Blind Acceptance

by Missy Martine

  The Wind River Pack

  Blind Acceptance

  Laynee Conners has been in a school for the blind since her mother died when she was five. Now, her father wants her to come home so he can get his hands on the inheritance her grandfather left her.

  David and Eric Rivers are brothers, adopted into the Wind River Pack. They’re called home to Wyoming when their alpha wants to do a head count of all his pack members. Children are disappearing from other packs, and he’s concerned about his family.

  The brothers find Laynee in the woods, drugged and left to die. Both their beasts claim the fragile young woman as their mate.

  Can a bear and a wolf share a mate?

  Time’s running out. They have to convince Laynee she’s theirs before her father succeeds in his plans.

  Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings.

  Genre: Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Paranormal, Shape-shifter

  Length: 69,929 words

  BLIND ACCEPTANCE

  The Wind River Pack

  Missy Martine

  MENAGE AMOUR

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

  BLIND ACCEPTANCE

  Copyright © 2013 by Missy Martine

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-202-6

  First E-book Publication: July 2013

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Blind Acceptance by Missy Martine from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Missy Martine’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Martine’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  It’s my pleasure to dedicate this book to the many fans that let me know how much they enjoyed The Wolfen Heritage Books. The paranormal stories were great fun to write, and it’s my hope this new series will give the same enjoyment. To help you keep track of the families, I’ve given you a little family tree. These books are twenty-five years after Changing Their Wolfen Heritage. I hope you enjoy learning about Maddie and Remus’s family.

  The Families

  Alpha Remus and Alpha Femm Maddie

  Victor and Eloise (Twins)

  Elyne

  Kanor

  Michael and Ariane Barrows

  Kilana

  Alexander

  Ethan, Latan, and Kitania

  Eric

  David

  Zack

  Macon

  Synia

  Rennia

  Mali and Melissa

  Zediah

  Cyndie

  Zebron and Nanita

  Lyssa

  Zyne

  BLIND ACCEPTANCE

  The Wind River Pack

  MISSY MARTINE

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter 1

  “Damn, bro, would you look at that?” Eric Wind River grabbed his brother’s arm and pointed at the Lexus parked at the next pump. “Have you ever seen anyone more beautiful?” Her long, blonde hair swept away from her face in a ponytail, leaving her creamy, smooth complexion visible. Add that to her slender neck and full pouty lips and she was nearly perfect.

  David removed the nozzle from the gas tank of their Jeep and replaced it on the pump. He glanced over at the girl and nodded. “She’d look better without those sunglasses, but she’s one fine looker.”

  Eric watched her turn her head and grinned. “She’s looking at me.” He winked and gave her a small wave. Despite his flirting, the young girl continued to stare, her expression revealing no emotion.

  David snorted. “What a bitch! We don’t need that today. Let’s get moving. I wanna find a good campsite before dark.”

  Eric climbed into the passenger seat and watched David start the engine. “Did Remus say what this meeting was about?”

  “No, but I called Latan late last night.” Eric and David were just children when they were adopted into the Wind River Pack by the alpha’s brothers and their mate.

  “Did he tell you anything, or are they keeping everything secret?” asked Eric.

  “He said the alpha of the Cardston Pack called Remus to let him know several of their pups have disappeared.”

  “Cardston? That’s up in Canada, right?”

  David nodded. “Yeah, and Latan said everyone thinks it’s a little too close for comfort. He’s calling everybody home for an official head count and powwow. It’s mandatory.”

  Eric groaned. “Did he say how long this is gonna take?”

  “No more than three days. I went ahead and asked Carl to take the Winston party on Saturday in case we don’t make it back.” It had been almost two years since the adoptive brothers had opened Shifting Adventures in West Glacier. Their small company offered white water rafting, kayaking, and photo hunting for tourists nearly year round. With their shifter senses, it was easy to give humans the vacation of a lifetime.

  Eric winced. “Let’s hope we get back in time. John Winston is the CEO of a multinational company. If he’s impressed, he could send a lot of business our way.”

  “Don’t be so damn negative. Carl will do fine. He’s capable.”

  Eric nodded. “For a human, he’s all right, but I’d rather handle this one ourselves if we can.”

