Nights Embrace (Others of Seattle) (23 page)

“Aye, she asked me if she had a choice in becoming a wolf. I told her the truth, it was up to her. I also told her how it worked and she told me she’d think about it. I didn’t really believe her because we never spoke of it again.”

“Not until I was ready.” Siobhan grinned. “Took me a year to ask him to do it, but I did, and I don’t regret it.”

“
I still wish my change was easier,” Shane told Roxy, looking directly at her. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a giant wolf attacked me, trying to get to Joey, who was only five at the time. I killed him with a pitchfork, but he tore me up. I didn’t realize he was a werewolf until he started to shift back to human. Joey ran to Fiona for help.”

Joey shrugged.
“She was like a grandma to all of the kids in our village. Always sweet, always willing to listen to us ramble on. Dad was dying on the ground. I did the only thing I could think of. I ran to Fiona.”

Fiona nodded.
“I took care of him, the same as I did when Shane changed you, and Trevor after Dina got her claws into him.”

“And me,” Nick
interjected. “If you hadn’t stumbled upon me when you did, I’m not sure I would have made it. You took away the pain from the moment I laid eyes on you.”

A soft smile pulled at her lips.
“I knew you were mine when your wounds healed under my touch.”

Joey shook his head
, a wry smile on his face. “She couldn’t do that for the rest of us. She helped, oh did she ever, but she flat out healed everything they did to Nick.”

“What happened?”

Nick shuddered. “I was hunting. I shot one of them, but they tore me to shreds for it.”

“They?” Roxy asked.

“Boyd and Dina aren’t the only members of their pack,” Shane told her. “If what Fiona says is true, William and Kathryn are still around, and there are others in their pack. Eight others last we saw them. Could be more, could be less. No way of knowing. We haven’t found any trace of other wolves besides the two you’ve met.”

“On to happier topics. I’ll grab more beer,” Sorcha announced as she stood and headed for the cooler. “Everyone want one?”

It was early. Only six in the morning.
Roxy and Trevor were nearly done with breakfast at the Monsoon. She was starting to feel guilty for staying away so much. Of course, she felt out of place with her human friends now.

Jason dropped into the booth across from Roxy and Trevor.
“Whatever you are doing to Roxy, keep it up,” he told Trevor sincerely. “She’s happy for the first time in forever. I’m the world’s biggest skeptic on love, but you two fit together.”

Grinning, Trevor saluted.
“Yes sir.”

Roxy’s brow cocked as her eyes narrowed
. “You can’t fool me. You’re the biggest, most hopeless romantic I know. You, my dear, need to find someone who doesn’t view you as a toy.”

“Yeah, but hell hasn’t hit the ice age yet, and monkeys haven’t flown out of my ass, so that’s not happening anytime soon.”

“It will. When you least expect it,” Roxy added with a wink. After Jordan, she had honestly given up on finding love, but then Trevor sang his way into her heart.

“That’s easy for you to say.
No one in their right mind could resist you, Roxy.” He cast a glance to Trevor. “Good thing I’m not in my right mind.”

“
You’re just afraid of me,” she teased.

“I’m afraid of winding up a victim in one of your books.” He slid out of the booth and tipped an imaginary hat as Trevor laid out more than enough for the bill and a nice tip. “You two enjoy your day. I’m going back to work.”

“Bye, Jason,” Roxy called. She turned to Trevor. “You really need to stop paying for everything. I don’t mind picking up the bill some of the time.”

“I know. I don’t either, come on. We have a trip to take. I’m driving us up
to Edenton.” He placed a kiss on her lips before standing and holding his hand out for hers.

“Remember,
Skylar made me promise to bring you tonight.”

“I won’t forget. I can hardly wait, but do you know what you
want to read?”

“Unfortunately, no.” She tapped her chin. “I’ll have to run up to your place to grab a notebook.”

“I’m going to send you on your own, or I
will
make us late.”

“Magic, fighting, yeah, I think I’d rather make love too
.” She was only half kidding, but she followed him out the door. “Seriously, I’m going to suck at all of this. Magic was never something I really believed in. I’m the sort who is always trying to figure out the trick.”

“Can you always?”

“Usually. There is one magician who is good enough I can’t figure him out.”

“Oh, who’s that?”

“The Mage.”

Trevor
’s brow arched. “I’ve heard of him. Joey saw him at Shenanigans one day.”

