Overcoming His Pride (8 page)

Chen chirped his agreement. They would take care of their mate and his son.

Marlen added his own song.

“Good. Andrew will let you out when he comes. I can’t take the chance she’ll see you.”

The sound of the door opening was followed by the crackle of broken bones. With her injuries, changing from human to lion must’ve been excruciating, but she didn’t complain.

The soft padding of lion paws headed away from them, leaving them in silence.

Chapter Five

“Where are they?” Andrew paced back and forth. His lovers had vanished into the motel with Juliet. Talan had grabbed Andrew when he’d tried to run after his mates.

“We have to be cautious,” Talan said.

The sound of a roar echoed through the air.

“I know you’re out there. Come and get your birds if you can,” a woman screamed. Her words ended on a screech worthy of a bird shifter.

“This bitch is mine!” Lou stripped down then shifted. He let out a challenging growl.

“Lou,” Talan said.

The large grizzly turned to face the alpha.

“Be careful. James won’t like it if you get killed.”

The grizzly chuffed his amusement.

“Yeah, I know she’s only a cat.”

Andrew bit his lip. His mates were missing and James’ mate was going into trouble. He turned to Talan. “What do you want me to do?”

“Honestly, I want you to stay put. I don’t want the wrens to be upset with me if you’re injured. I like my eyes just where they are. Keep an eye on things. If she has backup, you can start trying out your rifle.”

“Are you going in?”

Talan shook his head. “I’m not going to get in Lou’s way. It’s his mate and he deserves to rescue him. If it looks like he’s being overpowered, then I’ll do something.”

Andrew lifted his binoculars to watch the encounter.

“I wasn’t sure about you, Doc, but I have to say you’re growing on me,” Talan said.

“Glad to hear it.” Andrew knew the alpha disliked how he’d managed James’ shifting, but Talan hadn’t been there when his young son had screamed from the pain. Or when James had almost been stuck in a half-shifted shape.

Talan chuckled and patted Andrew on the back. “You don’t care if I like you or not. You only care how I treat your son. That’s why I like you.”

Andrew shook his head. He’d never understand shifters.

Turning his attention back to the trouble at hand, he watched the psycho she-lion transform into her animal form and attack Lou. She had to be crazy. Lions were strong, but they weren’t bear strong. Lou swiped at the lion, sending her flying across the open field in front of the motel. Andrew watched her stand back up and attack again. Another lion emerged from the house and stood between Lou and his opponent.

Andrew dropped the binoculars and readied the gun. Before he had the sight lined up, the new lion attacked the alpha lion instead of Lou. Andrew’s jaw dropped open as the lions battled and the sounds of low growls and high-pitched screams reached them. Andrew didn’t know which lion he should shoot. They mixed together in a swirl of fur and claws.

One lion threw the other against the tree and when she turned to attack again, Lou swiped her with his claws and ripped open her chest. She lay still.

There were no second chances when it came to stealing a bear’s mate. The lions changed back. Lou’s attacker reverted into an unknown woman while the lion by the tree shifted into Andrew’s ex-wife. Cursing, Andrew dropped his gun and ran down the hill. He needed answers.

He reached the lions and dropped to his knees beside Juliet. “Where is he?”

It took a moment for her gold eyes to focus.

“Asleep.” She clutched at his shirt. “Watch over James. Tell him I love him.”

“Then why did you leave us?”

“Because she made me. I was supposed to get pregnant. I wasn’t supposed to love you both.” Her fingers tumbled away and the light dimmed from her eyes.

“Juliet,” Andrew whispered, wondering what had happened to her. He stroked her cheek. Tears dripped down his face and regret stabbed at him with sharp knives of bittersweet memories.

A large hand gripped his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Andrew nodded. He stood and carefully didn’t look directly at the naked bear shifter.

“Eventually you will get used to us being naked,” he rumbled.

“Somehow I don’t think so,” Andrew said. Brushing past Lou, he entered the small motel room. Loud chirping led him to a pillowcase tied off with a bit of rope. It took him a few minutes to unravel the binding and free the birds. The small wrens chirped happily up at him. “Hello, my mates.”

Relief coursed through him. They didn’t appear injured and no feathers were out of place.

In a blink, he became the centre of a wren sandwich. He relaxed against them. Glancing over, he saw Lou leaning over an unconscious James.

