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

She cut the engine off and made way for the schoolhouse as the children and their parents already milled about. Maxwell had his brown hair slicked back and stood next to his Uncle Raphael, who was the new alpha of the werewolf pack since his brother had died.

Raphael nodded at Katlyn. “Hello, Katlyn.” He shook her hand. “Maxwell is very excited to be back in the classroom. Please watch over him while he’s here. I don’t want to lose another family member.”

Maxwell limped toward Katlyn and she hugged him tightly. He then glanced nervously up at his uncle. “Thanks, Uncle Raphael, for allowing me to come back.”

Raphael whisked back his hair with a palm and smiled. Actually smiled, for a change. He always made her so nervous with his dark, silent stares, and he was dreadfully handsome, with a thin, muscled frame that would beckon any woman to come nearer.  

“Take care of my nephew, teacher.” Before he walked away, he asked, “How far along are you?”

Katlyn put a hand against her stomach. “How did you know?”

“The scent is unmistakable. How are Brendan and Chase taking the news?”

“We’re all very happy.”

Katlyn felt totally exposed as all of the parents now stared at her nervously, but congratulated her, as did the children.
Why did they look at her like they weren’t happy about her condition?

As Raphael took his leave, Joel’s mother stepped forward. They were the mountain lion shifters of the bunch. “I’m Hannah,” a tall thin woman with radiant red hair greeted her. “I hope Joel is behaving himself in school.”

“He always has, and he’s a real joy to have in class.”

Ivan bounced forward with his mother. “This is my mom, Wenise,” he said.

Katlyn smiled at them. They looked every inch the werebear shifters, as both of them were of a bigger stature than the others. “It’s nice to meet you, Wenise. I really look forward to getting to know you better. Please don’t be a stranger in the classroom.”

“Thanks, but I kind of like my break from Ivan. As you can see, he’s quite the bundle of energy.”

Katltyn glanced over the group. “Has anyone seen Melody?” she asked.

Just then, a little girl with flowing, blonde hair and one heck of an attitude—since she was the only girl of the group—strutted forward with a lanky young woman who adjusted her sunglasses. “I’m so sorry we’re late. Melody insisted she was ready to learn how to fly.”

“But
she
wouldn’t let me!”

“Now, Melody, that’s no way to speak to you mother,” Katlyn said.

“That’s ‘cause she isn’t my mother. This is my sister, Ariel. Mom’s been missing for a few days.”

“She’s just off on one of her all-nighters is all,” Ariel quickly responded. “She sometimes stays gone for a few days at a time, but always comes back when she’s ready. That’s why I always stay with the brat while she’s gone.”

“I’m not a brat,” Melody said, with her arms folded over her tiny chest. “I can take care of myself.”

Ariel rolled her eyes. “Perhaps if you grow up a little more. But right now, I’m all you got, kid.”

“When Mom comes home, I’m telling her about how you wouldn’t let me fly. I’m a red-tailed hawk and plenty big enough to be able to fly.”

“Don’t be so quick to fly the coop just yet, little one. It happens all too quickly as it is,” Katlyn said. “I expect you all to be on your best behavior at school and not shift.”

“You heard your teacher. Go on inside,” Ariel said with a wink.

Once the children had gone inside, Katlyn thanked the parents for bringing the children and introducing themselves. “I’d like to get to know you better, and perhaps ask you all what it’s like to have a shifter for a child. I just don’t know what to expect.”

“Expect the unexpected,” Wenise said with a laugh.

Katlyn went inside the classroom as the parents left, except for Raphael who’d left much earlier. That man sure was a mystery, but not as much as Melody’s missing mother. She really hoped she’d reappear, and fast since Ariel just might have her hands too full with Melody. She just couldn’t imagine Melody trying to learn how to fly, and with that girl’s spunk, it would be from the top of the tallest of trees.

When Katlyn finally made it into the classroom, the children had taken their seats and were talking about how they had all learned how to shift within the last few months that school wasn’t in session. The shifters had been grieving the death of Nate, the werewolves’ alpha and school had been suspended, giving them lots of opportunity to practice. It had taken some time before Raphael had decided that it was safe enough to allow his nephew, Maxwell, to come back to school.

