A Lady's Heart (Takhini Shifters #3)(18)

Yeah he wasn't about to lie, and she was right.

Dammit. She was right. She was safe at his side. That's what he needed to convince her of, for now and the future. And there was only one way to face the challenge, and that was to deal with whatever in her past was haunting her, once and for all.

"Grab your stuff, and let's go."





Oh boy, she'd become the best bluffer in town.

Mandy wanted to face whoever it was who'd been stalking her, but it was an outright lie to say she was comfortable with the idea.

Nightmares of her days married to Todd kept intruding, but she forced the memories aside by focusing on the big, gentle giant at her side. The wall of protection that he offered.

Nothing would happen to her with Justin around, and so the only thing to be afraid of was backing down.

Justin squeezed her fingers as they stood outside the door of the Wolf Brothers Wild Adventures shop, waiting for her to work up her courage.

The door opened and Caden stepped out, tugging the door closed behind him as he glanced between them. "Take a deep breath and relax," he ordered. "Nadia's here."

Tension drained out of Mandy like pulling a plug from the sink, and she noticed Justin breathed a sigh of relief as well. "Oh, brilliant idea."

"It's always good to have backup in place." Caden grinned before elbowing Justin in the side. "Pulled one over on you, hey, Baloo? You forgot we got the rooten-tootenest cowboy sheriff around in these parts."

Justin made a gagging noise. "I'll be sure to tell her you said so. In those exact words."

Caden's expression twisted slightly. "Aww, you don't have to do that. Seeing as we're kinda busy right now, and all." 

"Don't feel like explaining yourself to her, do you?"

The wolf shook his head. "Hell, no. I like my fur on the outside, and my tail knotless, thanks."

They walked through the door, and that eerie sense of calm hit. The one that filled a room when Nadia was trying to keep things under control. Fresh and clean, invigorating and yet slightly drowsy, the scent after a spring rain. Mandy curled her fingers around Justin's hand to tug him forward with her.

There was a lot to take in at one glance. Nadia stood to the left, leaning on the wall. On the opposite side of the room, Cole sat at the table with his fingers wrapped around the frail wrist of a dark-haired young woman …

Mandy's heart leapt with excitement, and she dropped her hold on Justin and sprinted across the room.





It all happened in an instant.

Justin's gaze landed on Cole, sitting at a table with his fingers wrapped tightly around the arm of a dark-haired woman. Justin took a closer look, confused for moment until he realized why the stranger looked so familiar. That's when Mandy took off from his side, rushing forward with her hands thrown out in greeting.

"Danielle?"

The next moments passed in a rush of noise and confusion as Mandy pulled the other woman into her arms. Cole stood, and Justin hovered behind Mandy, having chased after her as quickly as he could.

"Oh, Mandy. It is you." The other woman burst into tears.

Justin stood at Mandy's back in case he was needed, but it seemed she knew who the other woman was, so he turned to taunt Cole. "Took you long enough."

"There were complications," Cole snapped, all joking aside as he watched Danielle closely.

Obsessively.

Oh shit, that didn't bode well.

Someone cleared their throat loudly, drawing their attention across the room to where Nadia was holding up the wall. She rolled her eyes. "You mustn't think much of me with the way you're both hovering over those women," Nadia complained. "Sit down, all of you. The sooner we figure out this mess, the better."

Mandy refused to let go of Danielle's hand, pulling her into the chair Cole had abandoned, and forcing the men to take positions behind them.

"So she really does know you?" Cole demanded.

Mandy nodded, touching Danielle's face gently. "Although I didn't recognize you for a moment. You've changed."

"Grown up."

Mandy twisted in her chair to offer Justin a brilliant smile. "Danielle is my middle sister. I haven't seen her or Susanna since I moved away."

Some of his fears faded, but he still had concerns. "But who was with her? Why did she chase us with the snowmobiles? And what was she doing in your apartment?"

Danielle didn't flinch, but she only answered part of his questions. "Trying to get information. We heard rumors, but no one would tell us anything for sure, so I figured I had to find out for myself." Danielle looked Justin up and down slowly, assessing and apparently finding him wanting. "I wanted to know that she was free of the controlling bastard who'd taken her from us."

