by Bianca D’Arc
In the time it took Helen to figure that out, the woman had come outside. She walked right up to them, a reserved smile on her face.
“I’m sorry, but I just had to show you this.” She lifted the item she’d taken from her gallery and showed it to them.
It was a small canvas with a painting done in soft shades of cream and gold. It was of a woman…and a wolf. The wolf looked a lot like Jim’s wolf, and the woman…
“That’s me,” Helen said, surprised and mystified by the painting. “How did you…?”
“I’m Laura, and this is my mate, Gus.” She stepped back a little to reveal the man who had come outside to back her up.
Gus reached forward to offer his hand to Jim. “I’ve heard about you from Big John and Ezra,” he said. “Was hoping you’d come by.”
“You’re the shaman,” Jim said, surprising Helen as he shook the other man’s hand.
“And you’re the SEAL,” Gus replied with a grin.
“He’s not a seal,” Laura insisted. “He smells like a wolf.”
Jim chuckled. “You’re right, of course, ma’am. I’m from the White Oaks Pack out of Iowa, but what Gus meant is that I’m a former Navy SEAL.”
“Of course you are,” Laura said, understanding dawning on her face. “Honey, just about every guy in this town is some kind of super soldier,” she said to Helen with a conspiratorial grin. “You’ll fit in really well here,” she told Jim.
She handed the canvas to Helen. “I painted this for you,” Laura told her. Helen was bemused.
“How could you have known? Did you do this, like, last night or something?” Helen marveled at the likeness. There was no doubt the painting was of her and Jim.
Laura laughed. “I painted that more than a month ago,” she claimed, making a tingle race down Helen’s spine. Did this wolf woman have a clairvoyant gift? “I knew it was one of the special ones when I did it. I just didn’t know who it would be for. Now, seeing you two, I know. Consider it a mating gift and a welcome to town, from me to you.”
“You paint the future?” Helen asked. She hadn’t heard of shifters endowed with other magical gifts before. This woman felt special. Like she was more than just your average shifter. Helen wanted to know why. Then, she realized she was being rude and apologized. “I’m sorry to be nosy. My mother is a seer, and I’m just curious. You don’t have to answer.”
Laura laughed good-naturedly. “It’s all right. I’m a wolf, but I’m also a little bit fey,” she revealed, and suddenly, it all clicked into place for Helen. “I see things in my painting, sometimes, and I think you and I are going to be good friends.”
“If you can pardon my unforgivable rudeness, then I’d say we’re off to a good start,” Helen agreed, grinning at Laura’s enthusiasm. “Just so we’re even, let me tell you that I was born a Richards, but my mother is a Llewellyn, which means a long legacy of magic and a big family. Some of the extended clan has fey blood, and some have recently married shifters.” Helen looked at Jim and grinned. “I guess I’m one of the latter. Jim and I are newly mated.”
“Congratulations,” Gus said, and Helen could feel that he truly meant it. He was happy for them as he patted Jim on the back and offered Helen a wide smile. “If you want a ceremony, we have a sacred circle at the southern point of the cove, and I’d be happy to officiate. Or, if you’d rather have a priestess, we have one in town now.”
“It’s all so new we haven’t talked about any of that yet,” Helen admitted, “but we’ll definitely keep it in mind. It’s very kind of you to offer.”
They talked about the town and the things they should see and try for a few minutes before leaving. Helen and Jim both thanked Laura for the painting. Jim even offered to pay for it, but Laura refused, and he subsided.
“Let that be the first bit of décor for your new den,” Laura said, as if she knew things they didn’t about their future. Perhaps she did.
Helen and Jim continued on their walk as the other couple went back into their gallery. Helen couldn’t stop thinking about their encounter. “I suppose she’s the white wolf. Does that make him the Spirit Bear?”