Humans had come to terms with the fact that shifters lived amongst them. If anyone harbored any hard feelings, they certainly kept their thoughts to themselves, thankfully. A shifter bill of rights had been drafted by congress and passed into law to afford shifters the same rights as humans—including the right to vote— opening the floodgate of human females of all shapes and sizes searching for shifters as mates. Shifters didn’t look at them quite the same way; many of them enjoyed a curvier female, one who was strong enough to handle it if they were asked to move to more remote locations, which many shifters preferred. Luckily, even though they were now protected and didn’t need to fear for their lives, Brendan and Chase had chosen to stay in Wyoming and at the Shadow Creek ranch, a place that had become a real home to Katlyn.

Katlyn wrote a math problem on the board and asked who wanted to come solve it, holding up the dry erase marker. Hands went up and Maxwell was chosen, taking his time to get there as his limp caused him pain, noted by the whitening of his face. How she wanted to help him in some way, but she knew that it was important to Maxwell to blend in with the other children despite his handicap. He’d be an alpha one day, they said, but Katlyn wondered if anyone would challenge him for the role as it was a battle of strength.

Maxwell, who was at the board now, did the math problem with the right answer, and Katlyn smiled. “That’s exactly right, Maxwell.”

He made his way back to his seat a little more easily, or it might just be the pride he felt when he’d answered the problem right.

“Who would like to speak about your family and how they came to Creeksboro, Wyoming?”

Hands shot up and Katlyn called on Joel, who came to the front of the class. “My father was a very strong mountain lion, but my mother had to flee our woodland home as the humans pushed into our territory. We’re not even sure if my father survived or not.”

“Did he tell your mother to leave?”

“Yes, and times were not good for us when I was younger. My mother barely scraped by as a waitress until Brendan and Chase came to town and convinced her that she should move out to the ranch where we would be taken care of.”

“So they knew she was a shifter?”

“Yes. all shifters can smell another shifter when they meet one, depending on the type of shifter.”

“I see. That’s quite an interesting story. Anyone else?”

Ivan’s hand shot into the air and when he was called on, he said, “My mother told me that she and Brendan used to date. I think that’s the word for it. They almost were mates until my mother met someone else, a human. I don’t know exactly the full story, but I think my mother regrets choosing the human. He didn’t stick around until I was born and Brendan took my mother in during her pregnancy and cared for her like she belonged to him, but she moved to her own cabin when I was born. I think she wishes she had been Brendan’s mate, instead, from the way she looks at him.”

Katlyn was shocked, but kept smiling, despite how she was reeling over Ivan’s account of his mother’s and Brendan’s past involvement. “I’m sorry to hear about your father, but I’m glad your mother came to Shadow Creek and you’re here in school now.”

Melody stood up. “My mother was shot by a boy while in hawk form and she was found by Brendan and Chase and nursed back to health by Ms. Paige. Red-tailed hawks are protected in Wyoming as a bird of prey. She survived, somehow, and gave birth to me prematurely months later. I’m not supposed to talk about who my dad is.”

Katlyn had to hold back the tears. So many of these children were fatherless, far too many of them. She held a protective hand over her abdomen, now.

Maxwell stood up and said, “Werewolves were the first real shifters in Wyoming, dating back to the 1800s when they could only shift by light of the full moon, but through the years, things changed with the introduction of human mates. As humans moved into the werewolf territories, they went into hiding for years in caves, with a small band choosing to live as humans in full sight, right here in Wyoming. My grandfather was one of them. After my father was born, many werewolves wanted to come back to Wyoming, but they only did it to cause problems with the ranchers and my grandfather was forced to drive them back into the hills.”

“They had to fight against other werewolves?”

“Yes, against full-bloods. We’re half-breeds, but we are more able to shift without the aid of the full moon. We’re hated by the full-bloods, but they haven’t been heard of since my father was a boy. They might have moved elsewhere, even out of Wyoming possibly.”

“Now, that is interesting. I’ve always wondered about werewolves since most stories have them only able to shift at the full moon. Do you have to be born from shifter blood, or can you be turned if bitten?”

