A Lady's Heart (Takhini Shifters Book 3)

by Vivian Arend

  Dammit. She was right. She was safe at his side. That’s what he needed to convince her of, for now and the future. And there was only one way to face the challenge, and that was to deal with whatever in her past was haunting her, once and for all.

  “Grab your stuff, and let’s go.”

  Oh boy, she’d become the best bluffer in town.

  Mandy wanted to face whoever it was who’d been stalking her, but it was an outright lie to say she was comfortable with the idea.

  Nightmares of her days married to Todd kept intruding, but she forced the memories aside by focusing on the big, gentle giant at her side. The wall of protection that he offered.

  Nothing would happen to her with Justin around, and so the only thing to be afraid of was backing down.

  Justin squeezed her fingers as they stood outside the door of the Wolf Brothers Wild Adventures shop, waiting for her to work up her courage.

  The door opened and Caden stepped out, tugging the door closed behind him as he glanced between them. “Take a deep breath and relax,” he ordered. “Nadia’s here.”

  Tension drained out of Mandy like pulling a plug from the sink, and she noticed Justin breathed a sigh of relief as well. “Oh, brilliant idea.”

  “It’s always good to have backup in place.” Caden grinned before elbowing Justin in the side. “Pulled one over on you, hey, Baloo? You forgot we got the rooten-tootenest cowboy sheriff around in these parts.”

  Justin made a gagging noise. “I’ll be sure to tell her you said so. In those exact words.”

  Caden’s expression twisted slightly. “Aww, you don’t have to do that. Seeing as we’re kinda busy right now, and all.”

  “Don’t feel like explaining yourself to her, do you?”

  The wolf shook his head. “Hell, no. I like my fur on the outside, and my tail knotless, thanks.”

  They walked through the door, and that eerie sense of calm hit. The one that filled a room when Nadia was trying to keep things under control. Fresh and clean, invigorating and yet slightly drowsy, the scent after a spring rain. Mandy curled her fingers around Justin’s hand to tug him forward with her.

  There was a lot to take in at one glance. Nadia stood to the left, leaning on the wall. On the opposite side of the room, Cole sat at the table with his fingers wrapped around the frail wrist of a dark-haired young woman…

  Mandy’s heart leapt with excitement, and she dropped her hold on Justin and sprinted across the room.

  It all happened in an instant.

  Justin’s gaze landed on Cole, sitting at a table with his fingers wrapped tightly around the arm of a dark-haired woman. Justin took a closer look, confused for moment until he realized why the stranger looked so familiar. That’s when Mandy took off from his side, rushing forward with her hands thrown out in greeting.

  “Danielle?”

  The next moments passed in a rush of noise and confusion as Mandy pulled the other woman into her arms. Cole stood, and Justin hovered behind Mandy, having chased after her as quickly as he could.

  “Oh, Mandy. It is you.” The other woman burst into tears.

  Justin stood at Mandy’s back in case he was needed, but it seemed she knew who the other woman was, so he turned to taunt Cole. “Took you long enough.”

  “There were complications,” Cole snapped, all joking aside as he watched Danielle closely.

  Obsessively.

  Oh shit, that didn’t bode well.

  Someone cleared their throat loudly, drawing their attention across the room to where Nadia was holding up the wall. She rolled her eyes. “You mustn’t think much of me with the way you’re both hovering over those women,” Nadia complained. “Sit down, all of you. The sooner we figure out this mess, the better.”

  Mandy refused to let go of Danielle’s hand, pulling her into the chair Cole had abandoned, and forcing the men to take positions behind them.

  “So she really does know you?” Cole demanded.

  Mandy nodded, touching Danielle’s face gently. “Although I didn’t recognize you for a moment. You’ve changed.”

  “Grown up.”

  Mandy twisted in her chair to offer Justin a brilliant smile. “Danielle is my middle sister. I haven’t seen her or Susanna since I moved away.”

  Some of his fears faded, but he still had concerns. “But who was with her? Why did she chase us with the snowmobiles? And what was she doing in your apartment?”

