Shay's Shifters [Mountain Men of Montana 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (18 page)

After a short time, Rosh leaned over her and traced a path along her jaw. “Shay, we want you with us forever. Choose us as your mates. We vow we’ll always stay by your side.”

Her heart clenched. Why couldn’t things remain the way they were? She wanted and trusted them, but love had never been easy for her. Still, she knew they loved her. Of that she had no doubt. But would they always love her? Or would their love fade over time? Was she ready to take that risk?

She took a ragged breath and gave the only answer she could. “No.”

“No?”

Walker’s astonished expression was mirrored by Rosh and Renkon. Had she really turned them down?

He took her by the chin and made her look at him. “What do you mean, no? Don’t you understand that we’re in love with you? That we’d give our very lives for you?”

“He’s right. You’re everything to us.” Renkon glanced from her to Rosh then to him.

“But why not?” Rosh asked the question that was on his lips.

“I’m not sure what it means to take you as mates. Even the word is strange. Mates instead of partners or husbands?”

“It’s only a word. Call us whatever you want.” Walker fought against the rising panic. No human who’d come into The Hidden had ever left without pledging herself to the men she’d chosen. What would happen to them if she left them? Would The Council let her leave?

“But you’re werewolves.” She searched his face for an answer as though hunting for his understanding.

He pulled away from her. “Are you saying you can’t handle what we are?”

She shook her head, glancing at each of them. “No, that’s not what I mean. I know what you are, and I’ve come to accept that. I even find it fascinating. But while a human and a werewolf can obviously have sex, can they have everything else? Like a family?”

He relaxed a little. Maybe hope wasn’t lost. “We can. You can decide to remain human, or you can become a werewolf. Either way, you can carry our children. If a child is a werewolf, then he or she won’t shift until after it’s born. If you give birth while still a human, the child will most likely be half-human and half-werewolf.”

“Most likely?”

“Nothing is ever totally black and white. Even in The Hidden.”

“But know that you’ll be the only human in The Hidden. Not that it will matter. Everyone will accept you as most of them already have.”

She gave him a rueful smile. “Most of them?”

“A few of the older residents are having a difficult time considering that you were brought here without already agreeing to mate.” Rosh shrugged. “But they’ll come around.”

“I need more time to think.”

It hurt more than he thought possible for her not to say yes right away, but Walker had to give her what she needed. Taking his cue from the other men’s silence, he relented. “Then take it. Get to know our people more.”

“Thank you.” She sat up, bringing them along with her. “During that time, I think it would be best if you stayed away from me. At least physically, if you know what I mean.”

“But why?”

Walker sympathized with Renkon’s anguished question.

“I want to make the decision rationally, and frankly, whenever you guys are around, my thoughts get jumbled up.” She smiled and laid her palm against his cheek. “Deal?”

“Reluctantly, yes. Deal.”

* * * *

“Should we be out here by ourselves, Myla? You know. Because of…them.” Shay hated to sound like a frightened girl, but after the fight with The Cursed by the waterfall and what had happened to Renkon, she didn’t want to chance running into Burac and his pack again.

A week had passed since the Pledging Ceremony. In that time, she’d asked the men to leave her alone and they had. At times, she thought it was harder for her than them. Every time she’d see one of them, she ached to rush to him, to tell him to take her and make her his mate. But every time, she’d held back.

What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she tell them how she felt? Why couldn’t she accept their love and give them hers? All she had to do was say “yes,” but the word stuck in her throat.

Could she live in The Hidden? They’d promised they’d live wherever she wanted, in The Hidden or on The Outside. But it was obvious to her where they wanted to spend their lives. Hadn’t they already given up everything to do that? Could she live a primitive life, or would she miss not only the conveniences of the modern world but her family and friends? She’d always lived in the present, never making plans too far ahead, and now three men wanted her to decide the rest of her life.

She rubbed her forehead. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.

“We’re okay being here during the daytime, Shay. They don’t like coming out in the sunlight. Not that they can’t or won’t. They simply choose not to.”

“Burac attacked Renkon during the day.”

