Tug sighed. Jaycee was going to help them. He and Rory followed them into the house where Cecil stopped, glancing around the room. She backed up a step and looked at him.
“It’s okay. We’re here. No one will hurt you here.” Tug stepped toward her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Go on. Jaycee will show you our room. We’ll be up in a minute.”
Tug watched as Jaycee wrapped her arm around her, pulling her up the stairs. “You’ll love the kitchen. It’s twice the size of Tug’s.” She laughed.
Remi stepped up to them. “Don’t worry. Jaycee will find out what’s wrong. With everything Cecil’s been through, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner. Come on. We have coffee and I want you two to meet someone.”
Glancing up the stairs, Tug followed Remi into the kitchen and stopped when he saw one of the members of the council. “Damn it, Remi.
Cecil is going to have a fit.”
“Easy, Tug. He’s a friend of ours and I trust him. Matter of fact, 61
I’ve asked his help in this matter. He’s going to be our ears and eyes, so to speak.” Remi said, standing next to the council member. “Tug, Rory, this is Clayton Glands. He’s from the Southern states and has been here for the past month, working behind the scenes. Not even the council members know he’s working with us.”
Tug stepped forward and held out his hand. “Please forgive me, but right now our mate is having a rather difficult time with everything and even the mention of a council member would upset her.”
Clayton grinned and shook his hand. “No problem. I can completely understand.”
A warm electrical current ran up Tug’s arm and he frowned, stepping back as Rory shook his hand. His wolf howled inside him and paced back and forth.
“What the hell just happened?” Tug frowned and glanced at Rory seeing the same reaction he had when he shook hands with Clayton.
“Well, crap. That’s never happened.” Clayton rubbed his shaved head.
Remi frowned at Clayton. “What happened?”
Tug sighed. “This is going to be a mess.” Tug walked over and fell into a chair. Rory sat down next to him. “I can read his thoughts and he can read mine.” He glanced over at Rory, who nodded.
Clayton sat across from them as Remi paced back and forth. “You mean the three of you are mates?” He stopped, staring at all three of them.
“Well, have you have ever heard of males hearing each other’s thoughts? We can communicate through our pack link, but I read everything and I have no gift. Plus right now my wolf is ripping my insides trying to get at him.” Tug glanced at Remi.
“Shit. What about Cecil?” Rory glanced at both of them.
Remi stopped and stared at the door. “We have a bigger problem right now. Jaycee says the two of you need to get upstairs. Cecil’s broken down.”
Tug jumped up and ran out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time. He burst into the room and froze. Cecil rocked back and forth on the bed.
Rory and he slowly moved to her. “What happened?” He glanced at Jaycee, quickly kneeling on the bed.
“They took some of her eggs, Tug. That man had his sperm…there is a child.” Jaycee cried, rubbing her hands over her stomach.
Remi, Dane, and Mark moved into the room, surrounding Jaycee.
“You need to settle down, Jaycee. It’s not good for the babies.” Remi 62
kissed her neck as Marsha stormed into the room.
“What did I tell you about getting upset?” She examined Cecil.
“Move away from her.” The witch Marsha pushed Tug off the bed, and pointed at Rory to back away. “She’s pulled into herself right now. God, what did they do to this child?” Tears slipped down her face.
“Jaycee, go make some of that tea I taught you to make. She’s going to need it. And get that man in the hallway in here. He’s going to help these two here bring her back.” Slowly Marsha placed her arms around, Cecil hugging her.
“Easy, child, I’m not going to hurt you. I know you can hear me, Cecil. You need to come back to us. You have mates here who need to hold you.”
Tug watched as Clayton moved into the room and gasped. He fell to his knees, grabbing his head.
Rory looked at him, and fell to his knees as well. Every thought and memory of Cecil’s played in their heads. Every single whipping, beating, and torture shook his body. Tears slipped down his face as all three men howled in pain and anger.
Cecil glanced up at all three of them, tears streaming down her face. “Now you know it all.” Her gaze drifted to Clayton, and she trembled. “Your council, but not?” Her voice was small and scared.
Clayton nodded as Jaycee came into the room and handed Cecil the tea.
“Drink this, Cecil. It will warm you and give you strength. You’re going to need it, with these three.” She smiled.
