Acting Like Family Read online

  She couldn’t have said whether she was just talking to hear herself or if she really thought they understood her. Either way, she put four plates of food out for the wolves and two extra for her boys.

  It really didn’t bother her to see the wolves push lumps of meat toward the twins as long as everyone got to eat. She’d make sure she kept the floors spotlessly clean. These animals were here to help her and they’d all be keeping pretty close quarters.

  Bethany had done some research on wolves. She made sure that she made eye contact with the canines and didn’t break it. She made sure that it was always the animal that dropped his or her gaze. She didn’t show her teeth unless she was angry. She got down on the floor with the wolves and she touched them often.

  She scrubbed and cleaned through the first night while the boys toddled around and played with the wolves. The males had returned and seemed to be trying to help from time to time.

  The first night, a new wolf had joined them. He stepped right in with the other wolves to help. They’d drag heavy items out of her way or help push things when she needed it.

  More than once, Bethany noticed that a canine was holding the ladder for her as she climbed. In fact, she soon realized that one or the other aimed a flashlight for her, too.

  * * * *

  January 5

  Home of Bethany BlackNear Conway, New Hampshire

  Not long after her arrival, Bethany was out on her porch bundled against the increasing cold weather and trying to enjoy a cup of coffee.

  She sat on the step shivering when another new wolf walked up to her. He sat down in front of her and regarded her unblinking.

  “Good morning,” she said to him. He nodded his head. She smiled. He blinked and her smile blossomed. He smiled back at her.

  “I’m Bethany. Would you like to come in and have some coffee? I think we could find some breakfast if you’re hungry.”

  She stood and opened the door for her visitor. He was an older animal and very large. His head reached past her waist. He had to be at least four feet tall on all fours. He was even larger than the black wolf that had joined them the first night.

  “Shhh. The boys are still asleep. Winsome is still lying with them but she’s going to get up soon.”

  Bethany quietly led him down the hall and he looked in the doorway to see two little boys cuddled with a wolf hybrid on a low bed. The canine opened her eyes and glanced at them. She lowered her head back to rest between the sleeping children.

  Back in the kitchen Bethany explained, “They’re only ten months old and they were born three months early. A specialist helped us.”

  Bethany fixed the newcomer a thick steak and a warm bowl of coffee with cream. She spoke to him the entire time as if she had no doubt that he understood her.

  “I was so scared when he explained that they’d be born so early. But he promised they’d be just as healthy as nine month babies.” It felt good to talk about it to someone who appeared interested. “They’ve developed even faster than nine month babies, too. Marc, Dr. Fonteneax says that will slow down in the next few years.”

  *

  As Mik, the newcomer, enjoyed his breakfast and drank his coffee, he watched the girl interact with the others. It soon became apparent to him that she treated all creatures with respect. He’d learned that another Were and a wolf had joined the four wolf-hybrids she’d arrived with.

  She’d speak to the animals and the other wolf and hybrids would act on what she said. She seemed able to read their body language pretty well. There were times, though, that she’d laugh or the animals would grin because she couldn’t understand something.

  Mik was especially amused when she’d tease her sons about being raised by wolves. He was, naturally, in love with his perfect little grandsons. Even as young as they still were, they were very much like Riker and Lakon had been at the same age. Mik was reminded that it really does take a pack to raise a pup.

  He noticed the girl seemed to have moments of melancholy. Sometimes, she’d be playing with her sons and he’d see her shoulders start to shake. Both boys would wrap their arms around her and kiss her saying, “Daddy boo-boo”.

  “Sometimes I just miss your daddy and it makes my heart hurt,” she’d tell them.

  The little mixed pack seemed to get along well. Everyone loved the twins. They had taken to calling Mik “Gandad”. Bethany joked that all the wolves whispered things in hers and the boys’ ears at night.

  Mik made it a habit to bring the girl a newspaper every day. She quipped about having a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding where and how he got it. One day she opened it and closed it right away. She threw it down and walked off.

