Forever Our Ever (2 page)

Okay, so it made sense for him to move his practice.

“We would like to sell your house also, but won’t do so without your agreement. It really doesn’t make much sense to keep it. It is not safe for you to go back there. I don’t honestly want to be here any more than you do. You have already had two attempts on your life and our babies put you in even more danger. You are no longer capable of defending yourself and once you are, you will have the babies to also worry about.”

He was right, and she still had some of the scars from the first two attacks. She had been able to fight during the last assault, but that was no longer possible. She could barely get out of bed by herself, no less succeed in a battle against another clan. They hadn’t even been able to establish what clan was trying to kill her, but Kris had speculated that it was one from Vermont. He said that the alpha in Vermont had been part of the original group that had slayed the Amar family. Her werewolf genetics belonged to Carmen, and that made her the enemy.

“Liam and I have done some checking, and there are four suitable clan women who will be coming to stay in the guesthouse out back. They will help with the housework and the babies, so you will be free to be at my side. I am expected to partake in the standard recognition ceremony in three nights that will then reestablish my status with the clan. You will probably meet our father on that night.”

Ever glared at him. “You want me to go out in public?”

He smiled, his palm caressing her naked stomach lovingly. “Yes. You need to establish yourself as our alpha female. Everyone already knows that you are carrying our children.”

She groaned loudly. “Oh, wonderful. So not only do they know I’m as big as a backhoe, but they know that I have been fucking all three of you. Let’s add insult to the way I look.”

Liam snorted with restrained laughter. “I’m so sorry for laughing, Ever, but you are just being so completely unreasonable. You are beautiful and the only thing that is large is your belly. You are the only one who doesn’t seem to realize this. You are glowing, and your hair is shinier than it has ever been. Are you ashamed to be fucking all three of us?”

Of course she wasn’t. She adored all three of them and actually loved fucking them. That was part of the problem, she wanted sex and they were denying her. “No.”

“Then what is the problem? You should be proud to be with us. I’m sure half the women in this tribe will be drooling over what you have. You have strong werewolf blood. Just the fact that you are half-human and able to carry were children is testament to what you are and who you are. Stop sulking.”

“That was well spoken,” commented Kris. “I have a surprise for you, Ever.”

He slid gracefully from the mattress. It always amazed her that such large, heavily muscled men were able to move with such elegance. It was like watching a majestic wolf as he strode effortlessly across the room. Kris lifted a large box from the rocking chair and returned to her side, setting it on the bed. Again, Kris was trying to make her happy, and that made her feel guiltier for being so cranky with him. Ever opened it with as much gusto as she could muster. Inside was a beautiful black-and-red silk robe. One look at it told her that it would fit perfectly, which angered her even further. It was such a waste of money to purchase such an obviously expensive robe right now. Or did they expect her to stay fat after the babies were born? That thought sent her over the edge. The anger that had filled her mind a moment before instantly flipped into morbid sadness and tears filled her eyes.

Kris sighed heavily as he tilted back his head in a gesture of frustration. “Why are you crying? You have been complaining that you have nothing that will fit you, and that is for the ceremony. It will look beautiful on you.”

“And what am I supposed to do with it afterward, turn it into a bedspread?”

“No! Why would you even think that? It has a central panel in the back that can be easily removed. Then it will fit you perfectly. It’s also nowhere near big enough to be a bedspread.”

He gently removed it from her hand and turned it over, unfolding the front to show her the four beautifully embroidered wolf heads on a white triangle of fabric. The wolf in the center was golden to represent her. On the bottom corners were a light-brown and a dark-brown wolf, with Kris’s black wolf image on the top. “This is who we are, Ever. This will be our crest. Liam created it for you.”

“Thank you, Liam. It’s beautiful.” Ever inhaled her tears, sucking back her anger and trying to blow it away as she released the air. “I’m sorry that I’m being such a bitch. I just feel as if I can’t get my emotions under control. The robe is beautiful, but it’s shocking to know that I need something that large to have it fit me. I’m supposed to be a size eight.” Ever sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, sniffling as tears streamed down her face despite her desire to restrain them. The image was beautiful, and represented their union. The robe was also dauntingly large, and gave her a true sense of her now-oversized body. No wonder the bed was so big.

Kris and Liam both lay at her sides, kissing her cheeks as they began to rub her swollen stomach. “Please don’t cry,” whispered Liam. “This is not permanent, and once the babies are born, you will be sexy and shapely again. My book is now in print, and I have no other current ideas for a new project. I can devote all my time to helping you get back in shape if need be.”

That’s why they didn’t want to make love to her. She was no longer sexy. The thought was probably completely wrong. Her men had been thoughtful and completely attentive, as if she was the most precious thing in their lives. They loved her, and it was simply a matter of logistics. The babies were angered by the feeling of sex. The urge to bitch about something was overwhelming. “I don’t want other women taking care of my babies.”

Kris ran his fingers through her hair. “You are going to need the help. Were children grow three times faster than human children. Within four months they will be running around like little wild ones and you will be pulling your beautiful honey hair out trying to keep up with them.”

“I don’t want other women around my men.” It was a ridiculous comment. In all honesty, she trusted the three of them to not betray her love. Even thinking that Kris had been having an affair was completely ridiculous. She just didn’t want other women in her house.

“You are feeling normally protective of what is yours. All women want to protect their families, but you are were now. Your instincts are more animalistic. Just as a mother wolf wouldn’t let anyone else near her newly birthed pups, you don’t want anyone around the babies or us. We love you, Ever, and there isn’t a woman in this tribe who has a rat’s chance in hell of taking us away from you.”

