Winter Awakening Read online

  She’d laugh if she didn’t experience the same sensations. Everything inside her seemed to coalesce into one giant ball of chaotic emotions. “Oh God.” She whimpered, writhing against both men.

  “Shit.” Ero pulled from her, leaving her empty and a little bereft. Then, he was there. The tip of his dick slipped inside her rear, and she gasped. “Oh fuck, yes.”

  The long low groan of his did funny things to her. It turned her on and gave her such a rush of power, she couldn’t explain it. She hissed at the burn of being stretched open to his intrusion. If she thought he’d take it easy, he didn’t. He gave her exactly what she needed, with sparing seconds to gather her wits. When he filled her so completely, the rest of her heart and her soul slipped into place.

  She cried out as they rode each other while rushing toward the best completion ever. She grasped at Ero behind her while clinging to Luc. They moved together as one. She met them thrust for thrust. The intensity of their mating making her unable to stop the torrential, emotional storm brewing inside her. She closed her eyes and cried out as she laid her head on Ero’s shoulder, while arching toward Luc.

  The sounds both men made were devastatingly erotic, and melodic, lulling her into a blanket of gratification and bliss. She didn’t think she’d ever be the same way again. Ero released her hold of him and buried his face against her neck. He mouthed the mark he left there, sending sparks of desire flowing through her. “Fuck yes. You’re ours, Sarah. Always ours. Give it to us.” He bit down on her neck.

  Her mouth fell open, and her breath hitched as everything inside her exploded. Her vision went fuzzy, and she remembered to breathe as her release shot through her. Luc growled and increased the pace of his thrusts. He fisted her hair and turned her head to the side and latched onto the mark he’d left for her, seconds before he began to fill her with his seed. She groaned, clinging to him as mini-orgasms rushed through her. The overwhelming emotional connection between them solidified into place as Ero stilled and let out a pained moaned. The rhythmic pulse of their shafts left her sated in more ways than one.

  She couldn’t move. Wrapped in their arms under the woven blanket, blessed just for them, her world contained a clarity she’d been missing. “I love both of you.”

  Luc nuzzled her. “Love you, too, mate.”

  “So much,” Ero added.

  Chapter Ten

  The next several days went by in a blur of action. Luc and Ero settled into Sarah’s home, like they’d always been there. Dylan recovered nicely from his little accident, and Charles…the little boy had doted on his uncle to the point Jason stopped her to ask what in the hell was wrong with him. She laughed. Later, they had a conversation about smothering people. She shook her head as she entered Shawn’s PI office, near the café.

  He glanced up from his desk and waved her in. The place needed to be decorated. Badly. A single fake plant stood in a wicker basket in the corner of the room. A single painting of the hills hung on the wall behind him. Even the floors could use a good cleaning. “Good morning, Sarah. What can I do for you?”

  The Solstice festivities were only a few days away, and she had the perfect surprise for her mates. “Is there any way to get Meadow’s ticket pushed up a couple of days?”

  He stared at her for a minute. “I don’t know. We’d have to check booking and ask Meadow if she wants to come earlier. Why?”

  “I want to surprise my mates.”

  A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s see what we can do.”

  For the next hour, they worked on getting a bus there sooner than the day of the festivities. She even got a chance to talk to their sister. The girl, for all her bluster, had an edge of longing in her voice. She wanted to come home and be with her brothers, even if things had gone to shit when they left.

  “I can’t wait to finally meet you.” She wiped a tear away.

  “Me, too. This is going to be so much fun.” Meadow laughed. “Are you sure it won’t be an imposition staying with your mom, though?”

  She snorted. “Ask me again in a couple of weeks when wolves start coming to the door asking you out.”

  The girl laughed again. “I can’t imagine Miss Claire being so bad.”

  “Oh, honey.” She snickered. “I’ll see you in two days. Remember to call Luc and tell him you’ll be late.”

