by Jane Jamison
This isn’t real.
But saying so didn’t make it true. She wasn’t dreaming or knocked unconscious. She was awake and seeing the impossible. As her mind struggled not to believe, she couldn’t undo what she’d seen.
Pearl’s men are werewolves.
Her first impulse was to go to her apartment. She’d grab as much as she could and leave town.
Her next impulse went to the Wilson men. She had to warn them and the rest of the town. If she didn’t, who knew what might happen? Now that their secret was out, what would Liam and Bill do? Would they come after her? Would they hurt others now that they had no longer had any reason to hide?
Would anyone believe her? If they didn’t, could she leave having warned them? Could she leave Brogan, Garner, and Sterling behind?
She kept glancing back down the road. So far, no one—no thing—was following her. She had to get back into town and warn everyone. Leaving without trying to get her friends to believe her would haunt her for the rest of her days.
Her friends would believe her. She knew they would. They had to.
As it turned out, she was lucky she’d forgotten and left her phone in the car. Hitting the speed dial for Raven, she waited and waited as the ringing finally gave way to voice mail. Yet, instead of leaving a message, she ended the call and tried calling Betsy. Again, there was no answer, but that wasn’t unusual. She often didn’t pick up when the store wasn’t open. Ending that call, she tried her last chance. Thankfully, Emeline picked up after two rings.
“Hi, Heather. What’s up?”
She stalled, suddenly unsure how to begin. “It’s Heather.”
“Yeah, I know.” Emeline’s laugh seemed unreal after what Heather had seen. “I have caller ID.”
“It’s Pearl.”
“What’s wrong? Is she all right?”
“Yes. No.” She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get her thoughts to come together. “She’s okay.”
“That’s good, but you don’t sound okay. Are you all right?”
“I’m safe.”
“Safe? Why wouldn’t you be safe? I don’t understand.”
“Can I come over?”
“I’m working right now. I was just about to help Miss Charlotte with her bath. Maybe later?” Emeline covered the phone, but Heather could still hear her. “I’m coming. No, Miss Charlotte, let me test the water first. You might— Oh hell!”
“Emeline?”
“Heather, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.”
“No, Emeline, wait.”
But her friend had already ended the call. She closed her eyes to keep from crying as the wash of disappointment flooded her.
By the time she’d opened her eyes, it was too late.
Chapter Seven
Sterling checked the caller ID on his phone, but it wasn’t the person he’d hoped would call. Nonetheless, he accepted the call. He didn’t know Pearl Witten or her mates well, but everyone in a small town knew everyone else to some degree, if only their names. “Hi, Pearl.”
“She knows.”
He motioned for Brogan and Garner to stay in the barn. “Who knows what?”
“Heather knows about Bill and Liam.”
Shit.
“How?”
“We messed up. It’s my fault. I meant to close the blinds, but, well, we got carried away, and I forgot all about her. She saw them shift.”
That wasn’t the way they’d wanted her to find out. “What’d she do?”
“She took off in her car. We tried to stop her, but she was too frightened, and my men didn’t think to shift back into their human bodies first. Damn it, Sterling, I’m afraid for her. She shouldn’t be behind a wheel while she’s so upset.”
“Hang on.” He lowered the phone. “Guys, Heather knows. She saw Pearl’s mates change and took off.”
Like him, Brogan and Garner didn’t take the news well.
“Damn it.” Brogan’s jaw clenched.
Sterling shook his head and went back to the call. “Do you know where she went?”
“No. She took off like a bat out of hell.”
“Do you think she went back to her apartment?” If she had, would she get her things and run? Or would she hide there until she could figure out what to do? He could only hope she’d call them, seeking help.
“I haven’t got a clue. Sterling, I’m really worried.”
“Take it easy. She’s freaked out, but most people freak out when they first find out.” Most of them, however, didn’t get behind the wheel of a car, either. “Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”
“You’ll let me know if you find her?”
If? Not when?
“Sure I will. Until then, sit tight. Maybe she’ll call you.” He doubted it, but he had to try and soothe her.
“Okay. Please, Sterling, find her. I have a bad feeling.”
“We will.” He ended the call. “Come on. We have to find her.”
* * * *
The deer was back, jumping into the middle of the road. Heather knew it was coming. The story never changed, coming in waves of images like flashes from the past.
Deer jumps in front of her car.
She swerves, narrowly missing the deer.
She glances to the left and sees the deer change, splitting apart until it’s transformed, becoming Pearl and the two large wolves.
A tree looms in front of her.
The sound of metal meeting wood.
Pain searing into her forehead.
Each time, just as she was about to escape, darkness would close in and capture her again. She fought against it, but she was too weak. Even unconscious, she realizes it is only a dream, that it has already happened, that parts of it aren’t real. Pearl and her men weren’t really there. But they’d been the reason she’d run and why she’d closed her eyes, trying to comprehend, to make sense of what she’d seen.
She heard deep voices. She recognized them, and yet she wasn’t sure. Were they from her past or from her present? Maybe her future? Wherever they were, they called to her, urging her to open her eyes.
She needed to open her eyes. Yet, she’d opened them too late.
