Her Stepbrothers Are Werewolves

Her Stepbrothers are Werewolves
Copyright © 2016 by Trinity Blacio

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

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Digital ISBN: 978-1-62601-305-6

First edition, September 2016

Chapter One

Lucy Ballard moaned as she stepped into the warm rose-scented water. It had been a week from hell at the grocery store where she worked. First, the other cashier had up and quit, saying something about the bosses being dickheads and not knowing what they had in front of them. Then her mom showed up out of the blue. She hadn’t heard from in over a month, and here she was with a new man. And not just a boyfriend; no, a damn husband.

Oh, he was hot and seemed to dote on her mom like crazy, but it was only a matter of time before Kirk Masters learned the hard fact that her mother was simple-minded and that it would take a lot of patience to care for her.

She loved her mom, but sometimes…With a sigh, Lucy sank under the water trying to forget the week. But her mother’s pounding on the bathroom door brought her up out of the water. “What Mom? I’m taking a bath. Can’t you give me ten minutes?” she snapped, almost wishing her mom had stayed in a hotel. Then she regretted even thinking that.

“I just wanted to let you know that Kirk’s boys will be joining us for dinner tonight,” she announced.

“That’s great, Mom. I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful time. I’ll be out in a few minutes,” Lucy said, reaching for the shampoo.

“Can I come in for a minute? I really do need to tell you a few things,” she asked, which was totally new for her mother. She always said what she had to say and left.

“Door is open, Mom,” Lucy said, pouring shampoo in her hand and starting to scrub her head.

“Here, let me,” her mom moved behind her and started to give her the best massage, just like in the old days.

“God, I forgot how good you used to do this,” she moaned, and her mother laughed.

“Rough week?” her mom asked.

“Rough month, period. It sucks to have a B.A. in Psychology and not be able to do a damn thing with it unless I want to go back to school. Hell, I already have $60,000 in student loans, which I’ll be paying till I’m old and gray if things keep up the way they have been. Not to mention, I’ve been pulling double shifts since the witch quit the other week. So, what do you need to speak to me about?” Lucy ran a hand over the scar on her stomach, which was hidden beneath the bubbles, wishing things could be different.

“First, promise me you won’t flip out when I tell you this. No, it’s not one of my ‘moments,’ as you call them,” she told Lucy, which made her flinch.

“Sorry Mom,” Lucy said, realizing how much she had hurt her mom.

“No, don’t apologize. I admit there had been times I was close to the edge. It just seemed everything was closing in on me. I was worried about you getting your own place, if you’d be able to do it, especially now with the way our world has turned out. So believe me, I understand totally. I love you, Lucy, and I’m very lucky to have you as my daughter.” Her mom reached down and took the hose that hooked to the faucet and started to rinse her head.

“Have you been watching the news lately about shifters, the cats, wolfs, and other beings out there?” her mother asked, squeezing the water out of her long red hair and grabbing the conditioner.

“Yep, saw that, but then again, I kind of figured there were others that walked with us. It would be kind of dumb to think we were the only beings out there in this vast universe.” Lucy frowned and slowly turned to look over her shoulder. “Kirk?”

Her mother, Karen, nodded her head. “He’s a wolf shifter and he claims I’m his mate. Well, since they live longer than humans, he’d like to bring me over or make me like him. But I wouldn’t give him my answer ’til I spoke with you.”

“I haven’t heard you could be turned into one of them in the news?” she asked, her full attention on her mom now.

“That hasn’t become public knowledge and they don’t want it to. Well, you know why. Half of the country would go ape shit,” her mom said.

“But wouldn’t someone find out? I mean, you work. I’m sure they would notice something different about you right?” Lucy asked as her mother rinsed the conditioner out of her hair. After she turned off the water, her mother came around to the front of the tub, pulling the little step ladder over to sit on.

“That is one of the reasons I’ve already quit my job. I’ll be working for Kirk at his business, helping him in Upper Michigan.” her mom informed her.

“So not only will he change you, but you’re moving away?” It would take her two or three days to drive from Tampa to visit her mom.

Her mom reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. “I want you to come with us. You can rent this place, your job sucks, and you always did love an adventure. Plus, you even said you dreamed of living where there was snow.”

Lucy sat back and studied her mom. “That’s why his sons are here, isn’t it?”

Her mother sighed. “Yes, I mentioned that I wanted you to come with us, that I wouldn’t leave without you. Well, Kirk called his sons to help move us. He really does not like the word ‘no’ too well.” Her mother tried to hide the smile on her face and Lucy couldn’t help but laugh.

