Rocky (Tales of the Were) Read Online Free PDF

the stone altar.
    When the men stepped back, the rainbows remained, ambient light over the clearing. The babies weren’t bears any longer, she was relieved to see. They were back to human form, kicking their little feet in the air as they wiggled near each other.
    “We welcome the next generation.” Betina captured her attention once more. “The next set of twin Alphas born of one of the most powerful Clans. More special than any in many years, these two will be Grizzly Clan shaman. May they grow straight and strong with the loving guidance of their parents.”
    Rocky stepped forward, keeping one arm around Maggie’s shoulders for support. “I claim these boys in place of their blood father, my Clan brother, who is gone from this realm. As is my Clan right, and as I know Tony would have wanted, I claim these boys as my own.”
    A cheer went up and questions crowded Maggie’s mind, but there was no time to ask them now. She wasn’t sure what he meant by those ritualistic words, but they certainly sounded serious to her. She sent Rocky a questioning glance, but he redirected her attention to Betina, who was looking at her expectantly.
    “What are their names?”
    “Antonio and James,” she said quickly, surprised by the question. She’d decided in the first weeks of her pregnancy to name them for their father, using his first and middle names. She felt Rocky squeeze her shoulder in approval as Betina smiled, making swirling patterns in the air over where her babies now rested quietly, almost asleep once more. They’d had an exciting night for newborns.
    Of course, they acted like no newborns she’d ever seen, but she guessed that was to be expected with so much magic in their tiny little bodies. They’d healed her to the point she felt able to attend this gathering, and her energy level was higher than it had any right to be after what she’d been through. Then there was the shifting-into-bears thing that alternately frightened and amazed her. It was such a strange idea, even after having nine months to get used to it.
    The rest of the ceremony passed quickly , and then Rocky was helping her wrap up the babies in the little warm blankets Allie had brought. She kept James while Rocky cradled Antonio in one large hand. She could already tell them apart, though to others she supposed they were identical in every way. Still, she knew her babies—and they knew her.
     
    Rocky bundled his new family back to his home, intercepting the congratulatory nods from the other shifters they passed along the way. Maggie was so tired she probably didn’t even notice the reverent stares following their path or the way the other people and animals made way and guarded their steps. All babies were precious among the weretribes, but these special twin babies especially so. Their magic and the way it had manifested tonight proved to all that these were indeed the Alpha pair that would rule over the next generation.
    He couldn’t be any prouder had he fathered them himself. Tony had been his Clan brother, but he’d also been his best friend. They were closer than blood brothers, closer than regular Clan brothers, and they both shared a love for the woman now walking quietly at his side. Tony was gone and Rocky had to stand in his place with the babies. He also hoped their mother would find a place for him in her heart—after it had healed from her loss.
    Perhaps he’d have a second chance to woo this special woman. No other had ever touched his heart like her, and frankly, he’d given up looking. No other woman was Maggie. No other woman could tame him and make him want to be a better man. Not the way Maggie could.
    He’d loved her for a long time, but when she’d chosen Tony, he’d bowed out with as much grace as he could muster. Now , however, all bets were off. Maggie would have to stay with him. Not only was she still in danger, but the babies needed him. She would realize that soon enough. He would protect her and help