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Prologue
Analise
Life on the Triple L Ranch was good. Better than good, it was paradise. My former pack treated its females poorly, as breeders and waitresses, servants to their males. Which was a lot of the reason I left. That and the fact that my stepmother was getting me out of her hair by marrying me off to someone I wanted no part of.
I ran from my wedding with no idea where I was going or what I would do when I got there, but when I did, I found myself in the arms of the two alphas of the Triple L Ranch. Tadeo and Sawyer were everything I could have dreamed of and were my fateds. But when I escaped in full bridal regalia, I did not know that I was running toward my fated mates. I was running away from the arranged marriage to someone I had no interest in spending an afternoon with, much less the rest of my life.
But sometimes, Fate is kind, and I’d learned that not all males were arrogant bastards who wanted nothing but power and control and had no empathy whatsoever. My mates, who had been a happy couple before I came along, at first wanted me to help them have a family, but in the time we’d been together, we’d learned how much we belonged to one another.
It was as blissful as a life could be in the real world where annoyances and difficulties were sure to arise. But I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to face the challenges without the love and respect my mates and I shared.
Which was why, when one of the young women of the pack approached me in my role as pack alpha female to discuss planning her wedding. Although it was not an arranged mating, Diana was clear that neither was it a love match.
“It’s not that we don’t care for one another, of course,” she said. “But not everyone is lucky enough to have a fated, and I’d rather mate my friend than be alone forever.” She cast a glance in the corner where our little girl slept in her cradle. “And I want children.”
“I see.” And I did. Diana and Crain had been childhood friends, from what I’d learned from my mates, but never seemed to be more. If I had to guess, I’d say Crain might be more interested in Diana than she in him, but that was not mine to judge. Or maybe it was, but I’d decided early on in this job that I wouldn’t do anything to force people to go against their will. “As long as you’re sure,” I told her. “We can set a date.”
“I’m sure,” she asserted. “You’re lucky, Analise, but I’m lucky, too, in a way. Crain will be good to me and a kind and caring father to our children. Yes, I’m lucky.”
Was she trying to convince me or herself?
We all have to make our own decisions, and it did seem that not everyone had a fated mate, at least in this life. A person could do worse than marrying a childhood friend, but when that friend had stronger feelings, I feared that the relationship would be off-balance, and maybe happiness out of reach.
Still…all I could do was offer support and be there if it crashed. I understood the need, the desire to partner in life, and would be forever grateful that my partners, Sawyer and Tadeo, were not only my fated mates but the best men I’d ever met. But then, my own flight came back to my mind, and I said something that I had no idea where it came from.
“Maybe before you get married you should take a little trip? Take a few friends and maybe go to the beach?”
The serious expression she’d worn since she arrived faded, and a little sparkle returned to her eyes. “Can we do that?”
“I don’t see why not. As long as you’re not going alone, I know you will be fine.” My old pack would never have let women go out alone like that, but we raised the young women here to recognize their strengths. Male or female, a wolf still had teeth and claws, and our girls could defend themselves in skin or fur.
She brightened even more at the prospect of a girls’ trip and left smiling. Maybe the time away would give her a chance to reconsider and not marry in haste. It wasn’t fair to either of them, not really.
When she had disappeared down the path, I gathered my waking daughter in my arms and carried her to the rocking chair my mates had made for me. Together. Their love for each other was one of the things most appealing about them. It was special, and an honor to be included in their bond. Something I would never take for granted.
If I had better answers for Diana, I’d have given them, but at least she and her friends would have a nice time at the beach. I’d go myself if not for the responsibilities of my office…and the cutie pie who would not want to leave her daddies for a week anymore than I would be willing to leave her behind.
Still…with late summer heading toward fall, perhaps my mates would be willing to take a little trip, too? Just the four of us. The pack was running smoothly, and we hadn’t had any time away all year. I rocked, excited to plan our little journey. When I suggested the beach to Diana, it sounded awfully good to me.
