Well I’m sorry to burst your bubble, guys, but that is not going to happen,” Tess said firmly in her “you have got to be shitting me” tone.
“Tessa,” Lucien said, drawing her attention. “You are our mate, but please don’t think we would ever force you to do something you don’t want to. We know that you are just as attracted to us as we are to you.”
“That doesn’t mean you know me. God, I can’t believe this shit.” Tess covered her faced with her hands. “We’ve only just met for Christ’s sake.”
“Can you tell me that you don’t want us, pajarito? Have you not been affected by our mating musk? We can smell your little pussy creaming for us, Tessa. You want us. We will give you all the time you need to get your head around all this, little bird, but now that we’ve found you we can’t let you go. But just remember that we will never harm you, Tessa. It is our honor to protect you and make sure you are happy.” Lucien squeezed her into a gentle cuddle, offering comfort, but her head was spinning and she had no idea what to think.
Chase knocked on the door to the room and entered at Lucien’s bidding. “Alpha, we may have a problem. Could I have a moment of your time in private?”
Lucien kissed her on the temple and then lifted her across to Rafe’s lap and then he left the room.
“Lucien’s the Alp
ha?” Tessa was in awe of the fact that Lucien was the leader of their pack, but it really didn’t come as that much of a surprise. He was the tallest and most muscular man she’d ever seen, and he wore the blanket of authority as if he’d been born to it. He had such an arrogant domineering personality and attitude, and he fit the role of leader well.
Rafe tightened his hold around her waist. “Yes, baby, Lucien is the Alpha of the pack.”
“What are you and Gabe then?” she asked. Tessa knew they’d already answered that but her mind was in a whirl and she couldn’t get it to work properly.
“We are the Betas of the pack. We will always protect our Alpha and the rest of the pack. We also deal with the security of our home.”
“Oh.” Tessa yawned. “Sorry, I think the emotional upheaval of this morning has worn me out.”
She couldn’t believe how emotionally wrung out she felt. Even though she had slept the night through, she felt like she had not had any sleep at all. Her eyes began to droop as the warmth from Rafe’s body permeated her own. Snuggling into Rafe’s chest, she inhaled and sighed as his scent wrapped around her.
Although she was still blown away by what they had told and shown her, deep down Tessa knew she was safe with the three Woolf brothers. She wanted more than anything to give into her desire for the three men but she wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet. It scared her that she was the mate to all of them.
How the hell was she going to handle three domineering men when she couldn’t even handle one sniveling idiot?
Chapter Four
Lucien followed Chase into the kitchen and waited for him to explain the interruption to him and his brothers with their mate.
“Flynn from the inn called about ten minutes ago asking me to inform you there was a human male asking about you and your mate. When Flynn wouldn’t tell him about her, he then started asking about you, Rafe, and Gabe. He didn’t tell him anything of course, but Scott from the gas station overheard one of the young Sigmas talking about you and your brothers to the human. The male fits the description of your mate’s stalker.”
Lucien tamped down the rage he could feel coursing through him at the thought that someone could be a threat to his mate. He wanted to claim her so he knew that they could keep her safe. Once he and his brothers had mated her they would have a connection with her that was unbreakable. He, Rafe and Gabe would be able to find her more readily if they were mated they would be able to link their minds with her, too, eventually. But he knew she wasn’t ready for that so he was going to have to control his wolf more. But if he and his brothers could talk her into agreeing to mate with them then nothing would stop them from doing so.
His wolf had been pushing to mate and mark her from the moment he’d seen her in the Shifter Inn and it was getting harder to keep his animal at bay. But Tessa’s well-being and happiness was important to him and his brothers and he would never force her to do something she wasn’t ready for.
Sighing with anticipation as well as frustration, Lucian thanked Chase and told him he would get Gabe and Rafe onto the human problem.
Lucien walked back to his brothers and mate, smiling with satisfaction as he saw her asleep in Rafe’s arms.
“She is exquisite, isn’t she?” Lucien stated more than asked his brothers.
“Perfection,” Gabriel replied.
“You know she is going to give us trouble, don’t you?” Rafe asked.
“Ah, but won’t it be fun,” Gabe said.
“We may have a problem.” Gabe and Rafe didn’t say a word and waited expectantly for Lucien to continue. “Apparently Scott heard one of the young Sigma’s talking to a human male regarding us and our mate. I know that he will not be able to get within a mile of here before someone smells him, but I want to know we can protect our mate, not just from the human, but also any other non-mated wolf who may think to challenge for her. We have to claim her now. My wolf snarls and snaps whenever Tessa is near any of the single men and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep control.”
“How do we get her agree to that?” Rafe asked. “We’ve only just told her that we’re werewolves.”