Jim looked at her. “I’ve heard about the Grizzly Cove shaman, and he really is a spirit bear. It’s a rare kind of bear from this part of the world that has creamy white fur. Very special. When a shifter spirit bear is born, they almost always follow the path of the shaman or priestess.”
“Wow,” Helen said, surprised even more by their encounter. “He seemed so down to earth.”
“The very best shaman do. It’s the ones who think themselves better than everyone else who do the worst job at their calling. Or so I’ve observed,” Jim mused, then shrugged. “Are you feeling hungry?”
“I could eat,” she replied.
“Good. Let’s try out Flambeau’s. I hope you’re okay with spicy food. It’s a mostly Cajun menu, I hear.” He looked so eager to try it she couldn’t let him down.
They went to the restaurant and enjoyed a delicious meal. Helen ate one serving while Jim wolfed down three, but nobody raised an eyebrow in a town full of bear shifters. They were greeted by just about everyone at some point during their meal, and Helen really felt the welcome of these people, more than she had in Big Wolf. That was for certain. Bears really were different. They were definitely more open with those they had decided to let in.
They spent the rest of the day together and walked all over, perusing the shops and dipping their toes in the cool waters of the cove. Helen was enchanted by the place, and when dusk started to fall, they went back to the hotel and sat on the beach down by the water. Jim shifted to his wolf form and sat at her side while she stroked his fur.
At one point, a bear ambled past, looking up at them and growling what sounded like a greeting. Jim growled back and went back to resting his head on her thigh. They watched the sun set together then went back to their hotel room and made love all night long.
The next morning, Jim got a surprise. A text on his phone at oh-dark-thirty from his Uncle Arch, who had just rolled into town. What in the world was Arch doing in Grizzly Cove, Jim wondered as he got dressed. He did his best not to wake Helen. He’d kept her up half the night, making love in all sorts of new and interesting positions. She’d earned her rest, but Jim wanted to see Arch and find out what was going on.
When he slipped out of the hotel room, he found not just Arch, but Ezra and Big John out there in the hallway, waiting for him. The four of them headed to the empty lobby to sit and talk. There was also coffee in the lobby and a tray of pastries from the bakery, to which they all helped themselves before sitting down.
“Bet you’re wondering why I’m here,” Arch started the moment they sat down with their coffee and sweets. “John gave me a call, and we had a long talk about things. One thing led to another, and he issued the invite for me to come here and take a look around. I told him how things stood at home and all the reasons it would make sense to go lone wolf more officially than you and I have been doing. John offered an alternative that I think you’re going to like as much as I do.”
“Wait a minute, Arch. I support Brock as Alpha. He knows that.” Jim wanted that point to be clear.
“He does,” Arch agreed. “But he also knows that you and I don’t fit into the mold of the Pack he’s creating. There’s no room for the kind of work we do in White Oaks. It was fine when the Pack was smaller, and there were less vulnerable Pack members, but the work we do can have repercussions, and it’s safer for the Pack if we’re not seen to be part of it. I have never wanted to lead trouble back home to Brock and all those families under his rule.”
Jim sat back in his chair, just looking at his uncle. They’d never come out and said these things aloud, but they’d both known the day to break from White Oaks was coming sooner rather than later. Brock was building a Pack on the Big Wolf model. There were no mercenaries working out of Big Wolf. Jim suspected the Alpha there wouldn’t stand for that kind of thing, and he’d probably already talked to Brock
about Arch and Jim’s presence and how it could negatively impact the rest of the Pack.
“For the good of the Pack, it’s time for us to make a decision,” Arch said in a solemn tone.
“There’s something else you may not know that has to be considered,” Jim said, needing everything out on the table so they could make fully informed decisions. “Helen is my mate. I’ll be going wherever she wants to go. If she wants to go back to Pennsylvania to be near her family, then that’s where I’ll be.”
“Understood.” Arch nodded. “And congratulations. I was hoping you two would make a go of it.”
