Acting Like Family Read online

  *

  The Alpha lupine lost all control.

  He slammed her to her back and pinned her to the mattress, hooking her legs around his arms. Holding her open, he pounded into her with stroke after powerful stroke.

  His cock drilled into her over and over. He couldn’t get enough. He could feel his cock lengthening and his balls hardening.

  Bethany clamped her mouth on his shoulder muscle, sinking her teeth into it. She screamed her climax into his muscular arm leaving a round, bite shaped bruise.

  Riker drove himself against her for one final thrust and roared in violent release. Then he collapsed, dropping his full weight onto her.

  “Mine. My woman,” he growled sleepily. Looking at her as he started to drift, he noticed that Bethany had fallen asleep with a smile on her face.

  She was dozing when he eased into her warm, wet pussy from behind. He groaned and at the same time she gasped in surprise.

  Riker rolled his hips in an easy, languid thrust, causing her to groan loudly. His cock slid in and out of her lazily, dragging moans and groans of gratification from each of them.

  He squeezed and massaged her breasts while he leisurely made love to her. Soon she began crying out as her climax overtook her.

  He clamped his jaw on her shoulder and thrust slowly but deeply, two, three, four times. His growling groan seemed torn from him when he came. Her shoulder muted the sound of his pleasure—his teeth had not loosened.

  After a few moments, he released her shoulder and began licking the bite marks there. Gathering her against him, he continued to lick her shoulder drowsily until he slipped back into sleep.

  Their bodies were still joined. Riker Montgomery had found his mate. All was right in his world.

  * * * *

  When she was sure he was deeply asleep, Bethany slipped from his arms. Donning the bulky robe, she went to the living room in search of some water or juice.

  With a bottle of cold club soda in hand and a half smile on her face, Bethany lowered herself to the sofa.

  Riker Montgomery, who knew?

  She leaned forward to look at some papers on the coffee table. It looked like a letter. She read the words “My poor, tired brother, nobody understands the difficulties…” and put the letter down. That’s when she noticed the folded newspaper article. The headline read:

  Another Warm Body For Actor…

  She was intrigued so she began to read the article.

  *

  Another Warm Body For Actor

  Poor Riker Montgomery. He never knows what he’ll find in his bed when he gets home. Actor Riker Montgomery has once again had to have an eager young fan forcefully removed from his bed. After a hard day at an awards show, the tired actor entered his hotel suite only to find a naked young woman warming the sheets for him.

  *

  Oh, no! He’ll think I did this on purpose! Had I known how it would be, I might have. I’m such a SLUT! He probably thinks I’m a slut, too.

  Bethany couldn’t read another word. She didn’t bother trying to gather up her nightshirt or panties. She did find one of her thick purple and green socks.

  She quickly washed up and donned the clothing she had been wearing when she’d arrived. She couldn’t take a chance on a shower. The noise would surely wake him up. She wrote him a note on the hotel stationary and left it on her pillow with a flower she’d found in the other room.

  In the closet, Bethany found a couple of jackets and she took one. It’s just so cold here. She did not stop at the front desk. She went straight back to the airport and got on the first flight back to her island home.

  *

  Riker knew she was gone even before he was fully awake. Dread filled his heart as he opened his eyes. He was right. He was alone in his bed. Never had anything felt as empty to him as the bed he was in.

  He reached out to touch the pillow where she’d slept. He found the note she’d left there for him. She’d taken a rose from an arrangement in the living room and placed it on top of the note.

  Riker,

  I’m so sorry I invaded your privacy. The hotel put me in your room by mistake. I’m not sorry for the time we spent together. I’ll never forget you. Please don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this. I hope you don’t mind but I took one of your jackets. It’s so cold here. I’ll try to get it back to you.

  I had a lovely time with you.

  Bet

  Riker let out a howl of despair. When he could think again, he called his brother, Lakon. Lakon brought several members of their pack for security detail. The brothers got completely and thoroughly drunk—not an easy accomplishment for a werewolf.

