Bears' Claim

PUP Squad Alpha 4

Bears’ Claim Hannah Long is suddenly afraid of children. She doesn't know why. She doesn't know how. She only knows she has to run. Even when she has to leave the man of her dreams behind. Eric Johansen is a bear-shifter and Hannah's mate. He hasn't told her yet because she's only twenty-seven and human. When she goes missing he regrets waiting patiently and wants his mate in his arms, right now! West Rindell, a dedicated member of PUP Squad Alpha, wasn't looking for a mate. He was just trying to do his job and find the missing Oracle's receptacle. But sparks fly when he discovers they are one and the same. The fact that sweet Hannah has a submissive streak just makes things way more interesting. But if they can't stop the group of assassins on her trail, the future her bear-shifters want could end before it truly gets started. Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among cousins. Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter Length: 22,044 words

BEARS’ CLAIM PUP Squad Alpha 4

Abby Blake

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

BEARS’ CLAIM Copyright © 2012 by Abby Blake E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-706-0 First E-book Publication: June 2012 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Bears’ Claim by Abby Blake from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Abby Blake’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Blake’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

BEARS’ CLAIM PUP Squad Alpha 4 ABBY BLAKE Copyright © 2012

Prologue Her heart pounded, her skin crawled, her breathing faltered. The urge to run was near overwhelming. Every day for the past three she’d forced herself to put one foot in front of the other, but today the fear choked her. She stopped, frozen, unable to move forward, her mind creating an invisible line that she could not cross. “Hannah? Everything okay?” Her eyes darted to the familiar face of Dr. Eric Johansen. Hannah dragged in a ragged breath, trying to hide her strange behavior. “Sure,” she said, taking a step back, moving away from that invisible line. “I…um…am due for a break. I’ll just grab a quick coffee.” “No worries,” Eric said with his usual kind smile. The man was tall enough to be a basketball professional and wide enough to play football but somehow the pediatrician didn’t scare his young patients at all. The weirdest part was that even Hannah felt the same sort of comfort in the big man’s presence. Strange, especially considering that her current phobia seemed to revolve around a sweet, seven-year-old child who was too ill to harm a fly. How could a man large enough to snap her in half evoke a sense of peace, but an innocent child incite so much terror?

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Eric gave her such a kind look that she very much wanted to blurt out her current problem. Unfortunately, fear for her job—and perhaps embarrassment at her current, unexplained fear—stilled her tongue. Admitting such a crazy phobia while working in the children’s ward would only get her transferred out of the job she loved. “I’ll…um…just go get that coffee then.” He nodded, but tilted his head slightly as he assessed her tense body language. “You’ve been working really hard lately. Perhaps you should consider taking a vacation. Lord knows you deserve one. What the board expects from the nurses is beyond ridiculous.” “True,” Hannah said as they moved down the hallway side by side. Every step away from room five made her feel infinitely better. Perhaps that was all it was. Maybe she was just so overworked that the child represented her need to take a break. “In fact,” she said, warming to the idea, “I’ll head over to personnel during my lunch break. A few weeks sitting on a beach drinking cocktails sounds very appealing.” The doctor laughed quietly. “That does sound nice. Have a drink for me while you’re at it.” “Will do,” Hannah said, feeling much calmer as they parted ways.

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Chapter One “Eric,” West Rindell called as soon as he saw his cousin. It had been many years since they’d seen each other, but with bear-shifters living several human lifetimes a decade or two wasn’t really that long. Eric, probably better known in this building as Dr. Johansen, glanced up, smiled, and held up a finger to indicate he’d be there in a moment. He then went back to talking to the young child in front of him. West and Darian stood back, not wanting to get in the man’s way, but eager to get their mission completed. Tracking down the women who were the potential next victims of a pixie assassin was proving way harder than it should have been. The women were only human after all. “Hey, cuz,” Eric said as he came over to them and wrapped West in a big bear hug. West hugged him back, surprised to realize how much he’d missed the big guy. They’d grown up together, but about fifty years ago they’d chosen very different career paths. Between West’s assignments with PUP Squad Alpha and Eric’s hectic life as a pediatrician, neither of them got home very often and very rarely at the same time. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?” “Official business actually.” West glanced around the crowded corridor. “Is there somewhere we can talk privately?” “Sure,” Eric said with a concerned frown. He led them to an empty consulting room and locked the door behind them. He leaned against the desk and waited for an explanation. “We have good reason to believe that one of the nurses who works here has been targeted for assassination by pixies.”

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“Are you sure? As far as I know they’re all human. Don’t pixies limit their work to paranormals?” “Apparently they’ve made an exception for a group of human women.” West didn’t want to say much more than that. The mission was classified on a need-to-know basis, and technically Eric didn’t need to know. “Do you know a nurse called Hannah Long?” “Hannah?” Eric asked in obvious concern. “She took a vacation four weeks ago. She’s due back to work tomorrow. She was pretty tense last time I saw her, so I was planning on dropping by her place on my way home tonight.” “So you have her home address?” West asked, watching his cousin’s body language closely. Eric was a caring guy, but his reaction seemed to indicate their relationship was more intimate than simply coworkers. “Just let me grab my keys. I’ll come with you. If she’s home, I can explain who you are, and well if she’s not…” He shrugged, trying to look calm but failing miserably. “Two bears are better than one.” Darian looked slightly annoyed. He was often mistaken by other paranormals as being simply human. He pulled out his smart phone and started tapping away. “What’s her address?” Eric grabbed a piece of paper off the notepad on his desk and handed it to Darian. West raised an eyebrow in question, but Eric just shrugged sheepishly. Perhaps Eric’s relationship with Hannah wasn’t as close as he would have liked. “Got it,” Darian said as he found the coordinates for Hannah’s address. Just before he could open a bounce tunnel, West interrupted with a hand on his shoulder. If he knew one thing at all about the warlock he was working with on this assignment, it was that Darian had the ability to make bounce travel hurt way more than it should if he felt the need. Considering Eric’s assumption and ill-timed “two bears” comment, this bounce was liable to hurt way more than usual. West didn’t have to say a word. Darian obviously knew what was on his mind because he rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Fine, I’ll play

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nice.” He did smile rather smugly though when Eric’s mouth fell open at the sight of the bounce tunnel that opened in the room. “Um…sorry,” Eric managed to mumble as they stepped toward the swirling doorway. “You smell human.” “That’s the trouble with most shifters,” Darian said with a smirk. “You rely too heavily on what your nose tells you. Maybe once in a while you could use your brain.” He glanced at West and rolled his eyes. “I said I’d play nice. I didn’t say anything about not talking.” West nodded. He’d only worked with a handful of warlocks over the years, but they all seemed to loathe being mistaken for humans by other paranormals. Considering that they had skills most humans wouldn’t even be able to imagine, it was rather insulting. And to be fair, even if Darian had been human, his cousin should have at least realized by the simple fact that he was working with West that Darian was a highly trained operative. He would certainly be more help in a fight than an unfit, overworked pediatrician who probably hadn’t shifted into his bear form in months. West stepped into the tunnel and was pleasantly surprised to find the drop to the ground only a few inches and not the several feet it could have been. He nodded his thanks to Darian as Eric stepped out of the tunnel and didn’t break his leg. As soon as the tunnel closed, West glanced around the area, glad to see that Darian had bounced them into the space between two buildings. If anyone had been walking past the end of the alley, it was unlikely they noticed anything. “Where to?” he asked as Darian led them out of the alley. “Third floor.” West stayed alert as the three of them walked up the steps to the front door of a building without security or a doorman. A quick glance at Eric showed that he was disturbed by the location of Hannah’s apartment. The elevator had a dust-covered outof-order sign glued to the door, and it was obvious that it had been that way for some time. They managed to locate the stairs and

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climbed the three flights quickly. It wouldn’t have made a difference to a pixie assassin where Hannah lived, but the vulnerability of Hannah’s home had them all moving much faster. A soft knock, a louder rap, and a pounded fist didn’t get a response. Either Hannah wasn’t home or she was refusing to answer the door. Considering his cousin’s emotional attachment to the human, West didn’t even want to consider possibility number three. “Can you open a bounce tunnel into the living room?” Darian pressed his face against the frosted glass pane beside the door. “I can’t see well enough to know where I’m going. It might be best if you two wait here.” West checked the corridor for witnesses and then nodded. Within moments Darian was through his bounce tunnel and opening the door from the inside. “You need to see this,” he said as he turned and walked back into the living area of the apartment. The place was a mess. At first glance it looked like someone had been frantically searching for something, but upon closer inspection it looked more like Hannah had packed in a hurry. But not the sort of packing one would expect if a person were running late for a plane to a vacation destination. No, this was more like grab everything of value and leave the place quickly. Hannah’s closet was trashed. There was a pile of discarded clothes on the bed, but they looked like someone had sorted through them quickly, making instant decisions of what to take and what to leave behind. Even her dresser was empty, the discarded drawers giving the impression they were tipped directly into a suitcase. Whatever Hannah had done here, it wasn’t the kind of packing one would do for a four-week vacation. The nurse had left in a hurry, and every piece of evidence pointed to her not planning on coming back. “Was she upset when she went on leave?” Darian asked Eric, obviously having come to some of the same conclusions as West. “She was stressed,” Eric said, “but that’s not unusual for the nurses working in any hospital.”

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“Stressed how? Do you remember anything specific?” Eric started to shake his head, but frowned instead. “About a week before she went on vacation I found her standing frozen in the corridor. It was as if she couldn’t take a step further. At the time I just thought she was tired, maybe distracted.” He shook his head almost as if he couldn’t believe he was saying the words out loud. “But, well I did wonder briefly if she was spooked by something. She didn’t seem to want to go into room five, and I’m pretty sure I saw other nurses attending to that patient for the rest of the week.” He breathed out a self-deprecating half laugh. “It could just have been coincidence, though.” “Who was the patient in room five that week?” “It’s a pediatric ward, so it would have been a young child.” He seemed to search his memory for a few moments before adding, “A young girl suffering severe tonsillitis, I think. If it’s the patient I remember, then she spent most of her time sleeping, before and after her surgery.” “Did she happen to look like a pixie?” Darian asked. All the color drained from Eric’s face, but he shook his head. “She wasn’t a pixie. She was a very sick little girl. I would have noticed an indestructible paranormal in my hospital.” “I’m not saying she was a pixie. Only suggesting that maybe she reminded Hannah of a pixie.” West didn’t like the direction Darian’s thoughts were taking, but it did seem a very plausible explanation for Hannah’s panicked behavior. But the answer only brought more questions. How would she know what a pixie looked like if she’d never seen one? If she’d already been attacked, how had she gotten away long enough to pack her bags and run? Most paranormals had no defense against a pixie assassin. A human would have zero chance. But if Hannah hadn’t seen a pixie, how had she known about them?

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Realizing that his thoughts were only taking him in circles, West poked around the bedroom hoping to find some sort of clue on where Hannah had gone. “Does Hannah own a car?” “I believe so.” Eric rubbed his forehead tiredly. “It was a little white one. I’m not sure what model.” Darian grimaced, and Eric chose to take it as an insult. With no small amount of irritation he growled, “I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.” Darian seemed surprised by the attack, and held his hands up in a sign of feigned surrender. Great, the last thing West needed was his cousin and his mission partner at each other’s throats. “Look, Eric, why don’t you head back to the hospital. I’ll call you when we find her.” “What? No. I need to find her.” “Eric,” West said, feeling way more tired than he should have, “you just said it yourself. You’re a doctor, not a mechanic, not a soldier. Go back to work. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.” “No,” he said, sounding more angry than West could remember hearing from his cousin. “You don’t understand. She’s my mate.” “Your mate?” West asked, his own heart squeezing in his chest. For bear-shifters, finding one’s mate was a rare and precious thing. Losing Hannah before he could claim her would be devastating for Eric. “How long have you known her?” “Three years,” Eric said with a low growl. “Three years that I should have spent coaxing her into my arms. Instead I tried to give her space, to give her a chance to know her own mind. She’s only twenty-seven. In shifter terms she’s still very young.” “But she’s a human,” Darian said with a frown. “I thought bearshifter mates were other bear-shifters.” “Not always,” Eric said with a sad smile. “It’s harder to tell when they’re still human, but I’ve always known Hannah was mine. From the moment I met her I’ve felt the connection.” He cut off, looking

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embarrassed to have expressed his inner thoughts in such a sappy way. “So, you what? Slapped the salami for three years while you waited for your bride to grow up?” “Enough,” West said angrily. “Go report our findings to Ronan. I’ll meet you back at the motel.” Darian nodded stiffly, opened a bounce tunnel, and left quickly. He was usually pretty laid-back, but the past six months he’d been different. Uptight, angry, less predictable. It had the potential to make him dangerous to work with, so the conflict with West’s cousin was even more annoying. At least by being the senior partner on this mission, West had final say on what they did and when they did it. He turned to his cousin. “We’ll find her. I can’t promise to bring her back to you. There’s more going on than I can explain, but I’ll figure it out.” He stepped closer, placing his hand on his cousin’s shoulder. “I need to know everything you know about Hannah Long.”