“Shit, Luc. You can’t expect her to say yes to that. Tessa is going to baulk if you try and push her into making a decision.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Lucien scrubbed a hand over his face and stared down at their mate. “God, I hate the thought of her being in danger. She’s ours to love and protect and we are going to have to convince her it’s what she wants, too.”
“Easier said than done, Luc.” Gabe sighed.
Tessa moaned in her sleep and shifted in Rafe’s arms.
Luc growled low in his throat when he saw her puckered nipples and smelled the cream leaking out from between her legs.
Is she dreaming about me and my brothers? God I hope so.
Tessa sat up with a gasp and when her eyes connected with his her cheeks turned a becoming shade of pink. She crossed her arms over her chest as if she was trying to hide the fact that she was aroused.
“I can smell your need, little bird. Wouldn’t you like us to help you with that? We could give you so much pleasure, Tessa.”
“You’re shaking with desire, baby.” Rafe nipped her earlobe. “Why don’t you let us make you feel good?”
Gabe leaned into her, sniffed her neck and then licked and nibbled the sensitive spot beneath her ear. “Please let us claim you, honey. We care for you so much.”
Luc held his breath while awaiting her answer. He knew she was reacting to the pheromones and mating musk, but she was reacting to them as well. His father had told him and his brothers that the longer their mate was in their presence the stronger the desire to mate would get, but no matter what, he and his brothers needed Tessa’s permission to claim her. If their wolves took over and did that without her consent then their relationship would be doomed from the start, and that was something he couldn’t live with. Mating her without her permission was not something he would ever do. He would be riddled with guilt for the rest of his life if his wolf took. He’d never taken a woman by force before and wasn’t about to do that now. His mate was his shining light and the love of his life and he would do anything he could to protect her, even if it meant giving his own life, but what was most important to him was that he and his brothers made her happy. He wished he could tell her how much she meant to him, them, but he was sure that if he did that she would laugh in his face.
A human didn’t understand that once a werewolf met his mate that the connection and love was instant. It was up to him and his brothers to ease her into their life, but with that asshole looking for her, he knew his wolf wouldn’t stop pacing or back off until she was well and truly theirs.
His father had told him even though their mother had reacted just as Tessa was now, the mating musk wasn’t enough to overtake the woman’s thought process or moral characteristics. So if Tess agreed to mate with them it was because she wanted to, not because she had no choice.
It was natural for him and his brothers to fall instantly in love with their mate but Tessa needed time to get to know them. It was going to be hard to keep his emotions close to his chest but he would do it to give her the time she needed. Hopefully it wouldn’t take her too long to catch up with them and realize that what they could have was something way stronger than a human male-female relationship. Once mated, a wolf never wanted to be with another.
* * * *
Tessa was so damn horny she was shaking. No matter how hard she tried to push her arousal for these three men down deep inside it always came back to the fore. Of course they had told her about the pheromones their wolves were emitting and she figured that was one of the reasons why she was so needy, but she wanted them more than her next breath, too. The scent they were emitting was enticing and she couldn’t get enough of their delectable aromas, but it wasn’t enough to sway her mind. She was cognizant and able to think quite clearly, so she knew she wasn’t being influenced by the way they smell
ed, at least not mentally or emotionally. Physically was another matter entirely. Or maybe she was just turned on because they were all being so nice to her and they all had muscular bodies and handsome faces.
Tessa loved the way they always seemed to want to touch her and take care of her. No one had ever done that with her before and she wanted more of their caring.
She couldn’t go on this way anymore, but if she consented to mate with them, would they get sick of her, too? Darren certainly seemed to, but he hadn’t wanted to let her go. No, he’d used his fists against her and tried to beat her into doing his will.
No, Tessa, you know these three men would never do anything to hurt you physically.
That was another thing. If she relented and let them claim her, have sex with her, she would end up feeling more for them than she already did. Even though she was beginning to have feelings for them—what woman could protect her heart against three big, sexy, brawny men who were hell bent on protecting her?—if she did agree to the claiming she would be in danger of falling in love. If things didn’t go well after they mated with her she could end up getting hurt emotionally and that would be worse than being physically hurt as far as she was concerned.
She’d seen the way her mother was destroyed after she and her father had broken up and then eventually divorced. The nights she’d lain awake listening to her mom sobbing her heart out were too many to count. Her mother had never been the same and had ended up bitter and mean. Every time she opened her mouth, Tessa somehow got into trouble. Even though she got hurt emotionally as well as physically, her mom hadn’t really abused her. She would just smack Tessa on the ass and tell her to keep her mouth shut and how she couldn’t deal with her incessant chatter. Her mom had never gotten over her father and had eventually turned to booze to deal with her broken heart. Although Tessa had tried to help her mother and get her to seek professional help, it hadn’t made a difference.