A Wolf in the Fold

  “There you are, sweetie,” Carla said. “Can I fix you something to eat?”

  She sat down at the table with Mai and Lina. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

  Lina arched an eyebrow and set down her coffee mug. “Spill it.”

  Elain hoped the heat filling her face didn’t translate into a revealing blush. “What?”

  “You’ve been riding,” Mai chimed in. “I smell horse.” She smiled. “Coyote sniffers are as sharp as wolf noses. And Cail came back smelling like horse a little while ago. What were you two talking about?”

  Carla turned from the stove, where she’d broken a couple of eggs into a frying pan. “Do I need to clear out?”

  Elain leaned back in her chair. “No, Mom. You can hear this.” It had taken her a while, but Elain was finally used to her mom’s rejuvenated looks. After mating with Liam, Carla now looked more like Elain’s older sister than her mother.

  Elain took a deep breath before facing Mai and dropping the bomb on her. “I had a talk with Baba Yaga overnight. You’re a Seer.”

  Mai blinked. “I’m a what?”

  Lina giggled, but Elain didn’t pull her focus from Mai. “You know the dreams you’ve been having? It’s because you’re a Seer. Apparently you, me, and Lina are now the new Triad.”

  Lina stopped giggling. “Say what?” she practically shouted.

  Carla and Mai both shushed her. “Don’t wake the babies,” Carla warned.

  “We’re the what?” Lina repeated in a frantic whisper.

  “The new Triad. Baba Yaga and I had a long talk.” Elain studied her hands for a moment. “Mai’s a Seer, part of the Triad. The new Triad.” She used her finger to indicate the three of them. “Us.”

  Lina glared. “What else did the damn bitch say?”

  “You sure you want to know?”

  “Not really, but tell me anyway.”

  Ten minutes later, after Elain gave them the highlights, Mai and Lina both looked stunned.

  “I do believe,” Lina slowly said, “that I’ve finally run out of swear words.”

  “I can think of a few,” Mai numbly offered.

  “Can I offer my uneducated opinion?” Carla asked.

  They all turned to her. “Mom,” Elain said, “you are always welcome to add your opinion. We sure as hell don’t know what to do next. No one wrote a manual for us to use.”

  Carla stepped over to the table. “Isn’t this a good thing?” she suggested. “That all three of you are shifters and Seers? Well, Lina’s a Goddess, but isn’t that even better? Dragons, coyotes, and wolves. Together. Doesn’t that make things even easier for merging all the shifters into one mega-Clan? Ain and Mark are both on the Maine wolf Clan Council now. Mai is a cousin by mating with Micah. Lina’s dragons are distantly related to Elain’s men. The jaguars and other shifters are friends. One big happy, happy, happy family. Maybe this is why you three were all brought together.”

  The younger women stared at her. Elain found her voice first. “I do believe,” she said, “that makes the most sense of anything I’ve heard in the past few months.”

  “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, dear,” Carla said with a playful wink as she set Elain’s plate in front of her.

  They fell into a silence Elain suspected was more her fellow Seers trying to absorb the latest info. When she finished eating a few minutes later, Elain pushed her chair away from the table. “I’m going to take a shower. I smell like horse. Then we can talk more about all this.”

  “I didn’t say horse was a bad smell,” Mai quipped.

  “Thanks.” Elain stopped at the kitchen doorway and stared at the three babies.

  “What is it?” Lina asked.

  Elain shook her head. “I keep having visions.”

  “About?”

  “I don’t understand all of them,” Elain said. “But I keep having visions of me and the guys being parents.”

  “That’s not a bad thing, is it?” Mai asked.

  “No.” She stared at the babies. They were beautiful.

  “Then what’s the problem?” Lina asked.

  She turned to stare at the three of them, her mom silently listening. “I’ve also had a vision of the three of us, like we’re getting ready to go to battle.”

