N. Walters - Legacy Found

“Yes.” Donovan crossed his arms over his chest.

Quinn didn’t know what he expected. Certainly not tears of joy or immediate acceptance. But maybe a little more emotion. Not that he cared. All he cared about was finding Chris.

“I have another son?” Donovan asked. “Just like you.”

“No.” They all stared quizzically at Quinn.

“But you said you had a twin.” James frowned.

“I do.” Quinn heaved a deep breath. “Chris is my twin sister.”

James took a deep breath and decided it was high time for him to take control of the highly charged situation. He motioned to Grady Tallant, who’d joined the fight. “Gather as many men as you need and get rid of the bodies. Strip them of any weapons and identification. Send out a party to find their vehicles. We need to dispose of them.”

He nodded and Grady headed off.

He turned to Donovan Brody, who was watching the young man—Quinn Lawton—like he couldn’t quite believe his eyes. And no wonder. It wasn’t every day you found out you had a son and a daughter you hadn’t known about. “Take Quinn into the house. We need to talk.” James needed as much information about this situation as he could get.

“Levi, you and Micah take Simon home and tend to his wound.” From what James could see it looked as though a silver bullet had hit his shoulder. They’d been lucky no one was killed.

“Gavin, you and Etienne watch the front and back gates. Just in case there are any more hunters or some other members of the Carlos clan decide they want to try to kill me.”

“Alpha.” Gavin called James by his formal title, inclined his head and headed off with Etienne.

Finally, James turned to Shelley. He admitted that he’d avoided looking at her. Her first morning here and already they’d faced an attack from hunters and an internal threat from fellow wolves. Blood stained the ground and the air was thick with death. Not exactly the welcome he’d envisioned for her.

She’d probably decide she was better off out in the world on her own.

He raked his fingers through his hair and shook off those negative thoughts. She’d promised him a week and he was holding her to it. “Come inside, Shelley.”

Her face was pale, but her lips were set in a thin line. Stubborn woman. Instead of going inside for safety, she’d attacked a hunter, wielding nothing but an axe and determination. His blood still ran cold thinking about it.

Her face was smudged with dirt and blood and her new clothes might never recover. Her hair was hanging around her face, her ponytail holder long gone.

He’d never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.

His body hardened. Muscles tensing. His breathing deepened and he sniffed her unique perfume. Under the fear he caught a tinge of arousal. His cock responded immediately, springing to attention.

Now that the heat of battle was over, another heat was upon him.

“James,” Joshua called from the porch steps.

James wanted to do nothing more than take Shelley in his arms and hold her until she understood he’d protect her with his life, would never let them take her again. Instead, he had to deal with the fallout from this latest attack. Sometimes, being alpha just plain sucked.

He held out his hand. “Come here.” He softened his tone and she inched forward. She was chewing on her bottom lip, a sure sign of nerves. He caught a glimpse of her pink tongue and it kicked up his arousal another notch.

Shelley kept her head down as she passed him. He wasn’t letting her avoid him that easily. He put his hand on her back, guiding her inside.

The group was waiting in the foyer. James turned to Joshua. “Have some coffee. We’ll be down as soon as I make sure Shelley is all right.”

Joshua raised an eyebrow but inclined his head. “As you wish.” He turned and strode toward the kitchen.

“James,” Shelley began. He closed his eyes briefly and savored the sound of his name coming from her lips.

“Upstairs.” He urged her up the stairs to the bathroom, trying not to notice how perfectly her jeans cupped her heart-shaped ass. She kept glancing over her shoulder at him, nibbling on her bottom lip.

Finally, he couldn’t take the temptation any longer. He backed her up against the bathroom door and placed his hands on either side of her head, caging her with his body. Leaning down, he licked her bottom lip. It was red and slightly swollen where she’d been worrying it.

He moaned as her taste exploded on his tongue. Spicy and sweet. His.

Her hands crept up his chest and around his neck. He deepened the kiss, teasing the inside of her mouth. Her tongue sought out his. Twining. Touching.

Something deep inside him relaxed. Shelley was safe. She was here. And she was returning his kiss.

James ate at Shelley’s lips, teasing and tempting. Her fingers fisted in his hair, holding him close. Elation raced through him. She still wanted him. She’d seen him shift into his wolf, seen him kill a man, and she still desired him.

Only the fact that he had a houseful of people waiting for him made him back away. He eased his lips from hers and rested his forehead against hers. “Later,” he promised. “I need to deal with the situation downstairs.”

Shelley jerked slightly, her hand coming to her lips. “Of course.”

James hated to see the fear and self-consciousness return to her face. He liked her much better when her eyes were slumberous and sexy and filled with need. For him.

He urged her into the bathroom and grabbed a facecloth. Wetting it, he then brought it to her face and dabbed at the several slight cuts.

Shelley put her hand over his. “It’s nothing. Just a few splinters of wood.”

“Let me see to you.” He knew he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else until she’d been taken care of.

Standing quietly next to the sink, Shelley allowed him to wash her cuts and remove several small splinters of wood before dabbing them with some antibacterial ointment he found in the cabinet.

“There. All done.” He dumped the tube of ointment on the counter and washed his hands.

Shelley caught his thick wrist, her slender fingers not quite going all the way around. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Get changed and come down to the kitchen.” James was surprised Isaiah hadn’t already come upstairs to check on her. He still had to be in shock. Joshua must have called him and told him the news, but actually seeing his sister in the flesh made it real.

Shelley nodded and headed to her room. James stopped in his own room long enough to grab a shirt. He left it unbuttoned and didn’t bother with socks or shoes, rather padded barefoot down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Alex had made coffee so he swung by the counter and poured himself a mug. Isaiah sat, arms folded across his chest. His wife Meredith was next to him. James hadn’t realized she was with him and inclined his head in greeting. She returned the nod, looking as aloof and regal as ever. Isaiah had certainly met his match with that female.

Alex was seated next to Joshua, her hand linked with his. They were a unit, a mated pair, and no one would ever come between them. That gave James a lot of comfort. He couldn’t have wished for a better mate for his daughter.

Donovan and Quinn were staring at one another. Seated side by side, the resemblance was uncanny.

James heard Shelley’s soft footsteps on the stairs and turned to watch her walk into the kitchen. Everyone who needed to be here was accounted for.

“You want some coffee?” Shelley still appeared far too pale for his liking. But worse, he could sense her fear and apprehension.

“Please.”

James poured up another mug and handed it to her. It pleased him that she stayed close to him. He seated her next to him and turned to the business at hand.