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Chapter Two Hannah pulled her car into the parking spot furthest away from the front door of the bar and grill. It wasn’t exactly a place she would have hung out with friends, but she hoped like hell to talk the owner into giving her a job. She hurried across the parking lot and stepped into the lunchtime rush. “Just take a seat anywhere, honey. I’ll be with you in a second,” the waitress said with a pleasant smile as she balanced several plates full of food. Hannah stayed out of her way, but didn’t take a seat. “Actually,” she said as the waitress finished delivering the meals and turned her attention to Hannah, “I was hoping to speak to someone about getting some work.” “Do you have any waitressing experience?” “Yes,” Hannah said, hoping the woman wouldn‘t ask for references. She’d done some bartending and waitressing to get herself through college. Hopefully it wasn’t a skill she’d forgotten. In fact after several hectic years working at St. Alfred’s hospital, she might even be better at it. How ironic? All those years training to be a nurse, just so she could end up a better waitress. “Job pays minimum wage plus tips.” Hannah nodded her understanding, her heart pounding harder now than it had her first time performing CPR on an actual patient. It would almost be funny if she weren’t so desperate to replenish her fast-dwindling cash. Four weeks on the road had only proven she hadn’t saved enough money to survive any length of time without working—even when she slept in her car.

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But she couldn’t apply for nursing work without supplying her registration details and employment history and that just made her easier to find. The worst part was that she didn’t even know who she was running from. Only that she had to run. Even the internal realization that she was probably suffering some sort of paranoid medical condition hadn’t been enough to have her running back home to get some help. “I can’t guarantee how long the job will last,” the woman said with an apologetic smile. “My niece left town unexpectedly a few weeks ago. If she comes home, I want her to know she’s still welcome.” Hannah nodded her understanding. It must have been nice for the woman’s niece to know that her life would still be there if she came home. It wasn’t a feeling Hannah ever expected to have again. The woman glanced at Hannah’s comfortable shoes and smiled. “Can you start right now?” “Yes,” Hannah said nervously. “Excellent. Grab an apron and jump on in. It’s only the two of us for the lunch shift, so just serve whoever needs serving. Give me or Leo—he’s the cook—a holler if you’ve got any questions.” “Will do,” Hannah said, nodding. “Thanks…um…” “Ida,” she said with a soft laugh. “Sorry, sugar. It’s been a busy day. What should I call you?” “Annie,” Hannah said, hoping like hell the name was close enough to the one she’d used for the last twenty years that she’d remember to respond. “Okay, Annie. Let’s get this crowd fed.” **** Eric couldn’t concentrate. Every time he tried to focus on the budget report in front of him the numbers would blur, and he’d find himself wondering where on earth his mate had disappeared to. It

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didn’t matter that he was a doctor and West the trained soldier. It simply didn’t feel right waiting for someone else to find and protect his mate. He grabbed the phone and dialed the number his cousin had left with him. “West,” he said urgently as soon as his cousin answered. “Why did it take you so long to come looking for Hannah? She’s a registered nurse. She should have been easy to find.” West hesitated, and Eric got the impression that he was conferring with someone silently. He seemed to breathe out a sigh of relief and then said in a calm voice, “I’ve been given permission to bring you in on the details.” Eric started to thank him, but West cut him off, his voice very serious. “This is only happening because she’s your mate. Do you understand me? Everything, everything I tell you is classified information. Spill one word to anyone and we will have a serious problem.” “I understand,” Eric said, as both relief that he would know what was going on and terror for his mate ran through him simultaneously. “Are you still alone in your office?” “Yes.” “One of my squadmates, Alex, will be there in a few minutes.” And then West seemed to relax just a little. He sounded more his normal self when he added, “You might want to grab some antacids before he gets there. Slip travel is quite unpleasant.” A few moments later a fire demon stepped into his office, and then Eric got to experience firsthand the nauseating side effects of slip travel. **** West hid his grin as his rather green-looking cousin stepped into the room. Alex guided Eric none too gently onto the sofa, pushed him down, and handed him a bowl of salt-encrusted crackers. It was

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obvious that the last thing Eric wanted to do was eat, but Ronan’s quiet “it helps” was enough to get him to do as they suggested. They gave Eric a few minutes to compose himself before beginning the mission briefing. West glanced around the room as most of his squadmates and several of Ronan’s operatives took their seats at the large table. From the outside, this building looked like any of the other family homes in the small town of Sugarvale, but that’s where the similarity stopped. Inside was set up as headquarters for both PUP Squad Alpha and Deeks Security. This room alone contained just about every hightech gadget West could ever want. Even Wilson looked impressed, and when it came to tech stuff, Wilson, being a self-proclaimed technogeek, was notoriously hard to please. There were several operatives missing—Jason was still on emergency family leave, and it looked like Nathan and Alex were protecting their wives while Brody and Ronan attended the meeting— but the most notable absence was Darian. Considering the conflict he and Eric had earlier, it was probably a good thing, but it did make West wonder about the warlock’s state of mind. He’d had every right to be annoyed at Eric’s careless words, but he’d reacted way out of proportion to the provocation. Many of their coworkers had noticed Darian’s changed behavior, but so far none had been able to learn the reason for it. “Eric,” Ronan said, indicating West’s cousin, but addressing the men at the table, “is the mate of one of the women we’ve been searching for. Until four weeks ago, she was working as a nurse under the name of Hannah Long. She disappeared sometime between then and now. We’re not sure of the exact timing, but our biggest concern is that she might go back to using her original name.” “Her original…?” Eric asked in a worried voice from his position on the sofa. It was clear that he wanted answers, but he was at least aware enough to realize he was only here as a courtesy, not as an

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active participant. Fortunately Ronan took pity on the guy and explained. “Hannah was born Annie Franklin. Her family was taken into the Witness Protection Program after her father testified against a mobster he’d seen kill somebody.” Ronan glanced at Benjamin, perhaps confirming that Eric had been cleared to hear the details. “The family doesn’t seem to have had any problems once their names were changed. Our big concern is that with her father having passed away several years ago, Hannah would have reason to believe it’s safe to revert to her birth name. The trouble is that the assassinations targeted women all with the same birthday. They’ll be looking for the name on the birth certificate.” West could see the fear for Hannah written very clearly on his cousin’s face. “We have to find her,” Eric said in a moment of obviously sheer panic. He had to realize that was why they were all here. The squad had been looking for Annie Franklin and several other women since learning of the link between them and the pixie assassinations of three humans just over a month ago. “We will find her,” Ronan said in a voice that wasn’t nearly as gruff as it once was. Apparently finding a mate of his own had softened the battle-hardened soldier just a little. He nodded at West and then waited for his report. “Hannah’s bank records show that she withdrew all but a few dollars of her savings. She sold her car to a secondhand dealer not far from her home. Nothing in her history indicates an ability or willingness to steal a car, so we’re currently trying to trace all cash sales for that same day.” “Does she have anywhere to go? Maybe family to contact?” “None that we can trace,” West said, feeling the familiar frustration weave through him once more. Tracking down a human woman should not have been this hard. Even knowing that Hannah was destined to be a bear-shifter’s mate didn’t explain her ability to

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anticipate a pixie assassination attempt. “Eric,” he said, turning to his cousin, “is there anywhere you can think that she would go?” “No,” he said, looking as frustrated as West felt. **** Hannah smiled as she headed to table twelve. Jed Mathewson was an old grump, but over the past week he’d been her most consistent customer. He also seemed to appreciate her sunny disposition even though he always responded with a dour expression. “What can I get for you today, Mr. Mathewson?” “Just coffee,” he said in his usual gruff voice. The first time he’d grumbled those words she’d made the mistake of ordering for him “just coffee.” He hadn’t been impressed. “Coffee?” she asked, smiling at the harrumph that came from the old man. “I believe Ida made one of her famous blueberry pies this morning. I reckon it’d go down mighty nice with a cup of Leo’s famous coffee.” “Blueberry, huh?” Jed said as if he were ruminating on whether to order the pie or not. “Maybe I should try a slice, so, you know, I can make sure Ida isn’t losing her touch. She’s getting old, you know.” Considering Ida was probably a good twenty years younger than Jed Mathewson, Hannah was pretty sure her boss would be unimpressed by that accusation. Hannah nodded, grabbed the menu that Jed always insisted upon but never actually used, and headed back to the kitchen. She stepped around the corner without looking and almost ran over the young girl standing in her path. Immediately her heart leapt into her throat. Hannah backed away, her fingers shaking so hard that she dropped the menu to the floor. The child tilted her head, looking at Hannah with far more scrutiny than she was used to from one so young. “Hello, Annie,” the girl said with what could only be described as a malicious grin.

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Hannah backed up a few more steps which almost took her back into the main part of the restaurant. “You’ve been a very hard lady to find. I had a hell of a time uncovering the new name the Witness Protection Program gave you, but then you went and ruined all my hard work by disappearing mere hours before I got there. Lucky for me the type of car salesmen willing to take cash for a car are also the type to take bribes. He sold you out for a hundred bucks. Can you believe that? He obviously knew you were in some kind of trouble, but he never even questioned why a ‘child’ would want to know where you went.” She shrugged as she moved closer. “Of course, if I’d waited just a few more weeks it’s likely you would have popped up on the tax records under your original name and I wouldn’t have had to track you halfway across the country.” She smiled smugly and tapped a finger against her chin as she looked out the window at the end of the corridor. “It was quite nice of you to find an out-of-the-way location, but if you take one more step, I’ll have to kill them, too. Can’t leave any witnesses. That would be very bad for business.” “I don’t understand. Why me?” Hannah asked, shaking her head. This was the confrontation she’d been fleeing from, even though she’d had no idea why at the time. Right now everything urged her to run for help, but the thought of endangering anyone else was even more terrifying. “What did I do?” It was extremely bizarre. Despite the child’s outward appearance, something inside Hannah knew—absolutely knew—that the creature in front of her was not what she seemed. “You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Oracle should never have done what she did.” The child shrugged and moved closer. “Look, nobody else has to get hurt. You’re the only one they sent me to eliminate. If you don’t make a fuss, it’ll be over quick.” “So I should just stand here and wait for you to kill me?” Hannah’s would-be assassin winked and went to step closer. But then a rage the likes of nothing Hannah had ever felt before washed through her. Without understanding what she was doing or how she

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was doing it, Hannah somehow managed to throw the childlike creature down the hallway without actually touching her. “What the fuck?” the thing said as she landed on her feet several yards away. “You’re supposed to be human. How the fuck did you do that?” Hannah shook her head, honestly having no explanation for what she’d managed to do. The creature started toward her again, the smile feral, the determination to kill Hannah very clear on her childlike face. But the same thing happened again. Every time the child came at her, some unknown force threw her backward. “Annie,” Mr. Mathewson’s gruff voice said from the doorway, “what in blazes is taking so long?” Before Hannah could stop him, Mr. Mathewson stepped into the corridor. “What the hell?” he asked in a shocked voice as the kid flew backward once more. “Crap. Goddamn pixies,” he said in a voice stronger than any she’d heard out of the old man’s mouth. And then as if her current reality wasn’t weird enough, some sort of whirlwind, swirling, portal-type thing opened up, and the old man dragged her through. **** “The computer just flagged a hysterical nine-one-one call made from a diner in a town less than a hundred miles from here,” Wilson said rather urgently. “West, I think it’s your girl. Someone reported a waitress named Annie and another customer disappearing into thin air.” “We need a lift,” West said, glancing around the room. Alex was still here, but the thought of putting Eric through slip travel twice in one day was enough to make West feel ill. Fortunately, Brody must have thought the same thing because he nodded to Nathan, grabbed the coordinates off Wilson, and opened a dragon jump vortex.

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**** Within seconds the three of them were walking in the front door of a small-town diner. Eric felt none too steady on his feet, but the thought of Hannah being in danger kept him upright and moving. “We’re closed,” a middle-aged man, dressed in what looked to be a cook’s uniform, said in an unfriendly voice. He was comforting an older woman who seemed to be in shock. Before West or Brody could say anything Eric’s training kicked in. “I’m a doctor. What happened?” “She’s just stressed. We’ve been working really hard lately.” “I am not stressed,” the woman said angrily. “I know what I saw.” “What did you see?” Eric asked in a low-pitched, soothing tone of voice. “I saw Annie and Jed disappear into a whirlpool.” “I’m sorry,” the man holding her said, clearly embarrassed by the woman’s words. “The nearest lake is about fifty miles away. We don’t know what she saw, but Annie and Jed are both missing.” “I told you, it wasn’t water. It looked like multicolored lights all going around in circles, like a twister.” “It’s okay,” Eric said quietly, feeling very sorry for the woman. She was clearly describing a warlock’s bounce tunnel, but telling the woman she wasn’t crazy would only lead to more questions. “Sometimes when you’ve been working really hard, or you haven’t had enough sleep, the eyes can misinterpret what they see. I’ve heard descriptions similar to this before. It’s usually caused by the lightsensitive cells embedded in the retina misinterpreting the electrical signals. A good night’s sleep is often enough to correct the problem. But to be on the safe side I want you to book an appointment to have your eyes checked. Okay?”

