Legacy of the Wolf [The Gray Pack 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Lori King

  Shandi had to smile at that, and she lifted her hand in a slight wave. “Shandi Martin. Umm, sorry about this.”

  Tina laughed. “No worries, Shandi! I know how these guys are. Werewolves have an unusually high sex drive. Liam and I have been caught a few times ourselves. I’ll be in the living room while you two finish up, and Ry, please make sure you wash the table before dinner.”

  With that, Tina left the room, and Shandi turned her blushing attention back to Ryley, who still frowned down at her while holding his blood-covered nose. “Oh my God, Ryley, is it broken? I’m sorry, I just kind of freaked out. We need to put ice on it.”

  She moved toward the freezer, but his hand around her wrist stopped her progress. “It’s fine, baby girl. It’s already stopped bleeding,” he said, pulling her back into his embrace. “I’m sorry we were interrupted. I would have liked a few minutes to bask in the glow with my mate.”

  She melted at his sweet words. “It’s okay, we shouldn’t have been doing that in the kitchen anyways.”

  He snorted. “I promise you, the kitchen will be the least public place I fuck you in our lifetime. Let’s go find you some clothes, so that you can go meet my future sister-in-law for real.”

  “Tina—so she’s a werewolf, too?” she asked as she followed him to his bedroom and waited while he found her a pair of drawstring gym shorts and a T-shirt to wear.

  “Yeah, Tina and Liam haven’t been mated long, but it’s sickening how lovey-dovey they can get.”

  “I heard that!” Tina yelled from the living room, and Shandi laughed.

  “Werewolf hearing, huh?” she asked, rolling her eyes as he nodded.

  They finished dressing and made their way back to the front of the cabin to find Tina sprawled out on the sofa with the remote in her hands. Shandi took a moment to admire the pretty woman as she approached her.

  Tina was several inches taller than Shandi, probably around five foot seven, and she was thin, but not sickly skinny. She was well rounded where a woman should be. In fact Shandi was a little surprised that such a thin woman had such large breasts on her, but it eased her own concerns about her physical appearance to be around another woman with natural proportions. The short pixie cut of Tina’s black hair made her almond-shaped brown eyes pop out, and they were filled with a laughing welcome.

  “Sorry about interrupting. I’m not used to the boys having a mate yet, and I didn’t expect to see anyone doing the Funky Monkey on the dining room table,” Tina said with chagrin, and Shandi smiled back as she eased into an arm chair.

  Ryley pressed a kiss to Shandi’s forehead and ran his hand over her hair gently. “Get used to it, Tink. She’s already laid claim.”

  A blush shot over Shandi’s cheeks as Tina’s surprised eyes narrowed in on the red marks on Ryley’s neck. “So I see. Congratulations to both of you. What about Rafe?” she asked curiously, and Shandi blushed harder, nodding. “Fantastic! Now I’m happy for you guys!”

  Surprised, Shandi just stared openmouthed at the woman. “What?”

  “Well, it wouldn’t have been right for these two to be separated. I knew from the get-go they would end up sharing. They are two carrots in a bushel and they needed one rabbit amongst them,” Tina said mischievously, forcing Shandi to relax as she realized that Tina only had her family’s best interests at heart.

  “I love them both equally. I wouldn’t want one without the other,” she said honestly, as Ryley’s fingers kneaded into the nape of her neck.

  “I understand. That’s how Caro feels about Devin and Damon. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t do it. I’m too much of a selfish bitch. I want my man all to myself,” Tina said with a grimace.

  “I can’t say that I ever imagined being with two men at once,” Shandi said, and then she caught Tina’s wicked wink.

  “Oh I’ve imagined it, but knowing Hotshot the way I do, he would rip the throat out of any man that got too close to me,” she said, and they shared a knowing grin, as Ryley grunted his agreement and then headed back to the kitchen to finish fixing supper.

  “Hotshot?” Shandi asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Liam. When we met he was quite a hotshot with the ladies. I put a stop to that pretty quick,” Tina said with a laugh.

  “So have you always been a werewolf?” Shandi asked.

