Heart of a Wolf [Wolf Packs of Fate 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jane Jamison

  Crap.

  She opened her mouth ready to take every word back, but couldn’t. How long did she have to pay for her mistake? “You’re not angry about my waiting to tell you. You’re angry at the way I told you.”

  “You’re right. I am. That and when you finally did. You had to know it would hurt me seeing them together. You had to have known, and yet you still did. How could you let me find out that way? Why couldn’t you have warned me?”

  How many times would they go over the same things? And yet, she’d keep trying until Stella finally forgave her. “I tried to tell you earlier, but every time I did, you stopped me. I got to thinking that you already knew but didn’t want to hear it.”

  You did know. Damn it. He cheated on you before. You had to have suspected he’d do it again.

  But she couldn’t hurt her sister more. “The wedding was my last chance to keep you from marrying him.”

  Liar. I was a coward, plain and simple. I didn’t want to be the one to break your heart.

  “I don’t want to talk.”

  Shit. I’m losing her.

  “No, wait, Stella. I have something I need to tell you.”

  Stella’s bitter laugh stunned her. “Really? What other shit do you have to spring on me? That you’re really not my sister? That I’m adopted?”

  No. That I love you. That I’m sorry.

  Instead, she spoke again, without thinking. “I know where you are.”

  A few moments of silence passed before Stella spoke again. “And you know why I left. I don’t want to be around you.”

  Pain seared into Maddie. Stella had said the same thing several times, but each time the knife of her harsh words cut deeper. Maddie’s eyes burned with tears. She sniffed, fighting against letting them fall.

  “This has to stop. We can’t go on like this. I’m your sister, damn it.”

  Again, silence was her sister’s answer.

  “Sis, I’m going to come to Fate.”

  More silence came.

  “No. I don’t want you here.”

  It was time to force the issue. Either she’d win her sister back, or she’d finally give up and move far away. “I know, but I’m still coming. One way or another, we’re going to get past this.”

  Silence again, giving her hope, yet hurting as much as her sister’s words had.

  Damn it, Stella, talk to me.

  Maddie drew in a slow breath. “I love you, sis. I’ll see you soon.”

  * * * *

  “You’re stalling.” Sharon Marsla sipped her drink then threw back the shot.

  “Maybe.” Maddie threw back her shot and shook herself as the fiery liquid ran down her throat.

  “No doubt about it. You’ve talked to your sister a few times now. Didn’t you say she was warming up?”

  “Yeah. Sort of. Maybe it’s those guys she’s been seeing. Maybe getting some is making her more receptive to forgiving me.”

  Sharon giggled then motioned for the bartender at their favorite club to line up more shots. “Well, that’s something. Your sister goes to a dinky little town and winds up with three men. In a ménage relationship, no less. And me? I’m in the big city of Hotlanta and can’t find one damn man, much less three.”

  “Which is why I’m moving to Fate.”

  Sharon’s smile capsized. “Are you sure you want to do that? Because if you ask me, I don’t think you really do. Like I said, you’re stalling. There must be a reason why you keep putting it off.”

  Maddie gave her a scowl. “You know why.”

  “Bullshit. It’s not like you’re leaving the country or even the state. Shoplifting’s not a big deal. I mean it’s not like you murdered someone.”

  “I’m innocent, I tell ya.” Her mobster accent was awful.

  “Uh-huh. If you’re innocent, then why’d you take a plea deal?”

  She’d asked herself that very question far too many times. The answers were simple. She’d been afraid and stupid. She’d had a lousy court-appointed lawyer. She’d just wanted to get the whole mess behind her. “What does it matter now? I’m still on probation. That’s what’s made me take so long.”

  “Then what’s holding you back now? Your legal problems are over. You took the plea deal, got probation, and now that probation is almost over. You should be getting ready to leave.”

  Maddie emptied her glass. “Why are you pushing me? Do you want to get rid of me?”

