by Jane Jamison
“I’m not sure what to think. Between finding out about all of you, then finding out what Neelson is doing…” She put a hand to her head, her headache starting to throb. “It’s all too much.”
“I know, Emeline. It’ll take time. But until then we need to concentrate on helping Miss Charlotte.”
She studied Drake, trying to figure out what he meant. If they weren’t going to prosecute Neelson, what was left? “What are you going to do?” Did she really want to know? Didn’t she have more than enough to figure out without adding more? Yet, she had to know.
“Werecats don’t have packs. They have prides. Neelson’s part of one of those prides. Trust me. Once I show them everything we have on him, they’ll bring down their own kind of justice. They’ll make sure she gets her money back and he gets what’s coming to him. What I have to know is that you’ll keep this quiet. I don’t want anyone pitying Miss Charlotte for being his prey.”
“His…pride…won’t let it slip out?”
“No. Shifters, no matter what kind, don’t like it when any of their kind fucks up. They’ll want to keep this quiet, too. For their sakes more than for Miss Charlotte’s. We want to keep Miss Charlotte’s reputation intact.”
“Her reputation?” Was he talking about her pride? As far as she was concerned, there was no shame in being the victim of a crime, no matter what the crime was.
“Miss Charlotte is part of our pack.”
She stared at Derek then checked the others, who confirmed what he’d said with their silence. “She’s a werewolf?”
“Yeah. One of the best alpha females the pack’s ever had. But she’s older now and doesn’t change any longer. The transformation’s just too hard on her old bones.”
“I’ve been taking care of a werewolf and didn’t know it.” Were there signs she’d missed? How could she not have known? Then she remembered. “All those stories about the pack and running at night. She wasn’t talking about her wild youth. She was talking about being a shifter.”
“Yeah, she was.” Tyler’s face grew grim. “Even if she wasn’t one of us, we’d still take care of her. But as part of our pack? There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for her. If Neelson’s pride doesn’t handle him, then we will.”
“They will,” assured Drake.
“What will they do to him?” Before she’d even finished asking, his expression hardened. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“Even if I knew for sure what they’ll do, I wouldn’t say. It’s between him and his pride.”
“Just like what’s going on between us is just between us.”
She stood, all too aware that Tyler and Derek had joined Evan to stand behind her. She faced them and, as always happened, was struck with an intense need to touch them, to rest her head against one of their massive chests. The physical attraction hadn’t waned since finding out what they were. But could she live with the rest of it?
“I still have a hard time believing what I saw.”
“We know, and we’re willing to give you all the time you need,” added Derek.
“Within reason, babe. There’s only so much abstinence a man, shifter or human, can take.” Tyler’s joke didn’t earn a chuckle.
“Tell me exactly what you want.”
Drake’s chair scraped across the floor. “Emeline, you let us handle Neelson.” His gaze slid to her men. “I’ll give you guys some privacy.”
“Keep us informed.”
“Will do, Derek.” With a tip of his cowboy hat, Drake eased past them and left.
“Now to answer your question. Again.”
She almost sighed when Derek took her by the arms. They were such strong men, men a woman could count on to be men. Men who would treat her like both their lover and their princess. Gazing into his dark eyes, which were once more speckled with amber, she felt as though she’d been swimming deep in the ocean and couldn’t get to the surface. His eyes were like the sunlight shimmering on the top of the water, a beacon of safety that drew her ever nearer.
“We want you, Emeline, as our woman. As our mate. As our mate, we’ll treat you with love and devotion, trust, and loyalty. You’ll never have to be afraid or alone ever again. We’ve already given you our love, and that’s what we expect in return.”
“You’ll be part of our pack. Whether or not you change,” added Tyler. “It’ll be your choice. Stay human or change into a werewolf.” He glanced at Evan. “Or, if you really want to, into a vampire. But I think you know which one would be best.”
Evan looked toward the ceiling. It was as close to an eye roll as she’d ever seen him make. “He’s right. You choose which, if either, you want to be. A dog or a magnificent vampiress.”
