Andrew almost jumped at Chen's accusing voice behind him.

"And now I'm not. I promised the hospital I'd come in. They're short-staffed today. Apparently there's a flu going around all the human doctors." The chief physician, Dr Henrickson had called him in. Since Andrew knew the mink shifter didn't particularly like him, they must be in critical need of doctors. The mink resented Andrew for what he had done to stop James from shifting, even if Andrew had had the best intentions.

Marlen grabbed Andrew's wrist, pulling his attention back to the wren shifter. He peeled away Andrew's bandage with his free hand. The frown didn't leave his face. "It does look better. But you're human. What if you catch whatever those diseased creatures are spreading around?"

Andrew shook his head at Marlen's dramatic behavior. "They had the flu, not the hantavirus. If I catch it, I'll be sick for a few days then bounce back. It won't be the first time I've caught a cold. It'll be fine."

"But humans die of colds." Tension tightened Marlen's shoulders. He traced Andrew's healing scar with his finger, careful not to press too hard. "And your wound is still puffy, it could get infected. You could lose the hand!"

Andrew pulled Marlen into his arms, unable to resist the horror on the wren shifter's face. "You don't hang around humans much, do you?"

"No," Marlen's voice muffled against Andrew's shoulder. He clung tight like a child seeking reassurance from the scary world.

"I'm a doctor. I would know if my hand was beginning to get gangrene. It's healing naturally and is almost all better. You don't have to worry so much."

Marlen stepped out of Andrew's embrace. "If we mated with you, you'd get increased healing." He looked over Andrew's shoulder. "Wouldn't he, Chen?"

"Yep. One more reason bonding with us would be a great idea," Chen agreed.

"It didn't work before. James' mother was a shifter. I didn't get super healing from being her mate."

The only thing he'd gotten was stabbing heartache and a sad lesson in trusting shifters. One he felt doomed to repeat with the gorgeous wren shifters claiming to be his.

"I don't think she was your true mate," Marlen said. His smooth brow furrowed. "If she were, she wouldn't have been able to leave you. You said she just walked away from you and her child. Shifters can't just abandon their mates. If you were truly bonded, it would've hurt her a lot more than it hurt you."

"Trust me, it hurt quite a bit." Just the memory of how she'd left him alone with their baby twisted the knife a little deeper into the old wound. A few days after James' birth, Juliet had smelled their baby son and declared him defective. The next day she'd vanished with no explanation.

Marlen nuzzled Andrew's neck in an attempt to comfort him.

If Andrew didn't know for a fact the pair were wrens, he might've guessed they were cat shifters from their constant affectionate petting.

"We're sorry that bitch abandoned you."

The low, vicious tone was so out of character for the gentle shifter, Andrew almost stepped away in surprise. Chen pressed his hard body against Andrew's back while Marlen slid across his front and prevented him from moving. The pair had a habit of caging him between them, making him the center of their wren shifter sandwich. The heat of their naked bodies warmed him from the chill of the cool morning air. Like all shifters, the wrens put out more body heat than the average human.

Andrew bit his lip to hold back a moan. He was too old to be whimpering like a needy puppy at the first friendly touch. Unfortunately his erection hadn't received the message. Aching for release, he rubbed against Marlen and groaned when he encountered a matching firm shaft.

His hand, as if it had a will of its own, cupped Marlen's face. A sigh escaped him, long and heartfelt. "What are you two doing to me? I used to be very independent. I even raised a kid on my own. You know-James, the guy about your age." He couldn't resist the jab. The age difference bothered him-he didn't even try to deny it. Andrew might be old-fashioned, but he wanted any partner of his, male or female, to have been born at least in the same decade as him.

How could he date men close to his son's age? Mid-life crisis didn't even excuse it...more like a mid-life catastrophe.

Marlen smirked. "Nice try, but we won't let a little thing like an age difference affect our mating." He stroked Andrew's hair, a gentle caress that blazed a line of fierce desire straight to Andrew's cock. "We worry about you."

"You two don't need to fuss. I'm fine." He'd hate to see how they'd react if he had a real injury. The wrens were affectionate and playful, but not necessarily good in a crisis, at least not one where he might be injured.

The wren shifters continued to pet and muss his hair. He tolerated it for a few minutes. If he leaned into their touches, he'd deny it later. Andrew hadn't experienced a lot of casual affection in his life. His last girlfriend had turned out to be a psychopath and his wife had abandoned him. Maybe given his track record with women, he should pay more attention to men. At least he knew these two men wanted him without an ulterior motive. Andrew had nothing else to offer them.

The magnetism between him and the wrens scrambled his senses. He gripped Marlen's hips tight to prevent the shifter from scooting any closer. The wrens hated distance between them, but having them this near-this intimate-destroyed Andrew's resolve. Surrounding him, naked, they were a feast for the eyes and a comfort to his battered soul. He never had to worry if the wren shifters desired him. As often as they ran around naked, their attraction to him was more than obvious.

"You're our mate," Chen insisted for the hundredth time.

About the Author.

Amber Kell has made a career out of daydreaming. It has been a lifelong habit she practices diligently as shown by her complete lack of focus on anything not related to her fantasy world building.

When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life he told her to go have fun.

During those seconds she isn't writing she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name-two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.

Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.

She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres.

Books by Amber Kell:.

Moon Pack Series.

Attracting Anthony Baiting Ben.

Courting Calvin Denying Dare Enticing Elliott.

Finding Farro Hellbourne Series Hellbourne: Lost & Found.

Hellbourne: Bound & Determined Hellbourne: Heart & Soul.

Dragonmen Series.

Mate Hunt.

Mate Test Mate Dance.

Club Soulfinder Series.

Faerly Enchanted.

Faerly Furry Single Releases The Vampire King's Husband.

Bonding with Graven Twisted Rose.

Tempting Sin Kissing Orion Saving Valor.

Vampire Wanted Blood Signs.