  “Two days.” She paused. “Thank you, Sarah. For this. For finding me, and I won’t forget.”

  “Thank your brothers. They found you with Shawn’s help. I’m just here for moral support.” She smiled. “Okay, I need to get back to work, or else your brother is going to wonder where I went.”

  After saying their good-byes, she thanked Shawn and left his office. She walked across the road to the bookstore, knowing her mother and the other matrons would be inside. Of course, she’d made all these plans with Meadow before clearing it with her mother, but she had a feeling she’d be okay with it.

  She stepped inside the store to the bells above her head jingling her arrival. Ginger eased out from behind one of the shelves, holding a load of books in her arms. “Hey, you.” She crossed to the counter and laid them down. “What are you doing here?”

  She hugged her friend. “Is my mother here?”

  “Back here, dear. I can hear you.”

  She laughed. “Should have known. How are you?”

  “I’m good. We’re getting ready to shut down for the winter. Thad won’t leave me alone.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Mates.”

  Ginger shook her head. “No, not mates.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “I don’t have one. It’s just how it goes, and I am working on it with Brie.” She turned from her and grabbed a couple of books. “Go on back. Just follow the sound of clucking hens.” She winked.

  “We heard that, dear.” Miss Fern appeared at the entryway. “Come on, child. We want to hear about your mates.”

  “Not talking about them.” She waved off the matron as she headed down the hall. “I just need to ask my mom a question.”

  “Pity, we could use a good tale of two men.” Miss Lonnie wiggled her brows as she stepped into the back room.

  “Young love.” Miss Kathy sighed. “Didn’t know you raised a stingy prude, Claire.”

  “She’s nothing like Joe and me.” She held her arms open to Sarah. “What can I do for you, dear?”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re all pervy women. I see what you’re doing here.”

  Miss Fern grabbed her book. “We’re holding a book club meeting.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Take a load off.” Miss Lonnie pointed to a chair.

  “I’ll only be here for a second. I have to get back to the café.”

  “I bet you do.” Miss Fern gave her a knowing look.

  She scrubbed her face. “Meadow Mathews is coming home.” The playful banter ceased, and their attention turned fully on her.

  “What?” Her mother touched her hand. “When?”

  “Well, I changed it. She was scheduled to show up on the day of the festivities, but I talked to her today, and we switched her ticket. She’ll be here in two days.”

  “Wonderful!” Miss Fern clapped her hands. “They are going to be over the moon when they see her.”

  “Yeah, well. I need some help.” She pressed on. “I told her she could stay with you, Ma.”

  “Of course she can. I’d take it as an affront if you didn’t invite her to stay with me.”

  Relief filled her. “One more thing. I am going to tell Luc and Ero she’s going to be a few days late.”

  Miss Kathy gave her a devious smile. “Oh you’re good. Maybe we were wrong about you.”

  Sarah chuckled. “Thanks. But, it means the boys can’t come over for a few days.”

  Her mom waved her off. “Don’t worry. We’ll come to you.”

  “Are you sure?” She glanced out the side window. Already a good foot of snow lay on the gr
ound.

  “Yes. We might be old, dear, but we’re not that old.”

  Yes, they were, but she’d never say it to their faces. She worried about her parents. At least this winter she and Jason could take care of them. “Then it’s settled. Thanks, Mom.”

  “You’re welcome, dear.”

  “I need to get to work. Remember, if you see the guys, nothing about Meadow. I don’t want this surprise ruined.” She gave each woman, including her mom, a pointed stare.

  Miss Fern took a sip of tea while watching her. “Fine, child. We won’t interfere.”

  “Thank you.”

  She hurried across the street. One of the last lunch rushes was in full swing when she walked out of the bookstore. Pack members sat at nearly all the tables. Sarah pushed through the door and practically ran to the back room to grab her apron.

  “I’m sorry.” Sarah touched Ero’s arm before passing him. “Which tables?”

