“Get a grip,” she told herself and turned back to the dresser only to remember it was empty. Isaiah had her clothing.
Grabbing a sheet, she wrapped it around herself and padded down the hallway. She could hear water running and knew James was getting cleaned up. Shelley sighed, wondering if he had something she could wear. It wouldn’t fit, but she’d be covered.
She happened to glance down the stairs and there at the bottom were her two bags. She was torn between being thrilled to have clothing to wear and being mortified that her brother had come into the house while she and James were having sex and she hadn’t heard him.
She finally chose to be happy to have clothing. Hurrying down the stairs, she grabbed the bags and darted back to her room. She yanked open the bags, drew out everything she needed and went into the bathroom. If she was quick, she could wash and dress and be ready when James was.
James stepped beneath the spray of cool water and rinsed the soap from his body. He was still partially aroused even after claiming Shelley and taking her several times. He had a feeling he’s spend most of the rest of his days in this predicament. And he didn’t give a damn.
He felt alive for the first time in decades. Shelley was his mate. And she loved him.
His chest swelled and he bowed his head, letting the water cascade over him. She was his miracle.
Twisting off the taps, he cut off the flow and stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and dried off. Tossing the towel over a rod to dry, he walked silently to his room. He cocked his head to one side, tracking Shelley’s location, and could hear water running down the hall.
He closed his eyes and swore as his cock swelled. It was all too easy to picture Shelley naked, the warm spray caressing her skin, trailing over her breasts to pool between her thighs.
He shuddered and shook off the image. It was time to get dressed and deal with pack problems. But tonight. Tonight was another story. If Shelley wasn’t too sore, he planned to eat her from head to toe before sinking into her sweet heat.
And those thoughts weren’t helping. He grinned. He was acting more like a newly transformed male than a mature one. He dressed in jeans, boots and a shirt, leaving the tails hanging out to cover his erection.
James went down the hall and into Shelley’s room just as she stepped out of the bathroom. True to her word, she was wearing a turtleneck sweater. Her jeans fit her to perfection, skimming her slight curves.
But it was her smile and the quiet love in her eyes that set his heart pounding. “Ready?” He held out his hand to her.
She took it and nodded. “I am.”
Together they went down the stairs to face her family.
Quinn stared at the man who was his father. He wasn’t certain how he felt about him even after spending time with him this past week. He actually felt more at home with the Striker brothers.
He snorted. Maybe because he didn’t really have a connection to them. Not like he did to Donovan Brody.
“You okay?” Simon asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Quinn liked the youngest Striker brother. He was the closest in age to Quinn. If you could call thirty-five years close. Quinn was twenty-five while Simon was sixty.
He shook his head, still amazed. It was one thing to intellectually understand that werewolves had a much longer lifespan than humans, but it was another thing to be confronted with the reality of it.
James Riley, the alpha of the pack, was one hundred and sixty years old. That was truly mind-boggling.
Quinn’s head whipped up as he caught the scent of his father on the breeze. And not just his father, but several other males as well.
As if on cue, the front door of the main house opened and James stepped out with Shelley by his side. The big man placed a possessive hand on her back as he guided her down the steps. Shelley gave him a smile that was filled with love and caring.
He was glad for them both, but especially for her. She’d been through hell. But thoughts of what Shelley had been through brought them back around to his sister. Where was she?
Quinn shoved all negative thoughts aside. He would find Chris if it was the last thing he ever did. He studied all the males gathering in the clearing. Donovan nodded to him. It was like peering into a mirror. Disconcerting, yet familiar. Their hair color was the only major difference. His father’s features were a little harder and older, but that was to be expected since Donovan was about a century older.
Gavin and Grady walked beside him and they were quickly joined by all the Striker brothers. Alex and Meredith rounded out the group. James kept one arm around Shelley and raised the other for silence.
Immediately, everyone turned their attention to him.
“Shelley and I have mated.”
Alex gasped and gave a glad cry before running over to hug Shelley. “I’m so glad. For both of you.” She hugged her father too before her husband tugged her back to his side.
James turned to face Isaiah and Joshua. “I will take care of your sister,” he pledged.
Isaiah nodded and offered his hand. Joshua glanced at his sister. “Is this what you want?”
James bristled slightly but Shelley nodded and smiled. “It is.”
“Good enough.” Joshua turned to his alpha and offered a slight bow. “We Striker brothers have just gotten our sister back. She’s very precious to us. I couldn’t think of another male I’d rather see her mated with.”
James inclined his head slightly and turned to the other males. “You all accept my claim?”
Donovan and Gavin immediately agreed. Grady shook his head and sighed. “I must be getting old. First Joshua and now you. I gotta learn to move faster.” He grinned and offered his hand and his congratulations to the couple. Quinn found it fascinating to watch pack dynamics at work.
Once that was done, James was all business again. His sharp gaze went from Quinn to Donovan and back to Quinn. “Have you decided?”
There wasn’t much of a decision to make. James Riley had decreed that Quinn was going to Chicago where Isaiah and his contacts would help him locate Chris. “I’m in and so is Craig.” He wasn’t spending any more time separated from his family. The last year had been hell on earth.
“He’s human,” Donovan protested.
“He’s my family.” He wasn’t budging from this. If Craig wasn’t welcome, the two of them would set out on their own.
Donovan started to protest, but James held up his hand and the other male went silent. “Your brother knows what you are?”
“Oh, yeah. I’d never have made it without him. I trust him more than I trust any of you.” Several of the males growled, but Quinn wasn’t backing down.
“Then he’s more than welcome.” James’s eyes passed over the crowd, his piercing golden gaze pinning each man in turn. “Anyone have a problem with that?”
When no one spoke, James continued. “You’ll go with Isaiah and Meredith.” He glanced at them. “When are you leaving?”
“As soon as you’re done with us,” Isaiah answered. “We’ve been away long enough.”
“Understood.” James focused on Quinn once again. “Gather your belongings and be ready to leave.”
Frustration ate at him, but he held his tongue. He’d be more in the thick of things once they reached Chicago and he had Craig with him.
James reached out and rested his large hand on Quinn’s shoulder. “We’ll find her. She’s one of us, just as you are. You and your family always have a place here. And that includes Craig.”
Quinn’s throat felt tight and he nodded. “Thanks.” It was strange to be offered a home. He hadn’t had one since his mom had passed away. Not really. They’d been too busy trying to stay together and alive. He and Chris had had the added burden of dealing with the changes in their bodies and discovering what it truly meant to be a half-breed werewolf.