Page 8 of Ours

Sandy’s dad got up from his seat, his fists clenched and his face bright red. “I don’t care who the hell either of you dickheads are. If either of you hurt my baby girl, no one will be able to find your pieces.” With that he stalked away.

Her brothers glared at Zack and Jake for a moment before the older of the two snarled, “Leave our sister alone. She’s sweet, innocent, and too good for the likes of you two. You are both too old for her anyway. We’re going now. Say your good byes, but be gone by the time I get home tonight.” With that, both men followed their father out.

After looking down at his watch, Jake cursed, pulled out his phone, and dialed his partner. “David, I’m going to be late. Cover for me.” He hung up without waiting for his partner’s answer.

Turning to Zack, Jake waited for him to say something. “You have nothing to say after everything that was just said?”

Zack lifted his shoulders and smirked. “What can I say? She is our mate, and I’m not giving her up. I know you feel the same way, so her family is just going to have to get used to us.”

Nodding, Jake walked back to the kitchen and looked for the broom to clean the mess up. Zack came over with a vacuum and plugged it in to clean over the spots Jake swept. Working together, they cleaned the kitchen and were putting away the things they’d washed when the smell of strawberries and honey washed over Jake’s scenes.

“What the hell are you two still doing here? I told everyone I wanted them out.”

Jake stared at Sandy who eyed the kitchen. She seemed stunned until she remembered she was angry and scowled.

Loving her spirit, Jake couldn’t help it when he flashed his teeth at her in one of his wicked grins that were known to bring ladies to their knees. “Yeah, but you didn’t mean us.”

Placing her hands on her hips, Sandy narrowed her eyes at them, her lips thinned, and she snarled, “I bloody well did. I have enough idiotic men in my life. I don’t need any more. Last night was fun, but it was a one-night deal only. I’m not looking for a relationship. I don’t know if I will for a long time, but when I do, it will be with one man. I already cook and clean up after three, so I’m not going to add another two into the mix.”

He and Zack waited for her tirade to finish before Zack picked her up and walked toward her room.

“Put me down, you Neanderthal. Put me down now or you won’t like the consequences.”

Jake chuckled as she pounded on Zack’s back.

“You were right there, cous’. Looks like we were given a tough one.” Jake was eager to learn what the consequences she kept talking about were, but he knew now wasn’t the time to ask.

Zack placed Sandy on the bed, and she tried to scramble away.

Jake rested himself over her, caging her in.

“Jake, let me go.”

He kissed her forehead and then both cheeks. “Never. I will never let you go, Little Red. You’re our mate.”

Sandy rolled her eyes at him, groaning, “Not the mate thing again. What are you two going on about? Why is this mate thing so important to you?”

Looking into her eyes, Jake wondered if this was too early to say anything or to show her what they were. He peeked over his shoulder at Zack who sighed, stood up, and took his pants off.

“Um, I’m all for looking at his body, but I don’t really think we should have sex again. My brothers will be waiting and watching until your cars leave.”

Sitting up, Jake sat her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Zack’s going to show you something. You have to promise not to scream because he would never hurt you.”

Sandy studied the both of them for a while before she nodded. Zack started to transform into a big brown grizzly bear. Hair grew all over his body, his height and width shot upwards and out, and finally, a rainbow of lights swirled around him. When it cleared, a bear stood there.

A long, drawn out scream left Sandy as she tried to get out of Jake’s arms. Zack was hunched as he tried not to touch the ceiling. Zack growled and slowly walked to them which only scared Sandy more.

“Little Red, calm down. Zack would never hurt you. We would never hurt you. We are shifters, bears shifters.” He stroked her hair. “Shh, I promise you are the safest person in the world.”

She turned on him, fighting to get away. Realizing they’d done this wrong, he signaled for Zack to change back.

Once Zack stood before them in human form, she stopped screaming. In a hoarse voice, she mumbled, “Let me go. Let me go now.”

Slowly he dropped his arms from her waist, and she scrambled out of them and off the bed before backing as far away from them as she could go.

Zack carefully moved toward her. “We’re not the only shifters in the world. There are wolves, tigers, seals, lions, and many more. You have probably met a couple without realizing it. You’re okay with my brothers Brian and Blake.”

Jake watched as Sandy hit her bedroom wall. She put up her hands. “Please don’t hurt me. Stay back.” She was shaking, and Jake didn’t like this new Sandy. This Sandy wasn’t feisty.

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