He reached over and picked up one of the raspberry scones that Caleb had made for breakfast. He took a bite and sighed. Fate had known what she was doing when she sent Caleb to them. He looked up and smiled at the painting that now hung on the wall of his office. It was one of the first that Caleb had finished when he was able to set some time aside to paint.
It was of Kate, dressed in a skimpy fifties-style blue polka dot bikini. Damn, he loved that painting. The man was a freaking genius. He briefly wondered if he could bribe him into doing more. He was suddenly overcome with the need to see his beautiful mate. He stood and stretched his legs. The invoices would be there when he got back.
He passed the den, where Cecelia and a recovering Gina sat with Landon and Lucas. Some of the other pack children sat with them entertaining the boys, who seemed more like tiny princes with their court than babies. Gina and Cecelia, who were both in the education program at the local college, were using this as experience to finish their papers for their Child Development class. Both girls hoped to graduate soon and teach at the local elementary school.
After coming home, Gina and Cecelia had taken over watching the boys from Rian, who pouted, but Bran thought the lion was secretly glad to have some of his nights back. That didn’t mean that Rian didn’t stop by at all hours to make sure his nephews were doing well. Bran waved at Gina before making his way to the dining room. He smiled. There was his beautiful mate.
She was talking to Beverly about what formulas and foods were best for the twins. Ever since the attack on Gina, Beverly had completely changed her attitude toward Kate. The two could be seen all over the Pack house, listening to people and helping settle disputes. There was no dissension in the pack now. Everyone loved and respected Kate for how she had handled the hyena threat. She looked up and saw him watching. She winked and nodded toward the kitchen. He smiled and nodded.
He walked down the hallway from the dining room to the kitchen. Caleb was bent over a stainless steel bowl, mixing up what looked to be ground beef.
“Dinner I hope,” Bran said and Caleb looked up.
“Yup, Kate wanted meatloaf. I’m almost done. The boys?” He added about another cup of breadcrumbs.
“Gina and Cecelia have kidnapped them again. The twins are currently the center of attention in the den.”
“They are going to be heartbreakers. We should warn the pack now,” Caleb said, looking proud as he continued to mix the beef and crumb mixture. “Caleb, are you happy here?” Bran asked. He knew how he felt about how things turned out, but he wanted to make sure his other mate was happy as well.
Caleb looked up, surprised. “Of course I am. I’ve never had a home like this before. You, me, Kate, and the boys… that’s home to me. Being able to stay home with them, watching them grow, and being able to paint, I feel like all I have done is take. Like a mistress.” He put the formed meatloaf into the pan and put it in the oven.
Bran chuckled. “Then we’re both mistresses.”
Caleb looked up, confused.
“The Pack house is mine. It’s been in my family for generations, but the money, that is all Kate. It’s another reason that her old Alpha wanted to mate with her. To gain access to the trust fund her parents had left for her. We will just have to find a way to live with being kept men.” Bran sighed dramatically. He then peeked over at Caleb, was staring at him with his mouth open.
“No wonder she would roll her eyes every time I told you not to let her spend too much.” Caleb groaned.
“She doesn’t make a big deal out of it and not a lot of people know. She likes the idea that she’s running up my credit card. It makes her happy and I learned just to roll with it,” Bran said.
“She hardly ever buys anything for herself,” Caleb said, realizing exactly how selfless his mate was.
“She loves to shop, but only for others. If it weren’t for Rian, she would probably still be running around in the black sweatpants she commandeered from my closet the first day she was here. She simply doesn’t care about herself that way.” Bran rubbed his chin.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing Fate paired her with two men who will spoil her rotten,” Caleb said, putting the foil-wrapped potatoes in with the meatloaf.
“I have to admit, at first, I thought Fate had messed up this mating, but looking at everything that has happened, we really did need each other,” Bran surmised quietly.
A throat cleared behind them.
