I’ll call Remus Wind River and see if he’s seen her acting strangely since he’s been checking on her.
That settled, he refocused his attention back to his conversation with the doctor.
“I understand what you’re saying, Dr. Constantine, but this is a huge decision to make and I want to get all the facts. Her neighbor, the one my grandfather left all the land to, has been checking on her for me. I’m going to call him tonight and find out what he thinks about the way she’s acting. After talking with him, I’ll get back to you.”
“All right, Michael, but don’t wait too long. You’d never forgive yourself if something happened to her and you could have prevented it.”
Michael was rather surprised at the anger in the doctor’s voice. “Okay, Doctor, I’ll check with him tonight and get back to you in the next couple of days. Good bye.”
Michael hung up the phone, preventing Constantine from putting any more pressure on him. Realizing that he didn’t want the doctor to be right, he put in a call to Remus.
“You’ve reached Remus Wind River. Please leave your name and number with a brief message, and I will return your call as soon as possible.”
Disappointed at getting the answering machine, Michael left his name and number for Remus to return his call. Sitting quietly, he wondered what Maddie would say if he just asked her to return to the clinic for him. She’d be angry, of course, but would she do it for him because she loved him? He didn’t want to make this decision on the doctor’s observations alone. He had two more weeks of constant meetings on this project and then he could go home for a visit and make his own determination. In the meantime, he’d call her daily and have Remus check on her as well. Two weeks was not such a long time to let things ride. Dr. Constantine would just have to be patient with him.
* * * *
Constantine was appalled. He had no idea that Maddie met any of the local pack or that she actually befriended one of the wolves. He’d have to act fast and get her away before one of them mated with her and she discovered the truth about herself. He’d never get to finish his research if they took her away. His only hope was to convince Michael that she was in immediate danger and should be hospitalized by force if necessary. He was furious at the young man’s indecision but knew he had to hide his feelings if he wanted Michael to cooperate with his plans. Maybe he’d just have to find a way to push Maddie over the edge, just a little.
* * * *
Remus had been gone a couple of days, and Latan and Ethan had been following Nanita in their wolf form all morning. They posted guards at the foot of the mountain road and in the forest near the river that would warn them if anybody approached the cabin. Latan didn’t think Nanita had spotted them, but she was definitely leading them on a merry chase. She’d been all over the pack’s land without seeming to have a destination in mind. After a couple of hours, she must have thought she lost anyone tailing her because she headed straight for Maddie’s cabin.
In the distance, Latan could see Maddie sitting on her porch swing, reading a book. She seemed totally unaware that wolves from the local pack were all around her, watching her to keep her safe.
He and Ethan were just about to confront Nanita when she threw back her head and howled, then stepped out into the clearing. There could only be one reason for her behavior. She wanted Maddie to see her.
Angered, Latan glanced back toward the house, grimacing when he saw that Maddie now stood watching the lone wolf from her porch. Ethan sent his thoughts to Latan.
She’s hoping that Maddie will think that all wolves are friendly. She’s looking for an opportunity to get close to the house. We have to turn her back.
Latan’s agreement came swiftly back into Ethan’s mind.
Agreed, brother, let’s do it.
With that shared thought, the brothers raced toward the smaller silver wolf, yipping and snapping at her legs. Startled, Nanita tried to run toward the cabin but was cut off by Ethan. Together, the brothers kept nipping at her legs, driving her back into the woods and away from the sight of the little cabin. When he was sure Maddie couldn’t see them, Latan changed back to his human form while Ethan tackled Nanita, holding her in place by the scruff of her neck. She struggled furiously but was unable to break his hold.
“Nanita, we’re only going to tell you this once. You’re to stay away from this cabin and far away from the young woman living there. We’ll not be so forgiving if we find you here again. You might as well accept the fact that Remus has chosen, and it’s not going to be you.”
He paused, giving her a moment to let that sink in.
“In a moment, Ethan will release you. You’ll return to your den and not come here again. There will be permanent guards surrounding the human female at all times.”
Carefully, Latan watched her for any signs of rebellion. When he was certain she was going to follow his orders, at least for now, he ordered Ethan to release her. The two brothers watched her race away, back toward her home. Ethan shifted to his human form and sent his brother a scathing look.
“You should’ve let me give her something to remember us by. We’ve let her off too easy. What will keep her from trying to find a way back to the house, around whatever guards we post?”
“Patience, brother, I’ve anticipated the need for a closer eye on Nanita until after the mating. Do you remember Ariane?”
Ethan looked thoughtful for a moment. “Yes, of course. She joined the pack last year. Didn’t she come from some Canadian pack?”
“Yes, and she’s become casual friends with Nanita. When I explained the situation to her, she was happy to offer her help to protect the future mate of her Alpha. She’s a loyal wolf and pack member. She can follow Nanita without suspicion, and she’ll report back to us anything Nanita does to undermine the mating. You and I will only need to guard Maddie when she’s away from the house.”
Ethan looked at his brother with admiration and respect. “That’s pretty clever, Latan. Are you absolutely sure we can trust her?”