  Mik nosed open the paper and saw Riker’s face covering the entire page above the fold. He picked it up and dropped it at Bethany’s feet. When she turned away, he butted her with his head. She nearly fell over.

  “Aren’t you clever?” she flung at him and stomped off down the hall.

  He stood still for a moment and then went to find her. She was in her room with the door closed. Thankfully, it wasn’t latched. He pushed the door open.

  She was sitting on the end of the bed clutching a green and purple sock. Tears were streaming down her face.

  Mik walked up and rubbed her with his head. Then he licked her tears and pressed his head to hers.

  “I guess they do look just like him, don’t they?” she sniffed.

  He nodded.

  “I wish they could know him. At least, I thought they should.” She still sniffed a little.

  He tilted his head, questioning.

  “Ever since I sent him pictures when they were born, he—or someone—has been trying to get them or hurt us,” she explained.

  Mik was very still and watchful.

  “I got letters from that lawyer and he, the lawyer, even came to see us once,” she went on. “We met him at the zoo in front of the wolf cage. That’s how we knew wolves liked us and scared him.”

  Mik considered that. If a werewolf, or any creature, had evil intent toward a lupine pup it would be cause for attack. It was very lucky that she had found herself in front of the wolf cage the day August Livingston had come to call.

  Tav had told him a little about that incident and the other times that Bethany and the pups had been threatened. He hadn’t known who the other werewolf had been, though.

  Rage washed over him. How dare that sniveling upstart threaten his daughter-in-law and his grandchildren? He’d suspected his wife’s cousin, Auggie, when he’d heard Lakon telling his brother about letters from the lawyer. Now he knew he was right.

  * * * *

  January 21

  Director’s Office

  Independence FilmsNew York, New York

  “Charles, I feel strongly about this.” Riker was addressing the director of the winter survival movie he was working on. “The White Mountains of New Hampshire would be perfect for the next several scenes.”

  “What do you mean you “feel strongly about this”, Riker?” Charles Nolan, the director on Riker’s current film, almost sounded defensive.

  And they say actors are temperamental. What would this bastard do if I told him I wouldn’t do his damned movie? Cry?

  “I mean, Charles, that Mount Washington, Mount Flume, and Mount Liberty, just to name a few, have the vistas, the snow, the peaks, the wildlife, they have everything we need. I’ve already done quite a bit of research and it makes sense to get the snow scenes out of the way before the weather really turns.”

  “You know, Riker, we pay people to scout for locations.” The director’s facetious attitude was pushing Riker’s buttons.

  “Do you, Charles? That’s good. Pay those people to act in your movie. My time is valuable and I’ve fulfilled my contractual obligation to you regarding that time. Your three months are up.”

  Riker stood and walked toward the door. “Now wait a minute, Montgomery!” the director bellowed.

  Riker did not wait a minute.
He pulled open the door to the man’s secretary’s office and smiled into her stressed face.

  “Riker!” the director screeched.

  He continued walking, turning left out of the offices and heading toward the elevators. He slowed down just enough to autograph one person’s Federal Express envelope and another fan’s sandwich wrapper.

  “Riker!” the director panted as the elevator light indicated the floor below them. “Mr. Montgomery! Riker, wait!” he wheezed.

  The elevator door sprung open and the director grabbed Riker’s arm before he could step forward. Riker tensed, looked down at the hand clutching his arm and rumbled a menacing snarl.

  The director snatched his hand away, holding both palms out in a gesture of surrender. The scent of fear was heavy around him.

  “Please, Riker, Mr. Montgomery, let’s just go talk about this some more” Charles Nolan puffed.

  Riker drew himself up and squared his shoulders. He stepped into the director’s personal space and leaned down.

  “I am quickly losing interest in your project. I have no more time to waste. I’ll be staying at the Apple Inn in Conway, New Hampshire for the next week. That’s all you get—if you get there by tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see you by noon,” he called as Riker turned and stepped onto the elevator. “I’ll be there!”

