by Jane Jamison
“You heard them, folks.” Jackson laid the gun in the crook of his elbow. “We’re done here. Unless anyone else wants to speak their mind.”
The remaining group of people remained silent. Their disgusted looks said more than words ever could. One by one, they left until only Jackson remained.
He let out a huge breath. “I hope you three know what you’re doing.”
“Me, too.” She offered him a smile. He deserved more, but she had nothing to give. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”
“Don’t worry, Jackson,” added Case. “If we have to move, then we’ll move. But, whatever happens, we’re not going to let anyone treat our mate badly. Thanks for everything you’ve done.”
He tipped his cowboy hat and returned her smile. “No problem. I’m glad it didn’t end up in a war.”
“It still could.” Case came down the steps and shook Jackson’s hand. “Once more people find out, all hell could break loose.”
“He’s right.” Brennan offered his hand, too. “But we’ll be prepared.”
“Do me a favor, boys.”
“Sure. If we can.” Case crossed his arms, giving Jackson a chance to ask his favor.
“Stay low for a while. Give folks time to let it all sink in. I think most of them are reasonable people and might just come around if you don’t shove your relationship in their faces.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me.” She came beside Case. “Besides, I want some time alone with my mates. We need time to get used to us, too.”
Jackson tipped his hat again, this time in a farewell. “Good enough. Take care, you three.”
They watched him stroll out of the yard, his gait easy as though he’d dropped by for a glass of lemonade.
“He’s a good guy.” Case slipped an arm around her waist.
“Uh-huh.” She grinned up at him, then at Brennan. “For a werewolf, that is.”
“Why you little…”
She only made it a few yards before they caught up with her.
Epilogue
One year later
“How’s Cara doing?” Case leaned against the doorframe of the nursery.
Nicole could barely take her eyes off the sweet baby in her arms. Miracles didn’t happen often and she was more than thankful to have received a blessing, not once but twice. When she managed to tear her attention away from the baby girl, she gave Case a quick smile. “She’s a bit restless. I think she misses her daddy.”
He and Brennan get better looking every day. I am one lucky woman.
“Of course she does.” Brennan bumped into Case’s shoulder, pushing him aside so he could get into the room first. “After all, I’m her favorite.” Knowing what he’d want, she held the baby up and let him scoop her into his arms. He cuddled the small bundle wrapped in pink against his chest and started murmuring baby talk.
“Think what you want to think, brother. Cara and I know the truth.” Case followed Brennan inside, but made a quick turn to his right to lean over the cradle. Another cradle rested against the other wall. Butterflies as well as animals of all kinds from elephants to dogs danced across a field of flowers painted on the wall.
“Don’t start, you two. They love both of you equally.”
“She’s right.” Case leaned over the railing of the crib and straightened up with the larger baby who had started to fuss in his arms. “Hey, big guy. No crying. Werewolves don’t cry. Got that?” Putting the baby boy to his shoulder, he patted the child and relented. “Leastwise, we don’t go crying in public, okay? But at home with your daddies and mamma, you can let it all out.”
She stilled the rocker, taking a moment to watch the two men she loved holding their babies. Against all odds, against what Miss Clara had said, she’d gotten pregnant. At first, it had terrified her. Would she carry the twins to full term? Would they be healthy once they entered the world? If the strange mix of genes hadn’t caused any problems, would the werebears of Shatland and the werewolves of Forever accept them?
For the most part, she’d stayed on the ranch. Not only to hide her pregnancy from the others, but to enjoy time alone with Case and Brennan. At least, that is, until the twins were born. When the labor had turned difficult, she’d asked to call Emma and Jackson. They’d come along, bringing Miss Clara and the local doctor. Although the doctor had misgivings at first, he’d soon warmed up to the babies he’d delivered.
Their precious daughter was born first, a full two minutes before her brother Collier came screaming into the world. Both were healthy and full term. But that hadn’t stopped her from worrying. She could still see the confused expressions on everyone’s faces. They’d stood over the small basinets, studying her children. At last, Case had given her the good news.
Cara, pink and as sweet as the day was long, was a full werebear. Her brother, still fussing and kicking, was a werewolf.
