Legacy Found

Chapter Ten

Shelley was nervous. The closer they got to Wolf Creek, the more she was finding it difficult to stay calm. She didn’t know these people. What in the world had she been thinking to agree to come here?

“Everything is going to be fine,” James reassured her. Easy for him to say. He knew what to expect. She was the one about to step off the edge of a cliff and into the unknown.

He’d turned the truck off the main road about ten minutes ago and now they were bouncing along a rutted track of hard-packed dirt that could at best be called a path. Good thing he was driving a truck. Otherwise they probably wouldn’t have made it over parts of it.

Tires dipped and she was thrown to the right. Thankfully, her seatbelt kept her from pitching forward and hitting her head.

James grinned. “Gonna have to get the road graded again.” She noticed the closer he got to his home, the lighter his mood got. She envied him that feeling. She’d never had it. Or, if she had, she certainly couldn’t remember it.

Shelley snorted. “This is hardly a road.”

“What can I say? We discourage visitors.” He manhandled the wheel to the left. Several tree branches brushed against the side of the vehicle. They were headed deep into the surrounding forest.

She was grateful she hadn’t eaten much breakfast. With all the jostling around and her nerves, she might not have been able to keep it down.

A part of her was excited. This was her first step in discovering who she really was. No matter what she found out about her past and her family, it was information she needed if she truly wanted to make a life for herself.

And if James was to be believed, she had a lot of years left to live. She planned on making the most of them.

The truck took a sharp right turn and ended up in a clearing. A large barn-like structure stood there with several padlocked doors. James stopped the truck and jumped out. “I’ll just be a second.”

He strode toward the building. Withdrawing a key from his pocket, he unlocked one set of double doors and pushed them open. Shelley leaned forward, interested in spite of her mounting trepidation.

James was back in a flash. He put the truck in gear and drove right into the building. “We keep our vehicles stored here. We’ll walk the rest of the way. It’s not far.”

“Wow. You weren’t kidding about not liking visitors.” There were several more trucks, a car and an SUV already stored in the garage. All this secrecy, the house deep in the woods was much like being with the hunters.

Shelley swallowed hard and broke out in a cold sweat.

“Shelley?” James had shut off the truck and was watching her.

She shrugged. “It’s a lot like where I came from. A secluded cabin in the middle of the woods.”

James swore under his breath. “I’m sorry about that. But this is very different.” He lightly touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “You’re free to roam here, not a prisoner. And there are lots of people to talk to.”

“I know.” She clung to his words “not a prisoner” and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

She unhooked her seatbelt and climbed out of the truck. The slamming of her door echoed throughout the large structure. “This is some place.”

“Works for us. There are several privately owned vehicles and a few communal ones. Anyone who needs to go somewhere can borrow one.”

She walked around to James’s side of the truck. He slipped on his jacket and pulled out their bags from where they were stored behind the seat.

Shelley glanced out the wide open doors, enjoying the crisp, clean air. She inhaled deep and her nostrils filled with the scent of fresh pine and the more earthy smell of damp ground and rotted leaves. Most of the snow was melted, but there were still patches between the trees.

A crow cawed in the distance. Tree branches rustled and danced in the wind.

“Ready?” James was waiting, his bag slung over his shoulder and her two bags held in one hand.

“I can take those.” She grabbed the handle of the shopping bag and the top of her brown paper bag. It wasn’t much, but it was all she had.

“I can carry them for you.” James reluctantly gave up the bags after she tugged several times.

“I know you can, but I can carry them myself.” There was more at stake here than just her bags. She needed him to understand that she could look after herself, could stand on her own two feet. She’d fought to gain her independence and wasn’t about to give it up.

James leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I know you can, Shelley. But all of us need some help sometimes.” He stepped back and headed to the door, leaving her to follow.

She stepped outside, looking around with interest as he shut and locked the wide doors. From the outside, the structure really did look like a barn. Unless you broke inside, you’d never know there were vehicles stored here.

“Which way?” Shelley could see two possible trails, but had no idea which one was the right one.

James put one hand on the small of her back and pointed to the left. “That way.”

They set off. Shelley had an entire colony of butterflies beating inside her stomach. Her skin tingled. Her senses were heightened.

She could smell James next to her, a combination of clean male sweat, a tinge of the woodsy-scented soap he favored, and the unique musky smell that was all hot male. All James.

Her breasts swelled and her nipples puckered. Shelley stumbled over a tree root and would have ended up face down in the dirt if James hadn’t caught her by the arm. Now was not the time to get aroused. Not when she was about to meet his family. What would they think of her?

