Werewolf Mates [Pack Law 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (7 page)

They sat in companionable silence until she had drunk half her tea, and then Justin spoke.

“Talk to us, honey. Tell us why you are so sad.”

Sam couldn’t keep quiet anymore. She needed to purge what she had kept bottled up inside so it wouldn’t destroy her, so she began talking.

“I married young, at the tender age of eighteen, and had planned to go to culinary school, but that never happened. My husband didn’t want to waste money on me, so I put my plans on the back burner.

“Peter Strom, my husband, had opened his own insurance business, and we needed money to live until he was established. So I worked at whatever I could to pay the rent.

“I was so in love with him, or thought I was, that I would have done anything to support him. We were happy for the first twelve months, or seemed to be, and he worked hard trying to make a success of his business. Then he began to turn spiteful.” Sam paused and finished off her tea. She looked to Roan and Chet, and they looked at her encouragingly.

“Go on, honey,” Justin said and stroked her hair.

“He never had anything nice to say to or about me, and since he was six years older than I was, I thought I was somehow lacking.

“He started picking on the way I dressed, the way I wore my hair, and the curves of my body. He used to tell me I was ugly and my boobs were too big. Little by little he chipped away at my self-esteem until I had nothing left inside but emptiness and bitterness toward the man who was supposed to love me.

“Peter started coming home late every night, and when I questioned him he became so furious with me, I backed off and tried to soothe him instead. In the end I was glad he didn’t come home until the early hours of the morning, because I had become so afraid of his mood swings and temper that I was scared he would take it out on me.” She took a deep breath and fidgeted with her mug.

“Do you want another tea, darlin’?” Roan asked.

“Please.” She handed over her empty mug and clutched her now-empty hands. Following Roan with her eyes, she continued.

“When he was home he would criticize everything about me, even what I cooked him for dinner. Peter’s business failed. He found another job with a large insurance company, and I thought he would be happier without the worry of the business hanging over his head. Ha, what a joke. Even though he had a job, he stopped contributing to the running of the household, and I had to take on a second job just to make ends meet.

“One day six months ago, he arrived home before me. I was two months pregnant, but I still had worked for eight hours at the local supermarket ringing up groceries and then worked another six hours in a bar serving drinks. My feet and back were aching, and I was so tired I could barely keep her eyes open. I knew as soon as I opened the door that Peter was home. Feeling the thick tension in the air, I headed straight for the kitchen, trying to avoid him. Just as I finished my glass of water, I knew he was there, standing behind me. The hair at my nape stood on end.” Sam paused, reached out for the mug of fresh tea Roan handed her, and sipped.

“Thanks,” she said and took a deep breath. Her body was tense, and each of the men with her offered her comfort in some small way. Justin was still stroking her hair and Roan reached for her free hand and enveloped it in his, while Chet sat close and rubbed her shoulder.

“He grabbed me by the hair and dragged me into our bedroom, causing me to cry out with pain and fear. Pushing at him to get him to release me was utterly futile and only further exacerbated his rage. He cursed me and threw me at the bed, and when I tried to scramble away from him, he pinned me in place. Then the accusations began.

“He accused me of having an affair, of running around behind his back, spreading my legs for every male in the city. If the notion hadn’t been so ludicrous, I would have laughed. When was I supposed to have found the time or energy to go cavorting around with other men when I worked two jobs? And I realized after a moment I had actually asked that question out loud.

“Peter didn’t reply. Instead he started hitting me. He cursed me for holding him back and told me he hated my guts. He was smart about his abuse. He didn’t hit my face where any of the bruises could be seen. It didn’t matter anyway, because I didn’t leave our home for three days. After punching me in the stomach and chest, he packed up his belongings and then left the apartment without a backward glance or care for my condition.” Her breath hitched on a sob, and she closed her eyes for a moment to regain control.

“We’re with you, honey. You’re all right now,” Justin said quietly and rubbed her back.

“It took me thirty minutes to make my way into the bathroom, and I stood under the warm water in the shower crying my eyes out as I lost my newly formed baby. I collapsed to the floor with such agony and grief. How long I spent sitting on the floor of the shower I have no idea. I only remember the cold water finally penetrating my pain-filled heart and body, and I literally crawled from the cubicle. I existed in a catatonic state of grief and pain for days on end, but I finally came to terms with my loss, pulled myself together, and began to live again.”

Roan moved from his chair and began to pace the kitchen. She couldn’t see his eyes as his head was lowered, but she could see the muscle in his jaw ticking, and his fists were clenched.

Chet’s body had hardened with tension, and he was gripping the edge of the table with his fingers so hard that his knuckles were white. She wasn’t prepared to look at Justin but wondered why they were so angry. She was the one who had been abused and lost her baby, not them.

“I know I should have gone to seek medical help, but I was so humiliated at what my husband did to me, I didn’t see anyone. It took me three days to be able to move without hunching over, and by that time I had lost both my jobs.

“I eventually sought out medical attention and was told I was lucky that my reproductive organs hadn’t been affected by the attack. Of course I told my doctor I had been mugged, since I didn’t want to see sympathy or pity in those kind eyes.

“Peter sent me divorce papers and our divorce was finalized in quick succession. What I didn’t realize was that my husband had spread the word amongst his seedy work colleagues at the large insurance company he worked for, saying that I would spread my legs for anyone.

“I found another job and was working in a small café, barely earning enough to pay the rent, and the door knocking started. I was so scared to find strange men standing outside my apartment door leering at me until I slammed the door closed in their faces. After questioning one man about why he was at my door, he apologized for harassing me and he told me what Peter had done.

