Chapter 1
Where the fuck is he?No matter how hard he tried, Brian couldn’t see who he sensed was spying on him. Pacing back and forth on the deck of his boat while scanning the dock and marina buildings, he was sure it was the intruder he’d discovered when he’d taken the Shaman and the boys out for the day, but where the fuck was he? Frustrated, he ducked below where he couldn’t be seen, grabbed a pair of binoculars and, raising them to a porthole, began searching.
He saw nothing unusual nor anyone loitering out there in the early morning light. Finally lowering the glasses, Brian decided to search the area himself; he was sure someone was watching him, as sure as he knew the tide would turn. But other than that, he hadn’t a clue as to how the man was avoiding him.Man? Maybe, but how the hell do I know? Could be…or maybe not. If I can’t find this intruder, my only hope is if the Shaman can.
Going topside and stepping ashore, Brian strode quickly down the pier until he arrived at a cluster of buildings facing the water. Then, moving carefully among them, he sniffed as he walked, looking down at the damp ground for signs of footprints. When he saw a glint from a piece of metal in the mud, he toed the earth with his shoe, hoping the intruder left something behind, but all he found was a rusty bottle cap.
Suddenly he looked up, quickly turning his head, once again feeling eyes on him but still unable to see who it was. Snorting in frustration, Brian was at a loss to explain how the intruder could hide his location so well. It’s almost like he can become invisible when he wants to, but there wasn’t any scent, at least not on land. After pacing around each building, Brian gave up, headingback to his boat to shower and dress, more determined than ever to talk to the Shaman.
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Reif’s eyes narrowed as he watched the sea serpent finally give up and return to his boat. Sighing, he stroked the bulge in his pants, wanting someone else’s hand on it but knew that would never happen. He had no idea what to do about his mate, but any distraction from his search was out of the question. Reluctantly turning away after the sea serpent disappeared, he set off for the cottage he called home while he was in Inverness.
Realizing he’d lingered too long drooling over his mate, Reif knew he had to walk the distance. With the sun rising, the sky had lightened enough that anyone looking up would be able to see him flying overhead; his father would be furious if a report was made to the High Council. His people had survived—barely—and the last time he’d checked the High Council website, his kind were listed as extinct. That would change in a heartbeat if he were spotted flying.
Striding down the road, Reif kept away from the early risers who were out and about, lest his mate began asking questions of the locals about him. Other than jumping out of the way of those approaching him, he was free to contemplate the secret he was trying to unlock. Mumbling to himself while reviewing all the information he had, Reif hurried through the streets, intent on quickly reaching the safety of the cottage.
Turning down a narrow lane, he headed for the small house at the end of it, isolated from its neighbors by a high hedge. Once inside, he threw his wide-brimmed hat onto a hook near the door and then grabbed a small carton of juice and a few scones. Sitting at the small kitchen table, he ate while re-reading copies of ancientdocuments unearthed from long-forgotten places, hoping the answer to the mystery that eluded him for years would magically appear before his eyes.
What the fuck am I missing?He had all the information he needed and, following the clues time and again as he searched Loch Ness for a week, he was still unable to find what he was looking for. Sighing and resting his chin in the palm of his hand, Reif stared off into space, his thoughts wandering from his mission to the image of his sexy mate.Perfect! My mate was just fucking perfect! Thanks, Fates…but your timing couldn’t be worse.Shaking his head, he turned back to his task—trying to unscramble the clues he had obviously screwed up on.
Several hours later, Reif leaned back in his chair, stretching and yawning as the words began to swim before his eyes. Finishing the last bit of his makeshift breakfast, he brushed the crumbs off the documents before stacking them in a pile. Rising, he headed for the small bedroom, intent on grabbing some shut eye before going out to search again.
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Emerging from the shower, droplets of water covering his nude, muscular body like glittering jewels, Brian made his way to the fridge in the galley. Taking out the makings for his breakfast, he soon had them cooked up and ready to go. Grabbing a plate and some silverware, he scooped up some scrambled eggs and crispy fried bacon and sitting down at the table, began to eat, barely tasting his food, his mind busy categorizing what little he knew about the intruder.
There wasn’t much. Each time he scented the creature in the water, his cock grew hard, buthe wasn’t going to tell the Shamanthat. So focused on his thoughts, it was several moments before Brian realized his plate wasempty. Chuckling, he rose, cleared the table, and then slipped on a pair of shorts before grabbing his coffee and going topside. Scanning the dock and buildings again, he frowned. The intruder was gone. Leaning against the deckhouse, he sipped his coffee, surveying his loch—the place he’d claimed and made his own.
Wandering the earth a long time before coming to Scotland, when he saw the dark, blue waters of Loch Ness, he knew this was what he’d been searching for. Back then, there were few humans; only the Scottish Wolf shifters and after getting permission from their King, Brian settled down, loving the solitude. Best, though, was the freedom to shift and swim at will, freeing his serpent to explore and claim every last inch of the loch.
