“Then we’d better make sure we Redwoods don’t let Shane be alone right now. He’s probably going to be sore since Walker’s healing doesn’t fix everything.” Bram put his hand on the small of her lower back, and she sucked in a breath.
He’d always been so careful not to touch her.
She turned in his arms and cupped his face, knowing she was about to take a step that would once again change everything. “Thank you for saving him,” she whispered. “And thank you for not getting hurt yourself.” She brushed her lips across his, once, twice.
He stood still, his body hard against hers for a moment before pulling her closer with his hand on her back. His mouth parted and his tongue slid along her lips. She opened for him, savoring his taste, the feel of him, everything about him.
She pulled back before she could want too much, and far too quickly for either of them by the look in Bram’s eyes.
“Let’s go check on him.”
He licked his lips, his eyes dark but for the bright yellow rim around the irises. “We’re doing this,” he growled softly. “When he’s whole, when he’s healthy, we’re doing this.”
There was no question about what this was, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for that. A kiss was far from a declaration. An acceptance of fate. And a lifetime of heartache if the bond were to fail once more.
“I need more time.”
He tilted his head. Oh, his wolf was close to the surface. So close.
“Then you’ll have it. You need only ask, but I’m not giving up easily.” He smiled then, a flash of teeth against dark skin that made her shiver. She loved it when he smiled, but he didn’t do it often. “Now let’s go see our boy.”
Ours.
She liked the sound of that, even if she didn’t know what to make of it. He slid his hand over hers, and they made their way into Shane’s bedroom. The other part of their triad lay on his bed, his back propped up against pillows and a blanket covering most of his lower half. She’d known they’d stripped his bloody clothes from him, but she wasn’t sure if he’d put anything else on after that. Just the thought that he could be naked under that very thin sheet sent shivers over her body.
Apparently, just the thought of both Bram and Shane could send her into chills and need.
“Walker going to be okay?” Shane asked. “He looked a little pale when he was leaving here.”
Charlotte nodded and let go of Bram’s hand to take a seat on the bed near Shane. Bram walked around to the other side and sat down, as well. The proximity of two very sexy men in bed with her did nothing to calm her wolf, but at this point, she figured she was beyond calming until the full moon.
Shane looked between the two of them, brows raised. “Something going on I should know about?”
With so much going on in her mind, and so many things that could go wrong, Charlotte did the only thing she could do. She leaned forward and cupped the side of Shane’s face with her palm.
“They almost killed you.” Her voice was a breathy whisper, but she was sure both men heard her.
Shane reached up and put his hand over hers. “They didn’t.”
“Gideon will take care of them.” Bram’s words made her turn toward them. “I don’t know if they’ll lose their lives, but I have a feeling a Pack meeting is on the way.”
Shane frowned, and Charlotte wanted to kiss the look away. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Bram shrugged. “They went against their Alpha and tried to kill one of their own. Not sure if I feel much pity for them.”
Charlotte blew out a breath. “The meeting, if it takes place at all, will happen after the hunt. It’s too close to the full moon for that kind of tension out in the open like that.” She rubbed her fingers along Shane’s temple, and he turned to look at her again. “I’m glad you’re okay, and tomorrow, we’ll run on four paws by your side.” She blinked away tears, annoyed that she was letting her emotions get the best of her. “Don’t do that again, okay? I don’t think I can take it.”
“I’ll try not to.” Shane’s voice was a rough chuckle.
She leaned down then, brushing her lips along his, much as she’d done to Bram. But unlike with her best friend and lover, this was the first time she was tasting Shane. He tasted of sweetness and a little bit of rum. Walker must have given him a sip to help with the pain, as wolves couldn’t have most medications. She deepened the kiss, needing to know for sure this man could be hers.
Her wolf howled, a celebration mixed with mourning. Once they made love, if the bond didn’t take as it had before, her wolf would mourn for eternity.
Could Charlotte take that chance?
When Shane reached around to grip the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her hair, she knew she had to. There wasn’t another choice.
Hiding from what they could be wouldn’t help a single person. If she didn’t take that leap, she’d hate herself until the end of her days.
She pulled away, her breathing heavy. “Wow.”
Shane smiled then, his face going from merely handsome to stunning in the movement. “Glad to hear it.”
“Do I get a turn?” Bram said from their side. She’d been aware he’d watched the entire time, and instead of feeling ashamed for kissing another man in front of him, she only got more turned on.
“I think that sounds like the best thing I’ve heard in a long while,” Shane said, his voice full of laughter. “Things sure do change daily around here, don’t they?”
Charlotte laughed, pulling away a little more so Bram could move closer. “Well, we’ll never be dull, that’s for sure.”
Bram leaned into Shane, his gaze intense. She sucked in a breath when Bram cupped the back of Shane’s head and forced his mouth to his.
She’d known the two of them would scorch the earth, but she’d never known it would be like this.
It wasn’t a truly hard kiss at first, a gentle crush that ascended into a powerful wave of emotion and passion. They kissed each other like they couldn’t get enough of one another before breaking away, panting and filling her with need.
