Shifters Madness: Protecting Arden

By Cadence Michaels

Shape Shifter Erotic, Menage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, Paranormal Romance, Shape Shifter Romance Book

When Arden moved to the Unites States from Cuba to live with her favorite Aunt Ardena at the age of 10, it should have been the best thing to ever happen to her after the death of her mother. Instead, it turned out to be a nightmare that never ended.
Growing up overweight, unattractive, and abused by her family, all Arden has ever known is rejection. She longs for the love and affection of a good man, but the closest thing she has felt to a man's touch are the groping paws of her uncle's younger brother.
When the opportunity to get out of the house for work presents itself, she leaps and lands in the employ of a pair of unusual brothers, caring for an infant child.
Her new employers find themselves compellingly attracted to her, finding her beautiful, warm and caring, and as fate would have it, she is the destined mate to both. This pull is irresistible, and they will stop at nothing to claim her and bring her into their supernatural world as a shifter, while protecting her from her family who would rather see her dead than let her leave.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cadence Michaels
• Release date: Oct 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781311718426

Cadence Michaels

Cadence Michaels was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and has traveled all over the United States. While in high school she was an exchange student, spending a few weeks in Germany and Austria learning about new cultures and making awesome new friends which inspired her creative juices.She has always had a love for writing stories which has spanned from elementary, Jr. High on through High school, college, and present.Cadence Michaels attended College to pursue a career in computer networking, but found that her passions lay elsewhere. She enjoys writing stories on paranormal romance, science fiction, amongst other genres where the hero and heroines aren’t the typical knights in shining armor, and the adoring woman, but so much more.It wasn't until she shared her stories with family and friends, who enjoyed her stories immensely, and encouraged her to get her books published. One such response was, "Your book reads like a movie." from a younger sister.And Candence told her, "Of course it does. I only write books on movies I would love to see, but no one has come up with yet, LOL."Cadence Michaels personal quote, "When books are read, they should play out like a movie in your mind, but if they don't then it's not a good book."Cadence Michaels currently divides her time between taking care of her adorable two cats and finishing up her full-length novel series Natures child Book One The Awakening, Natures Child Book: Two The Gathering, Natures Child Book Three New Life, and Natures Child Book Four Destiny along with many other titles.So, you guys should definitely look forward to some exciting reading.Side note:I just want to say thank you for purchasing my books, and I hope you have enjoyed each and every story.

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Shifters Madness: Protecting Arden

By Cadence Michaels

Shifters Madness: Protecting Arden

Copyright © 2012 by Cadence Michaels

Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Shape Shifter Erotic, Menage a Trois Romance, M/M/F, Paranormal Romance, Shape Shifter Romance Book

When Arden moved to the Unites States from Cuba to live with her favorite Aunt Ardena at the age of 10, it should have been the best thing to ever happen to her after the death of her mother. Instead, it turned out to be a nightmare that never ended.

Growing up overweight, unattractive, and abused by her family, all Arden has ever known is rejection. She longs for the love and affection of a good man, but the closest thing she has felt to a man's touch are the groping paws of her uncle's younger brother.

When the opportunity to get out of the house for work presents itself, she leaps and lands in the employ of a pair of unusual brothers, caring for an infant child.

Her new employers find themselves compellingly attracted to her, finding her beautiful, warm and caring, and as fate would have it, she is the destined mate to both. This pull is irresistible, and they will stop at nothing to claim her and bring her into their supernatural world as a shifter, while protecting her from her family who would rather see her dead than let her leave.

About the Author

Cadence Michaels was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and has traveled all over the United States as well she was an exchange student in high school where she spent a few weeks in Germany and Austria learning about new cultures and making new friends. She has always had a love for writing stories which has spanned from elementary, Jr. High on through High school and present.

Cadence Michaels attended Hickey College to pursue a career in computer networking but found that her passions lay elsewhere. She enjoys writing stories on paranormal romance and science fiction amongst other genres where the hero and heroines aren’t the typical knights in shining armor, but so much more.

She now divides her time between taking care of her adorable two cats and finishing up her full-length novel series Natures child Book One The Awakening, Natures Child Book Two The Gathering, and Natures Child: Book Three New Life, and Natures Child: Book Four Destiny along with many other titles.

Email: [e-mail]

Chapter 1

Arden hated Mondays. It signified another week of doing nothing but the same.

Her life was like a movie that was on constant replay.

Arden groaned as she laid her chin in the palm of her hands as she watched beautiful, blond statuesque Monica Miller saunter around the room, most of the people’s eyes following her and sighed in self-pity as she lifted her head and glanced down at her short round body, then looked back at Monica and sighed again in disappointment. It would be great if Monica was an evil bitch, because then she would have a reason to hate her guts, but she wasn’t. She was genuinely sweet and got along with everyone, treating people with respect and kindness, and they just happened to be best friends. Talk about your opposites.

