Cotton moved to the edge of the clearing. Most of the beach was more river stone than sand, but it was a good place to leave their clothes before shifting and swimming out. He turned to the pair, feeling self-conscious. The bears of the valley were used to nudity. Males shifted in public often, and sometimes had to shift back into their human forms, as well.
It was not unusual to run into someone in the nude walking through the village.
Yet for some reason, he worried about removing his clothes before the two males. Not worried that they would do something, but almost… as if he worried they wouldn’t approve of him.
I’m not theirs. I don’t need their approval.
He pulled his shirt over his head before laying it on a large outlying stone. After kicking off his shoes, he saw the two males begin to disrobe from the corner of his eye and realized he was growing excited. He wanted to see their bodies… both in human and bear form.
Unbuckling his belt, he tried to ignore their movements, but it eventually proved impossible. The more he tried to avert his eyes, the more he wanted to see.
Cotton turned to them when he was naked and couldn’t help but look at them.
Their stares on him heated his flesh as much as any touch would. He felt his body enflamed as their stares roamed over him. He licked his suddenly dry lips, shocked by how sexy the two were.
Ari was the larger of the two—in all ways. He was a good three inches taller than Nikos—who was a good three inches taller than Cotton. Ari’s body was big and muscled, a true beta with alpha written all over him. His shoulders were broad, his waist narrow… and the cock hanging semi-erect between his thighs was magnificent. It was longer and thicker than any he’d seen, even Dillon’s.
Nikos was the opposite of his brother bear. Where Ari was big and bulky, Nikos was slimmer with long, lean muscles. Bears like him were often underestimated, but were often quicker in a fight and just as savage. He was dark, where Ari was light—Nikos’ dark, curled hair was almost blue in the moonlight, whereas Ari was dusty blond.
The smaller shifter was barely smaller in the package department, roughly the same size as Dillon. He’d never been with two males at once. The image of them both sliding into his body made his eyes close and his cock thicken.
Cotton heard Ari’s low growl and knew he needed to get the thought out of his mind. He quickly shifted, his limbs twisting and elongating as fur and claws sprouted. His mouth grew into a bear’s maw, his hands and feet becoming paws.
Ari and Nikos began shifting as well. Instead of waiting for them, he padded over the stones to the water. Sliding in one paw, he felt it was frigid, but there was no going back. He jumped in and waded to a deeper part of the pool, closer to the waterfall.
They were beside him in no time, swimming quickly.
He watched as the pair dove and swam around, remembering this might be the first time they’d ever had this luxury. To swim out under the moon on a warm summer’s night, their bear free, felt amazing. To have the joy for the first time had to be incredible.
Before he knew it, a smile came to his lips as he watched the pair wrestling in the water, as playful as cubs. Soon, they drew him into their play, ducking him briefly under the water before spinning him between them.
He laughed inwardly, wrestling back.
They swam for what felt like hours, but was more than likely considerably less. As the night wore on, they moved closer to one another instinctively. Both bears wrapped their bodies around him, warming Cotton.
He shifted back into his human form and shuddered as the cold water hit his human flesh. Ari and Nikos followed suit, the latter hissing afterwards.
“You weren’t joking about the fur coat,” Nikos whispered in his ear.
Nikos swam just behind him, and Ari before him. He knew it was dangerous to be this close to the males, especially given the circumstances, but his curiosity won out over his concern.
“I always thought that when I met my mates… I’d know it immediately. There would be fireworks and my bear would roar within. I’ve felt none of that… and I can’t shake the feeling that something’s not as it should be,” Cotton said to them.
“We expected much the same,” Ari said, his voice low and deep. “But we were also told that bears all reacted differently. It could be a scent or a sound… or even a touch. No one reacts the same way.” Ari lifted his hand to Cotton. “Put your hand on mine.”
Cotton looked at the large palm, the beads of water dripping down the long, graceful fingers. He hesitated, as if touching Ari’s hand was akin to cheating on his Dillon. But he had to know the truth. Cotton brought his hand to Ari’s, imagining a jolt of electricity would come.
The hand warmed him, and he liked touching the male… but otherwise, no fireworks. No proof he was what they said he was.
“Nothing?” Ari asked.
Cotton shook his head just as Nikos pressed his front to Cotton’s back. He tensed, not expecting the embrace, yet again felt no spark.
Not that he wasn’t attracted to the pair. They were beautiful males. If they’d come to him months before… before Dillon had come into his life… he would’ve fallen at their feet and lapped up this attention. He’d have been proud to call them mates and sired their cubs.
