May, Grand Opening of Maple Ridge Trading Post

 

Jaemus stood in front of the new Maple Ridge Trading Post in full wolfman form, growling and chasing after visitors as they streamed in for the grand opening. Laughter and squeals of delight filled the spring air. He accidentally scared a few little ones with his fangs and claws, but quickly won them over when he flattened his ears and gave them big, sad eyes. He allowed parents to pet his silver fur and soon even the little ones were giggling.

Reardon and Brandy—officially husband and wife now after a wedding at the sanctuary in October—handed out flyers for The Wolfman Show. A quick glance to the ticket booth showed an overwhelmed Zavier selling tickets like crazy. Fortunately, the new theater seated twice as many guests and from the looks of it, all those seats would be filled on this sunny Saturday.

And hopefully every day after this.

Jaemus knew how much work had gone into creating the new trading post. The results were tremendous with the artsy shop and all its unique wares, including jewelry handmade by Nika herself, the quaint attached restaurant that Rosie’s niece was managing, and the History of the Wolf mini-museum folks walked through before getting funneled into the theater area which had open sides with a roof to allow for rain or shine performances.

Brandy and her partner, Parker, had contributed information and exhibit ideas for the museum along with a little advertising for Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary. Nika had jumped on the idea when Dylan suggested it.

“You know what, kid? That’s a great idea. We wouldn’t be here today if some nice wolves didn’t help us out.” She’d ruffled the lad’s hair then given him a big hug, making Jaemus instantly picture her embracing a child of their own. He couldn’t wait for that day to come. Neither could Nika. They’d set a wedding date for late July with the ceremony taking place right in the new theater, but they’d been trying to get pregnant.

Actively.

And what fun that was.

Jaemus had gotten to know every delectable square inch of Nika’s extraordinary body, and even now, standing amongst the excited guests, he made plans to love her thoroughly tonight.

“Doggie!” A lass of about four tugged her mother over to Jaemus. “Mommy, isn’t he pretty?”

Pretty?

“He definitely is pretty.” Nika came over to stand beside him, the definition of pretty herself in a long lavender dress, her chestnut hair straightened today and falling softly about her face. “And you know what he loves?”

Sexy trading post owners.

Letting him know she’d heard him, she gave him a sideways glance and elbowed him in the ribs, a beautiful grin on that mouth that only this morning had brought him ridiculous pleasure. Nika was thinking the same thing. He could hear it in her head, but her pale green gaze also dropped down to his torn jean shorts before focusing back on the little girl.

“What does he love?” the lass asked, hopping from one foot to the other.

“This.” Nika reached up and scratched Jaemus behind the ear.

The girl giggled and her mother laughed as he let his tongue loll out of his mouth and made appreciative snuffling noises. When he pushed his nose into Nika’s cheek, the lass squealed.

“I want a doggie kiss too!”

Nika looked to the mother. “Is it okay if my Wolfman gives her a kiss?”

“Fine with me.”

Jaemus didn’t miss how the other woman’s gaze coasted over the muscles of his chest.

Nika didn’t miss it either, but she took the little girl’s hand and led her closer to him. “He might get you a little wet. He’s kind of sloppy when he kisses.”

Jaemus put his clawed hands on his hips then pretended to wipe his mouth on Nika’s dress. She batted him away with one hand, still holding onto the girl with the other.

“That really is an amazing costume,” the mother said. “So realistic.”

“Oh, our Wolfman is gifted. Very professional. Only the best for the new Maple Ridge Trading Post, right, Wolfman?”

He nodded vigorously, making the lass and her mother laugh again.

“Okay, first you have to hold out your hand,” Nika said to the girl. “Like this.” She held out hers toward Jaemus. “Then you say, ‘Hello, Mr. Wolfman, my name is Nika and I’d like a kiss.’”

Jaemus took her hand in his clawed one, shook it gently, then leaned forward to nuzzle her cheek.

“Now you try.” Nika nudged the girl toward him.

A little hand stretched up to him. “Hello, Mr. Wolfman, my name is Emily and I’d like a kiss, please.”

Jaemus stuck one long, crooked finger out for her to shake, afraid that he’d crush her tiny hand if he gripped it with his. She wrapped her fingers around his, her shoulders hunched up to her ears as she laughed. The twin pigtails of red hair that bounced on either side of her head made him instantly hope their first child was a lass. A little angel that looked like Nika.

He sniffed at her right pigtail and she grabbed at her hair, trying to keep it away from him. When he batted a wolfman hand at the left pigtail, the lass nearly doubled over with her giggles. Finally, he pushed his nose into her small cheek, letting her pet his muzzle before he backed away.

“Oh, Emily,” her mother said as the child threw herself into the woman’s arms. “Wait until Daddy hears a wild doggie kissed you.”

