Brink Of Passion (Alpine Woods Shifters)

by Sondrae Bennett

Martha, her mother, and Julie got quiet. Laurie had been furious when she’d caught Julie crying in the back stairs at school. It had taken almost half an hour to drag the story out of her.

  “The star quarterback asked Julie out. When she accepted, he told her he would never lower himself to date a filthy freak of a human, and that she should have been put down like the dog she’d never be, when she was first born.”

  Although their mother was a wolf shifter and Laurie and her brothers were all wolf shifters, Julie had been born full human. A rare, almost unheard-of occurrence. Only a handful of full humans born from shifters had ever been noted. Julie had struggled with being different in a town that shouldn’t have been anything but accepting. Kids could be so cruel, but she expected better from a town full of wolf shifters and their loved ones. Laurie and the rest of their siblings had protected her when they could, but Laurie had always found no matter how important the lesson, every now and then people needed reminders.

  “But why the whole team?” Gwen asked.

  “The rest of them laughed,” Laurie stated. Of all the hijinks she’d pulled, that was one she had no regrets over. Even if it had gotten her suspended for a week, and detention for the following month.

  “Good job,” Samantha said. The rest of the women nodded their agreement.

  “I’d never have thought I’d be proud to have a child suspended.” Her mother got up and hugged her. Her own tears threatened when she felt her mother’s on her cheek, but she pushed them down. This was a happy time. Sad, too. But mostly happy. Laurie had found her mate.

  “They better appreciate what they’re getting, or they’ll have the whole town descending on them. We all love you, girl,” Martha stated, leaning down for a hug of her own once her mom pulled away.

  “Well, except maybe Trey Rogers and the high school football team,” Samantha joked dryly, causing the other women to laugh.

  “Good riddance, I say.” Martha gave her hand one last squeeze. “I’ve got to get back to the diner. You take care of yourself. Don’t be a stranger.”

  “I’ll be back.” No matter where she moved, this would always be home. “To visit. I’m really going to make this work,” she added.

  “You better. He’s your partner now for better or worse. Can’t break a mating, so best do everything possible to succeed.”

  Laurie nodded at Martha even as a thread of panic burned in her belly. She still had concerns about how fast everything had happened.

  Gwen took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Of all her siblings’ mates, besides Amber who was still in DC packing up her life for her own move, she was least close to Gwen. They’d never bonded as deeply as Samantha and her. Maybe because Samantha had come to their town emotionally wounded and in desperate need of a friend, or maybe because Samantha worked with her every day at the bookstore. But after having found her own mate and having him turn her entire world upside down, she found a whole new understanding and appreciation of everything Gwen had gone through for Ethan.

  “Alright. On to serious business while I can still think straight.” This seemed like the perfect time for the surprise she’d prepared with the lawyer yesterday. Pulling out the manila envelope, she handed it to Samantha, who took it with a look of confusion.

  “What is this?”

  “Open it and find out.” Laurie stood and crossed to the pay counter to pour herself another margarita from the half-empty pitcher sitting there. She’d thought a lot, debating the facts, before making the decision. She was confident it was the right one, but that didn’t make it any easier.

  She turned back toward the group in time to see Samantha pull the sheet of papers out of the envelope and read the top page. At first, confusion wrinkled her brow, but after a moment, recognition settled in. Her mouth dropped open and her gaze shot to Laurie.

  “Consider it an early baby gift.”

  “It’s too much,” she said even as Laurie’s mother pulled the papers out of her hand.

  “I wouldn’t have done it if I hadn’t wanted to.”

  “Oh, Laurie.” A note of sadness crept into her mother’s voice.

  “I can’t go to New York without giving it everything I’ve got, and Books ’N’ Crannies would keep pulling me back. Besides, this place deserves two owners who’re here to give it the attention it deserves.” The sheaf of papers had made its way around the group. “I want you to have it.”

