“He is a werewolf and, according to him, so was his brother. His sister-in-law was a half-breed.” Jacque wasn’t surprised when Gray gasped. She’d spent most of her life not knowing what she was. It still amazed him she hadn’t been discovered by some pack and killed. Louis immediately put his arm around his mate and pulled her close to reassure her.
“That makes the sons half-breeds as well,” Gwen pointed out.
“More like three-quarter werewolf,” Jacque corrected. “Which leads me to why Elias Gallagher walked down our road.”
“The boys.” Sylvie had been quietly listening. His cousin was very perceptive and, more than the other women, she understood pack law and hierarchy. “He wants protection for the boys.”
Jacque nodded. “He didn’t say as much, but that’s my assumption. He says one of the boys can shift.”
The room erupted in gasps of surprise and wonder. “A wolf and a half-breed having a child is almost unheard of,” his mother pointed out. Elise LaForge had come a long way since the death of her brutal mate. She no longer looked pinched and worn and was now vibrant and alive. “To have twins is beyond a miracle.” Her eyes lit with wonder. “To have one who can actually shift is the stuff of legends.”
“If it’s true,” he felt compelled to point out. “We only have Elias’s word on that.”
Jacque stood and deposited Gwen back in the chair. He stood in front of the fireplace and faced the twelve members of his pack. “We need to decide what we’re going to do. Allowing outsiders to even visit our compound opens us up to danger. I’d want to meet with Elias first and find out more before we made any decisions about the boys.”
He added that last stipulation, otherwise the women would have them moved in by the end of the day. They were all softhearted, which was fine. It was his job to protect them.
“What do you say? Do we invite Elias for a meeting?”
“Yes.” Gwen spoke first, and Jacque wasn’t surprised.
“Yes,” his mother added. The other women agreed. That left the men.
“Oui. I think we need to know more about this man and his nephews.” Gator gave Sylvie a hug and headed to the kitchen. “I need to start making lunch.”
Jacque barely held back his grin. That was Gator. Practical in the face of any crisis. He waited, not rushing the other men. Each had to make up his own mind.
Louis and Armand agreed and that left Cole and his daddy. “Well?” Jacque wanted this done. He was a decisive man and already knew he wanted to contact Elias.
“You think it’s the right thing to do and I’ll support you,” Cole told him. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it was enough. Not surprisingly, Joseph threw his support behind his son.
“It is done.” Jacque drew out his phone and dialed the number Elias had given him. It was answered on the first ring.
Jacque didn’t bother with niceties. “We will meet you tomorrow morning. Nine o’clock. Come alone.” He ended the call and tucked his phone away. Gwen was staring at him with her mouth slightly open. “What?” he demanded.
She shook her head and rose. “We still have to work on your phone etiquette.” She went up on her toes and kissed him.
“Chère, we can work on whatever you want,” he murmured before he deepened the kiss.
Louis laughed and Armand snorted. Behind Gwen’s back, Jacque held up his middle finger. Now several of the women were trying to smother their giggles as well. Jacque ended the kiss and sighed. “There is no privacy in a pack.”
Gwen rubbed her nose against his. “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”
His mate knew him well. He slung his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s eat.”
* * * * *
Elias tucked his phone away. Reece and Sage were both watching him intently. “You heard?” With their enhanced hearing, he knew there was no way they could have missed Jacque LaForge’s invitation.
“Just you. Tomorrow morning.” Reece pulled his line out of the water and set his pole on the ground at his feet. “I don’t like it.”
Elias didn’t much like it either, but he wasn’t the one in control. He cast his line again and watched it drift over the running water. “The alpha wants to talk, wants to know more. I’d do the same in his position. He’s probably already done some research with what little I did tell him.”
“We should leave.” Sage was already breaking down his rod and packing away his gear. “Now. Tonight.” He was close to full-blown panic.
“Hey, buddy.” Elias dropped his rod at his feet and went to his nephew. “It’s okay.” He kept his voice low and calm. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“There’s everything to worry about. This could be a trap.”
There was enough wolf in Sage that Elias could tell the boy was close to running. It was his natural instinct to either fight or run, and no one wanted a fight with the Salvation Pack. “Give the old man some credit,” he teased. “I’ll keep my guard up.”
He cupped his hand around the back of Sage’s neck and pulled him forward until their foreheads were touching. Tension vibrated in the air, but Elias didn’t move. He knew his nephew needed the contact. It was a part of his werewolf heritage. Wolves were social creatures, and Elias knew both boys were missing the love and support of their parents.
He was a poor substitute, but he was doing the best he could.
Finally, Sage relaxed. Reece was standing behind his brother with both hands on Sage’s shoulders, a physical reminder that Reece would always have his back. Pride exploded inside Elias. They might be teenagers, but Sage and Reece would be formidable men someday.
Elias raised his head and playfully cuffed Sage on the chin. “Worrying won’t change anything. Trust me.”
Sage nodded and broke away. “Do we have enough fish to share with Sue and Billy?”
Elias motioned to the cooler and the more than a dozen nice-size trout they’d caught. “What do you think?”
