Taken (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 2) (14 page)

Katlyn admired the woman’s gray-streaked hair and found it odd that she wasn’t completely gray since she had informed her at one time that she had had many litters of werewolf pups. “Of course, but are you a werewolf, too? Maxwell told me that the werewolves at Silver Creek were half-breeds.”

“No, I’m all wolf. I had many sons who mated with humans. You’re carrying twins. How nice. Brendan and Chase will both have a son, then.”

“I-I don’t know about that since I don’t know whose children I carry.”

Palina put a hand on Katlyn’s stomach. “I can smell the wee ones and they smell male to me. Fraternal twins with separate fathers.”

“Well, I’m not sure yet. I’ll have to wait until I’m further along to know the sex of the babies or if it’s fraternal twins or not.”

“You’ll see,” is all she said. “Do you enjoy your mates?”

“I-I … yes.”

“Good to know, since many humans don’t have a good understanding about what it’s like to have two mates instead of just one. And, of course, that you don’t need a wedding to be mated to them.”

Katlyn had never thought about that one, but she did realize that she lived a completely different lifestyle. “I understand that both Brendan and Chase are committed to me, and that’s enough for me. But my parents will be here soon and I’m not all that sure how they’ll react.”

“Yes, humans,” she sighed. “No matter what, you have to be honest and not allow them to dictate what your life should be like. Be who you want to be, and don’t get wrapped up in your human traditions that just don’t apply to a shifter’s life.”

“Thanks, Palina. I really appreciate your kind words. I’ll keep that in mind once I figure out how to try to explain that they’re shifters. I almost think that might be more of a shock.”

“It might be, at first, but I’m confident that you’ll work through it. No matter what happens, approach it calmly. Give them the chance to get to know Brendan and Chase. I’m sure when they do, they’ll know they need not worry about you.”

Brendan and Chase joined Katlyn at the eating area, with worried expressions on their faces. “Oh, you’re here. I wish you wouldn’t stroll around by yourself,” Brendan said, clucking his tongue. “I was worried.”

“Not to worry, Brendan. We were having a chat,” Palina said. “I remember the days when my mates were worried when I was carrying their children, too.”

“Mates?” Katlyn asked.

“Yes. I’ve known more than one, since humans are so unpredictable. That’s why Nate looks so different than Raphael. It broke my heart when Nate was killed, but I’m trying to handle my grief the best I can. It helps being around the grandchildren. Children really are a blessing, and when you look at the world through their eyes, it’s hard not to smile. It was great that Seth brought his daughter, Melody, to live at Silver Creek, but I can see already that child is going to keep us all on our toes with her antics. We had to talk her out of a tree today. She still hasn’t mastered how to fly. If only Carrie was of a mind to show the girl the ropes, but that ship has sailed. All any of us can do is accept the child into our pack. When she gets older, having a red-tailed hawk should prove useful. They can spot prey for miles.”

Katlyn sat down with a plateful of food since Palina insisted she eat right away, with Brendan and Chase on either side of her. Soon, Paige and Clayton sat opposite them. When she glanced around, Tessa sat at another table with Raphael and Seth, and she frowned since she wouldn’t know what was happening. Her curiosity was hard to contain.

“She needs her privacy,” Brendan whispered.

“Yes, Tessa needs to find her own mates,” Paige said with a twinkle in her eye as she gazed at Clayton, who positively beamed when she spoke. “I prefer one to two. It’s hard enough trying to satisfy one man.”

“I bet you have no problem with that,” Clayton said. “Not meaning any disrespect.”

Paige smiled, hiding a laugh behind her beer glass. Palina came over and handed a plate with a very bloody steak to Paige and she thanked her. Instead of sucking the blood directly out, she simply sliced and ate it, thankfully.

After their main course, dishes of ice cream were passed around and Katlyn was ashamed to admit that she ate two bowls. “These babies are hungry tonight.”

“Eat your fill, little mama,” Clayton said. He then changed up the conversation. “I’m so happy that I haven’t had any loss of livestock of late, but I must admit, I’m a little bored with nothing to do much these days. Can’t you boys take a sheep every once in a while so I have something to do?” Clayton laughed.

“That wouldn’t do well at all since you already told us you’d show up first at our place,” Brendan said.

