“I hate waiting,” Zane said.

So did Kendrick, but he didn’t have much choice. Waiting was always the price when un-Collared Shifters did anything in the human world. They had to not hurry and keep silence.

Kendrick spent another night walking the bounds and sleeping on the porch to keep himself from Addison. She again busied herself with the cubs, as though doing her best to keep from him. He wasn’t sure he liked that.

He did, however, enjoy being able to sleep out of doors in his tiger form, something he couldn’t do when they lived in the compound. He was starting to truly like this place.

At dawn he was dragged out of sleep by the scent of another Shifter screaming into his brain. Kendrick was on his feet, snarling, even as he recognized the scent.

Jaycee Bordeaux, in human form, sprang from the shadows of shrubs below the porch and landed on the railing with the grace of her leopard.

“Psych!” she said. “Never thought I’d catch you napping, Kendrick.”

Kendrick remained where he was, waiting, as he had done with Seamus, to see whether she had turned against him.

Jaycee, who had plumpness and strength at the same time, leapt down from the railing and threw her arms around his neck without inhibition. “Damn, it’s good to see you, Kendrick. If I didn’t want to just hang on to you and cry, I’d ask you for a shag.”

“Figures,” said another voice. A tall man with short red hair and the dark gray eyes of a wolf, who’d climbed leisurely off a motorcycle, walked up to the porch. He spread his arms. “Dimitri’s here. Time to s-start the . . . party.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Addie heard the rumble of the motorcycle that stopped in front of the house. She grabbed a robe and hurried to the big living room.

On the porch was Kendrick, as a tiger, with a red-haired man and a woman with golden hair and brown eyes hugging him and crooning over him. Kendrick rolled onto his side, not objecting to them holding and petting him. The woman was busy covering his face with kisses.

“Uncle Dimitri!” The shriek came from Zane, who shot out past Addie before she could stop him. Hard on his heels was Brett, and then Robbie.

“There’s my b-boys.” Dimitri rolled to his feet and caught the little tigers in his arms.

For Robbie, Dimitri leaned down and growled at him. Robbie put his hands on his hips and growled right back. Then Robbie broke off and started laughing. Addie hadn’t heard such merriment from him before. He sounded like a normal, delighted little boy.

“I missed you!” Robbie yelled up at him. “Addie, come and meet Uncle Dimitri! And Aunt Jaycee!”

Addie stepped out onto the porch, very aware she was in a robe with her uncombed hair hanging every which way. She smoothed the hair out of her face and found herself pinned by the stares of the new Shifters.

Dimitri gazed at her in open appreciation. “Who’s this b-beautiful thing? Don’t worry, baby, my stutter goes away when I’m wolf, and howlin’.” His words were softened by the warm wink he gave her.

“Goddess, do you have a hose?” Jaycee gave Dimitri a disgusted glance and turned her gaze back to Addie. Jaycee sniffed delicately, then a sharp, jealous light entered her eyes.

Oh, great. She’s in love with Kendrick, Addie realized. Addie might not be Shifter, but she recognized when another woman coveted a man. That makes me her new enemy.

Well, Addie would have to show Jaycee that she had nothing to worry about. Kendrick had made it plain he wanted to keep Addie away from him. Or, she’d have to fight the woman to the death. Looking at the curvaceous but tough body on Jaycee, Addie didn’t have much confidence in her chances.