  David glanced at Eric briefly and then pressed on the gas. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

  Eric shru
gged and glanced back at the girl. She hadn’t moved, her gaze still centered toward the small convenience store. As he watched, two men approached the car she sat in. Eric stretched his head out the window to check out the license plate. “The car’s from Minnesota. Wonder where she’s headed?”

  * * * *

  “When are we going to stop?” Jeremy whined.

  Robert Conners studied his business associate and scowled. Jeremy Poole had worked alongside him at Westport Investments for almost five years. He hadn’t taken the little bastard seriously, and now he was paying the price. “Soon, but we have to get far enough from the road to make sure nobody finds her in time.”

  “Did you remember to bring the drugs?” Jeremy asked.

  “Don’t worry so much. I have everything under control.”

  Jeremy’s nostrils flared, his hands tightening into fists as he hurried toward the car.

  Robert opened the car door, climbed in, and turned around to look at his daughter in the backseat. “Laynee, are you doing okay?”

  She turned to face the front. “Sure, I’m fine. I just don’t understand why on earth you’d want to go camping. You’re certainly not prepared. Nobody takes a car this fancy on a camping trip. I can tell you right now, I’m not gonna enjoy it.”

  Robert sighed. “We’ve been apart too many years, my dear. It’s time we did some father-daughter bonding.”

  Laynee gave him an unladylike snort. “I don’t agree. We should have bonded when I was little. As far as I’m concerned, it’s too late.”

  Jeremy turned around in his seat. “Why must you complain about everything? Can’t you just relax and enjoy what your father is trying to accomplish?”

  Robert watched his daughter wrap her arms around herself and tremble. He smiled. She’s afraid. “Your mother would have wanted for us to get closer.” As he watched, a single tear trailed down her cheek. “I just want you to share something that’s important to me. I want us to do this together.”

  Her head came up. “Then why did you bring Jeremy?”

  Robert lowered his voice. “I’m going to make him do all the work so we can spend time together.” He sighed heavily when she frowned. “Look, with your grandfather dying, we only have each other now.”

  Laynee bit her lip and then gave him a small smile. “Okay, if it’s that important to you, then I’ll try and stop complaining.”

  “That’s my girl. Here, I got you one of those orange sodas you like so much.” When she held out her hand, he gave her the small can. “I know the perfect place to camp tonight. We should be there in just a few minutes. When we get there, I want you to stay in the car while Jeremy and I set everything up. I’ll come get you after we get a fire started.”

  “Fine by me.” She turned up the can and took a long drink.

  Robert put the car in gear and maneuvered back out onto the road. Twenty minutes later he turned off onto a narrow, dirt path and continued on for a couple of miles. He stopped, put the car in park, and cut off the engine. He turned to look at Laynee. “We’re going to get set up now, and I’ll come get you when I get a fire started. I don’t want you to get chilled.”

  Her head rolled back onto the seat. “Fine, just wake me when you’re done.”

  Robert grabbed a bag off the seat and motioned for Jeremy to get out. He walked a short distance from the car with Jeremy trailing close on his heels. Spring was just around the corner, but traces of winter still lingered. The trees had buds, but the nip in the air was sharp. One could still see the snow on the mountains in the distance. The two men continued to walk until they reached a small creek.

  Jeremy picked up a small stone and tossed it into the water. “Is it done?” he asked.

  “Yes. It shouldn’t be too long before we can move her.”

  “What’s the plan?”

  Robert turned to study the younger man. “Once she’s unconscious, we’ll carry her into the woods and leave her somewhere near this stream. She’ll be out for hours and won’t know when we leave.”

  Jeremy tossed another rock. “What happens if she wakes up in a few hours and manages to find her way back to the road? She’ll tell people we were with her.”

  “This area is notorious for bear and wolf sightings. With her unconscious, she’ll have no protection against the predators that live around here. Hell, we’re leaving her next to a main water source.”

  “And if the predators don’t find her?”

  Robert chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m hedging my bets.”

  “What are you talking about?” asked Jeremy.

  “Everybody knows you have to be careful when you’re camping and not leave food lying around because it’ll attract bears.” Robert lowered his voice. “I’ve got a whole box load of food in the trunk to leave out beside Laynee’s sleeping body. That should guarantee the bears get a tasty dinner tonight.”

