She shook her head and glanced at Lux who slammed the phone shut. “You knew she was going to yell at me, didn’t you?” he accused.

  “Hey, she’s your mom, I can’t control her.” She grinned. “I can’t help it if she happens to agree with me.”

  “Fine. We’ll have the wedding on Christmas Eve, but I want the bonding ceremony tomorrow night.”

  Amber frowned for a minute and glanced at him. “Lux, could we wait till the next day ...” He stopped her words, shaking his head.

  “I mean it Amber. It’s time we get this done,” he growled.

  She sat up straight and glared at him. “So, this bonding ceremony is nothing other

  than a distraction to you, or is it just what the pack expects?” She threw her napkin down and started to stand up, but he grabbed her by the shoulder and held her down.

  “You damn well know it’s not that. You’re the one who keeps running from it,” he accused her.

  Tears dripped down her face. “No, Lux, I wasn’t running from the bonding, and you know that. All I was asking was for was one more night. I had a surprise for you three all planned out for tomorrow night. Everyone back at the packs has been working their asses off to get it done before we got home so I could give it to you. Well, fuck it! I’m tired of my plans getting thrown out the door.” She held out her hand and a key appeared in it. “Here is your present, dickhead. Now eat that for dinner. I’m going back to the hotel to rest so we can leave. Ralph, I’ll send the limo back for you guys.”

  She got up and looked at her mates. “By the way the key is to your new home. I had it rebuilt for you.”

  Her guards followed her out the door as she made her way to the limo. One of them grabbed her arm and shoved her behind him. “Don’t move, Amber.”

  Amber looked up. Snake men surrounded them. Their nasty tongues flicked as they glared at them.

  “You know, I’m so tired of this crap. What the fuck do you want? Why can’t you freaks leave me the fuck alone?” She yelled and released her powers.

  Lux, Liam, Otis, Teddy and Ralph flew out of the restaurant. But she ignored them as she placed a protective bubble around herself and the guards. “Relax, guys, they can’t touch us now. Let the big he-men take care of them.” Amber patted her guards’ backs and sat down on the ground as Lux growled. Then her father stepped out of the limo with the Council.

  Everything in her froze. Helena was crying in the limo.

  “Oh, good. I see you’ve met Greg here,” said her father. “The Council and I have invited him and a few representatives to our headquarters, so we could get to know them.”

  Her knees shook and she grabbed onto her guard. “In New York, right?” She whispered trying to breathe.

  Guy stepped forward, but couldn’t move into the bubble. He glanced around her and frowned. “Well for now, yes, but when we build the new one ...” His words blurred together in her ears. She stumbled towards the limo, not caring to hear the rest.

  “Never!” she screamed. The limo driver opened the door, and she slid inside and huddled against the seat as the guards got in, followed by Otis.

  Otis slowly moved toward her. “Amber, it’s okay, baby.” He cooed and picked her up, rocking her back and forth. “Get us to the hotel, now,” Otis ordered, as the limo pulled out.

  She rocked back and forth in his arms. “Can’t live in the home I built for them. Gotta’ run, gotta’ hide again. They can’t see the evil surrounding them, but I can.” She rubbed her belly. “Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace. You were a gift to us.

  Can’t let them have you. I have to protect you from them,” she cried all to herself.

  * * *

  Lux and Liam watched the limo whip out of the parking lot. Lux turned and

  stormed past everyone, grabbing Guy by the neck. The Council members watched, shocked. “You come near our town, any of you, and we’ll declare war. This is the last time you will hurt her. Stay in New York and don’t set a foot near us again. You’ve gone too far, Guy. I don’t care if you’re her father or not.” Lux slammed the man’s head against their car.

  “Liam let’s go. We’re taking Amber home. Teddy, watch yourselves. I have no idea what they’re planning.” He nodded to the snake people and threw Amber’s father to the ground.

  Guy jumped up, and would have grabbed him, but Lux let his powers go. The wind

  ripped around the car, shaking it. The Council members stepped back, as did the snake people.

