Abbey's Protectors [Beckett's Wolf Pack, Triad Mates 4] (Siren Publishing Menage & More) (46 page)

“Your offer of help is appreciated, but you must realize that this situation is not something any of us will take lightly,” the large alpha with the black hair spoke up.

“Yes,” Jace conceded. “I would react the same way if this was proposed to me out of the blue. But, I would urge you to accept as many people as you can handle from this disbanded pack and work on strengthening your security with the many enforcers looking for new homes.”

“Randall’s pack had a well trained group of men that acted as enforcers,” Jackson added. “Simon and Warren will be able to tell you who would be good for your security, and who would be respectful of pack families and every member within them—especially our females and our children.”

“I have several men I would advise you against admitting into your packs,” Simon spoke up once again. “Their cruelty to others, especially females, is not acceptable.”

The flash of anger turning Simon’s eyes completely golden was seen by every person in the room. Abbey watched silently, her heart breaking for the man before her. His heart called to hers, and she knew without a doubt that he was a good man.

“There is another pack that has been aggressive and is a major concern,” Jace spoke up, pulling the focus of the group away from Simon. “They have already attacked our members once and nearly succeeded in killing two of them. Hunter and Clay work for the local law enforcement and have seen the increasing hostility building over the years. They were the ones who were gunned down in an ambush last year. Their mate had a vision that they would be ambushed again and was able to save them from that possible attack just recently.” Jace indicated the two men and waited, watching with a discerning eye as each visiting triad faced his men before turning back to give him their full attention once again. He grunted softly in satisfaction when he saw the anger in the eyes of the visiting triads, knowing that they were affected by the knowledge that Hunter and Clay were certainly blessed by the Fates to be standing there, alive and well.

Abbey gasped in surprise. She didn’t know that her men had been ambushed before. Turning to them, she saw the stoic expressions on their faces and knew she could not embarrass them in front of this group.

We will discuss this later, Mates.

We’re fine, Abbey,
Hunter assured her gently.

Abbey held her tongue, but her heart was pounding with fear at the thought that her men had nearly been killed from an ambush once before. She couldn’t prevent the fear she was experiencing from bleeding through their bond, but she could add a good dose of warmth and love to let them know just how much they were cared for. Their responding soft smiles and the way they surrounded her and held her tightly between them relaxed her somewhat.

“We believe that the shifters responsible for the attacks belong to Alpha Hayward whose pack land is about fifty miles north of here,” Jace continued. “We don’t have concrete evidence to support that though. When Hunter and Clay were attacked last year, no trace of evidence was left behind.”

“Then what makes you think Alpha Hayward is responsible for the attack?” the huge man with red hair standing with his mates in front of the couch spoke up.

“They have a history of teaming up with Randall,” Jackson offered firmly.

“We can attest to that fact,” Simon added.

“Have you been involved in these attacks also, Simon?” the alpha with the red hair asked, his voice tinged with anger.

“No, Alpha,” Simon answered, bowing his head in respect. “The four of us refused to be a part of any attack on another shifter community.”

“Yet, you were Randall’s enforcers,” the alpha continued. “Are you telling us that you didn’t commit unspeakable acts at the order of your alpha?”

Simon was quiet for a moment but his eyes never wavered as he looked at the alpha who challenged him. “No, Alpha. The four of us have participated in many things we’re not proud of. We followed our alpha’s orders without hesitation until last week.”

“What happened last week?” the alpha with the black hair asked.

“We were commanded to put a silver collar on a female pack member who was carrying a child.” Simon turned toward the alpha, his eyes hardening. “We refused.”

“Why is that, Simon?”

Simon hesitated, looking at Warren, Eli, and Maxwell briefly. They were silent as they returned his gaze. He knew he could do nothing but tell the truth for all of them.

“We respect women,” Simon said finally.

“Is that all?”

“No, Alpha,” Simon answered, his attention snapping back to face the strong man without wavering.

“Then what other reason did all of you have for refusing to do as your alpha ordered?”

Simon turned to look at the men he had served with and waited for their permission to speak the words that would open them to the many who were present in the room. If it were just his secret to tell, he wouldn’t hesitate, but he had to be sure that the other three men gave him the right to tell what all four of them had hidden for many years. He watched and waited. One by one, the men each gave their nod of approval. It was unanimous.

“We have given up our personal lives to protect our pack. None of us believes that we will ever have mates. We know we’re not worthy of such a gift, but that doesn’t mean we will allow ourselves to be used to destroy that gift for someone else. We refused to hurt that woman. And we refused to hurt the child she was carrying. That woman was responsible for the happiness of her mates. They are worthy, honorable men. They deserve the blessings of the Fates, and we refused to be a part of destroying those blessings.”

Abbey had to force herself not to cry. The pain that she felt emanating from Simon and his fellow enforcers was nearly choking her. She could feel their sadness and their isolation. And she could feel their deep need to have exactly what the rest of them had—a mate and a family.

“I believe you,” Laurie spoke up, stepping forward and reaching out to touch Simon’s arm.

“I believe him as well,” the woman mated to the alpha with the red hair agreed.

“So do I,” Abbey agreed, drawing everyone’s attention to her.

“Me, too,” the blonde woman who was mated to the alpha with the black hair added, trying to step forward, but her men held her firmly between them.

“It seems that the women in the triads present are in tune with the emotions and sincerity of the men you’re questioning,” Laurie said to the group, smiling as she looked at each of the triad matings before settling her sight on her own two mates. “Maybe you need to trust that the Fates have gifted us women with the ability to know the truth of each man’s heart.”

“I’ve been saying that for years, Laurie,” the blonde spoke again, removing her mates’ hands from her arms and stepping toward Laurie.

