Taken (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 2) (13 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Katlyn was back at the schoolhouse the next morning, met by a very excited Melody who came with Maxwell, telling her all about how great it was at Silver Creek.

“We live in a huge cabin with Raphael and Maxwell. At first, I thought it was strange, a human living amongst werewolves, but Raphael and my dad are good friends and are looking for a woman to call their mate, too, just like Brendan and Chase.”

“That’s odd, indeed, but what do I know.”

“You’re a teacher and you know everything,” Melody said with a small gasp. “Anyway, it’s great to be with someone my own age, but who is Tessa?”

“Why?”

“My dad and Raphael were asking if I knew her, but I told them no. Who is she?”

“She’s my friend.”

“Is it true she’s a real vampire?”

Oh, my. This wasn’t a conversation Katlyn wanted to have with her students. “Yes, she was just turned.”

“Oh, cool. Can I meet her? I’ve never met a real vampire. I’ve seen Paige a few times, but I never talked to her before.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. What if she decided to bite you?” Katlyn asked with a wink.

“That would be so cool!”

“No, it wouldn’t. What would happen if a vampire bites a shifter, anyway?”

“I don’t know, but I’d sure love to find out.”

“She wouldn’t do that, anyway. She’s not like that.” Katlyn sighed. “How about you work on the math problems on the board and leave the talking about vampires for another time.”
Like never
, was Katlyn’s thought.

Katlyn had to smile at Melody. She’d never seen her so happy before. So far, it seemed like Seth might be the best thing that ever happened to her. Of course, children should be with their mother, but with someone like Carrie, it was hard saying what would happen.

After school was over and Katlyn had locked up, Melody and Maxwell were waiting outside for her. “Are you going to the bazaar tonight, teacher? It’s not until after dark and you could bring your friend, Tessa. I have the feeling that Raphael and my dad would like to see her again.”

“Aren’t you a little too young to play matchmaker?”

“I’d just love to have a real family like you’ll have soon, with a mom and a dad.”

“I thought children usually wanted their parents together.”

“Not me. But then again, my dad and mom were never together. I hope Mom lets me live with Dad forever. At least he doesn’t drink.”

“Alcohol isn’t a problem for everyone, and you should support your mother if she makes an actual effort to change.”

“I suppose, but I’ve heard all of those promises before,” she said, racing to meet her dad, who walked up with Raphael.

Katlyn waved as they left and made her own way home. Perhaps the bazaar tonight just might be a great way for Tessa to get off the ranch for a time.

* * *

When Katlyn returned home, she found Brendan at the table, drinking coffee from the fragrance that wafted in the air. “I heard there’s a bazaar tonight in town and I’d really love to go.”

“Sure, I must have forgotten to mention it. It’s the event of the year and we never miss it.”

“Great, it would be the perfect opportunity for Tessa to get away from the ranch.”

Brendan’s smile faded. “I’m not sure if she’s ready to mingle amongst so many humans, yet.”

“She’ll be fine. I’m sure she’s recovered nicely since her transfusion and she needs this. We all do. She needs to get out when she can, or who knows what might happen.”

“Okay, fine, but only if Paige agrees.”

“I’ll ask her right now. I have a feeling that a certain alpha and his friend might just be interested in Tessa. Melody said they’ve asked about her.”

Brendan nodded. “Well, that would certainly distract her, but Raphael didn’t seem to be happy with her when she tried to bite him. However, Tessa is a beautiful woman so things have a way of changing. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“I’m not, but Tessa needs a good man or two in her life, too. Look what happened with me.”

“Fine, my little matchmaker, but don’t be surprised when it doesn’t work out. I don’t even know Raphael that well to say how it might go. Perhaps you should just stay out of it.”

“Nonsense, you’ll see. I’m heading out to the main house now if you’d like to come along and ask Paige her thoughts on the matter.”

Katlyn went out the door and Brendan followed her, a few paces behind. Chase caught up to them and asked, “Where are you two going in such a hurry?”

“She has an idea that Tessa needs to get involved with the new alpha and possibly Seth.”

“Really? I had no idea Raphael and Seth were that close of friends.”

“Very funny,” Katlyn said. “We’re going to ask Paige for her blessing about Tessa going to the bazaar tonight with us.”

