It was hot outside, but that was no surprise. They’d been in a real hot spell the past week. Probably why business was up at the diner. Folks didn’t want to cook and they enjoyed eating in the air-conditioned environment. Not many locals had air-conditioning at home. Around here, cooling systems ran more to open windows and electric fans.
Sweat ran down her back by the time she got to her car. She couldn’t wait to get home to change out of the sleeveless white blouse and dark capri pants she’d worn to work.
She started the car and turned up the air-conditioning before pulling out of the parking lot. The cool air on her damp skin made her shiver. Her nipples pebbled and she groaned at the sensual awareness of her own body.
She blamed Elias. How was it possible she was getting turned on by the air conditioning in her car wafting over her hot body? She turned off the cool air and opened the window instead, letting the heat inside.
That wasn’t much better. Now she was just hot.
She stopped the car at a stop sign and briefly closed her eyes. Immediately, she became even more aware of her body and her eyes popped open again.
“This isn’t fair,” she groaned. She checked both ways before turning left. The unfamiliar aches were making her ultra-aware of her body. Her breasts were tender from Elias’s attention the night before. Her skin tingled and her breasts felt heavy.
This was unacceptable. She had to stop mooning over a man who was in all likelihood already gone. Yes, they’d shared phenomenal sex, but that was all. Her reality was her son and her job. Billy was her priority.
She turned onto Aspen Grove Road, the street where she’d grown up. It hurt her to look at her family home and know it no longer belonged to her. She consoled herself with the knowledge she couldn’t have afforded to keep it for just her and Billy. Heating bills were high, not to mention property taxes. And she’d sold it to good people.
She frowned when she noticed the unfamiliar car parked in front of Mrs. Beecham’s. Maybe someone was visiting her. As she pulled her car to a stop in front of the house, she saw Billy on the front porch. Then she saw the man standing beside him.
Her blood ran cold and the last vestiges of arousal fled as she jumped out of the car and hurried up the walkway to confront her ex.
* * * * *
Elias knew he’d made the right decision in bringing his nephews here. Even if they didn’t stay, it was good for the boys to see how a pack could be. Not that this pack was anything near typical.
A black cat perched on the back of the sofa and peered suspiciously at him. “Seymour,” Anny told the cat, an exasperated note in her voice. “He won’t hurt you.”
Elias almost laughed at the withering look of disbelief the cat sent her. Anny had invited him and the boys over to her place after lunch to meet her cats. Tigger, the calico, peeked out from beneath the sofa. That one wasn’t taking any chances.
The house was smaller than the other two—a kitchen and living room area, a bedroom and a bathroom. Just enough space to give a couple their privacy. It was well made and the finishes were top notch. The kitchen especially looked high end, with stainless steel appliances and stone countertops. It was cozy, a home. Elias could see Anny’s touch in the pillows, candles and plants. His sister-in-law had done the same for the home they’d all shared.
Gray and Louis had joined them at Anny’s place, making it seem even smaller. Gray had brought along her enormous dog. Shadow was part German shepherd and part wolf and was currently sprawled on the hardwood floor with both Reece and Sage.
Elias held his hand out to Seymour. The cat hissed, jumped off the back of the couch and stalked off toward the bedroom.
“Sorry about that,” Anny told him. She reached under the sofa and tugged the reluctant Tigger into her arms. “He’ll warm up given time. They both will.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe you have cats.”
Anny smiled when Armand sat beside her. “I had them before I met Armand.” She hesitated. “Before I became a werewolf.”
“What do you mean?” he asked. Both Sage and Reece had stopped roughhousing with the dog and were listening intently.
“You know I was attacked by a wolf, don’t you?” Anny hugged the cat so tightly it gave a plaintive meow. She loosened her grip and kissed Tigger’s furry head.
Elias nodded. “Yes. Sue mentioned it.”
“I was fully human.”
