Her Forever

Trinity’s POV

After a few tears from Stacy and trying to hold my tears in, Stacy took us all home in her car. Elijah sat in the front and even took Stacy’s hand. She was smitten already, and it was a welcomed distraction on the ride home. Both of my boys sat beside me; that was their favorite stance. Bambi on my right and Thumper on my left. I tried to hide the soft sniffles thinking of my mother, but a dog’s intuition was like no other.

I’ve never met such affectionate dogs; in fact, I never really got to pet a dog or know of their companionship. The closest thing to a pet that I had was a goldfish, and that was hard to gain any affection from that sort of animal. Did you know that goldfish are to have said to forget every three seconds? That was what my mean nanny told me while I was growing up. Eager to prove her wrong, I taught the fish that every time I banged three times on the bowl, that food was coming, and it would automatically swim up before the food hit the water.

I was a stubborn child beneath all the sadness and hopelessness of trying to gain my father’s attention. Maybe I did inherit a valuable trait from him.

Stacy pulled up in my gravel driveway and reluctantly looked in the back seat. “Are you sure you won’t stay at my house?” Stacy’s longing look begged me to reconsider, but I declined. How could her family let my two giant wolves and me in the house? I wasn’t about to leave them outside; the past few days had been bliss having them in the house. They made the home seem more like home than just a house.

“I’ll be fine,” I pulled out the holster that held the gun to my waist. “I had Elizabeth with me the whole time.” Elijah’s eyes widened.

“If you had a gun, why didn’t you pull that out when he tried to attack your pets?”

“Instinct,” I pointed to my head. “It was faster and less chance of anyone getting shot if I just kicked the gun out of his hand. I had it under control,” I opened the car door so the boys and I could hop out. Closing it shut, Stacy rolled down the window.

“You promise you will come? One last hoorah?” I smirked as I turned around, walking backward.

“Wouldn’t miss it, sunshine.”

“I swear she is a different person around those dogs,” Elijah muttered to Stacy.

“WOLVES, DAMMIT! They are wolves!” Thumper let out a playful howl in agreement as we walked inside our warm little house.

Had it really been just a day? Twenty-four hours with my pets, and it felt like forever. They followed me around like little puppies, except for the bathroom. One was always with me if the other had to go out back to the bathroom, and I found it completely endearing. Maybe they felt like I saved them, and they wanted to save me?

The leftover chicken on my plate did nothing for my stomach. I wasn’t in the mood then, and I certainly wasn’t in the mood now. The gun pulling tonight had brought back too many haunting memories of bodyguards running after my mother and I. Especially the night where they shot the tires out on our car.

We ran a good few miles through the underbrush and small forest that separated us from the private jet field. Mother thought we would escape just by going to Ireland. Still, father had far too many connections and resources to just let us go.

My mother never wanted this life and never wanted her children to be involved in my father’s business. The question of how my mother met him constantly plagued me but her distractions to make me forget my question made me realize that she didn’t want to talk about it. Could have it been a marriage deal? Or did he eye her from across a busy street and claim her as his? My heart clenched to think he had raped her.

My brother, Antonio, was born just nine months to the day after they were married. It was just a small wedding from the pictures I had seen. My father stood proud, holding my mother by the waist tightly and bodyguards with AR-15s. There was one large picture that hung in the main entryway of our mansion home; it was of my mother in that exact same gown. She was in a beautiful lace dress and a large bouquet.

Did my father really love my mother? I couldn’t be for certain if it was love or the obsession that he had. The fact she was so beautiful, and no other man could touch what was his. He caged her; all she knew was the inside of the mansion unless he held her hand through the many countries he had to visit.

For the first time in over twenty-three years, he made a mistake. He let his trophy wife take his business deal daughter to hunt for a dress for that night’s big dinner. The dinner that I would have been swept away most indefinitely.

A large sigh left me as I finally curled up in the bed. I didn’t even have to pat the spaces beside me. My boys immediately cuddled closer. Thumper’s head went to the crook of my neck and took a large breath while Bambi licked my ear.

“I’ve never felt so loved,” I cooed as I stroked Thumper’s fur. “Never thought I would have a family again.” I buried my face into their fur as I finally fell asleep.

….

The next few days passed in a blur. The boys followed me to work behind my SUV the very next day, wanting to stay with me. The day after, I naturally let them climb up in my massive SUV as I take my half-day shift. Stacy’s party was tonight, and the owner was more than gracious to let all of us off. I take that back; he was more than happy to close the book store early so the new construction plans could occur.

He was more than eager to start the small project so his fresh pastries could be in circulation.

“I’m coming over,” Stacy threw his hands on her h**s as I made the last latte of the day.

“What?” I laughed. My apron was covered in milk foam and espresso. My hair reeked of coffee, and the pile of books I was adamant about putting away before I left stared me in the face.

