Suzanne's Sexy Shifters [Shy River Pack 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Bec Adams

that she would never be able to return to her job again.
    “I might like it more if I was doing what I actually imagined doing. Checking the roads are passable day after day is not my idea of fun.”
    “What did you imagine?”
    “I studied conservation. You know, how the plants and animals interact, the damage humans are doing, and the type of things we can do to preserve what’s left of the wildlife. I had big plans and high ideals.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “None of which have come in handy in the only job I managed to get. I didn’t expect to walk straight into an amazing career, but I wasn’t counting on the stepping stones leading nowhere I wanted to go.”
    “What about family? Will you be leaving anyone behind?”
    “No,” she said quietly. He waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t say anything more.
    That single syllable left him feeling both relieved that she wasn’t going to leave behind someone who loved and depended on her, and sad to think she’d been all alone in her world. Ever since learning that Gideon was his mate, and the danger that could bring, Brigden had feared being alone more than anything else.
    But now he had two mates. His connection to this woman had been strong when she’d been a human. Now that she was gradually changing into a werewolf, his attraction to her was nearly overwhelming. Considering that only an hour ago he’d shared a few stolen moments with Gideon for the first time in his life, it almost seemed unfaithful to feel so strongly for someone else as well.
    “Do you mind if I hold you?” Brigden asked as he knelt beside the pile of blankets. She looked surprised by the request but shuffled across the makeshift bed and gave him some space. Very slowly he lay down on his back and encouraged her to rest her head on his chest. He played with her hair as he contemplated the radical changes they’d both been through today.
    She was fast asleep by the time Gideon came back into the cave.
     
    * * * *
     
    Gideon watched his new mate sleep in the arms of the man he’d loved for a very long time. He could still feel the incredible emotions that had traveled through him when he and Brigden had finally given in to temptation and done what they’d wanted to do for too many years.
    “The alpha?” Brigden asked in a whisper as Gideon changed back into his humanoid form and sat on the floor beside the makeshift bed.
    “He wasn’t happy that I didn’t ask before biting her, but he says he’ll welcome Suzanne into the pack.”
    “That’s a relief,” Brigden said with a genuine smile. “Does he know she’s your mate?”
    Gideon nodded. He’d considered explaining that she was Brigden’s mate as well, but it had seemed safer to have the fallout directed solely at him in case the alpha had been angry. By the time the alpha had indicated that Suzanne would be welcomed with, surprisingly, open arms, the conversation had ended and he hadn’t had a chance to explain where Brigden fit into the story.
    “The alpha of Dry Creek has given me permission to move her into the quarters allocated to our team for the next six months.”
    “What’s the bad news?” Brigden asked softly. It seemed strange that Brigden would know him well enough to sense his disquiet. For the past three decades they’d kept their distance from each other, but things had changed in the blink of an eye and Gideon was having trouble keeping up. He knew he loved the man. He just didn’t know him very well.
    “It’s not really bad news,” he hedged, wondering how to explain something that he probably should have taken more control over. “Neither alpha knows that you’re her mate, too.”
    “You don’t want them to know?” Brigden asked in a voice carefully devoid of emotion. Yet, despite the control Brigden seemed to be exerting, Gideon could see how hurt he was by the thought that Gideon might try to push him out of the relationship with Suzanne.
    He couldn’t let