“Yes, I’m sure. When she joined us, Remus talked with her former Alpha, and he gave glowing reports on her. Of course, it helps that Nanita has continually treated her like a second-class citizen whenever they’re together. She said she’d put up with it for a little while longer to help her Alpha win his mate.”
“Well, okay, then. Let’s head back to the house and set up a schedule for the guards watching the mountain road. I don’t want Remus to have any reason for worry while he’s away.”
The two brothers shifted back into their wolves and raced through the trees toward home.
* * * *
Feeling a little sliver of fear at the thought of three wolves in her front yard, Maddie closed her book and retreated back into the safety of the cabin. She’d been putting off going through her grandfather’s desk, and now seemed like a good time to start it. Remus had only been gone for two days, but it seemed like much longer.
After pouring herself a glass of tea, she walked over to her grandfather’s office, such as it was, and sat down in his chair. The office consisted of a huge, roll-top desk pushed into an alcove along the wall of the living area of the cabin. The desk had oodles of drawers, all of them brimming to the top with papers. It was going to take some time to sort them out.
Sitting in his rolling office chair, Maddie started with the top drawers and began making piles, dividing the paperwork into categories—receipts, bills of sale, policies, letters, and miscellaneous. Pretty soon, she had little piles all around her, and it was beginning to get dark outside.
Determined to get through at least one more drawer before making herself dinner, Maddie opened the largest drawer in the bottom of the desk. Reaching in to grasp the stack of papers, she realized there were actually only a few loose papers, which were sitting on top of a bound notebook. Setting everything else aside, she picked up the book and began leafing through the pages. Reading just the first few lines, she discovered she’d found a personal journal of her gra
ndfather’s.
“Oh, my goodness, this is like a diary. He’s written about his life with Grandmother.”
So excited by her find, Maddie was startled to realize she was talking out loud to herself. She returned her attention back to the journal and flipped the pages back to the beginning. She made a startling discovery. The writing was addressed to her. With her hands shaking slightly, she read the first paragraph of the journal.
My darling Maddie,
It was always my hope that you learn of your special heritage from your father, but alas, as time has passed, it has become clear to me that he’s never going to tell you of your unique ancestry. Always remember that your father loves you dearly and only wishes to spare you the fears and insecurities he remembers of his own childhood. I’m sorry to say he was never able to embrace the heritage of his mother’s people. Read this book with an open mind and a loving heart, and know that you have a family you know nothing about who will embrace you with open arms back into their fold. If you are reading this, I have passed on to be with my beloved Eloise. It is with her that your heritage begins.
I met your grandmother on a beautiful summer day when I was walking along the riverbank, planning out my future. She was so beautiful, standing in the sun, naked as the day she was born. She wasn’t afraid of…
Maddie heard the mournful howl of a wolf from outside and rushed to the window to see if it was her wolf. She looked all around the darkening yard but couldn’t see anything. She sighed deeply and decided that she needed to be fresher, with a clearer mind, to read her grandfather’s words. Although intrigued, Maddie was hungry and very dusty and dirty from her trek through the paper jungle. She decided to make herself a sandwich for dinner and then soak in the tub for a while. After a good night’s sleep, she’d sit and read the journal, and hopefully learn a little more about her family history.
* * * *
After finishing her sandwich, Maddie retired to the bathroom and ran herself a warm tub of water, liberally adding soothing, rose- scented bath salts. Several minutes later, she immersed herself up to her neck in the warm, scented water. She wondered again why her grandfather had such a huge tub installed in the cabin. It would clearly hold at least four people at once. It made her blush to think about her grandfather and grandmother playing in the oversized tub.
Clearing her mind, she turned her thoughts back to the romantic interlude beside the river with Remus. Closing her eyes, she could still feel the touch of his hand on her bare breasts. Unconsciously, Maddie raised her own hand to her breast and pinched her nipple lightly. The feeling sent tingles shooting down her body from her nipple to the hidden area between her legs. A small moan escaped her lips as her other hand repeated the caress on her other breast.
As the pleasure began to curl inside her body, Maddie slipped one hand down her abdomen, past her belly button, and through her feminine curls to probe at her clit.
She gasped loudly when her finger found the pulsating button that controlled her pleasure. She began to rub back and forth across the sensitive little nub while continuing to pinch and twist the rosy tip of one breast.
As she began to feel the heat curling in the depths of her body, she sped up the rhythm of her finger, then took her other hand away from her breast and inserted two fingers into her virginal passage. Her breathing quickened as she rubbed faster and faster. “Remus,” she cried out as her climax washed over her. Trembling, she removed her hands while a single tear escaped from her eye to slide slowly down her face.
“Oh, Remus, I want to be with you so much. I don’t want to be alone. I want to share my life with someone.”
Maddie whispered the words, wishing she could make things different. Recognizing the futility of her thoughts, she finished washing up, then dried her aching body and dressed for bed. She refused to let herself feel depressed.
I don’t want to lose Remus without knowing what it’s like to be with him at least once. I’m not going to waste another chance. When Remus comes back, I’m going to make love with him.
