Between Two Wolves by Jessica Coulter Smith

Brandt and Nolen Fitzgerald surveyed the room. Most nights they’d have women crawling on them, but neither were interested in a quick fuck tonight. After seeing how happy their alpha was with his mate, it had made Brandt realize he wanted more than a string of one-night stands. Never had he seen two people more in love. He’d had fun, but at thirty-two it was time for him to actively look for his mate, and what better place than Luna del Morte? Very few humans came to the club, unless they were looking to be bitten by a vampire.

Having been part of the Moonspell pack their entire lives, it was safe to say his mate wasn’t a werewolf. Or if she was, she lived out of town. The thought that he’d have to wait for his mate to come to him or have to go searching for her was a disappointing one. Most of their friends had already paired off, and some either had children or were expecting. Brandt wasn’t certain he was ready to face fatherhood, but he would jump in with both feet if that’s what his mate wanted.

Of course, before he could contemplate that, he’d have to figure out their living arrangement. At the moment, he and Nolen shared the home their parents had left them. They hadn’t discussed it, but as the oldest Brandt would probably keep the house, leaving Nolen to find his own home. But it had worked out well for them thus far.

More than once over the past few weeks they’d contemplated their relationships, such as they were — Nolen had decided he was content with his single status, but Brandt was ready to find his mate, and Luna del Morte was his best option. Granted, he’d come to the conclusion his mate wasn’t a werewolf, but he still hoped he didn’t end up with a flighty fairy, or worse, a vampire. Surely his mate was a shapeshifter.

They scanned the dance floor — Brandt looking for someone of interest and his brother lending a hand — but neither brother had any luck. There were plenty of beautiful women around, but none called to them. Plenty gave them come-hither looks, but none sparked their interest. The night was young, however, so they didn’t give up hope. Besides, Brandt wasn’t counting on finding his special lady the first night out. He doubted he could be so lucky.

“How long do you think it will take?” Nolen asked.

“No telling. It could take days or months. Either way, I can’t give up. If I don’t find her here, we may have to visit some of the other packs. Most of our friends have found their mates.”

“Yeah, but look how long it took Hayden,” Nolen pointed out.

Brandt didn’t want to contemplate another eight years without his mate, but it was always a possibility. Just because he was ready for his mate didn’t mean he’d find her now. What if fate decided to punish him for his many one-night stands? If he were a woman, he would’ve been labeled a slut, same for Nolen.

“I have to believe I’ll find her soon,” he said. “I’m ready to move on with my life, and I can’t do that without a mate.”

“You know I’ll help in any way I can.”

Brandt nodded.

A group of women moving toward the dance floor drew their attention across the room. But it wasn’t the scantily clad women who held their gazes. Just past them, sitting by herself, was a curvaceous woman in a modest black sleeveless top and jeans. Her foot tapped to the beat of the music, yet no one asked her to dance. Brown hair hung long and straight down her back and across one shoulder. Her skin was pale under the pulsing lights.

Both Brandt and Nolen stood at the same time.

“Where are you going?” Brandt asked.

“To dance.”

Brandt followed his line of sight to the curvy woman. “Not with her you’re not. I’m going to dance with her.”

Nolen cocked his head to the side. “Why don’t we both go dance with her?”

“She’s not our usual type. What makes you think she’ll go for it?” Brandt asked, thinking of the many women they’d shared over the years.

“Then we’ll ask her one at a time. It’s a shame for a woman like that to sit on the sidelines.”

Brandt nodded. “Let’s not overwhelm her. Wait here until you see us leaving the dance floor.”

“You know, you’re assuming she’s going to say yes. What happens if she turns you down?” Nolen asked.

“She won’t.”

Brandt made his way through the crowd, getting stopped more than once by hopeful young women. At six foot four, Brandt was usually one of the taller men in a room. Add to that his tanned skin, black hair and blue eyes and he garnered more than his fair share of attention. Nolen, being his identical twin, also never lacked for female companionship. But at times like this, it was a curse.

He shouldered his way through and finally stood by her side. He could smell a tantalizing hint of jasmine in the air, and he knew it came from her. She looked up at him, her lips parting and her hazel eyes widening. Up close, she was stunning. Her lush curves filled out her clothes nicely, making him wonder what it would be like to cuddle her close at night. She was certainly a delightful handful.