“Careful.” He held her steady, peering down at her. His nostrils flared and his eyelids lowered. “Shelley.” He said her name, nothing more, but it sent a shaft of heat flaring from her breasts to between her thighs.

He slowly lowered his head and nuzzled the curve of her jaw. His lips grazed over her skin. “I want to touch you,” he murmured against her ear.

The bags dropped to the ground as her fingers opened of their own accord and reached for him. James. Just James. Since the moment he’d stepped into her life, he’d changed everything.

He caught her earlobe between his teeth and nibbled. She moaned as it sent sensual shivers rushing down her neck and arms. She shifted from one foot to the other as she caught his shoulders for support. The leather of his coat crinkled beneath her fingers.

“But this isn’t the time or the place. They’re waiting for us up at the compound.” His words were as effective as a bucket of ice water.

Shelley jolted back. Lungs heaving, eyes wide, she glanced around, hoping no one had seen them. She couldn’t see or sense anyone. Absently, she rubbed her hand over her ear. She didn’t know if she was trying to rub James’s touch into her skin or trying to remove it.

Their stolen moment left her feeling unsettled and too warm. She glanced in dismay at her bags sitting on the damp ground. A small sound of worry escaped as she bent down and jerked them into her hands. On examination, they didn’t appear to have soaked through.

James waited, his expression one of masculine need. His breathing was deep and slow and his muscles were tense. There was also no disguising the erection pressing against the zipper of his jeans.

Shelley glanced away and chewed on her bottom lip. She shouldn’t have come. This wasn’t going to work.

“Come on,” he all but growled.

She took a step back. “Maybe I should just go.”

James put his hands on his hips. He was a very large, very imposing man. His hair was pulled back and tied at his nape with a piece of leather. The silver mixed with brown at his temples, making him look mature, experienced. His golden-brown eyes were piercing as they watched her. She felt naked before him. Exposed.

His hard expression softened slightly. “Trust me.” He held out his hand. It was a large hand. Strong and calloused and male. It was a hand that could hurt or help, depending on his mood.

Taking a deep breath, she gripped both her bags in one hand and reached out with her free one.

His fingers closed around hers. “Come on. They’re waiting.”

For a moment, James feared Shelley was going to flee. He hadn’t meant to give in to the sensual pull that existed between them. But when she’d stumbled and he’d caught her, he’d gotten a whiff of her sweet skin. She was also slightly aroused and that had set off every primal instinct inside him.

He wanted to claim Shelley, to make her his.

But that couldn’t happen. Not yet. It was too soon. Shelley would see it as trading one prison for another and that was something he couldn’t live with.

Still, he hadn’t been able to resist a quick nibble and a kiss. The passion between them flared so fast and hot it had almost gotten out of control. It was only the knowledge that his daughter and some of the pack were waiting that had made him take a step back.

Later. He made the promise to her and to himself. There would be time later to explore the growing sexual attraction between them.

He held her hand firmly, but not so much so that she’d feel trapped. Shelley was wound so tight it wouldn’t take much for her to snap. She’d been through so much in the past few days and was about to face even more.

The compound came into view and he tried to see it through her eyes. A ten-foot wooden fence surrounded the area that contained his home and those of the Striker family. There were five homes and various sheds and other buildings within the clearing. A low mountain backed onto one side of the compound, giving it natural protection.

“What do you think?” He glanced at Shelley and was instantly concerned by her pallor.

She swallowed several times, her throat rippling. “It’s imposing.” He noticed she was eyeing the large gates that now stood open.

“We close them at night for extra protection, but they’re opened every morning.” The last thing she needed to feel was confined in any way.

James could sense several members of his family inside. They were growing more impatient by the second. If they didn’t move soon, Alex wouldn’t wait much longer.

Shelley could hear them too. Smell them. With her preternatural senses, they were too close for her not to be able to. Her bottom lip was red and moist where she’d been worrying it with her teeth.

“Ready?”

She squared her shoulders and gave a single nod. “Let’s do this.”

Pride filled him as he ushered her forward, past the gate and into the compound. The clearing held a small welcoming committee.

James was pleased to see it was only immediate family. Good. Joshua had told only his brothers about their guest.

Still, he could feel Shelley practically vibrating next to him, could smell her growing fear. Yet, her face showed none of her concern. Her expression was calm; her steps slow and measured.

Alex smiled and rushed toward him, arms outstretched. “Dad.”

He caught her easily, returning her hug. Shelley sidled off to his right and he reached out and caught her, returning her to his side. “Alex, honey, I want you to meet Shelley.” He turned to Shelley. “This is my daughter, Alexandra.”

