Her Stepbrothers Are Werewolves (5 page)

Lucy glanced behind her as she stared to swim, the fear on her face made him growl. Nope, he was so happy they lived by a lake, not the ocean. He dove under Lucy and met the shark head on. With clawed hands, he picked up the at least a three-foot shark and tossed it out into the ocean as far as he could. Where there was one, there might be more.

He turned to head back, watching as Lucy finally made it to shore. Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around, her hugging her. “I think I prefer the lake,” he grumbled.

“I agree. I think we’ll stay right here at the ocean’s edge for the rest of the day, little ones. My heart cannot take this much drama,” Karen said, hugging her new grandchildren to her.

Lucy smiled up at him. “Scotty, I think we need to take Nolan and Duke out deep sea fishing tomorrow,” she teased, but placed a kiss on his chest and whispered. “Thank you.”

“Fishing wouldn’t be bad as long as it’s a big boat. Don’t know if I’d get sea sick though,” Nolan said as he took the towel Randy’s mom handed him.

“We’ve been lucky, not many sharks have come into this cove,” Alex looked over at her husband. “Could the fencing be down?” she asked before turning and handing him a towel and Lucy.

“I’ll check tomorrow, but till then I suggest no swimming until I know.” Trevor came over and hugged Lucy as she dried off. “Sorry about the little mite.”

Lucy laughed. “It’s the ocean. It’s bound to happen. You can’t keep everything out. You are lucky that gate you put in under the water hasn’t given out sooner.” She looked to where the children were and sighed.

She knelt down and held open her arms. Both kids flew into them, once more knocking her backwards. He laughed and knelt down next to them.

“I think you need to put on some weight if two little ones can knock you on your butt.”

Lucy laughed. “They are strong and I don’t need to gain any weight. I…” She looked over at her friends who were glaring at her.

“Don’t even say it or you owe us dinner,” Scotty said. “And I am thinking Six Tables.”

“You wouldn’t dare?” Lucy glared at Scotty, but kept hold of the two little ones.

“Try me and remember you’d have to take all of us here,” Scotty said, smiling and rubbing her hands together. “So please go for it.”

“I don’t understand?” Nolan asked, lifting Roman off of Lucy as he took Karla.

Lucy jumped up and brushed herself off. “If one of us gets caught putting ourselves down, we have to take those around us out to eat, their choice of diners and Scotty has a tendency to pick the most expensive places.”

“I think I like that custom, but we’ll have to think of other rewards for us,” his brother said smacking Lucy’s butt.

“Hey,” she frowned at him as Roman giggled.

“Mommy got spanked,” Roman teased her.

“Watch it buster, I tickle.” Lucy came at him and Roman squealed.

“Save me.” He wrapped his arms around Nolan’s neck.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you. Tell me, are you ticklish, Mommy?” Nolan said, stepping towards her.

“What?” she stepped back, shaking her head. “Not at all.”

Randy snorted. “She sure is so bad…” Lucy jumped over and covered Randy’s mouth.

“You swore to me. Do you really want to go there? I’m sure your father would love to know…” Randy’s hand covered Lucy’s mouth, but not before Trevor turned to his daughter and crossed his arms.

“Spill it, pumpkin,” he said.

“Come and get it!” Alex yelled at the picnic tables where the food was laid out, distracting them all, but her father.

“This isn’t over, young lady,” he grumbled and made his way up there.

“Are you out of your mind?” Randy glared at her, and Lucy laughed.

“Sweetie, your father has seen your piercing,” Lucy said.

“What are you talking about?” Randy looked down and shrieked when she noticed her bathing suit was showing too much.

“Why didn’t you two tell me?” she yelled, and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around her.

“Why, we hit the nude beaches last year. You have no problem with them,” Scotty said moving toward the tables.

“You what?’ both her mom and father glared over at Randy.

“You are so dead!” Randy ground out.

“It was last year and we had to try it,” Randy explained as they all sat around the table. Karen looked over at Lucy.

“Well, did you enjoy it?” Karen asked.

Lucy shrugged. “I can take it or leave it. It was different. I didn’t like the fact I forgot sun screen though. I never burned so bad.” Lucy shook her head and started to make two separate plates.

“I have to agree with you there. I went a few years ago and not my cup of tea,” Karen said.