  “Against Abernathy, the cockatrice, or Marston?” Lina asked. “We’ve got a wide variety of asshats from which to choose.” She chewed on her lip. “Or is it a baddie as yet to be named?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t see that part. It’s like we’re lined up to fight something, in front of a cave.”

  “I don’t think that’s anywhere around here then,” Lina said. “Not many caves in this part of Florida.”

  “Sounds more like Maine,” Mai added, her expression growing grim. “We’re going to be up there in a couple of weeks for the recognition ceremony for the babies.”

  Carla spoke up. “Or Yellowstone, maybe.”

  All three women looked at her.

  “Oh, come on,” Carla said. “The Gathering in March? Liam and I do spend some of our private time actually talking.”

  Elain clapped her hands over her ears. “TMI, Mom!”

  Lina gnawed on her thumbnail, her expression dark. That she let the opportunity to playfully gig Elain about her discomfort with her parents’ healthy sex life slide on by showed just how deeply in thought she was. “I wish,” Lina said, “I could say I have really fond memories of Yellowstone, but no, not so much. At least, not the first time I was there. I know it’s necessary to have the Gathering there, but I’ve got a bad feeling about it. And not just because I hate flying and will have to fight with the guys for us to drive there in the RV.”

  They all went quiet.

  Elain finally broke the silence as she leaned against the doorframe. “No chance of us getting the Gathering moved somewhere else, huh?”

  Lina snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that. I don’t think we have that kind of pull. Besides, it’s short notice, and there’s no way to find a replacement location in time. Not one that can fit our criteria.”

  Elain really did need a shower. Well, and a stiff drink, but since it wasn’t even noon yet she’d resist the urge to take up alcoholism as a recreational sport. She pushed away from the doorframe. “I’m gone.”

  She quickly crossed the living room and closed her bedroom door behind her before stripping out of her heavily horse-scented clothes. She considered curling up in the hot, comforting water of a bath, but opted for a shower.

  If she climbed into the tub, she might be tempted to stay there.

  For the rest of her life.

  I can’t handle this.

  None of it felt real. She knew the new information from Baba Yaga hadn’t fully sunk in yet. As she let the hot water sluice over her body, she tried to clear her mind.

  Six months earlier, she felt she had her entire life under control. A little lonely, sure, but everything else was going great.

  Loneliness was no longer an issue.

  However…

  This was too much to deal with. Too much, too soon.

  She ran her hands over her flat belly. Cail had spoken his piece. Ain and Brodey had made it clear to her the night before that the choice was hers.

  The visions she’d had over the past several months showed her something she’d never dreamed was so important to her until the reality of it smacked her in the face.

  Am I really fit to be a mom? Especially right now?

  Maybe she should focus on being an aunt first. She’d get plenty of practice with it over the next several days with the Beasts in residence. It didn’t matter what Cail said, she couldn’t get past the fact that she’d wanted to eviscerate Paul Abernathy and bathe in his entrails.

  What kind of mom material does that make me?

  She poured shampoo into her hand and lathered her hair.

  Hell, by the time the holidays are over, I might be ready to get my guys neutered and never have kids.

  Somewhere in the bac
k of her mind, a calm, gentle voice spoke up.

  You don’t need to decide right this minute.

  No, she didn’t. She didn’t know who that voice belonged to. Her own intuition? Maybe echoes of Maureen?

  She shoved it out of her mind and finished her shower.

  Chapter Five

  Lacey walked into Jocko’s kitchen and straight to the cabinet where he kept the tea. Smiling to herself, she loved that he stocked all her favorites. Neither of them had any desire to formally become mates, much less move in together, but it didn’t mean they didn’t enjoy each other’s company.

  Which was why she kept his favorite whiskey and beer on hand for him.

  It was only three days before Christmas Eve. In two days, they would fly down to spend Christmas with the Lyalls, and she wanted to enjoy her alone time with Jocko.

  “Eh, love, we’ll be having a little company shortly,” he said.

  She leaned to the left so she could look over the counter into the living room. “Who?”