“I can’t miss this,” Chase said.

When they made it to the front door, Brendan held it open for Katlyn and they found Paige and Tessa in the front room, drinking tea.

Tessa turned at Katlyn’s approach. “Hello, Katlyn.”

Katlyn admired the black pants and shirt that hugged Tessa’s much thinner frame. She even wore black boots like Paige had on, although she was dressed all in white.

“You look amazing, but why ever are you wearing all black.”

“She’s in her dark phase,” Paige said. “Completely normal for a new vampire.”

“It’s okay if she goes to the bazaar in town tonight. Isn’t it?”

“Sure, but we’ll have to keep a close eye on her since she’s gone through so much. I would rip Ed’s throat out if I didn’t need his blood supply.”

“Ed?”

“The man who runs the blood bank.”

“Oh,” Katlyn said. “I’m sure she’ll be fine and on her best behavior. Right, Tessa?”

“Anything to get out of here for a while. I’m getting stir crazy.”

* * *

Just as the sun had gone down, Brendan, Chase, Katlyn, Paige, and Tessa were heading into town in the SUV. Angus had been invited, but he insisted on staying behind to keep an eye on things.

Katlyn tugged on her pants, wishing she had a pair that was more generous in the waist since her abdomen had begun to look more rounded than it had just the day before. She worried what her newly changed body might do to her mates when they saw it. Would they be turned off? From the way Brendan and Chase looked at her, she thought not, but it was just something any pregnant woman would worry about. Except that Katlyn had two mates and not just one husband. She rather liked that shifters weren’t so wrapped up in getting married. They simply called you their mate and that was that. If only she could explain it so easily to her parents when they made an appearance.

Katlyn half expected that they would have shown up today since her parents were basically early for everything. It was what some might call a flaw, but being taught that from an early age had saved her ass on more than one occasion, be it school or a job. She was given her first job since the other girl had been too late for the interview. Wisconsin seemed like a million years ago to her now, but in a good way.

Brendan parked in the parking area that had been set up with lights within walking distance of town. All along the street, paper lanterns were hanging to light up the wares that business owners had set up. The Central Clothing Company had denim piled high, with western shirts hanging on racks and a vivacious brunette manning the station, who gave Chase a wink. Katlyn took his arm, staring back at the young lady with a narrowed eye.

Brendan chuckled. “Don’t worry about her.”

Katlyn found scented candles at the next business and took a whiff. “They’re all homemade, right here in my shop,” the woman said. “And beeswax. You won’t find anyone else in town that makes a better candle.” She began to whisper, “Across the street, they’re selling knockoff Yankee Candles.”

She wasn’t sure if that meant she should shop right here or across the street, since Yankee made some pretty good scents.

“What about the wicks? Do they leave that smoky residue that ruins your walls when they burn?”

“Oh, no. Not my candles. I use cotton wicks and they’re smokeless.”

Katlyn nodded as she paid the woman. She’d much rather buy a candle from a woman who made her own and used smokeless wicks since she had many experiences with candles marking up walls and wallpaper with black residue.

Brendan and Chase were mingling along the front of the saloon that was selling drinks outside. They were speaking to Raphael and Seth. Katlyn grabbed Tessa’s arm and made her way over there.

“What now, Katlyn?”

“Look, it’s Raphael and Seth.”

Tessa froze in her tracks. “They won’t want to talk to me. I’d better just stay with Paige.”

Katlyn stared over to where Paige was. She was talking to Clayton, who was in charge of investigating livestock losses in the area. Luckily, of late there hasn’t been any. Otherwise, Clayton would have been over to Shadow Creek asking questions. Since Paige appeared to be enjoying herself, Katlyn turned her attention back to Tessa who was, at this point, dragging her feet. By the time they were standing nearer to the men, Raphael gave Tessa a slight smile. Only then did Seth also glance up.

Seth was the first to speak. “Hello, there.”

“Oh, so you remember Tessa?”

“How could I not? We don’t see many women around here like her.”

Tessa didn’t smile but stared him down, refusing, for the moment, to say anything until Raphael said, “I’m sorry about when you came over to Silver Creek. I might have overreacted.”