“That’s good, because I’d have to spank your butt if I caught you doing it,” his father grumbled and Duke laughed.

“What are you laughing at? You going to allow Lucy to go again?” Kirk asked.

“Never!” Nolan answered for them both.

“I agree with my brother,” Duke placed Karla on the bench next to her brother.

“Prudes,” Lucy muttered under her breath. She looked at him. “Don’t you have to be naked to shift?” she asked, setting the kids plates in front of them. Both of them where now staring at him.

“That’s different. I’m with my family, the pack,” Duke said.

“Eww, no offense mom, but the thought of going to a nude beach or seeing my mom naked…” Lucy shook her head and handed him and Nolan a plate. “Eat, and let’s drop this.”

“Yes, let’s drop this,” Randy sat down on the bench with a plate filled with food. “Tell me, are there any teaching jobs up there?”

Lucy laughed. “How is he going to know about that? He has no children, at least I don’t think so?” She looked at him and he snorted.

“Nope, no children, well except for these two.” Duke ruffled Roman’s hair, making the boy giggle.

Grabbing a plate for herself, Lucy went right for the chicken. “I love KFC and their coleslaw is to die for,” Lucy told them.

“I’ve never had it,” Duke said taking a little scoop and placing it on his plate. He looked up to see her staring at him.

“You’ve never had KFC or the coleslaw?” she asked.

“Both,” he said, piling on the chicken, hamburger from the grill, and corn on the cob. He decided to come back for dessert after he was done with this.

“Okay, now that is just sad,” Lucy said, sitting down by Karla.

He shrugged and sat down next to Roman as Nolan sat by her. “Not really. We cook out a lot and don’t have much time to eat out. Well unless…” Duke stopped what he was about going to say.

She laughed. “Unless you were on a date? So tell me, if I decide to go with you two, how many women am I going to be facing? Because I’m not really up for cat fights.” Lucy laughed at her statement. “Or puppy fights?’

His dad looked towards him and Nolan. “You might as well tell her.”

Chapter Six

Lucy put her fried chicken down and wiped her fingers on the napkin. “All right, spit it out. I’d rather know everything before I go packing up to move across the US.”

Her mother frowned and was about to say something, but Lucy shook her head, silencing her.

“With me being the alpha of the pack, there will be a few females that might challenge you to see if you are fit to stand by my side. These women are dangerous, Lucy. You’re going to have to let my brother and me handle this if it happens.”

Lucy turned back in her seat, drumming her fingers on the table. “So the only advantage they have over me is that they can shift, right?” Lucy asked, picking up her chicken and taking a bite.

“That’s enough,” Nolan growled next to her, staring at her fingers, then her mouth. She smiled and wrapped her tongue around her one finger, sucking off the juice.

“They don’t know, do they?” Scotty asked, bringing her back to reality. Her friend reached over and grabbed another hot dog with her fingers.

“Know what?” Her mom said at the same time Nolan and Duke did.

Pointing the hot dog at Lucy, Scotty chewed what was in her mouth. “You have a black belt sitting there, plus all the other classes she has taken. She has taken every self-defense class there is and made us go to a few of them with her,” Scotty grumbled.

“If you worked at the hotel, you needed to learn to defend yourself,” Lucy said and looked at Randy. “And have you seen some of those articles about the kids in school now a day? You both needed it.” Lucy took a bite of her coleslaw and glanced a peek at Duke.

Sure enough he was staring at her. “We will test you when the food settles. The sand is the best place.” He started to eat again and Randy laughed.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Randy nudged her father. “Remember?”

“Eat and be quiet,” Trevor grumbled and Lucy tried not to laugh, but it was impossible.

“I’m sure it was just luck,” Lucy said and all three of them busted out laughing as Randy’s mom turned away so her husband wouldn’t see her smile.

“Keep it up, little mite,” he grumbled, but she caught the wink he sent Duke.

Lucy put her food down and frowned at him. “You went easy on me, didn’t you?” she asked. “I should have known. It was too easy.” Lucy pointed her finger at Duke. “Don’t you go easy on me either.”

Nolan leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Wouldn’t think anything of it, but you still will not be fighting, if I can help it.”