  Tears bright in her eyes, Samantha stood up and waddled over to where Laurie stood. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Tears blurred her own vision, but she blinked them away before they could fall. A cough loosened the lump in her throat.

  “Alright, enough tears. I want to drink another margarita and eat my patty melt.”

  “And chicken fingers.”

  “And Mozzarella sticks.”

  “Don’t forget the fries.”

  Heartless bunch. The whole lot of them. But as she contemplated the containers on the table, she pursed her lips.

  “I might have been a little ambitious in my appetite.”

  “A little?” Laurie turned at the sound of Jason’s voice even as the bell above the door announced their arrival. Her gaze swept past her brothers and father and snagged on Max, her eyes drawn to him whenever he was close.

  He wore loose jeans and a light gray t-shirt he’d borrowed from Brendan claiming that real men need instructions don’t. Julie had bought the shirt for her mate after he’d spent an afternoon swearing while trying to put together the entertainment center they’d bought from IKEA.

  She wished she could blame her sudden mouthwatering on the smell of fried food from the diner, but Max’s proximity affected her on a primal level. The beast inside her both settled and stirred, leaving her reeling and reaching out for something to steady her. Both woman and wolf needed a reminder of where they were, surrounded by family, and that it would be inappropriate to rip his clothes off in the entryway of the store.

  As if he’d read her thoughts, a slow smirk pulled at his lips. The thin platform of control she was building gave way to a torrent of lust.

  He probably had read her thoughts. Or at least been fed a snippet of her emotions through their mate bond. Last night, he had claimed her again, sinking his teeth through her original mark as he’d plowed into her from behind. It seemed impossible, yet every night their lovemaking became more and more intense.

  “Cut it out, lovebirds.” Danny bumped into Max’s shoulder from behind, breaking the connection between them.

  Heat infused her cheeks. What was wrong with her? The mere sight of the man had her salivating.

  Then she noticed the bags her brothers carried.

  “What’s all that?” Samantha voiced the question at the front of Laurie’s mind.

  “Well, when Martha called to tell us you all were drunk and ordering enough food to feed an army—”

  “A small full human army,” Max interjected.

  “—we figured we’d pick up our own food and have dinner here instead of at home.”

  The men piled into the room, moving the large armchairs around like they were plastic folding chairs. Max once again drew her eyes as he set his bag down beside hers and moved across the room. He wasn’t what she would consider muscular. Although he had plenty of muscles, he was too lean for the term. He had the lithe, long lines of a cat. But still he didn’t falter as he moved the largest leather high-backed chair next to her. The muscles on his arm pulled her attention, mesmerizing her. Lithe maybe, but with clear definition. She wanted to lick the indents around his bicep.

  “If you stare, he’ll never boil,” Ethan whispered in her ear. Of course, in a room full of shifters, everyone’s heads turned their way, including Max’s. His gaze collided with hers. Lightning crackled in the air between them, prickling over her skin and making her hair stand on end.

  “Seriously, get a room,” Brendan teased.

  “You can use the utility closet in the back. Plenty of room in there.” Whether she’d intend
ed to pull the attention off Laurie or not, all heads turned to Julie while Brendan turned his head into her shoulder and bit back a chuckle.

  “And how exactly do you know this?” Jason asked.

  “Don’t pretend like you don’t,” Samantha interjected.

  Jason shushed her.

  “Bet you never knew your store was such a den of iniquity, huh Laurie?”

  Ignoring Ethan as Max settled beside her, Laurie turned to her oldest brother in shock. Julie and Brendan she’d known about. They weren’t exactly quiet when they went at it, and she was usually working the front counter when they’d pop into the closet. Even the customers, others from the town who knew about shifter passion, chuckled about it. But Jason and Samantha, too? She would never have believed it. As oldest in the family, and Premier of the pack, he always gave her a hard time for acting—how did he put it?—impulsively. There was no way her brother had gone at it with Samantha in her bookstore broom closet. Right?

  A touch of pink infused his cheeks. Telltale sign that her brother was not as austere as he wanted everyone to believe.

