Jenni

 

Jenni spent the night curled on the sofa, drowsing and waking at every sound. Not that there were many, since the falling snow muffled a lot of it. But branches snapped outside from time to time, unable to bear the heavy wet stuff weighing it down, and the wind rose and fell, howling as it whipped around the eaves of the cabin. But since the structure had stood for a century or two, she never doubted it would continue to do so. Her concerns were entirely for her men who were out there somewhere. She made hot tea half a doze times, coffee twice, and heated a can of soup.

And thought. She’d had more than enough time to think and she remembered some things. Things about Matilda back when they were roommates. She’d caught glimpses of a large “dog” coming and going from the building, yet dogs were not allowed, and nobody admitted to having one.

Nobody had ever made an impression on her like Ty and Clark. She’d never been willing to change her life for anyone before, but she already knew if they asked her to stay forever, and if they really meant it, she’d do it in a heartbeat.

Malinda for all her quirks had never lied to her. Not once. It seemed everything about this weekend was new and different and life altering. If she could put aside her reservations and make love to two men and have almost instant feelings of deep caring for them, how much more impossible was it that things existed outside the realm of what she’d been raised to call “normal.” She just felt bad that her friend had needed to hide it from her for so long.

By the time the sun rose, she had a plan in place. With her camera on the tripod by the front window, with the motion sensor-setting on, she waited to make a photographic record of her guys’ return. She sat in the straight-backed chair, watching for any sign of them. After an hour she began pacing in a big circle from the kitchen to the door, and after two hours, she reversed directions. She was so focused on walking and worrying, she almost missed their emerging from the forest. The camera’s soft clicks as it took a picture every ten seconds alerted her to their return.

Two polar bears ambled into the clearing and stopped. Before she could take in much about them, they dropped to the ground, shrinking, and then, and then Clark and Ty stood there, naked. They stretched and strolled toward the house, heads close together, talking to one another.

While she waited inside.

It was now or never, but as the door opened, her heart jumped in her throat. She stood, arms crossed in front of her chest. She had proof it happened. But she was a little worried about how she might react.

She shouldn’t have been concerned. As soon as they stepped inside, she flung herself into their arms. Their laughter surrounded her, and they hugged her back. This was how it would be if she lived here, if she did stay forever. They’d go out and do their work, and she’d be there to greet them on their return.

How could she feel like this so quickly? How could their arms around her mean home after only a couple of days, most of which they’d been away for?

They hugged her some more, and she sent them to put on clothes because they seemed a little chilled, and settled them at the table and fried up some bacon and eggs, brewed more coffee, made toast in the oven, and set piled plates in front of them then sat by them urging them to eat. She listened to them discuss the avalanche and how they’d worked, how they could have done better.

When they were full, sitting back in their chairs, relaxed, she got her camera and brought it to the table. “I want to show you something.” 

They watched the playback in silence before looking up at her. Ty smiled. “We were trying to figure out how to tell you. What do you think? Are you okay with what we are?”

Clark dragged her onto his lap. “She greeted us with a hug, made us food. I think she’s okay.”

Jenni buried her face in his chest and breathed in his scent for a long moment. “You have a dangerous job, both of you. Search and rescue right? Like avalanches and lost hikers, injured skiers…thing like that?”

“Yes.”

“Then I have to tell you that your work is what gave me pause. The idea you were putting yourselves in such danger all the time. Learning you can turn into polar bears made me think you’re a lot safer. Polar bears are made for snow. They’re big and strong, and that has to be an asset right?

“Yeah,” Clark said, stroking her hair. “It is. But how did you figure it out?”

“Well, I saw Ty change, when you left. I didn’t understand it, but Matilda called and explained it all. She’s a wolf, my best friend. I never knew.”

“And did you she explain to you about mates?”

“No. Is that what you call a marriage? Mating?”

Ty cut in. “Not exactly. But we can do both if you like. Mating is private, just between the three of us.”

“And you want that with me? Really? You meant it when you said forever?”

“And always.” Clark bent and nipped at her collarbone. “Mating involves a little biting.”

She jumped to her feet. “Then let’s get started.”

She’d had hard time deciding whether to marry Harold, but as she scooted up the steps, followed by her mates, she realized she’d had no trouble picking them. If they couldn’t get good Internet here, she’d open a small office for her business in the town. And she’d get them to install those solar panels as soon as possible. But those were just details.

As she stripped off her clothes and jumped on the bed, all she could see was future. Happy future. She didn’t know what she’d done to bring such magic into her life, but she thanked whatever angel watched over her for opening her eyes to more than she’d known of. A whole world beyond the ordinary. And she was now part of it.

Her men landed on either side of her, ready to make her their own.

As their teeth sank into her shoulders she gave a soft whimper, but her love surged.

“Will I get to bite you back?” she asked, as they peppered the area with kisses.

“Yes,” Ty replied.

“And can I really ride a polar bear?”

Clark chuckled. “You bet.”

She slapped at him. “You know what I mean.”

He sobered. “Yes and it will be our honor to bear you upon our backs. Anytime you’d like.”

And she was more grateful, happier, and more in love than ever in her life.