“I mean it, I’m coming over. Just you and me, we will get ready together. Besides, I can’t have my parents see what I’m wearing tonight,” she winked as she wiped down the small barista counter.

“Ah, so that is the reason. Not to spend time with your friend one last time,” I chided.

Every waking moment I had spent packing the small amount of momentoes that I had from the past couple of months. Just a few books and clothes and the boys’ adoption papers. I wanted to frame them like you could when you adopt a real child. The boys would always be my babies, no matter how big they were.

The cellar had been cleaned out; all that was down there was just a few pictures and newspaper clippings I had seen of me on the front. That was when I realized I had to stick to the smaller country towns; too many cops and too many missing persons papers were listed on too many community boards. The boys were certainly intrigued by the newspaper clippings. They stared at my picture and pawed at the pages as I laughed.

I gasped when I realized they may pee on it. Who knows what was expected of them in that terrible dog shelter. “Just don’t potty on it!” They gave an amused look as I took the papers away and shoved them in the box.

Two boxes, a small TV and two suitcases. My life was shrunk down so it could all fit into the back seat.

“No, I really do want to spend time with you. All my girlfriends are meeting us at the bar. You would love them; I wish you would stay.” Stacy’s voice became soft as she twiddled her thumbs. Both Elijah and Stacy had offered to go with me, but it was too dangerous, and I wouldn’t allow it however much they pleaded. If my father found me, they would be shown no mercy.

“We will keep in touch. I’ve got your number in my address book. When I get a new burner phone, I’ll text you that I’m safe.” Stacy nodded as she went to lock the shop door.

….

Thaddeus’ POV

“Moving, we can’t have that,” I linked Theon while I watched Trinity bend over. Her peachy a*s was wearing some booty shorts, and I scratched the floor beneath me.

“Tonight, brother, tonight,” Theon licked his lips. “We will tell her who we are. The only safe place we can go is the Red Moon pack. This is quicker than I anticipated, but we don’t have a choice with her moving. She’s serious about the way she is taping up those boxes.” Her a*s wiggled as she slapped the tape down on the box.

“I thought we would just show her our human selves, not that we are wolves. It will be hard enough to convince her that two men want her, that we are twins and damn wolves,” I grumbled as she pulled out the dress she was wearing tonight. It was black, with one strap on the side with some strappy heels. If the thing was any tighter, I would have seen her glorious t**s.

“No, it’s too dangerous now. Not with the werebear.”

While Theon threw his hissy fit over the foolish words of Josiah wanting our mate, Theon snapped. Even though he is supposedly the level-headed one, he can snap. As soon as he turned, I saw a yellow glow in his eyes and the brief smell of his bear reaching the surface. It was so faint, I almost missed it. He was not an alpha bear; Josiah could easily be defeated one on one if we had to. Bears were territorial and horny bastards during their rutting season, and it seemed to be that time.

I didn’t get a chance to look at his group of friends. They could have been human, but the boy who pulled out the gun was without a doubt. His oversized coat hid his piss stain, but I could smell it. Human fear, it was something to behold.

Once all the action died down, I was able to speak to Theon, who was too engrossed in our mate’s sweet action skills. Trinity was a warrior, a good one at that, and would make the perfect Luna for our future pack. Not to mention, sexy as hell.

The thought crossed my mind this could be a werebear town with a mix of humans to keep the town under wraps. It was small, not commonly known in North America, and people stayed away because of cold winters. Isolation was a turn-off to most humans, but not to bears. Bears craved it. They worked solo on their own, but they did have their meeting places.

In Bergarian, bear shifters shared a large territory but mostly stayed to themselves. A high alpha made the decisions for the group, and they gathered during full moons to hunt together and carry tribal traditions of their own sleuth or pack.

Josiah must have a sleuth around close, meaning there could be more. Wolves went on their own to search for their mates; it was their prerogative to find them. Bears, the only time they worked together besides hunting was helping obtain someone’s mate. Lucky for us, Trinity wasn’t his mate, just a conquest.

Both thoughts riled me up as Trinity pulled out her makeup and curling iron. Tonight we had to win her over. We had to be the Alphas we are to win her affections quickly, which would be difficult.

We will have to drag her to the Red Moon Pack if she refuses. As optimistic as Theon was, Trinity was a fighter and used to be alone. She did what she had to do to survive. She would not yield so quickly, but one could try.

The gentle knock at the door was Stacy. Theon and I had gotten used to her smell; the more time we spent with her, the more we liked her. She was a good friend for Trinity, someone she could confide in until we showed ourselves.

“Are you ready!? She squealed as she entered the house. Stacy had two large bags, one clinking together, and the other must-have held her outfit. “Let’s wax first!” Trinity was taking a sip of water until she started violently coughing.

