Hers (9 page)

“Gwen, why the hell didn’t you tell me?” The brown
haired man grabbed Gwen as he yelled at her.

Gwen shook her arm out of his hold.
“Because I didn’t want this.”’
She pointed to John, Philip,
and Mr. Brown Hair.

This time the man grabbed Gwen with both hands and
shook her. “You should have told me. I looked like a fool out there. Everyone
could tell they’re your true mates.”

Philip and John each grabbed a hand and removed it
from Mr. Brown Hair, who turned glowing yellow eyes on them and growled. “Let
me go.”
 

Crap!
Sammy
thought. She couldn’t let Sandy’s brothers get killed on her wedding day.
Without thinking Sammy stood in front of Mr. Brown Hair, placing her hands on
his rock solid chest and pushed Philip and John back until they let go. “Don’t
even think about it. This is Sandy’s wedding and those are her brothers, so
don’t start anything. You need to remember that there are a lot of humans
around, and they don’t know what you are.”

Mr. Brown Hair’s eyes narrowed down on her, and he
sneered. “Are you going to stop me, little human?”

It was then that the situation she was in sank in, and
she stared way up into a very angry face. Sammy let her hands drop from his
muscled chest as she felt hands come and rest on her shoulders. Sammy felt her
mind shut down, and she shrank back terrified. She couldn’t do this again. What
had she been thinking? She wasn’t strong enough.

“We will if you don’t take your hands off our mate,
Steven.” Brock’s voice snapped her back to the here-and-now as the hands were
removed, and Brock lifted the shifter and turned him so he was face to face.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Steven? Sammy is terrified. You don’t
treat women that way.”

Mr. Brown Hair now had a name: Steven. “All I did
was put my hands on her shoulder.”

Steven pushed at Brock, and Slater came up behind
Steven as Brock dropped him. “That doesn’t explain why she was terrified. She
clearly didn’t want you to touch her. Surely you could smell that just as you
can smell the lust and connection pouring off my sister and her mates.”

Steven straightened his suit and glared at Brock.
“Your little mate that you haven’t claimed came into a conversation that had
nothing to do with her.”

Getting her confidence back, knowing that Brock and Slater
wouldn’t let anything happen to her, Sammy squared her shoulders and shot an
annoyed look at Gwen, who’d stood there the whole time not saying anything. “I
came to help stop a fight. I also didn’t like the way you shook Gwen.”

Steven turned and
came
face
to furious face with Slater. He pushed at him. “I wouldn’t ever hurt Gwen. I’m
just wanted to understand why she didn’t tell me she had mates. Why she didn’t
tell me so I didn’t introduce myself as her fiancé when I clearly am not.”

Gwen sighed and came forward to stand next to Sammy.
“Steven, you know my mother. You know how she’ll feel when she learns I have
two humans for mates, especially after what I did with
Matty’s
father.”

Steven glanced around them like he was checking to
see who was watching and listening. “Your mother is a bitch.” Steven ran his
fingers through his hair. “We have been friends for years, Gwen. All you had to
do was tell me. I’ll help in whatever way you need. I’ll play this game, but
eventually you’re going to have to tell Adele, because I’ll be your fiancé for
however long you need me, but I will not say ‘I do’ now I know you have true
mates.”

Gwen smiled and came forward and pushed Slater out
of the way to hug Steven. “Thanks.”

Steven kissed Gwen’s forehead. “I’m going to go home
now. Tell your parents I had an emergency at work. Call me if you need me.”

Gwen nodded, and Steven turned to Brock and Slater.
“You need to claim your mate. She’s vulnerable as a human.” Steven turned to
Sammy. “I’m sorry I scared you. I would never have hurt you. I’m glad Gwen has
a friend like you willing to stick up for her if anything did go wrong.” He
then turned to Philip and John, who stood to the side of Gwen. “Be patient with
Gwen and stay clear of Adele, because she will kill you.” And with that he
walked away and out of the functions hall.

