By Hook or by Wolf Page 9

  She shakes her head, as though she can’t believe what’s happened, and I can’t believe my brothers and I are so fucking stupid.

  Of course, Natasha wouldn’t cheat.

  Of course not.

  She’s a gentle woman.

  Kind.

  Sweet.

  Smart.

  Clever as fuck.

  Besides, any woman who can break into our art gallery undetected is probably the type of woman who isn’t going to get caught cheating.

  I should have known better.

  “I’m so sorry,” Trevor says as he shifts back into his masculine self. “I should have waited for an explanation. You told me your husband had passed away, but you never...I never...I didn’t realize he was a shifter. That explains the mating mark.”

  “I’m sorry we ever doubted your loyalty to your mate,” Cody says.

  “When a shifter dies, it’s possible for their mate to love again,” I comment. “The bond we feel toward you isn’t any less than it was an hour ago or a week ago or a month ago. I’m sorry that our reaction was so over-the-top.”

  Only, Natasha isn’t listening to our apologies.

  She’s not paying attention to the words that we’re saying.

  Because Trevor is standing beside us completely naked, and Natasha is watching him, eyeing him, licking her lips for him. Ignoring everything else, she moves, suddenly, toward Trevor. Then she drops to her knees in front of him.

  She looks up at him and reaches for his cock. Gently, she feels his balls with her tiny hands and then she begins to stroke his length. Hard. Fast. She rubs him and then she smiles.

  “I’m sorry, but you’re way too fucking attractive. I’m going to have to taste you now.” She winks at him – fucking winks – and then she slides his cock into her mouth. Trevor groans at the sensation and both Cody and I are naked in an instant.

  Natasha with a cock in her mouth is both the most beautiful and the most sexy thing I’ve ever seen.

  And I need more.

  So much more.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Natasha

  There’s a moment in every woman’s life when she stops feeling like an ordinary person and starts feeling like a total goddess.

  For me, that moment arrives when I’m kneeling in front of Trevor, licking his cock. I feel, rather than see, Cody and Lee move beside me. They’re excited, too. They’re ready. They’re filled with need. I don’t have to be a shifter to tell just how arousing this moment is for all of us. I don’t need to be able to transform into another creature to be able to tell that this moment is important.

  What’s happening now is going to dictate what the rest of our relationship is like, and yeah, there’s going to be a relationship.

  We’re mates.

  Tonight, we’re going to make love. We’re going to take each other. They’re going to mark me on the other wrist, and I’m going to love it. They won’t cover Henry’s mark, but they will make their own. Then I’ll have scars from each of the men who has loved me completely, entirely.

  Cody moves behind me and runs his nails up and down my spine. The sensation makes me wet with need. Anxious.

  “She likes that,” he murmurs. I groan onto Trevor’s cock as I suck him harder, pulling him deeper into my mouth.

  “Baby, you look sexy as fuck,” Lee says. He’s standing beside Trevor. I move to him and begin licking him now. I take his shaft in my mouth, down my throat. At the same time, I run my hands over Trevor’s ball, not ready to take my hands off of him. There’s a part of me that’s worried if I stop touching them, all the magic is going to disappear and I’ll wake up somewhere else. I can’t stand the idea that this moment is just a dream. To me, it’s so much more. It’s a wonderful hope that this is what I have to look forward to.

  I need them.

  All of them.

  Tonight.

  This night has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Surprise reveals and secrets always make for excitement, but the most exciting thing is what’s happening right here, right now.

  I’m giving them everything I have.

  Everything I am.

  Everything I can possibly offer.

  I’m showing the men that I want to be their mate just as much as they want me to be theirs. True love is a wonderful thing. My time with Henry showed me that shifters are dedicated. They’re loyal. They’re trusting. Most of all, they’re gentle and kind with the people they care about.

  Tonight, I’m going to give up everything I have. I’m going to let loose. I’m going to abandon any sort of modesty or reservations that I hold and I’m going to do this.

  I’m going to do it for me.

  I’m going to do it for them.

  I’m going to do it because I don’t want to wake up wondering what it would have been like to have said yes.

  I’m saying yes.

  Loud and clear, I’m saying it.

  “What a pretty pussy,” Cody comments. He’s kneeling beside me as I touch Trevor and Lee. He’s still touching my back, but now his fingers go lower. He moves them between my legs and starts to stroke me there. He begins to build a fire in my core and it’s only a few seconds before I’m totally, completely soaked.

  He chuckles and slides a finger inside of me.

  “She’s wet,” he murmurs. “So fucking wet.”

  “Please,” I groan. “I need you inside of me.”

  “I think I can handle that request,” he murmurs with a smile. He moves behind me and kisses his way down my spine before settling between my legs.

  I feel his cock pressing at my entrance, and then he’s inside of me.

  He fills me fully, tightly, and starts to thrust forward. I groan, unable to handle anything else. I let go of Trevor and Lee and place my hands on the floor for support. Cody runs his nails down my back again, sending shivers through me. Lee and Trevor stand in front of me, rubbing their cocks for me.