  Riker took a week off filming the movie he’d been working on and disappeared into the nearby woods.

  Chapter 2

  December 17

  Office of Dr. M. Fonteneax, OB-GYNUCH-Medical Center

  “Ms. Black, please don’t panic. I know your head must be spinning right now.”

  Spinning? Don’t panic? Panic doesn’t even come close to what I’m doing!

  The doctor’s voice was soothing but nothing he said was going to keep Bethany from panicking.

  “Doctor, I appreciate your empathy but … twins? And they’ll be born in only three more months? Sir, that’s just impossible. My babies will be too small. They’ll be too young. They’ll die!” her voice rose and cracked again.

  She was shaking as if she were riding a jackhammer. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This specialist had just informed her that she was having not one, but two babies and they’d be putting in an early appearance. A very early appearance. Her total gestation time would only be six months.

  “Every so often, Ms. Black—may I call you Bethany?” at her nod, he went on. “Every so often, something like this happens. That’s why there are specialists like me. I’ll help you and your babies and you’ll be surprised. They’ll be healthier than many full term single birth babies.”

  Bethany looked up at him, fighting tears. He’d examined her carefully and she was still wearing the paper gown his nurse had given her. Right now he was listening to her lungs and examining the faint bite marks Riker had left on her.

  “Does this ever hurt, Bethany?” he asked, indicating her shoulder.

  “No, sir.” She thought about that a minute, turning red. In fact, sometimes it did hurt. The doctor looked at her, lifting a brow. “The only time I ever feel it is—this is silly…” At his stern, unblinking look, Bethany continued. “A few times, guys have grabbed me or tried to hold my hand. Then it hurts. A lot.”

  The doctor nodded as if that made sense to him. “Why don’t you change back into your clothes and we’ll talk about your babies, hmm?” She nodded.

  When he left the room, he didn’t close the door all the way. She walked over to it and glanced out, noticing the doctor holding her chart and speaking into a little tape recorder.

  “Viable twins resulting from a true mate-bond. Obviously an Alpha male father and a human-meant-for-Alpha mother.” She closed the door.

  Nothing he was saying made any real sense to her anyway. The man was just a bit disconcerting. He had thick, black hair with a little tan shot through it. He was very muscular and had pale yellow eyes. He had this way of staring that made Bethany’s eyes feel dry in sympathy.

  Dressed once again, Bethany sat down in a padded chair and continued trying not to panic. She heard a soft tap at the door and then it opened slowly.

  “Dressed?” the doctor asked her.

  “Yes, thank you,” she replied.

  Sitting down across from her, Doctor Fonteneax fixed her with one of his unblinking stares. “Bethany, how does the babies’ father feel about this? Have you spoken with him?”

  Bethany took a deep breath. “I can’t reach him. I’ve tried.” She felt her chin quiver but she fought the urge to cry.

  He handed her a box of tissues and patted her quickly on the shoulder. “Your hormones are raging, Bethany, its normal to be emotion
al, don’t worry. Please, I believe you’ve tried but it’s so important. Try again to notify the father, okay?”

  She sniffed and nodded. “I’ll try again as soon as I get home.”

  He looked down at her records. “Do you still live in Eleuthera, Bahamas?”

  “No, I sold my house when I realized I was pregnant. I wanted the best medical care and…” she looked at her hands and then back at the doctor, “and I thought I’d stand a better chance of seeing Ri—seeing the father again if I was on the same continent.”

  The doctor closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he opened his eyes and smiled. That smile made him seem much more approachable. Maybe she could trust him and feel comfortable with him during this unbelievable pregnancy.

  “Okay, Bethany, let’s talk prenatal care. I bet nothing sounds better to you than a big, thick, juicy, very rare steak. Am I right?” She nodded, blushing.

  “I’ve never eaten so much red meat in my life,” she laughed, agreeing with him.

