Sandy studied the both of them for a while before she nodded. Zack started to transform into a big brown grizzly bear. Hair grew all over his body, his height and width shot upwards and out, and finally, a rainbow of lights swirled around him. When it cleared, a bear stood there.
A long, drawn out scream left Sandy as she tried to get out of Jake’s arms. Zack was hunched as he tried not to touch the ceiling. Zack growled and slowly walked to them which only scared Sandy more.
“Little Red, calm down. Zack would never hurt you. We would never hurt you. We are shifters, bears shifters.” He stroked her hair. “Shh, I promise you are the safest person in the world.”
She turned on him, fighting to get away. Realizing they’d done this wrong, he signaled for Zack to change back.
Once Zack stood before them in human form, she stopped screaming. In a hoarse voice, she mumbled, “Let me go. Let me go now.”
Slowly he dropped his arms from her waist, and she scrambled out of them and off the bed before backing as far away from them as she could go.
Zack carefully moved toward her. “We’re not the only shifters in the world. There are wolves, tigers, seals, lions, and many more. You have probably met a couple without realizing it. You’re okay with my brothers Brian and Blake.”
Jake watched as Sandy hit her bedroom wall. She put up her hands. “Please don’t hurt me. Stay back.” She was shaking, and Jake didn’t like this new Sandy. This Sandy wasn’t feisty.
He looked to a worried Zack, who was now a step away from the trembling woman. Jake turned to Zack and indicated he was going to leave. Jake knew Zack was worried he’d terrified her enough to run. Maybe leaving would help as she would only have to contend with one of them. Jake also really needed to get to work.
Getting his stuff, he moved to the door and said in a load clear voice, “I will be back tonight, Little Red.”
Her eyes never left Zack’s, and she didn’t even acknowledge him as she tried to plaster herself into the wall. Sighing, Jake walked out of the room and house to his car. He saluted her brothers who glared at him from the lawn next door. Getting into his car, he dreaded the day ahead, knowing it was going to be one of the longest of his life.
****
Zack stared at the terrified woman before him as she tried to blend into the wall. Only a step away from her, he held his hands in the air. “Firebird, please don’t be afraid. I’m still the same man I was last night.”
A hysterical giggle escaped her. “Oh God, I slept with mythical beings.” Sandy touched the spot where her neck met her shoulder. “Am I going to turn into a bear now you two have bitten me?” She seemed to be coming back to herself as she looked around the room. “Hey, where is Jake?”
After slowly pulling her still trembling body to him, he hugged her tight. “He left a moment ago. Thought it would be better if only one of us was here. Not as overwhelming with only one of us to contend with, and he needed to get to work.”
She nodded and her shaking started to ease. After walking her back to the bed, Zack sat her on it, and they both moved to the middle and got comfy.
“No, you won’t become a bear or a shifter from a bite. You can only be born a shifter.”
She nodded again against his chest.
“We can only have shifter children with the same species of shifter or our true mate. Shifters also live a little bit longer than humans.”
Sandy touched her neck again and snuggled into him. “Okay, good. Not that I don’t think turning into a bear would be cool, but I have enough stuff going on without having to worry about turning into a big hairy bear. If you didn’t bite me to turn me into a shifter, then why did you two bite me? Is it some kind of kink thing you do?”
He chuckled and kissed her head. “No, Firebird, that wasn’t for kink. That bite is our mate mark. It gives you extended life, makes you heal quicker, and it binds you to us forever.”
Screeching, Sandy pushed on his chest and crawled away. “You’re joking, right? I can’t be with two men.”
He raised his eyebrow, and she reached for a pillow and threw it at him. “No way. This was only for one night. A fantasy come true. A stupid one, I see now, but still…” He reached for her only for her to avoid him. She snarled, “You did just meet my family. Surely you understand why I couldn’t be with guys like you?” She didn’t let him answer as she hopped off the bed and paced.
“No, this can’t be happening. I’m not Susie. I couldn’t live with more than one man in my life. I was starting to get a life. I have my first big concert next weekend with no brothers following or being body guards. I’m not going to be like Susie who thinks she’s coming alone, but I know her men have tickets…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes got large as she turned to him. “Does Susie know?”