Rebecca’s Wolves(44)

The older shaman spoke first. “Melinda, ask your questions of these lovebirds later. Let’s discuss the important issues first.”

“Of course.” Melinda almost looked contrite. Not quite.

Griffen smiled. She wasn’t mated, and she would give some poor guy a run for his money when she met him. Griffen put his arm around the back of his mate’s chair and toyed with her long braid while he tried to concentrate on the pressing conversation instead of what he would rather have been doing with Rebecca any place other than here.

“What are you running from, child?”

Griffen turned his gaze to find the older shaman looking at Rebecca.

Rebecca flinched. “Pardon?”

“Why do you need to leave the reservation?” she clarified.

Rebecca cleared her throat. “I have a job, ma’am. I’m a nurse at the hospital in Cambridge. And I’m also training for a difficult race. I’m not running from your grandson if that’s what you mean.”

The old woman hesitated for a moment. “The spirits do not like this.”

“They don’t like what?” Rebecca asked.

“I’m not exactly sure, child. But you need to remain with my grandson and your other mate for now. Leaving is not an option.”

Rebecca’s mouth fell open, but she didn’t speak.

Griffen was sure she was stunned. Frankly, so was he.

“You mustn’t leave either, son,” she said to Griffen.

His gaze widened. He too would need to work. His family would cover for him for several days. He had no doubt about that. They would understand completely. In fact, he needed to call his parents. He was surprised he hadn’t heard from them as soon as his siblings returned home. There was no way in hell they’d kept his mating a secret from his parents.

Perhaps they were giving him time.

Melinda spoke next, for the first time taking a serious tone Griffen hadn’t figured her capable of. “I know this must be a shock, especially to the two of you who had no prior knowledge of our legends, but Grandma is right. The signs would indicate you need to stay close. There’s no telling when the spirits will stop being subtle and take a less polite approach.”

Rebecca gasped, her hand landing on her throat. “You can’t be serious.”

“Totally,” Melinda replied.

Griffen glanced over to find Miles staring at his sister, his lips pursed, assessing her. “I can’t keep my mates hostage.”

“No one’s suggesting that,” Melinda continued. “I’m sure this is temporary. There’s a reason Fate saw to it for the three of you to come together at this time. She has a plan none of us can discern. She will enlighten you in Her time, not ours.”

“This is crazy.” Rebecca pushed back from the table and stood. Without saying a word, she turned and left the room.

Griffen started to follow her, shoving his chair back, but the older shaman stopped him. “Let her go, son. She’s hurting and confused. She won’t wander far. She’s also scared.”

He nodded and turned to Miles.

Miles took a deep breath as the front door opened and then closed. “Grandma, what are we supposed to do and for how long?”

“I don’t know, son. Follow your instincts. Trust in the spirits. Listen to them. They will speak to you in the wind if you open your hearts. I am old, and I am wise, but I do not have all the answers.”

“How many of these dark spirits have you heard about recently?”

Mrs. Bartel hesitated, clearly reluctant to divulge what she knew. “At least a dozen. In the last few weeks. Every case, and we can’t know how many have not been brought to my attention, has been exactly as your mate described—a large dark shadowy figure that stopped them in their tracks.”

Griffen was shocked. He’d understood there had been other incidents, but that many?

“All reports occurred in the higher elevations of the mountains. It’s impossible to know if that’s where this particular spirit prefers to reside, if the spirit is taunting shifters to get them off the mountain, or perhaps just playing around.” The old shaman shrugged. “It is not for me to divine. This is your path. You must follow it. And you must trust that Fate has Her reasons.”

Griffen held his breath as he listened to the wise woman impart her knowledge.

Melinda spoke again, having returned to her previously joyous self. “On the plus side, we needed another woman around here. I’m looking forward to spending some time with your mate and getting to know her. She seems absolutely wonderful. And she’s a nurse? The more people with healing capabilities the better. Times are tough on the rez these days. Many are leaving. Poverty is high. The educated prefer to head to larger cities, not hang around the reservation.”