A Mate for the Alpha and His Brothers (13 page)

But he’d underestimated his father, who was sitting in the kitchen, a laptop open on the table beside him.

“All quiet?” he asked Zebulun.

“Yes, fortunately. No one’s reported any problems at all.”

“Where are the two criminals? What are their names?”

“I don’t know.”

Favian was about to yell at his father, but then he understood. “What do you know?”

“Some people we’ve worked with before collected them in a helicopter and took them away last night. I expect they’re already acting on whatever information the men had by now.”

“Some people? People from one of the agencies we work with that no one speaks about? That kind of people?”

“Precisely.”

“I hope the hell they find Lutterworth and put him away as well. I’d really like to know why they were following us, and I need to know it before we leave here.”

“I expect they’ll tell me later today. We already know several things. First, the two criminals were told to murder Judith, and decided to kidnap her instead. And second, they hadn’t expected to find Elsie and were surprised at their good fortune when they did. That was their big mistake. Anyway, we now have another car, which is always useful.”

“Except that the first person who drives it off our land will likely get arrested. I bet it’s stolen.”

“Maybe it was. We also have registration papers and new plates for it and for your minivan as well.”

Favian just stared at his father. The man might be getting old, but he hadn’t lost his grip even the tiniest bit. “You have been busy.”

“Regarding the minivan, I’ve organized some of the men to spray paint it a different color today as well. That’ll help your anonymity on the way home.”

“Thanks, Dad. That’s a good idea.”

Favian opened the refrigerator and pulled out eggs and ham, hash browns, and soft bread rolls. He got out a pan and began cooking, making a plate of food for his father as well as a mountain of food to take back to his brothers and Elsie.

“What time do we need to leave to take JJ to school?”

“JJ’s going on the bus with the MacRae boys, but Elsie will need to be at school at eight to fill in his paperwork. They know he’s coming. The story is very close to the truth. His mother has died, and his sister has a job down south, so he’s going to finish out the school year up here with friends. They won’t make a fuss. They know us.”

“He’s smart. He’ll do okay,” said Favian. He liked JJ. The kid had turned out pretty normal considering the tough time he’d had lately.

“The MacRaes are good people. They’ve done a good job of rearing their boys, and they’ll be good for JJ as well.”

“We’ll follow the school bus then. Is there a car we can borrow please?”

“Sure. Take mine.”

Favian bent over and dropped a kiss on his father’s head then loaded his arms with the food he’d cooked, shouldered open the back door, and returned to the bungalow.

As he entered, he saw Elsie wasn’t there, so he guessed she was in the bathroom. Amory was sitting at the kitchen counter checking something on his iPad, and Brayden was still asleep.

“Breakfast is ready,” he called out.

Elsie’s head popped out from the bathroom. “Food? Excellent. I’m starving.”

Brayden crawled off the mattresses and pulled his jeans on, joining them at the same time as Elsie arrived. As they ate, Favian told them about the cars and the need to be at school at eight.

“How long does it take to get there?” she asked.

“Only twenty minutes. We have our own bus that takes the kids, so there’s no circuitous route or stopping and starting.”

“After that, what would you like to do, Elsie? Zebulun’s contacts have taken care of the criminals, so we don’t need to rush straight back home after all,” Favian said. He was really intrigued as to what she might suggest they do.

“Can we walk around and look at the land a little? I’d like to experience your home. I’d like to see you as panthers as well. Or is it not appropriate to do that?”

There was a slight frown on her face as if she was worried she’d suggested something rude, but he smiled.

Amory said, “No, that’s fine. We’ll walk out into the land a way, and then we’ll change for you. What else would you like to do?”

“That’s all from me.”

Good. All the more time to fuck you.

Amory drove, and Favian was free to watch her wide-eyed stares all around, at the road to the town, the town itself, and then the high school. He and Brayden stayed in the background as Amory escorted Elsie and JJ to the principal’s office and they filled out the relevant forms. It didn’t take long. When his father said something was organized, he meant it.