She smiled, loving Tyler’s and Derek’s growls, along with Evan’s smirk. “What would it mean to be a werewolf? Not that I’m choosing to be either one yet.”
“You’ll hear the call of our inner wolves to yours. You’ll become an alpha female of the pack with all the responsibilities and perks that includes,” explained Derek.
“Can a woman have children as a werewolf?”
“She can have babies either as a human or as a shifter.” Tyler took her hand and squeezed. “It’s just easier to stay human and give birth that way. As a werewolf, a woman might shift while delivering, and that can be dangerous to the baby, especially if the baby is human. Still, a lot of shifter women manage to have kids.”
“I could have human babies?” She almost wished she hadn’t asked the question once she saw their disappointment.
“You can, and we’ll love them as much as we would a shifter baby.” Derek slid his palm along her arm. “Or the baby could be part human and part shifter.”
She was thankful when Evan took her arm to steady her. “I’m sorry. My mind is whirling. I’m going to need more time.”
“We understand, sugar.”
“And as a vampire? What about children then?”
“Vampires aren’t born. They’re made. Any child we had would be human.” He turned her loose, albeit almost reluctantly. “As a vampire, you don’t physically change. At least not as radically as you would as a werewolf. But you won’t like being out in the sun any longer.”
“But I’ve seen you in the sun.”
“It’s a myth that we burn up in the sun. The heat from the sun irritates our skin so it’s not pleasant, but we don’t spontaneously combust, either. Yet the longer we stay out in the sun, the sicker we get. We prefer the shadows and the night.”
Could she give up being in the sunlight? She met his gaze and imagined he could see what she was thinking. Could he read her mind? Were there other reasons to become a vampire? Her head swam with questions, some of which she didn’t want answers to. At least not yet.
“I need to get back to Miss Charlotte. Mrs. Jacobs, our neighbor, is watching her right now, but I don’t want to take advantage.”
Derek smoothed back her hair. “We’re okay, right? You’re not afraid of us, are you?”
She told him the truth, even though it might hurt him. “We’re okay, but, yeah, right now I’m a little afraid.” The pain in his eyes stabbed into her. “But not a lot. Just give me a while.”
Their hands skimmed along her body as she put her head down and eased past them. She could sense how much they wanted to hold her, but they kept their hands to themselves, respecting her wishes. Even as she slipped out the door, she resisted turning back to them. As the door closed behind her, she had to stop.
I’ll come back to you. I know I will.
And if she didn’t, then leaving now was the best thing she could do for all of them.
* * * *
“Emeline, there’s someone at the door.” Miss Charlotte waved her hand in the air like a flag.
After learning what her employer was, Emeline had watched Miss Charlotte for any signs proving she was a shifter. Yet, aside from more mentions of the “pack” and “moonlight runs,” she’d seen nothing.
Until now.
> “I didn’t hear the doorbell or a knock.”
Miss Charlotte gave her an annoyed look. “I know what I know. They didn’t knock, but I hear them. Go on now.” She laughed then shouted at the television as though the contestant on the game show could actually hear her. “Pick door number three, damn it. No. Not door one.”
“Okay.” Emeline scooted around her. How could she have heard anything when she was so involved in the show? She’d have to check. If she didn’t, Miss Charlotte would only ask her again.
Swinging the door wide, she half expected, half hoped to see Derek, Tyler, and Evan. Instead, she found nothing until she dropped her gaze to the porch. What she saw had her stifling a cry.
A dead quail lay near the top step. At first, she wasn’t sure it was dead. Yet the longer she stared at it, the more certain she was. The bird didn’t move. What had killed it? She didn’t see any loose feathers or blood. No cat had brought this to Miss Charlotte’s door.
At least no normal cat.
The breeze buffeted the edge of the note underneath the bird’s head.
Please, no.
Is it a warning from Neelson?