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The woman looked relieved by Eric’s reasoning. It certainly beat the “you’re losing your marbles” explanation. “But we still don’t know where Annie and Jed are.” Eric glanced at his cousin and the dragon-shifter beside him. “My friends are off-duty police officers. Perhaps they can figure out where they went. Can you show me where you last saw them?” The woman nodded, pushed out of the man’s arms with a selfconscious smile, and led the way to the place where she’d seen two people disappear. West had been tapping away on his phone almost since the woman had started talking. His eyes widened slightly at something he read on the screen, before he turned the thing off and put the gadget away. He and Brody made a show of inspecting the area. “Ma’am,” West said, sounding very much like a police officer, “the gentleman you referred to as Jed…would that happen to be Jed Mathewson?” “Why, yes. Yes it is. Do you know him?” West nodded. “He’s actually the reason we stopped by. He’s an old friend of my dad’s. They were magicians together in Vegas for a while.” “You know, I think he did mention once or twice that he liked to do magic tricks. Do you think he’s doing a trick now?” “That’s my guess.” “Oooh,” she growled in irritation, “wait until I catch up with that old grouch. He is going to regret making me look like a fool. Gosh, I even called the sheriff. Heavens.” Her hand fluttered around her throat in a clear sign of agitation. “Excuse me while I go let him know it’s not necessary to come out.” She smiled tremulously at the three of them. “I’m sure glad you boys came along when you did. Reporting two people disappearing into thin air was embarrassing enough. At least now I have an explanation for the crazy talk.” She laughed, the sound filled with relief. “Do me a favor. When you catch up with Jed,

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tell the old coot he’ll be paying double for his coffee for a whole month.” “Will do, ma’am,” West said with a wide grin. The woman moved away, laughing as she turned back to the cook and the few friends sitting out front. “Now,” she said on a sigh, “if we can just identify the young girl who ran out the back door when Annie and Jed disappeared. The poor kid must be so frightened.” Terror for Hannah froze the air in Eric’s lungs. **** Hannah would have fallen to her knees if Jed Mathewson hadn’t been there to hold her up. He was surprisingly strong for a fraillooking, old man, but she was very grateful for his assistance. Trying to regain her equilibrium, she glanced around the area, surprised to find herself surrounded by forest. There was a small wooden home about a hundred yards in front of them. “Quickly,” Jed said as he dragged her toward the home. “It’s far safer inside.” After her confrontation with a creature that looked like a sevenyear-old child, Hannah wasn’t going to argue. She had no idea how long she might have been able to hold the child away from her, so she was very grateful for Jed’s intervention. He practically manhandled her into a small, rough-looking cabin, and pushed her into a chair. She breathed deeply, trying to rationalize the sudden shift in her reality. She’d almost convinced herself none of it had happened when a loud whooping noise suddenly filled the air. “Damn it,” Jed said as a vortex-type thing opened in the front yard. He stepped out the front door, ready to confront whoever was attacking them this time. “What now?” he asked over his shoulder as Hannah moved to join him. “How many paranormals did you piss off?” Two men stepped through the vortex and moved cautiously, but it was the third one who came at her.

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Chapter Three “Hannah,” Eric said as relief ran through him. He moved toward the house, eager to gather her in his arms, immensely grateful to find her in one piece. He fully intended to tell her everything, to explain about them being mates, to hold on and never let her go, so it was a really big shock to find himself flying backward. He landed hard against the ground, his head thumping solidly against something wooden as he went down. “Damn, girl, what are you?” the old man said with what sounded like genuine admiration in his voice. Hannah shrugged, or at least Eric thought she did. It might have been his eyes still trying to focus. “Hannah Long?” Brody asked as West helped Eric back onto his feet. “Who wants to know?” the old man Eric assumed was Jed Mathewson asked belligerently. “Brody Carmichael, PUP Squad Alpha.” “Show us your badges,” the old man demanded. Both Brody and West handed over their IDs. The old man went over them carefully, using what seemed to be some kind of warlock magic to ascertain their genuineness. “It’s okay, Annie,” Jed said with heartfelt sigh of relief. “These are the good guys.” “The good guys?” she asked, sounding rather shell-shocked. She turned her attention to Eric. “So what does that make you, Doctor Johansen? Assuming of course that it is your name.” “It is my name,” he said carefully, “and I am a doctor. I’m still the guy you’ve worked with for the past three years.”

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“Uh-huh,” she said with obvious distrust. “The doctors I know don’t come through…what the hell was that thing anyway?” She turned back to Jed. “It was different to the one that brought us here. Wasn’t it?” “It was,” Jed said with a nod. “We came through a bounce tunnel. It’s a much more civilized way to travel. Dragon jump vortex leaves most critters with a thumping headache. Although,” the old man said, sounding completely pissed, “I’d like to know how in blazes a dragon followed my bounce tunnel.” “Practice,” Brody said smugly. Eric tuned the rest of the conversation out as Jed wrapped an arm around Hannah’s shoulders. It took several moments for the green haze of jealousy to stop clouding his vision before Eric realized the old man was guiding her into the house. Now that he’d gotten over the initial excitement of finding her safe and well, he realized that Hannah was beginning to show signs of shock. When the old man tilted his head in a clear indication that they should follow, Eric didn’t hesitate. Just as he stepped into the house, he heard Brody ask West, “What do we know about this guy?” **** “He’s a retired PUP. He led Tango squad for more than seventy years. He’s a warlock, but his service record suggests he isn’t as old as his outward appearance suggests. Would that be a spell or something?” “Probably,” Brody said with a nod. “Warlocks are able to live nearly entire lifetimes amongst humans. Their outward appearance ages at the same rate of a human until they decide to rejuvenate.” “That would sure make life easier some days. A few years back my cousins had to retire from human law enforcement because they

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kept getting comments about how good they looked for sixty-yearolds.” “Yeah, it’s getting harder to hide in plain sight,” Brody said as they stepped onto the veranda and into the small building. “That’s why I’m so glad we have somewhere like Sugarvale to call home. With Ava’s pregnancy being the first of its kind, we have no idea if it’ll last nine months like a human child or fourteen months like a dragon child or anywhere in between. At least everyone around us is aware of the situation and, if it happens, she won’t need to explain why our baby is five months late.” West felt the veil of magic pass over him as they stepped through the door. It may have looked like a rustic old shack on the outside, but inside was far more impressive. Humans, and even most paranormals, would only see what the warlock wanted them to see, so it was good to realize that Jed trusted them enough to invite them into his real home. Hannah was pacing back and forth as Eric tried unsuccessfully to explain what was happening. “Why the hell would pixies want to assassinate me? I’m no one special,” Hannah spat angrily. West saw the pain on Eric’s face that she would talk herself down in that way, but it was his own reaction that surprised him. Despite knowing the woman was his cousin’s mate, he wanted to step in and tell her that she was very special—special to him and special to Eric. Hell, he was tempted to turn her over his knee and spank her ass until she understood that she was very valuable and shouldn’t say something so absurd. Or he could kiss her until she… His thoughts trailed off as he finally understood what was going on in his head. Shit! And to think he’d laughed when his cousin, Brandon, had called to invite them to a wedding with three grooms and one bride. Although, he hadn’t laughed quite so hard when less than a year later

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the three Brockman brothers had married a famous heiress named Ruby Rickardson. Hell, maybe it ran in the family. Considering that he and Eric had very little in common these days, it was likely to be a steep learning curve. West actually found himself hoping that it was only the two of them. Surely, problems between two men had to be less complicated than problems between three of them. “Hannah,” West said, stepping closer and hoping that he didn’t betray all the thoughts running through his head, “you’ve been targeted by assassins because you’re one of the Oracle’s receptacles. We need to get you to a safe house. I’m sorry, babe, but you are special, very special, and we need to find a way to protect you.” “I’m a what?” Brody ignored what was essentially a rhetorical question and asked one of his own. “Do you know how you managed to knock Eric on his ass outside?” “I did that?” she asked as her gaze bounced between the four men in the room. “You sure did,” Brody said with a smile. “My wife can’t explain how she does it either.” “Your wife?” Hannah said with a hopeful lilt in her voice. “Can I meet her?” “Hopefully, very soon,” Brody said carefully. It was obvious that he would protect his wife and child first and foremost. “But right now we need to get you somewhere safe so we can deal with the threat against you.” “The good news here,” West said, trying to be positive even though he suddenly found himself near catatonic with fear for his mate, “is that we have a chance to place you in protective custody. The assassin will come again, so we need to make certain she can’t find you.” “I believe you,” Hannah said, looking even more confused. “But I’m also pretty sure I’m somewhere having a breakdown and not actually here. I mean I dream of Dr. Hunkalicious all the time, so it

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makes sense he’d be here.” She glanced around the room. “I’m not sure where I dreamed up you three, but I’ve known for a long time that something was coming for me. I mean, why else would I develop a phobia that was triggered by a seven-year-old girl if I didn’t somehow know something that looked like a child would come after me.” Hannah giggled, but the sound was just a little too hysterical to be humor. “Shit I’ve spent my whole adult life training to be a pediatric nurse, and I’m going to lose it all by having one little breakdown.” West could see how much Eric wanted to reassure Hannah about her career, but the simple fact was that her days as a nurse to humans were over. Even if they could craft a new identity for her, going back to nursing was simply too dangerous, especially in a pediatric ward where every second patient could potentially be a pixie assassin. West simply wouldn’t allow his mate to put herself in danger like that. He took one look at the woman’s stubborn expression and decided to keep that thought to himself. “Babe,” West said affectionately as he stepped closer, “you’re not having a breakdown. We’ll work this out, I promise you.” “Uh-huh,” she said again, clearly unimpressed. “I was attacked by a…what did you call it Mr. Mathewson? A pixie?” “That’s correct,” Jed said with a shudder. “Very efficient assassins, the whole lot of them, but they don’t come cheap. Do we know who’s paying them?” “Look,” West said, casting an angry scowl in Jed’s direction. “I’m sure you’re very aware of how much of this conversation is classified. Thank you for assisting my mate, but I think it’s time we got her to a safe house.” He went to step forward and help Hannah to her feet, but it wasn’t until all eyes turned in his direction that he realized what he’d just said. ****

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Mate? She was West’s mate as well? Eric rubbed the headache that wouldn’t quit and wondered what to do now. Hannah didn’t even know West. There was a good chance she was going to explode over being mate to one bear-shifter. Eric couldn’t even imagine how she might react to having two. Brody’s grin was so wide Eric imagined he could see every one of the dragon-shifter’s teeth, but instead of commenting the man turned his attention to the warlock. “Is Hannah safe here for a short while?” “Of course,” Jed said with no small amount of irritation in his voice. “I was a PUP squad leader for longer than you’ve been around, dragon. Go report to your CO. I’ll keep her safe and make sure these two bears don’t tear each other apart.” Brody’s only response was to grin wider and then step out the front door. Once he reached the edge of the magical wards protecting Jed’s home, he opened a jump vortex and stepped through. “I think I need a time-out,” Hannah said, using the hand signal common to some sports. “Of course, honey,” Eric said, taking a seat beside her on the sofa. He leaned over and hugged her awkwardly. She sat stiffly in his embrace for several minutes before asking, “Is a mate what I think it is?” “Depends what you think it is,” West said, obviously trying to lighten the mood with a smile, “but to put it in human terms it means that both Eric and I are destined to be your husbands.” “I’m sorry I left it so long to tell you, honey, but I’m a bearshifter. West”—he indicated with a tilt of his jaw—“is my cousin and apparently your mate also.” “Two husbands? And you’re what? Bear-shifters? What the hell does that mean?” She looked ready to throw more questions at them, but a strange look crossed her face and she tilted her head as if an

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important thought invaded her mind. She looked confused and maybe a little bit frightened when she asked, “How do I know that what you’re telling me is the truth? I mean, I’ve never even heard of a bearshifter before now, but somehow I know that you’re capable of healing minor injuries just with your…” She hesitated. “With your gifts from the Great Spirit.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “How would I know that?” “Babe,” West said with a pointed look at Jed, “we’ll explain everything we can as soon as we have clearance to do so.” “Clearance?” she asked as her voice climbed several octaves. “Why would you need clearance to tell me who I am?” “I’m sorry, babe,” West said, “but you’re not the only one the pixies are targeting. When I can tell you more without endangering other lives, I promise you it will all make sense.” **** Three days later and still nothing made sense. She was human but not. Mate to two bear-shifters but not a shifter. Telekinetic but with no understanding on how she could control it. And she had assassins on her tail despite not knowing whatever it was they thought she knew. At least one thing was starting to make sense. She wasn’t delusional, because there was no way her imagination could be this overactive. “Mornin’, babe,” West said from the doorway of the bedroom. “Did you sleep okay?” She nodded and resisted saying her new favorite word—“uh-huh.” It had seemed to slip from her mouth far too often in the past few days. Sleeping “well” was a bit of a relative term. If it wasn’t bad enough that she had all manner of changes going on in her life, she also had to cope with the one thing she’d never expected—Dr. Eric Johansen sleeping in a chair beside her bed.

