Winter Eve Read Online Free

short nod and sat back. Shay smiled at him and picked up Danica’s right arm to gently massage her fingers and palm. Stopping the questions from tumbling out of his mouth, he dialed Sarah’s number and wasn’t surprised she answered after the first ring.
    “Nev?”
    “Yes, Ma. I’m fine.”
    “What happened? Where the hell are you?”
    Closing his eyes, he took deep breaths to hold the buried pain in check. Hearing his stepmother’s voice brought a flood of memories. Memories of his father and the family they’d once been. “I had an accident, but I’m not hurt.”
    “Where are you?”
    “Ashwood Falls.”
    Silence filled the line for several seconds before she responded. “Are they…Have you met Keegan?”
    He counted to three in his mind. She knew these people, knew of this town, yet, she’d never once mentioned it to him. Nor had his brothers ever spoken of it. All his life she’d taught him about the shifter way of life and the importance of secrecy. Was that it? She didn’t trust him to keep the mountain town a secret?
    “Yes, I met him, and he sends his best.” He didn’t keep the hurt out of his tone.
    A soft sigh rushed through the phone. “The town is not of my people. It was not my secret to tell. Please don’t be angry.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Please trust me. I can’t spill secrets of another pack.”
    Pack? Was she serious? “I’m not understanding.”
    Danica’s hand touched his knee, causing him to jump. Locking gazes, she whispered, “I’ll explain later.” The plea in her eyes made him want to hold her.
    The annoyance drained from his body. “I’m sorry, Ma.”
    “I know, baby. You’re one of my cubs, even if you can’t shift.”
    That made him laugh. “Yeah, because I’m human.”
    “Shh. We won’t talk about that,” she teased. “Look, the little bit of snow we got last night was only the start of the huge storm headed this way. Stay there until it passes.”
    The way she could sense the weather change had always amazed him. “All right. Do you have everything you need?”
    “Yes, Nev. We’ll be fine. I have my grandbabies.”
    “What? Who?”
    “Cale and Monica had a set of twins a couple of months ago. I thought I told you.”
    He sighed. “Oh, yes, I’d almost forgotten Cale and Monica’s twins.” He’d been busy forgetting and burying his pain.
    “Don’t worry about it. You’ll get to meet your nieces soon.”
    He smiled and glanced at the females at the end of the couch, cuddled up like the pair of cats, listening to the conversation. Everything fell into place. The too-careful actions of everyone around him and the over protectiveness Blaine had shown the night before made sense. “I’ll see you when the storm passes. Love you, Mama.”
    A choked sob came from Sarah before she responded. “It’s been too long since you called me that. Love you, too.”
    Swallowing the lump in his throat, he disconnected the call and peered at Danica and Shay. Both women looked back at him as though they were about to cry. “What’s wrong?”
    Danica smiled. “You called her mama. That’s so sweet.”
    “And girly.”
    Nevan clenched his jaw at the sound of Blaine’s voice. Before he could lash back, Shay reached out and hit the large shifter in the stomach hard enough that he took a step back. “Shut it, Blaine.”
    A few seconds later, Shay squealed as he flipped her over his shoulder. The smile on his face read of the pure love a brother would have for his sister. “Watch it, kitty, or I’ll rearrange your potions, again.”
    She kicked wildly. “Don’t you dare, leopard-boy!”
    “Leopard?” Nevan studied Danica as she stiffened then dropped her shoulders. 
    “It was me. I’m the reason you’re stuck here instead of being with your family.”
    Her guilt rushed out to him. “It was an accident.” He knew from his brothers that, when in animal form, they thought like the animal. The headlights mostly likely had startled her. “I was