Jaycee laughed and cried at the same time. “We’re so much alike, it’s scary, but I’d never wish anyone the pain I went through. I’m sorry, Cecil.” She sat down on the bed next to her.
“I don’t even know what happened to the child, Jaycee. Was it a snake baby? Are they torturing it? It would be two years old on Valentine’s Day.” She glanced down at the tea. “I don’t know if I want to know. Am I bad because of this?”
The cup in her hand trembled, as she lifted the cup to her mouth.
“I’ve dreamed of him and it is a boy. I don’t know how I know. I just do.
How can a mother not want her child?”
Marsha patted her arm. “Child, you’re confused, been hurt and scared. In time, you’ll have your baby and you’ll love him. Just because he’s different, doesn’t mean you don’t love him, but he’s more like you than you believe. I see the tiny bundle. That man you saw earlier has him.
That’s why he’s looking for you. The child needs you and won’t survive without you. He knows this.”
63
All three of them rose as Marsha got off the bed and stared at Cecil. “You’ll be fine, Cecil, you and your men.” She walked up to him and patted his arm, looking at all three of them. “It’s going to be rough, but you”—she turned her gaze on Clayton—“you have the gift. You’ll be able to help her son and make him yours.”
Cecil gasped and Marsha smiled. “Come on, Jaycee, let’s give these four sometime alone. You can talk to her later.”
64
Chapter Ten
The door behind them closed and Cecil watched as Tug and Rory moved forward, climbing onto the bed next to her. “Cecil?”
Her gaze never left Clayton’s. “How can this be?” Her body trembled while Tug and Rory scooted closer to her, taking her hands and holding them.
Clayton rose and slowly made his way to the bed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “My mother has three mates. I don’t know how or why, but all three of you are my mates. I know you’re scared, but I promise I’m not responsible for the labs. If you let me touch you, you’ll be able to see I’m telling you the truth. About the council, my men and I are called in when they need help. You could say we’re the muscle when things get out of hand, but I would never be a part of what happened to you.”
She glanced at Tug, and he nodded. “He has been given the gift.
That’s why he is part of the council. Both Rory and I can read him, as he can read us.”
Tug let go of her hand, and she slowly held out her hand to him. It shook as he took her hand into his. An electrical current shot up her hand and through her body. Cecil wanted to pull her hand back, but she held still. His memories became hers. His time on the council showed no knowledge of the labs. Clayton’s powers were great, but he used them only when necessary.
Everything he had said was true. Her gaze flashed to his, and she smiled. “You’re going to mate with Tug and Rory? Do I get to watch?”
Her insides heated at the thought of watching Clayton burying his cock into Tug or Rory.
All three of them moaned, and shook their heads. “Of all the things you saw, you have to pick that out?” Clayton cupped her cheek.
“I’m sure you’ll be watching when it happens.”
“Do you think you can help my son?” Cecil pulled her hand back.
“I’m sorry my first child isn’t yours.”
“Cecil, you didn’t do this. There is no need to apologize. We’ll find him and give him the home that he deserves.” Tug leaned over, kissing her. “So, are we still going to have your lasagna? Jaycee brought everything here with us.”
Cecil laughed and glanced at Tug. “Well, if you want lasagna, I’d better get busy. But seriously, Clayton, please don’t do what these two 65
dorks did and inject yourself with the serum.” Her gaze connected with his, pleading with him.
“I can’t promise that, and you know that. How am I supposed to mate with the three of you if I’m not the same? Now, off with you. I need to talk to Tug and Rory.” He stood and held out his hand.
He was taller than Rory or Tug and his bald head only enhanced his handsomeness. Cecil grasped his hand and he pulled her off the bed, drawing her inches from his body. He smiled down at her, cupping her cheek. “You have the biggest brown eyes. They remind me of Bette Davis’s eyes. I won’t hurt you, Cecil. I promise I’ll do everything to protect you.” He leaned down, kissing her soft lips, his tongue sliding across her bottom lip, then the top.
Clayton cupped the back of her neck, bringer her closer. Cecil’s breast rubbed against his muscular chest while he nipped her lip and thrust his tongue into her mouth. He moaned as he stroked her tongue and did the flamingo dance with it.
