Sharon’s Wolves(83)

Weird.

Why would it show itself all afternoon to Sharon and disappear the moment someone else entered? Especially someone as powerful as Melinda.

Joyce and Laurie came in next. They both headed to Mimi’s side.

Melinda spoke first. “Can you shift back, Mimi?”

The wolf appeared tired as Mimi lay back on the bed and stretched out. It took her longer than the average shift, but half a minute later she had resumed her human form, and Joyce rushed to pull a robe around her tiny frame.

The woman had always been petite, but she looked frailer than usual today. Not surprising. She’d had a stroke.

“How do you feel?” Joyce asked.

Melinda handed Mimi a glass of water and helped her get a sip.

Mimi struggled to sit upright. “I’m fine.” She batted her daughter’s and granddaughters’ hands away. “Stop fussing.” Her words were slower than usual and slightly slurred, but understandable.

“Grandma, you had a stroke.” Laurie rolled her eyes.

Mimi sighed. “Just a little setback is all. Now scoot back, all of you. You’re crowding me.”

The moment they each gave her an inch of space, Mimi’s gaze landed on Sharon. “You should be with your mates, child.”

Sharon nodded. “They’re otherwise occupied.”

The woman frowned. “You’ve only finished the claiming days ago. It’s too soon for either of them to allow anything to get between you.”

Melinda spoke. “Mimi, Cooper’s a seismologist. He’s working in the mountains monitoring the earthquakes and the likelihood of a volcano. His work is important. Don’t give Sharon a hard time. I’m sure she feels bad enough as it is.”

Mimi narrowed her gaze. “Volcano?” She glanced around at everyone and then returned to stare at Sharon.

Sharon took a deep breath. It had been easier to pretend it was all a dream while she’d sat next to Mimi for the last few hours. But reality was back with a vengeance. “Several holes opened up in the Earth’s surface near the epicenter of the quakes. They’re spewing gases right now. But Cooper and his team are monitoring them carefully for further activity.”

Mimi nodded. “I see.” And then she grinned and seemed to intentionally change the subject to something lighter. “That’ll teach me to go into a comatose state for an entire day. Did the pope get married while I was sleeping too?”

Her daughters chuckled. Sharon joined them. Less than a minute after coming out of a long stupor, the woman was on fire.

“I’m not sure about that,” Melinda muttered, “but I can tell you we aren’t the only shifters on the planet.”

A room full of gasps ensued, including Sharon’s. She hadn’t had a chance to get the scoop from Melinda. Perhaps that was for the best. Now her friend only had to tell the story once.

Mimi smiled slowly. “Of course we aren’t, child,” she stated as though the mere concept that wolf shifters were alone in the supernatural world was preposterous. She even stroked the side of Melinda’s face. “We never have been. We aren’t even the first shifters.”

Melinda’s eyes widened. “Why did you never tell me this?”

Mimi smiled almost condescendingly. “Some things need to be learned on their own timeframe. Some things need to be lived, experienced if you may, before they can be real. If I had told you there were other shifters, would you have believed me? Would you have spent your entire life looking around wondering who among us wasn’t strictly human?”

“Perhaps.”

“Then I did what I thought was best.” Mimi looked far more alert than she should have for a woman just coming out of what amounted to a coma.

“Mom…” Joyce’s voice was low and steady. “That’s an enormous secret. Tell us what you know?”

Mimi shrugged. “Could I at least put some clothes on and maybe get some soup before you all give me the third degree?”

All three women jumped from their perches on the bed and scurried around the room. Minutes later, Mimi wore a nightgown, her robe, and slippers. She scooted to the edge of the bed and prepared to stand.

Laurie and Melinda each took an arm.

“Easy,” Melinda said. “You’ll be weak.”

The woman tsked. “I’m fine, child.”

“Humor me, then,” Melinda added as she helped Mimi to her feet and then across the room.

Sharon followed the family of three generations of women to the kitchen and took a seat at the table. The room was homey. Inviting. It begged a person to sit, unwind, relax. Just as Mimi herself did.

No one said much as Laurie and Melinda dashed around the kitchen and prepared something for Mimi to eat. They returned with a bowl of steaming chicken noodle soup and a glass of apple juice. They didn’t bother her while she ate either, although Sharon watched each of the women fidgeting in their seat while they waited impatiently for answers.