“I think we’re heading to Sue’s place.” Sage grinned as he finished packing his belongings. “Do you think she’ll have more cookies?” The hopeful plea made Elias smile. If going to Sue’s helped the boy take his mind off things, Elias was all for it.
Yeah, he was a saint. It didn’t have anything at all to do with the fact he couldn’t stop thinking about the woman. He snorted and his wolf chuffed.
“Wouldn’t surprise me at all if she had more cookies.” He turned to Reece. “You realize you’re going to have to shift.” No way could he just wander up to Sue’s place with the twins in tow. “They know you as a wolf.”
Reece grinned and began to strip off his clothes. “Just make sure I get some of that trout.” He handed his belongings to Sage and began to shift.
Elias watched as fur covered Reece’s skin and his limbs cracked and reshaped. His head flattened and his jaw elongated. It took him longer to shift than it did Elias, but considering he wasn’t a full-blooded werewolf, Reece did extremely well. Elias had seen other wolves take longer.
Reece stood quivering with pent-up energy. Elias chuckled and gathered the cooler. “Let’s go. But stay close,” he added as Reece bounded off toward Sue’s place.
* * * * *
Sue pulled her car to a stop in front of the house. She was glad to be home. She hadn’t slept well last night at all. Too much on her mind.
Billy had been quiet the entire trip home. She knew he enjoyed being with Mrs. Beecham. The woman had been her mother’s best friend and had been watching Billy since Sue’s mom had gotten ill. The arrangement worked well for them. Mrs. Beecham made some money to supplement her small retirement pension and Sue knew Billy was with someone she could trust.
“We’re home,” she announced. She climbed out of the car and grabbed her bag. Billy had his seatbelt unbuckled by the time she came around and opened the door. He hopped out of the vehicle and l
ooked up at her with pleading eyes.
“Can we go down to the creek?” he asked.
Sue knew she was going to have problems with Billy because of his meeting with Sage and Reece. When she’d arrived at Mrs. Beecham’s, she’d discovered her son had been regaling her with tales of the doggy he’d met.
She was just grateful he hadn’t told Mrs. Beecham he’d met a wolf. That would have led to all sorts of problems. Thankfully, Sue had been able to deflect concern by assuring Mrs. Beecham it had simply been a man, his nephew and their dog camping in the area.
“Doggy.”
Sue turned at Billy’s shout. Sure enough, Reece trotted down the path with Sage right behind him. Elias brought up the rear. Both men were carrying fishing poles and gear and Elias was also toting a cooler.
She didn’t know if she was happy or dismayed to see them.
Billy took off running toward Reece. Before she could warn him not to charge at the animal, Reece sat and allowed Billy to practically tackle him.
“Billy. You have to be gentle. You don’t want to hurt, Reece, do you?” Not that she thought her young son was capable of hurting such a large, powerful creature. No, her goal was to try to teach her son some caution.
“Sorry.” Billy released Reece and carefully petted the wolf’s head. Darned if the animal didn’t seem to be grinning at her.
“What are you doing here?” She didn’t mean to be quite so short, but she’d just gotten home from work and was tired. She also had to make dinner for her and Billy.
Sage frowned and then motioned to the cooler. “We’ve been fishing and thought you might like some. To say thank you. You know. For the cookies.”
Really, it wasn’t fair the way Sage could melt her heart. Maybe it was because she had a young son, but she could easily picture Sage at Billy’s age, and just as easily imagine her son as a teenager.
“That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
“You just got home from work, didn’t you?” Elias was frowning as he addressed her for the first time.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry,” Sage added. “I didn’t think about that.” He turned to his uncle as if seeking answers or assurance.
Elias shrugged. “I didn’t stop to consider that either, and I should have.” He held up the cooler. “I can leave your share of the fish with you if you’d like. Or—” he glanced toward the yard, “—you have a barbecue. We can clean and cook the fish for you.”
Billy tugged on the hem of her skirt. “Please, Mom.”
She knew she was being manipulated, but she was too darn tired to care. She also couldn’t help the small spurt of joy that welled up inside her at seeing Elias again. Plus, there was no denying the joy that being around Reece gave her son.
“Okay. Tell me what you need and I’ll get it.” She still wasn’t comfortable inviting them into her home. “I need to get changed out of my work clothes.”
“Foil wrap, salt, pepper and some lemon, if you have it.”
“I can handle that.” She took Billy by the hand. “Come on, champ, let’s get everything we need. I’ll put some potatoes in the microwave too.” Considering they were cooking and had provided the fish, it was the least she could do.
“Sue.” Elias waited until she met his gaze. “We can leave if you want us to. I didn’t mean to intrude on your life like this.”
He might not have intended it, but he had invaded her life in a big way. Fortunately for all of them, she didn’t mind. At least not too much.
Ignoring the voice in the back of her head that warned her she was getting too involved with a stranger who would be gone in a few more days, she headed toward the house. “I won’t be long.” Suddenly, she wasn’t feeling nearly as tired as she’d been only moments before.
Chapter Six
Elias frowned as he watched Sue enter the house. She looked tired. He realized he had no idea about her life, what she did for a living or what problems she might be dealing with. It was unfair of him to use her as a distraction from his own problems.
