Page 14

Chapter Fourteen

Gram held the door to his cabin open for Amelia as she entered. She stopped hastily, and he nearly plowed into her. He caught her upper arms, steadying himself before glancing past her and spotting her little sister on the sofa, out cold.

Amelia twisted partially, her hand coming to Gram’s chest. The action made his entire body bustle with need. She gifted him the world’s most picturesque smile. “She never sleeps without me holding her,” she said softly. “And never this soundly. Clearly, she trusts you. That’s rare.”

“She’s precious,” said Gram, kissing the top of Amelia’s head before realizing what he’d done. He stiffened.

She leaned into him more, not seeming the least bit put off by his affection. He was glad one of them was fine with it because it was freaking him the fuck out. He’d never been this attracted to a woman this fast.

Not even Brooke.

“Did you really have visions of me before coming here?” she asked.

“Aye.”

She bit at her lower lip. “Um, I had a weird dream. In it, I was with a man who looks a lot like you from behind.”

She’d dreamt of him?

“Looked a lot like me or was me?” he asked, desperate to hear her response.

“Never mind. It’s not important.”

He begged to differ but didn’t push the issue as he stepped away from her and went for a throw blanket on the back of a chair near the sofa. He covered the little one with the blanket and tucked it around her gently before standing tall once more. When he turned, he found Amelia watching him with a curious expression on her face.

He winked. “I’ve had some practice with wee ones.”

“You have children?” she asked, her voice still low. There was a coyness about her that he wanted to see go away. He didn’t want her to be withdrawn with him.

Gram shook his head. “There is a little one who I see as a daughter, but I’m nae her biological father. She and her mother have been reunited with the wee one’s birth father. They are a happy family unit now. She’s about yer sister’s age.”

Amelia came closer and took his hand in hers. She nodded to her sister. “Andie was born when I was almost nineteen. When I found out my mom was expecting, I didn’t want a sibling. I didn’t want to share her. She was my world. Then I held Andie and couldn’t imagine life without her in it.”

“Lass, I do nae think we need to whisper. I can hear her heartbeat. She’s in a deep sleep,” said Gram, glancing around the cabin for the first time. It had its own living room area, a dining room section, and an open, small kitchen. There were two doors that were open, each showing a king bed within. He assumed a bathroom was in at least one, possibly both rooms. Everything was decorated like the lobby in the main building.

Amelia stepped closer, stealing a peek at the bedroom to the right. “Huh, I always wondered what this cabin looked like inside. I wonder if all the guest ones are like this.”

“Lass, yer family owns this place and you do nae know what the cabins look like?”

She shrugged. “I know what the one I grew up in looks like, and I know what my father’s looks like, but I haven’t been in any of the guest ones ever.”

Gram stilled. “You do nae live with yer father?”

“My sister and I live on the grounds. Well, a bit from here, but with nearly two thousand acres of land, a lot of things are spread out. But no, we don’t live, nor have we ever lived, in our father’s cabin. It’s the main house on the compound side of things. When my mother was alive, he’d summon her to his home when he needed to, um…well, I guess you could say scratch his manly urges but didn’t want to do so with another female from the Flock. Other than that, he didn’t really interact a lot with us.”

Amelia entered the bedroom to the right and walked to the back window. She opened the blinds and pointed out into the distance. “Our place is that way. It’s not super big but it’s perfect for just Andie and myself. Our father’s is about a ten-minute walk from there.”

“Lass, I do nae understand,” said Gram, easing up next to her. “I’ve never heard of a mated pair living separate. And I’ve never heard of a male who is mated being able to lie with other women. As you know, children for supernaturals are rare and a gift. I do nae know of many who would be separated in any fashion from their wee ones.”

She didn’t respond. She touched the window lightly, looking lost in thought. “I didn’t want to like you.”

“Come again, lass?”

Focusing on something outside, Amelia didn’t face him. “The Bringer.”

Gram lifted a brow, unsure what in the world she was talking about.

“I thought you’d be like him—like Cal.”

“Lass, you call yer father by his name, nae Da ?” he asked.

She put her forehead to the glass. “He had a hand in our creation, but he’s not, nor has he ever been, a father to Andie and me. And no, our mother wasn’t his mate.”

Gram snorted. “To have children with anyone who is nae yer mate is nearly impossible. And in those cases, it takes great power to make it so. With great power comes a great price.” As the words left his mouth, he thought about their mother being dead. Had that been the price?

Had the fates demanded her mother’s life?