It felt like the bottom dropped out of his stomach. “I just assumed you were a half-breed who’d been attacked. Human?”
Anny nodded. “I was left for dead, but I survived.” She glanced at her mate, who instantly enveloped her in his arms. “And I was changed.”
“That’s impossible.”
“So is a half-breed and a full-blooded werewolf giving birth to twins, one of whom can shift,” Armand shot back.
Elias dragged his fingers through his hair and nodded. “You’re right.” He’d understood why Anny had stayed away from Sue once she’d mated with Armand. He’d figured it was to protect the pack and Anny against another attack. And that was true, but not for the reason he’d assumed.
“Can you shift?” Elias asked. He sensed Sage’s interest and wanted to howl. The boy was already part werewolf. Nothing anyone could do would change what he was now. He would never be able to shift.
Anny nodded. “Yes, I can.”
He glanced at Gray and she shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I’ve always been a half-breed, even if I didn’t know it. I’m like Sage. I can’t shift.”
Elias appreciated what Gray was trying to do. She was letting Sage know that even though she couldn’t shift, she was a valued member of the pack.
“You’re perfect,” Louis informed her.
As if sensing his mistress’s turmoil, Shadow stood, padded over to her side and leaned against her. She petted the large animal and smiled. “I have all my wolf instincts, as I assume Sage does.”
When Sage nodded, she continued. “I rely on them. I have a keener eye than most because I can’t shift. I think it’s where I get my artist eye for details.”
“I’m the same,” Sage blurted out. “I see things—” He stopped abruptly when he realized everyone was looking at him.
Gray nodded. “You’ll find some of your senses will become more developed because you can’t shift.” Her matter-of-fact tone had Sage leaning forward to hear more. “I’ve done a lot of thinking about it since I joined the pack.” She smiled at him. “We’re all different here.”
“Can we go outside?” Elias wasn’t surprised it was Reece who asked. The boy never liked being inside any more than he had to.
“Stay close,” Elias warned. “Don’t wander off.”
Reece nodded and headed toward the door with Sage right behind him. Gray gave the dog a signal and Shadow trotted after them.
Elias waited until the door was closed behind them. “Thank you,” he told her.
Gray nodded. “I know this is tough on them. But as I said, we’re all different here.”
“The quicker Sage accepts he can’t shift, the better off he’ll be,” Louis said. He went to the window and peered out at the boys and dog. “It’s harder on him because his brother is stronger than he is in many ways. Sage will have to find his own strengths.”
Elias knew Louis was speaking from experience. Louis might be a full-blooded werewolf, but he’d grown up in the shadow of an immensely powerful older brother. Yet Louis was fully confident in who he was and his own strengths. Elias wanted that for Sage.
He desperately wished he could talk to his brother about everything. He also wanted to talk to Sue. Her very presence had soothed a lot of the pain and anger that boiled inside him. She’d given him peace.
He ached to see her, to hold her, to kiss her. It wasn’t easy to ignore the needs of his body, but he man
aged. The last thing he wanted to do was to sport a hard-on in front of the others.
He stood and swallowed a groan. His jeans were uncomfortably tight. He ignored the pressure on his semi-erect cock and walked over to stand beside Louis. Reece had shifted and now Sage was wrestling with the dog and the wolf. He was laughing and it lightened the pressure pushing down on Elias. He kept reminding himself he’d done the right thing.
“Come on.” Louis opened the door. “Why don’t we join them?”
Elias nodded at the others and walked out onto the porch to watch. It was good to see his nephews acting their age and simply being teenagers.
His contentment was tinged with sadness at what he’d lost and what he’d never have. He wondered where Sue was and what she was doing.
* * * * *
Sue was up the walkway and on the porch in a flash. She swallowed back her temper, not wanting to yell at William in front of Billy. William had visiting rights, but he had to schedule them with her first. This visit was totally unexpected.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded, just barely managing to keep her voice civil. She didn’t forget for one second that he wanted to take her son from her. “Where’s Mrs. Beecham?”
