Caught Between Three Billionaire Tycoons - Willa Hart Page 0,42
but the kids chatted just like ordinary children. To them, shifting into a bear was commonplace. It helped me deal with it that they were so matter of fact with it.
On my first mouthful of stew, my stomach rumbled loudly, and I almost moaned as my tongue hit the stew.
“This is so good!” I mumbled.
“Too much pepper.” Aleksy muttered. Zavier threw a napkin at him.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s deer stew.” Egan grinned at me. “My favorite. We killed this deer ourselves.”
There was a silence that might have been uncomfortable if not for Egan’s pride. I’ll admit, it freaked me out. The idea of these sweet little cherubs wrestling down a deer was frightening.
But it was also thrilling. Each mouthful suddenly tasted richer, knowing that it had been killed and processed by the family, and not mass produced for a supermarket.
No one had much time for conversation over such delicious food. I could see the kids getting tired and set my fork down, ready to take them up to bed.
“I’ll finish up when I get back.” I said, half rising from my chair, “The kids need someone to put them to bed.”
“Oh, we can leave off the bath and story tonight, can’t we Egan?” Aleksy said, watching his babies with a smile. “You guys are too tired for all of that. You just want to crash, don’t you?”
“Yeah, dad.” Egan gave him a quick hug. “I was almost falling asleep in my stew!”
Both the kids hugged and kissed Aleksy, and to my surprise they came straight to me next.
“Goodnight, Aunt Winny,” Adara said softly, hugging me tight. Egan hugged me, kissing me on the cheek. His eyes were full of emotion, but he just shook his head and left the room. The boy was already becoming a man and learning about his emotions. It wasn’t always easy to have them.
Before he left the room, he stopped, turning back to me. Adara stopped too, but it was Egan with his bright eyes that asked the question.
“Aunt Whitney… You don’t think we’re weird, or scary or something, do you?”
“Oh, babies!” I launched out of my chair and wrapped my arms around them both, almost crying.
“No. You’re not weird. Not at all! You’re beautiful, gorgeous, amazing kids! Not weird or scary at all. I love you both so much!” I pulled back to look in their eyes and everything blurred as my tears welled in my eyes.
They turned and hurried off to bed and I realized what I just said, what I’d just done.
I loved them. I really did.
I sat back on my heels, trembling a little. I didn’t want this to end. My three big strong men, two perfect children. Even all the shocks of today couldn’t take that away from me. I wanted to be here, with all of them. Maybe forever.
The clattering of plates startled me, and I stood up quickly.
“Are you done, Whitney?” Aleksy asked.
“Oh yeah, I’m full, thanks.”
“Why don’t you relax on the couch?” Zavier gestured that way, handing me another glass of wine.
I wasn’t about to argue. I went out to where the fire was blazing and laid back on the soft cushions, pulling a soft blanket around myself. I now felt cozy and comfortable, as if the stress had just fled from me. I kept waiting for more fear to hit me, but it just never did.
After some clattering around in the kitchen, the guys came out together. Aleksy sat on one side of me, Zavier on the other. Daire sat at my feet and threw a log into the fire.
“So, how does it feel? To shift, I mean?” I took a sip of wine, watching the expressions on their faces.
“It’s like getting eaten alive.” Daire whispered. “Surrendering to a primal flood.”
“It’s like fire.” Aleksy said, closing his eyes and smiling as if the sensation was erotic somehow. “It’s like having goosebumps all over that just race faster and faster until the fur comes through. Then it’s all animal.”
“It’s like flying.” Zavier murmured. “Like leaving the human shape behind and lifting off.”
I giggled. “Okay. Thanks for the consensus.” I raised my wine in a mock salute.
The guys looked at each other and it seemed to me that they had never considered the fact that shifting might feel different for each one.
“So, do you have to be bears, or what?”
Daire looked confused and Zavier shook his head. They didn’t know what I meant.
“Yes, Whitney.” Aleksy moved a little closer to me. “We are bear shifters, not wolves