  “I’m not sure I want to hear this,” her father whispered to her mother, but Laurie chose to ignore it. So rarely did she have something over Jason, especially something this juicy. No way was she letting it go without a dose of teasing.

  “You dog, you,” Laurie teased.

  “Wolf, actually,” Ethan joined in.

  “In sheep’s clothing,” Laurie shot back. Of all the things she would miss, losing the easy camaraderie between her siblings would hurt the worst. They weren’t merely brothers and sisters born of the same parents. They were her best friends.

  As if sensing the bittersweet turn of her thoughts, Max reached out and twined his fingers with hers. She squeezed his hand in thanks. Already she looked to him for comfort and warmth. The thought sent a tendril of worry through her, but she pushed it away. If she was serious about giving this relationship her all, she needed to stop worrying about the future. The two of them had a long ways to go before she would feel settled in their relationship, but so far, he had done everything he could to be a pillar of strength for her.

  “So how ’bout it?” he whispered in her ear.

  “How about what?”

  “I’d hate to be the only one in the family who hadn’t experienced the magic sex closet.”

  “Um,” Gwen interjected, clearly having heard their conversation. “Ethan and I have never had sex in the bookstore closet.”

  “Gwen!”

  “Well, we haven’t. The parking lot, yes. The closet, no.” She shrugged in response to Ethan’s incredulous look. “Just to be accurate.”

  Laurie ignored the last part of Gwen’s confession and focused on Max. “We are not having sex in the next room while my family quietly eats their dinner and pretends they don’t know what we’re doing.”

  “I doubt we’d be quiet,” Danny said.

  When she glared at Danny, he merely shrugged.

  “See?” Max said.

  “So not going to happen.”

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart,” Max replied.

  “Eww, no. Don’t call me that. I’m not sweet.”

  “That’s for sure.”

  Laurie grabbed one of the decorative pillows scattered around the floor where they’d been displaced, and swung it at Ethan’s face. He grunted at the impact, then cackled wildly. Fool. Listening to him now, anyone passing by would think he was a hyena instead of a wolf.

  “A toast.” She wasn’t sure whether her dad really wanted to make a speech, or whether he acted out of the desperation for a new topic. Probably a little of both. Sex talk around the parents. Awkward! “To Laurie as she embarks on a new adventure. May you be happy and healthy. Never forget that we will all always be here whenever you need us. And Lord help those leopards.”

  Glasses clinked, and more drinks were poured. Laurie’s head swam, both from the alcohol and the intense feelings fighting for attention inside her.

  Max’s lips brushed the back of her hand. Supporting her.

  A wave of understanding swept down their mate bond. Thank God she’d gotten someone as easy-going and caring as her mate.

  As hard as it was for the human side of her to trust such an instant connection, her wolf had picked him. For better or for worse, they were tied together. In the end, it was her wolf she had to trust not to steer her wrong. She clung to that belief, even as she clung to Max’s hand.

  New York, here I come.

  Chapter 5

  “What are we listening to?” Laurie let loose a long groan as the sunlight sent shards of pain into her skull straight through her eyeballs. She fumbled through her purse at her feet until she found her sunglasses, sighing as they shielded the harsh rays of death. Not enough to stop the pain, but it helped a little at least. Damn Julie for handing her that fourth margarita. Next time, she’d return the favor.

  A vague memory from the morning surfaced of Max waking her up and pouring her into the car before the sun had risen. She’d chalked it up to alcohol delusions, except here she was. In the car. With some godforsaken noise pouring out of the speakers. Every crash or bang sent fresh waves of pain through her head.

  “Dub step.”

  “Whatstep?” Unable to take it any longer, Laurie reached over and turned down the volume. Worst. Hangover. Music. Ever. If it could even be called music. It sounded more like a child banging pots and pans together in the kitchen.

  “Dub step. It’s a type of techno.”

  Laurie snarled at the note of amusement she heard in his voice. “That is not music.”