“I saw you across the room,” he said.

“We saw you,” Nolen said, coming to stand behind him.

Brandt clenched his jaw. Why couldn’t his brother ever follow instructions? It wasn’t that he minded Nolen dancing with the beautiful woman, but he’d wanted a chance to be with her first.

Her eyes widened even more. “Both of you? At the same time?”

“No,” Brandt said quickly. “Not at the same time. You’d dance with me first then my brother.”

She looked back and forth between the two of them. “O-Okay.”

“I’m Brandt and this is my brother Nolen.”

“I’m Falan.”

Brandt smiled and offered her his hand. Helping her to her feet, he wrapped an arm around her waist and led her onto the dance floor. A song he’d never heard before played, the beat making the very air vibrate with each note.

He pulled her close so that her body brushed against his with every movement. Her scent surrounded him and his wolf rumbled in pleasure. He leaned closer and sniffed, and he jolted in surprise. It seemed his wish had come true. He’d found his mate.

The song ended and they returned to the table. Nolen sat patiently waiting for his turn. Even knowing the woman was his mate, Brandt didn’t mind his brother dancing with her. He just needed to make sure his twin knew to keep his hands to himself.

Leaning in close to Nolen, he whispered, “She’s mine. I’ve found my mate.”

His brother looked surprised but nodded his understanding. As Nolen put his hand on Falan’s waist, Brandt was amazed to discover that he wasn’t the slightest bit jealous. He didn’t feel the urge to pull Falan back, or to growl at his brother. He’d always thought he’d feel proprietary toward his mate once he found her, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

He watched the two of them dance, wishing he could join them. He had a feeling Falan wasn’t used to being between two men. Just the thought that he was willing to share her, even if it was only on the dance floor, with his brother was rather baffling. He should want to wrap her up and hide her away where no one else could see her or touch her. So why didn’t he feel that way? He knew without a doubt that she was his mate.

Falan and Nolen returned from dancing, a sparkle in his mate’s eyes. He wondered how long she’d sat here tonight without anyone asking her to dance. While it was true, she was on the heavy side by today’s standards, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. All of those extra curves just meant he had more to hold onto when he made love to her.

His brother nudged him, drawing him from his thoughts. The look in Nolen’s eyes worried him. It was too noisy on the dance floor for talking, so he knew his mate hadn’t said anything to upset his brother.

“Falan, what are you drinking, baby?” Brandt asked.

“Strawberry margarita.”

“We’re going to get you a refill and we’ll be right back.”

She nodded and they turned to walk away.

Once they were alone, Brandt looked at his twin. “So what’s bothering you?”

“It seems I’ve found my mate, too.”

Brandt lifted a brow. “How? You only danced with Falan.”

“Exactly.”

He gave Nolen a blank look.

“We have the same mate!”

Brandt looked at Falan and back at his brother. “Are you sure?”

“Would I lie to you about something like this? Of course I’m sure.”

“I don’t think this is going to go over very well,” Brandt said. “Something tells me she isn’t into threesomes.”

He paid for Falan’s drink and they began walking back to her. She looked so lonely by herself. He wondered why she’d come to the club tonight. If she wasn’t here with friends, had she hoped to meet someone? Or was she one of those women who was thrilled over the idea of being bitten by a vampire? It sickened him to think such thoughts.

She was texting on her phone when they got back to the table and she quickly put it away when she saw them. Brandt wondered who she’d been talking to. Did she have a boyfriend? Surely if she did, he wouldn’t have let her come out tonight alone.

He placed her drink on the table and took a seat next to her, with Nolen claiming the chair on her other side. She seemed a little nervous sandwiched between them, but Brandt didn’t want to back off. If she was in Luna del Morte, she obviously knew about werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, and the other supernatural beings in the club. But he still wasn’t sure how to tell her she was his mate, much less that she was the mate to both him and his brother.

“So what brings you to Luna del Morte tonight?” Nolen asked her, having to seemingly read Brandt’s mind.

“My friends were talking about it, and… well, I just thought maybe…” She stopped and played with the stem of her glass.

“Maybe what?” Brandt asked.