Abbey was so shocked to recognize the woman who was mated to the alpha with the black hair that she completely missed the rest of the women agreeing with them.

“Dara,” Abbey called out, rushing over to the woman who had been so kind to her when she had been at the mall.

Dara’s attention snapped toward her and she smiled immediately. “Abbey.”

Dara stepped forward and opened her arms, laughing when Abbey wrapped her in her embrace and hugged her tightly.

“It’s so nice to see you again,” Abbey told her happily.

“You, too. I didn’t know you lived here.”

“Well, we didn’t exactly exchange any information except what toy I should buy and how it worked,” Abbey whispered, laughing softly. “It worked great by the way. My mates really enjoyed it.”

Dara’s smile was wide as she stepped back and winked at her. “Told ya!”

“Mate, you are not to step away from our protection,” the alpha with the black hair spoke firmly to Dara.

“Oh, Gil, relax,” Dara told him, taking his hand in hers and tugging him so he would step beside her. Turning, she held out her other hand and waited until the man with the dark brown hair joined them. “Abbey, these are my mates Gil and Josh.”

Abbey extended her hand in greeting, smiling at the surprised expressions on Gil’s and Josh’s faces as they took her hand in theirs and shook it firmly but tenderly. Abbey liked them immediately.

“These are my mates, Dara,” Abbey told her, reaching out to touch her men as soon as they came up behind her and drawing them toward the guest triad. “This is Clay, and this is Hunter.”

Dara accepted their handshakes without hesitation, stepping back so her mates could do the same. Abbey was glad that whatever barrier that had existed during the discussion they had been having was now eased by the personalization of the moment. It was easy for people to be distant during a discussion, but when you pulled them in with a personal touch, they lost their stiffness and resolve to remain aloof. Abbey had realized that whenever she negotiated with a new company, if she took a personal interest, the new relationship flourished on many levels and to the best interest of all involved.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Alpha Gil,” Hunter told him as he shook his hand and tipped his head to bare his throat in deference to his position. “You, too, Beta Josh.” He shook his hand as well, stepping aside so Clay could offer the same greeting and show of respect.

“You two are the men who were ambushed?” Gil asked, stepping back, taking Dara within his arms, and gently settling her between him and Josh.

“Yes, sir,” Clay answered for the both of them, looking at Abbey briefly before returning his attention to Gil, hoping the man would understand the need to keep that fact understated so they wouldn’t upset her.

Gil nodded and looked at Abbey, smiling just a bit to try to ease her worries. “It seems our mates have been keeping a secret from us,” he said with censure, looking at Dara and raising his eyebrow in question.

“What secret have I kept?” Dara asked, rolling her eyes at his attitude.

“When did you meet this woman, Dara?” Josh quizzed her, touching her face lightly. “You’ve been told to keep safe and not interact with anyone but our pack family.”

Dara pushed his hand away and stepped out of her mates’ arms. Taking Abbey’s hand, she tugged gently until Abbey stood beside her. Abbey looked at Hunter and Clay, smiling at them to try to ease their unhappiness of having her removed from their touch.

“You listen to me, Gil Rodney,” Dara told him, pointing her finger at him menacingly. “We are not going to have this discussion again. You are
not
going to keep me prisoner in our pack or deny me the social interaction with nice people that I meet. The same goes for you, Josh Marshall.”

“Mate, we need you to be careful, especially now that you carry our cub,” Josh spoke up, trying to support his triad partner and explain their concern to the woman their life would be nothing without.

Dara’s expression softened somewhat, and she lowered her hand to rest it on her pregnant belly and rub it gently. “I understand your worry, Mates. I even understand the need for security both within and outside of our pack land, but you both need to recognize that we cannot cut ourselves off from others. There are many people who will be part of our future. Look around you. These people are good people. They’re strangers to us, but they have the same fears and needs that we do. Are we going to push aside the chance to find people, whether they’re shifter or human, who will make our lives richer and our world safer?”

Laurie walked over to the women and took Dara’s hand in hers. “You’re a smart lady, Dara,” Laurie told her, winking at her. “How about if all of us women take a break from this room and let the men decide if they’re going to put aside their caution and take a chance we all know should be taken?”

Dara smiled at Laurie then turned back to her mates. “I think that’s a good idea.” She eased her hand from Laurie’s hold and walked over to her mates, wrapping her arms around their waists and leaning against them. “I love you both so much,” she whispered, kissing their chests lightly. “Open your hearts and feel the goodness in this room.”

Taking their hands, she pressed them against her belly, smiling when their baby kicked against their palms. She smiled as both her mates let out contented growls that rumbled deliciously against her body. She had no worries that her men would do the right thing. They were good men and good leaders. They would make the right choice. She was sure of it.

“Okay, Mate,” Gil whispered, leaning down and kissing her lips lightly. “We’ll be open.”

“Love you, baby,” Josh told her, kissing her temple tenderly.

Dara smiled as she stepped back and looked up at them. “I’m very proud of you,” she told them softly. Turning, she faced Laurie, Abbey, and the rest of the women who had left their mates to stand beside the other two women to form a united front.

“I think we should go outside,” Laurie suggested. “We’ve already made our opinions and suggestions known.”

“I could go for a swim,” Abbey spoke up. “Would you like to come to our home and use our pool?” She looked at Laurie, afraid that she might have overstepped her place, but she was relieved to see the happy smile that she was given by the Alpha Mate.

Dara sighed happily. “I would love to!” she answered quickly.

“Thank you, Abbey, that would be great,” Laurie added, looking at the rest of the women and saw that they were nodding in agreement. “I’m sure Martha can get all of us enough of our men’s T-shirts to allow all of us to swim. I’ll bet Mia and Nikki would love to come, too.”