She licked her lips as the two men turned to face her.
“I think she liked it,” Shane said softly.
“I know she did.”
She rolled her eyes even as she laughed. “Well, yeah, hello. Of course, I did. You’re both sex on a stick, and now you’re touching and sweaty? Perfection.”
“No, what would be perfection is if you scooted over just a bit so it would be the three of us,” Shane corrected.
Though her body yearned to do just that, she stood up from the bed on shaky legs.
“After.” Shane’s face went crestfallen. “After the full moon and you’re healthy. Then…well, then we’ll see what happens.”
And though that was the best decision in the long run, she knew none of them were going to be able to sleep that night.
She’d tasted both of her men, had them in her arms if only for the moment. She just prayed that when the moon rose full and high in the sky, she’d find the strength to keep them.
Because her heart had betrayed her once already, and she’d be damned if she’d let it happen again.
Chapter Ten
Bram didn’t have a good feeling about this. The moon shone high in the sky, bright and beckoning. It pulled at his wolf, his skin itchy, as if too small for his body. His bones ached deep down, ready to break and transform into his other counterpart. Wolves didn’t have to hunt on the full moon, and most didn’t do so in such large groups every month. However, sometimes the occasion called for it. Tonight, he wouldn’t run on four paws with his Pack, but rather the Talons. And while other Redwoods had hunted with the other Pack in the past for fun or because they were on their way to mating, Bram had never had the opportunity.
He was the Alpha’s guard, an enforcer. From the time he’d hit puberty, he’d known his role, and Kade had figured it out, as well. He’d been running with the Alpha ever since.
Tonight, he wou
ldn’t be, and he honestly wasn’t sure how he felt about that.
It was something he’d need to get over though because while his wolf needed this run, tonight wasn’t about him. Shane needed Bram and Charlotte by his side during his first shift, and that meant Bram would put aside his own reservations and worries and help the other man.
Bram couldn’t remember not shifting into his wolf. He didn’t even remember his first shift. Some people swore they could, even though they’d been too young. For most of them, it was their first memory.
Bram could only remember being wolf, never fighting the change.
So he wasn’t sure how much help he’d be tonight, but if Shane needed him, he’d be there. He could still remember the taste of the other man’s tongue on his, the feel of Shane’s lips, the scrape of stubble against skin. His wolf had bucked at the reins, needing more, but it hadn’t been the time.
When—not if—Shane made the change to wolf, they would all have to be ready to face the next step. His wolf was oddly content at that thought, but once again, Bram pushed that away.
Strong arms wrapped around his middle as Charlotte pressed herself to Bram’s back. This time, his wolf wasn’t merely content, but ravenous.
He slid his hands over hers before turning around in her arms. “Are you ready for tonight?”
She sighed into his chest, his strong girl looking vulnerable like she never could around others. “Yes, though I wish I weren’t so nervous.”
Bram kissed the top of her head, aware they’d been touching more now than they had in previous months. The two of them had always been close, holding one another like this when they needed to because it had been safe. When things had gone astray, they’d resisted the urge to do what had come naturally for so long.
Now he had her in his arms again, but it wasn’t the same as last time. Instead, this was comfort wrapped in promise and heat. He’d missed the feel of her against him more than he’d ever thought possible. It had taken a human entering their lives for them to see the truth behind what they had been missing.
A human who wouldn’t be human after tonight.
Though Bram and Charlotte were standing in the middle of a field on the Talon Pack land, they were early enough that they were alone. Soon, the rest of the Talons would show up already in wolf form or to begin shifting. While nudity didn’t usually bother people, teens in the middle of finding out whom they were, preferred to shift indoors, as did some wolves who took a while to change.
The shift itself was personal, their bodies becoming their most vulnerable selves before they went from one form to another. It was a private thing that they could sometimes do in front of others if the time was right. A full moon hunt was usually one of those times.
Shane would shift tonight near Charlotte and Bram, but Walker and Gideon would be close, as well. Bram hoped everything would work out so that none of them were needed, but nothing so far had worked out as he’d planned so he wasn’t sure.
Bram’s wolf pushed at him just a bit more, and he turned as Shane walked toward them. The Brentwoods around him dispersed to their own areas, though Gideon and Walker followed him.
Charlotte slid from Bram’s grasp and moved toward the other man. Again, he didn’t feel the jealousy he would and did with any other man. It just proved to him that his was more than multiple potential mates. This was a triad.
Something that had never once crossed his mind as a possibility before this.
“Ready to do this?” Charlotte asked, her voice serious but still soft.
Shane nodded, though Bram noticed the slight fear in his eyes. That actually made Bram feel a bit better, as anyone with a brain would be a little scared in this situation.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Shane rubbed his shoulder over his shirt and winced. “Hell, my skin feels like it’s being rubbed raw.”
Bram moved forward and frowned. “Take off your shirt. Your skin is ultra sensitive right now, and anything on it is just going to hurt.”
“I take it you want me to remove my pants, as well,” Shane said dryly.
“You’re going to have to sooner or later,” Charlotte said evenly. “Did the others teach you the etiquette that comes with shifting in public?”