“I haven’t had a lot of luck with men. I thought maybe I’d have better luck here.”

Nolen ran his fingers through her hair and Brandt placed a hand on her thigh. She looked back and forth between them before settling her gaze on Brandt.

“I find it hard to believe that someone as beautiful as you has a difficult time finding men,” he told her.

She blushed. “I’m not beautiful, I’m fat.”

He growled. “Never say that again.”

She bit her lip, drawing his attention to her plump, ripe mouth. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her, but he was afraid he’d scare her away if he did that. Instead, he leaned closer, pressing his shoulder against hers.

“You really came over here because you thought I was beautiful?” she asked.

Brandt nodded. “We both did.”

“And in case you weren’t sure,” Nolen said, “we aren’t human.”

“Would it be out of line for me to ask what you are?” she asked.

Nolen grinned. “We’re werewolves.”

She seemed to digest that information before asking her next question. “If you’re werewolves, shouldn’t you be looking for your mates instead of going to clubs?”

“I came here specifically to find my mate,” Brandt said.

“Then what are you doing wasting time with me?” she asked.

Nolen and Brandt shared a look. Now was the time. Did they tell her, or wait? And if they waited, would she be angry with them later for having withheld important information from her? It was tantamount to lying to her, lying by omission anyway, and they’d always prided themselves on telling the truth. Maybe they should have discussed this part while they were at the bar, the “what happens when she walks away” part.

“You’re my mate,” Brandt told her, watching as her eyes widened.

“And mine,” Nolen said.

Her mouth opened and closed several times before snapping shut. It seemed they’d made her speechless. Brandt wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.

“I… Are you sure?” she asked.

Brandt nodded. “Positive.”

“Maybe we should go somewhere else for this conversation,” Nolen suggested.

Brandt and Nolen stood, helping Falan to her feet. The trio made their way out of the club and onto the sidewalk out front. Once there, Brandt wasn’t quite sure what to do. He’d love to tuck her into his truck and carry her to his house, but he wasn’t sure she’d go for it. She might be his mate, but they were still strangers.

“What happens now?” Falan asked.

“We need to go somewhere quiet, someplace where we can talk,” Nolen said. “I know we just met, but our house really would be the best place to go.”

She shook her head. “No, but we can go to my house. I rent a small cottage from the Leicester family.”

Brandt’s eyebrows rose. The Leicesters were one of the richest families in Moonspell. Nowhere near as rich as Aidan Grant and his nest of vampires, but still rather wealthy.

“You’re traveling in mighty lofty circles.”

“My mom worked for them until she passed away. They let me have the place for a song so I can’t complain, and I never have to worry about being evicted.”

“We’ll follow you,” Nolen said.

Falan nodded and started walking to her car. Once Brandt and Nolen made sure she was safely ensconced in the vehicle, they headed to their truck. It was only a ten-minute drive to her home. They followed her down the winding driveway, behind the main house and around to her cottage. It was a quaint white clapboard structure with a small porch and black shutters. Azalea bushes lined the front of the home, adding cheer to it with their bright pink blossoms.

Looking at her cozy house, Brandt hoped she would be happy in their home. Their house was rather plain. Gray with white trim, nary a shrub or flower in sight. But perhaps what the place really needed was a woman’s touch. Maybe if Falan came to live with them — when Falan came to live with them — she could spruce the place up a bit.

They followed her to the door and into the house. She turned on a lamp on a table near the front window and motioned for them to have a seat.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” she said. “Do you want anything to drink? I have coffee or soda.”

Brandt shook his head. “I’m fine, but thanks.”

“Same here,” Nolen said.

Falan curled up in the chair beside the sofa, facing them, her legs tucked underneath her. Brandt would have thought her to be at ease around them, if it weren’t for the slight tremble in her hands. Or perhaps it wasn’t them so much as their news. Finding out you’re mated to a werewolf was a rather serious matter, life changing. Just because they’d found her didn’t mean they’d get to keep her. She could very well send them packing and say she never wanted to see them again.

“What do you know about werewolves?” Nolen asked.

She shrugged. “Not much. I know you can shift into a wolf at will, mate for life, and follow pack law.”