Checking the yard and the porch, she carefully opened the screen door and stepped outside. She stood over the bird, unwilling to bend down and get closer, but she had to see. Bile rose in her throat, but she kept it down and tried to ignore the cold black eyes. There was something more, something that tugged at the recesses of her memory, but she couldn’t bring it to the forefront of her mind.
Taking care not to touch the bird, she pulled the note out from underneath it.
You’re going to pay.
Letting out a small yelp, she dropped the note and stood up. Once again, she checked around her and didn’t see anything.
“Emeline, who is it?”
She couldn’t tell Miss Charlotte. Either she wouldn’t understand or she’d get upset. “Nothing. Whoever it was is gone.”
“It was probably those Gallagher kids having some fun.”
Emeline picked up the note again. “Yes. Probably.” She’d have to get rid of the carcass. But first, she’d make a call. One she’d been planning on making but for a different reason. She’d thought she’d need more time, but she hadn’t. As soon as she’d left the men, she’d known her answer.
They were the men she loved. She didn’t care what form they could change into. Their personalities, their strengths, everything she loved about them remained.
Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she made the call. Derek answered on the second ring.
“Hey, sugar. Are you ready to be our mate?”
She smiled in spite of the dead animal at her feet and the chilling note in her hand. “Can you get Tyler and Evan together? Then call Drake and have him meet us at the jailhouse? Now?”
The air thickened with his silence. At last, he spoke. “What’s wrong?”
“Please. Just meet me there.”
“First tell me you’re all right.”
“I’m fine.” She skimmed her gaze around the yard.
“You don’t sound fine. We can get to Miss C’s just as a fast.”
“No. Not here. I don’t want Miss Charlotte getting upset. I’ll get Mrs. Jacobs to watch her and be right there.” Right after I dispose of the dead bird.
“Damn it, tell me what’s wrong.”
“Please, Derek, do as I ask.”
“Sure thing. We’re on our way.”
She ended the call then phoned her neighbor. Once she’d spoken to Mrs. Jacobs, she hurried inside to grab a plastic bag.
“What’s going on?” Miss Charlotte’s knowing eyes darted to hers. A frown made more wrinkles on her forehead. Today was one of her better days.
“I need to run out for a while, but Mrs. Jacobs is coming over.” For once, she didn’t ask if it was all right.
Miss Charlotte eyed her, causing Emeline to shift her gaze elsewhere. Then she chuckled. “Oh, I get it. You’re meeting your young men, aren’t you?”
“If you don’t mind.” Yet it didn’t matter if Miss Charlotte agreed or not. She had to go.
“Of course I don’t. You go on and have fun.”
“Thanks.” No luck on the fun part, but she was determined to get answers and results. The dead quail had to be a warning from Neelson. Who else would do such a thing? Neelson had threatened her because she’d found out what he was doing. She hurried, desperate to dispose of the dead bird before Mrs. Jacobs arrived.
* * * *
Emeline thought of Evan as the sunlight warmed her back. She kept going, careful not to run but needing to get to the jail as fast as she could. No wonder he was always covered with a hat or a hoodie. Now that she knew what to look for, she noticed a few others scurrying from shadow to shadow. Were all vampires friendly? Was she safe from the other kinds of shifters?
The men were waiting for her when she burst into the jailhouse. Derek pulled her to him, his worry obvious in his intense scrutiny.
“Are you all right?”
“No thanks to you.” Tyler pulled her away from his brother. “We should’ve come to get you.”
“It’s the middle of the day. She was perfectly safe walking here.” Evan’s worried gaze leveled on her.
“I’m here now.” She pulled the note out of her pocket and slapped it down on top of the desk in front of Drake. “Neelson is threatening me. He knows I talked to you.”
Tyler snatched the noted out of Drake’s hand, read it, then passed it around. “I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean? Who else would put that note under a dead bird on Miss Charlotte’s porch?”
“It wasn’t Neelson, Emeline. He’s with his pride, and trust me, they’re not letting him go anywhere.”
“Then he did it before they got him.” It had to be Neelson. “Who else would kill a bird and threaten me?”