Shane pulled his shirt up over his head, and Bram did his best not to stare. As they were literally talking about etiquette right then, he knew he should probably follow the rules.
“They told me,” Shane finally answered. “But they won’t tell me how much this is going to hurt.”
Bram met Charlotte’s eyes for a brief moment before turning back to Shane. “A lot.”
The other man blew out a breath. “I figured.”
“I’m here to help if needed,” Walker put in. “But I’m also here for all my wolves, so don’t need me.”
Gideon looked over Bram’s shoulder and cursed. “Hell. Don’t need me either. There’s a pup over there on their first hunt, and they’re scared as hell.”
Bram turned around, aware the Alpha could sense changes within the Pack bonds far before anyone could sense things in the air.
“We can handle this,” Bram promised, praying he wasn’t lying.
“I hope so,” the Alpha mumbled. “You’ve got this, Shane. Just let your wolf come out, listen to it, and breathe through the pain. Those around you have done this countless times and will lead you through it. I need to go help the pup right now, but I can be here on a moment’s notice.”
Shane shook his head, his body tense. “Help the kid. I’m not alone.”
Gideon nodded and then ran off to where the child was.
“Where’s Brie?” Shane asked before groaning. The other man fell to his knees, and Charlotte let out a curse before going to him. Bram followed but stayed silent.
“Breathe through the pain. Let’s take off your pants since the change is coming on quick. And as for Brie, morning sickness came at night this time, so she’s at home resting. Wolves don’t need to change on the full moon, and she’s been shifting often enough for it not to be a problem.”
Bram helped Shane take off his pants, ignoring the man’s naked state. Shane was in a hell of a lot of pain, and this wasn’t the time to think about other things.
Other wolves around them began shifting like normal, but Bram stayed in human form, aware that Shane might need him. When the other man fell to the ground full, a scream ripping through his throat, Bram knew something was wrong.
“He’s not shifting,” Walker whispered.
“I know.” Bram’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t move forward to touch Shane in comfort. Any contact right now would be excruciating.
Shane’s body was covered in sweat, tense and corded muscle sliding over his body but not fully shifting. When going wolf, bones usually broke, and tendons tore, but there was an eventual outcome to the pain.
Bram knew there wouldn’t be this time.
Shane screamed again, tears leaking from his eyes, Bram cursed. His wolf clawed at him, needing to help. But Bram knew of only one way to help right, then and he wasn’t sure it would work at all.
“What are we going to do?” Charlotte asked. She was on her knees by Shane’s side, running her hands through his hair. It was probably the only part of him she could touch right now without making it worse.
Shane coughed, blood spattering over Charlotte’s legs, and she looked up at Bram, fear in her eyes.
“Fuck.” Bram went to his knees. “I don’t think this is working.”
Shane rolled over, his eyes wide as he looked at both of them. “It’s like I’m being ripped apart, but can’t do anything about it.” He coughed again, spraying more blood on the ground.
Walker was on his knees beside Shane, as well. “We’d hoped having him near the Pack when he shifted the first time would help his wolf find his way, but now I’m thinking we should have had him in the infirmary.”
Bram looked over his shoulder and studied the others. Most were shifting or had already shifted, preoccupied with th
eir own moments. Only a few were looking over at them, worried looks on their faces. Gideon was still with the child, holding the little boy close to him as it panted hard. If Gideon left right now to help Shane, the pup could hurt himself, and no one wanted that.
“There’s only one way,” Bram growled out. He cupped Shane’s face, ignoring the way the other man winced at the contact. “I think whatever the serum did to you, it wasn’t enough. It only mimics certain parts of the shift, but doesn’t give you everything you need to become one of us.”
Walker checked Shane’s pulse and cursed. “That’s what I’m thinking now, too.”
Shane gripped Bram’s wrist. “Don’t let me die in front of her,” he whispered.
“I’m sitting right here, and you aren’t going to die.” Charlotte kissed Shane’s forehead, and the other man cried out in pain. All of this contact on his skin had to be excruciating.
“Gideon is helping the pup, but I think someone needs to actually change you,” Bram put in.
Shane’s eyes widened. “Well hell.”
“My sentiments exactly,” Bram said dryly.
“Only an Alpha or a wolf very close to Alpha status can change a wolf,” Walker said softly. “If Gideon is busy…”
“I can do it,” Bram said matter-of-factly. “I…I can do it.” He’d never changed a wolf before. Never had to. But he knew he could bring out the wolf within Shane. He’d hidden his strength for so long, others had forgotten how strong his wolf truly was. It wasn’t that he’d been ashamed of it, but more that he hadn’t known how to fit in. How to make things work within a Pack where wolves would constantly need to fight for dominance against him and lose. He wasn’t as strong as Kade or Gideon, but he had a feeling, if needed, he could take out their Betas and Heirs.
He never would, though. That wasn’t who he was. But now, if he needed to save Shane’s life, he’d show the others who he truly was and do what he had to do.
Damn the consequences.
Walker let out a breath. “If you do this…”
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