He was right. She was just being maternal, and really grouchy. Ever tried to think of something with a more positive air to it. “Is Mick coming up for the ceremony?”

“He’ll be here. Just so you know, all of the weres from the outer communities will also be here. This is a big deal, and although the clan will never be a tight-knit unit as it once was, for us to be moving onto were land is a major thing.”

Yes, I need to face a major event in my current condition.
Did she really have to be so damn sarcastic? Her mind returned to questions about their father. It really upset her that she had never met the man. “Isn’t your father already established here?”

“Yes.”

“As alpha?”

“He was the residing alpha until we arrived. Now I preside over him.”

How would he preside? Was it possible that he would simply saunter into the ceremony and his father would hand over a title that held such prestige? “Is that an automatic thing, or will he challenge you?”

Kris captured her cheeks with his hands. He leaned his head down into hers, touching her forehead with his own. He replied in a weary-sounding whisper, “Hopefully he will not be that stupid.”

Pushing him back slightly, she stared into his eyes. Would Kris really kill his own father? Being alpha hadn’t seemed that important to him, but would being on the clan property change that? “What do you mean by that?”

“Our father knows who I am. It is time for him to step down. The clan has outgrown him.”

Kris had already informed her that the clan had close to one hundred acres that were adjacent to a state park and a reservoir. From what she had seen, their house was surrounded by forest. Was it really all that much safer for them in such a secluded place? More importantly, were they now in even more danger from people who had built an alliance with his father rather than him? Ever was suddenly afraid to ask.

She had slept away the past three days and now she felt slightly awake. It was getting worse, the feeling of weariness that seemed unabated by rest. She had suggested that maybe some exercise might help to rev her body back up, but Mick had said no. He had agreed to short walks just to keep her circulation moving, but even those tired her to the core.

If nothing else, at least she had been given a tour of the house. The kitchen was stunning, fitted with all the modern conveniences. The light-gray counters were inlaid with gold-and-black angular designs that were striking to look at. The floor was the same, done in thick-looking marble slabs. There was a central island with recessed storage, and high-backed stools on three sides. The room would be wonderful to work in and also practical to use for messy children.

Now they sat in the sprawling, airy living room. There was a huge fireplace that would obviously supply ample warmth and ambiance in the winter months. Behind the sofa that they were now sitting on was a three-sided bow window, and the two outer panels were open to allow a cool breeze to flow through the room. The air was heavily scented with fresh pine and the clarity of unadulterated forest. It smelled fresh and clean and made her sleepy all over again.

She did not have time to go to sleep now. Across from them, in four chairs, sat four women. She had been introduced to each one, but they were nothing like Ever had thought. Each one appeared to be toned and fit, but if she had to take a guess, the youngest one was probably in her late forties. They didn’t look old, they just appeared as if they had worked hard all their lives. If anything, they were all somewhat plain looking, and she was slightly glad of it. It was a rather conceited thing to want to be the only sexy woman in the house, but it was still what she wanted. She wanted it even more now, because she didn’t feel sexy at all. Kris had his arm around her shoulder and was gently massaging her skin with his fingers. It was more the action of a man with a worry stone than anything sexual, but it was still sending small tendrils of desire downward.

Liam was on her other side. He always sat at her left. His hand was under hers, cupping her palm, caressing her fingers absently. She was supposed to be asking questions, resolving any issues that she had in her mind to verify that the women before her were capable of caring for her babies. “Do any of you have families of your own that will take you away at a time when I might need you?”

Pippin raised her hand. “My grandfather is quite ill, but he is being cared for. I may need a night off for his sending when the time comes.” The woman’s hair was so black that she had to wonder if it would have blue or red highlights in the direct sunlight. She actually had quite striking features with a very thin nose and chubby cheeks that didn’t seem to match the rest of her face. Of the four, she was the one with the least amount of wrinkles, but her crow’s feet could certainly use some moisturizer.

“Oh. I’m very sorry to hear that. I was referring more to husbands or children of your own.”

“I have a daughter and son, but they are both with my husband. He is a hunter and is more comfortable out in the wild forest. I used to go with him when I was younger, but it’s a hard life. I was thinking that it might be nice to live in a real house for a while. I’m sure that he will come to visit me, but Kris said that wouldn’t be a problem.”

“Of course it won’t be. I would like to meet them.”

Pippin smiled in an almost bubbly fashion and her teeth were radiant. Ever had to wonder if all weres had amazing teeth. Hers had gotten oddly whiter over the last year, so it was very possible. She turned her gaze to Daisy. The woman had blonde hair and large, very dark eyes. Her bangs were functional, but not particularly flattering. Maybe she could offer some beauty advice as time passed. Would it be presumptuous of her? Would it be rude to buy each one of them a bottle of her favorite moisturizing cream? It probably would.

Daisy roused her from her personal reverie by speaking. “I have four boys, but they are all grown and live in the city. I do occasionally go to see them, but it can wait until your children are older if need be. My mate has passed away.”

The woman was willing to give up seeing her own children? Was that a good thing or a bad thing? “I’m sorry to hear that also. Nara?”

She sat up straighter now that the spotlight was on her. Her short brown hair wavered around her very angular face, but her amber eyes were large and almost seemed to sparkle.

“I have a daughter who lives here on the lands. She is married to a human and as of yet has no children. Of course, he is aging rapidly because the tribe has forbidden her to change him to extend his life. I have never actually found a mate.”

That was quite an admission. Ever knew that the weres hesitated to change a human. Mick had told her that humans were often swayed by the evil images they had gathered from movies and the television, but obviously Nara’s man wouldn’t be swayed by misconceptions. Maybe Kris could do something about that once he became alpha.