Page 26 of Doubly Claimed

Chapter 10

Fucking shit. How could this all go so wrong? Misha’s Kodiak Bear was snarling up a storm while Ross tried to gloss over much of what had occurred between them and their mate last night. He was lucky, he supposed, to be part of an Alpha Omega Triad, lucky to have Ross to do the smooth talking. His beast pushed at him to simply grab her, kiss her, and fuck her into submission.

But judging from the way her eyes snapped to his face, one copper brow arched in annoyance, he doubted that would be successful. Fun, yes, but it would not solve the issue at hand. Which was pretty much why he didn’t want Witches or normals involved in this Triad Council business. Fucking hell.

Fear he did not want to acknowledge started to rise inside of him. What if she walked away from them both? What then?

Easy, Ross said, pushing calm at the Alpha. But it wasn’t that easy. Now that he had a taste of her, he could never live without her.

Need her. Mine. Mate. Ours.

The matebond they’d started pulsed and squeezed. The link between them was thin, new, but it would strengthen and grow over time. If only she would give them time, he thought.

Please gods.

“So,” Ginger began, and his attention turned to her.

His heart squeezed and dick throbbed beneath the boxers she’d had them both put on. It would be like that every time he was near her from now on. Shit. If she was going to be near them, that is. He couldn’t even handle thinking what would happen if she refused them.

Tension had his entire body vibrating, but he felt Ross brush against his mind. The man was no less desperate for their mate, but he was an Omega, and it was in his nature to calm Misha’s beast. Everything was riding on what their sweet mate would say next.

“Okay, let me just see if I understand what you are saying. Moongate Island is a Shifter run territory that has only recently allowed normals, that’s what you all call humans, to visit. Stein Resorts is also run by a group of supernaturals, and they sponsor the Council of Triads meeting every year?” her voice hitched, and the men both felt her rising tension.

Fuck. Ross nodded. This was not going the way they had planned, but they remained silent. Waiting for her to clue them in on where and how to help. Misha did not enjoy waiting. His Bear fucking hated it. But he would do anything for her. Even tell his Bear to fuck off.

“So, you guys are a Triad pair, and you think I am your third, and the boinking last night was you claiming me. So now you what, own me? Is that correct? I’m a piece of fucking property now!”

Okay, yeah. This was all fucked. Ross was quick to correct her assumptions, but Misha was not as patient. He got up and lifted her off the chair, cradling her close despite her struggles, and sat down on the couch, with her in his lap. Ross sat next to him and for one joyous moment, she stilled. Her tear-filled eyes met his, and Misha’s Bear growled sadly.

“Please, love, it isn’t like that,” Ross said and rubbed her arms, dropping kisses on her cheek and head. “We are Shifters, not animals. We don’t own you. We want to love you, to cherish you.”

“How can you say that? You don’t even know me,” she whispered, but her body lost some of its tension and Misha’s Bear grumbled happily.

“Ginger, maybe, if you permit it, I can explain some of our situation, and then you can decide for yourself what you want.”

Misha waited for her assent before he continued. Ross’ eyes met his, and he saw the man was shocked. Typically, Alpha’s did not explain, but for her, he would do anything. His partner smiled encouragingly, and he felt his Elk press against him in his mind’s eye. Giving him the strength and will to proceed.

This was the hardest thing he’d ever done. Sure, as Alpha, he’d waged battles and fought challenges. He’d nurtured and led his people the best way he knew how. But this time, his heart was on the line. Ross’ Elk bellowed and his own Bear echoed the sound. Without her they would very likely go mad, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Wouldn’t force their claim on her. Yes, she was their fated mate, but already they both had love in their hearts for the woman. It was her choice now.

“We are Shifters, like the ones you read about. Both of us are dual-natured beings, sharing our souls and swapping bodies with our animal spirits. Mine is a Kodiak Bear, Ross’ is a Roosevelt Elk.” She listened intently while Misha talked and it encouraged him to continue. “We are the ruling Alpha and Omega pair of our small Clan on Kodiak Island, off the coast of Alaska. Because of where we are, our Clan differs from most. We have many species of Shifter we protect, guide, and care for. Of course, having our own schoolteacher as an Alpha mate would mean so much to our little ones.”

“You have littles?

“Yes, love. And someday, our own,” Misha grunted, his cock hardened just picturing her swollen with their cubs. Any offspring would be the product of their love, a child of them all. Raised in love by three parents. As he’d been raised.

“Others tend to group by species, all Wolves, or all Bears, like that,” Ross explained and tucked a strand of her fiery, red hair behind her ear.

She nodded her head, and Misha went on. The fact she was allowing him to hold her while he spoke, with her back leaning against Ross, made them both aware of how right this was. Ginger was comfortable with the two of them, and that was half the battle. Normals didn’t mate in triads, and he was afraid she’d scoff at the idea. For all her passion the night before, he wasn’t sure if she could handle the idea of mating two of them.

“Shifters have fated mates, and with us, well, we are part of a Triad. That means we’d share our mate.”

“You mean me?” she asked.

“Yes, love.” Ross nodded.

“Yes, I mean you. You are our fated mate, Ginger, and I am so sorry we didn’t think to ask you if you knew all this last night. We’d assumed you went through some kind of orientation. The Witches told Callan and Landry all the humans who’d been invited were aware of why they were here,” he rushed to explain, “but that is no excuse. We shouldn’t have been thinking with our dicks.”

She snorted a laugh and wiped her eyes. Her scent was a mixture of confusion, desire, and the now familiar strawberries and cream essence that was her. But with it now were notes of his and Ross’ musk. She’d been marked and claimed, but she didn’t really know what that meant.