"I am," Mandy assured her. "Everything has changed, and it's all going to be okay. Justin's boss is the new head of the bear clans, and he's making changes. Good changes."

Danielle and Justin exchanged another glance. Her youth was now a lot more apparent after he'd spent some time watching her. She had to be barely out of her teens.

She shrugged then ignored Justin and focused on Mandy, joining their hands. "We'll see. But now that I found you, I want you to come home with me."



       
         
       
        

"No."

The word jerked out of Justin involuntarily, and the only thing that made it better, maybe, was that he wasn't alone in declaring it.

Cole had snapped the word at the same moment, staring at Danielle.

The two women at the table moved as if in a well-choreographed routine. They pushed their chairs back and turned, folding their arms over their chests as they offered stern glares at the men.

"No?" Mandy asked in shock.

Justin struggled to find a way to reverse his outburst, but it was impossible to turn off his protective instincts. "Not until we find out more," he insisted.

"She's my sister."

"Which means you trust her," Justin answered back. "Which is exactly what someone with more nefarious purposes like your ex would do. They'd think nothing of using your sister to get at you."

Cole turned on him, pulling his lips back to show teeth. "Are you saying Danielle's bait in a trap?"

The wolf's hackles were up, and Justin motioned for him to relax. "I'm saying we don't do anything without thinking this through."

Dead silence fell at the table. Mandy's gaze burned into him as she made her disapproval clear.

It took Nadia stepping forward to bring them back where the tension was low enough they could think again. The small blonde tugged out a chair and sat in it backward, leaning her arms along the backrest. "Nothing has to be decided this instant," she pointed out.

"I'm not letting Danielle out of my sight," Cole insisted.

"I know, because she was talented enough to give you the slip for such a long time." Nadia clicked her tongue soothingly. "I'm sure she won't be so mean to you, ever again. Poor wittle wolfie."

Cole sputtered even as Danielle's lips twisted into a smirk.

"We can figure out something that keeps everyone around and happy until Mandy has made a decision. Because, unless I'm wrong, and I don't think so, this is her decision to make." Nadia pointed at Mandy.

Mandy stood, pulling Danielle into her arms and hugging her tight. "Yes, it is my decision, but there's no way I can make it unless I have time to talk with my sister. Alone."

She twisted rapidly, fists going to her hips as she glared at both Cole and Justin. "Stop with the growling, guys. If you're worried about Danielle magically whisking me off under your nose"-she shifted her gaze to Justin, her chin tilting up defiantly-"or if you don't trust me to stay around like I promised I would, we'll just sit here and talk. But you two have to sit over there."

She pointed across the room. 

"Cole will be able to hear you," Justin reminded her reluctantly.

The wolf jabbed his fingers into Justin's ribcage like a knife.

Justin didn't care. Mandy's stern expression had softened at his words. She laid a hand on his arm. "I know he can hear. That's not the point. I'm not trying to keep secrets, I just want to be with her, alone."

He nodded, then stepped back as Nadia linked her hands around his arm and Cole's, hauling them toward the door. "See, Cole? See how much easier things go if you just listen to the smarter people in the room?"

Cole snapped his teeth at her, and she laughed.

"Okay, that one was a little mean of me. Come on, Mr. Growly. Your new friend will be here when you get back. I need you to come give me a hand for a minute."

"But she said-"

"Mandy might not mind your bionic wolf hearing, but they deserve privacy. And I really do need your help. Please?" Nadia wheedled.

Cole refused to budge until he got Danielle's attention, speaking softly but most definitely an order. "Don't even think about leaving town without me."

Danielle scratched her cheek with her middle finger before turning her attention back to her sister.

Justin was pacified by the fact Mandy seemed completely in control, and comfortable, so he went outside, the doors closing with a solid click behind him.





After the adrenaline rush of the last few moments, Mandy was happy to sit back down, catching hold of Danielle's hand again and squeezing it tightly.