  In this moment, I don’t just feel full.

  I feel powerful.

  Right now, I’m their goddess. In this moment, the only thing that matters is us. The only thing that matters is having more of this. We’re touching and giving and taking and we’re having the kind of moment most people can only dream about.

  When Cody comes, shattering inside of me, my own orgasm washes over me. I’m filled with pleasure and excitement. I’m filled with a deep sense of satisfaction. There’s not really another way to explain how I feel right now.

  Sated.

  I feel totally sated.

  I kneel up in front of Lee and Trevor, who are still stroking their thick, hard cocks for me. I love knowing that they’re so turned on from watching me.

  “Look,” Cody says, tugging my hair a little. “Look at how hard you made them, sexy girl. You did that. You got them so excited.”

  “Please,” I whisper, looking up at them. “Please come for me.” I run my hands up my body and to my breasts. Then I push them up and out. Both Lee and Trevor close their eyes as they come all over my breasts and nipples, marking me with their seed, taking me as their own. When they finish, they pull me to my feet. Each wolf kisses me in turn, taking his time. They make sure I feel loved, and respected, and cherished because with the wolves, this is vital.

  A shifter’s mate should always feel loved and taken care of.

  A shifter’s mate should always feel protected.

  Right now, I feel all of those things.

  Above all else, I feel totally, completely adored.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Trevor

  We shower together, washing our new mate. She’s sweet and lovely and tired.

  She’s completely worn out from the way we made love to her so perfectly, and I’m completely overwhelmed with just how right this feels.

  We finish washing and return to the bedroom. Once we’re all dressed and cleaned up, it’s time to mark her as our mate. Some wolves like to do this in the heat of the moment. Some like to mark their mate when they’r
e buried to the hilt in their mate’s sweet pussy.

  I want this moment to be a little more determined though.

  Serious.

  I want this moment to be something thoughtful.

  My brothers and I move around Natasha. She smiles, knowing exactly what’s going to happen. I love that she’s human, but she’s not afraid of this moment. Soon we’ll have a mating ceremony that our friends and family members can come to. We’ll present her with our Tokens and, if my mother gets her wish, Natasha will present us with the Gem of Malice as her chosen Token.

  Tonight, though, is the night when we mark her as our own. After tonight, every wolf, bear, and lion in Starton will know exactly how much Natasha is adored.

  I go first.

  “Natasha,” I whisper. “I didn’t know how fantastic I could feel until I met you. You are the sun in the sky: a bright light whenever I’m feeling down. These past few days of talking, of chatting, of getting to know you have been the best of my life. My wolf feels calm when you’re around in a way I didn’t think was even possible. Please accept my mating mark.”

  “I accept,” she whispers, and she offers me her wrist.

  It’s the opposite one from Henry’s mark. That’s important. None of us wants to take away the importance or the value of her relationship with her late mate. He loved Natasha, cherished her, and his memory will live on in his mark. Instead, I take the other wrist, and I bite down until I break the skin. She hisses slightly at the pain, but just as quickly, I run my tongue over the wound to seal it.

  And she is marked.

  My brothers repeat the treatment, each with their own words of value and kindness and importance. I have to admit that I start to tear up because honestly, this is the most important moment of our lives. This is a moment none of us will ever forget, no matter how hard we try.

  “I’ve never thought much about being a father,” Lee tells her. “But with your blessing, I’d like to do my best to be an incredible stepfather to Rebecca. I’d love to cherish you and help guide her into her future. I will support both of you, love both of you, and honor both of you. Will you accept my mating mark?”

  “I will.”

  Lee bites her and, as I did before, seals her wrist with his tongue. One of the most wonderful things about being a shifter is that our tongues have healing properties. No, we can’t heal all wounds instantly, but we are very powerful and can heal many injuries without a problem.

  Then it’s Cody’s turn.

  “I thought you had betrayed your mate,” he starts. “But I should have known that you are a woman of honor. You are loyal and strong, brave and true. Natasha, will you accept my mating claim?”

  “I will,” she whispers.

  Then he bites her, seals the wound with a kiss, and pulls her into his arms. We all move forward, wrapping our arms around Natasha and surrounding her with love.

  This really is it.

  This is the first day of the rest of our lives.

  And to think that it all started with our mother’s interference.

  Suddenly, a knock sounds at the door and we all turn.

  It sounds again.

  Knock-knock.

  Knock-knock.

  “Uh, come in?” Lee says, and to our surprise, Mother peeks in.

  “Is it safe to come in?” She asks. “Everyone dressed?”

  “Yes,” Natasha calls out. “It’s safe.”

  Mother walks in like she owns the place. Was she listening outside of the door? I have no idea. Then again, perhaps we were loud when we were having our little freak-outs over Natasha’s supposed infidelity.

  “Hello, boys,” she says. “I have some news.”

  “News?” I glance at the clock on the wall. “At midnight?”

  Mother chuckles and waves her hand as though it’s no big deal at all.

  “I was going to come by earlier in the evening, but I believe you were otherwise engaged,” she says with a smirk. “First off, congratulations.” She smiles at Natasha. “And welcome to the family. Believe me, I am so happy to have a daughter-in-law. You’re going to fit in just fine.”