“I’ve got to check on my son.” The wrens released him immediately. They knew of his need to watch over his boy.

“Is he all right?” Lou asked. He hovered over James as if worried about touching him.

Andrew checked James’ vitals and nodded. “She just knocked him out. He doesn’t appear to be having any bad side effects. I think he can just sleep it off.”

“Good.” Lou picked up his mate in his muscular arms. Andrew didn’t get another word in as the bear shifter left the room with his prize.

Talan patted Andrew on the back. “Take your mates home. We’ll call you if there’s any change.

Chapter Six

Marlen smiled. He couldn’t help it. His two favourite people in the world were lying in bed together. They weren’t doing anything yet except smiling at each other and kissing between conversations, but for a wren, having everyone in his nest was a present of the highest level.

“Are you going to stand there and smile all night or are you going to strip down and join us? I warn you there is a no clothing standard for this bed,” Andrew teased. After two weeks of breaking apart the other pride and uncovering all her nefarious actions, they’d been too tired to do much to further their bond.

They had gone to the pride home of Andrew’s ex and had found female lions locked in cages. They’d been bred, then their cubs were sold to bring money to the pride house. Their conditions had been inhumane. Talan had turned them over to the shifter authorities to handle. The women needed counselling and places where they could feel safe. Some of them had watched their mates be killed when they’d challenged the alpha female.

Marlen pretended to pout. “What about my flannel jammies?”

“If you ever get anything flannel, I will burn it,” Chen vowed.

“But I get cold.” Marlen batted his eyelashes.

Andrew laughed. “Come here, little bird, I’ll keep you warm, though I think you probably have more body heat than I do.”

That was an invitation he couldn’t resist. He climbed on top of the bed and snuggled against Andrew.

“Are you going to claim me anytime soon?” Andrew asked.

Marlen lifted his head. “Why? Are you missing the connection?” He didn’t dare hope their human could feel the mate bond.

“I think so.” Andrew frowned. “I feel more connected to Chen and I think it is because he and I have bonded, but we haven’t.”

“O-okay.” Marlen didn’t top. Ever. Chen had been kind when he said Marlen didn’t do it often. Wren shifters only had to be claimed by one member of the nest but apparently humans were different. Since Andrew couldn’t bond with Marlen, he had to step up to the plate and do the honours.

Chen gave him an encouraging smile. “It’ll be all right. Hey, Andrew could probably give you a blow job and get the same result.”

“You think?” Marlen’s anxiety eased a bit.

“Do I get a vote?” Andrew asked.

“What is your vote?” Marlen asked, curious.

Andrew trailed his hand down Marlen’s chest. “I want you to do me.”

“Okay. If-if you’re sure.”

“I’m positive.”

“Here, babe.” Chen handed over the lube.

Marlen fumbled with the cap and would’ve dropped it if Andrew hadn’t snatched it out of the air and handed it back. “Great reflexes.”

“Thanks.”

Marlen’s fingers shook. He didn’t know why. Andrew already belonged to them and he showed no signs of distress over the thought of Marlen fucking him.

“No problem, how do you want me?”

“On top and fucking me deep,” Marlen replied, trying to hide the nerves trembling through him.

Andrew pulled Marlen close. “If you truly don’t want to do this. I won’t make you. It’s supposed to be pleasurable for everyone.”

“No.” Marlen scooted back. “I have to do this. You’re mine.” He shot a quick glance at Chen. “Ours. I want everyone to know.”

Everyone, being shifters. The wrens never worried about humans trying to snatch Andrew up. They could take care of any humans.

“I’ll prep him,” Chen offered. He kissed Marlen, a hard, reassuring peck on the lips.

“It’s not so horrible, I promise.” Andrew smiled.

A ghost of a grin hovered on Marlen’s mouth but didn’t dare materialise. “I know.”

He was being foolish. He’d never wanted to top anyone before, but Andrew called to him. He’d already touched his human mate every other way, he didn’t want this to be a stopping point.

Andrew cupped Marlen’s cock. Rubbing the soft skin with the palm of his hand, coaxing the shaft to its full glory. “According to Chen, I have a tight ass.”

He grunted when Chen pushed a finger into him.