  By this time, Riker didn’t care if the director showed up or not. His patience was shot. Flipping out his cell phone, he called his brother.

  “Hey, brother,” he said when Lakon answered. “I’m reserving the top of the Apple Inn in Conway. I’m heading over tonight.”

  “You filming?” Lakon inquired.

  “Probably,” Riker responded. “See you there.” He hung up.

  * * * *

  January 24

  Offices of Montgomery, Inc.

  August Livingston was angry and disgusted. His plan to undermine the pack’s trust in Riker Montgomery was taking much longer than it should have. He couldn’t get good help and the woman was either smarter than he’d given her credit for or she was just lucky. He didn’t think she was all that smart but he couldn’t take any chances.

  The problem was that if he was going to be Alpha after he took down the pretty boy, he had to remain above suspicion. Appearances mattered a great deal.

  He thought of the day at the zoo when the woman had met with him. Beautiful, blonde, begging for … Riker Montgomery. She’d had her two mixed breed whelps with her.

  He’d offered to take her in, to care for her. He’d told her that he could meet her needs as well as that mongrel mutt and she’d get used to him. He’d used different words, of course.

  It wasn’t his fault that Riker Montgomery didn’t want his children, he’d explained. She shouldn’t worry, all she needed to do was come with him and tell some people that Riker had gotten her pregnant and was now avoiding her. He, August, would take care of everything.

  That human bitch had looked down her nose at him. Haughtily, she’d thanked him for his concern and said she had no ill will toward Montgomery. NO ILL WILL! When she’d refused he’d gotten angry.

  He’d knocked her to the ground and started to take the pups. They looked just like their father. He didn’t need her cooperation. If he had the pups, she’d come quietly. The icy contempt in her dark green eyes would be replaced with pleading and begging. She would learn respect. She’d do anything, he knew, if he had her pups.

  That’s when all hell had broken loose. He’d ignored his lupine senses when he’d gotten close to her and smelled her unique scent mixed with Montgomery’s. He hadn’t realized that they were standing in front of the wolf enclosure. When he’d gone after the pups, the wolves had gone crazy. He’d smelled another Were nearby he thought he’d be attacked. She’d pay for that, too.

  “Mitchell! Joel! Get in here!” August bellowed. “Where is she?” he barked when they appeared.

  “We think we know where she is, Auggie—uh, August…” Mitchell mumbled.

  “How could you allow the woman to slip through your fingers, Mitch? I can’t believe you’re that incompetent! One woman and two pups—not exactly easy to miss!”

  “Don’t worry, Boss, we’ll get her,” Joel promised. “She always uses cash, so we can't follow a money trail, but she signs her name all over the place. She bought a car and some property. She thinks she’s so smart.”

  “I have to be at the movie site this week,” Auggie growled at the men. “I won’t be able to hold your hand. Think you can manage to track her down without me?”

  “That’s the thing, Boss. She’s somewhere there in the White Mountains. She bought a car in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and left a Post Office Box in Conway as a mailing address.” Mitchell was eager to redeem himself.

  “Perfect,” Auggie couldn’t control the malicious smile curving his mouth. “We’ll be filming there for another week. I can’t wait to snatch her from under Riker Montgomery’s nose!”

  Chapter 6

  February 2

  Near Conway, New Hampshire

  Temperatures were dropping even lower and supplies were running low as well. Bethany called all the wolves together. She explained that she would have to go into town and get her mail and buy supplies for them.

  She gave them all the letters she’d received from Riker’s lawyers. If anyone smelling like that should show up, she instructed the wolves to get the boys and run to their cave.

  They’d found a cave a mile away that would make a safe hiding place if the lawyer or his minions should show up. They had already stocked the cave with food, clothing, and bedding.

  She was more than a little uneasy about going. Someone was asking about her at the grocery store in town. The description of that person didn’t sound like anybody she knew.