“Perhaps I can ask Paige to lunch sometime.”

“Dinner perhaps,” Paige quickly added. “I have a terrible sun allergy.”

“I forgot all about that, Paige. I heard about your condition and it’s a shame. I’m still trying to get used to shape shifters in the area, and now a vampire,” he whispered. “It’s not a real problem unless livestock is being found dead,” he winked. “And just so you know, I like being a human.”

They all laughed and Katlyn began to feel bone weary, asking if they could head home soon.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Brendan chastised her. “We’ll leave.”

“I’ll stay if Clayton can bring me home later,” Paige said.

“Sure can, ma’am.” He glanced over to Tessa. “I’ll make sure Tessa gets back, too.”

Brendan and Chase walked arm in arm with Katlyn until she settled into the SUV with her mates. She hadn’t been exaggerating, either. She about fell asleep on the way home.

Chapter Fourteen

Katlyn had begun to feel uneasy the last few hours, nerves-wise, but she didn’t say anything to anyone since she didn’t want to ruin anyone’s happy time. When they arrived back home, a strange car was in the drive, and when they piled out of the SUV, Angus made his way toward them.

“Is everything okay?” Katlyn asked, concerned when Angus appeared flushed.

“Sure is, if you think your parents arriving while you were out good news.”

All the hairs on the back of Katlyn’s neck stood on end now. “Oh, my. I had hoped that I had one more day to prepare for their arrival. Now, I’m very nervous.”

“You? I’ve never met anyone more inquisitive than them before,” Angus said.

They made their way into the house and Katlyn’s mother, Lena, raced forward and gave her a tight hug, and then her face contorted oddly. “Wow, Katy. You sure packed on some pounds.”

Katlyn’s mother wore a white dress that hugged her frame that was still quite shapely even though she was in her fifties, whereas her father, George, was more on the big side, standing at six foot four, his stomach complete with beer belly that he boasted was only from her mother’s good cooking. The fabric of his silk shirt was stretched to capacity, making him appear even larger, as he said, “Our Katy, gaining weight?” George said. “I’ve never known the girl to do that.”

“Of course I haven’t lived at home with you since college, and we all have our flaws. I just happen to be an eater, especially if I’m stressed.”

“What on earth do you have to be stressed about, Katlyn? This is a nice house to call home. You told us, you came to Shadow Creek for a teaching job,” George said, glancing around the house. “But I suppose you wouldn’t be able to live like this on a teacher’s salary.”

“She has a very nice cabin, as most of the help does,” Brendan said.

“Oh, and who might you be, sir?”

“This is Brendan and Chase. They are the owners of Shadow Creek.” Katlyn then introduced her parents, George and Lena.

George massaged his full beard. “I’m not sure if I like my daughter being out this late in the evening with her bosses. Folks like to talk.”

“Er,” Katlyn began. “There was a night bazaar in town and just about everyone attended.”

“Except that big fella over there,” George said, indicating Angus.

“That’s Angus. He stayed behind to watch over the place while we were gone.”

“Why does the ranch have to be watched over? I thought Wyoming was a safe place.”

“It is,” Brendan said. “Except for cattle rustlers, and breaking and enterings happen on occasion, too.”

“Oh, my. Did you hear that, George? It’s a good thing that Angus is watching over the place. He looks like the type of man I’d want in my corner. I mean, if there was trouble.” Lena began to fan her face. “It’s hot in here, don’t you think?”

Katlyn smiled nervously. Was her mother actually making inappropriate comments about Angus? Actually, that made this a little more bearable.

“Oh, Angus. Do you happen to know which room upstairs my parents are staying in?”

“Not exactly. Didn’t Paige come back with you?”

“No, she’s busy with Clayton in town.”

“Oh, really?” Lena asked. “That must be the nice woman Angus has been talking about. Is she related to Brendan and Chase?”

“No, she runs the ranch.”

“Let me get this straight. These two have a woman running the ranch for them? Is she married to one of you then?” George asked.

“I don’t think I’ve never known anyone to ask so many questions before,” Brendan said. “And no, to your question. Paige is just a good friend who happens to be good at managing things and making sure the bills get paid, since Chase and I would much rather work the ranch.”