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“Coffee?” West whispered with a glance at his still-sleeping cousin. Eric looked terribly uncomfortable, and for about the hundredth time in the past three days Hannah considered inviting him onto the bed. The trouble was that she didn’t trust her own libido to behave. She’d fantasized about the man so often in the past that she was having trouble separating it from her current reality. The fact that he claimed to be her future husband, though, managed to drag her back to the here and now. She nodded a “yes” to West on the coffee and then moved very slowly, hoping to be able to get out of bed without waking Eric. She was fairly certain this was the first time the man had slept since the pixie had found her. He hadn’t left her side since she’d accidentally knocked him on his ass in front of Jed’s place. But as she crept past the sleeping man, Eric reached for her hand. “Everything okay, honey?” He looked so tired that she wanted to curl her arms around him and insist he sleep. “Just going to get some coffee,” she said, unable to resist touching the lock of sandy-blond hair that fell over his eyes. “Why don’t you crawl onto the bed and get some proper rest?” “Maybe later,” he said, pressing his face to her belly in a sleepy, affectionate move that was over way too soon. He moved away quickly, obviously unsure of her reaction. “Why did you wait three years to tell me?” Eric gave her that kind smile that always worked wonders on his frightened patients. “Bear-shifters can be…” He hesitated, and then glanced to West for help. “Possessive, territorial, growly?” he provided with a wide grin on his face. Eric shrugged. “That’s probably pretty accurate. Once bearshifters claim their mates, we have a tendency to turn into…let’s just say, overbearing buttheads. I just wanted to give you a chance to know your own mind so if I ever do step over that line, you’ll have the confidence enough to smack me upside the head—figuratively

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speaking.” He glanced at West again. “Of course, I wasn’t expecting to have to compete with another butthead.” “Compete?” West asked with far less than his usual cockiness. In fact the man looked downright disturbed. “I…um…Look I’ll just…” He didn’t finish the sentence, just shook his head and turned away. “Shit!” Eric said, shocking the hell out of her. In all the time she’d known him she’d never heard him swear. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. It’s not a competition.” He scrubbed a hand down his unshaven face. “I should…” He moved to get out of the chair, but Hannah put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Is it what you want?” She searched his face, not really sure she knew what she was looking for but figuring she’d know when she found it. “It’s not about what I want,” he said in a dismissive tone. When he saw her shocked reaction, he tried to explain. “For bear-shifters, finding ‘the one,’ that special person who completes them, is very rare. Most give up long before finding them and settle for a human type of relationship. With true mates the connection is deeper, the base more solid, the chances of a lifetime commitment much higher.” “But being mates doesn’t guarantee we’ll like each other?” she asked as the information she needed began to unfurl in her mind. Somehow that felt both right and wrong, but knowing that she had a choice to walk away only solidified the growing feelings she was having for both men. Either that was the Great Spirit’s grand design or humans and bear-shifters were both very contrary species. “No, there aren’t any guarantees. The only thing we know for certain is that your bear will recognize our bears and want to be with them. The human side, that’s where the free will comes into it.” “Whoa, back up a little. My bear?” “Sorry, I feel like I’ve known you so long that I should have already told you this. I suppose that’s the drawback of protecting you from afar. If I’d known a pixie was going to come after you, I can guarantee you would not have had to face that fear alone.”

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She gave him a lopsided grin and waited for him to realize that he still hadn’t answered her question. “Oh, right…You said you know about our healing gifts.” She nodded. She still wasn’t sure how, but she did know it was true. “Well if we use too much magic to heal someone there is a side effect—they become one of us. A bear-shifter. In cases where we find our mate is a different species we can use that magic to make you one of us, too.” “Wow. How old are you?” He looked surprised by her out-of-left-field question, but then grimaced as he said, “One hundred and four.” “That’s about thirty in comparable human years, yes?” She wasn’t sure where the information came from. Again it was just one of those things that she knew. He nodded. “Bear-shifters tend to live three or four human lifetimes so that would be pretty accurate.” “So if I become a bear-shifter we’ll grow old together.” “Absolutely,” he said, looking far more enthusiastic than he had a moment ago. “And if I decide to stay human?” He growled a sound of discontent but then seemed to realize that this was part of that free will he’d been talking about. “Then West and I will spend the rest of your life trying to make you happy.” “So, you’re okay with West being my mate as well?” “It was a shock. I won’t lie about that, but finding our mate is something to celebrate, even if it means we have to share.” “I can’t promise you any type of future just yet,” she said, trying to warn him that she had no idea where her life was headed, “but I’d like to explore the possibilities.” He pulled her onto his lap, hugging her close. She felt a fine tremor in his muscles as he lowered his mouth to cover hers. The touch was gentle, reverent, his lips brushing over hers again and again before his tongue traced lightly over her teeth and explored the dark

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recesses of her mouth. By the time he moved away, they were both panting for air. “Holy cow,” Eric said as he lifted her off his lap and onto her feet. “You better go talk to West before I throw you on the bed and forget everything except showing you how much you mean to me.” She shivered, the sensual promise sending heated lightning streaking up and down her spine. Her knees wobbled, and she wondered how on earth she’d make it all the way to the kitchen, but as she reached the doorway, another thought occurred to her. “Eric, when you said ‘share me,’ did you mean separately or both of you at the same time?” Eric just smiled. “Go talk to West.”

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Chapter Four West lifted the forgotten cup to his lips and regretted it almost immediately. In his current state of mind there was just something really distasteful about cold coffee. He moved over to the sink and dumped the contents down the drain, but as he turned back to the coffeepot he found himself face-to-face with his beautiful mate. Except, it didn’t matter what his bear said, she belonged to his cousin, and West had every intention of doing the honorable thing by walking away. “Can we talk?” “Sure.” He steeled himself for the rejection he knew was about to come and hoped like hell she’d make it quick. He wasn’t one for drawn-out pain if he could avoid it. “I’m sorry that we didn’t meet under better circumstances.” “It’s all right, Hannah.” He resisted the urge to touch her face, pushing his hand firmly into the back pocket of his jeans instead. “You and Eric have known each other for a long time. I’m happy for you two.” “That’s good,” she said, searching his face for something. He swore silently that she would never see the pain walking away from her would cause him. She was his destined mate, and even if he couldn’t be with her, he wanted her to be happy. “But I think the Great Spirit has plans for the three of us.” He tried to tamp down the instant excitement that sentence caused. “I won’t be competition. I won’t make you choose between us.” Hannah let out a deep breath, stepped closer, and then wrapped her arms around his middle. His own arms curled around her despite

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telling himself not to. “You know Eric didn’t mean that, right? He doesn’t want to compete with you either.” “What about you? Surely the whole ménage à trois thing isn’t something you’ve previously considered.” “Not seriously, no,” she admitted with a secretive little smile on her lips. “But, well, a girl has to have her fantasies.” “I can be really demanding,” he said, trying to warn her. “And I can be rather picky,” she countered with a smile. “I’m a stubborn, outspoken pain in the ass.” She giggled quietly, and he just wanted to soak up the sound. Was there anything more amazing than the sound of a mate’s happiness? “As long as you’re my stubborn, outspoken pain in the ass, I think I can deal.” And just as he was beginning to think that true happiness lay in his future, she added a qualifier. “I want to try. I want to see where this relationship might go, but, West, so many things have happened in such a short time that I’m not willing to make any promises.” He felt his heart squeeze at the thought of losing his mate, but then pulled the emotion back. She was in his arms now. It was right now that he and Eric had a chance to show her how good it could be between them. West planned to do whatever he could to convince her, so that when the time came, she wouldn’t want to go anywhere without taking them with her. **** Eric watched the woman he’d loved from afar and the cousin he’d always respected embrace each other tightly, and for the first time since learning that Hannah was West’s mate as well, something inside him settled. Somehow his future now seemed even more amazing than he’d hoped. “That is a lovely sight,” he said, truly meaning it. West watched him closely, apparently still willing to walk away if that was what

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Eric and Hannah wanted. Fortunately it wasn’t what any of them wanted. “The bed is empty. Why don’t you two go put it to good use?” Hannah tensed in West’s arms and turned to face him. “Not without you,” she said in a tone of voice he’d only heard her use a few times. It was the one that said she wasn’t budging, she wouldn’t negotiate, her way or no way, and he couldn’t have been more pleased. He smiled. “Now that sounds even better.” West nodded slowly, a silent acknowledgement that they were in this together, before grinning wickedly and lifting Hannah off her feet. She leaned her back against his chest as he splayed his hands on her backside to boost her higher. She laughed as he told her to open her legs, but did exactly as she was told, wrapping her long, beautiful limbs around Eric’s waist as West supported her upper body. “Kiss him,” he whispered. “I want to watch.” Hannah smiled, apparently not the least bit disturbed by West’s voyeuristic tendency. She leaned forward, using her strong thighs to lift herself higher against Eric’s chest. The kiss was gentle, the touch achingly similar to the kiss they’d shared back in the bedroom. But then she tightened her thighs, pulling herself harder against his cock, rubbing her pajama-covered pussy over the hard ridge. As they broke apart, panting hard, West placed soft kisses on her neck, one of his hands lifting to claim her breast, his finger circling the hard peak of her nipple. Eric ran a hand over her soft curves, watching as Hannah’s eyes fluttered closed, her skin at her throat flushing slightly from arousal or embarrassment, or maybe both. “Hannah, babe,” West said in between kisses and little bites that sent tremors through Hannah’s long limbs and the smell of her arousal flooding the room. “We need you naked.” She groaned her agreement. “Go with Eric. Let him strip away your clothes. I want to see that beautiful body splayed on the bed. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

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A little concerned by West’s words, Eric nevertheless took Hannah from him, but smiled when he saw West reach for his phone. Always the protector, West was making certain they were safe before he lost his head in their mate’s sweetness. Eric nodded to his cousin, very glad that one of them remembered why they were living in a house in the middle of nowhere surrounded by so many magical wards and protection spells that even the bugs couldn’t get inside. **** “Just checking in,” West said as soon as Thomas answered his phone. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” “Smart-ass,” he said with a happy grin. Several members of PUP Squad Alpha had been assigned to a rotating shift to protect Hannah from outside the house. With Thomas’s keen sense of smell, it wasn’t really a surprise that he would know what the three of them had been up to in the kitchen. “Am I clear to get some rest?” “Sure. Brody and Adam will be taking over in about an hour.” After what felt like an uncharacteristic hesitation, Thomas added, “Go spend time with your girl, West. Finding your mate is very special. You should make the most of it.” Surprised at the sadness in Thomas’s voice, West was still trying to find a way to ask about it when Thomas reverted to his usual cocky self. “Just remember while you’re fucking your mate into next week we’re out here freezing our balls off, you lucky son of a bitch.” West couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him. It wasn’t exactly cold outside, so it was clear that Thomas was joking. “Will do,” West said with another laugh. Thomas made a rude noise and hung up. ****

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Hannah hugged Eric close as he carried her into the bedroom. “Well, he warned me he was bossy,” Hannah said as Eric put her on her feet and lifted her sleep shirt over her head. “That he is,” Eric said with a warm smile. “Feel free to put either of us in our place anytime you think we’re too bossy.” Eric’s eyes fell to her breasts, the nipples pulling tighter as he watched. His warm hands slid up her sides, his thumbs grazing over the hard buds as he dipped his head and claimed her mouth in a devastating kiss. He let her up for air a moment before wrapping his arms around her middle and lifting her to kiss her once more. His tongue pushed past her teeth, the slick muscle gliding over her gums, exploring her mouth as she dangled in his grasp. He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes, panting almost as hard as she was. But she could see the question, maybe the worry of being rejected now that she knew who he truly was. She smiled, touching his face with her fingers. He closed his eyes and sighed. “I think I’m beginning to like bossy men,” she said quietly. “That’s good, babe,” West said from the doorway, “because I’m pretty sure I told you to strip naked and lie on the bed.” “Oops,” she said with a giggle. Eric set her feet on the ground once more, this time sliding his hands down her hips and dragging her sleep pants and underwear with them. He grinned wickedly as he helped her onto the bed, arranging her arms and legs where he wanted them, fanning her long hair out so that the soft curls were spread over the pillow. “Our mate is very beautiful,” West said as Eric went to stand beside him at the end of the bed. “But not very obedient.” Confused for a moment, Hannah was about to argue the point when she realized she had indeed moved from the position Eric had placed her. She could feel a blush creeping over her entire body as she tried to force herself to lie there on the mattress with her legs open the way they both wanted.