  Jeremy shuddered. “What are we going to do until then?”

  “We’re going to drive south for a half hour or more and then set up camp.” He walked closer to the flowing water. “Then, late tomorrow, we’ll call the authorities and report my dear, missing daughter. The police will show up and search around our site, and then branch out. We’ll say she must have wandered off when we were fishing or something.” He turned and went back to stand next to Jeremy. “It’s important that we make it look like we searched ourselves and then realized we were in over our heads. By the time they branch out a hundred miles or so, they’ll find her body, or at least what’s left of it. Then problem solved.”

  Jeremy glanced uneasily toward the car. “Are you sure this is the only way?”

  “What’s the matter?” Robert sneered. “Are you getting squeamish or changing your mind?”

  “No, I don’t give a damn what happens to her as long as I get my cut.”

  Robert pulled a beer from his bag and offered it to Jeremy.

  “No, thanks. We really ought to stay sober until we’re out of here.”

  Robert shrugged and took a long drink. “None of this would have been necessary if that old fool hadn’t gone and messed everything up.”

  “You’re talking about Winston Weathers?”

  “Yes, my dearly departed wife’s father, now also dearly departed. The old fool went and left everything to Laynee.” Robert had married Alicia Weathers because her father was filthy rich and he’d thought he’d found himself a cash cow. But the old man had turned out to be pretty shrewd. He’d held onto his purse strings tightly, only helping out when they were in a pinch a time or two. He’d allowed Alicia to get pregnant because he’d thought it might loosen those purse strings, but it hadn’t worked. After the baby came, Alicia got more and more depressed, finally drinking herself to death when Laynee was only five years old. The only consideration the old man made then was to fork over the money to send the brat off to a boarding school, and she’d been there ever since. Up until yesterday, she’d worked as one of their teachers.

  Jeremy asked, “Does she know?”

  “No, I got lucky. She just turned twenty-one a couple of weeks ago, and the records still show me as her legal guardian. They ended up notifying me instead of her. I guess they figured with her handicap, she couldn’t handle her own affairs.”

  Jeremy shook his head. “He really left all his wealth to her?”

  “Every last dime, including his house, all his stocks and bonds, everything in her name alone.”

  “How will you get your hands on it?”

  “Easy. I’m her only living relative. When I can get a death certificate on her, everything will be mine.”

  “Her dying doesn’t automatically give you any rights.”

  Robert chuckled. “She has a will that leaves everything to her dear, ole dad.”

  “How the hell did you manage that?”

  “When she moved back home from the academy, I had her sign a bunch of stuff to get her insurance, change her address, and leave her worldly goods to me. She just happily signed whatever I put in fron
t of her. It was easy.”

  Jeremy laughed. “You seem to have thought of everything. How much money is it?”

  “That’s none of your damn business. It’s enough to pay back the clients and give you your hush money.” Robert had been living above his means for quite some time, and had borrowed money from a few of the company’s wealthier clients. It had been just his luck for Jeremy to figure out what he was doing. The little weasel wanted a quarter of a million dollars to keep his mouth shut. “When you get your money, our relationship is over. I expect you to take it and disappear.”

  “Aren’t you afraid I’ll want more money to keep this quiet?”

  Robert laughed harshly. “No, because you’re part of it now. If I go down, then so do you.” He glanced at his watch. “This should be long enough. I’m going to go check on her.”

  Peering in the tinted window, he saw Laynee slumped over in the seat. He quietly opened the door.

  “Father, what’s wrong with me?” she mumbled.

  “Nothing’s wrong with you, sweetheart. You’re just tired. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of you.” Reaching in, he picked her up, cradling her in his arms. Swallowing hard, he looked away from her puzzled green eyes. She looked so much like his dead wife he couldn’t stand looking at her. Slowly, he carried her deeper into the woods. As he neared the creek, he spotted Jeremy pacing back and forth on the muddy bank.

  “Get the box of food from my trunk,” ordered Robert. Not waiting to see if he was obeyed, he looked around and spotted a tall tree with fallen branches near the creek. Moving swiftly, he carried her over and placed her on the ground among the dead wood.