  Danielle didn’t flinch, but she only answered part of his questions. “Trying to get information. We heard rumors, but no one would tell us anything for sure, so I figured I had to find out for myself.” Danielle looked Justin up and down slowly, assessing and apparently finding him wanting. “I wanted to know that she was free of the controlling bastard who’d taken her from us.”

  “I am,” Mandy assured her. “Everything has changed, and it’s all going to be okay. Justin’s boss is the new head of the bear clans, and he’s making changes. Good changes.”

  Danielle and Justin exchanged another glance. Her youth was now a lot more apparent after he’d spent some time watching her. She had to be barely out of her teens.

  She shrugged then ignored Justin and focused on Mandy, joining their hands. “We’ll see. But now that I found you, I want you to come home with me.”

  “No.”

  The word jerked out of Justin involuntarily, and the only thing that made it better, maybe, was that he wasn’t alone in declaring it.

  Cole had snapped the word at the same moment, staring at Danielle.

  The two women at the table moved as if in a well-choreographed routine. They pushed their chairs back and turned, folding their arms over their chests as they offered stern glares at the men.

  “No?” Mandy asked in shock.

  Justin struggled to find a way to reverse his outburst, but it was impossible to turn off his protective instincts. “Not until we find out more,” he insisted.

  “She’s my sister.”

  “Which means you trust her,” Justin answered back. “Which is exactly what someone with more nefarious purposes like your ex would do. They’d think nothing of using your sister to get at you.”

  Cole turned on him, pulling his lips back to show teeth. “Are you saying Danielle’s bait in a trap?”

  The wolf’s hackles were up, and Justin motioned for him to relax. “I’m saying we don’t do anything without thinking this through.”

  Dead silence fell at the table. Mandy’s gaze burned into him as she made her disapproval clear.

  It took Nadia stepping forward to bring them back where the tension was low enough they could think again. The small blonde tugged out a chair and sat in it backward, leaning her arms along the backrest. “Nothing has to be decided this instant,” she pointed out.

  “I’m not letting Danielle out of my sight,” Cole insisted.

  “I know, because she was talented enough to give you the slip for such a long time.” Nadia clicked her tongue soothingly. “I’m sure she won’t be so mean to you, ever again. Poor wittle wolfie.”

  Cole sputtered even as Danielle’s lips twisted into a smirk.

  “We can figure out something that keeps everyone around and happy until Mandy has made a decision. Because, unless I’m wrong, and I don’t think so, this is her decision to make.” Nadia pointed at Mandy.

  Mandy stood, pulling Danielle into her arms and hugging her tight. “Yes, it is my decision, but there’s no way I can make it unless I have time to talk with my sister. Alone.”

  She twisted rapidly, fists going to her hips as she glared at both Cole and Justin. “Stop with the growling, guys. If you’re worried about Danielle magically whisking me off under your nose”—she shifted her gaze to Justin, her chin tilting up defiantly—“or if you don’t trust me to stay around like I promised I would, we’ll just sit here and talk. But you two have to sit over there.”

  She pointed across the room.

  “Cole will be able to hear you,” Justin reminded her reluctan
tly.

  The wolf jabbed his fingers into Justin’s ribcage like a knife.

  Justin didn’t care. Mandy’s stern expression had softened at his words. She laid a hand on his arm. “I know he can hear. That’s not the point. I’m not trying to keep secrets, I just want to be with her, alone.”

  He nodded, then stepped back as Nadia linked her hands around his arm and Cole’s, hauling them toward the door. “See, Cole? See how much easier things go if you just listen to the smarter people in the room?”

  Cole snapped his teeth at her, and she laughed.

  “Okay, that one was a little mean of me. Come on, Mr. Growly. Your new friend will be here when you get back. I need you to come give me a hand for a minute.”

  “But she said—”

  “Mandy might not mind your bionic wolf hearing, but they deserve privacy. And I really do need your help. Please?” Nadia wheedled.