  “A lass from an Eastern European Clan. She called me up a while back, wantin’ to exchange Clan line information. She’s trying to track down some distant relatives. Over here visitin’ kin in New York for the holidays. Asked if she could come up and go through my records while she was here and I told her sure.”

  Lacey found the herbal tea she wanted. “How much of our time will this take up?” She hoped he found her smile seductive. Yes, he was younger than her. By quite a lot, as a matter of fact, but that didn’t seem to bother him.

  It surely didn’t bother her.

  He chuckled as he walked around the counter and into the kitchen. There, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Not too much, lovely one.”

  They heard a car pull up a half hour later. Jasper, lying in the foyer, raised his head but didn’t get up or bark. When the doorbell rang a moment later, he still maintained his position.

  When Jocko opened the door for the visitor, however, Lacey was startled by the low growl rumbling from Jasper’s throat.

  “Lacey, love? Call yer beast, would ye?” Jocko stepped aside to allow the visitor in. Lanky and looking vaguely familiar, Lacey could see the wolf lurking beneath her surface. Flowing hair so black it almost looked blue, her flinty grey eyes took in the whole room.

  “Jasper, come!” Lacey watched as the dog eyed the young woman, his hackles up. Lacey stepped forward to grab his collar, but then he turned and came to Lacey, his spine arched, body tense.

  “I’ll take him out to the back porch,” she said.

  The woman smiled. “Oh, it’s okay,” she said in accented English. “I get that a lot, unfortunately.”

  “Ye do?” Jocko asked, puzzled.

  “I’ve…what’s the American expression? Got a cat in my woodpile, as it were. Some dogs tend to react to that in me.”

  “Ah.” Lacey led the dog out to the screened porch and left him there. It was a warm day for winter, and with his dense fur, the Bernese Mountain dog mutt would be okay out there under shelter for a little while. She returned to the living room and extended her hand to the guest. “Lacey Fraser.”

  The woman smiled, her expression warm in contrast to her cool gaze, and took Lacey’s hand.

  “Mercedes Megaera. Pleased to meet you.”

  Lacey stared at the woman for a moment before slowly nodding. “Pleased to meet you, too, dear.”

  The younger woman cocked her head. “Have we met before?”

  Lacey broadly smiled. “No, I don’t believe we have. I hope you find the information you’re seeking.”

  “So do I.”

  * * * *

  When Mercedes prepared to leave nearly two hours later, Lacey shook with her one more time, making a point to look the young woman in the eyes. “Will you be in the States for long?”

  Mercedes nodded. “Until May, at least. Possibly longer if my business keeps me here. I was fortunate I could mix business with family matters, as it were.”

  Lacey had heard her accent slip a few times. Yes, she was likely fluent in Russian, maybe a few other languages. It was common for shifters over a hundred years of age to have more than one language under their belts, especially if they came from Europe.

  But if Mercedes had just arrived in the States for the first time a few days earlier from Eastern Europe, Lacey would eat her shoes.

  “Jocko, do you think we could get her an invitation to the Gathering?” Lacey asked.

  “What? Why—”

  “She’s extended family, in a way.” Lacey cocked her head at the woman and smiled. “Common interests and all that.”

  The younger woman’s gaze narrowed slightly, nearly imperceptibly, but Lacey took that as final proof.

  “Gathering?” Mercedes asked.

  “Yes, a large meeting of various shifter Clans in Yellowstone. In March. Not just wolves, but other shifters, too.”

  “Ah. We’ve had similar meetings in Europe, but not for several decades now, if I’m not mistaken. I would enjoy that greatly.”

  “Do we have your contact information?”

  “Jocko does.”

  “Wonderful! Hopefully we’ll see you there.”

  Jocko practically danced from foot to foot as he closed the door behind Mercedes. He rushed over to Lacey, his voice low and growly. “All right, lovely one. What was that all about? What the bloody hell did ye see?”

  Lacey shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Like hell ye don’t.” He scrubbed his face with his hand. “Ye can’t lie to me. I’ve seen ye get that look before, Seer. What did ye see?”