Cecil pulled back, grasping for breath. “You’re, um…well, I’d better get going.” Her face heated as they all laughed. Stepping around him, she made her way towards the door, then paused. “Please tell me before you do anything?”
He nodded and smiled. “Go on. We’ll be down in a few.”
Opening the door, Marsha stood there with her hand raised, ready to knock. Cecil smiled at the older woman. “Hi! I need to thank you for the help earlier.”
Marsha stepped aside and smiled. “Nonsense. It’s the least I could do. There is a strong bond between you and Jaycee. In many ways you two are very much alike. Come, I’ll help you in the kitchen and we can chat some more.” Marsha wrapped her arm around her, walking down the stairs.
“By the way, my name is Marsha. Everyone just calls me Mother, though, and you are welcome to also. Jaycee is my daughter, and right now she is really worried about you. You see, Jaycee has it rough being the alpha female here. Many females shy away from her because of her power and her mates, but you don’t. Why?”
They stepped into the kitchen. Cecil smiled, knowing Marsha was sizing her up. “I don’t know. It’s like I connected with her somehow the other night when they found me.” She opened the cupboards and Marsha opened the refrigerator, both gathering ingredients and utensils.
Cecil turned and stared at Marsha. “You have a glow around you.
I can see the different colors. Jaycee has a similar one, but stronger.
Clayton has one too, but it’s different.”
66
Marsha looked up and smiled. “You have the touch of life, child. I was born into a very strong family of witches. I can sometimes see things that are going to happen before they happen. Jaycee’s gifts are many. The great Mother Nature has taken a shine to her, you could say. Grab the pans, dear. We’d better get these done or we’ll have a late dinner—and you don’t want that, with so many alphas around here.” She laughed.
Grabbing the large baking pans, Cecil placed them on the counter and grabbed the package of ground beef, opening it. “What do you mean, I have the touch of life?” Cecil put the meat into the large skillet and broke it apart.
“You connect with children. Children will always feel safe in your arms. In other words, you are their protector. That’s why you are having such a hard time with the loss of your child. Even though it was created in the lab, this child is yours and you know it’s searching for you. I believe you even connected with Jaycee’s children. Am I right?” She held her gaze, smiling.
Remi and Dane stepped into the kitchen. “You connected with our children? When and why?” They frowned at her.
Cecil stepped back. It was the first time she had felt threatened by them. Remi’s aura brightened as he stepped forward.
Marsha slapped Remi in the head. “Quit scaring her, damn it. Both of you. It’s a
good
thing.”
All three of her mates poured into the room and surrounded her, frowning at Dane and Remi. “Why is she scared of you two all of a sudden?” Tug asked, not backing down from Remi.
Taking a deep breath, Cecil placed her hand on Tug’s arm. “I’m fine, Tug. Remi and Dane are just worried about their children.” She glanced up at Remi and Dane. “That first night when you found me, even before I had awakened fully, I could see all three of your children.” She smiled and stirred the meat. “Your son is so much like you. He protected the girls, keeping them at bay until he knew I wouldn’t hurt them. They’re going to be very powerful when they’re older. Your son is already very wise. He’s the one who spoke to me.” She glanced up at Remi. “He did say something I didn’t understand, though. He told me our council is not the one that’s connected to the labs. That there is another council I was overlooking, but I only knew of our council. I forgot about it until Marsha brought up the connection with the children. With everything going on around me…” Cecil frowned, glancing at Clayton.
“Fuck, I didn’t even think of them,” Clayton said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Remi, Dane. Have everyone meet us in the living room. We need to move now!” Clayton kissed Cecil’s cheek 67
and headed towards the door.
Remi stepped up to her and grinned. “So, we have a son? The other two are girls, I take it?”
Cecil smiled, and nodded. “One of them reminds me so much of Jaycee. Her spirit is strong and she gives her brother hell, but she protects the smaller one. The smaller one is quiet, like Mark, but she is just as sharp.”
Jaycee strolled into the room, laughing. “Well, that settles it. We need two girl names and a boy. Thank you, Cecil.” She moved Remi out of the way and hugged her.
“I knew you were special.” Jaycee glanced at Tug. “You’d better keep her happy or I’ll turn you into a toad.”
Marsha laughed as Dane growled. “Jaycee, what were you told about turning people into toads?”