  Cole refused to budge until he got Danielle’s attention, speaking softly but most definitely an order. “Don’t even think about leaving town without me.”

  Danielle scratched her cheek with her middle finger before turning her attention back to her sister.

  Justin was pacified by the fact Mandy seemed completely in control, and comfortable, so he went outside, the doors closing with a solid click behind him.

  After the adrenaline rush of the last few moments, Mandy was happy to sit back down, catching hold of Danielle’s hand again and squeezing it tightly.

  “Tell me everything that’s happening at home. No, wait. Tell me how you found me. No, wait…” Mandy shook her head. “I feel as if we’ve got forever to catch up on, and I don’t even know what to ask you.”

  Daniel glanced toward the door “Then don’t. Let me ask the questions instead. Are you really okay? We’d heard terrible things, but it’s still nearly impossible to get any up-to-date news on the island.”

  “I really am good. I’m free,” she told her sister, honest relief in her voice.

  Danielle didn’t jump up and down with excitement the way Mandy had hoped she would.

  Instead her sister took another glance at the door. “Who’s he? The big bear? Because he doesn’t look any safer then Todd.”

  Oh. Now Mandy understood why the private discussion. “Justin is nothing at all like Todd. Okay, yes, he’s a big, possessive bear, but in all the ways that count, they’re nothing alike. He’s been so careful with me.”

  “He hauled you halfway across the north on a moment’s notice.”

  Mandy gave her sister a warning glance. “He brought me to Chicken to protect me because you and someone else broke into my apartment, and we were afraid it was someone associated with Todd.”

  Daniel relaxed the tiniest bit. “That was me and one of the clan. Susanna wanted to come, but she’s a lousy tracker. And I couldn’t take any chances. Even now, what if you’re just saying something because you think it’s what’s best for us? For the family? That’s what you did before.”

  Her past was coming back to haunt her. “Not the same thing at all,” Mandy’s insisted. “Todd is out of my life for good.”

  “Then come to the island. We need you there. We need you to make a difference.”

  “I’ve been gone for eight years. The island isn’t home anymore,” Mandy protested.

  Silence hung in the air. Her sister seemed to deflate, slouching back in her chair.

  “Okay, this is going to sound stupid, but you’re like the big sister in a storybook who’s been shut away in an ivory tower for years.” Danielle made a face. “I know about you, and I care for you, but I…don’t know you as my sister.”

  “Yet,” Mandy added, her own sorrow adding to the mix. “But I understand what you mean. I want the best for you, and Susanna, and the rest of the island, but you’re all distant memories, in a way.”

  They stared at each other sadly. “Tough truths, hey, sis?”

  “The toughest,” Mandy agreed.

  Danielle’s expression grew softer. “Here’s another tough truth. I’m sorry, but Nana passed away a couple of weeks ago. That’s when we started looking for you.”

  Mandy had expected this to happen at some point. She’d been away for so long, and she’d somehow known that her grandmother would be gone before they could reconnect. Their relationship was…difficult to say the least. The cold spot that had formed inside her when she chose to leave all those years ago and her Nana hadn’t protested—that coldness protected her now, and made her numb to grief.

  She went with polite, although she didn’t really remember her Nana very fondly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

  “She knew you’d done your best for the family, but now that you’re no longer with Todd, that means you need to return,” Danielle insisted. “It’s your responsibility. You’re the oldest. You’re supposed to take over leadership.”

  Awkwardness turned into discomfort as all the things she’d missed doing over the years once again slid from her grasp. Mandy shook her head. “Not necessarily. I gave up the right to rule the island when I left. That should put you next in line. Why don’t you take the position?”

  Danielle let out a burst of laughter. “Me? Oh, you have no idea what I’ve been doing for the last eight years. I’m the least likely person anyone is going to offer the rule to. It’s got to be you, or I suppose Susanna.”

  Her littlest sister—all Mandy’s memories were of an awkward ten-year-old with two left feet. “But she’s just a baby.”

  Her sister raised a brow. “She’s eighteen, but she’s a far better choice than me.”