“That’s him. Weird little man, and has a crush on Isa. Seems
every
man wants her.”

“The bartender?”

Her eyes narrowed at Trevor, a little growl erupted of on its own accord.

He chuckled, pulling her closer.
“I’m not even remotely interested in her. Didn’t you say something about Mike being in love with her?”

She groaned.
“Yeah, unfortunately. She’s stringing him along, except he claims he’s not in love with her. That’s bullshit though.”

“Maybe Mike feels something for her, but knows they aren’t meant to be.”

“Maybe, but she’d be lucky to have him.”

“There’s someone for everyone, and I’m willing to bet that maybe they aren’t so good together.”

“Maybe. I still wish it didn’t hurt Mikey.”

* * * *

All Trevor could see in his mind was Roxy being crushed by Joey. In theory, he was good with Roxy learning to defend herself, but when he thought about how they were going to train her, he wanted to turn his Land Cruiser around and drive far away to keep her safe. He knew better, but he couldn’t help gripping the wheel, his jaw clenched tight, staring at the road as he forced himself to drive to a new hunting spot.

Roxy’s fingers drummed on the armrests, her eyes dar
ting around as she chewed on her lip.

“
Relax, Roxy,” Trevor soothed. “You need to learn, and Joey is a good trainer. Shane will help. Trust me.”

Roxy snorted.
“That why you’re wound so tight you’re about to snap?”

“They won’t hurt you.” He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince her or himself. He knew about all the things that could go wron
g, and it would be an accident.
It is unlikely anything will go wrong,
he reminded himself, for the hundredth time.

“Look at it this way. I’ll heal fast. So even if something does
happen, it won’t be so bad. Chill out, babe.”

He let out a
sigh. “You read me so well.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” she purred. “I know you said you
won’t watch after a point. Are you going to be there for the magic portion?”

“Don’t know yet. Fiona will decide. She’ll know best. I know that I can’t watch two of my closest friends come after you, even if it’s
strictly to train you. My instinct will always be to protect you, and I can’t do that if you’re to learn.”

“I wouldn’t like watching them come after you either
.” She winked, squeezing his hand. “Today is a full day. Tell me it won’t always be like this. I liked yesterday. Hanging out with you and everyone.”

“Yeah, but you seem to be pulling away from your friends
. I don’t like that,” he told her as he parked the car.

Roxy pulled her hand away, knotting her fingers in her lap
. Her gaze landed out in the trees. “I feel different. I’m afraid of giving myself away.”

“You’re the same in all the ways that count.
No one will likely notice anything for a decade or so. When people around you begin aging, they’ll start to get suspicious.”

“
What am I going to tell Mikey?”

“I told you, when you’re ready, you’ll want to tell him all of it. It’s for the best if he knows.
There is no need to cut him out of your life.”

“He’s not going to believe any of this. Especially not that our father is over four hundred years old.” Her laugh was nervous. “I have no clue
where to begin.”

“I’ve been there, and the words will come when you’re ready. L
ucky for you, you have plenty of time to explain it all. It doesn’t have to be right now.”

“Good.”

He parked, and climbed out of the Land Cruiser. Before he made it to her door, she climbed out. One eyebrow arched as he smiled. “I would have gotten that.”

“Habit,” she shrugged, a little giggle escaping. “You’re the first real man I’ve spent any time with. I’m not used to chivalry and all that.”

He drew her into his embrace as he leaned back against the vehicle. “You will be soon.”

Joey
pulled up, with Sorcha sitting shotgun. Shane and Siobhan were in the back.

Roxy looked up at him with a sparkle in her eye.
“What are you going to do while I’m trying not to get my ass kicked?”

“You won’t,” he answered gruffly. “I’ll be hanging out with Sorcha and Siobhan. Otherwise Sorcha will be cheering you on, and possibly distracting you.”

“Maybe I want a cheerleader.”

Sorcha ran around Joey
’s Jeep. “So, you ready? This is going to be fun.”

Stepping away from Trevor, Roxy
crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know. What’s your big brute planning?” At least there was humor in her tone.

“No worse than what he did to me when we first went sparring.”

Roxy looked up at Joey and frowned. “Shit,” she cursed before looking back at Trevor. “You do realize he’s like three times bigger than me, right?”

Trevor chuckled.
“Aye, but you have agility on him. He’s a solid rock. He gets going and he can’t stop. You switch directions and dodge much easier than he can.”