“Most of the men must have received the message, because in the end I just didn’t bother to answer the door at all. But there was one man who kept persisting, and I was scared by the cold, evil look in his eyes. He introduced himself as Gerard Long, and every week after that, without fail, he would pound on my door until I called the police on him. Things were quiet for a while, but then he started up again.

“Only this time he somehow managed to get ahold of my phone number and used to whisper all the nasty things he wanted to do to me through the phone. He was such a sick individual and he scared me so much that I packed up my stuff, ended the lease on the apartment, and left town.

“I worked from town to town, state to state, until I arrived in Aztec,” she stated emotionlessly and took a deep breath. Now that she was finally finished, she was totally exhausted and emotionally drained. Her eyelids were too heavy to keep open, and she snuggled into Justin and gave up the fight.

* * * *

“Fuck. Our little mate has been to hell and back,” Justin said quietly, careful not to wake his precious bundle. He rubbed his cheek over the top of her head and inhaled her exquisite citrus-peach scent.

“If I ever get my hands on her ex, I’m going to rip him apart,” Roan said in a deep growl.

“I can’t believe…Why…? Fuck!” Chet exclaimed in anger.

“I don’t know. But we have to protect her. One of us is to be with her at all times,” Justin commanded. “I don’t care how much she argues, she isn’t to be left alone.”

“Do you think the guy who was watching her at the motel is the one who’s stalking her?”

“We won’t know for sure until we run a check on Gerard, which we’ll do first thing in the morning. For now I think we should get out mate into bed. She needs to rest. She’s so tired she has dark smudges under her eyes.”

“You’re right. Let’s take her to my room. At least with her cuddled up between us we’ll know if she has nightmares or doesn’t sleep through the night. Besides, I want her next to me,” Justin explained as he rose to his feet and carried her to his room, careful not to jostle Sam too much and wake her.

He gently placed her in the middle of his large bed, and his brothers helped him get the robe off her, and then he slid in beside her. Roan got in on her other side, and Chet lay across the bottom of the mattress.

“Tomorrow night I get to sleep where you are, Roan,” Chet said firmly.

“Only if Sam doesn’t put up a fuss over sleeping with us,” Roan replied quietly.

“I won’t,” Sam whispered and rolled over into Justin’s embrace. “I feel safe here.”

Justin smiled and looked down at Sam. She had her head resting on his shoulder and her arm over his chest. As she slid back into sleep, her breathing deepened and evened out once more. Roan moved up close to her back until he was spooning her. Chet was probably touching one of her legs or feet. It was a wolf trait to want to be touching the people they loved, especially their mate.

She was such a tiny little thing compared to him and his brothers, but she felt so right being here, in his arms. She trusted them. That was a good start. He just hoped after they told her what they were she would still feel the same way about them.

* * * *

Sam was fighting against waking. She was so warm and content she didn’t want to surface to face another day. Shifting her legs, she froze when they connected with hard bodies. Sighing, she remembered Justin had placed her into his bed and Roan and Chet had got in as well. No wonder she was so hot. She was surrounded by three tall, muscular, handsome men. She didn’t want to wake up, because reality would then intrude and she would have to get up.

Today was her first day to start work at the Aztec Club, and even though she looked forward to earning money and being financially independent again, she was too comfortable to want to move.

“Morning, honey.” Justin’s deep cadence broke the silence. “How are you feeling?”

Sam lifted her head and squinted through sleep-heavy lids, her gaze connecting with his.

“I’m good.”

“Glad to hear it, sweetness. Do you want some coffee?” Roan asked from behind her and nuzzled her neck.

“That would be nice.”

“Why don’t you go take a shower, darlin’, and by the time you’re done the coffee should be ready,” Chet suggested.

“Hmm-mmm, sounds good.”

“What do you usually have for breakfast, honey?”

“Just coffee.”

“Well, that’s going to change starting now,” Justin stated firmly. “You need to start your day off right, honey. Come on, up and at ’em, daylight’s burning.”

“Okay,” Sam replied and shivered when the covers were pulled away from her body.
Shit! I’m naked, when did that happen?
Then she remembered her crying jag and telling these three men about how she had ended up in Aztec. She had fallen asleep on Justin, and he had carried her to his bed. He must have removed her robe so she would sleep more comfortably.

“God, you’re sexy, darlin’,” Chet said in a deep, gravelly voice.

“Uh, thanks.” She felt her cheeks heat.

“You don’t need to be embarrassed, sweetheart. Your little body is beautiful and perfect,” Roan rasped.

“Go on, honey. Go and get your shower,” Justin suggested and helped her up.

Sam snatched the robe from the floor and quickly covered her body, suddenly feeling very shy. She didn’t care that her hands were hidden in the folds of material as she left for the bathroom. What worried her the most was that she could smell her own arousal. God, she hoped they couldn’t scent how much she wanted them.

“I think we should tell Sam after breakfast,” Roan said as he pulled the bacon from the grill. “Have Michelle on standby in case we need her help.”

“I’ve already contacted Jonah, and he has Michelle, Keira, and Talia ready to step in if need be,” Justin replied.

“Good,” Chet said. “Fuck, I can’t believe how nervous I am. I know we need to let her know what we are, but I’m so fucking worried about how she’s going to react.”

“React about what?” Sam asked as she entered the room.

“Hi, sweetness, you’re just in time for breakfast. Sit down and we can all eat.” Roan began to take the plates over to the table.

After breakfast was done, Sam got up to clear the table, but Roan halted her by placing his hand around her wrist.

“Sit down, sweetness, we need to talk.”

“Have I done something wrong?” Sam asked Roan with a worried expression.

“No, Sam. We just need to explain a few things to you. Do you want more coffee?” He put off the inevitable for a moment.