  “Nope, I was human until I met Liam. Actually I would still be human if he hadn’t accidentally bitten me during sex,” Tina said with a snort.

  “But I thought you two were mates?”

  Tina nodded. “Oh we are, but I didn’t want a mate, and I’m still not always sure I want one. The problem is that I went and fell in love with the furry dog. That and the fact that he rescued me not once but twice from two different kidnappers. I seem to attract weirdoes.”

  “Kidnapped?” Shandi’s shocked expression must have registered with Tina, because she shut off the TV and turned to face her.

  “Yeah, it’s a long story so I’ll give you the abbreviated version. See, Caroline met Devin and Damon after her apartment caught on fire. Damon actually pulled her from the burning building…real dramatic and hero-like, but whatever.”

  “Yeah she mentioned that,” Shandi said softly, but Tina was on a roll and probably didn’t even hear her.

  “While the twins were trying to convince Caro that she was their mate, Devin got wind of a challenge from the Diego pack Alpha, Barton. Devin planned on having a battle for Dominance, basically a battle to the death between him and Barton, but Caro freaked. Barton Diego decided to hurt Devin by hurting Caroline, and a stupid coworker of ours gave him my name as Caro’s closest friend. Diego attacked us at my house and was going to rape and kill us both. The boys came rushing to the rescue, but Caro and I had already jacked that asshole up pretty bad.”

  “Oh my God! How terrible! Did you guys get hurt?” Shandi couldn’t believe the story Tina was telling. It was right out of a book or movie.

  “Not too bad. Anyways, Liam and I met that night and he announced to God and all of his green earth that we were mates. You can imagine how I took that being decided for me.” The two women exchanged a meaningful look and snorted with laughter.

  “That stupid coworker of mine and Caroline’s apparently had a thing for her, and he decided that since Caro was engaged to be married he would just take me as his second choice. Literally. He found me at the lake by myself, and tried to kidnap me. Thankfully Liam and I had started the mating process because I was able to yell for help telepathically,” Tina said with a huge grin. “Did they tell you about that particular talent yet?”

  “Oh they mentioned it. They said that it happens to mated couples and siblings, but we just mated today,” Shandi explained.

  “Yeah, well, my wolf was in my head within a couple of hours, so I’m sure yours is there. You have to concentrate to feel her at first, but it will get easier. It’s like a new frenemy that never goes away,” she said, laughing loudly.

  “It all seems so out of this world,” Shandi said doubtfully.

  “I said that, too, but just wait. Now that they’ve claimed you they will want you to shift into your wolf. I’d be happy to help if you need it. I’ve been practicing a lot lately. The first time was the hardest and the most painful for me. Now it’s coming more easily.”

  “Thank you, Tina. It’s so wonderful to be welcomed into this big family so easily,” Shandi said genuinely. She was feeling much more relaxed and comfortable with Tina now. It was like chatting with an old friend that she hadn’t seen for years. The two of them just clicked harmoniously.

  By the time Ryley announced that the food was ready, Rafe was coming in through the back door, and Liam was coming in the front. After some quick introductions, they all settled around the round kitchen table to eat. Shandi could feel the blush that crept over her face as she remembered what the table had been used for just an hour ago, and Ryley winked conspiratorially at her.

  Hurrying to eat the spaghetti and garlic bread that Ryley had whipped up,
Shandi offered up her compliments to him.

  “I don’t have a large repertoire, but I like to cook. Mom wouldn’t allow us boys to skip over learning how to cook, clean, and generally take care of things,” he explained, and Liam and Rafe nodded.

  “Do you remember when she tried to teach Rafe to sew a button on his shirt?” Liam asked with a slap on Rafe’s shoulder.

  “Disastrous,” Rafe agreed. “But that wasn’t nearly as bad as you trying to learn how to iron.”

  “I never have seen the point in ironing. Why not just take the clothes out of the dryer before they get wrinkled and avoid the stupid thing all together?” Liam groaned.

  “I’m glad to hear that you men can handle some of the housework, so that I’m not stuck with it all,” Shandi said, and shared a smile with Tina. “I believe in equal relationships.”