Amory drove Elsie through the town, stopping to let her get out and walk through the public gardens and then stopping again so they could walk down Main Street. The scent from the bakery was so mouth-watering Favian ushered them inside, and they ordered coffee and hot cinnamon buns for morning tea, even though Elsie swore she wouldn’t be able to eat anything after their enormous breakfast. She did finish her bun, though, he noticed. He had no trouble eating two.

Back at the pack lands, Amory returned their father’s car, and then they walked deep into the heart of the land they’d spent all their summers discovering as boys.

They stopped at an area where they’d often made a campfire as boys. There was a large area of grass, surrounded by trees. Now she’d see them as panthers. What would she think?

* * * *

Amory was perfectly happy to let her watch them run as panthers. It was an important part of who they were, and he didn’t think it’d surprise or frighten her. But what he really wanted to do was talk to her about mating. He didn’t think she’d agree just yet. Although they’d known each other for several weeks, their sexual relationship was still very new. But he wanted her to know their plans for her, to give her time to assimilate the idea, and ask questions. And hopefully to eventually agree.

She settled herself on the grass and watched as they undressed. He liked seeing her here with them like this. It made him feel as though they were a family, even if that was a bit premature. It gave him hope that one day it would be fact.

He and his brothers undressed, transformed, and it was as if the years fell away from them. They were teenagers once more, young men ready to play, fight, squabble, and have fun. He chased Brayden first and then Favian, nipping their tails as he caught them and then racing away at top speed so they wouldn’t catch him. They bounded through the bushes and trees, jumped over rocks and obstacles, but always returned to the grassy central area, running and playing, wrestling and relaxing.

After about ten minutes, they shuffled themselves into a group and stood before her. He was certain she’d know them apart, but he needed to prove it to himself as well as to his brothers.

Unerringly, she named them. “You are so individual and distinctive. I don’t understand how you think you can fool anyone even for a moment,” she said, shaking her head at them.

“It’s because you’ve taken the time to understand us. Favian and I have been able to trick people for most of our lives,” said Brayden, the moment he’d transformed again.

“It was just as easy for us as for the triplets. People see one of us and then the other and can’t distinguish between us, even though I was always taller than him,” added Favian.

“I bet you hunched down a little to hide it,” said Elsie.

Amory laughed. She was exactly right with her guess, which was just another example of how well she understood them.

They sat down beside her, pulling their clothing on.

“How much do you know about panther matings?” he asked her.

“I know I can’t get pregnant unless you bite me, and I have absolutely no intention of permitting you to bite me right now,” she replied.

Favian laughed, Brayden snorted, and Amory smiled at her. “I guess you’ve been talking to Maia.”

“She said if this baby is triplets, that’s it for her. An instant family. But she’s pretty laid back about it really. I don’t think she minds the surprise pregnancy at all.”

“Pregnancy aside, what else do you know about mating?” Amory had to know. He wanted her with every breath he drew, but he had to be able to plan how to bring her to agree to mate them. To do that, he had to know if there were any problems so he could help her overcome them while they waited until everyone agreed enough time had passed.

Personally, he would be happy to do it right here and now, on their traditional lands, and then have his father lead them all through the vows. But he wasn’t going to frighten her off by rushing things.

“Just what Maia has told me. I know there’s no divorce, and I know she’s mated to all three men under panther law, although she’s only married to Chase under American law. That’s so she’s doubly protected.”

“If you were to mate us, you’d marry Brayden. I’m the Alpha of the pack, and although right now Brayden and Favian both assist me, once we mate our woman, Favian would become my second-in-command, and Brayden’s primary responsibility would be to care for our mate.” Amory watched Elsie as he spoke. She looked thoughtful, but not concerned.

“You must know how much we love you and want you. I’ve been in love with you almost from the moment I first saw you. I want to be with you forever. Will you mate us?” asked Brayden.

“Yes, please mate us. I can’t imagine life without you as the center of our family. We all love you and need you in our lives,” added Favian.