At first, he kept his serpent hidden, but as time moved on, Brian would shift in full sight, unconcerned about anyone spotting him since humans were rarely found in this part of Scotland. Years turned into decades, then centuries and, before he knew it, humans had taken over Scotland, forcing the Scottish Wolf shifters to hide their true selves. But he was unwilling to give up the freedom his serpent had enjoyed and that’s how someone spotted him swimming.
The publicity surrounding the resulting photograph forced Brian to reluctantly accept that times had changed and that he would have to make some changes as well. After a discussion with Angus, who would become the leader of the Scottish Wolf shifters, he agreed to shift underwater so his serpent identity would remain a secret. He mourned the loss of freedom and for a while, contemplated leaving to find a new place where he could be as free as he’d been before the photo had been published. But in the end, he stayed because his heart and soul were inextricably linked with the waters of the loch.
Through the years, Brian made peace with the hordes of tourists invading his space and when he realized how much his presence benefited the locals, he became a boat captain, giving tours to those who wanted to snap a picture of the ‘Loch Ness Monster.’ And, at times, when tourism waned, he’d make sure the Loch Ness Monster was spotted once again, giving rise to a new frenzy of sightseers. And as much as he hated doing it in the beginning, he had to admit he grew to enjoy the attention.
Ending his stroll down memory lane, Brian grimaced at the cold coffee left in his mug. Tossing the dregs over the side, he headed below to change into jeans and a t-shirt for his visit with the Shaman. Glancing at himself in a mirror, Brian smoothed the wrinkles out of his shirt before grabbing his keys and wallet. Once topside, he hopped off and, not bothering to search for the intruder, he strode to his car parked behind the marina office.
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Back at the hotel in Edinburgh, after returning from Italy, Zane awoke to David’s sweet ass cheeks slowly grinding against his morning wood. Pulling his mate tight against his body, Zane growled, “Do you want something?”
Stroking his own hard-on, David murmured, “Yessss…”
Zane responded by placing his hand over his mate’s, stroking along with him until David’s cock began to ooze pre-cum. With his mate setting the tempo, he began to add his own special touches. When David’s hand began to speed up, Zane pushed it aside, taking over, adding a twist to each stroke. David groaned, wanting more of what Zane was doing, knowing an orgasm would soon be inevitable. Driven by his need, David’s hips began thrusting in search of the friction required to fulfill his cock’s desire. Gasping as his mate’s hand tightened onhis cock, he felt the tingling sensation in his groin, signaling the start of his ejaculation.
Feeling David’s body grow rigid, Zane, sensing his mate’s release was imminent, lowered his head and sank his teeth into David’s mating scar, triggering an explosion in his mate’s body that sent copious wads of cum spurting from the tip of his swollen cock head. Milking the last few drops of David’s cream with his fingers, Zane withdrew his fangs. Then, raising his cum-covered fingers to his mouth, he licked them off, relishing the taste of his mate’s delicious essence. Wrapping his arms around his mate, Zane waited for David to return from the star-studded realm his orgasm had rocketed him to.
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Colton’s hand rested on the swell of Ian’s belly which seemed to grow bigger every day; soon it would be impossible to hide it anymore. He knew it was time to discuss going home but he hadn’t had a chance to apologize to Ian for his overly protective behavior. After acknowledging the truth in Ian’s accusations, Colton had called Steel, looking for advice on what to do next since he’d seen, first-hand, the friction Steel’s protective streak had caused during Jackson’s pregnancy.
He buried his nose in Ian’s hair, inhaling lavender, cedar and orange to assuage his anxiety. Ian was his home, the center of his universe, the calm in all life-storms and Colton cursed himself for forgetting that. Swearing never to make that mistake again, he gently kissed Ian’s head, sending his love through their mind link so his mate would feel it as soon as he awoke. Then his mind wandered elsewhere.
Triplets! I can’t believe we’re having triplets! Oh, my gods, we need more of everything. We need to tell Ian’sparents, and Jackson. And what about Ian’s subjects? Should we tell them now or later? Wonder what the royal protocol is about announcing pregnancies? Maybe Ian’s parents will know? I wonder if there’s a book about it. Maybe the castle’s library would have something that would help Ian and me navigate…oh, shit what about royal names for our pups? Is there a list of appropriate names for…oh, my gods…our pups are going to be princes!
Waking, Ian felt his mate’s love flooding through his mind, quickly followed by Colton’s thoughts. Smiling, he lay still, not wanting to interrupt his mate’s thoughts as he felt Colton’s hand gently rub the spot where the pups were. At the rate they were growing, he’d be showing in another week; it was time for them to head home. And his mate was right—it was time to break the news. “Babe,” Ian murmured, “I think it’s time to go home.”