  “You’ve just seen a taste of my powers. You don’t want to push me.” He stormed off,

  hopping into Teddy’s car with Liam, Teddy Cassy, and Ralph. The tires squealed, as Teddy took off out of the parking lot.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Lux walked into their hotel room, Otis was standing by the balcony window. “Mila is in there with Amber. It’s not good, Lux. She’s withdrawn into herself,” Otis’s voice was a mere whisper.

  The door to the bedroom opened and Mila stepped out, closing the door behind her. “She’s asleep, and I want her to stay that way for at least an hour. Sit, all of you. We need to talk.” She walked into Ben’s arms, and sighed.

  Lux’s stomach rolled and knotted, as if someone had punched him. “Will she be okay?” Lux glanced up at her, as he pulled out a chair and straddled it.

  “She’s scared, Lux, or, I should say terrified. I couldn’t make sense of why she would be so afraid of these shifters, so I did something I haven’t done in years. I went into her mind and saw what she saw. It’s not good.”

  She turned to Teddy. “You’re going to have to put the clan on high alert Teddy and you too Lux. It’s more than just her being afraid of them. She’s never seen pure evil before today. I’m afraid with her training and her new powers, she got a first glimpse of it. These things that her father has associated with are evil, pure and simple. Right now, the ones she saw want her. They want to cage her and use her for breeding. Her father’s big mouth informed them of how powerful she is.”

  Fur burst out of Lux’s skin, his clawed hand busted the chair’s back in half as he gripped it. “They’ll never get her.” Lux jumped up, as Liam did.

  Mila walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “The only thing

  that’s keeping her sane is you, Liam, and Otis. She will come out of it soon, but Lux, she’s not going to trust anyone any time soon except you three, and even that she’s having problems with. She looked into her father’s mind, Lux. I can’t say it! I’m so furious, so let me show you.” She sucked in her breath and stared directly into his eyes.

  Heat surrounded him, electricity sparked through him as he saw what Amber had seen. Mila showed Lux the full scope of her father’s total betrayal. He had been the one to set up her rape as a child hoping to produce a baby. He had introduced her ex to Amber without her knowing, he had killed their child, knowing she would next have triplets which would give him the power he needed.

  Lux stumbled back and roared. He glanced at Liam and Otis and knew they too had seen what he had seen. “Are the Council in on this Mila? Or is it just him?”

  Mila wobbled and Lux grabbed her, holding onto to her as Ben slipped his arms around his wife. “She used a lot of power to show you what she did.” He kissed his wife, and sat down on the sofa with her in his arms.

  She glanced up at Lux. “The five that I saw and met, earlier are safe. You need to contact Mr. Black. He is the head of this Council, and he has no idea what is going on, but there are others who are here that are just waiting to capture our Amber. I can feel it. You’re going to have to warn the clans that you trust. Something big is stirring, and it’s just not about you four now.

  “No, it’s not. I’m afraid things are going to get worse before they get any better.

  Amber whispered from the doorway.

  Lux moved to her wrapping his arms around her hugging her. Her face was pale, and she shook, but she smiled up at him rubbing her cheek on his chest. “Lux, I don’t want Teddy’s clan here by themselves. They’re too open for attacks out here. Guy knows this. I couldn’t see what he was planning, but he’s planning something. I do know he doesn’t like where we live. That’s why he’s able to do what he wants here, but he couldn’t there. It’s like there was something stopping him. Lux we need to join our forces together. We’re going to need it, plus maybe the three of you can help me stay sane. I don’t like seeing into people’s heads. This is one power I wish I didn’t have.” She inched closer to wrapping her arms around him as Liam and Otis surrounded them.

  “Why did I have this power all of a sudden? I didn’t have it earlier.” She peeked at Mila.

  Mila stood and walked over to her, cupping her cheek. “I told you there was more power inside of you that we hadn’t tapped yet. Unfortunately, we don’t know when all your powers will be revealed, but you’ll be able to control it with practice.” She glanced at all of them. “The joining of your souls will help. With Lux, Liam, and Otis’s power, they will be able to protect you also.”