“I’m here.” Mrs. Beecham stepped out onto the porch with a tray of lemonade. “I thought it would be nice to have something cool to drink.”
Sue wanted to groan in frustration. She loved Mrs. Beecham, but the woman was old-fashioned and thought Sue and William should be raising Billy together. She’d have to have a talk with the older woman once she got rid of her ex.
Billy was sitting on the porch watching them. The trucks he’d been playing with abandoned. She conjured up a smile for him. “Did you have a good day, sweetie?” Her son nodded and stuck his thumb in his mouth.
Damn it. She hated when he did that because it meant he was feeling stressed and unsure. She ignored William and went to Billy. She crouched beside him and brushed her hand over his baby-soft hair.
“Lemonade.” Mrs. Beecham offered Billy the small plastic cup.
“Thank you.” He took the treat and sipped it.
Sue sighed and stood, knowing she couldn’t avoid William forever. “What do you want, William?”
Her ex was a good-looking man with his light hair and lean build. He was wearing dress pants and a short-sleeved shirt. His sunglasses were in his hand, allowing her to see his blue eyes. She’d thought she’d loved him once. Now she wondered what she’d ever seen in him.
He paled in comparison with Elias. Not only in looks, but also in character, which was much more important in her opinion. Elias hadn’t hesitated to change his life for his nephew. Of course, he was no slouch in the looks department. He was rugged and had an untamed edge about him that secretly thrilled her.
“I want to see my son. Surely there’s nothing wrong with that?” He gave her his patented smile, the one that had made her heart pitter-patter once upon a time. Now it simply made her suspicious.
She stepped away from her son and went to stand closer to her ex. She hoped Mrs. Beecham would take the hint and distract Billy. “Why the sudden need to see him when it hasn’t been a priority up until now?”
William shrugged. “I’m remarrying and can give Billy a better home than you can.”
Her blood began to boil. “You hardly know him. A visit every few months doesn’t count.”
“A judge might not see it that way.” She hated how infuriatingly calm he was. So sure of himself. William Walsh was used to getting his own way.
“There’s no money,” she told him. “I used the money from the sale of the house to pay off Mom and Dad’s debts.”
“You have a new car,” he pointed out.
“It’s a couple years old, and it was the only thing I got out of the estate, and only because I need reliable transportation to get to work and for Billy.” Why was she arguing with him? That only put her in a weak position. “Talk to my lawyer,” she told him. “And stay away from Billy unless it’s a scheduled visit.” A part of her worried he might simply take her son.
No way would she let that happen.
“Oh, I’ll be talking with my lawyer and yours. Billy told me he was down by the creek, by himself, and he met a stranger and a dog.” His expression hardened. “Then you invited them over for lunch the next day.”
Sue wanted to close her eyes and groan. Billy wanted his father’s love and acceptance so much, he pretty much told him everything about his life. This was one time she wished her son hadn’t been quite so open with his father.
“Everything was fine.” She kept her expression level and her tone firm.
“I don’t know, Sue. I’m appalled that Billy was allowed to wander off by himself. That’s dangerous.”
“For God’s sake. He wasn’t allowed to wander off. He’s five years old. It happens. It was only a few minutes.” She still remembered how frightened she’d been when she’d realized he was missing.
William shook his head again. “Neglectful.”
She wanted to smack the smirk off his face. She snorted. “You’re one to talk.” She took another tact. “The only money my parents left is a trust for Billy. It’s untouchable by anyone else. Only Billy can have it and only when he’s eighteen.” When William frowned, she went in for the kill. “In fact, it’s hard for me to make ends meet.” She met his gaze squarely. “I might need more child support.”
William frowned and took a step back. Then he seemed to gather himself together and smiled. Her blood ran cold. “A judge might think it prudent for Billy to come live with me and my fiancée if you’re not able to support him.”
Sue stepped closer to William. “You will not take my son, do you hear me?”