  She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked up into his eyes. “Jocko, she was a very nice young girl. Well, young relatively speaking.” She palmed his cheek. “That’s what I saw, that she is someone very much like myself.”

  He frowned. “She’s a Seer?”

  “No, she’s someone who’s lost a lot of family over the years and is looking to connect with others.”

  “Oh.” The clouds lifted from his expression. “Well, then. I don’t see any harm in that.”

  “Neither do I, dear. I’m sure she’ll have a lovely time at our Gathering.” She went and let Jasper back in. He walked over to the front door and sniffed but displayed none of his earlier aggression.

  “Eh, that was weird how he acted,” Jocko said. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen yer beast behave like that before. He’s never hassled Doug or Oscar or any of the other feline shifters. In fact, he right likes them.”

  Lacey took Jocko’s hand and led him toward the bedroom. “Do you want to worry about my dog needing an obedience class, or getting back to our private business?”

  He heartily laughed. “Ye know me too well, lovely. Too damn well.”

  An hour later, she lay next to Jocko. He was already lightly snoring.

  Lacey couldn’t help smiling. Not over the lovely interlude they’d just shared, but what she’d seen when shaking Mercedes’ hand.

  Rodolfo Abernathy, held hostage, likely in her basement.

  Sorry, Lina, but I’m not about to reveal this little tidbit.

  She damn sure wouldn’t share that the woman had plans to hand Rodolfo off to the Montalvos once she’d finished with him. Or that Mercedes had her own grudge against both the cockatrice as well as Rodolfo. Lacey hadn’t seen exactly why but had her suspicions.

  Maybe I can’t rip the bastard’s throat out myself, but it will be fitting vengeance for Colleen. Rodolfo had killed her cousin, also a Seer, when her visions didn’t go the way he wanted them to.

  This vengeance might be ice cold, but I will savor every single bite.

  Chapter Six

  When Ain returned to the house for lunch, Elain took a moment to speak with him. She leaned against the kitchen counter while he put together a sandwich.

  “Apparently, I’m now a metaphysical messenger service,” she snarked.

  One dark eyebrow deliciously arched over a grey eye. “How so?”

/>   Elain gave him the super-short summary of her overnight talk with Baba Yaga, including the Immortal’s recommendation that the other shifter races be included in the plans.

  His expression changed, contemplating. “That makes sense,” he said after a moment. “I had thought about calling the dolphins and alligators and inviting them, but I wasn’t sure. I was going to ask Blackie and the others about it and get their opinion first.”

  “Well, Seer says it’s a good idea.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked in a playful smile. “Then I guess I should make some phone calls before I head back to the barns, huh?”

  Her gaze dropped to the floor as she nodded.

  Before she could react he’d pulled her to him and she was in his arms, cradled against him. His breath felt warm against the top of her head and she couldn’t resist the opportunity to snuggle even more tightly against him.

  “Talk to me,” he softly encouraged.

  She heard Brodey enter the living room through the back sliders and knew her alone moment with Ain was almost over. “I just feel overwhelmed,” she whispered against his chest.

  “Please, lean on us as much as you can. You’re not alone.”

  “I know.”

  Sure enough, Brodey walked into the kitchen at that moment. “Yay, group hug!” he joked, racing over and slamming into her backside, shoving her even more tightly against Ain.

  “Hey, I’m not getting happy vibes,” Brodey said. “What’s up?”

  Ain spoke up before she could. “I’ll fill you in later.”

  Bless her sweet bonehead’s heart, he did pick up some things quickly. “Ah, gotcha.” He nibbled on the back of her neck, sending shivers straight down her spine and between her legs, almost shoving all other thoughts out of her brain.

  Almost.

  He wasn’t quite that good.

  “Seer stuff,” she mumbled, wishing she could spend the day with them, just like that, snuggled between them. Well, with Cail, too. She felt waves of love and concern flowing from them through her, temporarily cocooning her in the warmth from their bodies and their emotions.