by Ardy Kelly
“What pools?” Constance asked.
“In the woods,” David answered. “He must have found them on the hunt last night.”
“I’ll call your father.”
“No,” Rob exclaimed. “He said for David to come alone or he would hurt the babies.”
Constance stood. “Where are the Morehouse papers I gave you?”
David was too worried to process the question. “What?”
“The envelope of papers. Where are they?”
“On the desk.”
Constance grabbed the large manila envelope. “Let’s go.”
“He said to come alone,” David reminded her.
“He wants the Morehouse millions, so he won’t object to your mother coming along.”
They took the ATV. David heard his children crying before he reached the pools.
Dominic stood in front of the large pool, while his mate stood several yards behind him, holding the twins.
“I told you to come alone,” Dominic scolded.
“I’m his mother. Constance Morehouse-Packman. Certainly two non-shifters don’t pose a threat to wolves.”
“You lost, Dominic,” David said. “The council voted against your pack.”
“I don’t give a damn about the council. If they had voted with Henry, he would have mated you himself. I’m the father of these cubs. That means I’m entitled to some of that Morehouse money.”
“So this is a ransom negotiation?” Constance asked. “How much to make you go away?”
“I don’t plan on leaving. I’m going to give David a proper mating bite, and we’re going to be one big happy family.”
“You can’t bite him,” Constance said. “A wolf bite will kill him.”
“How convenient,” Dominic growled. “Is that the story you’ve been telling generations of wolves?” Dominic brushed her away. “I’m not really interested in David’s welfare. The cubs are the gift that keeps on giving.”
“I see.” Constance retrieved the envelope from the ATV. “Well, if you want to mate a Moreland, there is a lot of paperwork to go through first.” She pulled out the stack of contracts.
Dominic laughed. “Not so concerned with David’s welfare now, are you?”
“The cubs are my first priority, too.”
He moved closer, smirking from the belief his plan worked.
Constance turned the envelope upside down. “There’s also a family heirloom in here.” An elaborate comb with a silver handle slid into her palm. “It’s for David, obviously. I heard wolves don’t like silver.”
She pressed a latch and a sharp blade projected from the handle. In one swift motion, she buried it in Dominic’s stomach and twisted her wrist. Pulling it free, she slashed the blade across his throat before Dominic and the comb fell to the ground.
David froze, shocked by his mother’s actions before remembering the cubs. He dashed at Dominic’s mate. The man quickly set the babies down before taking off on a run.
Constance washed her hands in the pool. “Who knew Great-great-grandmama’s comb would ever be needed, and her instructions to kill a wolf were so effective?” The quiver in her voice belied her calm demeanor.
David checked the children for any cuts and bruises before approaching his mother. “Are you okay?”
All color had drained from her face. “Just a rash from holding the silver.” She gave a brave smile. “People forget Morehouses have enough wolf blood to do what it takes when the family is in danger. I’ll wait until I’m alone with your father before I break down. The children need us to be strong now.”
She wiped her hands dry on her dress and took Connie in her arms. “Did that big bad wolf scare you?” Both grandmother and granddaughter comforted each other.
A caravan of security vehicles descended on the area, with Troy riding shotgun in the lead.
He surveyed the scene. “Just like the police, Chet isn’t here when you need him.”
Epilogue
It seemed silly to have a vacation house only a few miles from their home, but sometimes all it took to unwind after a long week was getting off the ranch.
Chet still visited the vortex daily and David loved the greenhouse soaking tub, especially in the winter when the glass turned translucent from the steam.
The house finally had walls, floors, and a kitchen, and it hadn’t cost them a dime. Luke had done the work in exchange for a place to hide out. It wasn’t clear from whom, but David was pretty sure it had something to do with Troy’s current work, The Handyman’s Tale.
David had worried he and the kids would be trapped on the ranch, fearing Henry’s revenge. But Dominic’s insubordination, the council’s growing distrust, and his own pack’s resentment of the alpha’s imperious ways, kept Henry holed up at his compound.
Looking out the kitchen window, David watched Chet, Cary, and Connie sitting together in the center of the vortex. The children were as still as two-year-olds could be when awake.
Last night, when the rest of the family was asleep, he snuck out of the house and sat right where Chet was. He had some unfinished business with the vortex.
“I owe you an apology for doubting you. It seems stupid now that I was fighting my happy ending, but I didn’t have a lot of experience with vortexes. I just wanted to thank you for sending Chet to me…or me to Chet. Not sure how it works. But everything I have right now is because of you.”
“Everything we have,” a voice corrected from the shadows.
David whipped his head around as Chet entered the circle. “Another disturbance in the vortex?”
Chet laughed. “No. I just don’t like sleeping alone.”
Afterword
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed The Slightly Supernatural Sheriff, as well as the other books in the Lone Wolves Ranch series.
This was intended to be Luke’s book as he is the last unmarried brother of Mack and Adam. However, in finding a way to get Robby…ah, sorry…Rob back on the ranch, Sheriff Chet’s story took over.
Do not fear—Luke and Rob will get their own book. It just may not be the next one…
I love hearing from readers. Feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]
Happy reading!
Ardy Kelly
Also by Ardy Kelly
Lone Wolves Ranch Series
The Cub Club
The Shifter’s Shotgun Mating
The Slightly Supernatural Sheriff
Best Laid Series (writing as Robyn Kelly)
Best Laid Plans (Book 1) An Alpha Billionaire Romance
Best Laid Plans (Book 2)
Best Laid Hopes
Best Laid Dreams