Amelia pressed a smile to her face and glanced at him. It was easy to see she didn’t want to discuss the topic anymore. “I should take Andie and let you get back to what you’d been doing before you found me. Wait. How did you find me?”

He inclined his head in the direction of the other room. “Yer sister told me where you were. She asked me to help you.”

Amelia’s smile faded. With a huff, she hurried past him, back into the other room, and went for her sister. She lifted the little one, who didn’t so much as stir, and held her to her in a caring manner. The feral look in her eyes told him she’d do anything to protect her sister and that she’d make a good mother.

“Lass? Yer upset with me. Why?”

She snorted and shook her head. “Did Cal put you up to this? Did he stage the whole thing? It would be a very him thing to do. Send his right-hand man in to scare me and then send the Bringer in to save the day and make me see you as a white knight. Your plan has a big hole in it—Cal apparently forgot to mention Andie doesn’t speak. Ever. She’s not said a word in two years since she watched our mother being killed.”

Gram flinched. The wee one had seen her mother being slain?

Amelia pivoted and went for the door, carrying her sister, who was no doubt dead weight with as tired as she’d been.

“Lass, wait. Andie did tell me where to find you. She introduced herself to me and told me I talk funny. She also asked me to help you. And something about someone being wrong about me,” he said, desperate for Amelia to believe him though he wasn’t sure why. The very idea of her storming off in anger didn’t sit well with him.

Amelia opened the door to leave, paused, cupped the back of Andie’s head and glanced quickly at Gram.

He could see the indecision in her eyes. In that moment, he wanted to kill everyone who had ever caused her to get to the point in her young life where she held that much mistrust of others. What had she endured? And where could he find the person responsible? He’d make their death painful.

The next he knew, his wolf was weighing in on matters. It swelled upward, wanting to be free, wanting to hunt the culprit. Evidently, it had taken a shine to Amelia as well. His eyes tingled, and he knew they’d shifted colors.

Amelia backed up fast—and the doorway behind her filled instantly with twin Scotsmen.

Mac was the one who reached out and caught her, keeping her from falling. Still, seeing the unmated male’s hands on the arms of his woman was too much.

Mine.

Snarling filled the air, as did the crackle of power.

Mac pulled Amelia and Andie back and out of the cabin as Car rushed in, throwing his arms out wide, fur sprouting on them. As claws emerged from the wolf-shifter’s fingertips, Gram found himself and his beast answering the challenge.

Vaguely, he heard a woman arguing with someone—pleading with them. Through the red haze of alpha rage, Gram looked over to see Amelia in the doorway, minus Andie, a worried look on her face as she begged Car to let her past. To let her come to Gram.

“Campbell, pull it together!” shouted Car, his arms still out wide as he tried to keep himself between Gram and Amelia.

It was then Gram realized the twins were attempting to protect Amelia and Andie. That they thought Gram would hurt them.

That cooled his rage almost instantly.

The static in the air dissipated, and while his wolf lingered near the surface, it stopped thrusting up.

“Gram?” asked Amelia, her voice shaky. “What’s wrong? They said they’re your friends. Are they not with you?”

“What’s wrong is he’s an alpha. They’ve all got rocks for brains,” said Bill, pushing into the cabin. Thankfully, he was wearing a robe and a pair of boxers with the resort’s logo on them. He still had on the flip-flops. “When are you guys gonna learn?”

Confused, Gram stood there taking the verbal lashing from the small, insane man.

Car righted himself, the fur and nails vanishing instantly. “Yer an arse, Campbell.”

“Little ears,” said Mac loudly from outside the cabin. He stepped in and was holding a sleeping Andie in his arms.

Gram blinked several times. “What happened?”

“Aye, what happened indeed,” repeated Car. “We were nearly to yer cabin to tell you the guid news—we’ve a cabin of our own now, next to yers—when all of a sudden, the door opened and out popped a family.”

Mac shook his head, still holding Andie to him. “Campbell, yer nae here to find fill-ins for what you lost. Yer here to heal your mind, body, and soul. Fighting with yer friends over a woman and her babe willnae help that any.”

“Fill-ins?” asked Amelia, staring wide-eyed up at Mac.

Mac cleared his throat. “Nae my place to say.”

Car grunted. “I’ll say it. This meathead just got out of a serious relationship with a woman who looks a lot like you, from what I’ve been told. She also just so happens to have a little girl yer daughter’s age. It’s verra clear to see he has a type of woman he goes for. You know, the unobtainable ones with ready-made families. And trust me, lass, you do nae want to be his rebound chick.”