“Why the heck do I need to do that?” She squirmed.

“So if you get some tonight, you are prim and proper! Come on, chop, chop,” Stacy slapped her hands together to get Trinity moving.

“Well, I don’t need to, uh, do that,” Trinity swirled her finger on the glass as she peered up at Stacy. “I have gotten laser hair removal from the waist down.” Stacy’s mouth dropped her hand went to her chest.

“You lucky b***h,” she pushed her shoulder. “Gah, I hope I can get that one day.” Stacy’s bags fell to the floor with a thump. “I guess we jump right to the makeup then.

“Aren’t you going to wax?” Trinity replied.

“Nah, I’m going steady with Elijah now. I can’t give it away for free. He’s gotta work for it. A bit of hair will be my motivation to get him to stop.” Trinity whistled as she pulled out her bag of girl s**t.

“Wait, are you implying I’m going to… you know.. with a guy?” Trinity’s voice lowered as she spoke. Her cheeks flushed red as she held onto her curling iron.

“Well, you should,” Stacy rolled her eyes. There are some hunters in town, from what Maryann said. Some guy came into the shop and said he was s*x on a stick. He had some clothes that were not obviously his, saying some a*s stole their clothes. She got an excellent view of his brawny chest,” Stacy wiggled her eyebrows.

“Know anything about that?” I snickered at Theon. He was in charge of getting us clothes for tonight. He couldn’t go just buck naked in a store, so he stole some guy’s overalls that were hanging on a wash line. As amusing as it was, I couldn’t laugh too much because we were in a shitty situation.

“That’s um, nice? I’m not looking for anything, though. I am just there with you and Elijah for tonight, is all.” Stacy waved her hand as she put on her eyeliner.

“One night of fun wouldn’t hurt, you know? It would probably ease some tension,” eyeliner clicked as Stacy put it away. Trinity continued to stare into the mirror that hung around near the doorway. It was just enough for two girls to put their makeup on at the same time.

“I’ve only ever kissed,” Trinity whispered. Stacy stood up straight from putting some s**t on her lips.

“Oh,… I.. guess that would be true if you never left your house. But who did you k**s?”

I let out a low growl. When Theon and I found out that our mate was human, we knew this could be possible. We had to accept it and move on. It was just a k**s but the thought of another man touching her…

“Being locked up in your own home once you hit puberty was hard. I had no boyfriends; I was stuck reading, writing, doing an enormous amount of working out, and watching what I ate. The only friend I had was Tommy, who was one of the guard’s sons. Tommy was at the house several times a week, and we would watch movies, play video games and just talk about his time at school.” Trinity dabbed some foundation under her eyes.

“Tommy became my best friend, and I loved him with all my teenage heart. He was a heartthrob, a playboy, and I knew it. Tommy did always say I would always be the girl for him, and I believed him.” Trinity laughed, “looking back, I knew I didn’t love him; I was infatuated with the thought of loving someone,” she sniffed.

“Tommy took my first k**s, even though he was five years older than me. My father found out and was furious, saying I had to be pure until the time was right. Guns were going off in the house, more guards were called until Tommy, and his father was escorted off the property with bloody faces.” Stacy’s face turned horrified.

“I never saw either of them again. When my father would sense my sadness, he would only grin and stare at the couch where Tommy and I shared my first k**s.”

“As the years went on, the pain dulled, and now my heart only hurts for the life Tommy and his father could have had if they had never known me. If they never knew the monster of a father I had, none of them would have been in danger.”

“You cannot blame yourself for that,” Stacy pulled her into a hug.

“I’m really fine; I’m over it now,” Trinity whispered.

Stacy wiped a few tears from her eyes. “Well, we are going to get someone to k**s you tonight then to erase that memory.” Trinity laughed and nodded her head.

I’m going to be the one that touches those lips.

“Nope, it’s going to be me,” Theon nipped my ear.

“Anyway, Maryann said the hunter hottie hit on her.” My ears pricked up as I stared at Theon. He shook his head in panic as he glanced back to Stacy. Trinity asked for details while she finished her hair.

“Maryann told him about the big bar party tonight and that he put his hand on hers and told her he hoped to see her tonight.”

“You did what?” I growled, and Theon stood up, panicking. “I did no such thing; that woman was hideous!”

Stacy continued with the story, elaborating what conversation did not take place with said Maryann. “I’m going to be sick,” Theon began dry heaving, and Trinity’s head darted right to Theon.

“Thumper!” Grabbing the trashcan, she shoved it under Theon’s maw as he threw up. “My poor baby, what did you eat?” Trinity began patting his back while Stacy continued with her hair.

“Maybe he ate a bad chipmunk?” Trinity grunted as she sat on the floor next to Theon until his heaving was over.