Chapter 25
CLIO
At Wolf Ranch the following evening, Sam lifted me out of his truck by the waist as JT clamored past me, already freed from his booster seat.
There would be a full moon run for the wolves at the ranch that night, but Sam said that meant there’d also be a barbecue all afternoon, and it would be a chance for me to meet his family and pack beforehand.
“I’m going to find Remy!” JT called out as he raced toward a clump of kids around the tree fort.
“Don’t go anywhere else without telling me!” I called to his rapidly disappearing back.
“He’s safe here,” Sam promised.
I had to admit I was a little skittish about meeting everyone because Ted had made it seem like his pack would never accept me. But I had to trust that what Sam said was true–that we truly were welcome. That they accepted humans and half-humans into the pack.
Unlike when I came to fix the tractor, I was nervous. Things were different now.
“I’ll stick close, but remember, later, I’ll have to let my wolf out to run for at least a short time because you’ve got him all riled up,” he reminded me of what he’d told me when he picked us up.
“I promise there will be other human females and kids who don’t shift with you, so you won’t be out of place.
Marina, who you know, her sister, Audrey, and her daughter, Lizzie, Becky, who has a little girl named Lily.
” He laughed. “A whole girl gang ready to have you join. Plus Remy, Joy, and others.”
“Okay.”
My limbs felt loose, my body warm and supple. I’d let Sam spend the night again–with JT home this time. It seemed like I’d done an abrupt one-eighty since Friday night, going from keeping Sam at arm’s length for sex only to giving our relationship a real shot.
I had whiplash from my own change of perspective.
Meanwhile, Sam was making me fall head over heels in love with him.
Last night, he’d made us tacos for dinner, read JT to sleep, then pleasured me for hours.
It must have been the full moon because every time he looked at me, his eyes took on a hungry, pale blue glow.
I had the sense of freefalling. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
Sam put his hand on my lower back and guided us toward the big house he’d said belonged to Rob Wolf and his brothers the other day. It was a sprawling house with a giant, wraparound porch. People spilled all over the decks, in front and back.
The air was cooler today, with fall definitely in the air. The leaves on the cottonwoods and aspens were a bright yellow.
Happy shrieks of children came from multiple directions. I glanced over at the tree fort and easily spotted JT with his new BFF, Remy. Safe with other wolf shifters.
It was entirely new to me to feel like I could let him run and play without worrying he’d out himself. He could be himself here, and it made me feel bad that I’d had to stifle him in the past. No longer.
Two women waved from the porch, and I smiled because I recognized them both–it was Marina, the woman who had let JT help with the bake sale at the fall festival, and Charlie, the vet who’d asked Sam for help with Cletus, the unruly stallion, the first time I was out here.
They welcomed me when I joined them and pointed us toward the cooler to grab drinks.
“There’s gonna be a lot of names thrown at you all at once,” Sam warned after opening a bottle of beer for each of us and handing me one. The chill seeped into my fingers. “Don’t worry about learning them all tonight.”
“Okay,” I laughed, a little relieved.
He was right. As he led me on a circuit around the deck to the back, I met more than a dozen people. Cowboys, stacked with muscles and the perfect picture of male virility. Females who looked like they could sling hay bales as easily as any man.
Near the grill stood three huge, muscled men in cowboy hats. Sam led me over to them. “This is Rob Wolf, our alpha, and his brothers Boyd and Colton. Boyd taught me how to ride bulls and broncs. Guys, this is Clio, the new mechanic over at Ernie’s Garage.”
I shook each of their hands, watching Rob for any sign of displeasure at me being there, but I saw none. “Nice to meet you, Clio. Are you named for the race car?” Rob asked.
I smiled. Sam had guessed that, too. “Yep. My dad was also a race car mechanic.”
“Well, we have the IndyCar race going on the TV in the living room, if you want to watch.” He glanced at his phone. “Should be starting up in just a few.”
I gave him a polite smile. “Thanks, but I’m okay. I’ve seen enough races to last a lifetime.”
“Unca Sam! Unca Sam! Sammeeeeeeee!” The little girl I’d seen on Sam’s hip at the fall festival came racing toward us, launching herself into the air three feet away from Sam.
Her little body slammed into his chest like a cannonball. Wow, she could leap.
“Oof!” Sam pretended to stagger back, his eyes open wide with surprise. He lifted the little girl high into the air. “Cassie, my lassie! You found me!”
I was melting. Sam was adorable with kids.
He scooted her around to sit on his hip. “I want you to meet someone. This is my friend, Clio.”
His… friend?
Huh. I thought I was his–
Wait. He hadn’t introduced me as his mate to the Wolf brothers either.
The little girl’s nostrils flared as she sampled the air. “She’s human, Unca Sam.” She giggled like he must be joking. That I couldn’t possibly be his friend if I were human.
But whatever. I wasn’t going to judge this crowd based on a three-year-old’s reception.
“Yep, she sure is. Where’s your momma? I want her to meet Clio, too.” He tickled her side, and she wriggled and giggled.
“Right there!” The child pointed down the stairs to a lower deck where another dozen people sat around a large table and in groupings of chairs.
Two blonde women–obviously mother and daughter–waved us over.
“This is my sister, Sylvie, and my mom, Eileen,” Sam said as we went down to meet them.