Bill stared at the wall a second. “Gus says the kid is Amelia’s sister. Not her daughter.”

Amelia gasped. “How do you know my name?”

Bill tapped his temple. “Got told it. You okay?”

“Yes,” she said, putting her arms out for Mac to hand her Andie. “I’m sorry I just thrust her at you. I was scared Gram was going to attack your brother.”

Car grinned. “Wouldnae be the first time Campbell and I went rounds.”

Mac kept hold of Andie. “Lass, tell me where to take her and I’ll carry her for you. The wee one sleeps soundly, and she’s nae that light for you. She is to me. Let me help.”

Amelia glanced at Gram and then pried Andie from Mac’s arms. She held her sister to her. “We’re fine on our own. And we’re no one’s fill-ins. No one’s rebound anything.”

With that, she stormed out of the cabin.

Gram attempted to go after her but found a wall of men in his path.

Bill took the lead, which was amusing to say the least. “Hold your horses there, bucko. Don’t you think you’ve done enough already? That sweet girl needs a friend and someone to trust. Not someone looking to make her a replacement for what he’s lost.”

Gram began to protest but stopped. Was that what he was doing? Was he trying to fill the void in his life with the first set of people who fit the bill? Did he see Amelia as a substitute for Brooke, and Andie as one for Bethany?

The thought sobered him, and he stepped back, needing to sit down. He went to a dining room chair, took a seat, and then lowered his head into his hands.

Someone touched his shoulder, and he assumed it was one of the twins. When he looked up to find Gus, of all people, his hand on Gram’s shoulder, he stiffened.

It was meant to be , said the voice once more in his head.

As Gram stared at Gus, he started to wonder if the voice was his.

The strange man kept his head turned partly, avoiding eye contact.

If it was so meant to be, how is it I managed to fuck it up so royally? he asked down what he hoped was the same mental pathway the voice had originated from.

Simple. If it was easy, anyone could do it. Love is never meant to be easy.

With a snort, Gram bent his head. Of course he’d get a version of fortune cookie wisdom from the voice in his head. As he thought harder on it all, he exhaled a shaky breath. “I do nae see Brooke or Bethany when I look at Amelia and Andie. Yes, I noticed the similarities in ages of the wee ones, but that is all.”

“What do you see?” asked Bill.

“A future. Happiness.” The words slipped from his mouth in something of a hushed whisper. It was as if he were afraid to dare say them too loud. If he did, fate might hear and spite him.

The men all shared glances that said they were concerned. So was Gram. He tried again to go after Amelia, but his friends shook their heads.

“Campbell, you were about to attack us over her. Yer head isnae on straight. James mentioned yer refusing to take the meds he gave you. Let’s take some time to gather our thoughts and take a few deep breaths.”

“You’ve a massage on the books,” added Car, stepping forward. “Go there now. If anyone needs servicing to loosen up, it’s you. Mayhap a hand job will help to clear yer head and get the new lass from yer mind.”

The idea of any woman touching him sexually except for Amelia repulsed him.

When he realized the list of women he didn’t want touching him now included his ex, he gasped.

They were right. He needed to clear his head. While he hadn’t wanted to be at the resort to start with, he couldn’t fathom leaving now that he was here. But he wasn’t safe to be around in his current state. He did need to relax.

Then he could find Amelia and make her understand he didn’t see her as a fill-in for anyone. And she wasn’t a rebound chick. Not to him.

She was so very, very much more.

You do nae even know her, he said to himself. Just leave the lass be.

Gus began to turn in a circle quickly, appearing agitated.

Bill put his palm to his forehead, looking tired. “Really, Gram-cracker, are all of you alpha males this thick?”

Car laughed. “Gram-cracker. I’m using that.”

Gram made a move to go at the small, yet annoying man.

Mac and Car leapt to Bill’s defense.

Mac pointed at him. “Yer getting rubbed down whether you like it or nae! ’Tis nae an option, Campbell.”

Bill stuck out his tongue.

Gram pointed at him. “I will hunt you down and end you.”

With a roll of his eyes, Bill did a fake yawn. “I’ve had so many of you threaten me it means nothing. I’ve lost track of the number of you guys who say you’re gonna eat me or kill me. All talk, no show. Alphas my ass. I’m more scared of Mona.” He pointed to Gus. “We’ve got to get to our colonics appointment. My pipes need cleaned.”

All the men cringed.