  “Well young lady, your body knows what you need. Those young pups need the vitamins and protein you can’t get anywhere else so eat up. That’s what’s going to make them strong and healthy enough to come see you in three months.”

  They talked a little more about her care. Dr. Fonteneax sent her on her way with a brief hug and a prescription for vitamins. She felt much better as she stepped out into the December sunshine.

  *

  Marc Fonteneax stalked into his office and slammed the door. He jerked a length of leather off a stack hanging on the inside of the door and ripped it in half with his teeth repeatedly. How he wished Alpha males were required to take written tests before they were declared Alpha.

  The Were that fathered Bethany Black’s pups either had a pack or was about to take one over. That was a big responsibility. How could he be so dim as to have unprotected sex with a human female who was in heat? Granted, there weren’t many kinds of protection that could contain a werewolf’s semen but an old fashioned rubber might’ve helped.

  On top of that, the father had obviously established a mate bond with her. It was clear the man had done it on purpose. Where was the son of a bitch? He’d gotten her pregnant with Were pups, marked her so that no other could have her, and then abandoned her. Either that or he’d been killed or something. Damn!

  If Marc wasn’t mistaken, and he knew he wasn’t, Bethany Black was going to give birth to two little Alpha males. In the absence of their father, he intended to be close by to help the new mother and ultimately the pups. He’d probably never be able to mate with her now that she was marked. But as they grew, those pups would need help.

  Marc would make it his business to be there if their father wasn’t.

  * * * *

  December 18

  Riker Montgomery’s home

  Franklin, NC

  Mik Montgomery sat across from his son feeling more helpless than he had in many years. Riker was drinking bourbon from the bottle and was on his third quart now.

  “Son, you know that’s not going to help.”

  “What will help, Dad?” he lifted the bottle and took several healthy gulps. “Where is she? What’s she doing for Christmas?” He turned away, but not before his father saw the tears gathering in his son’s eyes.

  “Dad, she gets so cold. It’s December and she gets so cold. I can’t do this. I’m going to…”

  Riker hurled the bottle at the fireplace. He hadn’t built a fire and for once, Mik was grateful.

  “Run with me, Dad?” his son asked, sounding desperate.

  “I will, son. But…” Riker transformed and headed out the door.

  “But what, Dad?” he asked, beginning to trot.

  “You can’t outrun it, son. I wish you could.”

  The two wolves ran in silence for a long time. Mik followed Riker to a small mountain outcropping overlooking a valley. A waning gibbous moon hung in the sky and the two werewolves looked at it silently.

  Finally, Riker threw back his head and howled mournfully. Mik threw back his head and howled with him. In the distance, he heard his other son, Lakon and his nephew Yancey, howl out in sympathy.

  * * * *

  March 4

  Birthing Room, Obstetrics floor

  UCH-Medical Center

  “Dr. Fonteneax, they’re still two weeks early. They’re already three months early and now…” A contraction seized her and cut that statement short.

  “Don’t worry, Bethany. I promise your little pups will be okay.” He mopped her brow and gave her a piece of leather to bite down on. “They’ll be strong, healthy little boys, don’t worry.”

  Bethany had often wondered at the doctor’s frequent referral to her babies as “pups”. He’d explained it casually by telling her that he was a dog person. Apparently there was a doctor down the hall who was a cat person. That doctor referred to the babies as “kits”.

  At six centimeters, her water broke and the contractions became more intense. She heard Dr. Fonteneax mumble something about how difficult these births could be on humans but she knew her mind wasn’t working right.

  The contractions were one right on top of the other now and the doctor was trying to get her to yell and scream but she couldn’t. She’d always been stoic. She couldn’t make herself scream.

  “Bethany, just let go, little lady, I know you’re in pain. Squeeze my hand.” He held her hand and tried to make her express the pain she was in. “Swear, curse the man who did this to you, come on!”