  Rafe and Ryley both froze staring at each other.

  Shit, I think that means we’re going to have to help around the house.

  Think of something, bro, we have to head her off now.

  Does this mean you are going to balk when I ask you to wash your own laundry?

  Shandi burst out in laughter at the shocked expressions on Rafe and Ryley’s faces. They had no idea that she was listening in on their private conversation, or that she could even hear them now. She wasn’t sure if it would work when she added her own thoughts, but their gaping mouths told her it did.

  “Shit,” Ryley said with a huff.

  “What?” Liam asked, narrowing his eyes at the three of them.

  “Our mate just found her talents, and Ryley put his foot in his mouth,” Rafe answered, covering Shandi’s hand with his own as if to tell her he was actually pleased.

  “No more secrets, huh?” Shandi said with a small smile of affection at the brothers.

  “Guess not. Damn, this is going to make planning surprises for you much more difficult,” Ryley said with a chuckle.

  “Did I ever tell you that I hate surprises?” she teased back, and everyone laughed. It rumbled through the house, a deliciously warm family sound that comforted Shandi, and made her happier than she had ever been.

  Chapter 18

  The occupants of the Alpha’s cabin reeked of unease. Everyone was on edge and tense as they gathered together to discuss KJ Whetstone’s appearance and plea for help. Rafe’s wolf butted inside of him, longing for the freedom to run from the tension. It took all of his willpower to maintain control.

  As much as he wanted to believe KJ’s story, it just didn’t add up to him. Why would his parents have thought that abandoning him and Ryley was the best option? His memory wasn’t pristine considering how long ago it was, but his parents had always been loving and attentive. He couldn’t remember them ever even losing their temper with him when he was younger.

  He could remember most the love that they seemed to share. It was a depth of emotion that Rafe could say he had honestly never seen since, and that he longed to have with his own mate.

  Glancing at Shandi, who sat cozily tucked between Ryley and him, he felt warm love wash over him. She had claimed him on her own. Without him having to ask, or plead for it. It showed how deeply she had already come to care for him, and he both respected and welcomed her feelings.

  However, it changed the plans that he and Ryley thought that they had for the rest of their lives. In his heart he believed that they would eventually have a family, even if they had to use a surrogate mother. To his knowledge it had never been done in the wolf community, but Rafe couldn’t think of any reason why it wasn’t possible. There were options available, but it was something that they had been avoiding discussing, because it didn’t change the ultimate outcome of their mating.

  Just a week ago, they had been two bachelors who had no blood relatives to speak of, and no leads on a mate. Now they were mated men, with a little sister and parents who were begging for their help. It was too much for his brain to process, and his skin crawled as he fought to keep from shifting so that he could escape.

  Detecting his unease, Shandi laid her head on his shoulder and pulled his hand into her lap where she laced her fingers through his affectionately. Immediately, his wolf’s nervous energy eased, and he inhaled deeply.

  “I love you, Rafe,” she whispered softly, and he grinned down at her.

  “I love you, too, angel.” Her returned smile was enough to calm him the rest of the way, and he relaxed into the soft cushions. No matter what, they would get through this together. As a triad, they would discuss and deal with it, and try to make the best decisions for their new family.

  Devin, Damon, and Caroline walked into the room at that moment, and everyone’s attention focused in on them.

  “Hi, everyone, I’m happy to see we were able to get everyone here. This is a huge decision that we’re making as a pack, and it will ultimately affect us all,” Devin said to the group as he settled Caroline in a chair and stood to her left. Damon moved to her right and they presented an impressive united front to their pack.

  Rafe scanned the room quickly, taking in the new Betas that had joined this meeting. The Truehope brothers were like three matching gargoyles standing behind the large sofa with their arms crossed and their feet braced. Their reddish-brown hair was neatly cut in matching styles, and their identical builds completed the image of triplets, though they were actually stairstepped in age.

  To his right Noah Gray sat on the floor with his back braced against the wall, while his brother Luke had perched his tall, lithe frame on the top edge of a low bookshelf. Luke always looked alert and ready to take off at a moment’s notice, the complete opposite of his relaxed, easygoing older brother.