“Hmm, if you say so.”

Joey roared with laughter. “You’re the one who slipped through the tangle of people to stop Boyd from killing Jordan. And you weren’t even a wolf then. Where did all that feisty courage go?”

Her eyes widened and she stared back at him
with a slight pout to her lips. “I didn’t know he was a werewolf at the time. Plus, he’s not much bigger than me.”

“Don’t let him rile you,” Siobhan
encouraged lightly. “He’s a big puppy dog.”

Shane nodded.
“He helped me train Siobhan. Last thing he wants to do is hurt you.”

Siobhan nodded her agreement
.

Trevor squeezed her shoulder and she met his gaze. He gave her a reassuring smile.
“You can take him,
A Chroí
.”

“You ready, little sis?” Joey asked with a devilish smirk.

Her growl traveled up Trevor’s spine. “Sure thing, Gramps,” she answered with fire.

Trevor took a deep breath and reminded himself she would be fine. She was ready, and she needed to learn.

* * * *

Joey leapt
—freaking leapt—over his Jeep, lunging for Roxy. Roxy gasped, twisting to the side as Joey slammed head first into Trevor’s Land Cruiser.

Rocking back on his heels, Joey shook his head.

“Told you you’d be fine.” Trevor grinned at her.

Roxy nodded, her eyes wide.
“Sure.” Glancing over at Joey, she asked. “How’s your head?”

Sorcha laughed out loud.
“Don’t worry about him. His skull is thicker than it ought to be.” She shot her man a playful look. “It’s not his brains I love anyway.”

“You still scared?” Joey asked as he stood, stretching to his full height
.

Crazy as it
seemed, she wasn’t. “Nope, bring it.”

Joey sprang at her. Roxy danced
to the side, grabbing his wrist and twisting it up and back at a painful angle.

“Shit, fuck,” Joey groaned on an explosive exhale as he slammed to his knees.

“Sorry,” Roxy squeaked, letting go and backing up.

Trevor caught her.
“See, you’re doing fine.”

“Damn straight she is. A natural, I tell you.” Joey grinned
proudly at her before glancing to Trevor. “She’s got one hell of a grip, doesn’t she?”

“Aye, that she does.” Trevor
leaned in and whispered against her ear. “He’s going easy on you. That won’t last. Here’s a tip. Once he’s coming for you, he has a hell of a time stopping. Use his momentum against him. Shane, on the other hand, thinks outside the box and will try to use your strengths against you. He’s good too, so watch him.”

“All right,” she answered thoughtfully. Roxy didn’t know what to expect.

Siobhan took a look around and then pointed toward a trail. “We should take this into the woods, in case someone shows up. Wouldn’t do for anyone to catch us doing things a normal human can’t.”

“Good plan,” Roxy
agreed. The hairs on the back of her neck rose as she felt the air move behind her. Ducking, she spun. Joey kept going, right into Shane, knocking him on his ass.

Everyone but Shane and Joey burst out laughing.

“Sorry,” Roxy managed to get out between bouts of giggles.

Joey stood, grasped Shane
’s hand and yanked him to his feet. “Sorry, Da.”

Shane smiled.
“She has great instincts. You need to watch her.”

“That I do,”
Joey agreed, turning back to Roxy with a smirk. “You can dodge me, but can you keep up?” His brow arched a second before he turned on his heel and charged off into the forest.”

Trevor nodded.
“Go on, let’s see what you can do.”

She took off at a normal run.

Sorcha nudged her shoulder. “Come on, you can do better, see if you can keep up.”

Siobhan blew past them, and Roxy pushed harder, trying to catch her. She couldn
’t—close, but not quite. She did, however, keep up with Sorcha, and they passed Joey. Trevor wasn’t far behind, but she had a feeling Trevor and Shane were watching the rear.

Sorcha came to a stop in a clearing next to her
twin. Roxy paused to rest. She looked back, waiting for Joey, knowing he was going to come at her the second he was in sight.

“Ah, smart girl.” Sorcha laughed. “Don’t worry, he
’ll be careful not to hurt you.”

“For you, I’m sure
he was. He doesn’t know me that well,” Roxy replied.

Siobhan shrugged.
“He went easy on me, and he’s closer to Trevor. That means he’s going to go even easier on you.”

“Then how will I learn?” Roxy asked.