“Um, sir… Kate asked me to tell your presence, both of you, has been requested in the master bedroom,” Riley said, turning pink.
Bran looked at Caleb and both of them broke into a run, dashing past Riley, who had began to laugh. They ran past the dining room.
“You better treat that girl right,” Bran heard Beverly say as they sprinted by.
“Go get her, Alpha!” was one of the catcalls he heard as they jockeyed their way up the stairs. They turned the corner and headed down the hallway to see Rian walking toward them. They side-stepped the man.
“You two so owe me,” Rian said, continuing his way downstairs.
They both hit the door at the same time and burst into the bedroom.
Both men skidded to a stop and stood staring at the scene in front of them. Kate had turned the lights down and lit candles all over the room. There was a lingering scent of vanilla and jasmine in the air from the candles. Kate lay in the middle of their bed, which was now covered in satin sheets, reclining back on her elbows. Her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders in waves and she wore a delicate emerald-green nightie. The top was an intricate mix of green satin and ivory ribbons and the bottom was high-cut shorts that showed off her long legs to perfection.
Bran quickly shut the door behind them and locked it, not wanting anything to interrupt this time that Kate had set aside. Both men stepped forward, reaching for their shirt hems. She smiled at them and wagged her finger at them and then pouted.
“Won’t you strip for me?” she asked, smiling shyly and playing the innocent role to the hilt. Both men froze then looked at each other and smiled.
Caleb pulled his shirt over his head, stretching and exposing his perfect six-pack and broad chest. He dropped his shirt before reaching for his jeans. He popped the button and eased the zipper down. He looked up at her through his bangs and winked before sliding his jeans down to reveal his straining prick reaching for his belly button. He stepped out of his jeans and stood there for her perusal.
Bran slipped one shirt button out of the button hole then another. He flexed his shoulders as he slid his shirt off and draped it over the chair taking his time. His long fingers went to the top of his trousers and he unhooked the fasteners and the fabric fell away to reveal a pair of silk boxers. He kicked off the pants and lazily folded them before setting them on the chair. He pressed the silk fabric against his bulging cock to show an impressive outline. Kate licked her lips. He dropped the boxers and stood beside Caleb, waiting for orders from his gorgeous mate.
Kate rose to her knees and hopped off the bed. She walked over to her mates, taking the time to run her hands over the defined muscles of their chests before trailing her fingers downward to caress the muscles of their abdomens. Bran inhaled quickly and Caleb widened his stance. She moved her hands to her own chest and ran her hands down her breasts, plucking her hardened nipples and making them strain against the thin satin. Both men began a low growl.
She gracefully went to her knees and took one hardened prick in each hand. Slowly, she squeezed and ran her thumbs over the slits and their growls increased.
“That’s it, baby, take what you want,” Bran said, pushing his hips forward and sliding his heavy cock between her fingers.
“I want to taste each of you. You both smell delicious to me.”
She leaned forward, taking the head of Bran’s cock into her mouth. She swirled her tongue around the head before creating a suction with her mouth. After being with the man over a year, she knew what he liked. She lightly grazed her lower teet
h against the bunch of nerves under the head of his cock. He went wild and started thrusting down her throat.
She stroked Caleb as she worked Bran over. She breathed through her nose and swallowed around his length. She brought her head up and licked the tip before turning to Caleb. She ran her tongue along the vein that ran the length of his thick cock.
“Damn, lovely baby, don’t keep me waiting,” he said, his voice labored.
She winked and took him completely down her throat, placing her lips on his groin.
“Fuck! Fuck!” Caleb yelled.
She kept swallowing, her throat convulsing around his cock. When she felt his balls raise up, she pulled off him and she looked up at both men. They converged on her, lifting her arms above her head and pulling the top off. Caleb latched onto her left breast and Bran on the right. Between them, they slid her shorts down, exposing her now bare mound. Their seeking fingers stopped when the encountered bare skin. They both looked up from her breasts and stepped back to admire the view.