  “I can’t, I just can’t. I love him and now he’s given me these little boys. They just have to be okay, Dr. Fonteneax, they just have to!”

  Another contraction took her then and another. Tears were pouring down her face as they came one right after the other only a minute or so apart. Still, she couldn’t yell and scream. That wasn’t in her nature. She couldn’t hate Riker. He was her other half.

  “I can’t squeeze your hand, I’ll hurt you,” she gasped.

  Dr. Fonteneax laughed as if that were the funniest thing he’d ever heard. He smoothed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. As he headed toward her bent and spread knees, Sophia burst into the room.

  “What’d I miss? Are they here yet?” she moved to Bethany’s side and handed her two squishy rubber balls. “Squeeze these.”

  Bethany saw Dr. Fonteneax give Sophia a nod of approval and turned back to his internal examination.

  “He’s really hot, Bet!” she whispered.

  Bethany swore the doctor heard her because he grinned and his face flushed.

  That was the last thing Bethany could make sense of for a while. Her whole world was pain after that. She was exhausted but the pain was ruling her. Her contractions seemed never to end. There was hardly time to take a breath before one stopped and another one started.

  Finally, she told the doctor, “I need to push. It feels like I need to push.”

  “Your body knows what to do, little lady,” he told her.

  She’d been dimly aware of his threatening Sophia with expulsion from the room when she’d asked him to give Bethany drugs. This guy obviously believed in all things natural. She’d heard him tell Sophia that it was better for her babies.

  Finally, after feeling like she was trying to push her brain out through her toes, one baby was born, Kaden. Kameron took another five minutes. The afterbirth was pushed out shortly after that.

  While she was feeding her new little sons and ignoring a sobbing Sophia, she was given a shot to stop the bleeding. After that, the rips caused by the births were stitched up. Dr. Fonteneax had been against an episiotomy and assured her that she’d fare better when nature’s tears healed.

  She wasn’t surprised to look over and find his tear-filled yellow eyes looking at her babies as he knelt on the floor beside the bed. This was one man who took what he did very seriously.

  * * * *

  April 10

  Offices of Montgomery, Inc.

  August Livingston smiled to
himself. His position as legal counsel to his two pretty boy cousins had finally paid off.

  It enraged Auggie that the two mixed breeds were the alpha and beta of their pack when he was a full blood and still a lower gamma. Their father was half timber wolf or something. The old man couldn’t even transform.

  But, suddenly Auggie was in a power position. He’d intercepted the first letter from Bethany Black about three and a half months ago. It had been pathetically desperate. She’d had no idea what she was in for.

  The exalted Riker Montgomery had gotten a human woman pregnant and hadn’t even let her know he was a lupine.

  As he opened the latest letter, Auggie’s lip curled in a sneer. She’d sent pictures. The little fool was making things so much easier for him.

  This week he’d arrange a lunch meeting with Riker. He’d have to make a few “twins” references. The human woman had named the pups Kameron and Kaden. How tacky.

  Auggie quickly called in a few of his more trusted assistants. He’d wanted to take over the pack for years now. This was perfect—no bloodshed and he’d look good to the whole pack. Best of all, the chance to ostracize all the mixed-bloods had finally arrived!

  Auggie and his conspirators settled on a plan of action. They’d need to get their hands on the woman and the pups. It would be important to show the pack just how reckless Riker was.

  Once the pack could see how little Riker valued his own flesh and blood, Auggie would decide what to do with the woman and the pups. Something would have to be done. They couldn’t just roam free.

  A human pregnant with Were pups had a gestation of about six months, the lawyer knew. Auggie made sure his own office staff went through all the fan mail from the last seven months.

  Sure enough, there were two letters he’d missed. One was dated six months and three weeks prior and the other ten days after that. That was okay since each letter automatically generated an 8x10 glossy.

  Apparently the poor little human had realized her love for Mr. Rich and Famous Montgomery immediately after they’d parted. She wanted to take a chance and see if he felt the same.