  Her second reason for worrying was that she’d never left the boys alone for so long with no people. She didn’t know how long she’d be gone this time. She knew her canine friends would look after the boys. They cared for them every day. But she worried, all the same.

  “Ella, Winsome, Tav! I have to go. Take the boys to the cave if you smell ANYTHING! Everybody understand?” three tails wagged frantically. “The rest of you, I’m counting on you, you know that!”

  She sat on the floor, nudging the wolves. She looked each of them in the eyes. She did her best to communicate in their ways. Mik came forward and apparently translated. He seemed to especially trust Tav.

  Maybe Bethany should have felt silly talking to dogs and wolves as if they understood her but she had to pray that they did. They seemed so intelligent and they helped her with the twins.

  Her sons’ safety and her own depended on the hybrids she’d rescued and the local wolves that had joined her pack. They were a pack of three wolves, four hybrids, two toddlers and one adult human.

  She considered herself alpha but knew that Mik was the real alpha. She thought about leaving him with the boys but she worried she’d need his help.

  She kissed and hugged her sons as if she’d never see them again. She didn’t know if she would or not. She giggled and whispered her favorite joke in their ears. Their chubby arms encircled her and they giggled and whispered the joke back to her.

  She turned to Mik.

  “Let’s go,” she sniffed. The large gray wolf preceded her through the door holding it open for her. He closed it when she reached the car.

  “Ride with me to the notch, Mik and that’s where you’ll meet me coming home. If I’m not there after the sun is straight up—noon, I guess—then you can head south looking for me. I want to get home before the storm hits.”

  As far as Bethany could tell, Mik agreed with her. She let him out about fifteen miles from their home as the crow flies. She continued down the mountain to finish her errands.

  * * * *

  February 2

  Conway, New Hampshire

  When she came out of the bank, Bethany saw two men going through her truck. Carefully, she eased back into the bank and out the back ent
rance. She made her way to the highway and began walking toward the notch where she’d left Mik. It was a long walk in cold weather.

  Bethany was wearing a pair of comfortable jeans and a long sleeved shirt under a hooded sweatshirt. She’d planned to buy herself a coat this trip. Sadly, she lamented the leather jacket of Riker’s that she’d left at the airport.

  Lakon Montgomery apparently spotted her walking along the side of the road. He pulled his car over and asked her if she’d like a ride. At first she demurred. Finally, Lakon appealed to her, “Honey, you know I’m not going to attack you. Come on, I’ve got a strong heater in this car.”

  That’s all it took, in the end. She was so cold that her teeth were chattering and her lips had to be blue. He poured her a cup of coffee laced with bourbon from a thermos he had. He pulled her to him, rubbing his hands up and down her arms and across her back to warm her. His body heat did warm her but she felt a little odd at this intimacy.

  “Reach over there on the back seat, Sugar, my brother left his coat back there.” He started the car and pulled back onto the road.

  Bethany couldn’t help it—she was freezing. She pulled the jacket over herself and snuggled into it. It smelled like Riker. Her heart leaped at the realization that he must be close by.

  “Th … Th … Thank you” she stuttered.

  She was still shivering. She glanced at the driver of the car. Lakon Montgomery and his brother were both so famous that she didn’t pretend not to recognize him.

  What are the odds that the man driving down the highway who offers me a lift would be Riker’s brother? I bet every other woman in America wishes she had luck like mine. Damn!

  “Honey where’s your coat?” Lakon asked her as he began to drive again. “You’re going to freeze to death up in these mountains without it.”

  “I guess I didn’t realize it was this cold,” she confessed.

  *

  Lakon was overjoyed. His luck was unbelievable! The very woman they’d been scouring the country for and here she was, walking up the side of the road.

  Thank God I stopped to fix a thermos of coffee. I would have missed her if I’d come by here any earlier.

  He could see why his brother was enamored of this sweet thing. She was a good looker. Her scent was incredible. But this was Riker’s mate. He’d be careful. Still, he was sure Riker would want him to look after her when he couldn’t do it himself.