Her breasts now sported bright-red nipples and her pale sex glistened with her own juices as they slicked up her inner thighs.
“God, Kate, you are so fucking beautiful,” Caleb said, his throat constricting.
Even if they lived to be a thousand years old, he would never deserve her. Bran took a half step backward, giving his silent nod for Caleb to take their mate first. Caleb’s hands shook. This would be the first time he took her alone.
Seeing him hesitate, she held out her hand and led him to the bed. She climbed on, pulling him up after her. Caleb eased himself between her legs and, with one hand around the base of his shaft, eased forward, stretching her body around him as he entered. He pushed his way forward and didn’t stop until he was fully seated deep inside her tight cunt. He felt the bed dip to his left and turned to see Bran lying beside him, slowly stroking his shaft. Caleb dropped his head to Kate’s shoulder and slowly moved in and out of her body.
Kate wanted to urge him faster but knew he needed this time to connect with her. She had to admit that the slow pace was giving birth to new levels of desperation. She used the bottom of her feet to caress his ass and wrapped her arms around him to dig her nails into his back. He reveled in every touch she gave him. He kept up the steady pace, taking his time being with her and inside her. Slowly, she felt the tiny ember inside of her flash into a bonfire. Every time he thrust, he hit a deliciously painful spot inside of her.
“Love you, Kate. God, I love you so much. I’ll love you even after we move from this world on to the next,” he whispered.
She felt his hot tears drop onto her shoulder and tightened her grip, never wanting to let him go. He increased his pace and she fought to keep the tears back. She felt as though he was making love to her soul.
“I love you, Caleb. I love you and Bran so much!” She sobbed and it was as if his body was waiting for her words. She felt jet after jet of hot cum fill her.
Caleb withdrew and collapsed to lie on his right side. He cupped her cheek to wipe away her tears. She looked over and saw that he had tears of his own.
She felt Bran move and then he was inside her. His eyes were shifted and streaking tears, his emotions evident on his face. He moved with sure strokes, his body knowing exactly what she needed having spent the past year learning how to give his mate more pleasure than she could handle.
He snapped his hips forward, driving deeper and deeper, satisfying the ache he knew was growing inside of her.
“Bran, please, please, please,” Kate chanted.
He threw back his head and howled loudly and moved so that each hand was buried into the pillow beside her head.
“My Kate! My sweetheart, mine and Caleb’s forever!”
He felt his orgasm slam into him unexpectedly and he cried out, releasing a soul-wrenching howl. He heard Caleb’s strangled cry and his voice lifted with his. He could feel through his bond that Caleb had come again. In the distance and throughout the house, he heard pack members raise their voices to join in the pure joy that their Alphas were radiating. Kate had dissolved into quiet tears. He withdrew gently and lay down on his left side, each man laying a hand over her heart.
“Now, Caleb,” Bran said softly.
Caleb nodded and slid off the bed.
Kate immediately felt his absence.
“Shush, love, he is coming right back,” Bran said, kissing her nose.
“You knew I was feeling anxious?” she asked.
“Our bond has grown stronger,” Bran said as Caleb walked in from the sitting room off the master bedroom. It had been acting as Caleb’s studio. He brought forward a huge canvas draped in a sheet. He looked at Bran, who smiled his encouragement.
“Kate, part of the reason why I hesitated in leaving the plantation house was because of the mural I painted on the wall in the boys’ nursery. It was my small way of trying to keep their family alive for them. But that mural is no longer accurate. The boys and I have a much bigger and richer family now and hopefully, this captures that.” He pulled the sheet away.
