A Mate's Bite(43)

“Did you guys find out anything about the guys who attacked at the school?” Jordan asked Nate.

“We’re still looking for those shifters. Their scents haven’t turned up in town. Our enforcers are out full force, but we think it’s just some of the rogues Caleb’s Uncle Rocco has hired to get back at us for siding with Caleb. It would explain why they haven’t been seen again.”

“When is Aric due back?” Karla asked turning to Jordan.

“A couple of days.” The mention of Aric coming home brightened Jordan’s smile. “He said they’re wrapping things up and should be no more than two or three days at most. I bet I can hold it down without him having to rush back before then for me.”

“Good.” Karla knew when Aric was around Jordan had the protection she needed in her mate.

Just like Karla now had Nate there whenever she needed. And hopefully Ellie, Nicole, and Emma would soon be with their men.

“Stop worrying,” Nate whispered into her ear. “We’ll take care of her. She’s family, baby. And family always comes first.”

She’d learned that about the Wolfes’. Family was important to them. She was glad she’d been taken in by such wonderful people. Her babies would always have people that cared about them because they were loved. Not for anything other than because they were family.





“Okay, we have a problem,” Karla said the minute she and Barbara were alone in the kitchen.

“Bridal shower?”

She nodded. “What do we do? All our plans were to be in the party place, but I don’t feel comfortable having it there anymore. With Jordan having been attacked twice, I think we should have the event closer to home.”

“The bridal shower location isn’t that big of a deal. Let me think about it,” Barbara said, putting food on a plate. “Anything you want to tell me?”

Uh-oh. “I’m sure you already know I’m pregnant.”

Barbara’s delighted squeal pushed her own smile to the surface. “As a matter of fact, I did know, but it’s nice to hear it from you. Congratulations dear!”

She rushed around the kitchen island and gave Karla a hug before going back to work on the plate of food. Her heart soared. Barbara was genuine with her love and devotion of her children and the women in their lives. Karla was grateful Nate’s family cared about her and pulled her into their family bonds.

“Thanks, Barbara. I really can’t tell you how new this is to me.” Or how scared she was. She leaned her hip on the kitchen island and watched Barbara prepare a sandwich fit for one of the men in the house. It was loaded.

Barbara nodded. “I understand. We’ve all been there.” She glanced up at Karla. “But you do know we’re all here for you, right? The Wolfe family is your family. Anything you need, just ask.”

It was one of the nicest things she’d ever been told. “Thank you. I guess I’m just nervous about the whole having babies depending on me idea.”

“It’ll be okay. You’ve got Nate. You’ve got us. And they’ve got you. Trust your instinct.”

Barbara handed her a massive plate with a sandwich piled high with chicken, cheeses and vegetables next to homemade potato chips and slaw. She stared at the food and wondered if Barbara forgot she wasn’t a shifter.

“Eat. You’re hungry,” Barbara said and took a seat across from Karla with a cup of coffee.

She was? Her stomach growled. Apparently Barbara was also a stomach whisperer. She sat down at the kitchen table and brought a chip to her mouth. “What do we do?”

“Would it be really difficult to move everything here?”

The Wolfes’ house was big. And the yard was massive. They could easily host the bridal shower and not worry about protection if the pack enforcers watched the place.

“No. I can take care of that. Just a few calls to the site and I can explain what’s going on. They’re one of yours. It wouldn’t be a big deal.”

Barbara laughed.

“What?” She bit down on the sandwich and savored the chicken and roasted vegetables Barbara had put in the toasted bread. It was warm. It was seasoned perfectly and tasted like heaven. Heck she was getting turned on by food. She must have problems. Not to mention she was shoving the chips down her throat, and though she hadn’t thought herself hungry, she couldn’t stop eating. The food was delicious.

“You said she’s one of ours.” Barbara lifted a blonde brow, blue eyes sparkling. “You’re one of ours too, Karla.”

“You know what I mean. I’m not a shifter.” Barbara’s words soothed some of the anxiety she’d felt about her and Nate being of different species. She’d swore she didn’t need anyone’s acceptance, but Barbara’s words destroyed some massive insecurity. A light feeling of acceptance filled her heart.