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“Do it, babe,” West said in a deep, sexy voice. She shook her head, embarrassment stealing her confidence from moments ago. West sighed in feigned annoyance before turning a grin on Eric. “It seems that our mate is shy. Perhaps she needs a little help.” “Of course,” Eric said with a grin that could only be described as predatory. He moved onto the end of the bed, grabbed an ankle in each hand, and lifted them up and out. He settled his shoulders between her thighs, his breath hot against the exposed lips of her pussy. “Perfect,” West said as he stalked closer. Both men were fully dressed, but Hannah quickly forgot her discomfort when Eric licked her pussy like ice cream and West suctioned his mouth to her breast. She writhed under them, trapped against the mattress as they explored her intimately. Heat began to pool in her belly, excitement pulling her muscles tight as her men caressed every inch of her with their calloused hands and warm, wet mouths. “Please,” she whimpered as the need to come wound sensuously through her mind and drowned all other thoughts. “Not yet, babe,” West said a moment before biting down on her nipple. She screeched, the tiny pain shooting electrical currents straight to her pussy. Eric licked her clit, and then used his lips to clamp down on the sensitive nub, trapping her swollen flesh in his mouth. Hannah arched her back, lifting her breasts into West’s waiting mouth, her legs straining against Eric’s hold, trying to trap his head where she wanted it. “Please,” she whimpered again. But they just held her down, slowing their sensual assault, bringing her back from the edge. She growled low in her throat, eliciting soft laughs from both of her men. “Not yet,” Eric whispered, his hot breath bathing her clit as his fingers slid through the wet folds of her pussy, spreading her juices, massaging the swollen flesh before very carefully pushing inside.

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She gasped at the tightness, the feeling of being stretched, her instinct to move away even as she slid closer. But West saw her grimace of pain. “How long has it been?” he asked with concern in his eyes, his hands moving over her body in a soothing motion. She glanced at Eric’s worried face and whispered, “A little over three years.” “Three years?” Eric repeated in shock. He moved to the side of the bed, gently pulling his fingers from her aching pussy. “Three years? You haven’t slept with anyone since you met me?” “No,” she answered honestly though she felt her entire body blush with embarrassment. West smiled. “Maybe Eric wasn’t the only one to sense that you and he were mates.” “Perhaps. I don’t know for sure. I mean I dreamed of being with him, but it’s not like I…um…did anything about it.” “True,” Eric said, looking far too happy for a man with a cock that hard. “Maybe you even sensed why I stayed away.” She shrugged. She hadn’t actively avoided other men. It had just seemed to work out that way. Eric glanced at his cousin once more and even though they didn’t speak a word, some sort of communication seemed to pass between them. Eric lowered his mouth to hers, his hand caressing her inner thigh, as he pulled her legs wide once more. “West is going to make sure we don’t hurt you.” Eric devoured her mouth, his tongue thrusting into her over and over as West moved between her legs and pressed a kiss to her clit. She reared up, her spine arching off the bed as he began to flick his tongue over her already sensitized bud. He tucked his hands under her ass, lifting her pussy to his mouth, his tongue and fingers somehow everywhere at once. Eric caressed her breasts, his large hands sweeping over her, his fingers plucking at her hard nipples as they passed. He caressed

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higher, touching her collarbone, her neck, her throat. “Come for us, Hannah.” The world spun out of control, her orgasm pounding through her, hot lava filling her veins, as air escaped her lungs on a keening cry. She panted, writhing against their hold as every muscle in her body shook violently. “So beautiful,” West said as he eased his fingers into her grasping channel. She was still pulsing around him when he lowered his mouth to her pussy once more and sucked hard on her clit. She screamed, the sound quickly cut off by Eric’s passionate kiss. Heat wave after heat wave washed over her again Mindless with need, Hannah moaned and wrapped her arms around West as he replaced his fingers with the head of his cock, easing in slightly before pulling out and thrusting a little deeper. It felt incredible, like she’d finally found where she belonged, as he pushed all the way into her. He held still a moment, letting her pussy adjust to his invasion when the word “condom” finally bounced from her brain and out of her mouth. West laughed, the deep sound reverberating through her. “That’s the best thing about being bear-shifters. No diseases and we can only impregnate bear-shifter females and then only during mating season.” He thrust slowly, the sensation exquisite as Eric smiled down at her. “Relax and enjoy, honey,” he said as he held her tight. West started to move more forcefully into her pussy. Thrusting slowly, deliberately, his pace steady, his entire focus on her pleasure. She lifted up to him, her need for orgasm gripping her once more. “That’s it, babe,” he said as he started moving more quickly, pulling her hips closer, his cock shuttling into her pussy much faster, going much deeper, claiming her more thoroughly. She felt her orgasm start, the loss of control unexpected, the groans of both her men very gratifying. “Fuck,” West whispered desperately as his rhythm faltered, his movements becoming more erratic.

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He pulled away, holding his jaw tight, his concentration absolute. She grasped his glistening cock, pumping him slowly as Eric moved between her legs and eased into her wet sheath. “Hell,” he groaned as he pushed deeper. “Hannah, you feel incredible. Come for me, honey. I want to feel your pussy dragging at my cock. I want to feel the sensation that nearly drove my cousin into an embarrassingly fast orgasm.” West laughed, not the least offended by Eric’s teasing. “Be careful what you wish for, cousin.” Hannah giggled, amazed that she could feel so happy, so lighthearted, so incredibly aroused, and still have so much fun. “Concentrate,” West said as he slapped her thigh playfully. The moan that escaped her was completely unexpected, the orgasm even more so. “Holy shit,” Eric said with an amazed look on his face a moment before his control snapped and he started thrusting into her harder and harder. He groaned, his arms going rigid as she felt his cock pulse deep inside her pussy. Heat pulsed to every inch of her body, her muscles shaking as her climax rolled over her. He pressed his forehead against hers, panting softly as they both twitched with the aftershocks of their mutual orgasm. He pressed a kiss to her lips, laughing softly when West teased him with a quiet “Told you so.” “Come on, babe. Shower time,” West said as he pushed his cousin sideways. Eric slowly pulled his cock from her pussy, groaning at the separation. “But you…” Hannah let the words trail off, not quite sure how to phrase her thoughts verbally. She still had her hand wrapped around his hard cock. “Don’t worry, babe. I’m planning a very long shower.” **** West tried to gauge his cousin’s reaction as he lifted their mate into his arms. He didn’t want to upset Eric, but he felt a burning need

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to spend just a little bit of time alone with Hannah. It wasn’t just that he still had a raging hard-on. It was also the feeling of having fallen behind in the past three years as these two incredible people had gotten to know each other as friends. And, if he were truly honest with himself, it was also about that slap. Hannah had responded beautifully to his domination. He hadn’t expected that, but having seen her reaction with his own eyes, he couldn’t seem to control the need streaking through him. But they had to talk first. Once he’d met Hannah, he’d been fully prepared to put his BDSM days behind him, but Hannah’s reaction gave him hope that they might somehow find a middle ground. Eric gave them both a happy grin and then rolled over and tucked his head under the pillows. Considering how little sleep the guy had managed since this all began, West was nearly certain his cousin was already in dreamland before they left the room. West kissed Hannah reverently, sliding her body down the front of his as he placed her onto her feet. He caught sight of the slightly pink area on her thigh and couldn’t resist caressing the spot where his hand had landed. She smiled at him, placing a hand over his as he caressed the smooth flesh. “Did you enjoy this?” he asked, needing to know despite how vulnerable the question might make him seem. “Yes,” she said, nodding shyly. She seemed to want to say more, but closed her mouth instead and watched him as a blush crept over her skin again. His mate was simply adorable. “Do you know what a Dom is?” Her eyes widened, but again she nodded and said that one breathy little word, “Yes.” But then as if she worried he’d misinterpret her words she added, “But only from romance books.” He smiled and caressed the flesh of her thigh, wanting to smack her again, wanting to watch the reaction on her face as he spanked

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her, but not wanting to frighten her with his need. Until ten minutes ago he would have said that his forays into the BDSM clubs had been about mutual sexual pleasure, a way to get his rocks off without having to build a committed relationship. It had suited his “always on the road” lifestyle, and he’d truly believed he’d be able to give it all up once he found his mate. But now that he had Hannah naked, panting, and wearing his mark on her thigh, he realized just how naïve that assumption had been. He cupped her face in his hand. “I would like to explore this,” he said, unsure how to verbalize his fervent hope that their darker desires would bring them both pleasure. “I would, too,” she said with another of those shy smiles. “I only know what I’ve read in romance novels so you’ll need to teach me.” Blood rushed to his groin, the erection that had never quite gone down growing much, much harder. Teach her? Hell, his cock demanded that he claim this sweet, sexy, endearingly innocent woman immediately. “Are you ready for your first lesson?” he asked, praying silently that he wasn’t overwhelming her. She smiled so prettily he couldn’t help but lean forward and claim her lips. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, gripping her hair in his fist as he maneuvered her where he wanted, forcing her head back, showing her what he needed. Grasping desperately for self-control, he broke the kiss, his hand still in her hair as he searched her eyes, terrified of finding fear. He knew full well that he’d stop instantly if he thought she wasn’t handling the situation, but her sleepy smile had him bending her over the vanity counter. “Eyes on me, Hannah. Watch in the mirror.” She did as she was told, bending at the waist and leaning on the counter, her palms flat against the surface, her sweet ass presented for his inspection. He ran his hands over the soft flesh, enjoying the way she squirmed as he rubbed her bottom, warming the skin, making

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certain that she was truly ready for him. Not willing to bruise her untried flesh, he grabbed her hairbrush from the counter, the smooth plastic surface a perfect replacement for a beginners’ paddle. “Do I need a safe word?” Hannah asked nervously. His smile grew wider. Obviously she’d read more than a little BDSM in her romance stories. “Not this time,” he said in a deep voice, thickened with his need. “You just have to say ‘no’ or ‘stop’ or anything else negative and I’ll pull back.” She nodded her understanding, her body losing the rigid tension of a few moments ago. “We’ll start slowly.” The first hit was barely a tap, and she wiggled her bottom, asking for more. The next few were similar, spread over her ass and thighs as he watched her reactions, making certain that she was enjoying his attention. He smacked her a little harder, grinning when she moaned. “That’s it, babe. Let me know how you’re feeling.” He rubbed the back of the brush over the pinkened flesh. “But maybe hold off on the screaming for now. We don’t want the squad to come knocking down the doors thinking you’re in trouble.” She laughed, rocking side to side and rubbing her thighs together as she watched him through the mirror. “There’s no doubt that I’m in a whole heap of trouble. Fortunately, Mr. Rindell, I think you might be up to the challenge.” “That I am,” West said as he smacked her a lot harder with the brush. She just moaned louder. Fuck, his mate was absolutely perfect. He began smacking her rhythmically, constantly watching her reactions, gauging her enjoyment, pleased to see her reacting exactly as he’d hoped. **** Hannah had never felt anything like it. She’d read more than a few spanking scenes in her romance novels, but she’d never really understood the strange closeness that came with such unusually

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intimate behavior. The brush didn’t really hurt, but after each blow a slight sting and a slow burn began in her skin, the heat flowing to her pussy, swelling her clit, increasing her need. She almost sighed at the pleasure when he started smacking her harder, spanking her more forcefully, moving the brush more quickly. She lifted on her toes, her need growing exponentially as orgasm pulled every muscle tighter. She whimpered, the sound escaping her before she knew it was there. “Shhh, babe. I fully intend to slam my cock into this beautiful pussy the moment you start coming. I plan to ride your orgasm to heaven and back.” Just his words set every muscle trembling. He pushed her lower, his big hand against her spine as he slapped her harder and harder. “Bite your lips,” he ordered quickly. What the hell? But she did as he ordered, grunting as the brush came down on the swollen folds of her pussy. She held the scream in, her body thrown into violent orgasm as West dropped the brush and rammed his cock into her body. She bucked against him, her pussy grabbing at his hard cock, gripping him tightly, trying to hold him trapped as he fucked her hard and fast. “Shit,” he said as he lost control and spilled his seed into her body. He bucked with her, their movements jerky, uncoordinated. Heat washed over her again and again, her knees giving out as complete exhaustion claimed her. West held her up, the only thing between her and a crash to the hard tiled floor. She pressed her heated face against the cool vanity, her pussy still caressing West even as he pulled out of her quivering flesh. “Holy hell, sweet Hannah, you are absolutely perfect.” She smiled, tried to talk, but couldn’t seem to find the energy to form words. He smiled as if he understood her dilemma. “Come on, babe. Let’s get you cleaned up and tucked into bed beside Eric.” ****

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Eric smiled even with his head still under the pillow. His cock was hard and throbbing, but it was the way West and Hannah had just proven how perfect they were for each other that gave him the most satisfaction. He’d purposefully let them think he was asleep, but even with the pillow over his head he could hear every word clearly. He couldn’t believe they’d gotten so lucky. Hannah was perfect for both of them. Eric listened to West talking to Hannah in the shower. She didn’t respond out loud, but considering that West spent the whole time praising her and telling her how much she’d pleased him, words probably weren’t required. She was nearly asleep as West carried her back into the bedroom and lowered her to the mattress. Eric gave up the pretense of sleep to pull her into his embrace. He smiled as she curled into him, and he sighed in contentment as he indulged his need to hold her.