  Lux turned and glanced at Teddy and Ben as they talked amongst themselves. He glanced at Liam and Otis and they nodded. “Teddy, Ben. I want to invite you and your clan to our home. We have over two thousand acres between our two clans. Until this thing is taken care of, I’m afraid your clan would be too exposed here. Plus, we could use the help if what I’m hearing is true.”

  Teddy glanced at his father, then back at him. He held onto Cassy, tightly. “I don’t like the idea of moving everyone, but I see no choice. Take Cassy with you tonight when you go back. I’m going to send Belinda and Jack with you, along with Mom and Dad.

  They’ll help coordinate the move from your end. We’re going to have to do this quietly. If they think we’re leaving, they’ll attack. I want to get all the women and children out of here by tomorrow.” He nodded to Lux and pulled out his phone.

  Mila pushed them towards the bedroom. “Go join your life forces. We’ll get things moving out here.”

  Ralph stepped up to Lux and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I have four jets. I’ll call all of them in to help with the move. For now, everyone will have to take just what they need to survive. We’ll deal with the rest later, and Lux, I’ll contact the others. It’s time we all come together and finished this. No one threatens our family,” he snapped and leaned down to kiss Amber’s cheek. “Be well, little sister.”

  Lux turned to Otis. “Call in the guards. I want four guards standing outside and four inside here until we leave. I’m going to have guards posted at the room for a couple of days making it look like we’re still here. It might give us some more time to get Teddy’s people out. Liam, you call your dad and let him know that when we show up tonight, it’s got to be quiet. I want only the inner pack to know. Also, let Lance, Frank, Ike, and Pete know. I want them at the airport when we land. We’ll leave here at midnight.”

  He turned and glanced at Teddy who was walking to the door. “Teddy have as many women and children as you can round up at the plane at midnight. Mila, Ben, gather what you need and meet us there.” He scooped Amber in his arms and walked towards the bedroom. “Liam, Otis, make it quick.”

  * * *

  Amber cuddled in Lux’s arms as he carried her into their room. He stood by the bed and lowered her feet to the floor, stripping her sweater off of her. “It seems you’re not the only one who keeps having to apologize.” He brushed her hair back and cradled her face in his hands. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I promise you this, Amber, no one, and I mean no one, will get within a foot of you and hurt you. You are my life. I never thought I would find my mate, but with you, I found my heart, soul, and my love. I won’t lose you. If it means war to keep you protected, so be it. I love you so much I don’t know where to start.” He leaned down and kissed her lips softly.

  “We have two weeks until Christmas. Somehow, some way we will have your wedding, but for now, why don’t we have our bonding ceremony in our new home tonight? We can put candles all around, have my father and Liam’s father perform the ceremony. It will be a small intimate gathering. A way to also celebrate our new home.” He kissed her cheek, slid his hands down to her jeans and unsnapped them.

  She was burning up. His words and emotions brought tears to her eyes. Liam slipped in behind her and lowered her jeans, as she stepped out of them. She had been so wrapped up in Lux, she hadn’t heard him come into the room with his brother.

  “Let us be your white knights, your heroes in one of your stories, your lovers, and your heart,” Liam whispered behind her.

  Tears of happiness and contentment streamed down her cheeks as Otis kneeled down in between her and Lux, kissing her bare pussy. “Our children will know their fathers. We’ll take them hunting, fishing, and attend school functions. There will be no replacement fathers for our children. They will only know love and trust from all four of us. We will be one to protect and care for them.”

  Lux placed his hand on Otis’s shoulder. “Let’s move this to the bed. From what

  I hear, it can be a wild ride.”

  Otis and Liam stood back as Lux swung her up in his arms and gently placed

  her in the middle of the bed. All three of them kept their gazes on her as they stripped out of their clothes and crawled onto the bed. Lux lifted her body and sat behind her, wrapping his arms around her. He kissed the nape of her neck as Otis climbed onto the bed and laid his head down on her breast, kissing it.