Monica was 6ft in her stocking feet and weighed 130 lbs. She was 5ft 3 inches and weighed 165 lbs, though because she was short, she looked very chubby. Monica was shaped like a perfect hourglass, while she was round like a beach ball. Monica had beautiful, clear, smooth skin, and she had blemishes, and acne, and wore thick-framed glasses. Monica had long, straight, baby soft ice blond hair and she had black, thick, curly unmanageable hair.

Where was the justice?

She felt like she was hit with the ugly stick and Monica was hit with a sugarcane stick. There were always two sides to everything she guessed. The only thing they had in common was they were both from another country. Monica’s family emigrated from Norway when she was 10, and she emigrated from Cuba at the same age, which was when they met and became friends, both being new and entering the same class during the middle of the school year, though Monica came a month before she did.

During that time in her life, she didn’t look as she did now. She had been skinny with pretty skin and beautiful wavy hair that was always kept in two pigtails, not that you had to be skinny to be beautiful, she just wasn’t.

Arden used to wonder how her looks could have changed so drastically in the last 10 years but tried to never let it get her down. She was still the same person on the inside, even if the outside looked like something the cat drug in, ate, and then threw up.

Arden I’ll be right there. Monica called when she spotted her at their customary table and broke away from the group of people she had been speaking with.

I don’t know what she sees in that fat pig. I mean look at her tray. It’s full of nothing but junk food. A guy at the table from behind her said loudly.

She’s disgusting, absolutely disgusting. A girl said at the table behind her, making a few people nearby giggle.

Arden ignored the digs, used to it by now. It wasn’t the first time someone said something negative about her friendship with Monica. She tended to ignore it though. There was nothing to be done about it. She’d tried to stay away from Monica, afraid that she would be bullied for hanging with her, but Monica wouldn’t hear of it. She didn’t care what people thought and spoke.

Hey, baby girl. Monica said as she sat down across from her.

Hey, Monica.

Arden, what are you eating? I thought you said you wanted to try and lose some weight. If so then those potato chips, cookies, cheese fries, and chilly cheese dog are not going to help you one bit.

Arden surveyed her tray, looking at the huge heaping of chili, and shrugged, So I’ll start tomorrow.

So, you will start right now. Monica said taking her tray, getting up from the table, and dumping it in the wastebasket a few feet away.

Come on Monica, why’d you do that? My eating habits aren’t something I can just change in one day. It takes time. She complained when Monica came back to the table.

But it must at least start. You have been saying since summer that you wanted to lose weight during your final year of school. We are a month and a half into the school year, and you haven’t even started.

I’ve been stressed. Besides, I am only going to be here for the first semester. I plan on graduating in January so it’s no big deal.

Why, because your aunt’s husband and his loser brothers. Fuck them. You are very beautiful beneath all that extra skin. Let me help you. I get so sick and tired of people ragging on you all the time. I know deep down it bothers you as well. Let’s do this Arden. Let’s show everyone what you’ve been hiding before we both leave in January. I think you might be more beautiful than me.

Arden glanced at Monica sharply, taking in her beautiful face and glowing hair under the light, and rolled her eyes at the outright lie. Look, Monica, I don’t mind you helping me, but you don’t have to lie to me all right? I know I said I wanted to lose weight, but I don’t think that it will matter that much. I just want to be healthy, and for my skin to clear up some, not beautiful.

Monica returned her look with a hard exasperated sigh, shaking her head and looking at the ceiling like she was hoping someone would come down and help her before looking back at her with glowing blue eyes that she always found to be spooky and yet beautiful.

But Arden you are beautiful, inside, and out. Have you been using that skin cream I gave you? She asked, giving her face a critical once over. You haven’t, have you? Working in your family’s café is what keeps your face so oily, not to mention all the bad food you eat. I know you’re tired when you get off, but you really should use it. Also, I am going to write down what you can and can’t eat ok. I know you eat a lot of food at the café which isn’t healthy for you either.

God, are you my best friend or my mother? Geeze, give me a break Mona. She said rolling her eyes.

I’m your friend and I love you. I only want what’s best for you. Here, eat this apple and salad I got for you. She said pulling the items off her tray and sitting them in front of her.

Arden surveyed the food with distaste before picking up a piece of lettuce and taking a bite, then smiling sarcastically. Rabbit food, hmm yum. You know I switched gym classes so I can start aerobics class, right? So, it’s not like I’m doing nothing to start my new healthy lifestyle. She told her with obvious displeasure, not looking forward to working out every day and getting tired and sweaty.