“You think it was Neelson because there was a dead bird?” Tyler shook his head. “Nah, babe. A werecat wouldn’t put a dead bird on a porch. It’s not their style.”
“Their style?” But if it wasn’t Neelson, who was it?
“Nope.” Derek took another look at the note. “Cats are way sneakier.”
“It has to be him.” A sudden cold realization swept over her. If it wasn’t Neelson, then who?
No. It can’t be.
“Like I said. Neelson’s with his pride. He’s in no position to make any threats. They’re going to exile him after he finishes getting Miss Charlotte’s money back to her. They’ve had him since an hour after you left us yesterday.”
Her knees went weak as she slipped onto one of the chairs. “You’re right. It’s not Neelson.”
Evan took the chair next to her. “You know who else it might be, don’t you?”
She’d planned on telling them, but only after she’d told them she wanted to be their mate. “Yes.”
They were by her side, even as Drake leaned forward.
“Go on, sugar. Tell us everything. Now’s the time.”
“We’re here no matter what, babe. We know you’ve been hiding something from us. Just tell us.”
Tears blurred her vision. It was time for them to know the truth about her. If they truly loved her, wouldn’t they still want her?
“My name isn’t Emeline Newsom.”
* * * *
Evan placed his hand over hers. After what they’d revealed about themselves, she couldn’t have said anything to change their feelings for her. Yet he was still stunned to hear she wasn’t who she’d said she was.
“Your name’s not Emeline Newson?”
She kept her gaze cast down at her hands clasped in her lap. “No.”
“Then what’s your name?” Evan shot a quick warning look at Tyler and Derek. As werewolves, they’d be more likely to fly off the handle and demand answers. Take it easy.
Derek caught his unspoken message and nodded. Tyler, confusion in his eyes, took a moment longer before he finally did the same.
Evan squeezed he
r hand, hoping to give her the support she needed. “Tell us everything.”
“My real name is Katie Latner. I’m an attorney. A prosecutor.” She paused, lifting her head to give Derek a sad look. “Or, at least, I used to be. I worked in Dallas and was on a case involving a man who swindled an elderly couple out of their life savings. I guess that’s part of why I recognized what was happening to Miss Charlotte.”
Tyler and Derek were stunned. He could sense their amazement and could almost hear the questions racing through their minds. But he didn’t let on. He had to focus on Emeline.
Katie. Her name is Katie.
Changing her name wasn’t unsettling to him. Vampires lived much longer than shifters, aging much slower, and often had to move, changing their names, once people realized they weren’t aging. It was one of the facts humans had right about vampires. They weren’t immortal, but compared to werewolves and humans, they might as well have been. “Go on.”
“Jerry Pela was as guilty as they come, but he never stood trial. The police had to turn him loose on a technicality, but I vowed to see justice done. I took him to civil court and won a huge monetary judgment from him. One he had to pay immediately.” Her chuckle was strained. “Let’s just say he didn’t take it well.”
“What did he do, baby?” Evan spoke in a low, soft tone, one he’d used many times.
“He came after me. Promised he was going to hurt me. And he did.” She choked back a small sob.
“How’d he hurt you, sugar?” whispered Derek.
“He killed my neighbor Mr. Ethanson.”
“Are you sure? Did the police arrest him?” asked Tyler.
“I’m sure, but they couldn’t pin anything on him.” She reached out and clung to Evan. “But I know he did it. The coroner said Mr. Ethanson died from a heart attack, but I know he was pushed over the edge. I saw Jerry Pela the next day, and he told me he’d frightened the old man so badly that he needed his heart pills. Pills Pela had in his hand and wouldn’t give them to the poor guy. He called it the perfect murder. Nothing to connect him to it except his admission to me. Even if I’d gotten to testify against him, my word alone wouldn’t have been enough. But I couldn’t do it. I hate to admit it, but I was afraid. He promised to hurt more people I cared about, one way or another. He said he’d come after me, too.”