  Sharon snorted. “Oh, sure. I want my best friend gone. You’re the one who’s leaving me behind. But go on. See if I care. Move to a nothing little town.” She sniffed, pretending hurt feelings.

  She hugged her friend, knowing she’d miss Sharon as much as Sharon would miss her. “You can always visit me once I get settled. Maybe we’ll both end up with more than one man.”

  “Damn, but wouldn’t that be great?” Sharon tossed back another shot. “Shit. Go on and do it. Call your sister and let her know you’re coming as soon as you can.”

  “Okay. Fine. I will.” Uneasiness swept over her. What if Stella still didn’t want her around? “First thing tomorrow.”

  Sharon snorted. “Uh-huh.”

  * * * *

  “I’m trying, Maddie. I really am. It’s really hard to do an about-face on this.”

  “On this? This is your sister. Why is it so hard to talk to me?”

  Why did Stella have to make it so hard? Maddie had called to tell her sister that she was coming to Fate soon. Like soon. Like very soon. Then she’d heard the hesitancy in her sister’s voice.

  “It just is. Please try and understand.”

  She had to take it easy. They’d made progress and she didn’t want to push it. “I know.” Maddie reconsidered asking again, knew she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t resist. “You still blame me, don’t you?”

  “No.”

  But Maddie heard the yes in her sister’s answer. “If I could go back in time, sis, I would. I’d tell you the first second I figured it out.”

  “I know, Maddie.”

  “Sis, I wanted to tell you, but, seriously, would you have believed me? You thought the sun rose and fell with Bruce.” Damned if I know why. He’d cheated on you before. Or had it been more than those two times?

  She sighed. Why did they have to keep going over this? How long was she supposed to pay for her mistake?

  God knows Stella’s made bigger mistakes than I have.

  She cringed, hating the way she was thinking. Thankfully, she hadn’t said anything out loud.

  “I was wrong. I didn’t know what real love was like until I came to Fate. I was closeminded and unable to see what was happening right in front of me.”

  “You were in love.” Was Stella in love for real now? Maddie believed she was. Her sister had changed, becoming more and more open to the idea of reconciliation. Was it because she was in love?

  “No. I only thought I was in love.”

  She didn’t want to rehash the old argument again and again. “Please, Stella, we’ve wasted so much time. I’ve missed having my sister in my life.”

  “Me, too.”

  Still, maybe if she apologized yet again, Stella would relent. Maddie had said the same things again and again. If she had to say them a thousand times more, she would. “But you’re right. I should’ve told you earlier. It was just that I didn’t have any proof. I figured it was his word against mine, and I was sure you’d believe him over me.”

  “You’re right. I probably would have. I was foolish back then. If you’d told me earlier, I might’ve cut you out of my life sooner. Bruce was always going on about me needing to let you live your life on your own terms. I didn’t realize he was trying to keep us apart.”

  “Yeah, he was a real asshole for more than the obvious reason. I’d already confronted him about his cheating, so he knew I knew. But he also knew I didn’t have any proof. The jerk was a lowlife, but he was a sneaky lowlife.” Maybe if she’d known he’d cheated before, she would’ve told Stella sooner. But she hadn’t kn
own. Her sister had kept his infidelity a secret.

  “It was tough finding out the way I did, but I can understand how you felt caught in the middle.”

  They were making even more progress. She could hear the forgiveness in Stella’s voice. “I know, sis. It about killed me to see your face, but I knew it was the only way you’d ever believe me over him. For you, seeing has always been believing.”

  “I’m sorry, Maddie, for not trusting you.”

  Maddie sat up, stunned by her sister’s sudden apology. The road back to their relationship had just taken a major leap forward. Excitement bubbled up inside her then on into a grin.

  “Listen, let’s put it behind us, okay? I can’t promise I can do it right away, but I want to try.”

  “That’s great, sis.” Maddie glanced around her apartment. What few items she was taking with her would fit in a small suitcase. Happiness soared hope into her. “I want to try, too.”

