Trouble Comes in Threes (31 page)

“Okay, with all this shifting and healing going on, you guys need to eat.” I dug through the pantry. “How about chips and dip? And… I have ham and turkey sandwich meat. Ah, bread, lettuce… mustard, mayo….” I threw it all on the bar. “We have sweet and unsweetened tea, several kinds of sodas.” I grabbed plates. “And here are the plates. Help yourselves.”

Good thing I got out of the way of the rush. Dolf and Tal returned and joined in the madness. Once they all had something to eat, we sat at the table.

Monty washed down a bite with coffee. “I’ll start. So, as you know, we checked for Heller where he was supposed to meet Aidric. He wasn’t there.”

“I think I was stumbling around trying to figure out who and where I was,” Heller said.

Monty sighed. “Then we spread out and started searching the woods. Next thing we knew, Tal and I had been darted. We were out in seconds.”

Dolf nodded. “Brier and I shifted and talked about carrying them back here, but… that would’ve left us vulnerable to attack. They’d been darted once. I wasn’t sure what was used or if the asshole who did it was still out there. Not to mention, with our luck, we’d run across a human while out there naked hauling around two cats. Might cause questions. I… I wanted to come back and check on you, but I didn’t feel just one of us was enough protection for Tal and our Alpha, so—”

“I understand, Dolf. I do.” His Alpha and his other mate were darted. I got it, and I didn’t resent why he stayed with them. “Besides, it wasn’t like I was here all alone. Then what happened?”

“We waited for them to wake up and hauled ass here,” Brier said.

“So, Kyle kept you four detained. Smart.” I looked at the other beta. “Heller?”

“I was supposed to meet Aidric at the construction site when my shift ended,” Heller said. “I got there early. I smelled a shifter I didn’t recognize, and bam! Lights out. When I woke, there was a fucking huge limb next to me with blood smeared all over it. My blood. I still have a knot where the bastard hit me, even after shifting. And the headache to go with it.”

“He took you out.” I sipped my coffee. “That left Remi and Aidric here with me. He darted them too.”

“Okay,” Dolf said. “He came here then, and….”

“Well, first he called Monty’s phone, which I answered.” I glanced at Monty. “Sorry. I thought it might be information about Heller, otherwise I would never have done that.”

Monty waved his hand. “I’m not upset.”

I continued. “He pretended to be Kent and told me he’d seen Heller out by the highway. Said he shifted out there in the open. He couldn’t leave the gas station to help, so he called you.”

“So, of course, Aidric and I were worried a human would see him,” Remi said. “We felt we had to go check, even though we thought it could be a trap. But the threat of Heller shifting in public….”

“They put me between them as we left. They were trying to protect me, Dolf. Kyle darted them. I took Remi’s car keys, fully intending to drive off.” I frowned. “Kyle did something to it, and it wouldn’t drive. So….” Dolf wasn’t going to like the next part.

“He set the car on fire with you in it.”

“Yeah. He did. He said the darts were mixed for shifters and would kill me. Did I want to let him dart me or burn me? Well, the smoke was so bad I bailed, and he decided to give me a fighting chance. More like he wanted to toy with me longer. Anyway, he said he’d count to five, then open fire with the darts. I ran. Next thing I know, Heller appeared and was fighting him.”

“Once I got my bearings, I came here. I just knew… I knew I was needed here. I saw Kyle getting ready to dart Kirk. I attacked, knocked the blowgun out of his hand, and broke it. Then he shifted, and so did I.”

I stared at Heller. “You saved my life. Even though you hate me.”

His haunted gaze locked with mine. “I… I don’t hate you. I just… I…. It was never actually about
you
, Kirk.”

“Something more personal?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Then say no more. But I’d like you to get to know
me
,” I said, then turned to my mate. “Okay, Dolf, Kyle told me things about you and him. He was a nutball, so I don’t trust what he said. But still, I’d like to hear how you remember things.”

Dolf pursed his lips. “He and I were… I guess you’d call it friends with benefits. We weren’t mates, and we both knew that. I enjoyed sex with him, but I wasn’t serious. Looking back… he might’ve been more involved than I thought. When I mated Tal, he left and joined another clowder. Frankly, I forgot about him.”

“He didn’t forget you. I’d have to say he loved you
and
hated you. He told me how proud he was you that mated an Omega.” I snorted. “Like he had something to do with it. He also felt Tal was a status symbol for you as the next Alpha.”

Tal rolled his eyes. “Oh goddess, did he think I was some sort of… trophy wife?”

“Oh yeah, he did. Then, Dolf, you mated me. A human. And that’s where the hate part comes in. According to him, my species is a pestilence. We sweep across the planet and destroy all in our path. We should be exterminated. That’s pretty much a quote. By mating me, you fell from grace.”

“Well, fuck him. His opinion means nothing,” Dolf said.

“Well, yes, I’d agree with you, but see? Dude was off his rocker. No Alpha worth a damn would have a human mate. He was so upset with you, he even talked about killing you after he dealt with me. Then trying to talk Tal into joining his clowder.”

Tal turned pale. “What was he thinking? If I lost both of you… I wouldn’t…. There’d be no joining another clowder. I’d be dead too.”

Dolf ran his hand through his hair. “How did no one notice how disturbed he was?”

I shrugged. “He was insane. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t smart.”

Dolf rolled his shoulders, then popped his neck. “Well, he’s dead, so that’s the end of that.”

Monty grimaced. “Well, almost. I need to notify Kyle’s Alpha.”

“Do you expect trouble?” Dolf asked.