“Might have?” Tessa asked. She then lowered her voice. “I can’t say I blame you since I did attack you. Lucky for you, I was sick at the time. Our next go around will be quite different.”

“I look forward to it,” Raphael said with a glint in his eyes.

Lively music distracted them all and Katlyn pulled Brendan and Chase away. “I want to dance.”

By the time they all made it to the wooden platform where a makeshift wood floor had been set up, couples were already packed on the floor. Katlyn was led out there by Brendan and she enjoyed the feeling of being whisked across the floor with his strong arms around her. Out of the corner of her eye, Raphael and Tessa were also dancing while Seth stood watching from a distance.

Katlyn left the dance floor nearly breathless after a few rounds, spotting Seth and making her way over there. “I sure could use a glass of punch.” She smiled at Seth. “Where’s Melody tonight?”

“In the children’s tent with Maxwell. They have games set up for the kids.”

Laughter was heard from behind them and Katlyn saw Carrie staggering toward them in the clutches of Jason. So much for Carrie breaking it off with him.

“Hey, Seth. Thanks for taking the brat off Carrie’s hands. Now those bastards at Shadow Creek can mind their own business,” Jason said, with a cocky tilt of his head.

Katlyn glared at him. “You have your nerve. I don’t know what Carrie sees in a jerk like you.”

“Oh, you must be Brendan and Chase’s newest diversion. Good luck with that. You shouldn’t trust them. Mountain lions don’t mate for life.”

Katlyn opened her mouth to tell this jerk off, but Brendan raced over and took one look at Carrie with Jason and bellowed, “I can’t stop you from seeing Carrie, but if you ever go near my mate again, you’ll mysteriously disappear.”

“Carrie, please don’t do this,” Katlyn said.

Carrie shook her head. “I can’t help who I fall in love with. Seth will look after Melody just fine.”

“So that’s it. You’re just going to choose Jason over your own flesh and blood?” Katlyn pressed.

“I don’t have to explain myself to
you,
teacher.”

“My lawyer is drawing up the papers giving Seth permanent custody of Melody,” Jason said.

Seth nodded. “Thanks, Carrie. It’s about time you put Melody first and did the right thing.”

The couple took their leave and Katlyn was just sick that Carrie was so willing to drop her daughter for some idiot, but she realized that Carrie was every inch the party girl, the kind who always hooked up with the wrong fool.

“Don’t worry. I never planned to allow her to take Melody back,” Seth said. “Now if she signs over custody to me, I won’t have to worry about her showing up at my door making a scene. Melody hasn’t even asked about her.”

“That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t think about it, but I see your point. Just be sure to never let the child down. I don’t think she’d be able to handle it.”

“She’s a tough little girl, but believe me, I have her best interest in mind.”

Katlyn hugged Seth and Brendan had a raised brow when they pulled away. She then found the children’s tent and watched from a distance as they played board games. It was apparent from the way Melody and Maxwell were chatting up a storm that they were already forming a tight bond.

Tessa hugged Katlyn when she walked back. “Oh, thank you so much for getting me to talk to Raphael. He’s very interesting in a mysterious kind of way. He promised to take me hunting with him sometime.”

“Just hopefully not tonight.”

“Oh, no, and it turned out that there wasn’t anything wrong with the medication I’d been taking. It was the blood substitute that was to blame for my medical problems.”

Katlyn now had some misgivings about making Tessa talk to Raphael and Seth, but she did like how happy Tessa looked. “Just be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Tessa smiled and gave her another hug before heading back over to the dance floor, joining Raphael. Katlyn found a chair to watch them from a distance. She was glad to see Tessa enjoy herself since she hadn’t done anything remotely fun since she was turned into a vampire. Paige and Clayton were also on the dance floor and Katlyn was just happy to see them all having a good time.

Katlyn walked to an area where picnic tables were set up and jumped right in and helped carry pans filled with grilled chicken and ribs, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and cornbread to a table that was being set up for the buffet-style meal. The man attending the grill smiled kindly as they all did, but Katlyn couldn’t help but feel that they might be just as curious about her as she was them.

Finally, an older woman approached. “I’m not sure if you remember me, but I’m Palina. I’m Maxwell’s granny.”