Sammy felt like she was about to collapse. All her
bravado left her. Slater must have sensed it because his arms came around her
waist, and he held her up.

“You did good, beautiful, but don’t do anything so
stupid again. Gwen is a shifter. She can look after herself. Steven’s a shifter,
and you have to be more careful. Come on. Let’s go back inside before someone
misses us all.”

Slater practically carried her back to the function
room.
 
Sammy stayed quiet, too mentally
exhausted to tell Slater off for speaking to her like he did, or for telling
her what to do. Sammy was proud of herself that she stood up for her friend and
that she had the strength to accomplish it. She’d been just like her old self
when she had gone after Sandy’s brothers and stood in front of Gwen. It wasn’t
until Steven made her realize he was bigger and stronger than she was that
she’d gotten scared.

Sammy sat at the bridal table the rest of the night,
switching between telling herself she’d done the right thing and she couldn’t
live in the shadows afraid of everything for the rest of her life, and then berating
herself that she was a fool and if she kept acting like she was invincible she
would get beat up and killed this time.

Gwen left early, and Sammy noticed that Sandy’s
brothers weren’t too far behind. Brock came and sat next to her. At first he
just sat and held her hand. Then he told her that his mother and father were
driving him crazy and had started talking about retiring and if he wanted to
take over his father’s construction business. Brock’s smooth deep voice soothed
her, and she relaxed back into her seat and gripped his hand tighter.
 

Slater came and sat on her other side. He was quiet
for a while as Brock explained what buildings his father’s company had built
and what was involved.
 

“I love your voice. That’s twice now you’ve talked
me out of going off to my safe place.” Sammy faced Brock for a moment. “I told
Slater yesterday you surprised me because I thought you would be the one of the
two who would scare me, with your dominance, large frame, outspokenness and the
fact you’re a cop, but you’re the one who calms me and has the patience.” She
turned back so she could see both Slater and Brock. “It‘s Slater who pushes my
buttons and has gotten to me.”

“I would never hurt you physically. I said that last
night.” Slater leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. “Come dance with
me.”

Slater pulled her up, and she laughed as he wiggled
his butt as she followed behind him. The music was current dance music. Sammy
looked around the dance floor and noticed all the young people moving around.
Jane was shimmying against a tall, dark, and handsome man, and Sandy, Jake, and
Zack were giggling about.

Slater danced with her for a couple of songs before
Sandy pulled her and Jane over to do the chicken dance. By the end of the song
Sammy was laughing so hard at Slater’s attempt to skip around she’d completely
forgotten about her exhausted, scared state from earlier after what she’d done
to help Gwen.

After a couple of slow songs and trying to convince
Brock to come and dance she took a break and sat by him.

Brock grinned at her. “I liked watching you have
fun.” He turned to Slater. “It was even better watching you make an idiot out
of yourself.”

Slater winked at her. “I thought I looked good.”

Sammy giggled as a picture of his skipping came to
mind. “I had fun.”

Brock pulled her over so she sat on his lap. “I have
something we can all do together. Why don’t you come to the gym with us this
week? Brock and I are taking over self-defense classes, so Zack and Jake can go
on their honeymoon and they can relax when they come home and focus on Sandy
having the babies.”

“I don’t know. I’m not a fan of violence. I don’t
know how I’d do with all that fighting going on around me.”

Slater reached for her hand and squeezed it. “That’s
fine if you don’t want to do it, but
it’s
self-defense. We don’t teach you how to fight. We teach you how to defend
yourself. So if someone tried to hurt you and we weren’t around, you could
defend yourself and maybe prevent yourself from being hurt or give you time to
get away.”
 

“Um, I suppose I could give it a go. I know Jane
goes, and she loves it.”

“Slater can pick you up and bring you to the first
class on Tuesday,” Brock said.

“Sounds good.
I
look…” Sammy trailed off as a short, plump, dark skinned woman with black hair
came over with a tall blond man who looked just like Slater. The woman had a
huge smile on her face, and her eyes were alight with tears.