Yeah, I know and I’m so proud of you. And if you change your diet starting today you will drop pounds weekly. I am going to put you on a high-protein, low-carb diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and plenty of water. I don’t want to see a cola in your hand or a fruit drink at all.

Arden groaned and rolled her eyes as she ate her food in relative silence, hoping she would be able to handle this diet Monica was forcing on her. Yeah, she wanted to lose weight and get healthy. It was true she was tired of people making snide remarks about her weight and looks, especially her uncle’s brother Ernesto with his filthy mouth and hands, she thought, shuddering in disgust.

She wasn’t always fat. She was skinny once upon a time and had a lot of friends. Then her family opened a Cuban café and within six months she had put on the pounds and her face had become a bumpy mess and the kids at school started making fun of her. Kids were cruel.

Arden wanted what other girls her age had, fun, being invited to parties, getting a boyfriend, going on dates, and maybe having sex. She also wanted a storybook romance. To meet her soul mate in school as her mother had done with her father, marry him before or right after college graduation, and start a family not long after.

Everyone she told this to called her old-fashioned. She was told she should go to college and experience life and have fun to the fullest before settling down. But really, what was there to do? Go to nightclubs, frat parties, drink alcohol, try out drugs, and go on road trips. Travel the globe and see new and beautiful things. That was great for some people, but who was to say she couldn’t do that with the man she loved, experience things for the first time with the children she had so that they would see it together for the first time and experience the joy and excitement at the same time versus her seeing it first, then showing it to them and not enjoying it as much the second time around.

Who was she kidding? Her uncle would never allow her such happiness. He was probably already planning to send her back to Cuba the moment she completed school and marry her off to some hateful man. Her uncle was a criminal, dealing in all types of illegal activities that she had known about since she was 13.

He would never risk her leaving and telling someone about him and it getting back to the cops. He barely tolerated her going to school and her friendship with Monica.

She had missed so much school over the years that it was a miracle they were still letting her attend.

Oh well, even fools could dream.

The rest of the day went by in a blink and she gathered her things and headed home, doing her homework first, watched two episodes of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and then took a quick shower, before changing into her black slacks and black t-shirt and headed out the door, making sure to lock it on her way out and walked down the block and around the corner to her family’s restaurant, Cuban Explosion Café.

The name was so tacky and stupid. Her uncle could have come up with something better than that. Her aunt had suggested Soul de Cuba Café, but her uncle had vetoed it, claiming it wasn’t original enough, but it was better than the name he chose.

Arden walked inside the back door, went into the kitchen of the restaurant, and saw her aunt Ardena already there preparing for the evening guest. She was so beautiful, with her almond-shaped hazel eyes, and heart-shaped face that was usually framed by thick, curly hair that she currently had pulled back into a braid stopping halfway down her back to keep out of her face. Her slim, curvy body was encased in black jeans and a shirt like what she was wearing.

Now she was truly beautiful, she always had been.

Arden glanced at her watch, checking the time. The café was open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm for lunch hours and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm for dinner hours with a small dance room in the back that closed at 1:00 am. Customers could order sandwiches and drinks after 10 o’clock but nothing else.

Holà chica. Hello baby, her aunt said when she spotted her.

Tía Hola Ardena. She greeted her name’s sake warmly, then walked over to the kitchen sink and washed her hands so she could help her prep for the dinner crowd.

Though the café wasn’t very big it was popular, and they received a lot of orders for takeout earning them 30% of their daily earnings.

They worked together in silence getting everything together when her uncle and his two brothers, Ernesto and Santiago walked inside. She saw her aunt grimace before pasting on a fake smile when he came over and kissed her cheek, slapping her on the ass before turning to look at her, a hateful look on his face.

Arden didn’t know what she had done to make him hate her so. In the past she always did whatever he told her to do without question, tried to stay out of his way as much as possible, yet he always found a reason to strike her and did the same with her aunt. Now she didn’t care as much about what he said. She would get punished no matter what she did.

Arden knew her aunt wasn’t happy with her uncle and would have left him a long time ago if she could. They were both trapped in this nightmare. Her uncle barely gave her enough money to live on, yet he wouldn’t let her find another job anywhere else. He had complete control over her life.

Arden, I need you to work the floor tonight. Her uncle Diego told her.

But why? Tía needs my help in the kitchen…. She didn’t even get to finish the sentence before she felt the sting of his hand across her face, her skin aflame, her right ear ringing from the force of his strike.

Diego. She heard her aunt yell and heard the smack of his hand connecting with her face as well and closed her eyes tight, tears leaking from beneath her closed lids.

