Liam’s lion was a simple beast. He had the strength and power of his kind but was always a lot happier curled up with his mate enjoying snuggles. Right now, his instincts were going haywire. Emotional pain wasn’t something the animal understood, but he knew his human half was devastated. Seeing as they couldn’t fight the source of the pain; Liam wanted to run. The lion wanted to stay and protect their mate and son.

But then the lion saw the trees, and the wide-open park and running was suddenly an awesome idea. He probably didn’t play as much as other animals – after all, lions were beneath that sort of behavior. But here, where no one could see them…oh, look a mouse. The lion gave chase.

A rabbit? No, Liam’s human half warned. That could be one of Seth’s relatives. Seth was pack. The lion understood that. Oh, squirrel. Yes, see that cheeky sucker run right up the tree. Liam placed his front paws on the tree trunk, shaking his mane and showing his teeth. He reared back when the squirrel threw a nut at his nose. Sauntering away, the lion made sure he used the “I wasn’t hungry anyway,” swagger lions were famous for.

A stream. A drink would be lovely. The lion took a few licks, shaking himself when he flicked some on his nose. Now, a nice place for a nap. Walking around twice to ensure no sticks or stones would dig into his fur, the lion flopped on the ground. His human needed time to think. The lion didn’t understand it, but he accepted it. He’d just enjoy the sun and let his human do what he needed to do.

Liam longed to embrace the relaxed nature of his animal half, but he was nursing a broken heart. How could Beau not want our baby? Liam didn’t understand it. Sure, they hadn’t talked about the baby much. Beau seemed to go quiet when Liam mentioned things like nursery colors and what names they should consider. He didn’t seem to like Liam anywhere near his baby bump either, which was a hard thing for Liam to accept even before today’s revelation. Beau’s baby bump was adorable in Liam’s eyes and made him horny every time he got the chance to run his fingers over it.

How come everyone else loved their babies from the moment they knew they were pregnant? But no, Liam knew that wasn’t strictly true. When Ra found out Seth was carrying, he disappeared into his workshop and didn’t come out for days. It took a pack intervention and Seth getting beaten up for Ra to pull his head out of his ass.

Darwin didn’t have things much better either. Simon didn’t even know he could get pregnant and thought he had some kind of sickness. In the meantime, he ignored Darwin to the point the poor mouse shifter moved out of the house. Another pack intervention and a visit to Cam’s where Darwin worked took care of that problem.

I don’t want to have a pack intervention, Liam would be crying by now if he was in his human form. As it was, he moaned and keened as his lion helped him vocalize his pain. Having a cub, pup or even a cute little chick if that’s what his son turned out to be, was more than Liam could have ever dreamed of. As soon as he realized Beau could carry their child, his days had been filled with plans and his nights with dreams of his perfect family.

Rolling over, Liam allowed himself to miss Lucien. He was happy for his brother. Noah was a really great guy and it seemed Fate knew what they were doing pairing two sets of brothers together. Liam had been there when Noah strode into the little bookstore and pulled Lucien into a kiss worthy of any romance novel. He understood their need for privacy; Noah had a lot of groveling to do. But damn, Liam wished he had someone to talk to.

A rustle in the bushes caught his ear. Liam flicked his tail and lifted his upper lip, showing his fangs. He was hardly in the mood to be sociable. There were large chunks of green spaces around the little shifter town for residents to run around in. He’d snagged this spot for himself and he wasn’t moving.

A low whine made him look up as a large wolf padded into view. Liam narrowed his eyes. The dark gray fur with black tips was semi-familiar and the wolf was wagging his tail and shaking his ass which was canine speak for “come and play.” Liam lifted his snout, sniffing the air. Yum. Hazelnut and Vanilla. Then his cock started to harden, something that never happened in his furry form and Liam jumped to his feet.

Mate? Mate! Our other mate. He sniffed and sniffed as the wolf got closer, sneezing when the wolf’s fur got up his nose. The wolf was just as excited, sniffing him all over before backing off. Shift, shift, his eyes seemed to say, so Liam shifted. A shimmer in the air indicated the wolf had done the same.

“Whoa, Trent?” Liam stared. Trent was the town’s best mechanic and had his own garage a block down from Cam’s. Liam had often flirted with him. It was no hardship. Trent was built to sex-god specifications, at least in Liam’s eyes. Tall, broad shouldered, Trent was a few inches taller than he was with a mane of black curls that fell down his back. Thick legs, solid ass – he filled out his jeans like a dream. Liam often wondered what he looked like without them and now he knew. He was impressed. 

“Liam. We’re mates? How come I never knew this before? Don’t you already have mates?” But even as he spoke, Trent moved closer.

“Do you want the long version or the short version?” Liam leaned toward him.

“Long, I guess?”