No one understood how it had happened, but Nicole didn’t need any answers. She’d gotten pregnant and her children were all right. What else did she need to know?
Although they’d gotten the doctor to swear to keep the births of their children a secret, he’d let it slip and all of Shatland and Forever knew about them by the next morning. The clan’s council had dropped by minus her father to see the amazing infants and had, to her great relief, declared Cara a part of the clan. Jackson had assured her that Collier would be accepted as a werewolf into the Forever, Texas community. The fact that they’d been born a full werewolf and a full werebear made all the difference. If they’d been born hybrids, then who knew what might’ve happened?
Not that it mattered. Once they were old enough, they were bound to experience the prejudices of both werebears and werewolves. Until then, she’d fearlessly protect them. And their fathers would dote on them, loving each of them equally.
She sighed and glanced out the window. Would today be the day?
“Baby, you’ve got to stop wishing they’ll show up. They know about their grandchildren. If they wanted to see them, they would’ve come over by now.”
Case was right. She knew he was. But knowing wasn’t the same thing as accepting. “Have you spoken to your father?” She couldn’t give up on either side of the family.
“I sent him a couple of photos, but he never responded. Give it up, Nic.” Brennan rolled his lips back and made a funny face at Cara. As usual, the baby gurgled her happiness.
“I don’t understand how they can stay away.” Having her father reject them was hard enough, but her mother could’ve snuck by to see them. Still, she understood. Her mother wouldn’t disrespect her father’s wishes.
“Nic, aren’t we enough?”
She came to Brennan, pulling him and her daughter close. “More than enough. It’s just that I’ve always dreamed of having my family be a part of my children’s lives.”
“At least they have their honorary aunt Jasmine.”
“And that’s a good thing?” joked Case.
“It’s a very good thing and you know it.” Jasmine had been a great friend, sticking by her even when others had abandoned their friendships. Although Jasmine was still trying to get a shifter to change her, she’d never once asked Case or Brennan to bite her again.
Case lifted his son into the air. “Hey, let’s not get hung up on this again. How about we take these two rug rats outside for some air?”
One way or another, they always managed to bring her out of her doldrums. She smiled, pushing the disappointing thoughts away. “Good idea. I’ll get the baby swings. You two change their diapers and meet me outside.”
“Aw, man.” Brennan lifted Cara higher and put his nose to her bottom. “She got us again, bro. Diaper duty it is.”
Nicole laughed as she left the room, then snatched up the two baby swings and carried them outside. It was a perfect day to sit in the sun and enjoy her family.
If only…
Again, she pushed the sad thought away. Taking care to set them up correctly, she tested the swings, winding them up and maki
ng sure they worked correctly. The one time a swing hadn’t worked, Collier had thrown a fit.
The men were coming out of the house with the babies when the sound of a car driving down the gravel road leading to the house brought her gaze up. She shielded her eyes, trying to make out who it was.
“Nic.”
She glanced at Brennan, saw his surprise, and then turned back to the car as it stopped in the driveway. Her pulse picked up speed, sure her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Her mother was the first out of the car and came rushing over to her. Enveloping her in a huge bear hug, her mother squeezed her. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.”
“Mom?” Tears sprang to her eyes. Either she was dreaming or…
If I am, please don’t let me wake up yet.
Her mother kept hold of her arms as she leaned away. A beatific smile filled her face. “You look wonderful.”
“Thanks, Mom. How…? I mean, why…?”
But her mother’s attention was already on the babies. “Oh, my. Two of them. I wasn’t sure I believed any of it when I heard. But two of them? It’s incredible.” She hurried past Nicole, going first to Cara, then over to Collier. She held his tiny hand in hers, then took him away from Case. “They’re perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
Nothing could have made her feel any better than her mother’s approval. They were perfect, just like their fathers.
At the sound of a car door opening, Nicole stared in disbelief as her father got out from behind the steering wheel. Even more surprising was to see Carl Cagle getting out of the backseat. “Dad?”
The two men walked toward her, hesitation making their movements stiff. They stopped several feet apart, but just seeing them together, without them fighting was amazing.
“Dad?” Case glanced at her then at Brennan, but they were as surprised as he was. “What’s going on?”
His father’s gaze followed Brennan as he came toward him. “I came to see my grandchildren.”