“There shouldn’t be. An attack on an Alpha is grounds enough for him to die. Then throw in darting Tal, Remi, Monty, and Aidric. He also attacked Heller. And finally, he stalked Kirk on several occasions, attacked him previously, then came here with the intent to murder him. Hell, Kyle tried to burn Kirk to death. No, I don’t think there will be any problem with Dolf killing Kyle.”

“Someone needs to tell Kent too.” I looked at the group. “They were twins, you know? He’s going to be devastated. And Kyle’s body is still in the front yard.”

Monty rubbed his forehead. “I’ll call Kent tonight and tell him. I’m hoping he knows which clowder Kyle joined, otherwise I’m going to be on the phone all night. Dolf, can I borrow your truck? I’ll take Kyle back with me until Kent tells me what he wants to do.”

“Sure, Dad.”

“Aidric, are you able to do your shift tonight?” Monty asked.

“Absolutely. I don’t feel any side effects from being
tranquilized.”

“Good. Okay, Brier and Remi, would you load the body?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Monty quickly hugged Tal, Dolf, and me. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow.”

I waited while Tal and Dolf showed everyone out. The door shut, and I faced them. “I want the two of you in bed. Now.”

Dolf

D
OLF
LAY
next to Tal on the bed, both of them naked. Kirk was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth.

“He tried to burn Kirk up, Dolf.” Tal spoke softly, voice quivering. “I can’t… I can’t even
imagine
what our mate must have felt when—” Tal shivered violently. “He had nightmares about the first attack, and that was nothing compared to this.”

“I know, sweetheart.” Dolf cupped Tal’s cheek. If given half a chance, he’d kill Kyle all over again, gladly, for doing this to his mates. “But he’s going to be okay. And if he isn’t okay, we’ll do whatever’s necessary. We’ll make sure he gets what he needs. Remember, Kirk kept his head and didn’t panic. He’s very smart, our mate.”

“But, we could’ve lost him and—and I never told him…. Dolf, he could’ve
died
today. Then you fought that madman and… and…. Goddess, I could’ve lost both of you.” Tal’s voice broke on the word “both,” his chest heaving.

“Never, Tal. We aren’t leaving you.” Dolf sat on the side of the bed. There had to be a way to calm Tal down.

“He’s right. We absolutely are not leaving you, so you just settle your cute little ass down right this minute, Tal.” Kirk stood in the door of the master bath. “You guys promised me a lifetime together, and I fully intend to have it. No one’s going anywhere, dammit.”

“But… but—” A big tear dripped down Tal’s face.

“No buts, Tal….” Kirk stepped closer to the bed. “Aw, cutie, please don’t cry. You’ll rip me to shreds if you do that.” Kirk sat next to Tal. “I could’ve lost you guys too. He
darted
you. Dolf fought him. Please, stop thinking about what
almost
happened to me, and I’ll stop thinking of what
could
have happened to the both of you.”

Kirk and Dolf moved when they heard Tal’s little cry of pain. Dolf’s heart ached. His sweet little mate was close to a full-out crying fit. As badly as he needed to comfort Tal, what his mate needed had to come from Kirk. What they both needed. Dolf was hurting as bad as Tal, he just… he was an Alpha. He had to be strong.

“Tal… please stop. Please. Seeing you like this, it hurts me. Tal, I… I think I’m falling in love with you….” Kirk glanced at Dolf. “Falling in love with both of you. I made up my mind, if I…. Well, I decided if given another chance, I’d tell you how I felt.”

Tal threw himself at Kirk. “I love you, love you so much!”

Kirk pulled Tal close and held his hand out to Dolf. Dolf sat next to Kirk, wrapping his arm around both men. Thank the goddess. That was exactly what Tal needed. What they both needed. “I love you too. I’ve never been so scared, Kirk. Seeing Tal darted, then that burning car….” Dolf gulped. He was
not
going to cry. “Every day, Kirk. Every day, you’re going to hear how much you’re loved.”

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted. You can let go too, Dolf.” Kirk eased Tal back just a little. “It’s just us here.”

“I… I’m going to be the—”

“You’re mine, that’s who you are. You’re Tal’s. That’s also who you are. We’re here for you, just as you’re here for us.”

Kirk pulled Dolf into his and Tal’s embrace. No sound was made, but Dolf’s shoulders shook. They sat there, holding on, letting the horror wash through them, then away.

At last, Kirk spoke. “The three of us are going to be making love, fighting, and joking for a long time.” Kirk hugged Tal and Dolf, then leaned back, making no comment about Dolf’s wet eyes and red nose. “No more panicking about ‘what ifs’…. I have a much better thing to do.”

Kirk waggled his eyebrows outrageously, and finally,
finally
, Tal laughed. It was a soggy laugh, but it was a laugh.

“You two are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I mean that. We have some attitudes to change around here, but the three of us will make it happen. I truly believe that.” Kirk looked at his mates. “You know, when you two showed up, every damn thing in my house was on the fritz. My partner had left me a year earlier—at Christmas, no less. Things were not good. I was just waiting for fate to throw something else at me. Then you guys showed up and barged your kitty-cat selves right into my life.”

Dolf nodded. “Ah yes, I think the saying is ‘trouble comes in threes,’ right?”

“Yup. And you guys were my number three.” Kirk tackled Dolf, both of them falling on the bed. Tal giggled madly, joining in on the attack. Arms and legs tangled, Kirk laughed breathlessly. “And that’s what this clowder is going to find out. There are three of us, and we are definitely trouble. Now… who wants my ass and who wants my mouth?”

M.A. C
HURCH
is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full-time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two grown children.

She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013.

Drop by her blog at http://machurch00.blogspot.com.

Shadows in the Night