Brogan.
Sterling.
Garner.
Where were they? Why hadn’t they kept her safe? But safe from what? From Pearl? No, she loved her friend. From Liam and Bill? They’d been such gentle, caring men. How could they have changed into monstrous animals?
She moaned and felt a hand cover her own. Turning her head, she faced that person but couldn’t force her eyelids open.
Again, the dream came. Repeating as it had repeated so many times before, shutting out everything else.
* * * *
“We need to take her to the hospital. Maybe all the way to Atlanta.”
Heather squirmed in her bed. Why did Garner want to take her to Atlanta?
“No. She’s all right. She’ll come to soon. I know she will.”
Brogan didn’t want her to leave, and she didn’t want to leave, either. Except when the wolves invaded her dreams again.
Where’s Sterling? Doesn’t he care?
“He’s right, Garner. She has to fight her way back. Her head injury isn’t bad enough to keep her out this long. She’s the one not wanting to open her eyes. Besides, we can’t have her telling people what she saw. They’ll think she’s crazy.”
“She’s human, for fuck’s sake.” Garner’s voice held an urgency to it. As though she was in real trouble. “You can’t think of her as one of you. She can’t heal like you can.”
“I’m the alpha, and I’m making this call, damn it.”
Brogan is the alpha. At once, she understood what he meant. Then the understanding was gone and she didn’t. He was strong like an alpha, but why was he called that?
“You’ll have to go against us, brother. She needs to stay here.” Sterling again. Angry.
Garner groaned, resignation in the sound. “Have you told her friends?”<
br />
“No. Why should we? She’s not dying.” Sterling sighed. “Pearl and her men know. I told them to keep quiet.”
“Why the hell would you do that? She needs her friends now. If you won’t take her to a hospital, then at least give her that.” Garner again.
“We’ve got the doc coming like you asked. She’s safe. Trust us.” Brogan’s voice had dropped low. Hard. Sure. Commanding.
Please don’t argue. I’m coming back as soon as I can.
For the first time, she felt truly safe. If anyone could keep the wolves away, it was her men.
A creaking sound came as she felt the mattress under her tip to the side. Another hand closed over her right hand.
She wanted to open her eyes, but the wolves wouldn’t let her. Silently, she urged the men to come closer. She could smell their scents, could even feel their need for her to open her eyes.
Please, don’t give up on me. Stay here. The wolves will go away if you stay.
* * * *
Coming back was hard, but even as the light began to filter in, she grew stronger. How could she not when she knew her men waited for her? The voices around her, the deep richness of their three voices, pulled at her, compelling her to awaken.
She peeked through closed eyelids. At first, the light was painful, but she soon adjusted. When she finally had her eyes open, she found what she knew she’d find.
“Hey, baby, how are you feeling?” Brogan’s handsome face loomed over her.
“Here, darlin’, take a drink. But only a sip.” Garner cupped her behind the neck and lifted her head enough for her parched lips to part and take in the cool water.
She swallowed, loving the replenishing feeling as it coursed down her throat. Her gaze shifted to Sterling, who stood close but off to the side. “Hi.”
“That’s it? Just hi? Like you just walked in without a care in the world?” Brogan teased her, his mouth twisting up in one corner.
She attempted a smile but wasn’t sure she was able to do it. They were there, by her side, just as she’d known they’d be.
“Don’t worry. She’ll get her voice back soon enough.” Sterling placed his hand on her leg. Although the bedspread covered her, she could still feel his warmth exuding from him and into her.
“Good.” Brogan’s teasing mood was gone. “As soon as you can, tell us how you’re feeling. Do you have any pain?”
She swallowed another sip then cleared her throat. “No. Just a little headache.” Strangely, her head wasn’t pounding. After the wreck she’d been in, she was surprised her skull wasn’t splitting apart.
The pain, however, came swiftly when she sat up. “Is Pearl all right?”
“She’s fine, baby.”
“So you’ve heard from her?” How could she tell them what she saw? If she did, would they believe her?
“She called right after you took off in your car,” answered Brogan. He glanced at his brothers then offered her another smile.
Brogan and Garner helped her sit up, positioning her at the headboard with pillows behind her. She was already feeling better. The longer she stayed with them, the better she felt.
“I don’t know how to tell you this, but I saw them.” She expected them to ask her what she’d seen. Then she’d tell them straight-out. Either they’d believe her or they wouldn’t.
Why didn’t they act curious? Or surprised? Instead, they reacted as though they’d known what she would tell them.
“We know, baby.”
She took in Brogan’s serious expression then jumped to Garner’s and Sterling’s. “You know what?”
“We know what you want to tell us,” added Sterling.
Something wasn’t right. They weren’t telling her what they knew. “I don’t understand.” Her hand went to her forehead. She felt fine, but what if she’d imagined the whole thing?
“You hit your head really hard.” Garner rubbed his thumb along her cheek. “We were worried about you for a while. You kept mumbling things. I guess you were having some major dreams, huh?”
Why weren’t Brogan and Sterling surprised? “I ran off the road to avoid hitting a deer.” Her resolve to tell them was fading. Why were they acting so strangely?