“Let me guess, alpha all the way?” she shook her head. “It figures when you find your right man it would be, but then again maybe that is what you needed. Hand me the towel, Mom, and let me get ready. I’ll give you my answer tonight after I meet his family,” she said and her mother jumped up like a little girl handing her the towel. It was the first time in a long time she had seen her mother so happy.

“Um, there is something else, well it concerns me. It seems once I’m changed, I’ll be able to still have children. Since I’m not really old in their life span. So my pre-menopause will be stopping.” Karen frowned. “Don’t know if I’m up for another child though, so we’ll have to talk about that.”

“Um, yeah that would be between you two, but just so you know, I wouldn’t mind having a brother or sister. I always did want one. Now, go. I bet he’s standing outside in the hall listening to everything we say, isn’t he?” Lucy asked, stepping out of her claw foot tub and wrapping a towel around herself.

“Most likely. Seems he’s very protective,” her mom sighed.

“I’m glad you have him, mom. Maybe this is what you have been waiting for.” Lucy hugged her mom. “Now, go let me get ready.”

Her mother moved to the door, but turned to stare at her. “Maybe your man will be waiting for you there. You know, like mother like daughter?” she said.

“We’ll see,” she smiled, but inside Lucy knew her chances of finding a decent man after they found out about what happened to her would be hard. Who would want to be stuck with a woman who couldn’t have children? Her hand once more automatically went to her stomach.

Lucy turned away from her mom, hoping she hadn’t seen the tears in her eyes, but it would seem she had. Her warm arms came around her and hugged her. “There will be a man for you. One who would gladly adopt a whole shit load of little ones to call your own. Don’t you ever give up on that dream, Lucy.” She kissed her shoulder. “Believe just like you did as a child,” she whispered and left her alone, as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

* * *

Duke Masters glanced over at his younger brother and shook his head. His brother never stopped flirting, no matter where they went. “Get in the damn car. We’re already late as it is. I have to call dad and tell him we’ll meet him at the restaurant.”

His brother shut the door, an all-serious look on his face. “Do you really believe he found his true mate after all these years? You don’t think that maybe she found out what he was and…”

“And what? You know the stories. There is no way a human woman could make a shifter want to scent her. Plus, he has the marking and we know that no one can do that. But I am worried about the daughter. She could cause problems. We’ll have to keep an eye on her.” Duke pulled out his cell and dialed his father’s number.

“You’re late,” his dad grumbled.

“The plane just got in. We’ll meet you at the restaurant, just give me the name of the place,” Duke said.

“Bern’s Steakhouse and, Duke, you and your brother be nice. I can’t go into it now, but seems my mate’s daughter was attacked a few years ago. My wife forgot to mention this to me or I would have had the asshole taken care of weeks ago.” His father growled.

In the background, Duke heard his new stepmom say. “This is my daughter’s business and it was up to her to tell you about what happened. Hell, Kirk, I haven’t even gotten the full details. She shuts me out, but I can see the pain in her eyes. My Lucy loves children and always wanted lots of them and now…”

“I’ve got to go,” his father hung up the phone, knowing he was comforting his mate. Duke had heard the tears in her voice. The thought of someone hurting a family member didn’t sit right with him, even if he hadn’t met her.

“What did his mate say? I only heard bits and pieces,” his brother, Nolan, asked.

“Seems some asshole hurt our new stepsister bad. So bad she can’t have kids, at least that is what I’m getting from our new stepmom.” Duke stretched his legs out in front of him and gave the limo driver the address where they were meeting his father.

“Do we know where this fucker is?” Nolan growled, his attitude was the same as his right now.

“No, but we’ll find out and the ass better hope he’s sitting behind bars,” Duke looked out the window as traffic passed them by. He loved his woods, but Duke did want to hit the beach before they went back to the pack. To sit in the sand and take in a sunset, just staring out at the water. It almost sounded like heaven to him. Away from all the pressures of being an alpha just for one night.

“So what do we know of our new stepmom?” his brother asked.

“From what I’ve found out, she was married to the guy who gave her Lucy, the daughter. The guy was killed in a boating accident out on the ocean when Lucy was four. From then on she worked full time at one job and part time at a second one to support them both. Lucy was raised more with babysitters then her mom. But at least she is close to her daughter. From the reports, her mother went a little crazy and tried to kill someone, but was stopped. I bet it was about that attack that happened to the daughter.” Duke snorted. “She is very protective of Lucy. I have a feeling it’s one of the reasons Dad has agreed to bringing Lucy back to the pack with us.”