Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (45 page)

Abbey walked between Hunter and Clay as they headed toward the family lodge. They held her hands in theirs, their arms swinging as they walked the short distance to the most important meeting Jace Beckett had ever called.

In addition to Beckett’s pack, there would be another five packs represented at this informal gathering. Hunter and Clay had worked with pack enforcers to ensure the safety of every alpha, beta, and mate. There was no way they could chance a breach in security. Too many lives were at stake. And not just for today. The success or failure of today’s negotiations would determine if there would be peace among the packs or constant struggle and mistrust.

“Do you have a good feeling about today?” Abbey asked them as they made their way up the stairs that led to the sliding glass doors that would allow them entrance into the kitchen of the family lodge.

“I hope all will go well, but I’m unsure about the willingness of the other triads to hear what is needed for us all to band together to protect ourselves,” Hunter told her honestly.

“I think you should let the women negotiate,” Abbey told them seriously.

“Why, honey?” Clay asked, smiling at her as they were about to enter the family lodge.

“Women are better at negotiating without their egos getting in the way,” Abbey explained, drawing on her experience in company boardrooms over the years.

Both men nodded, acknowledging her words. Hunter reached up and touched her hair, running his hand down its silky length.

“I think Jace and Jackson will surprise you, sweetheart,” he told her gently. “They’re a strong, ruling triad, but they’re not arrogant. When they make rulings or have to deal with outsiders, they only have the good of the pack in mind.”

Sliding open the glass doors, Clay stepped back and allowed Abbey to enter the home before both men followed behind her.

“Mate, you have a beautiful ass,” Hunter whispered, pulling her back against him so that they were chest to chest, and he was able to run his hand appreciatively across the globes of her sweet derriere.

Abbey gasped, her chin lifting to face him. “Behave!” she whispered harshly.

“I don’t know,” Hunter told her, winking. “I don’t think I want to behave.”

“I agree,” Clay added, pressing up against Abbey so that she was firmly held between them. “I would sure love to sink my cock deep inside of your ass and love you until you scream, honey,” he whispered against her neck, nipping at her earlobe, smiling as he felt her shudder, and the scent of her arousal permeated the air.

“I am
not
walking into this house smelling like we’ve just left a marathon lovemaking session,” she whispered harshly. “Stop trying to arouse me.”

“But sweetheart, your scent is delicious when you’re aroused,” Hunter protested, grinning down at her when she looked up at him with her lips tight in anger.

“Hunter, you need to stop,” she pleaded. “I want you both, too. Please give me a shred of dignity so I don’t melt into a sexual puddle of need while everyone is here.”

His teasing smile left him and was replaced by a look so filled with gentleness Abbey was consumed with love for him once again. How could she not be?

“Okay, sweetheart,” he conceded. “You’re just so much fun to tease. I can’t help myself.”

“Told you he would give you a hard time, honey,” Clay reminded her.

Abbey stepped back and looked at Clay then turned her attention back to Hunter. A slow smile spread across her lips as she edged toward them both once again, not stopping until she was mere inches from them. Reaching out, she palmed both their cocks through their jeans and caressed them firmly, drawing gasps of pleasure from both of them as her rubbing increased and she traced the hard lines of their erections with her thumbs.

“When this meeting is over and the barbeque is finished, I’m going to take you both home and do something I’ve been thinking a lot about but haven’t had the pleasure of doing yet,” she told them softly, closing her eyes briefly as she traced the length of their shafts and circled the broad heads before squeezing them lightly.

“What is it you want to do, honey?” Clay asked her, moaning lightly when she cupped his balls and exerted just the right amount of pressure on them before continuing her gentle rubbing.

“I want to restrain you to our bed,” she whispered, leaning forward to bite at their chins before kissing the area she had nipped. “I going to taste you and swallow down every bit of seed you can give me, and you’re going to remain still while I do it. Do you think you’ll be able to do that?”

She stepped away from them, removing her hands from their bodies. Looking at them with an intense look of desire, she smiled when both men’s eyes turned completely golden and growls of need erupted from their chests. Winking at them, she turned and made her way toward the living room.

“Shit!” Hunter whispered.

“Yeah, what you said,” Clay added, panting softly as he fought to get himself under control. “We’ve just been taught a lesson by our mate, Hunter.”

Hunter smiled as he turned to face his triad partner. “I guess I’ll have to do better if I want to tease her again.”

“Face it, buddy. Abbey will always be able to beat you at your own game. You’ll always lose. She’s too good.”

“I’ll gladly lose to her every time if it means she’ll be following through with her plans.” Hunter smiled as he turned back to see Abbey walking down the hallway toward the living room. “I’m looking forward to having her sweet lips wrapped around my cock when we get home.”

“Okay, partner, cool off. There’s no way we can walk into that room filled with people smelling the way we do right now,” Clay warned him.

“I’m not ashamed to let people know that I desire our mate,” Hunter told him honestly.

Clay just shook his head as he started walking toward their sexy mate. If he were to be honest with himself, he didn’t give a damn if the whole shifter community could smell how much they loved their mate either.

* * * *

Abbey stood in the archway entrance to the living room. She saw that it was filled with many people she didn’t know, but she also saw many familiar, caring faces of those she now considered her pack family.

She smiled as she felt her men come up behind her and take her hands in theirs as their bodies pressed her deliciously between them. She felt their warmth and was immediately enveloped in their love.

Well played, honey,
Clay’s voice whispered in her mind.

Thank you, Clay.