“You were?” Jim was surprised, but then, he realized he probably shouldn’t be. Arch was one of the best at observation. He’d probably pegged Jim and Helen at a hundred paces. Jim shook his head. “Of course you saw what I didn’t. Question withdrawn.” He chuckled at the way Arch just shook his head and grinned.
“Look,” Big John spoke for the first time since sitting down, “I know you have things to work out, but I wanted to be here to let you know that the invitation is open for you both to stick around here for a while. A long while.”
Jim was surprised, all over again, at the Alpha bear’s willingness to let a wolf—now two wolves—make a home here in the haven he’d set up specifically for bear shifters. He was going to ask why, and maybe, finally, he might get an answer.
“With all due respect, Alpha, but just why is that? Neither of us were part of your unit. We’re wolves, not bears. Why the red carpet treatment?” Jim tried to keep his tone respectful, but he really wanted to know.
Big John sat back and sighed. “There are a few reasons, son, and I see I’m going to have to give you some of them to satisfy your curiosity. Hell, you sure you’re a wolf and not some kind of cat?”
Arch laughed, and Ezra chuckled, but Jim just waited patiently to hear what John would say.
“I’ll vouch that he’s one hundred percent wolf,” Arch said playfully, “though he does swim like a fish.”
“Which could come in handy in a town that was created for bears but has become a haven for a mer pod and all sorts of magical Others that I never could have expected,” John said, his tone only slightly exasperated. “You may not realize this, but your uncle and I go way back,” John revealed, surprising Jim.
“You never said anything,” Jim said, looking straight at his uncle.
Arch shrugged. “What was there to say? I’ve worked with a lot of people in my time, but yeah, I’ve always had a high regard for Big John. A better tactician I have never met, and I’ve met more than a few men who were very gifted in that area. Johnny’s the best of the best.”
John nodded respectfully at Arch, acknowledging the compliment. “And you wrote the book the rest of us studied from, Arch,” John said, returning the kudos. “I think every last one of my men would revolt if I didn’t invite you to stick around, now that you’re finally here. I’ve been inviting him every time we spoke, but he never quite got around to making the trip,” John directed those last comments to Jim.
“Well, that explains why Uncle Arch is welcome, but why me? Why Helen, for that matter?” Jim insisted
“While you would be welcome for Arch’s sake, you should know, Jim, that you’ve been earning quite the reputation of your own, working at his side. We respect that, but there are other reasons, not the least of which is your recent work for SeaLife. Which is why Ezra came this morning rather than lazing in bed with his pretty mate.”
“The task of cleaning up all the various businesses associated with SeaLife is bigger than any of us expected when we took it on,” Ezra admitted. “We’ve already hired a few troubleshooters. Some have worked out, and some haven’t. All three Bishop brothers are the ones who have worked out. Plus you. We need to speed up the rate at which we clean up the company. Trevor and Beth don’t want to let the evil linger any longer than they have to. In fact, they’re out there, right now, working on one of the problem companies while I hold the fort. We’ve been taking it in turns, staying here to keep things rolling. What we need are more reliable operatives that we can send out to do the work, and you’re right at the top of our list. We’d really like you to take the job.” Ezra looked at Arch. “You too, Arch, if you’re willing.”
Arch tipped a casual salute Ezra’s way. “We’ll talk more later.”
Ezra nodded agreement to this proposal and subsided.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“There’s also the matter of those documents you brought here from Texas,” John reminded them all. “While some of them pertain to SeaLife, there’s also a treasure trove of information about the Venifucus structure and their Altor Custodis infiltration. We could use your help with that, perhaps, as well.”
Jim nodded. “I looked at some of it, and I can help with parts, but you’re going to need specialists for the bulk of those documents.”
