N. Walters - Legacy Found

“How? My brother’s the best there is when it comes to hacking computers. If he hasn’t been able to find a trace of her, what makes you think you can?”

James stared at the young man. “We have resources you don’t.”

Isaiah leaned forward and banged his head against the table with a heavy thunk before raising it to glare at James. “You don’t mean—”

James grinned. “You’ll be talking to Damek soon enough.”

“Who’s Damek?” Quinn asked.

“You’ll find out when you head to Chicago with Isaiah. I think you should have your brother join you there. It’s time we all started working together. We’ll find Chris.”

“I want in on this,” Donovan insisted.

James looked at Quinn. “That’s between you and Quinn. This meeting is done.” He stood and Joshua ushered Quinn and Donovan out of the room. Levi followed. Alex paused long enough to kiss her father’s cheek and hug Shelley.

“Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”

Shelley wished she shared Alex’s surety.

Isaiah stood with his woman beside him. “Rach— I mean, Shelley. I want you to meet Meredith, my mate.”

“It’s a pleasure.” The tall, slender woman held out her hand. She was striking with her long black hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in slacks and a blouse, but she seemed sophisticated. Shelley felt like a poor relation next to her.

She rubbed her damp palm over the leg of her jeans before she took Meredith’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Why don’t we go over to our house so we can talk?” Isaiah swept his arm around his wife. Shelley glanced at James and then away. She couldn’t depend on him for support. He had more important things to do than babysit her.

“Sure.” She walked toward the door with her family, but she could feel James’s eyes on her as she walked away.

Letting Shelley leave with her brother wasn’t easy. Every protective instinct inside James was urging him to sweep her into his arms and carry her to his bedroom. She belonged with him.

But she was still planning on leaving.

Her panic attack had caught him off-guard. He’d noted her loss of color and the way she’d stiffened and immediately known what was happening. Like a wild animal who’d tasted freedom, she panicked whenever she felt as though her freedom was being challenged.

Isaiah had almost blown it by insisting she stay.

Thankfully, he’d been able to smooth it over by reminding Shelley she’d promised him a week. Six days now. Not nearly long enough, but it would have to do. He had his work cut out for him to get Shelley to want to stay.

He would make it happen. Any other outcome was unacceptable.

James carried his mug to the sink and poured out his cold coffee. He hadn’t even managed a sip. He heard footsteps on the porch and knew Grady and the others had arrived.

It was time to deal with pack problems. He’d been too lenient and the Carlos family had once again threatened the safety of the pack. He set aside his mug, padded to the front door and swung it open. He stepped out onto the porch.

“Tell me what you’ve learned.” James waited patiently as Grady began to speak.

Shelley lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It was going to be another long night. Since her escape last fall, she’d spent many sleepless nights worrying about how she was going to survive, if the hunters would find her and if she’d ever discover anything about her family or her roots.

The worst had happened and the hunters had found her. But that threat was now gone. She’d survived.

But the best had also happened. She’d found her family and now understood more about her heritage, about being a werewolf.

She sighed and flipped onto her side, tucking her hand beneath her pillow. It had been strange to spend time with her family. Family . The word itself was foreign to her. They’d made such an effort to accept her, but she was finding it difficult. She didn’t know how to act in social situations and it made her feel awkward.

Still, all her brothers and her sisters-in-laws had been very kind. They’d told stories from their childhood, allowing her to sit back and take it all in. Bits and pieces of disjointed memories were coming back to her and she was beginning to remember how much her brothers had loved her.

It still felt slightly removed from her, as if those events had happened to someone else. But they were helping her understand her brothers and herself much better.

Joshua had fired up an outdoor grill and barbecued steaks, while Alex had baked potatoes and whipped up a huge garden salad.

It was all so normal.

Shelley liked all of them. It had been a relief to see Simon seated in a comfortable chair, his arm in a sling to keep his shoulder immobile. He’d been pale but smiling as he participated in the conversation.

None of them seemed to hold a grudge or blame her for leading the bounty hunters to their door.

It was going to be hard to leave here. But she had to. Didn’t she?

Shelley flung back the covers in disgust and padded to the window. Standing there, she stared out over the night. The moon was bright, illuminating the few patches of snow hiding in the shade of the large fir trees. Spring was taking hold. It was a time for new beginnings.

What did she want out of life?

The freedom to choose. That was the biggest thing. After so many years of being a prisoner, she wanted to eat what she wanted to eat, wear what she wanted to wear. Beyond that, it was a blur. She’d honestly thought she wouldn’t live that long, not with the hunters on her tail.

Now that the threat was gone, she was left floundering.

A slight disturbance in the air told her she wasn’t alone. It was only when she sensed him that she freely admitted to herself that she’d been waiting for him. For James.

Strong arms banded around her from behind and his lips caressed the top of her head. Sighing, she leaned back against James’s bare chest. His thick erection pressed against her behind. He was naked and the barrier of her sleeping gown was so thin it might as well not exist.

“Can’t sleep?” His voice was rough and tender. He rocked her slowly back and forth.

She shook her head. “No. Too much to think about.”

His sigh fluffed her hair. “You don’t have to decide anything tonight or tomorrow or the day after that. Give yourself some time.”

She continued to stare out the window. She loved the view. It was so peaceful. So perfect. “I have to do something.” She had to make plans for her future. She knew her brothers wanted her to stay here. Had in fact pressured her to do so. Part of her wanted to run, but another part of her wanted to stay and see what it might be like to belong to an actual family.

James’s lips caressed the side of her jaw, working their way down her neck. “There’s plenty of time. No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to.”

He’d hit on her main worry. She was afraid of giving in to her brothers’ demands in order to fit in. She hadn’t figured out if staying was what she wanted to do.

James continued nipping and sucking her neck, making it difficult to think. “James.” His name came out as a long moan. Her nipples were taut and the heavy pulse of arousal beat low in her belly.

“Hmmm,” he answered, the vibration cascading down her neck to her breasts and lower.

She covered his hands with hers and lifted them until they touched her breasts. He flicked his thumbs, caressing her tight nipples, and she leaned forward, pressing them more firmly against his questing fingers.

James slowly lifted the gown, pulling it over her head and whisking it away. Naked, she turned and linked her hands around his neck.