Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (26 page)

“No. I just saw my men lying on the ground.” Abbey’s eyes were wide with panic. “I didn’t stop to look in the alley. We all heard the noises that the other pack was probably making to draw my men into the alley. I just couldn’t allow that to happen.”

“Do either of you have any idea who was waiting for you?” Jace asked Hunter and Clay.

“No, Alpha,” Hunter answered for them both. “But we did see a white SUV with tinted windows. It had red detailing on the hood.”

“We also saw the beautiful woman with the silver hair who appeared to Abbey when we shared in our mate’s memory,” Clay offered. “We believe it was our Mother Fate.”

“Our Mother Fate has appeared to Abbey?” Martha asked in complete awe. “That’s wonderful.”

Martha stepped toward Abbey and reached out to take her hands gently within her own. Abbey felt the immediate sense of peace and acceptance when the sweet older woman held her hands gently.

“You are truly blessed, Abbey,” she whispered. “All of us have heard Her whisper in our minds to trust in the joining with our mates, but none of us have ever seen her. You must have a wonderful connection to her. Our pack is blessed to have you with us.”

“I don’t know about that,” Abbey laughed softly. “But she was incredibly kind and made me feel comfortable and sure when she told me about the two men I would meet who would be my mates. Maybe I’ll meet them soon.”

Hunter and Clay both growled and reached out to lift Abbey into their arms. Abbey squeaked with surprise, laughing as Hunter slung her over his shoulder and slapped her ass with just enough pressure to cause her to gasp in pleasure.

Clay leaned forward and bit her left butt cheek, growling. “Not even remotely funny, Mate,” he warned her.

“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” Abbey squealed, laughing against Hunter’s back as she hung upside down.

“Abigail Tyler, you’re in big trouble,” Hunter told her, turning and heading toward the sliding glass door that led out onto the deck.

“It was very nice to meet all of you,” Abbey told the people in the kitchen as she was carried out of the lodge home.

The last thing she saw was the surprise and then the humor on all of the men’s faces, and the knowing smiles that the women gave her as her mates carried her off.

Abbey couldn’t stop the honest to goodness giggles that escaped her as Hunter carried her outside and ran toward Clay’s truck. Her stomach bumped unmercifully against his shoulder as he ran, making her tighten her abdominal muscles to try to protect herself from injury.

“Hunter, put her down, you’re hurting her stomach,” Clay called out, reaching out and placing his hands on either side of her waist to steady her as Hunter lowered her slowly to the ground and leaned her against the driver’s side door of the truck.

“Sweetheart, I didn’t think,” Hunter told her immediately, his face filled with horror at the thought that he had hurt her. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hunter, I’m fine,” Abbey told him, laughing. “I haven’t had so much fun in such a long time. You guys are so much fun to tease.”

She reached up and touched both men’s faces, scraping her nails across the stubble of their beards. The instant growls that escaped them made her smile and another burst of laughter escaped her.

“Goodness, but you both make me happy.”

“Are you sure I didn’t hurt you, Abbey?” Hunter asked, smiling despite his worry.

“You have to be more careful, buddy,” Clay warned him. “You might have been bouncing our cub and causing damage.”

Hunter’s complexion paled instantly at the thought that he might have injured Abbey or the cub she might be carrying. He leaned in and sniffed Abbey’s neck deeply.

Abbey laughed as his face tickled her neck. “What’re you doing, Hunter?”

“I’m checking to see if I can scent our cub,” he told her gently.

Abbey pushed at his chest lightly, looking up at him and then over at Clay as he eased away from her. “You’ll be able to scent our baby that quickly?”

“Yes, honey,” Clay told her, smiling. “Your scent will change almost immediately when you’re pregnant.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.” Abbey’s voice was whisper soft as she looked down and covered her belly with her hands. “I’m not pregnant, am I?”

Both men leaned in and sniffed deeply against her neck, their canines dropping almost instantly at the delectable scent of their mate. They opened their mouths and bit down on her shoulders lightly, pulling a moan of desire from her.

“No, sweetheart,” Hunter whispered against her ear. “You’re not pregnant.”

“Yet,” Clay added. “You soon will be, honey.”

“Clay, you can’t be sure of that.”

“Oh, honey, I can. Hunter and I are going to love you and make love to you for the rest of our lives. We’re going to show you how much you mean to us, and we’re going to create our son. It’s only a matter of time, sweetheart.” He reached out and covered her belly with his large hand, petting it gently as the feeling of happiness filled him at the thought of their son’s life existing within their mate.

“I would like to name our son Brandon after my father,” she said softly, looking up at both men. “Is that okay with both of you?”

“Yes, baby,” Hunter told her gently. “That’s a good name. Your father would be very proud that our son carries his name.”

“I think so, too,” Abbey whispered. She looked up and smiled at both of them, winking. “Now we just have to come up with a name for our daughter.”

Hunter’s rumbling growl joined Clay’s as both men leaned in and kissed her neck. The flash of Abbey holding their son and laughing as their baby babbled up at her filled all three of their minds. His sweet smile and sparkling blue eyes looked up at her as his little hand grabbed for her long hair and pulled on it excitedly. His eyes were the exact color of Clay’s, and his black hair was the exact the color of Hunter’s. His rosy cheeks begged for kisses, which Abbey delighted in giving him. The sight of their baby made all three of them see the realness of their future family.

“He’s so adorable,” Abbey whispered, looking up at both men as they leaned back and smiled down at her.

“He is,” Clay agreed. “But he’s not going to be ours if you want other mates, Abbey.”

Both men pulled back to look down at her. Abbey was afraid that she might have hurt their feelings. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

“I was only teasing,” she told them softly. “I don’t want anyone but you two. Honest.”