I love you, Abbey,
Hunter told her softly, sending a wave of tenderness through their mating link to stroke against her gently.

Do you?
Her voice was teasing as she asked the question.

With all my heart and soul, sweetheart,
he told her, leaning down to kiss her neck quickly.

We love you and the fun you give us, honey,
Clay told her as he kissed her cheek lightly.

It’s a good thing. Because I love you both more than I’ve ever thought possible. Must be because you’re so sweet.

Both men squeezed her hands lightly, pressing against her. She could feel how her words humbled them, and she had to admit that their honest feelings of not being worthy just made them more endearing to her.

“I would like to thank all of you for coming today,” Jace’s deep voice boomed across the living room, capturing all of their attentions.

Every person quieted and faced him. Abbey saw the protective way the alphas and betas from the other packs surrounded their mates. She couldn’t blame them. Clay and Hunter had explained to her the inner workings of a pack and knew that these triads were taking a big risk by being on another alpha’s pack land. That courage alone made Abbey respect them. Those present were definitely showing how much they desired peace among the shifter community.

Hunter and Clay had also told her that Jace and Jackson were known as fair and just rulers of their pack. It was obvious that their reputation had reached those attending today’s meeting. She knew that it would be good for the safety of all of the packs in the area if the ruling triads could come to some kind of an understanding.

“We have two packs in our area that have been hostile for some time,” Jace told them, watching the other alphas as they nodded their heads curtly in agreement. “I have challenged Alpha Randall, the alpha of one of those packs, on behalf of my pack members that he had kidnapped and injured and have been successful in defeating him. The members of his pack have been offered asylum with us here, but they may choose to ask to join your packs. I would like to ask you to grant them the opportunity to speak to you to see if they would be a good fit for your pack family.”

“Do you trust that these people would not harm our families?” one large man with black hair spoke from his spot in front of the fireplace.

Abbey saw how he and another equally large man with dark blond hair stepped closer to a small woman with long, light blonde hair. From the way they held her between them, Abbey could tell she was the third in their triad and was loved possessively just as she and so many of the women in Beckett’s pack who had been lucky enough to find their triad mates were. The protective instincts of these men were off the charts.

“I haven’t met them all, so I would have to say no,” Jace answered honestly. “I have asked Simon and Warren to join us today. They were the head enforcers for Randall’s pack. They can give you a better insight, but I will be vigilant when speaking to any petitioning members just as I know all of you will.”

He turned to face the two enforcers and nodded, giving them permission to speak. Laurie stepped closer to him and rested her cheek against his arm, nuzzling into his bicep as Jace curled his fingers with hers as she offered him her hand. Jackson stepped closer, resting his chest against Laurie’s back and slipping his arm around her waist to gently settle his hand on her belly.

“My name is Simon Morrow,” the big man who stepped forward spoke roughly. He stood straight, like a soldier would, with his feet spread and his arms behind him in parade rest. “This is my triad partner Warren Conway. He and I were enforcers for Randall for twenty years. We’ve seen and done a lot of things we’ve regretted because it was our duty.”

Warren nodded once, stepping forward to stand beside Simon and take the same military stance. The black T-shirts and black jeans that both men wore were evidence of a life of conformity.

“The people of Randall’s pack were ruled with cruelty and abuse,” Simon continued. “You will find that most of them are good people who work hard and will be loyal to you. They are in need of a kind and fair alpha who is strong enough to protect them. Many of them are afraid to approach you. They have not had a positive experience with their alpha and beta so they have no good reason to trust any of you.”

Simon looked at his partner Warren and waited for his nod of approval. When he received it, he turned back to face the crowd of powerful men and their mates.

“If they do petition to join your packs, they will be worthy members. There are some who were loyal to Randall. They participated in and enjoyed his cruelty to others. I have no doubt you will be able to weed those members out without difficulty, but we offer you our help to identify those men.”

Abbey watched in fascination as the man speaking became rigid as he spoke and knew that what he was saying was causing more than a little bit of struggle within him. His appearance matched his emotions—both damaged and rough. His short cropped hair was completely white and his face and arms were littered with scars. She could tell he was a man who had seen much violence in his life. His hazel eyes held such sorrow and anguish, Abbey’s heart broke for him. His sincere words touched her deeply, and she couldn’t help but ache for him as she felt his loneliness.

Looking at his partner Warren, she saw the same strength of a soldier. His hair was a light brown that was liberally scattered with gray. He, too, had scars littering his body. His blue eyes were sharp and held such anger that Abbey had to hold back the gasp of surprise at the intensity of it. She didn’t know what his anger stemmed from, but it felt as if it was directed inward. She could feel the isolation in this man as well, and it pulled at her emotions.

Reaching out, she wrapped her arms around her men’s waists, glad when they settled closer against her and squeezed her tightly within their arms. She wished she could somehow help the two men who reminded her of lost boys despite their age.

Watching silently, she saw two men step up behind Warren and take military stances. These men seemed a bit younger, but they looked just as experienced as fighters and held a good amount of scarring as well.

“These men are Eli Granger and Maxwell Oliver,” Simon introduced them. “They were also enforcers for Randall’s pack. The four of us have petitioned Alpha Beckett and Beta Scott to join their pack and have been granted this honor. Although we are officially members of this pack, the four of us offer you our assistance in securing the safety of your packs if you need us.”

Abbey watched as the attending ruling triads looked at each other. It was a lot for them to take in, but she was sure if they all just gave the idea of combining the packs as one cohesive unit of protection a chance, it would be better for all of them.