“You’re right, and we’ll be careful. Plus, we’re together. I wouldn’t go alone, which is why I asked you to come along.”

“Oh, so, you’re expecting me to keep you safe? Girlfriend, I thought it was the other way round.”

She’d meant it as a joke, but Myla’s serious expression left no doubt that she hadn’t. “Of course I’ll keep you safe. We’re friends. I know you haven’t officially become one of us, but we all know that Renkon, Rosh, and Walker want you to choose them.”

Myla grinned, the joy wiping the somberness from her face. “I think if you wanted, they’d have the Pledging Ceremony as soon as they could.”

Shay stuck her foot in the chilly water and decided to ignore her new friend’s not-so-subtle hint. She wanted to get her mind off the subject for a while. “So are we swimming or what?”

“Of course. But first, I want to show you something.”

“What is it?”

Myla wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “Follow me.”

Myla led the way over to a large tree then pointed at markings on the lower half of the trunk. Shay bent over and studied them but couldn’t make out what they said. The language was strange, hieroglyphic in nature.

“Okay, I give up. What do they mean?”

Myla touched her arm. “They say this. ‘To love is to give your mind, body, and spirit. To receive love is to accept responsibility for your lovers’ mind, body, and spirit.’”

“O-kay. I get it, but why are you showing me this?”

Myla took her by the arms. “Because, my friend, you are receiving love from Renkon, Rosh, and Walker. It’s time you take responsibility for them. Either choose them as your mates, or tell them you want to go home. It’ll break their hearts, but at least it’s kinder than letting them hope for a future that can’t happen.”

Shay pulled out of her hold. “Are you asking what my intentions are? Who are you? Their father?” She was only half kidding. Why did Myla think she had any right to force her to make a decision?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. But, as you know, I care about them and I don’t want to see them hurt.”

Shay stalked away then turned back to confront her. “I don’t intend to hurt them. But how can anyone make a decision so quickly? I haven’t been here very long.”

“And in that time you’ve watched us, studying our lives and how we interact. I’ve seen you, and I’ve seen the longing on your face. You want to join us, I know it. So what’s holding you back? Didn’t you tell me that you like taking chances, jumping into things without analyzing them to death? Didn’t you tell me that you’re impulsive and lead with your heart?”

“I did and I am.”

“Then why are you hesitating? Is it because of what they are? Because of life in The Hidden?”

“No.” Was it true? She’d thought long and hard about their being werewolves and knew she should’ve run as far and as fast away as she could. “All right. That’s partly it.”

“You know they’d never harm you. What happened with Renkon was a result of the poison. And still he didn’t hurt you.” Myla’s big eyes held her, pushing her to tell the truth.

“I know.” Why wasn’t she taking them up on the chance of a lifetime of love? She’d never find any other man who could take even one of their places.

“But you do love them, don’t you?”

She answered without giving a moment’s hesitation. “Yes.”

“Then I don’t think it has anything to do with how long you’ve known them or even what they are.”

“Is that so, Dr. Myla? Then tell me. What is your diagnosis of my situation?”

“I think you’re afraid of getting tied down.”

She opened her mouth to deny it but couldn’t. That wasn’t true, was it? Granted, she’d always done whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and wherever she’d wanted. Aside from growing up in Passion, she’d never stayed in one place for very long. She’d always thought it was because she wanted to see the world, to live life to the fullest, but could the restlessness have come from a different reason? Was she running from getting stuck in one place?

“You have a decision to make, Shay, and you need to make it soon. Either you leave and go on with the life you have, or you commit to the men and reap the rewards of three men who love you with every ounce of their being. Personally, I think it’s a no-brainer.”

“So I have a deadline? If so, no one told me.” She was getting angry, and Myla pushing her into a decision didn’t help.

“I’m sure they’d give you all the time in the world. However, The Council is another matter. We’ve never let any human stay here as long as you have. They’ve all chosen within days of arriving.”

“All of them? So no human has ever come here and decided to leave?”