“You do,” Chen affirmed. “Now relax so I can prep you. We don’t want you hurt.”

Chen often did that, spoke for them both. Marlen nodded his agreement as he often did.

“I love you both.”

Andrew’s heartfelt words gripped Chen’s heart. He was being stupid. Andrew wanted him. Chen had been with him for years and neither of them were upset he hadn’t topped before.

“We know,” Chen and Marlen said together.

Andrew laughed. “Then claim me and make me yours.”

He cupped Andrew’s face. “I might not be as alpha as Chen, but I will never leave you, never betray you and I will love you forever.”

It was Andrew’s turn to smile. “I know, my sweet bird. I know.”

“He’s ready.”

Marlen flashed Chen a grateful smile. His hands shook too much to prep Andrew on his own. Having Chen help made all the difference. Letting his gaze sweep across his mate, Marlen couldn’t help smiling.

“Our nest is finally complete.” He sighed with satisfaction. “Could you lie on your back and face me?”

He needed that connection. Staring into Andrew’s grey eyes and knowing his mate desired this coupling would ease his fears more than anything else.

“Of course.”

Andrew’s steady smile and understanding expression warmed Marlen.

His erection returned to full mast. Andrew’s body wasn’t the sleek wren shape he was used to loving on. Instead, he had a more solid feel. Andrew was their tree. The base they could always fly back to.

“I love you,” Marlen said. “I love you both.”

Chen kissed him. The wren’s touch always made Marlen ache. His heart overwhelmed him with emotion.

“Here, this will help.” Chen slid a pillow beneath Andrew’s ass, elevating him at a better angle for Marlen.

Andrew slid his hand up his erection. “Don’t make me start without you.”

Marlen grinned. “As long as you don’t finish without me, that’s all right.”

He pushed inside his lover’s body, his cock trudging through territory he would’ve sworn had never been breached if he hadn’t seen Chen take Andrew.

“Oh fuck, you’re tight. I’m not going to last.”

Andrew’s chuckle vibrated along his cock and only made things worse.

Grunts fell out of Marlen and words tumbled like rocks rolling about to be polished, rubbing against each other with little care.

“Now!” Chen commanded.

Marlen’s body responded to his lover’s command and he spilled inside their mate. Andrew quickly followed. He groaned as he slid out of Andrew’s volcanic heat. “I could live in there.”

“That might be a bit uncomfortable after a while.” Andrew opened his arms and Marlen snuggled in, Chen on the other side.

“We need to shower,” Chen muttered.

“You don’t need to,” Marlen said.

“Yeah, I came when you did,” he confessed.

“Good. I like it when we do things together.” Marlen kissed Andrew’s chest then lifted up and brushed his lips against Chen’s cheek.

“When did you want to look at property?” Chen asked.

Andrew lifted his head. “What property?”

“We’ve been buying plots around town to build the perfect nest,” Chen said.

Andrew frowned. “Plots? As in several?”

“Well we didn’t know which one you might like,” Marlen said. He didn’t want Andrew to think they hadn’t cared about his opinion.

“It’s a wren thing. Typically we’d go ahead and have several houses built, but because you live in an apartment, we weren’t certain of your style. And since you’re human, we thought you might want to pick a couple different types to see which one is your favourite.”

Andrew’s tone sounded a little odd when he asked. “Why don’t you just build one house?”

Chen and Marlen sat up and glared at their mate. “We would never do that,” Chen snarled. “It would show disrespect to only give you one choice.”

Marlen nodded his agreement.

“Oh. I was just thinking about the cost.”

Marlen laughed. “Wrens save their entire lives for this.”

“Like a nest egg?” Andrew asked.

“Exactly!” Marlen didn’t know why his mate found that so amusing.

“What do you do with the extra houses?” Andrew asked.

“Sell them. Wrens are great at real estate.” It was one of the number one jobs for wren shifters, it just didn’t appeal to either of them.

Andrew pulled them both back down to snuggle. “I look forward to seeing my choices.”

Marlen smiled. They’d known as soon as they saw him that Andrew would make a proper mate. Chen rubbed his arm, cherishing their connection.

Yes, it was worth a little stalking to finally get their Andrew. Satisfied, deep in his bones, Marlen slipped into sleep. Tomorrow would be early enough to tell Andrew they wanted children.