  “Good. So we both give it a major try. When are you coming to Fate?”

  When? Was she free to go? She still had to talk to her probation officer.

  “Maddie? Are you still there? Did we get disconnected?”

  “I’m still here.” One way or another, she’d work it out. Nothing would keep her from her sister.

  “You haven’t changed your mind, have you? You’re still going to come to Fate, aren’t you?”

  “You bet I am.” Maddie stalled, wanting to tell Stella everything, but couldn’t. “As soon as I tie up some loose ends around here.”

  “Loose ends? Like what?”

  “Nothing big. Just stuff that needs to get fixed before I can take time off.” She’d already quit her job, thank goodness.

  “Is it money? Do you have enough money to take time off? To come here?”

  “No, no. Money’s not a problem. I’ve been doing really well with my job. I even landed two new clients this week. Of course, that’s all thanks to you.”

  “I told you that being a medical transcriptionist was a good job to have.” Stella paused. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I didn’t take it the wrong way.” Besides, it was the truth. After hopping from one low-paying job to another, Maddie had finally listened to her sister and trained for a job that paid well.

  “So then what’s the holdup?”

  “Like I said, I have to tie up some loose ends.”

  “Okay. You know you can stay here, right?”

  “Really? Are you sure your men won’t mind?” Maddie laughed, surprised and pleased at her sister’s offer. “Wow. That’s really strange to say. Your men. As in more than one man. I still can’t believe my sister is living with three men.”

  “You? I still can’t believe it. But they’re terrific guys. You’re going to love them.”

  “I’m sure I will. Still, if I don’t, or if I think they’re playing a game, I’m going to let you know right then and there. Okay?” Three men to her one sister. Either it was a blessing or a curse. She intended to find out.

  Stella’s laugh sounded so beautiful. “You do that.”

  “I’m never going to make that mistake again.” No way, no how. She’d let her sister know everything about everything to keep them connected. “Listen, I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to pass. I think I’d be more comfortable staying at the local bed and breakfast you mentioned.” She didn’t want to get in the way of her sister’s new relationships. “That’s another thing I can’t believe. You went from saving people’s lives to changing people’s sheets for a living.”

  Shit. Why’d I have to bring that up?

  The day the little girl had died in the ambulance, under Stella’s care, was the day everything had changed. Maddie had known it, had tried to talk Stella out of getting married the next day, but her sister had insisted that getting married was what she needed most. Stella had slapped on a brave face and held it—right up until the minute she’d seen her soon-to-be-groom fucking one of her bridesmaids.

  “There’s nothing wrong with being a maid.”

  Relief swamped her. Thankfully, Stella hadn’t reacted badly to her idiotic statement. “Of course not. It’s just that our parents could never get you to pull up the covers on your bed, much less change your sheets.”

  “True. And they couldn’t get you to clean the bathroom. But we’ve both done a lot of growing up since then.”

  “Yes, we have.” There were days when she missed the easy times of childhood. “Sometimes I wish we were still kids.”

  Stella sighed. “Things have a way of working out the way they should. If we hadn’t gone through all that shit with Bruce, I wouldn’t have ended up in Fate. I wouldn’t have Alex, Mike, and Danny in my life right now.”

  Maddie was too curious not to ask. “And the ménage thing is okay? I mean, I would’ve thought a small town in Georgia would’ve been more conservative. People really know what’s going on, with multiple men to one woman? Are you sure you don’t have any church ladies wanting to run your skinny butt out of town?”

  “Those church ladies are into multiple partner relationships, too.”

  Wow. Church ladies and ménages. “And it’s always more than one man with one woman?”

  “So far that’s all I’ve seen.”

  The more Stella talked about Fate and her men, the more Maddie wanted to see everything for herself. “I think I’m going to enjoy staying in Fate. The people sound very interesting.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.”