But it felt like a lie.
“You said that perhaps my feelings for Dillon were making my mind clouded,” Cotton said.
“I don’t know that it’s possible,” Nikos said lowly. “It was just a theory I tossed out.”
“My love for him won’t change,” Cotton said defiantly, but he relaxed some. “But if you truly are my mates, I don’t want to see you hurt, either. You’ve been nothing but kind to me.”
Nikos trailed a finger along Cotton’s neck before pressing a gentle kiss there. Cotton stiffened slightly—not because he hadn’t liked it.
Because he had.
“When does Dillon return?” Nikos asked.
“In a week or so,” Cotton answered.
“I’d very much like to meet this bear you love so much,” Nikos said. “I think we both would.”
Cotton turned his head to stare up at Nikos and then swung to meet Ari’s stare. “You won’t hurt him—will you?”
Ari frowned. “Of course not.”
“That’s no way to win the boy,” Nikos murmured.
Cotton grew quiet. “I don’t know that you can win me.”
“We can only try,” Ari said before swimming closer.
Before Cotton could stop him, Ari’s lips grazed against his. The kiss was too brief. He wanted more. But before he could lean in and take more, Ari was swimming back toward shore.
What’s wrong with me? I love Dillon.
“Come,” Nikos said before following Ari.
He slowly swam closer to them, watching their broad backs as they rose from the water. They were indeed beautiful men.
Cotton felt his body respond again, his cock thickening, even in the frigid water. He felt shame filling him at that response.
He’ll be home soon. I just have to keep my control.
As soon as he reached the shore, he heard Nikos scenting the air. Cotton turned to see a frown crossing the bear’s face.
“What is it?” Cotton asked.
Nikos’ frown grew heavier, but he shook his head. “Nothing.”
“We’ll walk you home,” Ari said, pulling on his pants. “Get dressed.”
“I can walk home,” Cotton said.
Ari sighed, a smile coming to his face. “We. Will. Walk. You.”
Cotton chuckled as he grabbed his pants. “Fine.”
* * * *
As soon as Cotton was safe and sound, securely locked behind his apartment door, Nikos let out a long sigh.
“It’s not going to be easy, is it?” Ari asked with a smile.
“I’m concerned, Ari.”
Ari frowned. “About?”
Nikos shook his head. “His scent grew even weaker after he came out of the water.”
Ari grabbed Nikos’ arm and tugged him closer to the stairs. “You’re imagining things.”
“I’m not,” Nikos said as they descended side by side.
Ari’s jawline tensed. “Scents don’t grow weaker.”
“They do if he’s been marked by another,” Nikos spat.
They made it to the bottom of the stairs, and Ari spun to face Nikos. “What are you implying?”
“We went to Dillon’s apartment when we followed our noses,” Nikos said. “Dillon had just left and likely had sex with Cotton before he went—marking him. Cotton feels nothing for us.”
“No.” Ari shook his head, his face twisting in anguish. “No.” Ari’s jaw tightened. “Your nose is too powerful for that. You would’ve smelled the bear underneath. You’re wrong.”
“What if?” Nikos asked, feeling the same torment.
“We didn’t just tell the wrong man he was our mate.”
Nikos leaned up against the brick wall leading to the stairs, the air taken from his lungs. They stood there, silent. Nikos didn’t know what to say, what to think—all he could think about was Cotton. If he was right—they would hurt Cotton—and threaten his relationship with Dillon even more.
“I like him,” Nikos said. “He’s a gentle bear. A sweet man. He’s exactly the kind of mate I saw for us. I don’t want to be right.”
Ari’s expression was pained. “He’s perfect. Already all I want to do is protect him. He has to be ours.”
“We need to be prepared for another scenario,” Nikos said. “We need to protect Cotton no matter what.”
“And just how do you plan to do that?” Ari asked.
“No idea,” Nikos whispered, his heart hammering in his chest.
Ari scrubbed both hands along his face before lifting it. Moonlight washed over his handsome features, leaving parts of him in shadow. It only amplified the agony they both seemed to feel.
“We don’t know that this is true,” Ari said. “Until then, we keep moving forward.”
“To what end?” Nikos asked. “He’s made it clear he loves another.”
“I won’t give in,” Ari spat, stepping closer. “I won’t give up if there’s a chance.”
“I didn’t say that, either. We need to wait for Dillon to return. Once he does—then we’ll know the truth, one way or another, and we can decide how to move forward.”