N. Walters - Legacy Found

And Shelley sat there, soaking it all in. This was what a real family was like. She didn’t feel a part of it, but it was nice to sit and watch them all interact with one another. There was no denying the connection they all had, the love that bound them together.

“How are the hash browns?” James leaned over to ask her.

“They’re good.” She’d only managed to eat two, but they were delicious.

“Don’t worry so much. Everything will work itself out. Eat up. We all have to talk after breakfast. There’s a lot we need to know and there are things you have to learn about pack life.”

Nerves hit her, making her stomach churn, and she laid her fork down across her plate. No way could she eat now. James’s words sounded ominous. Although they were meant to reassure her, they’d had the opposite effect.

Shelley picked at her food while the rest of them ate, her pleasure in the meal and the moment gone. Part of her wanted to just run away. Her life had been much simpler before she’d met James.

But hiding from the truth wouldn’t help. She wanted all the cards on the table. Wanted to know exactly what she was dealing with. She wasn’t staying here. That wasn’t in her plans, not with hunters after her. But she needed to learn about werewolves and their culture in case she ever had to deal with them again.

She also needed to earn some more money. Plus, there was a part of her that wanted to get to know her brothers. A part of her that yearned for some kind of connection. She hadn’t realized she was so lonely until she’d watched all of them together.

Then there was James. Shelley knew that no matter where she went or how far away she traveled, he would always be a part of her. She felt his gaze on her and managed to nibble on a slice of toast.

She closed her eyes and inhaled, taking in the sounds and smells of the room. No, she would never forget any of them.

James felt like kicking his own ass. Shelley had been alert and eating until he’d mentioned they needed to talk after breakfast. Now she was tense. Worst of all, she wasn’t eating. She was too thin and needed to eat more.

He knew Joshua had questions. None of them had missed the kiss he’d given Shelley this morning, nor the fact that he’d seated her next to him in a place of honor.

Tough. They’d better get used to it. Shelley was important to him and he was staking his claim before representatives of the other families arrived this morning. They wouldn’t all make it here, but James expected at least four or five wolves at his door within the hour. If not sooner.

Conversation dwindled as they finished their breakfast. That is, everyone except Shelley. She kept pushing around her food with her fork. Finally, James could stand it no longer.

He shoved aside his plate. His cutlery rattled. Everyone else put down their forks and knives and waited for him to speak.

“As you all know, Shelley knew next to nothing about pack life or her werewolf heritage before I met her. I’ve filled her in on some of the basics.”

The younger Striker males grumbled, but Joshua sat rigid in his chair, his muscles coiled and ready for action. James knew how he felt. He’d like to have a crack at the hunter who captured her.

Alex sent her a commiserating look. “That’s a lot to take in at once. But at least you’re a pure werewolf. Not a half-breed like me. That will take away some of the pressure.”

Shelley raised one eyebrow and James answered her unasked question. “I met Alex’s mother in Chicago. After I found out she was pregnant, I settled there. Her mother left when she was a baby, so I raised her myself. I knew it was too dangerous to bring her back to the pack.”

“Then why are you here now?” Shelley directed her question at Alex.

Alex gave her a humorless grin. “I started to go into heat. At the time I had no idea what it was.” She shot her father a glare. “Joshua showed up at our garage in Chicago before Dad had a chance to tell me what was going on. By then there were several groups of werewolves after me—purists, who wanted to kill me, and single males who wanted to mate with me. Not to mention the bounty hunters.”

Shelley’s eyes widened in growing horror and fascination. “What happened?”

“Joshua.” Alex leaned in closer to her mate. “He came to protect me, to bring me back to the safety of the pack. While we were running from everyone, we fell in love.”

Joshua growled low in the back of his throat and his younger brothers laughed. “Alex didn’t know our ways, didn’t know I’d have to accept challenges from all the single males who would want to claim her as their own.” Joshua captured Alex’s hand in his and brought her fingers to his lips.

His wife snorted. “I didn’t much care for their challenge and told them so.”

“She threatened to castrate anyone other than Joshua who climbed into bed with her and then proceeded to take herself to bed.” This from Micah, who gazed at Alex with a look of deep admiration.

“Claiming? Challenge? Is this what I have to look forward to?” Shelley’s throat tightened as she spoke. This was getting more complicated by the second. She shoved back from the table and all the men jumped from their seats.

James held out a placating hand. “You don’t need to worry about that, Shelley. You’re under my protection.”

“Our protection,” Joshua interjected.

“They’ll want to meet you, but no male will be allowed to touch you. Not without your agreement.” James reached out to her but let his hand fall back to his side without touching her.

She felt bereft. Abandoned. After everything they’d done last night, he still wanted her to meet other males? Well, what had she expected? A declaration of undying love?

Shelley rubbed her fingers over her forehead. Her headache was coming back. “I should never have come here,” she muttered.

Several low grumbles and growls came from around the room. She looked up to see her brothers’ distressed faces. She’d hurt them. Again. “I’m sorry. It’s just that my life is a mess.”

“And it’s our job to help you sort everything out.” Joshua came around the table until he was standing right in front of her, blocking her view of James. Her brother raised his hand and gently stroked her face. “Let us help you, Shelley.”

Her throat got tight and she had to blink back tears. He was a good man. They were all good men. They didn’t deserve the baggage she brought with her. “I can’t.”

His hand fell away and he took a step back. His face was as hard as stone. Shelley wanted to sink to the floor and cry. Her heart was breaking. She’d finally found a family that wanted her and she couldn’t stay. Couldn’t allow them and all they’d built to be threatened by Steve Macmillan and the bounty hunters who were searching for her.

Plus, this was all a bit too much for her. Too much had happened too fast. She couldn’t assimilate it all. Everyone had expectations of her. Ones she wasn’t sure she could, or even wanted to meet.

She looked to James for his support, but his expression told her nothing. He looked remote and cold, every inch the alpha he was. Alex had slipped her arm around her mate, offering silent comfort. Shelley kept her head down, not wanting to see what her other brothers thought of her proclamation.

They’d offered her everything and she’d thrown it back in their faces.

Swallowing hard, she gathered her courage. “I’ll get my things and leave.”

“No.” James shook his head. “You’ll stay the week as planned. There’s no need to make any hasty decisions.”

The longer she stayed the more dangerous it was for all of them. But a part of her was selfish, wanting this time with her brothers and Alex. With James.