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Chapter Five “It’s not good news,” Ronan said as soon as he walked into the room with West’s commanding officer right behind him. Jed Mathewson, half of West’s PUP squad, and several Deeks Security employees, including Darian, currently sat or stood in the living area of the safe house ready for the emergency meeting Benjamin had called. West glanced at Eric and Hannah sitting side by side on the sofa and wished to hell he’d been able to talk them into staying in the bedroom. It was a frustrating situation. Hannah was obviously strong enough to know and understand the dangers she faced, but as her lover and Dom he wanted to protect her as much as possible. He glanced at the bag of BDSM equipment at his feet and wished Adam had delivered it yesterday. If he’d timed it right, West might have been able to make sure Hannah was tied to the bed before the meeting began. He ground his teeth at the inappropriate response that thought gave him and tried really hard to concentrate on the information Ronan and Benjamin were about to give them. “The pixies are mobilizing. We think they figured out what the original assassin was trying to do. Whether they understand the implications or are just going on instinct we’re not entirely sure. The one who came after Hannah is not the only assassin they’ve sent out.” “How can we keep Hannah safe?” Eric asked, pulling his mate closer. She smiled indulgently but it didn’t quite hide the fear she was feeling. “How did you stop the pixie that came after the other women?”

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“We were able to trap that pixie, and she is still currently confined. It’s her disappearance that sparked the current situation. We knew this was coming. We just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon.” “Unfortunately,” Benjamin said quietly, “we can’t fake Hannah’s death like we did for Kali and Ava. The convenient timing would tip off the pixies and maybe even undo all we’ve managed to accomplish so far.” “Have we found any of the others?” Thomas asked in a serious tone of voice. “Not as yet. We have a few leads that surprisingly suggest that they are headed toward Sugarvale,” Ronan said. “My wife has proposed that perhaps the Oracle added that as a failsafe when she apparently split the information over so many receptacles. Kali’s not sure of exact details but she ‘knows’ that the others are heading to join her and Ava.” “We are?” Hannah asked, looking skeptical. Ronan smiled. “If you draw a straight line from your home to the diner where you stopped, it points directly to Sugarvale.” “Oh,” Hannah said with one of those cute blushes. She tilted her head a moment later, and West recognized it as one of those times when information she wasn’t aware she possessed suddenly jumped to the forefront of her mind. “Actually, you’re right. Amber and Kristen are both traveling by car. I’m not sure about Lilly. I don’t seem to know where she is, but I know she exists.” Every man in the room sat with his mouth open. No one had told Hannah the names of the other three women they were looking for. Only Skye, Benjamin’s vampire wife, had the presence of mind to ask if Hannah had coordinates for Amber and Kristen. The room was a flurry of activity as Hannah rattled off the longitude and latitude of the women’s whereabouts. Benjamin quickly assigned two teams to intercept Amber and Kristen. The men hurried from the house, and moments later a dragon jump vortex and a warlock’s bounce tunnel both opened in the front

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yard. After having so many people in the small house, the sudden quiet was a little eerie. “Can you tell them we’re coming?” Benjamin asked, looking just a little bit freaked out. He might have been a PUP squad leader for the past fifty years, but it was obvious he’d never dealt with a situation quite like this one. “I think they already know,” Hannah said with a small smile. **** Several hours later Hannah still didn’t really know what to do with herself. The meeting had been interesting, and knowing that Amber and Kristen were now being protected as well was a huge relief, but it hadn’t changed anything for her situation. She was still in the safe house, still surrounded by magical wards, human weaponry, and soldiers, and still had nothing to do. Sitting idle had never appealed to her, which was probably why she thrived on the stresses of working in a busy hospital. She looked over at Eric for a while before he noticed her watching. He smiled, closed the medical textbook he’d been reading, and gave her a smile. “Bored?” She nodded, feeling a little bit childish in her selfishness. All of these men were working around the clock to protect her—even Eric, who was a doctor not a soldier. She should be very grateful—she was very grateful—but it didn’t alleviate the boredom of having nothing to do. “How long did you take off from the hospital?” Eric looked like he didn’t want to tell her. He rubbed the back of his neck, took a deep breath, and then let it out slowly. “I’m not on holidays. I resigned to deal with a family emergency.” “You what?” Hannah asked as shock reverberated through her. “But you love that job.” “I love you more,” he said with a smile.

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Hannah felt tears well in her eyes. She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. It wasn’t fair that Eric’s life was being turned upside down, or that West and his PUP squad were spending all their time on protection detail when they were capable of so much more. It felt wrong to be in the center of it all. “Hey,” Eric said when he saw her face, “it’s okay, Hannah. As soon as we can get this situation sorted out, we’ll find a way back to our careers.” He crossed the room, lifted her to her feet, and pulled her into his embrace. “It was probably time for me to move on anyway. People were starting to comment on how a fifty-three-yearold could look so young.” “Fifty-three? I thought you said you were one hundred and four?” “I am,” he said with a smile, “but that’s not what it said on my medical license.” “Oh, I hadn’t really thought of that. It must be annoying to have to give up a successful career just because you live longer than humans.” “It is,” he said as he sat on the sofa and pulled her down beside him, “but it also allows for a variety of different careers over a bear’s lifetime. The changes I’ve seen over the past one hundred years are nothing compared to what’s coming. Human society has advanced so quickly in the last twenty years that I almost can’t wait to see the future. Of course, it would be incredible to watch the world grow with my mate by my side.” “Eric—” she began to say, but he cut her off with a hard kiss. By the time he pulled back, they were both panting. “Don’t. We don’t have to make any decisions right now. Let’s just enjoy the here and now.” “Sounds like an excellent idea,” West said from the doorway. “I’m officially off duty and I think it’s time for bed.” He said the word “bed” with such a lascivious smile that she suspected he had no intention that any of them would get actual sleep. “Come on, babe.” He held a hand out to help her off the sofa, but when she placed her

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hand in his he ducked low, pulled her over his shoulder fireman style, and carried her from the room. She kicked her legs, giggling like a loon as he managed to tickle the sensitive spot behind her knees. “I have big plans for you, my mate. Big plans.” She stopped kicking as his touch moved higher, his warm palm cupping her ass before his finger traced the crease between her cheeks through the soft material of her pants. She squirmed, surprised by how much she enjoyed the firm touch. West carefully lowered her to stand in front of him. She frowned at the very serious expression on his face. “I get the impression that it’s all been vanilla up until I spanked you last night.” “Vanilla?” she asked, glancing around West’s big body, glad to see that Eric had followed them into the room. “He means ordinary sex, nothing kinky,” Eric answered. “Depends what you call kinky,” she said in a sassy voice, trying to lighten the mood. “Does imagination count?” West smiled. “Imagination is good, but it doesn’t really prepare you for the reality. A lot of women enjoy reading about kinky sex. It doesn’t mean they want to be tied down, flogged, and forced into orgasm again and again and again.” Considering the way her pussy clenched at his dark words, she was pretty certain she liked the idea very much. He must have noticed her reaction because he smiled seductively and reached out to push her hair behind her ear. “I’m going to give you a safe word this time. If at any stage you feel overwhelmed for any reason I want you to use your safe word. Don’t hesitate.” She nodded, willing to promise him anything. She glanced again at the man standing in the doorway. Her affection for Eric had grown over time, but those warm feelings didn’t even go close to the love she felt for him now. In the past few days

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gently simmering emotions had gone on the boil, and she literally couldn’t imagine life without him. The fact that she felt the same for West after such a short time just seemed to fit. It was obvious the two men were close, even if they hadn’t seen each other very much over the past few decades, but there was a camaraderie there that just made things between the three of them feel right. She was pretty sure that explaining that flawed logic to a medical professional would get her some strange looks, but at this moment she didn’t really care. If pixies were as dangerous as the information stored in her head suggested, then it was possible she wouldn’t live long enough to explain her emotions to anybody. She had here, and she had now, and she wasn’t about to let fear destroy it. “What’s you safe word, Hannah? It’s best to go with something that you wouldn’t say accidentally. How about ‘red’?” He glanced over his shoulder at Eric, who nodded in approval. “It’s short, easy to remember, and you should be able to get it out of your mouth before the urge to send us flying across the room hits.” “Hey, I apologized for that,” she said with a giggle. “I didn’t even realize I could do that until some guy came running at me. I was too freaked out by a pixie’s attack and Jed’s bounce tunnel to recognize Eric.” “It’s okay, honey,” Eric said with a grin. “I’m actually really glad you were able to do that.” “Me, too,” West added. “It adds a whole new level to the kinky sex we’re about to have.” And then before she could do anything more than smile gratefully at his ability to make her feel relaxed about skills that still freaked her out, he grabbed her hand and buckled a furlined leather cuff around her wrist. She sucked in a breath, incredible anticipation unfurling inside her. He quickly buckled the other one on, and then stood back to let Eric lift her simple cotton dress over her head. Her pussy pulsed as West knelt at her feet, pressed a sweet kiss to her belly, and then dragged her underwear to the floor. His warm

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hand wrapped around her lower calves one at a time, helping her to lift her legs so that he could untangle the material from her feet. Shivering anticipation grew to earthquake proportions when he buckled leather cuffs to each ankle. Whatever he had planned, it would seem that she wouldn’t be expected to move. A small sliver of fear wound through her, but a quick glance at her mates quelled the notion before it could take hold. She trusted these men with her life. She had absolutely no doubt they would protect her to their last breaths. She just hoped it would never come to that. “You’re thinking too hard, Hannah,” West admonished as he touched her face gently with his fingertips. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Relax, baby.” She nodded, unable to verbalize the thoughts in her head, but hoping her trust for them shone in her eyes. West smiled and threaded his fingers through hers to lead her to the bed. Holding his hand like that felt strangely intimate, and she glanced over at Eric, worried that he’d feel left out. But the grin he gave her was pure sin, so she relaxed slightly even as her breath caught in her throat and her pulse rate increased threefold. “Have you ever had anal sex?” Eric asked quietly. “No,” she said, trying not to shudder at the thought. “My rotation on the ER roster was enough to convince me it was best not to stick anything in that orifice.” West raised an eyebrow waiting for her to clarify that statement. Fortunately Eric explained for her. “West and I both know what we’re doing, Hannah. If my guess is correct, he’s got a vibrating butt plug in that bag of his. We won’t risk your safety by using a vaginal vibrator.” He grinned as if he remembered a particularly remarkable case on his own ER rotations. “And we sure as hell won’t use anything else, besides our fingers and cocks of course.” Hannah nodded her agreement. She’d once assisted in a surgical procedure to retrieve a slim vibrator that had literally vibrated its way

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deep into a young woman’s large intestine. The situation had been life-threatening simply because her husband had let go of the handle, expecting the vibrating toy to stay where it was. Hannah had absolutely no intention of finding herself in the same situation. West grinned wickedly, reached into the large leather bag, and came up with a strange-looking toy and remote control. It looked a little bit like a vibrator but with a wide, flared base to ensure that it didn’t slip too far into her body. She grinned in approval even as her anus clenched in anticipation. “Lie facedown on the bed, Hannah,” Eric said with a nod at the pillows. “We want you to relax as much as possible.” She nodded and did as she was told. “Open your legs, baby.” West gently grasped the back of her knees and helped her to a comfortable position. “We’re going to take this slowly. We need to stretch the muscles gently so that we don’t cause any damage.” He sat beside her and rubbed a warm hand slowly over her bottom. Her pussy pulsed, her juices leaking from her body just from the tender touch. “What’s your safe word, Hannah?” “Red, Sir.” It was strange how natural it felt to say the word “Sir.” “Good girl. If you say ‘red,’ everything stops.” She nodded against the pillow, trying to unlock muscles that were tensing even as they spoke. West must have noticed because his demeanor suddenly changed. “Roll over, Hannah,” Eric said quietly. She made a sound of disappointment, but did as Eric ordered. He and West quickly grabbed her cuffs and restrained her spread-eagled against the mattress. She tested her bonds, her heartbeat starting to race when she realized she couldn’t move, not even an inch. “Heads or tails?” West asked Eric with a wide grin. “Tails,” Eric said as he wedged his wide shoulders between her legs. He ran his tongue up the lips of her pussy, laving over the rapidly swelling bud of her clit. West leaned over her, gently tucked