“Honest?” Hunter asked her, crossing his arms across his chest and looking down at her, his right eyebrow lifting in question.

Abbey looked from Hunter to Clay, and she saw that despite their strength and good looks, they both held a sweet insecurity in their natures. Their worry touched her heart. She never wanted them to feel anything but sure about their relationship with her. She was honest with herself in finally admitting that there was indeed a relationship—a relationship that she wanted to be a part of for the rest of her life.

“I don’t know how it happened,” she began, brushing her hair back from her face before reaching out and touching both men’s forearms lightly.

“What, honey?” Clay asked.

“I’ve got a serious crush on both of you.”

“A serious crush?” Hunter asked, the right side of his mouth twitching as he fought not to smile.

“All I know is, I don’t want to be with anyone except the both of you. You make me want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Both men stepped toward her and crowded her against the side of the truck, pressing their bodies gently against hers. Hunter reached up and grasped the length of her hair and twisted it in his hand, holding her still as he leaned forward and kissed her with all the building passion he had been fighting to keep under control.

Abbey felt his heart pounding against her chest and knew that hers was beating just as rapidly, matching his. She couldn’t prevent the whimper of need that escaped her as he pushed his leg between hers and rubbed against her erotically.

“Don’t ever tease like that again, Mate,” he whispered against her lips. “My wolf doesn’t like it and neither do I.”

“Just thinking about you belonging to any other triad rips my heart out, honey,” Clay told her as he leaned forward to claim her lips with such possession there was no doubt of his feelings for her.

“I promise I won’t ever say that again,” Abbey whispered when he finally released her lips. “I don’t want to spend my future with anyone else. And I don’t want anyone else to be the fathers of my children.”

Their eyes flashed golden immediately as growls of possession rolled from their chests. The sounds vibrated against Abbey, soothing her rather than frightening her. She leaned into their warmth and rubbed her face against their shirts, breathing in their scents deeply and calming considerably. It seemed that her scent had the same effect on both men if she were to judge by the instant chuffing sounds they gave her before the growls turned to a definite, satisfied purring. She realized that she would be content to remain in their arms like this forever.

“Okay, baby,” Hunter said finally, satisfied that their mate was happy with them as her choice of triad mates. “Let’s go. We want to show you our home.”

He reached around her and grabbed for the handle of the door of the truck, tugging it open and helping her up into the cab. Clay took his place behind the wheel and started the truck. Putting it in gear, he maneuvered the truck around the side of the family lodge to the side road that led to the home he and Hunter had built with their mate in mind. They would soon find out if the home they had created would be a perfect match for Abbey.

They watched her out of the corner of their eyes as they pulled in front of the large, log home that would be the home that they shared. Her instant smile made them relax.

“It’s beautiful,” she told them softly as she looked at the house before her. There were three steps that led up to a wraparound porch. The deep richness of the logs gave an elegance to the house. The double doors that graced the front entrance held large windows that were etched with the most exquisite scene of a beautiful garden with a trellis that overlooked a pool with a waterfall.

The vision Abbey had experienced of her actually being in that garden and turning to see her men carrying their son and daughter flashed through her mind. The instant warmth that filled her made her blush. She was afraid to hope that such a place existed as a possibility for her future. She carefully avoided her men’s eyes as she walked up the front steps and waited patiently while Hunter reached out and opened the front doors for her.

Clay carried her backpack and duffle bag, carefully setting them down by the living room couch before he followed Abbey through the house. Neither he nor Hunter said a word as Abbey looked around. He tried to see it from her perspective, wondering if the house was something she would like and be comfortable living in.

He and Hunter had designed the house with their mate in mind. Something in them always made them know that their mate would like a house with an airy atmosphere. They had an open floor plan with a large kitchen and living room. The master suite was created with enough room to accommodate the three of them and any children who wanted to cuddle in their bed with them. The additional five bedrooms on the second floor were large—plenty of room for a growing family.

The sliding glass doors that led out to the backyard were covered by a rich maroon curtain with gold threading running through it. When the sun shone through, the threads sparkled and gave off a soft glow of warmth that filled the living room. The deep brown couches in the living room were settled intimately in front of the slate fireplace. There were two recliners and an overstuffed rocking chair off to the side, something both men felt strongly about adding to their home so their mate would have a place to rock their cubs.

Abbey smiled as she looked around. Everything about the house screamed comfort to her. She loved the openness. She loved the soothing, muted colors of maroon and gold. She especially loved the rocking chair and the vision both men sent her of her sitting there rocking their baby to sleep. It was a beautiful picture—one that she hoped would be their reality.

Turning, she walked over to the glass doors that led to the backyard. She slid open the panel and walked out onto the deck, gasping at the beauty that faced her.

“Oh. My. Goodness.”

“Do you like it, baby?” Hunter asked her as he and Clay came up behind her and watched as she walked across the deck to the steps.

“This is absolutely beautiful,” she told them softly as she walked down the steps and surveyed the yard that was enclosed by a ten foot wooden fence artfully hidden by tall bushes to ensure complete privacy. She made her way toward the white trellis that was adorned with the most colorful array of flowers she had ever seen.

It was exactly as her vision of the area had depicted. The flower garden that edged the perimeter of the yard was absolutely amazing. The elegant marble fountain in the center of the yard flowed with a small bubble of water, making Abbey smile at the simplicity of the adorable, carved birds that sat in the middle of the basin.

Most stunning of all was the pool at the far end of the yard. The rock wall that served as a backdrop to the pool had layers of slate that graduated up to a ledge that housed the most incredible waterfall Abbey had ever seen. The cascading water that fell from it ended in the deep end of the pool, creating a beautiful curtain of privacy that she couldn’t wait to slip behind and share with her men.