“And I haven’t decided I’m doing this or not,” Lucy snapped back. “Just because you say I’m yours, does not mean I’m going to…” She leaned over and whispered. “Hop in bed with you. But maybe if Scotty and or Randy decide to move up there, we can get a place together until, well, things move along. You know that might not be a bad idea. The kids and I could rent a place until things get settled. That way, we can go on our dates. You two can do the courting, like you’re supposed to.” She reached over and grabbed some pop. “I do have my money from dad. I could use that ’til I find a job.”

“Enough!” Duke growled and both kids jumped.

“I’m right here. There is no reason to yell and scare the kids,” she glared at him. “Sorry Karla, baby. Do you need another piece of chicken?” Lucy asked, seeing the other one had fallen to the ground.

“He’s not going to…” her little voice was shaky.

“No sweetie, no man or person will ever hurt you again. You’re safe with me,” Lucy said, putting another chicken leg on her plate and giving each child a juicy she had picked up. “You two eat up while I have a word with Mr. Loudmouth.” Lucy stood and headed up towards the car, but stayed on the sand, knowing they would follow.

Lucy waited till they were right behind her and spun around, knocking Duke on his ass, swiping his feet from under him. “You ever scare my kids like that again, I’ll tape your damn mouth shut,” she snapped and stomped her foot, but it really didn’t do anything in the sand.

“Well since you started it, let’s go, little lady,” Nolan said and struck out, but she was ready for it, sending him over her shoulder. But that was her mistake, not watching when Duke kicked out and took her to the ground, rolling on top of her.

“Now, what Lucy?” he growled, and nipped her bottom lip.

“Well if I was mean, I’d done set your balls burning, but since I don’t want to damage those, I’ll call this one.”

“I’m sorry about scaring the children, but you can’t move into a different place. You and the children will be living with us. Wait,” he said, putting a finger over her lips. “Our house is big, we’ll set the kids up and you can stay in the master room. Both of us will have our own rooms till we properly court you.” He jumped up and helped her up. “Think of it this way, the children won’t have to move twice and they can start getting to know the other children in the pack.”

“Do you have a special school for the pack children?” she asked, brushing off the sand.

“Yes, we had to. It’s one thing to know about us, but parents flip out if their children are exposed to ours, afraid that their babies will be mauled,” Nolan explained.

“How are the children going to handle Karla and Roman? I don’t want them hurt anymore. They’ve had enough to deal with to last them a lifetime, she said, moving back to patio.

“No one is going to hurt them, they are our children too now and no one will touch the alpha’s children,” Duke grumbled, his arm around her as they made it up to the house.

“Lucy, your phone was ringing in the house so I brought it out here for you,” Randy’s mom said, nodding at the phone as it went off again. “I guess it must be important,” Alex laughed as she picked up her phone, not recognizing the number.

Lucy moved away from everyone and answered her phone.

“It’s about time bitch, so tell me how did you get my kids? Do you honestly believe I’ll allow this?” Her knees gave way and Lucy would have fallen to the ground if Duke hadn’t lifted her up into his arms.

“What?” he asked as Nolan took her phone away from her.

“Who is this?” Nolan said.

Lucy couldn’t talk as fear like none other washed over her. The thought of him coming after them overwhelmed her. How did he find out she’d gotten the kids? Hell, how did he find out her number? How was he calling her from jail?

“Who was that?” Nolan asked. “They hung up.”

“Keep the children busy. Do not let them come into the house. Duke, put me down. I need to call the judge. Something is wrong,” Lucy was shaking, but she wasn’t about to let anything happen to her babies.

“Who?” Duke repeated.

“Their father,” she whispered, refusing to say his name.

* * *

Duke watched as Lucy paced back and forth in the kitchen, talking with the judge that had granted her custody of the children. “No, it wasn’t a collect call. I wouldn’t have accepted the call. Yes, he knew I had his kids and he threatened to kill all three of us.” She stopped, staring outside at Karla and Roman.

“Not to worry, I was planning on moving anyway. I guess I’ll just make it quicker than I had planned. Yes, this number will be disconnected, hold on.” She looked at Duke. “Do you have a phone number I can give the judge so he can let us know what’s going on?” she asked.

“May I?” Duke asked, and she nodded.

“Judge Gallen, my name is Duke Masters. Lucy and the children will be living with me and my brother in upper Michigan.” Duke pulled Lucy into his arms and proceeded to give the judge the information he needed. Both of them watched Karla laugh and tackle Nolan as her brother hung upside down in his hands.