“You must be Sammy. I’ve heard so much about you.”
The woman pulled Sammy up from Brock’s lap. “I tell you I was losing hope that
any of my boys would find a mate. You see I always wanted a daughter, but fate
gave me three strapping boys instead. I wanted more, but Daren said three was
enough.” The woman kissed her cheek and stroked Sammy’s hair.
 
“Hopefully you’ll give me grandkids soon. I
may even get some granddaughters.”

“Mum. Stop. You’re embarrassing Sammy.”

Slater’s mother still held her close. “I’m not
embarrassing you, am I?”

Sammy glanced between Slater, whose cheeks were red
and his eyes filled with embarrassment, to Brock, who was smiling and staring at
the situation with clear envy. Sammy turned back to Slater’s mum, with her eyes
that were bright and cheerful. She had laugh lines around them like she laughed
and enjoyed herself a lot. Her smile was full and genuine, and she held Sammy with
a warmth
she remembered from her own mother.

“No. You’re not embarrassing me. It’s nice to meet
you. Yes, I’m Samantha Gardener, but you can call me Sammy.”

If possible Slater’s mother’s smile widened.
“Hi, Sammy.
I’m Abigail, Slater’s mother.
And
this.”
Abigail nodded to the blond beside her. “Is Daren, Slater’s
father.
You can call us Mum and Dad. I would love it if you
would.”

Sammy fell instantly in love with Abigail. Sammy looked
to Slater’s dad to see him staring at his wife with such love and
devotion,
it made Sammy realize she wanted a man, well men,
Slater and Brock in particular, to look at her that way. “I would love to call
you that. Are you sure it’s okay, Mr. Bear?”

Daren sighed. “Please. I would love to be called Dad.
Mr. Bear reminds me of my brothers, or uncles. You’re also
family
now.” He grinned and winked at her. “Plus, I feel the same as my wife. I’m
ready for grandkids. I hear they are even better than your own because you can
play with them, hype them up, and hand them back to their parents.”

Slater groaned. “Mum, Dad, we haven’t even discussed
children. Sammy might not want any.”

Abigail gasped, and her gaze darted from her son to
Sammy.

Sammy raised her hands in surrender at the look on
Abigail’s face. “I want children. Not right now, but I would like some.”

Abigail almost bounced with happiness. “Oh this is
great. I’ll see you at our house on Friday to celebrate. It was a joy to meet
you, and I look forward to seeing you on Friday.” Without letting Sammy
respond, she let her go, put her arm in her husband’s, and almost skipped off.

“I’m so sorry about my parents. They mean well, but
my mother is full on.” Slater moaned.

Brock grunted. “I wish I’d grown up with your
parents.”

“Don’t apologize. I fell instantly in love with your
mum. I’m looking forward to Friday.” Sammy went over to Brock and hugged him.
“I’m sure your mother
is loving
to you.”

Brock pulled her so she sat on his lap, and he
hugged her tight. “No, she’s not. Remember I told you I was brought up by nannies.
Gwen gets most of her attention. And she loves and is great with little Matty,
but me, Blake, and Brian, she never seemed to warm up to. Zack got babied
before he went into the army, but after Zack did that she didn’t have much to
do with him.”

“I thought Mama
bears
were
protective and loved their young?” Sammy didn’t know if she should have asked
Brock that, but she was curious.

Brock shrugged and nodded to Slater. “No. My mother
and Jake’s mother, who are both bears, seem to be missing that gene. Slater’s
mother has it, but she’s human. Aunt Grace has it and the other mothers in the
family, but mine it skipped.” Brock kissed her forehead. “I will say this
though. She is that way with Matty, and she’s very excited about Susie’s and
Sandy’s babies.”

The music stopped, and the announcer’s voice
interrupted Sammy’s reply as he said, “The bride and grooms are leaving and
starting their honeymoon.”

 
Everyone
stood and cheered as Sandy, Jake, and Zack left the reception.