“Call me Alex.” She thrust her hand toward Shelley.

Shelley could only stare at the beautiful woman with her hand outstretched in greeting. There was no doubt she was James’s daughter. They shared the same hair color and she was long and lean like her father. Their eyes were very different though. Alex’s were a pale silvery gray, while James’s were piercing golden brown.

Alex’s smile began to fade, and her hand lowered. Shelley realized she’d been standing and staring for too long. The last thing she wanted to do was offend James’s daughter. That wouldn’t get her off on the right foot here. She thrust out her hand. “I’m very glad to meet you.”

The young woman’s smile widened again and there was no doubting that her greeting was sincere.

“I’m so glad you came home with Dad.” Alex glanced at James. “He told us a little bit about your situation. I’m sure we can help.”

She was overwhelmed by Alex’s willingness to involve herself in Shelley’s problems. She felt nothing but welcome from the other woman. There was no sense of being an unwanted guest or an intruder. She felt herself starting to relax. Then Alex turned to the four large men standing behind her.

“This is my husband, Joshua Striker.” She motioned to the extremely large male standing just behind her. He had shaggy black hair that fell to his shoulders and eyes so dark she couldn’t quite tell if they were brown or black. His face was rough-hewn, all angles and planes. He was also staring at her. All the males were.

“Joshua?” James stepped up beside her and she was glad for his presence. “Is there a problem?”

Joshua took a step forward. His expression grew harder and Shelley automatically took a step back. He froze. He started to speak, cleared his throat and tried again. “Rachel?” The name came out as a hoarse tortured whisper.

Alex gasped and James swore.

Had he misheard her name? “No, I’m Shelley.”

She glanced at James for support, but he was looking from the men to her and back to them again.

Joshua moved forward like a man in a trance, shaking his head as he came toward her. She braced her legs to keep from whirling around and running. She had a feeling if she tried to leave, he’d be on her before she made it to the gate. There was something primal, almost animalistic, about him.

“Rachel,” he said the name again, and this time a whisper came from the back of her mind. A memory long suppressed. Like a ghost from a life she didn’t remember, she could suddenly hear a voice calling her by that name. The male was younger, but he was important to her somehow.

Shelley frowned. A dull throbbing began behind her eyes. The pain hit her so swift and hard it made her dizzy. Her stomach roiled as the three other men stepped toward her.

“Who are you?” she asked. She knew his name, but suddenly needed to know much more. Her eyes scanned all four men. She didn’t know all their names, but she knew them.

Run!

The thought came out of nowhere. She didn’t question her instincts and whirled to obey. The sudden movement made her dizzy and she felt herself falling.

Strong arms caught her just as her legs seemed to crumble out from beneath her. James. She’d know his touch, his scent anywhere. He caught her before she hit the ground and lifted her into his arms.

She was suddenly ashamed of herself for being a coward. If she ran, she’d never know the truth. “Put me down.”

James shook his head. “No. Not until you’re steadier.”

Ignoring James for the moment, she turned back to Joshua and his brothers. There was no doubt in her mind the men were all related. She studied them. They were all staring at her as though they’d seen a ghost. “I know you.” Her voice was barely even a whisper, more of just a sigh, but they heard her.

“How, Shelley? How do you know them?” James kept his voice low and non-threatening as the brothers all came closer.

“I’m not sure.” She was trembling so hard now, her teeth were chattering. She was suddenly so cold. So afraid. Her head pounded and she rubbed her temples, trying to get some relief from the pain.

She was afraid to admit the truth to herself. She knew she was related to them. Somehow. Someway. Had they seen some weakness inside her when she was a child and given her away as Tom had always told her?

“It’s okay, Shelley. They won’t hurt you.” She clung to James’s reassurance, needing the comfort. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to face this. She hadn’t expected to come face to face with her past so soon.

Joshua reached out his hand and touched her face. “Is it really you, Rachel?” She flinched away and he dropped his hand back down by his side, unable to hide the pain from his face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. She didn’t know what to do. She was at a real disadvantage here. “Please put me down, James.”

She held her breath as James let her legs drop slowly until her feet were touching the ground. He waited until she was steady before removing one hand. He kept one arm locked around her waist. To keep her close to him or to keep her from running? She wasn’t sure, but she appreciated the support.

James addressed the group. “You know I found Shelley working at a diner on my way home. She’d been working there about six months.” James tucked her closer to him as he continued his bare-bones explanation.

“James.” She wasn’t sure she wanted them to know about her past. It was so ugly. She felt ugly and ashamed. Tainted by it.

