You Belong to Me: Battle Scarred, #3

By Megan Slayer

The world can crumble around us, but we've always got each other. Always.

Ava Grant learned the hard way not to trust anyone. Trust equaled opening up to another person and allowing herself to be hurt. She's done with pain—until she's summoned by the Sources. Her world is thrown into upheaval. Two men can help her, if she's willing to let them in. Will she able to open her heart to a vampire and a wolf shifter?

Joachim Stokes and Padraig O'Malley are the best of friends. The attraction between them is palpable, but there's something missing. When they are tasked with protecting Ava, they realize they'd found what they've been missing—her. A bond forms between the three, but some bonds are meant to be broken. With the war heating up, her past won't stay hidden forever.

Will their blossoming love wither before they get a chance to stoke the flames, or will it be strong enough to overcome their problems?

This book was previously released and has been revamped for this edition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Megan Slayer
• Release date: Oct 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386504283

Megan Slayer

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com. When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Book preview

Prologue

Y ou’ve got me here . Now what are you going to do? Ava Grant plopped onto the nearest boulder. She snorted. She should’ve known she’d end up at the sources one way or another. If they weren’t interested in what she’d learned from Maslow, they’d expect her to get involved in the war. Fat chance. She’d done more than her part for the cause. She folded her arms to stave off some of the chill. The memories filling her brain tormented her for too many nights already. She wasn’t going to give them power now.

Where were the sources? They’d brought her to their special...lair? Cave? She glanced at her surroundings. Black walls, dirt under her feet, and the scent of earth in her nose. They could’ve picked a better hangout. She crossed her legs, gathering the sparse warmth close to her body.

Hello? Ava called. I can’t go home until you talk to me. She sounded rude and she didn’t care. She’d been held captive for too long.

You’re fine, young seer. One of the sources finally sat forward enough for her to see a long white beard. You’re anxious.

You’re darn right I’m anxious. She shot off her seat. I deserve to know why I’m here.

Sit down.

The curt tone from the source knocked some of the fury from her system. She stood firm.

I’m fine where I’m at.

Seer, this is where you will meet your downfall. Your attitude is not helping you. The source pointed at her. Do you know why you’re here?

She groaned. No, I don’t. That’s what I’ve been asking you.

The source didn’t reply right away. Although she wanted to scream, she kept her irritation in check. She’d pushed her luck by arguing.

I’m sorry, she said. I’ve been out of line.

Your meekness is a ruse. Another source grabbed her attention. The being stood, and she noticed the long burgundy robe dusting the ground. Light filtered down from above the being’s head.

Ava stared at the being’s robe. It is. If you show fear, you tend to get killed.

Especially when you’re a seer. The being sat on something she couldn’t see. You are here because of the war.

Oh great. The war. She rolled her eyes but didn’t tilt her head to give away her emotions.

You’ve been abused, seer. The world and fate haven’t been kind to you. She eased onto the boulder again.

You’ve been traumatized.

I have, she answered.

Then one mate isn’t going to be enough for you. The source pointed to her again. A blue light flickered from his hand. In the flame she noticed a wolf and blood.

The source’s words resonated in her head. One mate not enough? She wasn’t going to have any mate at all. No way, no how. What did the wolf and the blood have to do with anything? Were they going to have a wolf eat her?

You are granted two mates. Both are more than capable of protecting you on their own, but only as three will you be able to reach your full power.

She shook her head. No. Hagan was supposed to be my mate. I can’t. She peered into the darkness of the cave. The light extinguished, leaving her in the pitch-black.

Do you wish to question the will of the sources? a male voice bellowed.

No, but I don’t deserve a mate. Not after Hagan, she begged. I can’t.

Be gone. The source snapped his fingers.

Ava ran toward where she’d heard the voices. No, wait. You can’t do this. I can’t take a mate. Please. Help me. Instead of her feet hitting solid ground, she stepped into nothingness.

She screamed, but no sound came out. She closed her eyes. If this was her end, then so be it.

I’m not afraid.

Chapter One

Ava opened her eyes . She expected the rough earth under her backside. The scent of perfume wrapped around her. Old perfume. Where was she now? She looked at the room. The bedroom at the Laing mansion. She was home—or at least the closest thing she had to a home.

