Jessie and Cara arrived midday Sunday with Neil. The affable Were was driving a different truck this time. The bed was stuffed with portable cots, and they got busy unloading them.
“Direct me to the penthouse suite.” Jessie’s brilliant smile robbed Zach of all breath.
He escorted them to his closest equivalent—the spare bedroom. Soon afterward, four Sabres pulled up in an SUV. Zach had last seen them on Portage Avenue. Kade growled introductions. Rafe. Nate. Talon. And Grayson. Although they differed in hair coloring and skin tone, they all had the same rugged look and huge statures with bulging muscles.
The names whirled right by Zach. Trevor came out of the back woods to greet them. His attempt to identify them wasn’t helped when they abruptly shifted to their animal form and took off.
Way too much naked male butt involved in that. Zach supposed he was going to have to get used to it. Sometime later, Kitani arrived in her van with Cody and Ryan.
Willow was delighted with all the company. Zach was sure she eyed up the various footwear that was soon to be shed when they changed form. He needed to find that stash of hers, and quickly. The fringe benefit was with all the selection, maybe she’d leave Zach’s stuff alone.
Spike was not nearly so amused with the new arrivals. He stayed close to Zach as they moved through the house, ensuring everyone had places to sleep.
Zach was with Spike on this one. He’d barely slept the night before, tossing and turning with Weres running through his dreams. Weres, and Jessie.
The horses didn’t like the Sabres either. Would Tucker ever stop pacing along the back fence? If Zach opened the gate to the pasture, the big horse would likely vanish over the hill and never be seen again. In contrast, the arrival of the Sabre Weres had Storm on full-time alert. She glared at the house with her ears flat. Zach empathized with Tucker. He’d like to vanish too. If it wasn’t for Jessie, he likely would have.
Even when it raised its family of five, the old farmhouse had never been so full. They set cots up in the office, the living room, and the two spare bedrooms notably devoid of beds and used for storage.
Kitani and her two mates—Cody had been joined by the auburn-haired Ryan, his bond brother—arrived with arms full of groceries. Apparently, Weres loved to eat. Mostly meat, by the looks of things. Zach’s freezer was soon filled to the max.
Late in the day, Cara, Ryan, and Kitani left. They came back two hours later with Laura.
Zach was shuffling things in the fridge to make room for more when the poor woman came into the house and stopped in the kitchen. He straightened when he saw her small, slim form. She tossed her straight blonde hair, and her brown eyes widened when she spotted him. By the raw terror she emitted, Zach supposed she’d had a recent demo of the Weres’ more unique talents.
It was amazing she’d agreed to come. More of Cara’s magic, he guessed.
“Hi,” he said. “I’m Zach.” He tried a smile.
It bounced right off her. “Are you... Are you one of them?”
“Uh, not exactly.”
“Are you human?”
He grimaced. “Apparently not. But that’s a recent thing.”
She looked confused. He couldn’t blame her. He was, too.
Jessie appeared on the stairs to the second level. “Hi, Laura.”
Laura’s relief was obvious. From what Jessie had indicated, the two women hardly knew each other, but in all this craziness, a familiar face became an instant friend. The blonde woman stepped close to Jessie. “I only came with them because they said you were here. But Sarah—”
“Yeah. I know. Here, come with me. We’re sharing a room.”
Zach watched them climb the stairs. Once Braden knew the women were here, he would come for them. And he would bring his army of Dires.
Zach’s stomach twisted. So much banked on him learning to be Superman.
He only hoped it worked.
* * *
“Which one do you want?” Jessie asked Laura. By the looks of it, Zach hadn’t used this small room for much of anything. A few boxes had been pushed up against the wall to make room for the cots.
“Doesn’t matter.” Laura’s voice shook.
With a chirrup, a fluffy gray form appeared on a cot. Jessie reached down to pet the soft fur.