Kate stared in shocked amazement. There were no words to describe the exquisiteness Caleb had created. In the background, he had painted a forest scene with the wolf pack peeking out from behind trees and rocks. Large brown bears anchored the painting, filling the corners and border, as if protecting the painting’s occupants as their real-life counterparts protected the town. In the center of the painting was their family. Bran and Caleb stood on either side of Kate, who smiled gently, a seemingly knowing smile on her face. Landon and Lucas were in her arms, smiling up at their parents. Two male lions stood on either side of the family like sentries. In the sky, the clouds seemed to shift and move to create the entire snow leopard leap. Their teal eyes peeked around white fur to create the illusion of clouds and a clear blue sky. But it was the tiny, nearly transparent, baby wolves running from the heavens to Kate’s midsection that made her close her eyes and weep.
Kate buried her face in her hands and sobbed at the beauty and serenity the portrait created. But she also wept for her insecurity at the possibility of not being able to give Caleb the small wolf babies he so clearly wanted.
“Kate, please don’t cry. This was supposed to make you happy,” Caleb said, leaning the portrait against the wall.
“I can’t help it. What if I can’t have b-b-babies?” she said, her heart breaking.
“Kate, hasn’t Fate given us everything we needed in this mating? Even the things we didn’t even know we needed?” Bran asked gently, turning her to face him. She nodded.
“Then, do you really think that Fate would bring the three of us together, three healthy shifters who could provide a wonderful home for children and who desperately want babies, and have you be barren?” he asked, forcing her to meet his eyes.
She thought about it for the longest time.
“No, Fate would not be that cruel,” she said.
“Then all we have to do is practice,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
“And practice,” Caleb said, kissing her neck.
“I guess we can do that. I still have the other color nighties to give you.” She smiled, and they both looked at her blankly.
“Today was emerald green to match the emerald birthstone that Bran gave me for my necklace. I still have three other birthstones and the necklace to thank you for,” she said, smiled.
“Best. Mate. Ever!” Caleb said, grabbing her around the waist and kissing her.
“Well, no time like the present,” Bran said.
Caleb and Kate looked over to him, Caleb raising an eyebrow.
“To start making babies,” Bran said, placing a hand over her belly.
“Game on,” Kate said, pulling both men to her.
“Game on,” they echoed.
Chapter 14
Bran and Caleb got out of the car, leaving Kate to carry the boys in. Bran was on a mission. They got to the diner door and Bran was reaching for the doorknob when his hand collided with Aleks’s hand. Bran
looked up, already aggravated and gave a low growl, which Aleks returned in spades. Not saying a word, the three large men stepped into the diner and stopped, their eyes searching out the target they were looking to destroy.
Their eyes moved almost as one and locked in on the dark-haired male who laughed carelessly with his auburn-haired friend. As if sensing danger, the small, dark-haired man looked up and his eyes widened. The diner immediately got quiet.
Surprised that they were after the same man, Aleks turned to Bran.
“I know why I want to choke the life out of him. But why do you?” he asked.
“Let’s just say that the fun little ‘educational’ videos he has been showing the boys aren’t fun anymore,” Caleb explained, his head swinging back to Rian. He snarled.
“Oh my God! Has he been showing the boys porn, too!” Aleks asked, his eyes huge.
“What! No! Wait, what?” Bran sputtered.
“You three are being absolutely unreasonable,” Kate said as she and Rebecca walked in, holding the twins.
They pushed past the three hulking Alpha males to sit down next to Rian and Damian.
“I am not being unreasonable! You are pregnant, with my child. He doesn’t need to be showing you kinky porn videos that explain different positions,” Aleks roared.
Bran and Caleb turned away to hide their smiles.
“Jeez, Aleks, just put our business right on out there. Besides, I didn’t hear you complaining last night when your eyes rolled back in your head and you were calling out for the Gods or Fate or whoever would listen.” Rebecca winced as she realized that Ma was standing at the counter. She waved at Ma who just smiled.
“At least you’re getting to enjoy your ‘educational’ videos. The one he has been showing the boys is driving us up the fucking walls!” Caleb complained.
“Come on, everyone loves that one,” Rian said.