She rubbed her bare arms. The T-shirt she’d been wearing wasn’t keeping her warm, even with the heat in the room. A shiver raced up her spine. She felt the raised lines on her skin, despite the cotton beneath her palm. The wounds might have healed over and left scars, but the pain hadn’t gone away.

She’d only been out of Maslow’s grip and at the Laing mansion for a couple of hours. She looked down at the hem of the shirt. Forgetting the past seemed like a good thing to do and the first step to moving forward was new clothes. At least something she hadn’t smuggled out when she left. She glanced over at her bag. Nothing in the shoulder bag would work. She’d never cover her body with the garbage Maslow bought her.

Ava left the bed and crossed the room. She kicked the duffle bag out of the way. No more thinking about the past. According to Lexa, the girlfriend of the owner of the Laing mansion, there were clothes in most all the closets. Maybe there would be something to fit her. She opened the closet doors and gasped. Everything on the hangers had to be close to sixty years old. Vintage had always been her style before the abduction. Looking at the tight-waisted dresses and pencil skirts, she grinned.

The door creaked. When Ava shifted her focus from the clothes, she noticed Joachim. She liked the wolf shifter from the first moment she’d met him. Quiet and shy, he didn’t command attention like some men, but he grabbed hers.

Hey, you. He sat on her bed. What’s happening? Clothes shopping?

Something like that. She browsed the different dresses and then picked a red-and-white-checked pattern. Close your eyes.

Ava. I won’t do anything. He shrugged. I’ve been a gentleman so far.

She had to give him that—he barely knew her and treated her well. Ava hesitated. This was a big moment for her. She didn’t undress in front of anyone unless he was willing to pay, or was Maslow with a gun to her head. She didn’t want Joachim to see the scars.

Please?

The shifter grinned and did as she’d asked. He folded his legs up under his powerful body. The muscles in his arms bulged. Her belly tightened and her nipples ached. She liked strong men and wondered what it would be like to wrap herself in his embrace. Of course he’d have to be attracted to her. She doubted he liked girls. He hardly gawked at her in the same ways other men did. She wriggled out of the T-shirt and shoved her tattered jeans to the floor. A part of her wanted to run across the room and jump into his arms. She had to be losing her mind after what she’d been through. She unzipped the garment and slipped the soft cotton over her frame. She wasn’t as busty as the original wearer, but she liked the way the dress snugged her ribs and waist.

Okay, you can look. She strolled up to him. I need you to zip me. She turned her back on him. Thank you.

This fits you well. He tugged the pull, closing the back of the dress. I like it.

Do you? She let go of her hair and faced him. This is part of me being brave.

How?

She nodded to the duffle bag. My past is in there. She sat beside him and patted his thigh. Dear Lord, the man had nice legs. She shook her head. I mean, everything in that bag reminds me of my time with Maslow. He expected his girls to dress like...you know.

I do. He draped his arm around her shoulders. Sometimes you’ve got to leave the past in the past and never dredge it up again. I’m proud of you.

He pimped me out, she blurted. She hadn’t told anyone about what Maslow had done, and getting some of the truth out comforted her.

Ava, honey, I’m sorry. He hugged her tightly, pressing her to his chest. The scent of his cologne wrapped around her.

Don’t be. You had nothing to do with my situation. She rested her head on his shoulder. When Officer King rescued me, I had to grab something to wear. Maslow destroyed my stuff, so I got stuck with that crap.

I thought you had a vampire with you?

Her heart clenched and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She should’ve been worrying about Hagan.

Can we leave here? she said and wiped tears from her face. Like go on a shopping trip or something? Anything to get her mind off her friend and the past.

I suppose. Joachim disengaged from her and stood. I’ll see if Paddy wants to go.

Why? Because you’re attracted to him, she wanted to say, but didn’t.   Because... The tips of Joachim’s ears turned red and he shrugged. We go everywhere together.

Okay. Ask him. She’d wanted alone time with Joachim, but if having the vampire along made things better, then fine. Being with both men wasn’t bad at all.

"What? He’s good protection. I