“That’s the basics, and all you really need to know at this point. It’s the mating for life part that we need to discuss,” Brandt said. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but you really are our mate.”

“How can I be the mate to both of you? Shouldn’t you each have one of your own?”

Nolen nodded. “That’s typically how it works, but I’ve heard of other cases like ours. It doesn’t happen often, I don’t think. It hasn’t happened at all in our pack, not in this generation anyway. I don’t know about during our grandfather’s or great-grandfather’s time.”

“So what happens now?” she asked.

Brandt leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Since you’re human and unused to our ways, we can take things slowly if you’d like.”

She looked from him to Nolen and back again. “But that’s not what you want?”

Brandt shrugged. “We’d like to move forward as quickly as possible, now that we’ve found you.”

Falan pushed her hair behind her ear with a shaky hand. “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. Could we… Could I just get to know you first? Maybe go out with you one at a time?”

Brandt and Nolen shared a look. If she wanted to start out seeing them separately, it would be hard to get her to see them together later. They needed to start as they meant to go on. But how to convince her of that? It was obvious they made her nervous, and he couldn’t really blame her. She seemed unused to male attention and now she had both him and his brother focused on her. It would be enough to fluster any woman.

“Falan…”

“What if you spent a little time with each of us, but any dates involved all three of us?” Nolen asked, cutting off Brandt.

Falan looked a little uncertain.

“Maybe we should give you some time to process everything,” Brandt said. “We’ll leave our numbers for you, and when you’re ready you can call us.”

She twisted her hands in her lap. “Are you sure there hasn’t been some mistake?”

“Mistake? No, there’s no mistake,” Nolen assured her. “We understand that a ménage relationship probably isn’t what you wanted, but…”

“It isn’t that. I mean, I’ve never contemplated one before, but I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Brandt frowned. “Then what exactly is the problem?”

“Well… Look at the two of you! You look like underwear models.” She motioned to her body. “And there’s me. Lots of me.”

Brandt growled. “Don’t! Don’t even say you’re fat.”

“What else would you call it?” she shot back. “I’m barely five feet tall and I wear a size twenty! I can’t put on a pair of jeans without oozing out the top of them.”

Brandt reached and took her hand. “Baby, it just means there’s more for us to love. We aren’t exactly small men; we’d break a tiny woman.”

She gave him a hopeful look. “You really mean it?”

“Of course he does.” Nolen grinned. “The moment we saw you we both wanted to go dance with you.”

“Yes, but that’s only because I’m your mate.”

Brandt shook his head. “We didn’t know you were our mate until we had you on the dance floor. Before that we wanted you because you’re sexy as hell.”

His gaze caressed her body. “Just the thought of all those soft curves pressed against me makes me want to drag you off to the bedroom, or bend you over the sofa.”

Her eyes widened and her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Brandt watched the motion, his hunger for her growing. Unable to fight his desires any longer, he leaned forward and captured her lips with his, stroking them softly, teasing them apart so he could slip inside for a taste. The tang of her strawberry margarita lingered on her tongue, but beyond that was her own sweet flavor.

She kissed him back tentatively, as if she’d never kissed a man before. But if anything, her untutored kiss made him want her even more. His beast was rising to the surface, clamoring to claim his mate. He’d never wanted anyone with the intensity he felt toward Falan. Not wanting to scare her, he began to pull back.

Brandt caressed her cheek and she leaned into his touch. It gave him hope that she wouldn’t make them wait long to claim her. It wasn’t that they couldn’t wait. They weren’t a couple of slavering dogs without any control over their baser urges. But the need to claim Falan was strong. Brandt knew he’d feel restless until she was in their home and in their bed.

Nolen pulled a business card from his wallet. Picking up a pen from the coffee table, he wrote something on the back and handed it to Falan. She pulled her hand from Brandt’s to accept it.

“That has both of our cell phone numbers on it,” Nolen said. “You can call us at any time of day.”

She nodded.

“We’re going to go, but I want you to lock up behind us,” Brandt told her. “We’ll give you space for a few days to think things through.”

Falan followed them to the door. “I promise to call.”

Brandt and Nolen stepped outside. They waited until they heard the locks engage before walking out into the night. Things might not have ended quite the way they wanted, but Brandt had every confidence they would hear from her soon.