“Daddy likes cats,” Emily said, wiggling in her mother’s hold.

Jaemus wagged a finger and shook his head.

“No cat people here,” Nika said. “Just doggie folk.”

Keep calling me a doggie, sprite, he warned as he sniffed her hair.

Nika chuckled, pushing him away slightly. What, doggies are a woman’s best friend. Don’t you want to be friends with me?

He growled low in his throat, earning a look from Emily’s mother before Nika edged them toward the trading post.

“Bye, doggie!” Emily called.

Jaemus gave her a wave then continued his antics with the other guests. He caught sight of Meredith serving lemonade and cookies at a table she’d set up by the front door. Dylan and Daisy were playing catch with a few kids on a grassy patch to the left of the parking lot. He assumed Carrie and a few other teen employees they’d hired were hard at work inside the post, ringing up customers’ purchases because everyone who exited the shop carried a Maple Ridge Trading Post bag.

A full one.

This is what a life should be. He finally had it all. A home. A family that included his brother and a pack of real wolves who were as loyal as any men. Maybe more so. A non-brutal way of making money.

And, most of all, the love of a soul mate.

Enjoy, warrior wolf.

I plan to, Flidae, he thought. Thank you.

Opening day flew by in a flurry of activity. The new Wolfman Show was a huge hit according to the roar of the audience as Jaemus, Red, and Hunty did their thing. If someone had told him that being a wolfman would be fun when he’d first found out he’d been turned, he would have bitten that person’s head clean off.

But now he knew that a man could be both human and wolf and have everything he’d ever wanted in life and more.

Shaking his head, he made his way from the theater to the post after his sweep to make sure all the guests were indeed gone. He had plans to make celebratory love to his fiancée after a successful first day.

As he approached the back door of the post to collect Nika, however, a dark shape leaning against the building caught his attention.

“We’re closed for the night, friend,” he said. “We’ll be open at nine tomorrow morning though.”

“Are you the Wolfman?” a gruff voice asked.

“Aye.” Now Jaemus’s senses kicked into full alert mode. He sniffed the crisp night air and took in the man’s faded blue jeans, black boots, and black leather jacket. With a close-shaven head and a ring of brown stubble around his mouth and jaw, the man didn’t look familiar.

But he smells familiar.

As I should, cousin.

Jaemus shot his gaze to the man’s crystal blue eyes. “Kole?”

“Aye.” He gestured to a lone motorcycle in the parking lot behind them. “Been riding across this land. Heard tale of this.” He reached into a pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper—The Wolfman Show flyer. “Figured even if it wasn’t one of you, but just costuming, it’d be something to see.” He glanced past Jaemus to the theater. “And it was. You’re either a madman or a genius, Jaemus. Prancing around in the open, all fangs and claws.”

Kole McMannus’s voice was good-humored, but the tight set of his jaw told a different story.

“Where have you been all this time?” Jaemus recalled his time on the island. He hated to think his cousin had been suffering since being banished from Ireland by Flidae.

“Lots of places.” Kole crumpled up the flyer and bounced it between his hands. “Have you seen any of the others?”

“Just Reardon. He lives next door.” Jaemus motioned to the woods that bordered Silver Moon.

Kole let the balled paper fall to the ground between them then nudged it around with his booted foot. “Nice. You’ve found your brother, but I don’t know where mine is. I’ve been looking for Shawn since getting banished.”

Those words pained Jaemus. He’d been angry at Reardon—as it seemed Kole still was—but finding and forgiving his brother had ultimately given him peace. And a second chance with Reardon. “Have you found Erik?”

“No.” A muscle ticked in Kole’s jaw as he folded his arms across his chest.

“Reardon and I can help you look for Shawn then we’ll locate Erik.”

Kole pushed off the building. “I don’t want your help, and I certainly don’t want your fucking brother’s help. His help gets us into these situations.”

He turned and walked toward the motorcycle.

“Wait.” Jaemus jogged to catch up to him. “Don’t go. Come inside. We’ll get you something to eat. We’ll talk.”

“We?” Kole stopped walking and looked over his shoulder at him.

“Nika, my fiancée. She’s inside.”

Kole let out a hoarse laugh. “Aye, right. You McAlator brothers.” He looked up to the starry sky overhead. “Everything always ends in your favor, doesn’t it?”

He kept walking and mounted his bike. With a thunderous roar, the motorcycle tore up the gravel in the parking lot and took Kole away into the darkness.

The door of the trading post opened and Nika came out to stand beside Jaemus. “Who was that?”

He put his arm around Nika, needing something to keep him from shifting and chasing after Kole. “My cousin.”

“Is he coming back?” She wrapped her arms around his waist.

“I don’t know.”