  Natasha blushes, but nods and smiles.

  “Secondly,” our mom says. “I wanted to let you know that my doctor called earlier.”

  My heart sinks.

  A call from the doctor is never a good thing. At worst, he’s going to tell us that mother is going to be dying sooner than we thought, and I’m just not prepared for that. It may be selfish to want her to stay, but I love her so much. She’s always been there for us. She’s our Mom, for dragon’s sake. We need her.

  “What did the doctor say?” Natasha asks, gently prodding. The rest of us are silent as my mother speaks.

  “He says I’m fine,” Mom says, shaking her head. “The hospital lab performed the wrong test on my bloodwork. My labs are completely fine and there’s no cancer at all.”

  “What do you mean, they mixed up the bloodwork?” Lee asks. “Does that actually happen in real life?”

  “It’s actually pretty common,” Trevor says. “Shifter tests and human tests for illnesses are completely different, so really, all it takes is one tech not realizing that Mom is a shifter. They can perform all the normal tests, but get really skewed results. Sounds like that’s what happened here.”

  Well, I guess in our case, a mistake is a good thing, but it doesn’t really make up for weeks of trauma for our poor mother. She thought she was dying. We all did. It’s a huge relief that she’s not. In fact, I feel suddenly like a weight is being lifted from my chest, like somehow, everything is falling into place just as it should.

  “I hope you plan to sue the hospital,” Lee mutters.

  “I do,” Mom winks. “But on a side note, this means that I’ll be around for a good long time and,” she claps her hands excitedly. “It means I get to help plan the mating ceremony. Eek!” She laughs and giggles and is just about to turn to leave when Natasha squeezes forward and hurries over to her.

  “Dear?” Mom asks, surprised.

  Natasha wraps her arms around her.

  “Emily, this never could have happened without you,” Natasha says. “Thank you for believing in me.”

  Mother smiles the biggest smile I’ve ever seen and she wraps her arms around Natasha.

  “Anytime, dear,” she whispers. “Anytime.”

  Epilogue

  Six Months Later

  Natasha

  A little to the left.

  A little to the right.

  Perfect.

  I heave, lifting the heavy furniture as we move it precisely into place. It’s going to look wonderful. The whole room is, actually. Lee, Trevor, Cody, and I have somehow managed to take an ordinary-looking, run-down place and turn it into something incredible. Something beautiful.

  The gallery is going to look fantastic once we’re totally finished with it. In fact, our grand opening is slated for two weeks from now. I may not be a working jewel thief anymore, but I am something else.

  Their fiancé.

  Their mate.

  The idea of falling in love with three different guys is a new one, at least for me. I never planned for my life to work that way. Still, knowing what I know now, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

  Life with my wolf shifter mates is never boring. That much is for sure. Today we’re tidying up the gallery and making sure it looks as fantastic as possible. This weekend, we’ll bring Rebecca and Emily over to see it for the first time in all of its glory. I can’t wait for our girls to see exactly how lovely the art gallery looks now that it’s really complete.

  They’re both totally in love with art and totally in love with the gallery. To them, it’s going to be a wonderful treat. Despite Emily’s misdiagnosis and the fact that she’s actually completely healthy, she chose not to return to the pack as Alpha. Instead, she’s going to take some time to spend with Rebecca and with her sons. She’s going to do all of the things she’s always wanted to do, but that she’s been putt
ing off for one reason or another.

  “It looks great,” Trevor says, looking at the table we just moved.

  “Not bad at all,” I agree.

  “Absolutely beautiful,” Cody says, joining us. “Dad would be proud.”

  “Yeah?”

  I never had the chance to meet their father, but from what I can tell, he was a wonderful man, a patient father, and a good husband. Sometimes I regret the fact that I never got to know the Claw family while their dad was alive, but I’m happy we’re doing something special in his honor and in his memory.

  “I completely agree,” Lee says from across the room. He makes his way over to us and I can’t help the way my eyes glide over his toned body. He took his shirt off earlier, so now he’s just wearing work boots and jeans: a sight that makes my mouth water.

  Cody notices.

  “Like what you see, darling?” He says, coming up behind me. He wraps his arms around my belly and kisses my neck.

  “Yes,” I whisper, unwilling to admit just how much of an effect this is having on me.

  I don’t want to say exactly how wet I’m getting or how much I really am starting to crave them touching me. Being with the Claw brothers is like being aroused constantly. It’s like a shot of whiskey in my very soul.

  But multiplied by three.

  “Well, there’s plenty more where that came from,” Trevor says. He and Lee come close until all three of them are surrounding me, touching me, caressing me. Trevor runs his hands over my breasts while Lee cups my face and kisses me deeply, owning my mouth.

  This is what I’ve been missing, I realize.

  This is what I’ve been waiting for.

  All of this time, I thought that I needed to be on my own. I thought that I needed time to figure out who I am as a person and what I want from life. As it turns out, what I really needed was someone – three someone’s – to take care of me.