Lords of the Were by Bianca D'Arc

“Don’t let him rile you. He’s a scoundrel, but he has a good heart.”
    The older woman left shortly thereafter and Rafe leaned back against the kitchen counter, just staring at Allie. She began to feel very uncomfortable, but tried to hold her own against his outright perusal.
    When he finally did speak, it wasn’t anything she’d expected.
    “You are so beautiful, Allesandra, inside and out.” His expression softened as her insides began to melt at both the look on his face and the tone of his deep voice. “When we touched you in the ceremony, our wolves took your measure and they sat up and howled when they felt your strong spirit. They recognized their mate.”
    “Um…mate?” She was more than a little overwhelmed—a feeling she was beginning to get used to after the odd night she’d just spent.
    Rafe watched her, his expression serious for once. “We won’t rush you, but you belong to us. Just as we belong to you. You’ll come to understand it and accept it in time, but for now, we need to be near you.
    We need to be sure you’re safe at all times. Right now you’re at your most vulnerable. You’ve been initiated, but you have much to learn and much to understand about your new role. Evil forces will stand against you and try to hurt you. It’ll be our job, as your mates, to keep you safe, just as it was your sires’ jobs to guard your mother. They failed.” His voice was flat, but tinged with an anger he couldn’t hide. “We won’t. But you’ll have to work with us. You’ll have to get used to having us around.” Allie could hardly believe what he was saying. After knowing her only a short time, not only Rafe, but it seemed Tim as well, wanted to claim her as their mate. Betina had told her were wolves mated for life. In essence, the twins wanted to marry her, but unlike a regular human
    marriage, among were wolves, there really was no possibility of divorce if things didn’t work out.
    The thought was shocking, but it was also somehow reassuring. Allie knew little of the twins, but what she did know impressed her. They just felt right, somehow, when they were around her, and though she didn’t understand it, she knew it instinctively. The idea of mating with the twins—mating for life in the way of their people—fired her senses.
    She didn’t know if she was ready to commit to any man, much less two, but she trusted Rafe when he said they wouldn’t rush her. She had time yet to decide what to do about this undeniable attraction and the tempting thought of joining with them both on a permanent basis. For now though, she’d let it ride. She had things to learn and she needed to get to know the twins better to truly consider whether or not to marry them. She would see where this path led for now, trusting in the Lady to guide her steps as She had so far.
    “So did you draw straws to see who got to lay down the law to me, or did you figure it would be easier coming from you rather than Tim?” Rafe laughed out loud at her bold statement, shaking his head. “I’m ashamed to admit, it was the latter. Tim realizes he reacted badly to the idea that you were our destiny. He doesn’t take orders well and he’s been burned by females before. If he had his way, he’d stay the lone wolf he’s become, but apparently the Lady had other plans for us. We never really expected to share a priestess mate, but we recognize the special blessing that’s been given us.”
    “But wouldn’t you rather have your own separate mates? I mean, why would you want to share?”
    Rafe’s smile turned wicked. “After you’ve joined with us, you won’t ask that question. But Tim and I are closer than brothers, if that’s possible to understand. We’re like two halves of a whole. We’re at our best when we’re working together and that applies in all things.” He
    winked at her, making her cheeks flush as she wondered just what sorts of things they might want to share with her.
    Tim chose that moment