  “Six, ten, and twelve.” He grabbed her hand before she could step away. “Everything, okay?”

  She nodded. “Had to talk to my mom.”

  He grinned. “Say no more.”

  They worked in tandem, filling orders and taking money. By the time the last few customers exited the café, all of the soup of the day was gone. Their bread supply was depleted, and their coffee supply emptied. They’d even sold out all of the pastries.

  “I guess this means we’ll be closing early.” Ero came up behind her as she cleaned a table and wrapped his arms around her.

  “My compliments to the chef.” She turned in his arms and nibbled on his chin.

  “I have a way you can compliment me.”

  “I’ll bet you do.” She giggled and swatted at him. “Let’s get this finished then we can sneak away for a while.”

  He growled. “I love the way you think, mate.” He patted her ass. “I’ll start tearing everything down.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” She had returned to clearing the tables, when the door opened and Luc stepped inside. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you’re stalking me.”

  He grinned. “I am. I can’t get you out of my mind.” He prowled toward her. “You’ve got my dick in a bind. and I love it.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss. “Mate.”

  “We’re cutting out early and sneaking away. Want to join us?”

  “Do you even have to ask?” His phone rang, and he held up his finger. “Hold the thought.” He stepped away to answer it. “Hello?”

  She finished the table she’d been working on and headed for the dishwasher. If not, she’d give away everything. Having Meadow telling the guys she’d be late seemed horrible on one hand, but she knew she’d make up for it when the Solstice came. All she had to do was keep it together for now.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Ero touched her arm.

  “Nothing. Luc got a phone call.” She placed the bin of dirty dishes on the counter then proceeded to empty it into the sink full of hot, sudsy water.

  “Ah. Do you know who?”

  “No.” Yes.

  A few moments later, Luc entered the kitchen. “I have some bad news.”

  She swallowed hard. “What’s wrong?”

  “Meadow got tied up at her job. She’ll be here a couple of days after the Solstice.” He frowned. “Dammit. I really wanted to spend the holiday as a whole family.”

  She rushed to his side. “Hey now. We can celebrate when she gets here. Don’t beat yourself up too much.”

  “I thought…shit. It’s not her fault. Work always comes first.” He wrapped his arm around Sarah.

  “It’s not the end of the world, bro. She’s coming home. It’s not like she’ll leave us again. She’s staying. We just have to wait a few more days.” He placed the last dish on the stack of clean plates. “Help us get this done then we can get out of here. I thought about taking the boys up into the hills to show them where we’ll be running for the festivities.”

  “I could make us a cold dinner to take along if you want.” She went back to prepping the remaining items for the dishwasher.

  “Don’t think they’ll get too cold, do you?”

  She shook her head. “They run everywhere, and we’re used to this. Maine is colder.”

  Ero grinned. “Good. Then we can stretch our legs a little. Be wolves with them.”

  “Now you’re just going to spoil them.”

  Luc grabbed her up and carried her to the counter. He crushed his lips to hers and groaned when she softened under his touch. “It’s our job as their step-dads.”

  She kissed him again as love, bright and hot, flowed from her. “God, you’re perfect. Both of you.”

  Ero joined them. His hands moved over her as did Luc’s. “Fuck getting lost. I want you now.”

  Both worked together to get her out of her clothes. “I love both of you.”

  Ero groaned. “We love you, too, mate.”

  ***

  “Did you grab your ornament?” Sarah helped Charles into his snowshoes.

  “Yes. I have it in my pack along with snacks Grandma made and jerky Gramps made for us. I also have an extra pair of gloves, Sam’s coat, and a blanket if I need it.” He stood. “Can we go now?”

  “Not yet. Dylan isn’t ready yet.” She crossed the room to the hall. “You almost ready, Dyl?”

  He came out of his room, wearing his best holiday sweater, thermal jeans, and gloves. “I think I got this right. Can you check?”