“I’ve already put out some feelers,” John assured him. “Your Helen has proven herself a kind and resourceful woman,” John went on, going back to Jim’s previous question. “I have reports of her daring from Joe Villalobos in Texas and have heard rumors about her adventures with fireworks in Virginia. That healing talent of hers is something special, from all accounts, as well.” John sighed. “I never envisioned this town would have such a thing as a magic circle, but it does, and they’ve lobbied me to extend the welcome to Helen because they all know of and respect her family’s magical heritage. It doesn’t hurt that more than one has had some kind of vision that showcases her as a future member of their magic circle. The painting Laura gave you was just the beginning,” John promised.
“I’m not sure if I should be impressed or afraid,” Jim admitted with a rueful grin. “I’m not sure what Helen will think of all this.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk to you first,” John admitted. “We’re all shifters. We all have a common background, if different peculiarities. Although I mated a powerful witch, I have to admit, I still can’t begin to guess, sometimes, how she’ll react to things. You know Helen best. That’s why I think this will work better if you’re the one explaining our position to her. You two also need to arrive at your decision together, so you’ll have to spend some time talking it all over.”
“Actually, that won’t be necessary.”
Jim jumped to his feet, hearing Helen’s voice behind him. She’d dressed in one of the outfits she’d bought in Texas and looked a vision to his eyes. He went to her side.
“I woke, and you were gone. I decided to go hunting, and here I find you, having a club meeting where, apparently, no girls are allowed.” She chuckled to soften her words, and he knew she wasn’t mad at him. Thank goodness.
“How much did you hear?” he asked.
“Most of it, I think. They want us to stay?” she asked, talking to him, but Jim knew the others could hear her soft-spoken words.
He nodded. “Ezra needs more troubleshooters, and they want me. The magic circle wants you, and all the ex-military guys want Arch to stick around,” he added with a grin.
“So, you’d be able to keep working with your uncle if he stays?” she asked.
“Looks that way. But what about your family? I thought you guys were tight-knit.”
“We are, and sometimes, it drives me crazy,” she admitted. “Kiki went out on her own, and ever since, I’ve wondered what there was out there for me. I think my mother knew.” Helen rolled her eyes and then smiled. “Of course, my mother knew. She was the one who sent me to Virginia Beach and told me to stop and buy fireworks on the way. She saw all of this.” Helen shook her head. “I bet she even knows that I really want to stay.”
“You do?” Jim asked, surprised.
“If you do,” she backtracked a bit. “Not because I don’t love my family. I do love them, fiercely. But I also need to find my own way, with you. We need to stand on our own for a while, until we know who we are as a couple. I think we can do that here. If you want to stay, of course.”
“Arch was r
ight. There’s really no room for what we do in the Pack my brother is trying to build. We can’t stop being who and what we are, so it’s about time we found a place that welcomes our kind and our skills. This is that kind of place, so yes, if you want to stay, so do I,” he told her, feeling a weight of worry lifting off his shoulders as she smiled.
Helen felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and reached for it. She just shook her head when she read the text message that had just come in.
“It’s from my mother,” she told Jim, then turned to address the rest of those gathered. “My mother wants you to know, Alpha, that she’s already spoken to the rest of the family, and they’ve decided that I’m to be your liaison to the Llewellyn archive. They’ve already decided to call me the Llewellyn Liaison.” Helen shook her head, grinning at the alliteration.
“I know my mate will be thrilled to hear this,” John said, grinning as he stood. “It’s settled, then. Welcome to Grizzly Cove.”
*
Jim and Helen spent the morning looking at places to live. There were a few apartments in town still available, though they were building as fast as they could to create more accommodations for the mer who wanted places on land. Still, there were a few places Jim and Helen could rent, and they decided on one of the units on the top floor of Gus’s building that had a nice view of the cove.
There were actually two units available in the building, and Arch decided to rent the one that faced Main Street. Jim wasn’t sure, but it seemed like Arch was more than a little interested in the new gallery going in directly across the street from his windows. Jim caught a few glances of a very pretty older woman directing the work of setting up the place and looked speculatively at his uncle. Arch may have been a bachelor all his life, but there was always hope.