Free Once Bitten Twice Smitten: BBW Werewolf Shifter Menage Romance by Ariana Hawkes

a kid, you just do what your parents tell you, without thinking about it too deeply. You trust them to make the right decisions.”
    “I sure wish your parents hadn’t decided to take you so far away from Gila,” Brad said. “It’s taken us a long time to find you!” Aspen’s head jerked towards him, and her lips parted, trembling a little, as if she was working out how to phrase her next comment.
    “So is it true that you’ve come here to kidnap me, and drag me back to Gila to live in your wolfy lair?” she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice, as if she still didn’t entirely believe what she was asking. Brad took her hand, tiny in his huge, muscular one, and Chase, not to be outdone, took her other one.
    “When one of us bit you that day, and turned you, you automatically became fated to be our mate,” Brad said.
    “Your mate ?”
    “Mate, partner, wife. It kind of means the same thing, but, to a werewolf, the word mate has more significance. It denotes an eternal, monogamous bond, so the status is held in the very highest esteem by all of us.”
    “Ah, ok,” she said, an eyebrow raised, as if the concept was too much to process.
    “Our blood ran in your veins, and filled you with the strength that is only just beginning to emerge today,” Brad continued.
    “But which of you bit me?” Aspen asked, looking from Brad to Chase and back again.
    “I did!” Chase said, his chest swelling.
    “Dude, don’t even think about starting that again,” Brad said calmly. Chase’s wolf gave a small growl.
    “What the hell was that?” Aspen shouted, snatching her hand back from Chase.
    “It was the wolf inside him,” Brad said. “It usually lies quiet when we are in our human forms, except at times of extreme stress or anger!” he finished, glaring at Chase.
    “So, I’m going to have this too – a wolf inside me all the time?” Aspen asked, her voice going high and panicky.
    “Yes, you will,” Brad said softly. “And it will be the most amazing thing that you can imagine. She’ll be there with you all the time, giving you awesome sight and hearing, and the most incredible sense of smell.” Despite his soothing words, Aspen looked a little sickened.
    “Aspen, this is not a disease,” Chase said. “Please don’t think that there is something wrong with you. It’s a gift, which makes you far superior to humans.” Aspen bit her lip.
    “But I don’t want to be superior to my family. I just want to be one of them!” Brad squeezed her hand.
    “Superior was maybe the wrong word. What Chase meant to say was that it will give you lots of advantages in life.”
    “Ok,” Aspen said, and took a deep breath. “So – going back to who bit me?”
    “The truth is, we don’t know,” Brad said. “We were just pups at the time, and don’t remember the incident too well. My mother tells me that we were both playing with you, so it could’ve been either one of us.”
    “So, just assuming for a moment that I’m cool with being a mate , doesn’t this leave you with a problem?”
    “Only one of us will be compatible with you, will be your natural mate,” Brad continued. “The bond between us will be very deep and powerful.” At these words, Aspen turned her head towards him, her pupils dilating and her irises glinting gold. “My parents have told me that, when the time comes, the right one will know it. But until then, I want to give you something.” Brad put his hand in his pocket and pulled something out. It fluttered in the breeze – a tiny piece of red cloth. Chase’s wolf prepared to pounce on Brad, and Chase got to his feet hurriedly, to force it under control. That cunning prick! How the hell was the fabric in Brad’s hands again? He’d stuffed it right at the bottom of the tiny pocket in his jeans, and then left his jeans under his bed when he’d been out running last night. Chase must’ve broken in somehow, and managed to sniff it out.
    “Are you ok, bro?” Brad asked