Laurie’s Wolves
Chapter One
“I can’t believe how comfortable we all are together. It’s like we’ve always known each other.” Laurie turned from the sink where she was washing dishes and handed a large platter to her half-sister, Melinda. Their fingers grazed as they passed off the dish, an electricity connecting them in a way most sisters never felt in a lifetime.
Melinda smiled, her eyes twinkling. “You’re right. And I was worried. After twenty-eight years of just me and Miles with no knowledge we had three half-siblings, the five of us meld together amazingly.”
“It’s Fate, I suppose. And Mom looks so happy.” Laurie twisted around farther and leaned against the counter next to Melinda. She watched her mother, Joyce, laughing over something Miles said in the great room. The woman hadn’t seen her twins at all during twenty-seven years in hiding.
They were all staying in Miles’s house for this reunion . He’d only finished construction six months ago so he and his other two mates, Griffen Masters and Rebecca Larson, could get moved in before the birth of their first child. Now Rebecca sat on the floor between her mates, round again with their second child. She looked radiant and comfortable, even though she was the only person in the house who wasn’t a wolf shifter.
The home was enormous, easily accommodating everyone. If Rebecca’s condition was any indication, Miles and Griffen must have been planning a large brood when they built this home on land at the border of the reservation. The acreage had belonged to their grandfather, who passed away many years before. Their grandmother, Mimi, sat cross-legged on the floor next to Rebecca, stroking her small hand over Rebecca’s belly and smiling.
Mimi knew things. She was a shaman, an ability that had been passed down to her daughter, Joyce, and her first daughter, Melinda. Hell, if the electricity in the house was any indication, it was likely Joyce’s abilities would resurface with enough time spent on tribal land. And Laurie shivered to admit to herself that she too might manifest some precognition. Her father was a white man, a shifter from another pack. No one knew how advanced Laurie’s abilities might extend with only one Native American parent, but time would tell.
Laurie was young still, only twenty-five. Anything was possible, especially if she remained in the area. She hadn’t told the others yet, but she intended to do just that. When the week was over, she would not return with her family to their hometown two hours west. With a degree in early childhood education, she would have no trouble finding work. She could easily get a job either on the rez in Sojourn or in Cambridge, the town where the Masters family lived on the northern end of the lake.
She was drawn to Melinda in a way she could not explain. She leaned toward her, setting her head on her sister’s shoulder and wrapping a hand around her biceps. “I feel a peace here I’ve never known.”
Melinda set her hand on top of Laurie’s. “I know,” she murmured.
Laurie and her brothers, Sawyer and Cooper, had arrived three days ago with their parents, Joyce and Gene Hamilton, for a week-long visit. They’d never been to the tribal land, and although Joyce was also Miles and Melinda’s mother, the twins had a different biological father. The twins had not been born of love or through a mating, but they were full Native American shifters and direct descendants of Mimi.
“My mates are giving me the evil eye.” Melinda giggled. Her face lit up as she watched them from across the room. Laurie felt that intense connection they shared easily.
Trace Masters met his mate’s eye and wandered toward the two women. When he reached them, he leaned forward to kiss Melinda tenderly on the lips before turning to Laurie. “Melinda tells me you’d like to go skiing?”
Laurie grinned. “Absolutely. I’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to. I hear your family owns the local resort.”
Trace nodded. “We do. My parents own and operate the resort with the help of my brothers Griffen, Zachary, and Logan. My sister works there too. Her name is Sharon. You’ll eventually meet them all, considering I’m mated to your sister and Griffen is mated with your brother Miles.”
“Geez. I don’t think I can keep all of you straight.”
“Well, you’ve met me and Griffen today. And I spoke with Zachary earlier. He said he’d be willing to take you skiing tomorrow if you’re interested.” He smiled warmly.
Laurie’s eyes shot open. “Really? Isn’t he busy? I wouldn’t want to inconvenience him.”
“Hey, we’re like family. Don’t turn down an offer for free lessons from Zachary in the middle of ski season.” Trace chuckled. “Trust me. He offered. He wouldn’t have if he thought he couldn’t fit you in tomorrow.”