  They caught up a little more, then Mandy gave her sister a kiss on the cheek and brought the conversation back to Danielle’s demand. “I can’t give you an answer right now, I need to talk to people. Talk to…friends…and find out what they suggest.”

  Danielle hesitated. “Is that big bear one of the friends?”

  Mandy saw no reason to lie. “Yes.”

  Her sister nodded slowly. “Okay. And by the way, I do trust you to do the right thing. We’ve been away from each other for a long time, but I always knew you were doing what you could for the family.” She made a face. “Marrying Todd, then staying away and all.”

  It had been the only choice she could make, no matter how big a sacrifice. “If I hadn’t cut myself off from the family, Todd would have taken over the island and become a vile dictator. It was the only way to save you all.”

  Danielle grimaced. “By sacrificing yourself.”

  Mandy shrugged. It was old, old news. It was the next decision she had to make that would change her life forever.

  Her sister eyed her in confusion. “It might seem odd, but I do love you.”

  “In a ‘locked up princess in a tower’ kind of way?”

  “In a ‘I’m proud to be your sister’ kind of way.” Danielle stood determinedly, changing the topic as a mischievous smile curled her lips. “While you’re deciding, are you planning on leaving me with that wolf?”

  Mandy looked her little sister over with concern. “What did he do to you?”

  Danielle’s eyes widened. “Oh, no…nothing like that. Really, except…”

  She glanced toward the door as it opened, and Cole marched back in, Justin at his side.

  The big bear who’d been so much a part of her life the past week caught the wolf by the arm to keep him by the door. Cole’s hungry gaze never once left Danielle, but Mandy’s focus was on Justin.

  On the sheer size of him, yet how he held himself in a protective way to make sure her wish for privacy was respected. How he looked her over rapidly to reassure himself that she wasn’t hurt. Wasn’t needing.

  She was needing—time to think and to talk through what came next.

  “Danielle, I’m going for a walk. Can you stay here for a while? Or do you need something to eat, or—”

  “I’ll stay with her.” Cole was across the room and by their side in an instant.

  Danielle rolled her eyes. “Sure, big guy. You can sit
right here.”

  She dragged out one of the chairs and patted the seat before lowering herself into the one next to it.

  Mandy wasn’t sure what was going on, but she nodded. “I’ll see you in a little while, okay? And then you can come back to our place, and we’ll catch up a whole lot more.”

  “No prob, sis. Love ya.” Danielle blew her a kiss then turned to the wolf. “You are a grumpy puppy, aren’t you?”

  Cole threw himself into the chair and growled at her, but this time it was a soft sound, as if he was trying to stop from laughing.

  Justin took her arm and pulled her from the shop, back into the bright sunshine. “Come on. The fresh air will do you good.”

  Danielle waved her fingers then laid her hand on Cole’s arm where it rested on the table between them. She looked as if she’d be fine, so Mandy glanced into Justin’s face. “Fresh air sounds wonderful.”

  Chapter Ten

  Justin wasn’t sure at this point what his options were, and the ones that popped to mind first were bad and worse.

  He knew what he wanted—Mandy.

  But as she wandered at his side totally oblivious to their surroundings, he knew the answer wasn’t as cut and dried as that.

  Impulsively he caught her fingers in his. “Come on. I’m taking you for a ride.”

  She offered a soft laugh. “I’m in your capable hands.”

  Capable. Ha. A bear barely out of her teens had managed to elude him and his trackers. Tyler was going to laugh his ass off when he heard, and Caroline—

  God, she’d never let him live this one down.

  “I’m very impressed with your sister, by the way.” He offered after popping Mandy in the Jeep and heading out of town. “Not many people can evade Cole, or the Takhini pack, for that matter.”

  “Danielle really did do a good job, didn’t she? But maybe she had a few tricks you weren’t expecting,” Mandy excused him

  “Really? Are you trying to tell me the ghost in ghost bear means you can actually disappear?”

  She smiled. “No, but I remember playing hide-and-go-seek with her before I moved away, and she was always a champion hider when motivated.”