She knew James understood, but he shook his head. “Better it come out quick so we can deal with it.”

Shelley knew he was right, but that didn’t make it any less of an ordeal. “Okay.”

Before she could muster up the courage to speak, James was already talking. “Shelley has been a prisoner for more than thirty-five years and doesn’t have any memory of her life before that.”

“Oh my God.” This came from another of the males.

Shelley reached out her hand and tentatively touched Joshua’s face. Her hand shook as she traced the outline of his forehead and cheeks. She couldn’t believe her audacity, nor the fact that he stood there and let her touch him. Having James stand with her made her braver.

“You look familiar.” Her voice trembled. He was a ghost from a dream.

Joshua reached out his hand again and this time Shelley didn’t flinch away. He stroked his hand over her hair. “You’re my sister. You’re Rachel.” He briefly closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Alexandra hovered close to her husband, offering her silent support. “You’re all grown up, but you look exactly the same.” His gaze hardened and went from her to James and back to her again. “Who took you from us?”

His question shook her to her core. “You mean you didn’t toss me away?”

Joshua threw back his head and howled. It was filled with a mixture of anguish and fury. His brothers all tipped back their heads and joined in the fierce cry.

Shelley slapped her hands over her ears. It was all too much. Her entire body was trembling. “I need to sit down,” she whispered to James.

“Enough.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried. The brothers broke off their pained call. “Let’s take this inside.”

The other three men stepped up to her side.

“I’m Micah, and this is Levi.” He jerked his thumb at the identical male standing next to him. They were both tall, good-looking men with brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.

“This is Simon,” Micah continued. Simon looked more like Joshua with his black hair and dark eyes.

She nodded at them all, unable to find her voice.

“Rachel?”

When Joshua called her Rachel again, she shook her head. “Rachel is dead. I don’t know who she was. Please call me Shelley.”

She could see the men struggling with it, but they all eventually nodded. Joshua’s face was somber as he said her name for the first time. “It’s only a name. I’ll gladly call you Shelley or any other name that you want. I just want my sister back.”

Shelley smiled as the first tear rolled down her cheek. Both Micah and Levi turned aside and swiped at their faces and cleared their throats. After all these years, she would finally know the truth.

Joshua couldn’t stop staring at Shelley. His head was still whirling, his heart pounding. He was grateful for Alexandra’s support. His wife kept her hand on his arm as if knowing he needed her touch.

His sister was alive. Except she wasn’t the bright-eyed, mischievous teenage girl he remembered. She was a woman grown and from the little he’d learned, she’d lived through untold horrors that none of them could truly imagine. What his mind did conjure up was enough to drive him mad.

She’d been a prisoner all these years.

He wanted vengeance, wanted the ground to run red with the blood of her captors. It made his heart hurt that she really didn’t remember them or her life before. His arms ached to hold her close, but he knew she’d flinch away from him. It was enough that she was home.

Hopefully, more would come in time. And if it didn’t, they’d forge a new relationship. Now that he’d found her, he wasn’t going to lose her again. He and his family owed James LeVeau Riley a huge debt that could never be repaid.

She had been alive and they’d stopped looking. Had she watched for them? Waited for her family to come and rescue her? What had happened to her as the days had turned into weeks? The weeks into months? The months into years? No wonder she didn’t remember them. He wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to remember them.

They followed James as he led her to his house. It was time to talk. Time to try to get past his anger and reforge his bond with his sister.

Jessup faded back into the forest, tucking his binoculars into his pack. He hadn’t gotten too close, hanging as far back as he dared. Those bastards had superior senses and could see and smell what humans couldn’t. He’d been careful to stay upwind and keep behind cover. Thankfully, the big guy was distracted with the female he’d brought with him.

But he knew where they were now. Could see the houses in the distance. There was no longer any doubt. They were werewolves. Those howls had made his skin crawl and goose bumps still trailed up and down his arms.

He slowly worked his way out of the woods, not wanting to be in there alone. There were too many of them for him to handle on his own.

When he reached the safety of the road and his truck, he yanked out his cell phone. You couldn’t use one close to those bastards. They had incredible hearing.

It was answered on the first ring. “Talk to me.”

“Hey, boss. I found them. And you were right. They’re werewolves. I counted five males and two females, including the two from the truck I followed.”

“Good work.”

Jessup smiled. It wasn’t often Macmillan gave out such high praise.

“Give me your location, and I’ll round up Red and a few boys and we’ll meet you there.”

Jessup gave him the information he needed and ended the call. Then he settled back to wait. Already the familiar anticipation was rising inside him. He couldn’t wait to go hunting.