N. Walters - Legacy Found

Red laughed. “Got me plenty of silver bullets.”

“I want a new rug. I’m hoping some of those bastards shift.”

“You’ll get your chance, Mitch. Now listen up.” Macmillan narrowed his eyes. “No fuck-ups this time. We go in quiet, take our positions and attack when I give the signal.”

“Anyone else know about this place, boss?” Quinn asked.

Macmillan pinned him with a black gaze. “No, and we’re going to keep it that way.” He turned back to the group. “No one shoots the woman in the picture but me. We clear on that?” Only Red knew he had tranquilizer darts in his rifle and planned on capturing and not killing her. “The rest are fair game.”

All the men nodded.

“Okay. We go to silent. Hand gestures only. Never forget that these bastards have incredible hearing.”

They stood in a semi-circle, a group of tough men, all handpicked by him for this mission. They couldn’t fail. Not this time. Shelley would soon be in his grasp and he’d make her pay for what she’d done.

“Let’s go.” Macmillan headed into the woods with Jessup at his side. Red and Quinn were behind them with Mitch and his buddy, Amos, bringing up the rear.

“So what do you think of the place?”

Shelley sipped her coffee, using the time to try to think of an answer that wouldn’t be insulting. She was enjoying Alex’s company and didn’t want to do anything that might alienate the only other female werewolf she’d ever known.

“The house is beautiful.” And it was. All rough-hewn log and polished wood. It was masculine, but comfortable at the same time. It should have reminded her of Tom’s cabin, but it was totally different. It felt like a home.

“They can be a bit overwhelming.”

Shelley snorted. “That’s an understatement.”

Alex traced the rim of her mug with her finger. “I kinda know what you’re going through. I didn’t know anything about my heritage. Dad had planned to tell me but things happened too quickly.”

“How did you deal with it?”

Alex shoved her hand through her short brown hair and gave a small self-conscious laugh. “It wasn’t easy. Everything that I’d ever thought about my life was a lie and I was on the run for my life with a complete stranger.”

“Joshua?”

She nodded. “Yes, Joshua. He’s… Well, overwhelming is the first word that comes to mind. Followed by intimidating and sexy.”

Shelley wrapped her hands around her mug and stared out the large dining room window. It was so peaceful here. The trees swayed in the breeze and the mountains stood majestic and proud in the distance. It struck her suddenly that she could live here and maybe find some semblance of peace. If only her past wasn’t hanging over her. If only she hadn’t killed a man.

“You okay?” Alex reached out and covered Shelley’s hand with her own.

Shelley offered the younger woman a smile. “Not yet. But I will be.”

Alex sat back and pulled one of her jean-clad legs up so that her heel was resting on her chair. She rested her chin on her bent knee. “It’s a totally different culture. Males are dominant. They’re more primal. More basic than humans.”

Shelley shivered, remembering how she’d spent last night. James was undeniably primal and sexy and earthy. “They certainly are.” She’d meant her voice to come out as steady and assured. Instead, it sounded slightly breathy.

The other woman’s gaze narrowed and she studied Shelley. “You’re attracted to my father, aren’t you?”

It would be easier to lie, but Shelley just couldn’t do it. “Yes. But nothing can come of it. I’m not staying.”

“Why not?” There was no accusation or jealousy in Alex’s voice, just honest curiosity.

Shelley shook her head, only willing to share so much with James’s daughter. “I can’t. There’s too much in my past…” She trailed off, not quite knowing what to say. How could she tell Alex she’d killed a man in cold blood and now his son and fellow bounty hunters would be hunting her for the rest of her life?

She couldn’t. Better to keep her silence.

“I really wish you would stay. It would be nice to have another woman around.”

She could hear the wistfulness in Alex’s voice. “There’s aren’t any other females here?”

“Some.” Alex sighed and took a sip of her coffee. “I’m a half-breed. And that makes some of the folks of the pack less than welcoming.”

“But your father is alpha. Plus, you’re a healthy female, mated to one of the males of the pack.” It didn’t make sense to Shelley.

“You’d think that would be all that mattered.” Alex gave a small laugh, but Shelley could sense the other woman’s pain.

“No wonder werewolves are dying out. If they’re that closed-minded, bigoted and blood-thirsty maybe it’s for the best.” It was a violent culture that she’d sprung from.

“No.” Alex shook her head. “There are plenty of wonderful men, like Joshua and my father and your brothers.” She smiled. “Some really great females too. Your brother Isaiah’s mate, Meredith, is kickass. She was alpha of her own pack for years.”

“Really? On her own?” Now that was a female Shelley wouldn’t mind meeting. Although the thought of meeting her eldest brother left her slightly shaken.

“Yup. She’s something. And she’s got two sons of her own and a bunch of adopted half-breeds. You’ll meet them soon.”

Not if she didn’t stay. Shelley kept that thought to herself.

Alex pushed aside her cooling coffee. “Let’s go outside. I can show you the compound. I’ve got a patch all cleared for a vegetable garden this year. Plus, I’ve been learning how to weave. Donovan Brody’s grandmother is teaching me. I’ve got a few pieces at our place you could see.”

Alex stood and Shelley followed suit. “Are you sure it’s safe?”

“Absolutely. Joshua and my father are around. Plus, I expect Simon and the twins are skulking around outside.”

“I should clean house or something. I came here to work as a housekeeper for your father.” She was beginning to feel guilty about not upholding her end of the bargain.

“You can start work tomorrow. Today is your first full day here. Time to look around and get acclimated.”

“If you’re certain it’s safe.” Shelley found Alex’s enthusiasm catching. She suddenly wanted to see where her brothers lived, the place that they, and James, called home.

“Perfectly. Come on.” Alex headed toward the front door with Shelley following close behind.

The crisp spring air was scented with the tang of pine and earth. Shelley paused on the porch to drink in the entire area. There were five homes in total. James lived in the largest one, but the others were all quite lovely. Made of logs, they seemed to blend into the surrounding woods. All the homes circled a fifty-foot clearing. There were a few smaller buildings, which she assumed were sheds.

“Come on.” Alex waited at the bottom of the stairs. “Joshua and I live right there.” She pointed to the story-and-a-half home next door. “The twins share that one and Simon lives there.” Alex pointed out the two homes.

“What about the other one?” There was a slight breeze and a lock of hair that had come loose from her ponytail blew across her face. Shelley tucked it behind her ear. She took the three steps down to the ground and followed Alex.

“That’s Isaiah’s place. Or it used to be. Now it’s more of a guesthouse. Isaiah and his pack use it when they come to visit.”

The mention of her oldest brother’s name made her nerves jangle. She hadn’t met him, wasn’t even certain she was going to get the opportunity.

“And over here is where I’m planting my garden.”