  “Okay, well, I need to run. Take care, sis. I’ll talk to you soon.” Their conversations had been going so well she didn’t want to jinx them by talking too long. Once she moved to Fate, they’d have plenty of time to talk.

  “You, too. Oh, and, Maddie?”

  “Yeah?” Please don’t change your mind.

  “I love you, little sister.”

  Maddie had to swallow first to get the words out. “I love you, too, sis.”

  Chapter Three

  By the time Maddie pulled into the Wolf’s Den parking lot, the sun was already starting to set behind the trees. She was late, as she often was. So late, in fact, that Shawna Mallory, owner of the Lazy Day Bed and Breakfast, had texted her and asked her to meet her at the bar instead of at the B&B.

  “So this is what passes for night life in Fate, huh?”

  The place wasn’t much more than a huge barn-like structure. An old neon light flashed the name of the place while light from the surrounding lampposts gave off a dim glow. She hadn’t even called Stella yet to say she was in town. Getting settled in seemed like the priority. Besides, her nerves about seeing her sister for the first time were getting to her. Not that she would back out. Their relationship had been continuing to get better, and she wouldn’t do anything to mess that up.

  A few people hung around their cars. Pickups, mostly. She gave them a small smile, all too aware of their stares. Considering Fate was such a small town, she’d been ready to get a few once-overs. Yet there was something about their stares that was different. They looked at her not only as an outsider but almost as though she were a different kind of person. Like they knew she wasn’t one of them. She struggled to understand the feeling then gave up.

  It’s probably like that in all small towns.

  Pushing through the front door, she stepped into the bar and then came to a dead stop. Something was different in here, too. Not that she could put a name to it. Yet she could sense it.

  Dimly lit country bar.

  Most of the patrons dressed in jeans and shirts. Most with cowboy hats.

  Pitchers of beer set in the middle of each table.

  All of it seemed commonplace enough, but one difference stood out. Almost all of the women were surrounded by at least two men. Many had three men who were obviously doting on them.

  Wow. It’s the ménage thing. It’s real.

  “Hey, there, are you Maddie Connor?”

  She pivoted to find a pretty woman w
ith amazing green eyes offering her hand. Her long, dark hair floated around her shoulders. The woman appeared relaxed, her lean body slumped as though she was too tired to stand upright, but Maddie got the impression that the woman was anything but relaxed. In fact, she could’ve described her as ready to spring into action like a panther about to pounce on a gazelle. “That’s me. Are you Ms. Mallory?”

  “I sure am. But don’t call me Ms. It makes me feel older than the hills.” Shawna’s grip was firm as she gave Maddie’s hand one good shake then turned her loose. “Thanks for meeting me here. I didn’t feel like prowling around my home any longer.”

  Maddie startled as Shawna wrapped her around Maddie’s shoulders and pulled her against her. “Let’s grab a chair and get to know each other.”

  Was it her imagination or were most of the people looking at her again? Were they waiting to see what she would do? How she would act? She had the awful feeling that if she made the wrong move, they’d attack.

  You’re being paranoid.

  Suddenly, she forgot about the others. Instead, her focus shifted to three men standing against the wall. Their gazes locked on her as though they, too, couldn’t get enough of looking at her. She was so intent on watching them that she didn’t realize she’d stopped walking.

  “Maddie?”

  “What?” She forced herself to break the connection with the men. “What did you say?”

  Shawna’s knowing gaze swept toward the men then back. “Do you see something you like?”

  Oh shit. Am I being that obvious?

  “No. I, um, I kind of zoned out for a minute. Sorry.”

  Shawna took her hand and led her to the closest empty table. “That’s the Lark boys.”

  “Who?” Maddie slipped onto a chair and did her best to concentrate on Shawna. Yet doing so was more difficult than she could’ve imagined as her gaze darted their way. What was it about the men that kept bringing her attention back to them? They were definitely hotter than hot, but there were a lot of hot guys in Atlanta. She was used to being hit on, even gawked at. But this was different.