Liam sighed and sat his ass back on the grass. “Theo, my lion mate who kidnaped Simon, was possessed by a demon and took my brother Hal as a sex slave. Beau, my phoenix mate saved Hal, but not before Hal lost his tongue. Beau brought Hal back and claimed me. Long story short, I killed Theo when he threatened to hurt Beau and Simon again. Theo killed me too, but Beau’s a phoenix so he brought me back to life. The Fates came and told us they’d made a mistake. They said we could have another mate after I offered to die so Beau would have the two mates he was intended for. That mate would be someone I knew, who’s own mate had been killed as a result of what Theo had done. As we’re both sitting here with hard-on’s from hell and my nose can’t get enough of your scent, I am guessing you are that mate. Oh, and Beau is pregnant with my child. We had a doctor’s appointment today to have the scan and Beau freaked out when he saw the baby inside of him. That’s why I’m out here on my own.”

Trent rubbed his chin. “I kinda wish I hadn’t asked,” he chuckled. “So, the mate intended for me, who I haven’t met, died before his time because Theo was evil incarnate, and the Fates, in their wisdom decided to make it up to you and me, by making us mates.”

“And Beau,” Liam reminded him. “He might be behaving like an ass at the moment, but we are claimed, and he is carrying my baby. Do you like kids?”

“Love them,” Trent stretched out on the grass, and reached out for Liam’s hand. Their touch ran like electricity up Liam’s arm. “So, you actually saw the Fates and they told you I would be your other mate?”

“Not you exactly,” Liam gave into the urge to stretch out alongside his favorite mechanic. Hands still clasped they both looked at the sky. “The Fates said that we would meet our other mate, once we’d had time to cement our bond, you know after the whole me dying while killing Theo incident.”

“That’s one way of describing it.” Trent had a lovely chuckle. “So, I take it you and Beau are all good and that’s why you met me?”

“When I left him in the doctor’s office after he admitted he was hoping his baby bump was a tumor, I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to talk to him again.”

“Then it sounds like the Fates decided you needed me sooner than later.” Tugging on his hand, Trent rolled onto his side and Liam found himself doing the same. Trent’s eyes were like sparkling emeralds. “I have always lusted after you, you know. Got drunk the night I heard you were mated.”

“Really?” Liam just knew his face was bright red and it wasn’t because of the sun.

“Hell yeah, and the only game around that night was that pool shark little bunny with lips like a Hoover.”

“Oh yeah, I know him,” Liam dropped his eyes. “Little bastard’s beaten me at pool more times than I can count.”

“Me too. My brothers hate him.” Trent howled with laughter. “I’m sure that little shit cheats but I haven’t been able to work out how.”

“Do you spend your time watching his ass, or watching him play?” Liam said with a wink.

Dawning realization crossed Trent’s face. “Duh, of course. Shit, he could be pushing the balls into the pockets with his bare hands and no one would notice when he bends over.”

“I don’t feel so bad for losing to him now,” Liam laughed.

“Have you played pool since Beau claimed you?” Trent asked, edging closer.

Overwhelmed with Trent’s scent, Liam could only shake his head.

“Well, once we’re claimed, how about we go back and play him again and see if we can actually work out how he does it this time?”

“You think we’ll be immune to the charms of that perky ass once we’ve claimed each other?” Liam murmured as Trent’s lips got closer.

“Only one way to find out.” Trent closed that last little distance between them and Liam gasped into their first kiss. Solid hands grabbed his hips, dragging their bodies together. Their cocks bumped, kissed and then slid together as Trent rocked into him. Unsure where to put his hands, Liam settled for one in Trent’s hair and one grasping the butt he’d long admired. Moans and groans filled the clearing as they found their rhythm, rocking towards an inevitable climax. Liam’s skin was on fire and his gums ached with the need to drop his fangs. A sharp nick on the corner of his mouth let him know Trent was in the same condition.

“Fuck, want to bite so bad,” Liam groaned, leaning back from their kiss, frantically taking a breath.

“Me too. Beau?” Trent was panting just as hard.

“Probably pay to meet him first.” Trent’s nod was agreement enough and Liam tugged at his hair, needing another taste of Trent’s lips. Their skin soon slicked with sweat, and Liam pushed with his body weight until Trent’s back was flat on the grass.

“Oh yeah.” Trent thrust up, meeting Liam’s grind. There was a bit of nip and fang, and Trent’s finger might have been nudging Liam’s hole, but it was more than enough for Liam. Wrenching his mouth free, Liam purposefully lifted his head as his fangs dropped.

“Damn.” His balls throbbing, Liam’s cock pulsed, and his lion roared as they covered their mate with their seed. Trent’s howl joined his roar and Liam ground his hips down one last time as their scents melted together.

“Ouch,” Trent winced as his fang nicked his own lip. “Tell me you and Beau will work out your differences soon, so we can bite each other.”

“Could be sooner than you think.” Liam looked across the clearing to a patch of bushes. “Hey, Beau, do you want to meet Trent, our third?”