“I don’t think so. No human has ever turned down the men or woman who wanted them as their mate. You’d be the first, if that’s what you decide to do.” Myla brought her into a quick hug. “Whichever path you choose, know that I’ll always be your friend.”

Myla tossed her hair back then dropped her dress to the ground. “Okay, let’s have some fun.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Myla giggled, her image blurring. Within a minute, the diminutive woman transformed into a bunny.

“I guess Kira’s not the only one who likes hopping around, huh?” She laughed as Myla twitched her nose then scurried around her feet.

“You’d better hope a fox doesn’t show up.”

The bunny froze then, in the next instant, Myla was standing in front of her again. “Don’t ever joke about that.”

“Sorry. So is being a bunny your favorite animal to shift into?”

“Actually, no. I like changing into a polar bear.” She grinned. “It kind of freaks the werewolves out.”

Shay laughed. “I’ll bet. I’d like to see that. But I’m ready to go swimming and not with a polar bear. Are you ready?”

“Uh-huh. You’d better hurry and get undressed. Try and catch up with me. If you can.” Myla stepped into the water, and her image blurred again until a fish fell from where the woman had been standing and into the water.

“Hey, no fair.” She watched as the golden-and-green fish whipped its tail back and forth and disappeared into deeper water. “How am I supposed to keep up?”

She pulled her dress over her head and let it fall on top of Myla’s. “Okay, here I come.”

Her breath caught in her throat as a hand covered her mouth. Long nails scraped her cheek, flaring pain that seared inward, traveling down her body. Someone grabbed her around her waist and lifted her off the ground.

She tried to scream, tried to break free, but it was as if she no longer had any control over her body. Her captor carried her into the woods as she fought to keep her eyes open. But the battle was soon lost.

* * * *

Shay startled awake, confused, her body aching. Her arms were numb and her head was almost too heavy to lift, but she forced herself to raise it. She was tied by ropes wrapped around her wrists and then fastened to stakes driven into a stone wall. Naked, she shivered at the chill in the air. Although she tugged as hard as she could, the bindings wouldn’t give. Instead, the rough ropes dug into her skin and blood trickled down her arms. Her feet were free, but she had to stand on the tips of her toes to keep from straining at the ropes.

She squinted until, at last, her eyes adjusted to the dim light. A cavern spread out before her. Several campfires surrounded a larger one in the center of the cave. Around the fire sat twenty or thirty of The Cursed. She gasped as they turned their terrible, glittering red eyes toward her. Growls and snarls erupted as they jumped to their feet, dashing toward her only to stop and run back toward the fire.

Their leader stood, his long, skeletal-thin body stretching to a height a foot taller than those around him. His mouth opened wide, exposing his dagger-like fangs. His black tongue flicked out of his mouth and swiped over his upper lip. Knocking one of his pack away from him, he sauntered toward her.

The scream was on the tip of her tongue, but she wouldn’t turn it free. Instead, she held her head high and met his gaze dead-on. At once, the cold allure that she’d felt at the pond swept over her and she forced her gaze away from his.

His pack followed him, the hungry expressions on their faces all too clear. As he grew closer, she picked up his awful scent. It burned her nostrils and drifted into her throat. Her throat closed and she found it hard to breathe.

He stopped only inches from her then leaned over to put his face even closer to hers. Again, the powerful pull of his eyes drew her in, and he threw back his head and laughed a dreadful sound. She kept her head up and hoped the fear stiffening her spine wouldn’t show on her face as she struggled not to get lost in his dark orbs. He looked more alien than either werewolf or human.

His grin spread as he flicked out his tongue and slid it across her cheek. His touch broke the hold he had on her. She whipped her head to the side and tried to pull away, but he dug his long claws into her shoulders and held her. The coarse texture of his tongue was horrible, but it didn’t compare to the foul stench of his breath. She was shaking by the time he turned her loose.

“Mine.”

She dared to face him again. If he meant she was his, he was dead wrong. “Like hell I am.”

Suddenly, she wished she could have one last minute with Rosh, Renkon, and Walker. If so, she’d tell them how much she loved them. She’d beg them to make her their mate and change her so that she’d be a werewolf like them.