Grace wandered out of the room when her part ended and all the Enforcer talk began. She itched to get back to the lab and work but knew when Cade finished up he’d come looking for her and be upset if she was gone.

She didn’t relish the idea of going to Chicago again either.

“Hey, you all right?” Nina came down the stairs. “How about a cup of tea? By the look on your face, I bet Cade will be baking soon. Well—” she looked Grace up and down, “—after the sexin’.”

Grace followed Nina into the kitchen and made her sit while she took over the tea preparation. A commotion sounded downstairs and suddenly a goofy-looking three-legged dog bounded into the room, heading straight for her.

“Milton!”

To keep from landing on her butt in the middle of the kitchen floor in a heap of goofy-looking three-legged dog, Grace put her arms around the dog to steady them both. He gave a happy groan and licked her face.

“Get off her. That’s an Alpha you’re licking all over.” Milton was pulled back and his face was replaced by the freckled, green-eyed woman with an eyebrow ring who must have owned him. “Hi, you’re Grace I wager. I’m Tracy.”

Before Grace could speak, she was enveloped in a hug from the only one of her sisters-in-law she hadn’t met yet.

“Whoo, hot werewolf alert. Hiya big guys.”

Grace looked around Tracy to see what Nina was talking about and saw her assessment of hotness was pretty darned correct. As they were most likely her brothers-in-law and Tracy’s mates, she looked back to Tracy.

“It’s nice to finally meet you. Oh and Milton. I’ve heard a lot about him.” She scratched behind his ear and he made that groan again.

“You must be popular with all the guys with those hands.” Tracy winked and turned to Nina. “My God, Nina, you weren’t kidding, she’s like, teeny.” And back to Grace again. “You’re very teeny. I feel like a heifer next to you. I’m going to sit next to Nina.”

“Thanks very much,” Nina said dryly. “Oh the eye candy over here? The one in the thousand dollar suit is Nick Lawrence and the one who looks like that hot professor you had dirty fantasies about is Gabe Murphy. Guys, this is Grace.”

“Grace who is getting a complex with all the comments about how tiny she is. Welcome to you, it’s very nice to meet all three of you. I was just about to make some tea, would you like some? Or something else?” All these giant males were positively oozing testosterone and it made her itchy to grab Cade and shove him against something.

“They’re in the office on a phone call with the Council if you’re interested.” Nina waved in the direction of the office.

Gabe nodded, kissed Tracy and turned to Grace. He took her hand and bowed, giving her a courtly kiss. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, as well, Grace. What you’ve done takes a lot of courage and character. It’s an honor to have you in the family.”

“Really, it’s nothing. Not compared to what you all do.” She blushed and Nick chuckled.

“Don’t be silly. I know how hard it is to deal with your family when they’re up to no good. But you risked your life to get us this information. That’s something. I know you haven’t been accepted on all fronts because of your brother but you’re always welcome in Pacific territory and I’m proud we’re related,” Nick said.

“Thank you.”

“Go on, you’re making her blush.” Tracy swatted Nick’s butt playfully and he winked at them and followed Gabe down the hall toward the office.

“Now, you were about to tell me what the hell is in the air.” Nina gave her a pointed look as she poured the hot water in the pot to steep.

“First, eat something. Here, pumpkin bread. I made it last night. Cade ate almost all of it but I held some back for you.” She put a plate in front of Nina and brought some extra out for Tracy as well.

She told them about the trip to Chicago.

“Wow. I imagine there’ll be loads of cookies to eat now. Cade must have flipped.” Nina forked some of the bread into her mouth.

Grace put out cups for the tea. “He’s upset. I would be in his place. I am actually. I don’t, well, I don’t have fond memories of Chicago. I’m not anxious to go back.”

Tracy sat back in her chair. Megan came in, gave her sister a hug and joined them, pouring out tea. Unshed tears stung the back of Grace’s eyes. Family. She’d never had that with her biological family. She’d had it with wolves from Great Lakes but then lost it. In that moment as the four of them ate and shared their troubles, the fact that she hadn’t had that support in years nearly knocked the breath from her.

Megan touched her shoulder. “Are you all right, Grace?”

The door down the hall slammed open and footsteps sounded as Cade rushed into the kitchen. He knelt at her side. “Honey, what is it? Are you all right?”

She sniffled, hating to be the center of attention. Damn that link sometimes. “I’m fine. I just remembered for a moment. Go back to your meeting.”

He leaned in and kissed her face, taking her tears into his mouth. “Remembered what?”

“What it was like before you. Before this.” She indicated the table, her sisters-in-law. “I didn’t have this. It was very lonely. But now I do and despite the war, despite the threat of violence, I’ve never been so happy. I know that’s selfish.”