After a few moments, I rolled off the couch and limped to my apartment. A cool shower helped a little. Time helped more.
When I walked into Winifred’s apartment, I barely had a hitch to my step. Mary and Gregory didn’t seem to notice. I ignored Winifred’s knowing smirk as I joined them at the table.
“Thank you for allowing us the use of your apartment, Emmitt,” Gregory said. “I’ll be sure to let your father know the progress you’ve made.”
“Not me. Jim. I’ve only been home a few weeks.”
I reached to help myself to the remaining breakfast.
“And finished a whole apartment and repainted the outside of the house and built a play area for the cubs. It’s a lot of improvement in a few weeks. We look forward to the changes in the upcoming weeks.”
Already the weight of responsibility troubled me. How would I ever be a good leader?
“Where are Paul and Henry?” I asked Mary, hoping to change the subject.
“Still sleeping. They stayed up late with Jim, watching a movie about pie and America, I believe.”
I recalled watching the movie a few years ago and coughed on my eggs. If Mary ever found out what Jim had let them watch, he’d be the one walking with a limp.
It wasn’t long before the boys came running downstairs. Paul and Henry didn’t sleep long after that. The little time they had left before leaving, they spent playing in the yard with Liam and Aden.
Everyone was on the porch when Michelle joined us, freshly showered. She wouldn’t meet my eyes but did stand beside me. Hopefully that meant she was embarrassed by my interest rather than angry with it.
After Mary and Gregory left, the boys talked us all into a game of baseball. They never seemed to tire of the game and basked in Winifred’s praise every time they caught the ball or scored a run. Jim’s return home gave us a chance to call a break for dinner. Afterwards, the boys talked Jim into a movie at Nana’s place.
“You two need to get ready for bed first,” Michelle said. A whole day of outside play had worn them out, and she knew they would fall asleep before the movie ended.
The boys agreed and raced off to pick a movie and do as their sister asked.
“I’ll go help them,” Winifred said, leaving me alone with Michelle.
Although we’d spent the day together, I hadn’t had any time with her. I wanted to apologize and hopefully ease some of the nervous avoidance I’d noticed throughout the day. Not physically. She wasn’t afraid to be near me. But she wouldn’t meet my gaze yet.
Taking her hand in mine, I led her to the open tailgate of the truck. She squeaked when I lifted her up and sat her on the gate, but leaned toward me when I joined her. Enjoying the closeness, I decided to keep my apology to myself for a few more minutes, and watched the sun set with her.
“I’m sorry about last night,” she said as the last of the light faded.
“Why? It’s the best night sleep I had in a while.”
She rolled her eyes at me, making me grin.
“The longer I’m with you,” I said, “the more I want to be near you. When you first came here, being apart at night didn’t bother me. You were only two floors away, and I’d started working on the apartment so I knew we would be closer soon. Then, sleeping in a bed that smelled like you helped, but it’s been getting difficult again. If you asked, I’d sleep on your couch every night.”
She considered it for a moment before answering.
“I’m not sure how Liam and Aden would take that. They’d probably worry that we aren’t safe again, no matter what explanation we gave them for your overnight stays. I don’t want to scare them.”
“We could always share your bed,” I said.
She looked shocked by the idea.
“No hidden agenda. Just sleeping.” And I’d keep my word. Anything to have her wrapped around me like last night.
A small sound distracted me from her response. A laugh.
“Pussy,” a voice in the darkness said. “She doesn’t need a boy in her bed. She needs a man.”
A challenge? I moved fast, lifting Michelle from the tailgate as I watched the woods. The mutt still hadn’t shown himself.
“Get onto the porch,” I said, putting myself between her and my challenger.
I was just about to call for Winifred as a witness when two men moved in the trees. Challenges were one-on-one. I reached for Michelle and nudged her toward the porch. She finally started moving.
Winifred, we have two visitors. One might be here for a challenge. Neither has stated their intent yet.
I’ll be down in a moment.
The two men stepped into the yard, already partially shifted. Moonlight broke through the clouds, lighting the area enough that Michelle caught sight of them. The scent of her fear worried me.
One of them smiled at her, and I growled.
Michelle moved slightly behind me, her heart thrumming fast.
“Where’s Blake?” she asked, her voice carrying.
Both of the werewolves stopped their advance. They exuded confidence, not confusion. That could only mean they knew Blake. They knew Michelle.
“Give him a message for me,” she said. “He won’t get what he wants. I’ve seen it.”
Winifred, I need you now, I sent her.
I’m here.
I heard her moving stealthily down the stairs.
“You know nothing, little girl,” one said from the darkness. “You just played dress up and sat at Blake’s dinners like the puppet you are. If not for the curse that causes you to be born to humans, we would have wiped out humanity long ago.” As he spoke, he began to shift further. “You are nothing more than a tool.”
Winifred stepped out onto the porch. The men in the dark shadows didn’t react well to her appearance. The hold they had on their shift slipped, and their muzzles started to form as their hands shrank to paws.
“Leave now,” Winifred said. It wasn’t an order. It was an Elder command.
However, neither wolf moved to do as she’d commanded. Stunned, I watched as they moved forward again.
“Quiet, old woman,” the second werewolf growled.
Michelle cringed, and Winifred snarled as she burst into her fur. Bits of her clothes flew in all directions. I didn’t take my eyes from the men as she leaped over our heads and landed several yards in front of the porch.
Guard your Mate and watch for others, Winifred warned as she crouched low and growled at the intruders.
She stared them down, but neither werewolf budged. Without a doubt she was trying to command them still. For several minutes, they remained locked in a silent standoff while I scanned the darkness for signs of any more mutts. Although Winifred continued to growl occasionally, they did nothing.
“What’s going on?” Michelle whispered behind me.
“She’s trying to talk to them through her link.”
One of the wolves barked a laugh, a guttural taunting sound, and Winifred let out another furious snarl. Her muscles bunched a second before she launched herself at them. The half-changed werewolves burst into their own fur, meeting her onslaught.
The three collided with an audible thud. Michelle gripped my shoulder.
“Help her, Emmitt,” she said.
“Michelle, she’s an Elder. She has more strength than Jim and I do combined, more than enough to take care of those two and several more. You need me more than she does.”