“I can’t believe how comfortable we all are together. It’s like we’ve always known each other.” Laurie turned from the sink where she was washing dishes and handed a large platter to her half-sister, Melinda. Their fingers grazed as they passed off the dish, an electricity connecting them in a way most sisters never felt in a lifetime.
Melinda smiled, her eyes twinkling. “You’re right. And I was worried. After twenty-eight years of just me and Miles with no knowledge we had three half-siblings, the five of us meld together amazingly.”
“It’s Fate, I suppose. And Mom looks so happy.” Laurie twisted around farther and leaned against the counter next to Melinda. She watched her mother, Joyce, laughing over something Miles said in the great room. The woman hadn’t seen her twins at all during twenty-seven years in hiding.
They were all staying in Miles’s house for this reunion . He’d only finished construction six months ago so he and his other two mates, Griffen Masters and Rebecca Larson, could get moved in before the birth of their first child. Now Rebecca sat on the floor between her mates, round again with their second child. She looked radiant and comfortable, even though she was the only person in the house who wasn’t a wolf shifter.
The home was enormous, easily accommodating everyone. If Rebecca’s condition was any indication, Miles and Griffen must have been planning a large brood when they built this home on land at the border of the reservation. The acreage had belonged to their grandfather, who passed away many years before. Their grandmother, Mimi, sat cross-legged on the floor next to Rebecca, stroking her small hand over Rebecca’s belly and smiling.
Mimi knew things. She was a shaman, an ability that had been passed down to her daughter, Joyce, and her first daughter, Melinda. Hell, if the electricity in the house was any indication, it was likely Joyce’s abilities would resurface with enough time spent on tribal land. And Laurie shivered to admit to herself that she too might manifest some precognition. Her father was a white man, a shifter from another pack. No one knew how advanced Laurie’s abilities might extend with only one Native American parent, but time would tell.
Laurie was young still, only twenty-five. Anything was possible, especially if she remained in the area. She hadn’t told the others yet, but she intended to do just that. When the week was over, she would not return with her family to their hometown two hours west. With a degree in early childhood education, she would have no trouble finding work. She could easily get a job either on the rez in Sojourn or in Cambridge, the town where the Masters family lived on the northern end of the lake.
She was drawn to Melinda in a way she could not explain. She leaned toward her, setting her head on her sister’s shoulder and wrapping a hand around her biceps. “I feel a peace here I’ve never known.”
Melinda set her hand on top of Laurie’s. “I know,” she murmured.
Laurie and her brothers, Sawyer and Cooper, had arrived three days ago with their parents, Joyce and Gene Hamilton, for a week-long visit. They’d never been to the tribal land, and although Joyce was also Miles and Melinda’s mother, the twins had a different biological father. The twins had not been born of love or through a mating, but they were full Native American shifters and direct descendants of Mimi.
“My mates are giving me the evil eye.” Melinda giggled. Her face lit up as she watched them from across the room. Laurie felt that intense connection they shared easily.
Trace Masters met his mate’s eye and wandered toward the two women. When he reached them, he leaned forward to kiss Melinda tenderly on the lips before turning to Laurie. “Melinda tells me you’d like to go skiing?”
Laurie grinned. “Absolutely. I’ve never been, but I’ve always wanted to. I hear your family owns the local resort.”
Trace nodded. “We do. My parents own and operate the resort with the help of my brothers Griffen, Zachary, and Logan. My sister works there too. Her name is Sharon. You’ll eventually meet them all, considering I’m mated to your sister and Griffen is mated with your brother Miles.”
“Geez. I don’t think I can keep all of you straight.”
“Well, you’ve met me and Griffen today. And I spoke with Zachary earlier. He said he’d be willing to take you skiing tomorrow if you’re interested.” He smiled warmly.
Laurie’s eyes shot open. “Really? Isn’t he busy? I wouldn’t want to inconvenience him.”
“Hey, we’re like family. Don’t turn down an offer for free lessons from Zachary in the middle of ski season.” Trace chuckled. “Trust me. He offered. He wouldn’t have if he thought he couldn’t fit you in tomorrow.”