“Now, George. Stop interrogating them already. George is a retired detective,” Lena explained. “If you could show us to our room, we’ll see you all in the morning.”

“I’d feel better if I could escort our Katlyn to her cabin.”

Katlyn was in a wild panic. “I can find my own way there, Dad. I’m not a child.”

“Katy’s right. Let’s go on upstairs and find our room. If you young fellas could help us with our luggage, that is.”

Brendan, Chase, and Angus carried the luggage, and once her parents were upstairs, Lena said, “What a dark hallway, and quite an interesting lighting choice—red.”

Sure enough, all along the hallway was red wallpaper with red nightlights twenty feet apart from one another. Angus began checking rooms until he found one that he entered all the way. “I think this must be the room. It has clean bedding,” he said.

Yes, as opposed to red bedding that was in all the other rooms
, thought Katlyn. Lena stopped in her tracks. “How about that room on the end.” Before anyone could stop her, she darted down the hall and entered the room where Tessa had gotten her blood transfusion just the day before.

By the time Katlyn made it there, her mom and dad were in the room and staring at the IV pole and blood that dotted the white sheets. “Oh, my. Is someone sick?”

“No. I mean ... I’m not sure.”

“Paige moonlights as a nurse,” Brendan said. “On occasion, a patient needs a blood transfusion and since there are no major hospitals nearby, we allow her to see them here.”

“I see. Well, that sure is peculiar, but who am I to say since we live nearer to civilization,” Lena said.

They wandered back to their room and Katlyn just wanted them to calm the hell down and go to sleep so she could go back to her cabin with her mates, and after they went into their room and closed the door, Katlyn finally let the breath go that she was holding. “Finally,” she muttered, stomping her way down the stairs. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you about my parents. Since Dad was a detective, they are way on the inquisitive side, to the point of asking so many questions you’d think they were interrogating you. I’ve always felt like they knew all of my secrets without having to tell them. And leave it to them to start wandering around in places they shouldn’t be going, but I’m embarrassed to admit that’s how they are.”

Brendan chuckled. “This sure is going to be interesting. I can’t begin to imagine how they’ll handle it when they find out who and what we are, and that—”

“Shhh, Brendan. I don’t need to deal with that tonight. Thanks for not blurting out the truth.”

“That’s your place, honey. It would be in poor taste to just put all that information on them when they just got here.”

“Thanks. Let’s go before they decide to come back down, asking more questions.”

“Can I go with you, too?” Angus asked. “I about swallowed my tongue when they found that room.”

“Good call, Brendan. I didn’t know how to even begin trying to explain that,” Katlyn said.

He nodded and they left a white-faced Angus in the main house since Paige hadn’t yet returned, even though Katlyn knew Angus would rather be elsewhere. Once they were outside, Brendan asked, “Would you prefer to sleep in Tessa’s cabin tonight?”

Katlyn bit her finger. “No, I refuse to allow my parents to make me feel like I’m doing something wrong. I’ll have to make them understand how this all works.” If only she did herself. All she knew was that she had two mates and they didn’t believe in traditions like marriage, but then again, it was still against the law to have more than one husband, according to the United States of humans. Sure, shifters had their rights, but they didn’t differ from what humans were allowed to do. Of course, since they hadn’t gotten married legally, it wasn’t so much of an issue.

Brendan held the door open for Katlyn and she waltzed into the cabin, with Chase coming in last. It drove Katlyn nuts that her parents already made her feel like she had something to hide, something that she just wasn’t allowed to do.

She crawled into bed with Brendan and Chase and wished she could just fall into their arms, and do so much more with them, but now she was on high alert. She just hoped that her father didn’t barge in here, demanding they leave his daughter alone. She had no choice. She had to come clean to her parents tomorrow.

* * *

Katlyn had barely come out of the shower, wrapped in a towel early the next morning, when her parents were standing in the cabin, enjoying a cup of coffee with Brendan and Chase.

“Oh, there’s our little pumpkin,” George said with an arched brow. “Go on and get dressed and join us. We really need to talk.”

Katlyn gulped, gathered up her clothes and dressed in the bathroom before she returned. She moved to take a coffee cup, but her mother stopped her. “Caffeine isn’t good for the baby. It causes colic.”