“So I just wait to start seeing stuff?”
Lacey smiled. “That’s about all you can do.”
“What about the shifting stuff? I don’t even know how I did it the other time. It just happened. If it even happened. I’m still not sure it did, because no one saw me do it.”
“What does your gut tell you?”
She thought about it. “I don’t know. Maybe I did.”
“Don’t fret it. You’ll figure it out when you’re ready.” She smiled. “Perhaps let your Brodey chase you again. He is, of all his brothers, the most in tune with his wolf nature.”
Elain had one more question, which she saved until they reached the top of the outcropping and Lacey had snapped Jasper’s leash back on his collar. “My mom and dad,” she quietly said. “Did either of you see anything about them? You know…their future?”
Lina and Lacey exchanged a look. “I haven’t,” Lina said. “But if I do, I promise I’ll tell you.”
“Good or bad?” Elain asked.
Lina hugged her. “Good or bad. I promise.”
Lacey nodded. “As will I. Like Lina, I haven’t seen anything. But I will tell you.”
Liam appeared to be the only one who hadn’t attempted to pace a groove in Lacey’s hardwood floors by the time the three women returned. Lina’s men and Elain’s mom all bore nearly identical expressions of relief when Lina, Lacey, and Elain returned. Lacey let Jasper off his leash. After a quick drink, he promptly splayed himself on the kitchen floor and went to sleep.
“I know how he feels,” Elain said. “My brain’s fried.”
Carla gave her a hug. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah, as okay as it can be, I guess. I have a feeling there’s some crazy stuff ahead.”
“That’s an understatement,” Lina snarked as she heavily dropped to the couch. “But don’t worry. We’ve got your back.”
Lacey insisted they stay for dinner. After the dishes were once again done, she looked at the time. “I’m not trying to rush you out, but I suggest you all get back to your hotel and get a good night’s sleep so you can get an early start in the morning.”
“Why?” Elain asked.
Lacey smiled. “Because Jocko’s plane gets in around seven in the morning, and if you’re not here when he returns, why I guess he just can’t do anything about it, can he?”
Lina smiled. “You sent him on a wild-goose chase, didn’t you?”
“Who, me?” Lacey feigned innocence. “I simply suggested it was a good time for him to take a few days off and go on vacation. I didn’t tell him why, and he didn’t ask. He’s known me long enough to know that when I give him a suggestion like that, it usually simplifies his life in the long run, and he’s learned not to question me about it.”
“You sly fox,” Zack said with a laugh.
“That’s sly wolf, Zachary,” Lacey playfully corrected him. “Believe me, I’ve learned more than my fair share in my long life. So has Jocko.” Her expression grew serious. “I mean it. Get an early start. Rodolfo and his men will find out about your arrival later tomorrow. As long as you’re gone early, you won’t have any problems.”
Jan and Rick helped Lina up and off the couch. “Then I suggest we head on out,” she said. They all hugged Lacey and said good-bye before piling into their cars.
When they reached the hotel a little while later, Elain stepped outside to talk to Ain on the phone.
“Everything go okay with Lacey?”
She heard the nervous tone in his voice.
“I’m fine. Except at full moons.”
“Why? What happens?”
“Apparently then I’ll turn into a pink badger.”
A moment of silence from his end. Finally, he spoke. “Okay, you got me. What’d she say?”
Elain giggled. “Come on, I had you going.”
“Yes, I said you did. Now what did she say?”
Elain sighed. “I am a shifter. An Alpha wolf shifter. But that’s not all.”
“Do you also turn into a bunny?”
She snorted. “Very funny. I’m serious.” She took a deep breath. “I’m a Seer, too, apparently.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Lina apparently knew it when she met me, but she waited to tell me until we were with Lacey.” She closed her eyes. “I miss you guys. I want to come home,” she softly said.
“We miss you, too, sweetheart. Are you leaving tomorrow?”
“First thing in the morning.”
“Here, Brodey’s about to yank my arm off. Talk to him. Love you.”
She smiled again. “Love you, too.”
Immediately, Brodey came on the line. “Babe? You okay? What’s this shit about a bunny shifter?”
“I’m fine. He was teasing. You guys were right. I’m an Alpha wolf.”
“Um…wow.”
“Yeah. And I’m a Seer.”
“A Seer, too? No shit?”
“No shit.”
She could hear his smile through the phone. “Can you see what I’m thinking now?”
“Brodey, a blind kumquat could see what you’re thinking. You’re horny.”
He whined. “I miss you, babe. It’s been too long.”
“This is only the third night. You’ll survive.”
“Fly home. You can be here in a few hours.”
It was tempting. “No, I really want this time with everyone. Please understand.”
He snorted. “Oookay. Fine.”
“Don’t pout. It’ll cause wrinkles.”
That finally got another laugh out of him. “Be safe, babe.”
“I will. Put Cail on.”
He came onto the line. “A bunny-shifting Seer, huh?”
Her turn to laugh. “Come on, enough with the bunny shifter stuff.”
“Aw, but you’d look so cute with the little tail.”
“Do you want to hear or not?”
He snickered. “Go ahead.”
She caught him up. When he next spoke, his tone sounded serious. “You guys are leaving early tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s good. I’m glad Lacey’s on our side on this. I know she can’t do too much, but sounds like she’s handled Jocko well.”
“Yeah, I think so. Let me get inside the room and get to bed. Love you.”
“Love you, too, babe.”
She hung up and returned to the room. Her mom and dad both looked up from where they were talking at the small table when she walked in.
“Is everything okay?” Elain asked them. They’d almost looked…guilty?
Her mom nodded after flashing a smile at Liam. “Everything’s fine, sweetheart.”
Elain didn’t miss the smile on her dad’s face.
Hmm. That would be cheating to see if I can read them, wouldn’t it?
She didn’t give it a second thought. Instead, she walked over to them, put her hands on both their shoulders, and gave first her mom, then Liam, quick pecks on the cheek. “I’m going to get ready for bed.” She tried to conceal her grin as she grabbed a T-shirt and shorts to sleep in from her bag.
As she walked into the bathroom, she also had to suppress the urge to giggle. If her new Seer skills were right, she suspected her mom and dad were more than a little interested in each other.
She just wished she knew for sure.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, they were all awake and ready to leave by daybreak. As Zack fell in line behind Lina and Carla’s cars, he glanced at the gas gauge.
“We need to fill up,” Zack said. “Otherwise, we might run out before the next planned stop.”
“Let’s hit that convenience store at the edge of town,” Kael suggested. “I could use the can one more time before we hit the highway.”
Zack pulled in and texted Lina that they were stopping and would catch up. “Can you bring me a coffee, please?” he asked Kael.