Eileen stood and opened her arms wide. “Oh, Clio! It’s so nice to meet you. Are you a hugger? I’m a hugger.”
“Sure,” I laughed, letting her hug me.
Sylvie went in for a quick hug, too. “We’ve heard so much about you. Sam pointed you out at the fall festival at school, but you were busy with pizza, and besides, you guys weren’t public yet about your, ah…” She waved a finger between us, waggling her brows suggestively.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Sam cut in with a grin, not the least bit sheepish.
“We’re going to get some food.” He tugged my hand to lead me away from his family.
“Sorry,” he said, leaning close to murmur in my ear.
“My sister can be overly…ugh.” He interlaced his fingers with mine, stealing a glance at me. “I hope that wasn’t awkward.”
I laughed and shrugged. “I worked on a pit crew. I’m used to all kinds of conjectures about my sex life.”
Sam laughed. “That’s probably good because I’m the butt of every sex joke around here. Not that I mind in the least. Do you want some food?” He patted his stomach. “I’m crazy hungry, and I gotta fill up for the run later.”
I nodded. “Sure, make me a plate of a little of everything. I’m going to go find the restroom to wash up first.”
He squeezed my side then let go. “Okay, I’ll fix some plates for us.” He pointed toward the house. “Straight through the kitchen, into the living room, then on the left. You can’t miss it.”
I followed Sam’s directions. I walked through the living room, a roar of triumph exploded, and people surged to their feet, shouting at the television.
Ted’s profile picture beamed from the corner of the screen as live footage of the race he just won still showed below. “Ted Thorson is the new record holder for the most IndyCar races won in a single season!” the reporter announced with glee.
My insides heated. I wobbled on my axis. I shouldn’t still hate him. I had Sam now. But all those angry, bitter feelings bubbled up just the same. I knew all the hard work the pit crew did to put him past the checkered flag first, yet it was his face on the screen.
He got the glory.
The rest of us? Me? He’d thrown me away like I was dirt. His pack believed I was inferior. All the anger and defensiveness I’d let go unexpressed surfaced. Even after all these years, it hurt.
But that was foolish.
I shoved the anger back down and forced myself to think about Sam. He was different. His pack was different. This wasn’t going to end the same way. He may have reminded me of Ted at first, but he wasn’t the same. I could trust him. Ted was just a face on the TV screen to me now. Nothing more.
I used the restroom and emerged. The kitchen was choked with the group of kids who had been out at the fort now serving themselves from the huge farm table piled high with various potluck items. I caught sight of JT and Remy disappearing with filled plates through the far door toward the deck, side by side and giggling.
Rather than fight my way through the kitchen, I reversed direction to go out front and follow the wrap-around porch to the back deck to head JT off there.
Make sure he got something healthy in him.
I was sure he’d picked the baked beans because they were his favorite and all the sweets options. Nothing else.
Another crowd bottlenecked that area, and I tried to get around a female and two guys. “Who’s that halfling running around with Clio?” a man asked, holding a plate loaded with barbecue.
I stopped in my tracks then took a step back. Then another.
“Yeah, they’re new to town. Apparently, she’s human. The alpha put Sam on seduction duty to find out what the scoop is. You know, what kind of drama the kid will bring into the pack.”
A wave of dizziness nearly bowled me over. I reached out and set my hand on the side of the house to hold myself up. I couldn’t breathe.
The alpha put Sam on seduction duty? Seduction duty?
The head of the pack thought a five-year-old would bring drama?
Well, I guessed Sam had done his duty all right.
The blonde woman standing beside the man who’d just spoken must’ve sensed my presence because she turned around to find me behind her. She gasped, and her eyes widened. I recognized who she was because she looked just like Sam and Sylvie.
She elbowed the man beside her and hissed, “Chuck!”
He whipped his head around, and his eyes got just as big.
To me, she said, “He didn’t mean it like that. My husband is an idiot. Sam—”
I shook my head and shoved past them, not interested in anything she had to say about Sam.
My vision blurred as I scanned the crowd, looking for JT.
I had to get out of there. My stomach balled up under my ribs like a tight fist. The shock of betrayal was almost too much.
I could barely think. I had to get away.
Get my halfling with all the drama and go.
“Wait! Hang on!”
I ignored Sam’s sister calling behind me.
“Chuck–you’d better fix this!” she snapped.
I picked up my speed, darting between people to find my son. There. Crap!
Of course, JT was sitting with Sam at a table. Before JT was a plate loaded with cut fruit, a half ear of corn and some cubed cheese. Healthy food. Wes, Joy, and Remy sat with them. A seat was saved beside Sam, no doubt for me.
I walked over, bent down and took the plastic fork from JT’s hand and set it on his paper plate. “Come on, JT. We’re going.”
“What?” Sam’s brows slammed down, and he stood from the table. “What happened? What’s going on?”
I picked JT up and held him close. His eyes were wide and frightened because he could tell I was mad. His little hand grabbed hold of my shirt.
“The seduction’s over,” I spat at Sam. “Deal’s off. We’re through.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” All the color had leached from Sam’s face as his eyes widened. “What happened? What’s going on?” He looked around like someone else might tell him what was going on.
As it turned out, someone did: his sister. “Chuck spilled the beans.”
It sure as hell wasn’t baked beans.