A Lady's Heart (Takhini Shifters #3)(19)

"Tell me everything that's happening at home. No, wait. Tell me how you found me. No, wait … " Mandy shook her head. "I feel as if we've got forever to catch up on, and I don't even know what to ask you."

Daniel glanced toward the door "Then don't. Let me ask the questions instead. Are you really okay? We'd heard terrible things, but it's still nearly impossible to get any up-to-date news on the island."

"I really am good. I'm free," she told her sister, honest relief in her voice.

Danielle didn't jump up and down with excitement the way Mandy had hoped she would.

Instead her sister took another glance at the door. "Who's he? The big bear? Because he doesn't look any safer then Todd."

Oh. Now Mandy understood why the private discussion. "Justin is nothing at all like Todd. Okay, yes, he's a big, possessive bear, but in all the ways that count, they're nothing alike. He's been so careful with me."

"He hauled you halfway across the north on a moment's notice."

Mandy gave her sister a warning glance. "He brought me to Chicken to protect me because you and someone else broke into my apartment, and we were afraid it was someone associated with Todd."

Daniel relaxed the tiniest bit. "That was me and one of the clan. Susanna wanted to come, but she's a lousy tracker. And I couldn't take any chances. Even now, what if you're just saying something because you think it's what's best for us? For the family? That's what you did before."

Her past was coming back to haunt her. "Not the same thing at all," Mandy's insisted. "Todd is out of my life for good."

"Then come to the island. We need you there. We need you to make a difference."

"I've been gone for eight years. The island isn't home anymore," Mandy protested.

Silence hung in the air. Her sister seemed to deflate, slouching back in her chair.

"Okay, this is going to sound stupid, but you're like the big sister in a storybook who's been shut away in an ivory tower for years." Danielle made a face. "I know about you, and I care for you, but I … don't know you as my sister."



       
         
       
        

"Yet," Mandy added, her own sorrow adding to the mix. "But I understand what you mean. I want the best for you, and Susanna, and the rest of the island, but you're all distant memories, in a way."

They stared at each other sadly. "Tough truths, hey, sis?"

"The toughest," Mandy agreed.

Danielle's expression grew softer. "Here's another tough truth. I'm sorry, but Nana passed away a couple of weeks ago. That's when we started looking for you."

Mandy had expected this to happen at some point. She'd been away for so long, and she'd somehow known that her grandmother would be gone before they could reconnect. Their relationship was … difficult to say the least. The cold spot that had formed inside her when she chose to leave all those years ago and her Nana hadn't protested-that coldness protected her now, and made her numb to grief.

She went with polite, although she didn't really remember her Nana very fondly. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"She knew you'd done your best for the family, but now that you're no longer with Todd, that means you need to return," Danielle insisted. "It's your responsibility. You're the oldest. You're supposed to take over leadership."

Awkwardness turned into discomfort as all the things she'd missed doing over the years once again slid from her grasp. Mandy shook her head. "Not necessarily. I gave up the right to rule the island when I left. That should put you next in line. Why don't you take the position?"

Danielle let out a burst of laughter. "Me? Oh, you have no idea what I've been doing for the last eight years. I'm the least likely person anyone is going to offer the rule to. It's got to be you, or I suppose Susanna."

Her littlest sister-all Mandy's memories were of an awkward ten-year-old with two left feet. "But she's just a baby."

Her sister raised a brow. "She's eighteen, but she's a far better choice than me."

They caught up a little more, then Mandy gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and brought the conversation back to Danielle's demand. "I can't give you an answer right now, I need to talk to people. Talk to … friends … and find out what they suggest."

Danielle hesitated. "Is that big bear one of the friends?"

Mandy saw no reason to lie. "Yes."

Her sister nodded slowly. "Okay. And by the way, I do trust you to do the right thing. We've been away from each other for a long time, but I always knew you were doing what you could for the family." She made a face. "Marrying Todd, then staying away and all." 

It had been the only choice she could make, no matter how big a sacrifice. "If I hadn't cut myself off from the family, Todd would have taken over the island and become a vile dictator. It was the only way to save you all."

Danielle grimaced. "By sacrificing yourself."

Mandy shrugged. It was old, old news. It was the next decision she had to make that would change her life forever.

Her sister eyed her in confusion. "It might seem odd, but I do love you."

"In a 'locked up princess in a tower' kind of way?"

"In a 'I'm proud to be your sister' kind of way." Danielle stood determinedly, changing the topic as a mischievous smile curled her lips. "While you're deciding, are you planning on leaving me with that wolf?"

Mandy looked her little sister over with concern. "What did he do to you?"

Danielle's eyes widened. "Oh, no … nothing like that. Really, except … "

She glanced toward the door as it opened, and Cole marched back in, Justin at his side.

The big bear who'd been so much a part of her life the past week caught the wolf by the arm to keep him by the door. Cole's hungry gaze never once left Danielle, but Mandy's focus was on Justin.

On the sheer size of him, yet how he held himself in a protective way to make sure her wish for privacy was respected. How he looked her over rapidly to reassure himself that she wasn't hurt. Wasn't needing.

She was needing-time to think and to talk through what came next.

"Danielle, I'm going for a walk. Can you stay here for a while? Or do you need something to eat, or-"

"I'll stay with her." Cole was across the room and by their side in an instant.

Danielle rolled her eyes. "Sure, big guy. You can sit right here."

She dragged out one of the chairs and patted the seat before lowering herself into the one next to it.

Mandy wasn't sure what was going on, but she nodded. "I'll see you in a little while, okay? And then you can come back to our place, and we'll catch up a whole lot more."

"No prob, sis. Love ya." Danielle blew her a kiss then turned to the wolf. "You are a grumpy puppy, aren't you?"

Cole threw himself into the chair and growled at her, but this time it was a soft sound, as if he was trying to stop from laughing.

Justin took her arm and pulled her from the shop, back into the bright sunshine. "Come on. The fresh air will do you good."

Danielle waved her fingers then laid her hand on Cole's arm where it rested on the table between them. She looked as if she'd be fine, so Mandy glanced into Justin's face. "Fresh air sounds wonderful."





Chapter Ten





Justin wasn't sure at this point what his options were, and the ones that popped to mind first were bad and worse.

He knew what he wanted-Mandy.

But as she wandered at his side totally oblivious to their surroundings, he knew the answer wasn't as cut and dried as that.

Impulsively he caught her fingers in his. "Come on. I'm taking you for a ride."

She offered a soft laugh. "I'm in your capable hands."

Capable. Ha. A bear barely out of her teens had managed to elude him and his trackers. Tyler was going to laugh his ass off when he heard, and Caroline-

God, she'd never let him live this one down.

"I'm very impressed with your sister, by the way." He offered after popping Mandy in the Jeep and heading out of town. "Not many people can evade Cole, or the Takhini pack, for that matter."



       
         
       
        

"Danielle really did do a good job, didn't she? But maybe she had a few tricks you weren't expecting," Mandy excused him

"Really? Are you trying to tell me the ghost in ghost bear means you can actually disappear?"

She smiled. "No, but I remember playing hide-and-go-seek with her before I moved away, and she was always a champion hider when motivated."

They sat in silence, the switchbacks of the road taking them higher and higher until they reached the point where they were looking over three different valleys. Mountains soared upward, the pale blue of the sky painted with delicate clouds.

He turned the Jeep into a lookout, and parked, joining Mandy at the railing where the entire valley lay at their feet.

"Danielle wants me to go back to the island."

"I heard."

She kept staring over the land. "She wants me to go back and take over the leadership-my Nana was in charge, and she's passed away."