“I’ve heard stories, but I’m not sure if they’re true since that only happened with the full-bloods. I’d have to ask Granny Palina. She’s the oldest werewolf of the pack. She knows more about the myths and legends. All I know is werewolves don’t leave their mates, ever.”

“What about your mother? Surely she’s still living with the pack?”

Maxwell hung his head sadly. “She left not long after she gave birth to me.”

“Is she human?”

“Yes, but even though she deserted me, my father was the best dad, ever. Until that human struck him down. I hate humans now.” He sat with tears dancing in his eyes. “Sorry, teacher. I know you’re human, too. I just don’t understand how a woman would just leave her pup behind like that.”

Katlyn walked over to Maxwell and fluffed his hair. “If nobody has given you a reason, then have you thought that perhaps she just wasn’t able to stay?”

He gazed up at her. “No, I guess not.”

“There are many reasons why someone never returns. They could have been injured, driven away, or possibly ... died without anyone knowing. I bet if you asked your granny, she could tell you more.”

“Thanks, Ms. Katlyn. I sure will.”

* * *

Hours later, class was dismissed and Katlyn tried not to ponder about how so many children were left fatherless or, in Maxwell’s case, motherless. It sure didn’t help Katlyn from worrying about her own pregnancy or commitment with Brendan and Chase. So many of their mothers were helped by them, and Brendan had dated Ivan’s mother Wenise? Katlyn couldn’t help but feel a little jealous now, although she quickly brushed the thought away. It was human to not want to lose your mate to another, but that had to have been some years ago. From her understanding Brendan and Chase had been sharing women for quite some time, or had they?

* * *

Katlyn strolled past Tessa’s cabin, deep in thought, and about ran straight into Angus who was racing past. “Sorry, Katlyn. There’s trouble in the barn.”

Instead of heading off home, Katlyn followed Angus, who was a shifter of a different breed. He was a guard llama of all things.

High-pitched moans and groans were coming from one of the stalls, and when Katlyn finally made it there, Brendan, Chase, and now Agnus were in the stall where a white mare was sprawled out on the floor.

“What’s going on?” Katlyn asked, but when she began to see liquid pour out of the rear of the horse, she muttered. “Oh, my, she’s giving birth.”

“You might not want to see this,” Brendan said, as he was positioned near the mare’s head, cooing to her gently. “It’s okay, Clover. She’s one of us now.”

Chase was on the other side of the horse, massaging her neck. “It’s okay, girl. Just take it easy now.”

The sight of both Brendan and Chase so intent on calming the animal as she was so obviously in labor pulled at her heart strings. These men weren’t just her mates; they were remarkable in many ways. They actively worked the ranch right along with the ranch hands, something she hadn’t expected ranch owners to do, but what she didn’t realize before she came here was that she knew very little about how a ranch really was run in Wyoming. Brendan and Chase were partly mountain lions, and she’d found their animal instincts might just be of good use with their livestock.

Angus rolled up his sleeves and knelt near the rear of the horse. “When the foal is out, you’ll be amazed at the miracle of birth.”

Katlyn swallowed hard as more liquid poured out of the animal and said, “Okay, just tell me what I need to do and I’m there.”

Brendan raised a brow. “Are you sure you’re up for this? You’ll be giving birth at some point yourself and this might be too much for you to witness.”

Katlyn narrowed her eyes. “A human giving birth is much different than an animal.”

Chase smiled. “True, but there’s much more involved with an animal, and Clover is going to need all of the help we can give her.”

“ Which is exactly why I’m staying.”

She knelt next to Angus, who smiled at her before taking his attention to the mare now staggering to her feet, limping to the side as Brendan cooed to her, “Careful, girl, get back down now.” The mare knelt and was again lying on the floor, twisting her neck in Katlyn’s direction. When their eyes met, there was a silent communication between horse and human that couldn’t be put quite into words. She needed help, and Katlyn vowed that she’d do her best to do whatever was asked of her.

Clover flopped back down and groaned loudly as fluid continued to flood the straw beneath her. “It’s getting close now,” Angus explained.

Brendan and Chase whispered to Clover and Katlyn wondered what they said as the animal laid her head down for a few minutes. She lifted it again, baring her teeth momentarily, before a white bag came out of the horse with what looked like two legs inside, the legs of the foal.