Chapter 4
Deciding to call it a night, Maddie curled up in the large bed and snuggled under the quilts her grandmother had made. Smiling, she closed her eyes and ran her hands over the intricate design. She could just picture her grandmother sitting in the corner rocker and sewing the cloth swatches together. Just as she began to doze off, the ringing of the telephone woke her. Groggily, she reached over and picked up the receiver.
She murmured huskily into the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey, little sister. Please don’t tell me I woke you up.”
“Okay, I won’t tell you that you woke me up. It’ll just be my little secret. How about you tell me why you’re still up? What’s up, bro?”
Maddie let the pleasure she felt hearing from her brother seep into the tone of her voice. It was good to hear the voice of someone who she knew loved her.
“Sorry, kiddo, I guess I wasn’t paying attention to the time. I don’t really mean to stunt your growth by waking you every time I call.” He paused for a moment. “You’re sounding pretty up, little girl. How’s life treating you up in the lonely, cold mountains?”
“Well, life’s pretty good, actually, and not so lonely lately.”
“Yeah, who are you keeping company with?”
Maddie was startled by the sound of fear she heard in Michael’s voice. “Well, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with Remus, and of course, I met his two brothers.” She almost felt embarrassed telling Michael about spending time with Remus. Luckily for her, Michael didn’t know how they’d spent that time. She thought he was protective now. He’d go positively ballistic if he knew what the two of them had been doing.
“That’s great, Maddie.” Now Michael sounded relieved. “Aren’t you glad I asked him to check on you now?”
Frowning, Maddie wondered why his words bothered her so much. She knew Remus had feelings for her and that they had nothing to do with Michael asking him to check up on her.
“Let’s just say that I think Remus would have checked me out whether you asked him to or not. So, why the bedtime call, Michael? Is everything all right?” She thought it best to get Michael off the subject of Remus.
“Sure, honey, everything’s great. I just wanted to hear my baby sister’s voice. Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Of course not, silly. How’s the building coming along? Are you having any problems?”
“No, everything’s running smoothly for a change. We’re a little ahead of schedule and well within budget. An architect can’t ask for more than that. I’ll be caught up with the preliminaries in less than two weeks, and I’m gonna take a break then and visit you. I’d hoped that my baby sister might be willing to put me up for a few days so we can spend some time together.”
“You’re always welcome here, Michael. It’ll be great to see you. Actually, I have something to show you.”
“What’s that, honey?”
“I’ve been going through Grandfather’s papers, cleaning out his desk, and I came across a journal that’s written like a letter from Grandfather.”
“What does it say?”
“Don’t know yet. I only found it tonight. I read the first couple of pages, then realized how tired and dirty I was, so I soaked away my aches and curled up in this huge bed, figuring I’d be in better shape to read it after a good night’s sleep. The first page says it’s his way of telling about a family heritage that our dad wouldn’t tell us about. He makes it sound so mysterious, so I decided to let my imagination work overtime and read it tomorrow.”
Michael laughed. “Well, you have me intrigued, but don’t get your hopes up, honey. That old man was a little off in his later years. There isn’t much telling what he’s written. Plus, you know how close I was to Dad. I don’t think there could’ve been anything in our heritage he wouldn’t have been willing to tell us.”
Michael’s words disappointed her, but she tried not to let him hear it in her voice. “You
may be right, but I’m going to enjoy reading it anyway. I noticed he begins with the story of how he met Grandmother, so it should be interesting. I kind of like the idea of reading about his life with her. I don’t know much about her at all.”
“Well, enjoy yourself reading about the family. Personally, I’ll wait for the movie.” Michael spoke dryly and caused Maddie to chuckle.
“Maddie, I’m gonna let you go now. Get some sleep and dream happy dreams, little girl. I’ll talk to you soon and see you in a couple of weeks.”
“Okay, Michael, take care of yourself and be happy. I’ll look forward to seeing you soon.”
Carefully, she replaced the receiver and snuggled back down into the warm quilts. It didn’t take much time at all before she was drifting off to sleep.
* * * *
Maddie slept later than usual the next morning. She hadn’t heard from Remus since he’d been gone, and the loneliness she’d never noticed before was beginning to wear on her.
After showering and a quick breakfast, she took her grandfather’s journal out to the rock overhang at the river. It was a warm day. The sun shining down on the smooth rock surface felt good to Maddie. She wanted to read her grandfather’s words here, the same place she sat with him when she was a little girl listening to all his stories. She didn’t understand it, but she felt closer to him here.
Opening up the journal, Maddie began to read.
I met your grandmother on a beautiful summer day, when I was walking along the riverbank, planning out my future. She was so beautiful standing in the sun, naked as the day she was born. She wasn’t afraid of me as I approached her. It was almost like she was expecting me and knew we were destined to be together.
My darling, granddaughter, it pains me that I can’t be with you now, but be happy for me because I’ve gone to join my beloved Eloise. There are many things I have to tell you, and they’ll be hard for you to believe. You must have faith in me and open your heart and mind to all possibilities.
Discovering Their Wolfen Heritage Page 8