Elsie held up one finger. “It’s very likely that I will mate you, eventually. But not now. Everything is too new to me. JJ has another semester of school to do after this one, assuming he passes his classes. He’s smart, so I expect he’ll manage to catch up. That would bring us to summer, and summer is a traditional time for weddings. I need a few more months to settle into my work at the warehouse and into my role as your mate. Would extra responsibilities be expected of me as the mate of the Alpha?”

Amory nodded. She was clever to mention that. “The Alpha’s wife is looked up to as the leader of the women. That’s not completely correct as it’s the Alpha who has the final say, but a caring Alpha would always accept his mate’s advice if there was a problem with the women. It wouldn’t make extra work for you as such because you’d accompany us to pack events anyway. But a woman in trouble might come to you for advice.”

“I expect women will come to you anyway once they get to know you. You’ve got an open and accepting personality. No one can fail to love you just as we do,” added Favian gently.

Amory gripped her shoulders. “So we can plan a June wedding then, my love, my mate?”

The most beautiful smile broke over her face. “Yes.”

“Can we practice for the honeymoon now?” asked Brayden.

Favian jumped to his feet. “I second that motion. Let’s go back and check on how the paint job is going with the van and then go to bed.”

* * * *

Elsie sat on one of the bunk beds as the men maneuvered a huge metal contraption into the bungalow. She watched closely as they unfolded the base of it and stood it upright. “It’s a pole for pole dancing?” she said, the giggle in her voice coming out as a slight hitch in her breathing.

“The pack actually bought it for the boys to practice climbing up, but of course they use it to dance with as well as for gymnastics. I thought you could entertain us,” said Favian.

Now she really did giggle. “I’ve never climbed a pole in my life and know nothing about pole dancing. You’d better dance for me instead.”

Brayden handed her a sheer dress and microscopic pair of panties. “That’s your costume. Go and get dressed and then entertain us, slave girl.”

She bowed her head. “Yes, Masters. But you’ll appreciate the entertainment much better if you take off all those hot, confining clothes.”

She went into the bathroom and put on the costume. She’d need to dance in the outfit to keep warm. The fabric was sheer and barely there. It’d been a very long time since her high school gymnastics classes. She’d better hope she didn’t fall and break something or sprain her muscles. Hmm. Maybe staying on the ground and dancing would be a smarter idea.

Next she went over to the counter and Amory’s laptop. She looked through YouTube until she found a bright and popular song she thought she could dance to and clicked on it. Then she stood in front of the men, who arranged themselves facing the pole, and began dancing. As she danced, she remembered a routine she’d done in high school. It was so long ago she was surprised her body remembered it, but she danced around the men and trailed her fingers over their heads and thighs as she completed the old routine.

Favian was naked, his cock standing up very much like the metal pole in the room. Amory was fully dressed, and Brayden threw off his shirt as soon as she began dancing.

That’s an idea. Maybe I can encourage them to strip.

Elsie deliberately exaggerated the wiggle of her hips and the shaking of her booty. She became a lot more adventurous in the way she touched them and where she touched them, including brushing her breasts against their arms as she danced past them.

She straddled Brayden’s legs and unbuckled his belt, petting his belly as she did, and then moved to Favian, stroking over his naked pecs and abs, letting her body just barely touch him. When she reached Amory, she unbuttoned his shirt and petted his chest before hurrying away and clicking
re-play
on the song. The last thing she needed was for it to end and go to an advertisement or something.

Then she made love to the pole twisting and twining her body around it, but staying on the ground. She wasn’t going to fall flat on her face if she could help it.

“Come here,” ordered Amory.

She said, “Only if I can take off your clothing.”

“You can try.”

“A challenge.”

Instead, she went to Brayden, encouraging him to slide out of his jeans and stroking the insides of his thighs, before moving to Amory and pulling his shirt off his arms. He put his hands on his hips, and she knew he wanted her to attempt to remove his jeans. Ignoring him, she went to Favian, trailing her fingers over his muscular thighs, coming closer and closer to his cock but never touching it, before turning to Brayden again.