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her hair behind her ear, and grinned at the moan she couldn’t seem to stifle. “Good girl,” he whispered a moment before he took her lips in a devastating kiss. His fingers caressed her breasts, teasing and toying with her nipples, raising her arousal ever higher. West speared his tongue into her pussy, lifting her as high off the bed as her bonds would allow, his large hands cradling her ass as he explored her very, very thoroughly. Heat spun through her, the multiple sensations swirling and mixing, creating a tempest of desire that could not be contained. She dragged her mouth away from West’s, gasping for air as Eric latched on to her clit and sucked hard. Her stomach muscles contracted, the tendons in her arms and legs pulling tight. “Good girl,” West whispered against her lips. “Come for us.” She nodded, suddenly desperate to please them. Eric thrust something hard into her pussy, the stretch almost unbearable as her pussy clamped down on it. He pulled it out, rammed it back in, again and again, the suction on her clit unending. She gasped, her whole body pulling taut, every muscle tensing, her mind spinning out of control. And then heat exploded through her, pounding her from every side, stealing her sanity, her soul, these two men claiming her for their own. She screamed as the sensations went on and on, drowning her in ecstasy, shaking her to her core. But before she could catch her breath, a second, more intense orgasm rolled over her. She fought against her bonds, the forced immobility adding to her climax, pushing her into exhaustion, easing her into a world of soft colors and fuzzy warmth. She barely noticed her bonds being removed. West kissed her gently, cradling her close for a moment before easing her onto her side. Completely relaxed and totally exhausted, she let him maneuver her any way he liked, eventually realizing that her legs were tucked

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together, lifted toward her chest, her ass and pussy completely exposed. The slippery feeling against her anus actually felt kind of pleasant, the soft plastic of what she assumed was the butt plug caressing her puckered skin. Very gently West worked the toy into her ass, the slow, rhythmic slide and glide strangely soothing. She gasped only once, as the widest part of the plug was pushed past her outer ring of muscles. “Shhh, baby,” Eric said as he lay down in front of her, caressing her face with his large hands. “It will start to feel good very soon.” She nodded, willing to believe him, surprised a little by how much the plug didn’t hurt. They lay there that way, caressing her, holding her, reassuring her, as she adjusted to having her ass invaded. She could feel her body contracting around it, the strange urge to suck in her muscles rather confusing. But then West touched the base of the plug, and liquid heat burst through her veins. “That’s it,” Eric said as he watched her face closely. “Feel how incredible it is to have something so naughty make you feel so good.” She smiled, a small giggle escaping as she realized he was right. There was something dark and forbidden about anal play, yet it only made the experience more amazing. West touched the plug over and over, just gentle touches, the pressure setting every nerve ending alight again and again. He eased a hand under her thigh, lifting her leg so that her pussy was exposed to Eric’s fingers. He quickly took the hint, caressing the slippery flesh as they worked her into a frenzy once more. Almost frantically, Eric pushed her other leg into a straight position, and then half rolled, half dragged her onto his big body. West helped her move over Eric’s cock, supporting her as she sank onto his hard length. The fit was much tighter, the muscles in her ass contracting more frantically as heat burst in her midsection. She gasped, almost exploding into orgasm as West slowly eased the plug

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from her ass and then thrust it back in. Together the men built a rhythm, Eric sliding in as West pulled the plug out and then West pushing the plug back in as Eric lifted her slightly and eased away. “West, please,” she begged, wanting to feel connected this way to both of her men. He seemed to hesitate, but then she heard the bottle of lube squirt once more. He eased the plug from her ass, even as he shuffled across the bed, pushing Eric’s long legs out of his way and easing Hannah’s even wider. The first touch of his cock was like heaven. It felt so incredible to be held in Eric’s arms, his cock deep inside her pussy, West’s cock about to press into her ass. Again he took his time, easing only the head into her ass before pulling back and then easing in a bit farther. He worked his way in, finally sliding all the way so that his balls rested on her ass cheeks. Heat swelled through her, but it was the spiritual connection that caught her by surprise.

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Chapter Six West groaned as Hannah’s ass tightened around him, her orgasm so incredibly close that he almost didn’t dare to move. Eric seemed to be grinding his teeth, barely holding back his own release. It was an incredible feeling to be poised at the precipice of something so truly amazing. He closed his eyes and savored just one more moment. And then he let himself go. He tried to take it slowly, build the pace gradually, but soon he was pounding into Hannah, groaning as she squeezed his cock as her explosive orgasm began. Unable to hold back a moment longer, he pulled out, slammed back in, did it again, over and over, taking his woman, claiming her, marking her with his seed. Cum burst from his cock, the orgasm unlike any other he’d ever known. Somehow more frantic, more exhausting, more exhilarating than anything else he’d experienced in his life. “I love you, Hannah,” he whispered, knowing it was too soon, but saying the words aloud anyway. She was still panting, still trying to catch her breath, but she nodded, hearing his words, yet not returning them. Fear streaked through him when he felt her shaking, the movement too violent to be the aftermath of orgasm. “Hannah?” Eric asked, concern for their woman very clear in his voice. “Baby, talk to us. Tell us what’s wrong. Did we hurt you?” She gulped a watery half laugh. “No,” she said very clearly. “No you didn’t hurt me.” She took a faltering breath. “I…I…”

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On the verge of panic, West went to withdraw his slowly softening cock, but she wrapped an arm behind her and held him to her, a soft cry escaping her lips as she whispered the word “no.” “I love you, too.” And then as if she worried Eric would misinterpret her words she added quickly, “I love you both.” She half laughed as the words escaped her lips. “I don’t even know if that’s possible,” she whispered, her voice filled with confusion. “Hell, my life has been a mess for so long now I can’t even be sure I’m not delusional. How can I trust my own heart, when I can barely trust my own eyes?” “It’s okay, honey,” Eric said, glancing at West with a concerned frown. “We don’t have to make any decisions just yet. Let’s just relax and enjoy being with each other.” West nodded, hoping that he hadn’t ruined everything with his premature declaration of love. “We’ll take it a day at a time and let the future sort itself out.” “Okay,” Hannah said in a shaky voice. **** “Incoming,” West warned his team as the security wards started flashing once more. If this was more pixies, it was the third attack in as many days. It was becoming a ridiculous situation. Each day a pixie attacked. Each day they incinerated her and, before she could reform, glued down her ashes. What it left them with was a doll-size flying pixie who fit quite nicely into a glass jar. It was great to finally have a defense against the unstoppable assassins, but how many jars would it take before the pixies either gave up or found a way to counter their defense? They didn’t even know how the damn creatures had found Hannah. The thought that there might be a traitor in their midst was a very uncomfortable one. “I’ve got her,” Brody reported over the communicator, the sound of a spray can very clearly heard in the background.

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“Me, too,” Alex said in a tight voice. “West, call Benjamin. The little buggers are coming in pairs now.” “On it,” West said as he glanced at Hannah. He dialed his cell phone even as his anger churned more violently. Eric held Hannah in his arms, but it was obvious that she was terrified. Ironically, the terror wasn’t for herself, but for the men and women who were outside protecting her. They needed to find a solution before someone really did get killed. Benjamin answered on the second ring. “Again?” he asked, already figuring out the reason for West’s call. West didn’t want to frighten Hannah any more than she already was, but his CO needed to know the full details of the attack. “They sent two this time, Ben. We really need to find a permanent solution.” “Agreed,” he said grimly. “Any ideas?” “Actually,” West said, trying not to give too much away over the phone, “I might.” “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” **** Eric wasn’t certain he was hearing all of the words correctly— West and Benjamin were speaking very softly—but the words “Hannah” and “bait” seemed to appear in the same sentence. “Absolutely not!” he growled, trying hard to hold on to his temper. Hannah had only just stopped shaking from the last attack. There was no way he was allowing her to be used as some sort of bait to draw in her would-be killers. West grimaced at Eric’s angry words, but it was Benjamin who moved to explain. “We will make sure she’s protected. Eric, we have to bring an end to this. They’ll just keep sending more and more assassins until they

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get lucky. They haven’t found where we’re hiding Amber and Kristen yet, but it’s only a matter of time. If they try to hit all three safe houses at once, we won’t have the manpower to protect everyone. We need to bring this to an end, now.” “But Hannah—” Eric started to say, but West cut him off. “Hannah will be far safer than she is right now.” “It’s okay, Eric,” Hannah said in her usual calm voice. “I want this over with. If dangling me out as bait will ensure the safety of the people around me, then I’m willing to do it. Anything has to be better than sitting here waiting to find out that somebody died protecting me.” “Hannah,” Benjamin said, stepping closer to the woman Eric and West loved more than life itself, “this is what we do. None of my squad would ever regret dying in the line of duty.” He gave her a warm smile. “They’d be pissed that they failed and ruined their perfect service record, but they wouldn’t regret dying so that others may live. It’s what we do, Hannah.” Hannah bit her lip, but she nodded her understanding. And Eric had no doubt she understood. He still had nightmares about the day she’d thrown herself in the middle of a domestic dispute in the children’s ward. A mother and father had literally been beating the crap out of each other, and Hannah, with her above-average height and slim curves, had stepped into the middle and broken them apart. Eric had seen the footage on security cameras several hours later. It had taken all of his strength not to grab the woman, fling her over his shoulder, and lock her in his bedroom until she promised to never, ever do something so foolish again. Instead, he now found himself trying to cope with her willingness to be bait. “How is it going to help?” he asked Benjamin. The vampire smiled, obviously aware of Eric’s struggle to stay calm. “They’ve proven already that they’ll just send more. Won’t they just keep coming?”

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“Not,” Benjamin said with a wide grin, “if they think they succeeded.” **** Hannah tried to tamp down the sudden attack of nerves. She’d agreed to do this. She knew the plan inside out and upside down. She absolutely knew she was as well protected as the men and women around her could make it. She glanced over at the leather-clad vampire pretending to do a lousy job of protecting her. Skye was such a sweet woman it was almost incomprehensible that she could enjoy this type of work. The fact that she was a vampire and needed to cover every inch of skin with thick leather, and her head and face with a type of helmet with a heavily shaded visor to be out this time of day just made her look more intimidating. But at the moment she was carefully feigning disinterest in protecting her client, casually moving away as if she really didn’t expect trouble. Of course, they were both being protected by more PUP Squad Alpha and Deeks Security employees than Hannah had seen in one place before. It had taken a long time to calm Eric down. He’d been adamant that she shouldn’t do this, but she couldn’t in all conscience not take the opportunity to end this. If the pixies believed her to be dead, it meant the men and women protecting her would be able to assist in protecting the others. But right now her heart was beating so loudly she almost missed the telltale noise of the wards being breached. Everything seemed to happen at once. The pixie appeared almost in front of her, confirming that she’d wandered to the edge of the magical wards. Skye ran back to her side, gripping her hand to drag her away, just as they’d discussed. West and Eric came running from the house, West yelling at his cousin to go back inside, adding to the illusion of chaos.

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But it was Jed’s magic that made the whole thing bizarre. **** Eric’s heart pounded so hard he wondered why his ribs didn’t break. It didn’t matter that they’d discussed this very scenario. Seeing the whole thing unfold in front of his eyes was like living a nightmare. West’s squad mate, Darian, hadn’t been available, so Benjamin had enlisted Jed’s help. The plan was very simple. Jed would glamour the pixie or pixies so that they would “see” Hannah die even though they would never actually get close enough to lay a hand on her. The rest of them would pretend to see the same thing, “fail” to stop the pixies from escaping, and then hopefully the whole thing would be over and Hannah would be safe. At least that was the plan. But right from the get-go something was wrong. The pixie got way closer to his mate than any of them had anticipated. Hannah screamed, the sound blood curdling as the pixie managed to lay a hand on her arm. Panic burst through him, his bear taking over as he ran to his mate. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Hannah wasn’t supposed to be hurt. Hannah was supposed to be protected, not on the front lines of a war she had no business being in the middle of. A growl tore from his throat, West’s bear voice echoing the same agony as they raced toward their injured mate. She fell backward, her body stiff and unyielding as the stench of burning human flesh reached his nose. He lunged at the pixie, his teeth snapping against thin air as she stepped into a slip path and beyond his reach. He and West both changed back to their human forms at the same time, West dropping to his knees as he frantically used his healing magic to assess her

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condition. Eric did the same, pressing his hands against her heart, trying to gauge how badly hurt his mate was. Grief nearly drowned him as he found her heart not beating, her body stiff and lifeless, every internal organ shut down in an instant. “No,” he said reflexively, his doctor’s professional training deserting him as he faced the reality of his loss. They had nothing to work with, no spark of hope, no hint of life. His mate was gone. Dead by a pixie’s hand, victim of an assassination for simply being born at the wrong time and in the wrong place. Grief overwhelmed him, the pain in his chest stealing the breath from his lungs. **** Anger flooded through West. He wanted revenge. He wanted blood. He’d known his mate for such a short moment in time, yet he couldn’t imagine a future without her. His hands shook as he touched her beloved face over and over, his mind refusing to give him the hope he needed. Hannah was gone, and somebody was going to pay. But before he could do anything about it, Benjamin’s hand landed on his shoulder. “We need to get her inside,” he said in a voice that made it clear it wasn’t a request. West nodded, following his CO’s orders reflexively, lifting the lifeless body of the woman he loved into his arms.

