Michelle’s humor needed work.
She cleared her throat and looked at Dad. “Thank you for keeping Liam and Aden safe. Frank admitted Blake attempted to get them back.” She glanced at Winifred. “I’m guessing Frank followed us here and called Blake. I think Blake was on his way here while we were going to him. Anyway, when we got to Wisconsin, I had a visit from Frank. He’s the reason I ran into a door. He took me to a motel and started saying some weird things, like I was just one piece of a huge puzzle and that they would start with me but get all of my sisters.”
I frowned, wishing she’d told me that when we were still standing over Frank. I was tired of not having any answers.
“You have sisters?” Winifred asked.
“No, I don’t. I think he means women like me—us.” Michelle looked at Mom. “I’ve been having visions of other women. So far, there seem to be five of us total. I’m guessing each of us has a unique ability. One of the women seemed to have a calming effect on the crowd around her. The other two were harder to tell. Does Gabby have any special abilities?”
“She’s told Sam about an unusual pull she has on human men. According to Sam, they appear to be very attracted to her. Yet, our men don’t seem any more or less attracted to her because of it,” Mom said.
“Hmm. My abilities changed when I met Emmitt and again when I met you. You said yours first changed when you Claimed Thomas. Maybe hers will manifest when she’s with her Mate?”
“She found her Mate,” Winifred said. “But, she isn’t acknowledging him. We’ll have to keep an eye on the situation.”
“What happened when you met me?” Mom asked, circling back to what Michelle had said.
“Well, it wasn’t exactly when we met but when we first touched. Before meeting any of you, my premonitions were only about the stock markets. When I met Emmitt, I started to see people. Women. But when I first touched you, I was transported to another place. It was like a white nothing filled with monitors. Each monitor had an image of one of us, women with power. Around us, there were always werewolves. Somehow, we were in the middle of them. I wasn’t able to study the images before I was pulled out of that place.”
“When I let go,” Mom said, nodding. “It makes sense. I seem to enhance Thomas’s ability as pack leader through our mental link. Perhaps I enhance yours when we touch.”
“Maybe,” Michelle said. “I did notice something else important, I think. The images I’ve seen played out when touching Emmitt are the same ones that are in that room. I’m thinking that’s my source. And, I’m still not clear why I don’t see a vision every time I’m with Emmitt.
“To be safe, we need to warn Gabby about Blake and his men. I also think we need to look for the others like us. I don’t want any of them to have to deal with Frank or Blake on their own.”
Her fear for the other women was plain. I reached over and held her hand. A surge of reassurance enfolded me, strangling the guilt that her words had evoked.
“Did Frank say anything more about the puzzle? What he meant?” Winifred asked.
“No. Nothing clear, anyway. He said they were going to stop this cycle so a judgment would be made. He was talking about Urbat, making it sound like it was another type of werewolf.”
Another type of werewolf? I glanced at Dad. He was either deep in thought or talking to one of the Elders.
Finally, Winifred spoke up. “I’ve let Sam know about the possible danger. Gabby has made arrangements for college, which will be starting soon. Sam is working on how to keep her safe.” She looked toward Dad. “We’re going to accept Joshua’s request. We can use his help.”
Jim was going to be pissed.
“Who’s Joshua?” Michelle asked.
“He’s the candidate for becoming an Elder.”
“Isn’t he the one you can’t read clearly?”
Winifred and Sam both nodded.
“It’s time to expand,” Dad said. “Tomorrow, you and your family can go back home. We’ll be sending six members with you, including Grey. With two elders and eight members, you’ll be as safe as you are here.”
Michelle’s worry teased my nose as much as it tugged at my heart.
“How many came when we were gone?” she asked.
“It was always a solitary man,” Dad said. “He was quick to run when we spotted him.”
Michelle slowly shook her head. “There are more than that. In the four years Blake kept me, I sat through dinner once a month with ten of his men. I don’t remember seeing the same face twice.”
I wasn’t the only one doing the math. Mom looked shocked.
“I don’t think we should leave,” Michelle said. “I think this is the safest place, and I think we should get Gabby here, too.”
Winifred was already shaking her head. “Sam’s afraid she’ll run if he presses her. She’s in denial right now. We’ll have to trust him and her Mate to keep her safe. Joshua is willing to move near her, too.”
“If you’re right about us being targets, wouldn’t it be better to split up? We have some money set aside that we can use to add security to the Montana Compound,” Mom said.
Between her scent, facial expression, and what I felt over our connection, Michelle’s excitement was almost tangible.
“You’re right about the security.” She stood and grinned at all of us. “Make plans for us to leave tomorrow. I have some calls to make. Emmitt, tell your parents the good news.”
I smiled as she left the room.
“Good news?” Dad asked.
“Good and bad. Michelle’s stepfather left her everything, including a substantial amount of money that Blake wants very badly. To keep it out of his hands, she put the majority of it in two trusts. One for her brothers, and one for us.”
“What do you mean substantial?” Mom asked.
“In the millions, Mom. More than we would spend in ten generations with our way of life.”
“Will it draw attention to us?” Dad asked.
“No. She and the lawyer were very careful with how they set everything up. The bottom line is that she’s out there now making calls to ensure the Montana branch is a safer place.”
“What’s the bad news?” Mom asked.
“I know you want me to start a second pack and take on some of the responsibility you carry. But, I think splitting the pack will weaken us. I’m not saying to keep the families away. I’m just saying, they shouldn’t leave your pack and swear themselves to me. We need unity. Especially now. The number of men under Blake’s influence...”
“Far surpasses our own.”
I nodded. Dad’s pack was big. Bigger than any the old timers and Elders could remember. But if all those men Blake introduced to Michelle were in his pack, Blake’s numbers far surpassed Dad’s.
Mom looked at Dad. “Is it safe enough? Should we really consider splitting?”
“Families are crowded and getting restless. If we don’t open Montana and show we are expanding to accommodate, some will leave and be on their own.”
Mom sighed and nodded. It was better to be with others and near Elders than on their own.