  Liam spread her legs and moved in between them, licking her lips. His gaze intensified. “Are you ready to fly Amber? To become one with us?”

  She had never been more ready for this. She opened her thoughts to her men and

  they gasped. “It seems I’ve been waiting for a lifetime for this. Bring me home, guys, and never let me go,” she whispered as Lux slowly pushed his long, hard cock into her ass. She whimpered as Otis sucked on her nipple, pinching the other one with his hand.

  Liam separated her lips, licking her clit and sucking it into his mouth. She grabbed onto Otis’s hair and Lux’s arm as they slowly brought her closer and closer to her orgasm.

  Lux, Liam, and Otis shifted to their beast forms, their fangs brushing against her skin. Lux pumped into her ass from behind, sending the first onslaught of tremors through her body. Liam sank his fangs into her pussy lips at the same time Otis sank his into her breast. She gasped at the intensity of feeling that rushed over her.

  “We love you, Amber,” Lux growled and sank his fangs into her neck.

  Magic swirled around the room, lights flickered on and off, and the bed heated up.

  Lux’s cock swelled inside her as she closed her eyes.

  Lux, Liam, and Otis’s souls entered her body, joining her own. She was surrounded with love and comfort, it was as if their hands were wrapped around her heart, protecting it. Their spirits grew inside her and whispered words of love to their babies, even though the little ones were not yet fully formed.

  Amber now knew she carried triplets, two boys and one girl. With her mates’ souls touching their babies, showing them who they were, they would recognize them once they were born. Her men’s souls drifted back up, leaving their mark inside her heart. Lux licked the side of her neck and placed a kiss upon it. “You are an amazing woman and totally ours, baby,” he whispered, his voice filled with love.

  Liam crawled up her body, sliding his cock into her pussy, and pulling her forward. Lux pulled out of her as Liam leaned back on the bed with her on top. “I love you, Amber.” He kissed her lips softly.

  “Get on her, Otis, and take her ass, while I take yours. I want us all connected this time.” Lux ordered, waiting for Otis, as he placed a condom on his cock.

  Otis moved behind her and pushed his cock into her ass, hissing, “I love your ass, Amber. It’s so tight.” He kissed her neck as Lux stood on the side of the bed behind

  Otis. He crawled up, pushing his cock into the smaller man and opening his mind to her. “Feel us all, Amber. See what you do to us.” He grunted as he slammed in and out Otis, who slammed into her. Their moves like that of a precision dance, all connected one focus to show Amber how much she was loved. Their passion, lust, and demands on her body sent her over the edge once more.

  Liam smiled at her and bit down on her nipple while he reached down and grabbed her clit. “Let’s fly,” he mumbled around her nipple, pinching and rubbing it. “Oh my ...” She screamed as Liam grabbed the back of her head and brought her lips to his. “Ours, only ours!” He kissed her as his warm seed poured into her.

  Otis hissed behind her, unloading himself into her ass as Lux growled his

  release.

  “Okay, now I know I need a nice hot bath.” She smiled, kissing Liam’s nose

  while Lux and Otis got off the bed. Amber rolled over, onto her back. She could feel everything they felt, but she couldn’t read the other’s thoughts ... She jumped up and glanced at Lux. “Are you blocking your thoughts from me?” She asked, confused.

  Lux tapped her nose and laughed. “Yes, there is no reason you should have that bombardment of thoughts running through that pretty head. We’ll help you learn how to control it, but for now, all three of us will help you.” He turned her around towards the bathroom and swatted her ass. “Now go and take your bath while we order dinner up here, and Amber?”

  She stopped in the doorway and glanced back. “Yes, Lux, I know. I promise I won’t leave your side till this mess is over.” She smiled. “But you’re going to get sick of my needs!” She giggled, and tried to slam the door, but Lux was there in a flash, pushing through the entrance to the bathroom.

  He snarled and pushed her up against the bathroom wall. “My dear. We will never get tired of your needs.” He held her two arms above her head with one hand and pushed two fingers into her pussy. “If anything, we will be demanding more and more from you. Can you handle it?” he challenged, licking his fingers.