  All of them were in their midtwenties, and until today had been left out of the main Beta grouping. It wasn’t that they weren’t capable, but Devin believed in giving the younger guys time to sow their wild oats before he brought them to heel and gave them pack responsibilities. Apparently that time had come, and Rafe was surprised at the relief he felt seeing more able-minded bodies that were willing to help.

  “You all were in there and heard the story. Basically Tasha and Graham Whetstone have been tracked by the Beta of the Kaplan pack for years. They have sacrificed a lot to avoid his catching them,” Devin said, turning to pin the Whetstone brothers with his gaze. Rafe could see the questioning concern in his eyes, and he gave him a slight nod of encouragement.

  Even with doubts in his head, Rafe knew they couldn’t take the chance on KJ’s story being true and their inaction hurting someone.

  “Now, we have Cadence Diego and a contingent of Diego Pack members coming to the den in just a couple of weeks. We don’t have much time to plan for it, and now we’re looking at taking on an additional twenty or so wolves into our own pack who are complete strangers. We’re going to have to divide and conquer to make this work.”

  Everyone seemed to simultaneously nod or grunt their agreement, so Devin continued. “I’m sending Rafe, Ryley, Owen, Cash, Noah, and Luke with KJ to the Quiver Creek Pack to help contain the situation, and bring back everyone who would like to consider joining the Gray Pack. Liam, Tina, Whitney, Tawny, Heath, Tate, and Justin will be staying here to help prepare for and hold the Diego pack challenge.”

  “Damn,” Tate grumbled, and Devin’s mouth quirked up in a smirk. Rafe could feel his own chuckle in his chest, but held it in. These young guys were itching for something to do.

  “Don’t think that you’re going to have it easy here, Tate. I need you three boys because you guys are going to have to help us plan and build accommodations for everyone in this very short time period. We’re going to have to haul ass to get it done. Now, KJ needs time to recoup her energy, and I happen to have a wedding happening next weekend, so we aren’t going to do anything until after the I Dos are said. You guys will leave next Monday morning. That’s the best I can do,” Devin said with a heavy sigh as he ran his hand over his face to ease the tension there.

  “And what about this injury that”—Rafe paus
ed a moment—“her mother has. She said it won’t heal.” He couldn’t bring himself to call this woman his mother until he saw her with his own two eyes.

  Devin and Damon exchanged a worried glance with Caroline. “If the bullet was spiked with silver then I don’t know if there is anything we can do. It’s going to have to wait until we can get her here and consult Delaky. I know that the Diego Pack has a shaman as well. Perhaps if Delaky doesn’t know what to do, he will,” Caroline answered, looking sick to her stomach at the thought of not being able to help the woman.

  “I actually might have a suggestion for that,” Tina piped up from her place on Liam’s lap nearby. “My brother, Thomas, is a doctor.” She laughed. “Well, I guess you already knew that, but he is a doctor in a wound care clinic, and I’ve been talking with him lately about getting away from that clinic because it’s draining him mentally and physically. He already knows about us, so we wouldn’t be exposing ourselves further.”

  “That’s a great idea!” Damon said with a loud laugh. “I can’t believe we didn’t think of that. Do you think he would be willing to quit his job to go? That’s a lot to ask.”

  “Well, we’ve been talking about opening a clinic here at the den. Maybe when they all got back he could just take on the role of doctor for the pack,” Tina said.

  The smile on Devin’s face was priceless. “Tina, if you can make that happen we would welcome Thomas into the pack as our doctor and family. Even if he’s human.”

  “Hey! I was human once!” Caroline said with an elbow jab into Devin’s ribs.

  “I didn’t mean it in a bad way, but we don’t let humans into the pack unless they are mated. Which speaking of that, I want to formally congratulate Rafe, and Ryley, as well as their new mate Shandi,” Devin said.

  Rafe felt pride flood his heart as Shandi blushed and smiled. “Thank you, Devin, and thank you for not asking them to leave right away. I would like some time with my new mates before they go.”