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Chapter Seven Hannah was having a hard time watching her men grieve for her. She stood to the side, Jed’s restraining hand on her shoulder, as West lifted what he saw as her lifeless body into his arms. It wasn’t her of course. But Jed had warned her this might happen. It was a necessary ruse for the pixie to believe she’d accomplished her mission. But understanding the reason for it didn’t make it any easier to watch. Jed kept his hand on her arm, his concentration intense as they followed Eric, West, Skye, and Benjamin into the house. As soon as the door closed, Jed dropped the illusion and let the others see what Hannah could. At first West looked confused to realize he held nothing in his arms, but his mouth dropped open when he saw her standing next to Jed. Unable to let them believe her dead for a moment longer, she ran into his arms, kissing him frantically even as her hand groped behind her, searching for Eric’s solid presence. And then he was there, his relief obvious in the shuddering breaths that rumbled against her back. “What happened?” Eric asked as he ran his hands over and over her body, perhaps reassuring himself that she was truly there. “I had to make it look real,” Jed said from behind them. “Real?” West asked in a hostile voice. “You put us through all of that to make it look real?” Hannah held on to West, her arms shaking as she worried he was about to slam Jed with his fists. What she didn’t expect was her gentle, giant pediatrician to flatten the man first.

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Benjamin pulled Eric away, almost losing the battle as Jed laughed from his position on the ground. But then the old-looking man seemed to sober and climbed to his feet far more nimbly than his outward appearance suggested was possible. “Look,” he said with his hands palm outward in front of him, “I did what was necessary to save Hannah. The pixie thinks she’s dead. Any other attackers who were watching will confirm her story, especially when they witnessed your very genuine grief.” “I’m sorry,” Hannah said as she moved into Eric’s arms. They clamped around her almost hard enough to cut off her oxygen. When Jed had explained what he intended to do, Hannah had understood the necessity of it, but she truly hoped she’d never have to put anyone through such an awful experience again. “Jed’s unexpected tactics aside,” Benjamin said as he pulled his own wife into his arms, “the fact that only the people in this room know Hannah is actually alive is a good thing. We have no idea how the pixies found this safe house. If we do have a traitor in our midst, it would be wise to keep Hannah’s survival quiet.” “We need the squad’s help to keep Hannah safe,” West said, clearly disturbed by the thought that only a handful of people were now available to protect her. West had made it very clear that he trusted all the members of PUP Squad Alpha with his life. Benjamin shook his head, but held up his hand to stop whatever West was going to say. “We’ll bring Brody, Nathan, Alex, and Ronan in on the truth, but everyone else is to think Hannah is dead. Am I clear?” West nodded tightly, but it was obvious he wasn’t happy about it. Hannah didn’t miss the fact that the men Benjamin had listed were Ava’s and Kali’s mates. Benjamin then turned his attention to Hannah. “I’d like you to consider moving to Sugarvale. We’ll need to keep your presence a secret for now, but it was where you were headed in the first place. I feel it would be beneficial for you to be close to Ava and Kali even if we can’t introduce you just yet.” Benjamin grinned widely as his wife added with a wink, “I can guarantee you’ll like the neighbors.”

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Chapter Eight “This place is perfect,” Eric said as he held her hand and they wandered from room to room. Hannah smiled and nodded in agreement. Ronan’s builders had just finished renovating the place so everything that wasn’t new had been restored to gleaming perfection. She could almost hear the sounds of a happy family growing up here. West glanced out the window to the back yard. “We’ll have to take that down,” he said with a nod at the haphazardly built tree house. “By the time they’re old enough to climb it, our kids will be too heavy. We’ll have to build something lower to the ground.” Eric cleared his throat, subtly reminding West not to push it. They’d agreed to give Hannah time to make her decision, but truly she didn’t really need time. Between these men was where she was truly happy. She squeezed Eric’s hand and grabbed West’s with the other. “I think that sounds like a great idea,” Hannah said, feeling certain about something for the first time in several weeks. “Growing old with you two sounds like an experience I really don’t want to miss.” “So you’ll let us make you a bear-shifter and claim you as our mate?” She’d spent days trying to tell herself why it would be a bad idea, and despite all of her valid arguments about not making choices in the middle of a stressful situation, only one thing came through loud and clear—it just felt right to be with them. “Yes, I want to be a bear-shifter, and I want to be mate to both of you.”

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West stepped closer to say something, but his cell phone chirped. He looked annoyed at the interruption, but ever the professional soldier, he answered it on the second ring. “Brody, what’s up?” he asked in a rather happy voice. It was a little strange for the man to be calling on the cell phone when he was actually in the house, but West’s demeanor changed as Brody started talking. “You can’t be serious.” He glanced at Hannah and then frowned as Brody continued to talk. “That’s completely unfair. She hasn’t even met Kali or Ava yet. How can you even think that it’s true?” He rubbed his eyes tiredly, turned his back to the other two people in the room, and made a sound of resignation. “Fine. I’ll discuss it with Hannah, but if she tells you to go to hell…” He let his words trail off, but it was very obvious that he wasn’t happy. He slammed the phone closed and turned back to Hannah and Eric. “We have a problem,” he said as he urged Hannah to sit up on the countertop. Judging by Eric’s pale face, he’d heard both sides of the telephone conversation. “What is it?” she asked, starting to feel the worry deep in her soul. **** West felt like he’d been gutted. Setting aside for the moment that his squadmate had been listening in to a private conversation—damn dragon hearing—it seemed almost callous to have to discuss it with Hannah now. Considering that they’d spent weeks trying to convince her to be their true mate in bear-shifter terms, pulling that option away from her moments after she’d decided to take it could mess everything up. “Brody has asked us to wait for a while before changing you into a bear-shifter. Apparently his wife, Ava, believes that the Oracle’s receptacles each have a role to play in whatever is coming. Brody thinks if we change you into a shifter that the skills and knowledge that you have might be lost.”

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Hannah looked pale, but she smiled bravely and tried to make light of the situation. “Oh, well I suppose that makes sense and it’s…um…that’s…um…nice of him to…ah…let…” But Eric wasn’t quite so accepting of Brody’s logic. “He can hear us, yes?” Eric asked West. West nodded, obviously as annoyed as Eric felt about the feeling of living in a fishbowl. After weeks of living in a safe house, the intrusion on their long-awaited privacy was damned annoying. “Get your ass in here, Brody. I want an explanation. I want to know why nothing was said sooner. I want Hannah to meet Ava before she has to meekly accept something that is not what she wants.” He slammed his fist on the kitchen bench, his show of temper completely out of character. “Get in here and explain it properly, you asshole.” A moment later Brody and Jed came into the kitchen. Brody didn’t look the least bit offended by Eric’s words. He went straight to Hannah, stood in front of her, and grabbed one of her hands in his own. “I’m sorry, Hannah. Ava only mentioned it this morning. I was going to say something to West at our debriefing later tonight. I didn’t think to make it a priority because you haven’t seemed inclined to say yes to them just yet.” He glanced over at Eric quickly, but kept her as the focus of his attention. “We don’t know anything for certain. All I’m asking is that you and West and Eric wait until we know something more solid.” Hannah nodded, but again Eric’s out-of-character behavior caught them by surprise. “When can she meet Ava? You’re making assumptions on topics you don’t understand. The least you can do is let Hannah meet the woman.” “It’s not safe for you to meet her just yet. We want to be certain the pixies think Hannah is dead before bringing her into Ava’s and Kali’s lives.” “Bullshit,” Eric said, startling a gasp from Hannah’s mouth.

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“You have assured us that this house is as safe as it gets. If it’s not safe enough to bring your mate here, then why would you think it’s safe enough for mine.” “Hannah,” Brody said, obviously considering her the voice of reason, “Ava is pregnant with my child. What I really want to do is lock her away from the world until my son is old enough to take care of both of them.” He glanced at the anger on Eric’s face. “But I’ll talk to her. There’s a good chance she already senses your distress, and if I have learned one thing about my lovely wife, it’s that when she decides she wants to do something, even dragon fire can’t stop her.” **** West felt a smile tug at his lips despite the irritation he felt at Brody’s words. He’d seen Ava’s determination firsthand. She was such a sweet, reasonable woman on the outside that it was probably a shock to most people to find she had a core of steel. Once that woman made up her own mind, nothing stopped her. Watching Hannah now, West realized that she had very similar traits. She was confident, feisty, independent, and when she’d realized someone was coming to kill her, she’d taken steps to protect herself. Hell, it probably explained her telekinetic ability. She’d already demonstrated that given enough provocation she could put a fivehundred-pound bear-shifter on his ass. West actually winced as that thought wound its way through his mind. He and Eric probably should have mentioned to Hannah that she would put on weight once she became a bear. As he understood it, human women didn’t like getting heavier, even if it didn’t show, and it was usually something they avoided. Although, being able to compress the bear’s weight into a human form was rather handy in a fight. Thanks to the increased density, bear-shifters in human form were bulletproof when it came to the smaller calibers.

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Hopefully they could get this latest hurdle sorted out quickly, and then they could go on with their lives. But as Brody turned to leave the room, West saw sympathy in the man’s eyes. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to ram his fist into the dragon-shifter’s face. It didn’t matter that he might just be the messenger. It was obvious he believed West, Hannah, and Eric would never be together as true mates. “Brody,” Eric said as West tried to pull his emotions back under control. “Did you say your wife is pregnant with a dragon baby? I didn’t think humans and dragons were compatible on a genetic level.” Brody smiled as he apparently realized where Eric was taking the conversation. The information was finally beginning to dawn on West, too. “Humans and dragons aren’t compatible normally. There is something about Ava that made it possible though. Perhaps you three will get as lucky.” He sent a smile in Hannah’s direction before he and Jed headed for the front door. Hannah sat on the counter with her mouth open for all of sixty seconds before she finally got her mouth working. “Something tells me we should have been using condoms.” “What do you mean?” West said when he saw the huge smile that she suddenly wore on her face. “I mean…that humans don’t have to wait for mating season to make babies.” “You think you’re pregnant now?” West asked as excitement flooded through his veins. Shit, talk about a roller-coaster ride. In the space of five minutes his mate had finally agreed to belong to them forever, and then their hopes for a family had been cruelly squashed, and now Hannah was suggesting she might already be pregnant. Hell, one more surprise or disappointment could lead him to a heart attack. Eric moved closer to Hannah, his hand touching the soft curve of her belly as he used his healing magic to check her womb. The wide

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grin and happy nod had tears filming West’s eyes before he could will them away. Almost too scared to believe, West knelt at his woman’s feet, touched her belly reverently, and also used his magic to sense the life growing inside her. “I love you,” he said in a voice thick with emotion. “And I promise that I will love you forever.” **** Hannah caught the tear that slipped down West’s face, so amazed to see her warrior brought to his knees by the news of her pregnancy. Eric held her close, his arms shaking slightly as he kissed her softly and stroked her belly with his warm hand. West and Eric were her mates. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t a bear-shifter. They loved each other, they would build a life together, and thanks to a quirky little by-product of being one of the Oracle’s receptacles, they would raise their offspring in the unusual little town of Sugarvale. Life simply couldn’t be more perfect than that.

THE END WWW.ABBYBLAKE.BLOGSPOT.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Abby Blake prefers to read or write romance over just about everything else—except maybe chocolate. Most days she can be found hurrying to do what needs to be done so that she can curl up with her laptop and her latest bunch of heroes.

Also by Abby Blake Ménage Everlasting: PUP Squad Alpha 1: Vampires’ Witness Ménage Everlasting: PUP Squad Alpha 2: Demon’s Embrace Ménage Everlasting: PUP Squad Alpha 3: Dragon’s Fire

For all other titles, please visit www.bookstrand.com/abby-blake

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