Page 11 of Her Shifter Babe

“Well... no. She failed to mention that.”

Oh, shit. I’ve found myself in some kind of polygamous family cult. Crap. Not what I had in mind!

Tommy went on, oblivious to the fact I was beginning to hyperventilate.

“So, that’s what David was upset about. We were always meant to find the right woman together. Love her together, be a complete family. And now, with you and I...” He sighed and sat down with a thump. “I hate this. I mean, I’m so happy for us, for you and me—please don’t misunderstand. But my brother... we’d always planned our life to unfold a certain way... but I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

My head was starting to spin when there was a knock at the door.

Nancy stuck her head in, her voice soft. “Was that David I just saw driving off—” She paused mid-sentence, her gaze fixated on me. “Whoa, you need to sit down!” She rushed over to me, grabbed my hand, and gently encouraged me sit on the couch.

My stomach strained, feeling somehow tighter with my quick breathing. I was trying not to give in to hyperventilating completely, but that was fast becoming a problem. “Is it true?” I managed to get out in between breaths. “That you have two?”

Nancy frowned and glanced over at Tommy for some clarification or point of reference.

Tommy sighed again. “Sorry, Nancy. I had to tell her about perfect pair marriages after David kind of freaked out and took off.”

Nancy chuckled softly and kneeled in front of me. “Just breathe, slowly. Or I’ll get you a paper bag.”

I closed my eyes and focused on wrangling my panic back under control. After a minute or two, when I could finally breathe more calmly, I opened my eyes again and met Nancy’s gaze. I still wanted an answer. “Well?” I pressed, even though I had no real right to enquire about her personal life. She was family now, but realistically we’d only just met. She certainly didn’t deserve my emotion-driven snappiness, but my pregnancy hormones were ramping up and making me feel more panicked and grumpier than usual.

Nancy didn’t get upset at my tone of voice in the slightest. In fact, she took it in stride and instead she got to her feet with a grin. “I think you’re going to fit right in around here, Stacey. Come on, come along and meet my husbands. We’re just about to cut the cake.” Nancy dragged me to my feet and clung to my hand as she led me from the sitting room and into the rest of her beautiful house.

“I can’t believe it,” I whispered, mostly to myself, my mind reeling.

Nancy chuckled. “Yeah, I know, right? I freaked the hell out too. I remember it like it was just yesterday.”

“You did?” I asked, looking toward the woman, who was glowing with good health and happiness.

“Yeah, of course!” She laughed. “I was on my bike, riding like a bat out of hell, looking for a safe place to hide from my asshole ex, when a couple of brothers up and decided they both wanted me! Ah... nope. It blew my mind, and I panicked big time. That wasn’t the kind of life I’d dreamed of, or I ever thought I’d end up with.”

The brothers she was talking about glided up and took her from my grasp, kissing her and whispering to her in a coordinated way that almost made their intimate interaction look like a dance.

Finally, she got them to stop petting her and she gestured to me. “Guys, this is the young lady I was telling you about, Stacey.” She smiled broadly. “Stacey, this is Tanner and Wade, my husbands and mates.”

I nodded at the two men who grinned at me.

“Welcome to our housewarming,” the brother called Wade said. “Nancy says you’ll be staying here for a while?”

“Ah...” My voice died in my throat.

“Yes, she is,” Nancy said quickly, filling in for me. “She’s already set up in the guest suite.”

I managed to smile, though I didn’t feel quite comfortable in agreeing to anything out loud just yet.

“Come on. Let’s go cut that beautiful cake.” Wade swept his wife away, Tanner close behind, and I ended up watching from the dining area as they began the ritual of speeches and cake cutting. They thanked everyone present, then announced their pregnancy to one and all. The whole room lit up with happiness and cheers.

“Are you doing okay?” Tommy whispered to me, sliding up behind me.

“Yeah, I think so,” I managed, even though I wasn’t sure how I was. This entire situation seemed crazy. It defied everything I’d grown up to know as normal and socially acceptable. And yet as I watched Nancy and her men, I couldn’t help but see them as nothing more than a beautiful family—just people who were committed to one another and in love.

“I have a role to play in the next part of the reveal,” Tommy said into my ear, touching my lower back gently. “Excuse me. I’ll be back.”

“It’s a boy!” The collective family all around us cried as the cake was cut and slices of brilliant blue cake were revealed.

Tommy walked over to the new throuple family and handed them a card.

“Thanks,” Nancy said, but didn’t move to open it.

---