She didn’t dare breathe for fear of breaking the spell. That had to be it. Someone had placed a spell on her. An amazing, wondrous spell.
“And I came to see my grandchildren.” Her father scowled as Brennan placed his daughter in Carl’s arms.
“You came together? Really?” She wasn’t sure they’d heard her. She wasn’t even sure she’d actually spoken. Part of her still thought she was dreaming.
“Isn’t he perfect, Gaither?” Her mother held out the baby for her father.
Her father took Collier from her mother, holding him stiffly as though unsure how to hold a baby. “Your mother convinced us to set aside our differences.”
“For the time it takes to see them,” added Case and Brennan’s father. “No more than that.”
Why couldn’t they do it forever? Couldn’t they see how much she needed all three of them? “For the babies’ sakes, couldn’t you make your truce last—”
Case took her arm and shook his head, warning her. “Don’t push. Let them take it slowly. This is good for the time being.”
He was right. For now, she’d ask nothing more from them. “Come see Cara, Dad. I think she has your nose.”
He blinked, looked down at Collier once more, then gave her son back to her mother. “She’s a werebear.”
She wasn’t sure if it was a question or a statement. “Yes. She is. And Collier’s a werewolf.” She searched him, trying to find any signs of malice toward her son as his gaze shifted to the squirming baby. But she saw none. Still, she held her breath as he turned to Carl and waited for the other man to hand her daughter over. A flash of irritation flickered across Carl’s face before giving Cara to her father.
“Aren’t they both incredible? Gaither, we’re grandparents.” Her mother’s tone was filled with joy.
Her father’s gaze landed back on Collier. “He’s a werewolf.”
She’d had enough. Either he accepted both of her children or he could stay out of their lives for good. No more giving him time to accept them. “Yes, Dad, he’s a werewolf. And they’re both miracles. Miracles you should love because they’re my children. Can you do that? Because if you can’t—”
“Nic—”
“No, Brennan. I’m tired of dealing with their hatred. Our children are going to have it hard enough without having all their grandparents standing beside them. So what’s it going to be, Dad? Are you going to be in their lives? Both of their lives? Because you can’t choose one without the other. What’s it going to be? Either treat them equally or you can get back in your car and leave for good.”
Tension rippled in the air as they grew quiet, ready to hear what he’d say. The only noises were the sounds of birds in the trees and Collier’s fussy mewls.
“They’re both my grandchildren, aren’t they?” He glanced down at the cooing Cara.
She swept away a tear. “Yes. They are.”
“Then that’s your answer.”
It was as good an answer as she’d ever get. And it was good enough. He’d claim them both and, now that he had, he’d stand by them.
“Don’t forget they’re mine, too,” groused their other grandfather.
Brennan laughed and pulled her close. Case took his father by the shoulders and hugged him.
She held her breath, waiting for the spell to finally break. Maybe the spell wouldn’t last. Maybe their fathers would turn on each other again before long. But for now, she’d hold on to everything she had.
Somehow she’d found the loves of her lives, two werewolves who had given her the best gifts she’d ever receive. Brennan and Case stood together, watching their parents. Together, their attention shifted to her and they smiled, knowing how much their parents’ acceptance of their children meant to her. She smiled, putting all her emotions into it. Her children’s grandparents grew closer with her children, making a happy future with both werewolves and werebears seem possible. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes as she silently made a promise to her mates.
I will never stop loving my two werewolves.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane Jamison has always liked “weird stuff” as her mother called it. From an early age she was fascinated with stories about werewolves, vampires, space, aliens, and whatever was hiding in her bedroom closet. To this day, she still swears she can hear growls and moans whenever the lights are out.
Being born under the sign of Scorpio meant Jane was destined to be very sensual. Some would say she was, and remains, downright sexual. Then one day she put her two favorite things together on paper and found her life’s true ambition—to be an erotic paranormal romance author.
Jane spends at least six days a week locked in her office surrounded by the characters she loves. Every day a new character will knock on the door of her imagination. Her plans include taking care of her loving husband, traveling, and writing at least twelve books a year.
For all titles by Jane Jamison, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/jane-jamison
Siren Publishing, Inc.
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