  He laughed, and Laurie wanted to punch him. Hard. Maybe his pack, or leap, or whatever, wouldn’t notice if he showed up with a black eye or a fat lip. She just needed one good punch. It would make her feel better.

  “I don’t know what exactly you’re thinking, but I’m getting a hint of something vicious through our bond. Here.” He handed her a Styrofoam cup from McDonalds full of liquid gold.

  “You’re a God,” Laurie moaned as she raised the coffee to her lips.

  “There’s a breakfast sandwich in a bag in the back for you as well.”

  Chuckling filled the cab of the car as Laurie all but dove over the middle console to get to the bag. The sandwich was cool, but Laurie didn’t care.

  “Bless you,” she said on a moan as she pulled out the bacon and cheese McMuffin.

  “As if I’d get you anything but bacon.”

  Laurie unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite. Even cold and who knew how old, it still tasted like heaven to her. The black coffee helped wash down the first bite. She’d have preferred something light and sweet, but the bitter flavor of black coffee suited her needs. And her mood. Although the caffeine and food were going a long way toward lightening the black cloud she’d woken up in.

  “I’m not really obsessed with bacon, you know.” She paused, thinking about the statement. “Okay, I kind of am. But not really.” Another pause. “I’m not making any sense. It’s too early in the morning.”

  “It’s almost eleven.”

  “Really?” She glanced at the clock on the radio. She distinctly remembered it being dark out when they left, as much as she could distinctly remember anything in her hazy stupor. She was pretty sure she’d still been drunk when she woke up. Hell, she might still be a bit buzzed. “How long have we been on the road?”

  “We left around six. You’ve been out of it for a while. Snoring away.”

  “I do not snore.”

  “Just a little.” But she caught the smile he tried to hide from her.

  “Liar.” Another bite of the sandwich. Another sip of coffee. “But do you understand about the bacon thing? It’s not really a big deal for me.”

  “I’ll feed you bacon every morning if it’ll make you happy. As much as you want.”

  “You’re going to make me fat,” Laurie complained, oddly touched by the sentiment. There’d been plenty of men before Max, but none had come clos
e to the regard he paid her. She hadn’t thought men like him existed outside fairytales.

  “The cow’s already bought.”

  It took a moment for the words to penetrate Laurie’s sleepy brain. Once they did, she paused a moment longer and went through their conversation.

  “I can’t figure out whether you’re calling yourself a cow, or whether you’re calling me a cow. Or whether you’re trying to convince me to give the milk away, which shows you really haven’t been paying attention.”

  “That wouldn’t be very smart of me if I was calling you a cow.”

  “Does that mean you’re calling yourself a cow?”

  “It must.”

  The man had a beautiful smile. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but squashed the impulse. People as beautiful as him knew they were beautiful. Hell, he’d most likely known it since puberty. Women probably fell all over themselves to impress him when he smiled. At the thought, Laurie’s mood took a one-eighty and she frowned at the last few bites in her hand.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Women must fall all over you.”

  She hadn’t meant to voice the thought out loud. Hadn’t even realized she was going to until the words were already out. Her frown deepened. He made her too comfortable. She’d have to watch out in the future. Guard her words more carefully.

  “What brought that on?”

  Laurie couldn’t help but notice he didn’t rush to deny it. Of course he didn’t. Why deny the truth?

  “Never mind.” Discussing the issue would bring nothing but trouble. Past the anger, she recognized that much truth.

  Max was quiet beside her, staring straight at the road in front of him. Fine. If he wanted to shut down, she could too. Sometimes silence was the best policy. How did that saying go? Silence is golden. A little stewing never hurt anyone.

  Besides, Laurie had enough on her mind. Like what she was going to do once she got to New York. Most of her money had been sunk into the business and her house. The business now belonged to Samantha. And until her house sold, she didn’t have enough capital for much of anything. She’d need a job. Preferably something where she’d work with people. The whole nine to five desk thing had never appealed to her.