“We know. We found you and brought you home with us. The main thing is that you’re going to be all right,” added Garner.
“You didn’t take me to a hospital? Or a doctor?” She didn’t feel bad. In fact, the longer she was with them, the better she felt. If only she could put Pearl and the wolves out of her mind.
“I know it’s not the usual thing, but we don’t go in much for hospitals. Except Garner.” Sterling chuckled and tightened his hold on her leg. “Or for doctors, either. Still, we called Doc Brown all the way out from Braxton because Garner insisted. He’s on his way.”
“How long have I been out of it?”
“Not long. About the hour it took for us to get you back home.” Brogan dragged in a breath and released it. “You were in and out for most of that time.”
“Really? Only an hour?” She would’ve guessed she’d been out for at least a day or more. How could she have had the dream so often?
Pearl.
The wolves.
She had to tell them. Had to let everyone in Fate know. Had to warn them.
“Bill and Liam. You have to believe me when I tell you what they are.”
“No, darlin’. What we have to do is take care of you. You need to calm down and relax.” Garner took her hand and squeezed it. “Everything’s going to be all right. You trust us, right?”
“Plus, we have something we need to tell you first.” Sterling inched closer.
“No. I mean, yes, I trust you, but I have to tell you. People could be in danger.”
“Baby, relax. Tell us once you feel better. Remember, you had a big jolt to your system.”
Brogan was right. She’d taken a blow. But that didn’t mean she hadn’t seen Pearl’s men change into wolves. Or did it? Was everything a dream? Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure.
“Heather, we need to talk to you about something very important.” Garner cocked his head to the side as though asking himself a question. “At least, we think it’s important. We’re hoping you do, too.”
“What is it?” she whispered. Suddenly, she didn’t know what to believe any longer. Except that the men she wanted, the men she cared for, were by her side.
How long had she wanted them? If any of her friends had asked her a week ago, she would’ve denied anything but an infatuation. What she’d felt was simply a woman being attracted to three very masculine, very intriguing men. What woman wouldn’t be attracted to the Wilson brothers? Now she realized she’d been holding back, too afraid to admit her feelings for fear of taking that one, last chance. She’d been drawn to them from the very beginning, like a salmon heading upstream to mate. Now she knew it. But did they feel the same for her? Or were they taking care of her as any good men would take care of a needy woman?
They grew closer together. Garner and Sterling looked to Brogan to tell her.
Because he’s the alpha.
She had so many questions for them, along with a major revelation and one hard secret.
“Here’s the thing, baby. I hope you’ve noticed, but I’m not sure you have.”
“Damn it, Brogan, quick beating around the bush and get to it.”
She would’ve sworn Brogan snarled at Sterling.
“Anyway, we like you. We like you a lot.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are we in high school? Why not pass her a fucking note?”
Garner slapped Sterling on the back of the head. “Shut up. He’s easing into it.”
“If these two will shut the hell up, I’ll keep going.”
She almost smiled. She’d never seen Brogan look nervous before. From the way he kept running his hand through his hair, he was definitely a little frazzled. “Yes. Keep going.”
“Anyway, we more than like you. We think you’re a special woman and the kind of w
oman we’d like to settle down with.”
She was afraid her heart would burst with the amount of joy filling it. Her hopes of having them tell her they were interested had not only been realized but super-sized. “You want to settle down with me?” Hearing him say it again would help a lot.
“I know it’s sudden and all.”
“Except we’ve known you for two months now,” added Sterling.
Brogan glared at his younger brother. “Yeah, we have. And we’ve gotten to know you through other people telling us about you.”
So they’d done the same thing she had? They’d asked around about her? Did they know she’d asked about them? “I guess they didn’t say anything too awful.” Then again, no one knew her secret.
He smiled, and instead of touching his hair, he touched hers. “Nothing but good things. We’ve tried to get to know you. Without pushing too hard, that is. We didn’t want to scare you away.”
They hadn’t wanted to scare her away.
Pearl.
Wolves.
She shoved the bad thoughts away. If she hadn’t been dreaming what she’d seen, she’d find out soon enough. But she’d waited too long to hear the words Brogan was saying.
She’d yearned for love, yet she was the one who’d kept them at bay. She’d been afraid of what they’d think once they knew her truth. They wanted her now, but would they once they told them?
“We know you”—Brogan shot a glare at Sterling as if to dare him to say something—“like us, but can it be more?”
She couldn’t help it. Perhaps it was seeing the vulnerability on their faces as they waited for her answer. Perhaps it was the accident or the thought that maybe, just maybe, what she’d seen at Pearl’s was real. Tears streamed down her face as sobs broke free to shake her.
“Damn it, Brogan, you upset her. What the fuck did you say?”
She only half heard the growl Sterling made.
“You heard what I said.” Brogan leaned closer, concern radiating from him. “Baby, did I say it wrong? I was trying to tell you that we love you, that we want you. Shit. How’d I fuck that up?”
“You didn’t.” She dragged in a long, shuddering breath then let go with more sobbing. “But I’m so afraid.”