Arden felt a heavy weight settle against her back and a hand clamp around her waist, while another gripped her breast and squeezed it tightly making her cry out in pain and shock, disgust filling her before she wrenched herself out of his arms, knowing it was Ernesto, Diego’s youngest brother who was 22 and a pervert.

Don’t touch me. Don’t you ever touch me! She screamed at him, backing away quickly when he raised his hand but wasn’t fast enough to avoid the blow across her other cheek that sent her crashing against the wall clutching her face, tears streaming down her face.

Don’t tell me what to do you ugly fat bitch. You should be happy a man wants to touch that lumpy body of yours. You’re shit, worthless. Now do what my brother said and get your stupid ass out on the floor and open the doors. People are waiting.

Arden glanced at her aunt who was being held by Diego, her beautiful face was pale, her lips trembling in what she knew was sorrow and pain for her. Go. She mouthed and Arden left the kitchen, headed out to the front door where she could see people already waiting to get inside.

Arden saw Diana, the hostess, Nancy, Lita and Andre, the waitresses and waiter getting their sections ready. Cortez, another waiter wasn’t here so she assumed that was why her uncle wanted her on the floor.

Ernesto, Diego, and Hector ran the bar while Santiago managed the back office. She, her aunt, and another cook named Walter prepared all the food, and she hoped they wouldn’t get too far behind without her in there to help them.

Arden hated waitressing. The tables and chairs in here were tightly packed making it hard for her to maneuver around. She got disgusted looks, snide comments, and laughs from the patrons and tried to ignore it but it was hard when it was constantly happening.

People could be terribly cruel to others, not realizing that every harsh word was like a dagger piercing you repeatedly.

Arden looked at the others who were finishing up their sections. You guys ready?

At their nods she walked over and opened the door greeting customers as they entered, the other staff coming over and taking customers to their seats and handing them menus once seated. The customers who couldn’t be seated Diana had them wait on the bench until a table was available or took their orders and bought them back out to them to go.

The cafe had been steady since opening at 5 and she was ready to leave, her feet and back killing her. She glanced at the clock above the door some hours later noting 10 minutes till nine when two men walked into the restaurant holding a baby that appeared to be about 3 or 4 months old, who was bawling loudly, his little fist shaking in anger.

Arden walked up to the men greeting them as well as getting a good look at the two and stopped dead, her breath caught as she looked from one to the other, her heart picking up speed and her mouth went dry. They were both totally gorgeous.

Fo..f.fol., this wa..way please. She stuttered, picking up two menus, and headed to the table a few feet away.

Once they were seated, she walked over and got the highchair for infants that was shaped sort of like a car seat but set up more so you could feed the baby if they were of age and bought that over for them.

Arden noted the two men were staring at her in opened mouthed wonderment, the baby still crying, oblivious to the atmosphere between them. These two men were tall and well-built, dark, and handsome. One had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, reminding her of a vast ocean while the other’s eyes were so green you thought you had wandered into a beautiful field with thick, lush, healthy grass surrounding you.

May I take your baby? she asked, focusing on the crying infant so she wouldn’t embarrass herself by drooling in front of these two.

There was no way these two men would ever be interested in a fat cow such as herself and she should just give up and not dwell on things that could never be. Plus, they were older than her, and one had a kid meaning that there was a wife or girlfriend somewhere in the picture. Besides, they were probably looking at her and wondering why a girl who looked as she did would be a waitress greeting and dealing with customers.

I’m Alastor Hypatios and this is my brother Bion, and this little fussy demon is my son Cristos. He told her, handing the baby over to her.

Arden lifted the baby up into her arms and rocked him gently, nuzzling his face and murmuring soothing words to him while rubbing his back gently like she had seen her mother do a thousand times to her little brother when she was a child still living in Cuba and he quieted down almost immediately.

There, there love. You’re all right. It’s ok my beautiful sweet boy. She soothed, then looked at the two men. I’m Arden Sanchez by the way. She told them, placing the now smiling, babbling baby into the seat and strapping him in securely before turning back to the two men who were both staring at her with looks of gratitude and something else, she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but it made her toes curl and her stomach flutter.

A man had never looked at her that way before so she couldn’t be sure if she was deciphering the look correctly.

How old are you, Arden? Bion asked her, his green eyes unwavering as he waited for her answer.

Arden thought about lying for a split second, wanting to appear older but thought better of it. There was no way she could pull it off anyway.

I’m 19. I’ll be 20 in a few months. She answered honestly.

Are you still in school? Alastor asked her next, and she nodded.

"Yes. I go to Lincoln