William only shrugged, the bastard. “We’ll see.” He turned and walked down the path to the sidewalk and got into his car. He never even said goodbye to his son.
She felt Billy’s hand close around hers. She smiled down at her son, but her stomach cramped when she noted his thumb was in his mouth again. She leaned down and hugged him. “Why don’t you get your things together and we’ll head home.”
“Okay.”
It broke her heart the way he watched his father’s car drive away before he went inside. Sue stood and faced Mrs. Beecham. “William’s visits with Billy have to be approved by me.”
When Mrs. Beecham’s lips thinned into a disapproving line, she drove the point home. “He wants to take Billy.” She glanced toward the door to make certain he hadn’t returned yet. “He thinks there is money from my parents’ estate.”
“Surely not.” Mrs. Beecham’s frown deepened. “Maybe he’s just using that as an excuse to come and see the two of you. Maybe he wants to make a family.”
“He does,” Sue told the older woman. “Just not with me. He’s remarrying and thinks this is a way to get his hands on the trust they left for Billy.”
She shook her head. “I just can’t believe that.”
Sue couldn’t believe her mother’s friend was being so obstinate and blind. “Can I trust you not to let William take Billy?” Now the older woman looked devastated and hurt. Sue wanted to curl up somewhere and cry. Why did she always end up feeling as though she were the one who was lacking when she’d always done her best?
Mrs. Beecham squared her shoulders and plucked at the fabric of her dress. “Of course you can.”
Sue wasn’t so sure, but she really didn’t have a choice. Mrs. Beecham worked cheap and Sue couldn’t afford to pay someone else to look after Billy. Plus, she knew the woman really did love Billy. But more than that, Billy felt safe with her.
“Thank you.” She noticed Billy standing just inside the door. “Ready?” She opened the door and took his backpack. The few trucks on the porch were toys he left there.
Billy nodded and she took his hand and asked him about his day as they made their wa
y to the car. Her head ached and her heart was filled with fear for her son’s future. It also ached for the loss of something she’d never truly had—Elias.
What would it be like to have a strong man like that at her side, helping her raise her son? And in her bed, a sly little voice in the back of her head whispered. Wasn’t going to happen. With her parents gone and Anny no longer in her life except by email and phone, Sue was on her own.
She’d deal with William, one way or another. Surely once he realized there was no money he’d give up his foolish idea of taking Billy. She couldn’t imagine his future wife would want to be saddled with another woman’s child. At least that was her hope. It was all she had.
Chapter Fifteen
Elias sat on the back porch of the house where he was a guest. The stars blanketed the sky and the moon was a glowing crescent. The door opened behind him and Gator stepped out. Elias didn’t bother acknowledging the other man. Sage and Reece were settled in over at the alpha’s house for the night. He hated being away from them.
Gator leaned against the porch post, making it impossible for Elias to ignore him. “What?” Elias demanded.
Gator just smiled and shook his head. “You’re too tense to sleep tonight. Why don’t you go for a run?”
That surprised him. The last thing he’d expected was for the man to tell him he had free rein over their land. Of course, with his nephews here, it wasn’t like Elias was going to do anything stupid to jeopardize their safety.
“Go, mon ami,” Gator urged. “Your boys will come to no harm.”
Strangely enough, he believed the other werewolf. Gator wasn’t the type of man who said one thing and then did another.
“Just don’t do anything stupid,” Gator warned.
“Define stupid.” he shot back.
Gator laughed. “Damned if I don’t like you.” He pushed away from the post and strode closer. “You’ve got a certain look in your eye.” Gator shoved his hair out of his face. “I’ve seen it before, and it can only mean one thing. Trouble. You’ve got a woman on your mind. And since the only woman you’ve seen lately is Anny’s friend, I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume it’s Sue Walsh that’s put that look on your face.”
Wolf on a Mission: Salvation Pack, Book 6 Page 14