  She nodded. “You look very handsome. Do you have your ornament?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Mom. I’m not handsome.”

  She laughed. “Well you are.” She tapped his nose.

  “Whatever.” He glanced away from her. “Everything is in my pack. Is Uncle Jason coming with us?”

  “Uncle Jason wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He strolled down the hall, her mates right behind him.

  “Are we ready?”

  Luc nodded, carrying their scavenger hunt objects. “I have the truck warming up for us. I think we’ll all fit.”

  “Sam doesn’t sit in the back of the truck.” Charles stepped forward. “Will he fit?”

  “Yep. He’ll fit. Don’t worry.” Ero scrubbed his hair. “Let’s get going, or else we will miss all the cider and storytelling.”

  Sarah bit her lip. “About that. Mom needs help bringing food. So, I promised I’d help her as soon as I got you guys out the door. It shouldn’t take long. It’s just…I think she went overboard.”

  “Do you need help, sis?”

  “No, go. It’s okay. I think she needs more help taking it out of the truck than anything. I’ll be right behind you.” She kissed both of her mates then her sons. “See you in ten minutes.”

  Already, she had been biting her tongue so hard. The last couple of hours had been the worst for her. After leaving the café two days ago, Luc had been upset. Sure, she’d tried to assuage his anxiety as much as possible. But the disappointment had been palpable. Several times she caught herself almost giving in to the need to comfort him and tell him the truth.

  She climbed into her truck and started it. When Ero pulled out of the driveway, she followed suit then headed in the opposite direction. From her home to her mom’s wasn’t far. They were only about a mile apart.

  She pulled up to the house as her father carried another stack of boxes out of the house and put it into his truck. She parked next to him then got out. “Looks like I got here in the nick of time.”

  He shook his head. “Your mother is in a mood. Everything had to be baked to celebrate another pack member returning. I don’t think Meadow can eat another bite.”

  She laughed. “Thankfully, she’ll be going home with us.” Where she’d stay, she didn’t know. For now, if need be, the boys could share a room, and they could set up her old bedframe and get a new mattress and box spring…shit, she was doing what her mother did. “How much more is there?”

  “Couple more on the kitche
n counter. Then we should be done.”

  She bussed her dad’s cheek and continued into the house. “Hello, anyone home?”

  “Back here, dear.”

  She followed her mother’s voice and came up short in her old bedroom. There at her small vanity—the one her father spent so many backbreaking hours making—sat Meadow. The only reason she recognized her was because of her eyes. The crystal-blue depth stared back at her as her mother plaited her blonde hair—the same color as Luc’s. Same full lips as Ero. “Meadow?”

  “Wild, right?” She touched her hair. “I was talking to Miss Claire about everything, and I thought, for now, I’d go back to my natural color.”

  “You look beautiful. You’re going to knock your brothers dead.” She laughed.

  “All the single wolves will be trying to scoop her up.”

  “Mom, none of your games tonight.”

  She gave her a look of disapproval. “I would never, dear.”

  Sure she wouldn’t. She and her three cohorts had matched more than a few wolves in this town. “I’m going to load the last of the treats into my truck. When you’re ready, Meadow, we can go.”

  “Let me grab a jacket and get my shoes on, and I’ll be ready.”

  “Mom.”

  Her mother stood and followed after her. “She’ll be staying here. We already talked about this. You don’t have enough room at your home as it is.”

  She blinked. “Well, I guess I don’t have to worry, then.” She stepped into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of boxes. “I really appreciate your helping me with this.”

  “I’m more than happy to help.” She glanced over her shoulder. “She could use a mother’s touch. Such a shame. After everything.”

  “I agree.”

  “So, big night. I can’t wait to run. Joe and I have our favorite spot all picked out for—”

  “Mom, no. I don’t need to hear this.” She groaned, scooting past her.

  “Well, it’s not like you and your mates won’t be doing the same.”