“Should we go?” Sage asked. Elias read the concern in the boy’s face.
He shook his head. “No. We’ll make them a nice meal and we won’t overstay our welcome.”
Sage nodded and took the cooler from him. Reece stayed close as they headed toward the barbecue. Elias took one last look at the closed door and followed. Sage already had the cover off the barbecue and had turned on the gas to allow it to heat.
Elias set the cooler down and opened it. A dozen fish were waiting to be gutted, filleted and cleaned. They’d filled the cooler with water from the stream to keep the fish cool and fresh.
He pulled a knife out of his back pocket, opened it and began the process of getting the fish ready to cook. Sage sat on the ground beside him and watched.
“You can help, if you’d like,” Elias offered.
“No, that’s okay. You’re doing a great job.” Sage grinned and shoved Reece aside as the large wolf crowded next to him.
“Smartass,” Elias muttered, but he couldn’t deny the spurt of happiness inside him. It was so unusual for Sage to kid around with him, especially since the death of his parents. Elias took it as a good sign.
He finished cleaning the final fish and set it with the others on the cover of the cooler. “I’m going down to the stream to get rid of the fish guts and wash out the cooler.” He stood and headed off. “Stay out of trouble while I’m gone.”
“Why do you always feel the need to tell us that every time you leave?”
“You figure it out.” He grinned as Sage’s laughter followed him down the path.
Sue yanked off her skirt and blouse and pulled on a pair of walking shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt. It wasn’t that she was getting dressed up, she assured herself. She was simply changing into something more comfortable.
“Hurry, Mom.” Billy stood by her bedroom window, peering out into the backyard.
“They’re not going anywhere,” she reassured him. Worry ate at her as she sat on the side of the bed and pulled on a pair of canvas sneakers. Billy was getting very attached to Elias, Sage and, most especially, Reece.
“Billy, come here.” She waited while he reluctantly tore himself away from the window. He walked over to stand in front of her. His blond hair was like hers, as were his eyes. He was growing up fast, was still so young, but life had already dealt him several horrible blows.
“You know that Elias and his nephew are only visiting the area, right?”
“And Reece,” he reminded her.
“And Reece. They’re going to go home soon.”
Billy scuffed the toe of his sneaker into the carpet. “Why can’t they stay?”
The underlying sadness in her son’s voice brought tears to her eyes. She blinked them back and swallowed several times. It wasn’t easy with the lump in her throat. “This isn’t their home. They’re only on a holiday.” She placed her hands on his thin shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. “That doesn’t mean we can’t be friends with them, but friends can’t always stay.”
“Like your friend Anny,” he added. Her son was way too wise for his tender years.
“Yeah, like Anny. She had to go away, but that doesn’t mean we don’t still love her.” Anny still remembered Billy’s birthday and every holiday even though she no longer lived there. Sue knew she could pick up the phone and talk to her friend, but it simply wasn’t the same. She’d been through so much the past two years. She’d needed her friend by her side, could have used the moral support. She didn’t begrudge Anny whatever peace and happiness she might have found in her new life. She’d been through a lot as well.
Sometimes life just wasn’t fair.
Billy nodded, grabbed her hand and tugged on it. “Can we go now?”
Sue laughed and tousled his hair. “Sure, buddy. Let’s get what we need
from the kitchen.”
Billy raced to the kitchen with her following close behind. She’d washed and dried the potatoes and then tossed them into the microwave before she’d gone in to change, so they were already cooking. She got out a tray and put the salt and pepper shakers and a roll of aluminum foil on it. “See if we have any lemons.”
Billy opened the fridge and gave a crow of triumph. “Two.” He carried them over and held them up. She took the two lemons from him, bent down and kissed his nose.
“That’s great. Now close the refrigerator door.” Billy often forgot to do that, so she had to keep an eye out. With the produce drawer not closed all the way, the door wouldn’t shut.
While he hurried to do that, she washed the lemons. Billy stood at the back door and watched Sage and Reece while she thinly sliced both lemons. She couldn’t see Elias anywhere in sight and wondered where he’d gone.
Now that she was away from him, she could admit how handsome he was even wearing a pair of old faded jeans and a plain white T-shirt.
“Hurry, Mom.”
She had to smile at Billy’s impatience. Not much had excited her son over the past few months. “I’m coming.” She grabbed the tray. “Get the door for me, will you?”
Billy opened the door and held it wide while she carried the tray. The door slammed behind her when he released it. Then he bounded down the stairs toward Reece. The wolf stepped between Billy and the barbecue, almost as if he knew it was dangerous to an exuberant young boy. Honestly, she’d never seen a more intelligent animal in her life.
“I can take that.” Sage had the tray out of her hands before she’d even realized he was there. He set it down on the patio table in the yard.
“Thanks. Where did your uncle go?” she asked.
Sage glanced toward the path. “He cleaned the fish and went to get rid of the guts and clean out the cooler.”
Sue wrinkled her nose. “Sorry I asked.”
Sage laughed. “I’m sorry if we imposed on you. It was my idea. I just wanted to thank you for the cookies. They were great.”
Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 Page 6
