1 month later.

LEXIE.

I grinned with triumph as I stared down at the computer screen in front of me. “Toni! I think we’re finally up to date.”

Toni stuck her head in the office door and wiped a greasy hand across her forehead. “Great. Now you can come get dirty with me.”

I rubbed my hands together. “It’s about time.”

She rolled her eyes at my enthusiasm and went back to working on the engine she was tuning. I carefully took off my clean white shirt and hung it up behind me on a hanger. I always wore a grey tank top beneath the work shirt so that I could jump in the workshop when we had time. Today I’d be working on an engine.

Life with Markus and Ollie was even more amazing than I’d first thought it would be. Within a few days of Markus recovering from his almost dying experience, he’d gone back to work, bloody stubborn wolf he was.

I hadn’t wanted to discourage him, but I was soon bored out of my brains being at home all day without them.

Of course, the guys said I didn’t need to work. We had money, they said. But working on bikes was something I’d dreamed of being able to do even when I was a kid. So one day I’d wandered over to Toni’s shop, asked if she was serious about me helping out. It had been two weeks since I’d started and I’d never been happier.

The guys were the best thing that had ever happened to me. I had a home. I had men who loved me. Hell... I was eating well, sleeping all night, and was hardly ever stressed. In my wildest dreams I’d never even dared to hope that this could be my life.

Toni had been right about her needing help in her shop. She was always busy with her new bikes to fix, her paperwork was a mess, and her computer files hadn’t been updated since she bought the laptop two years ago.

I’d found invoices totaling over ten thousand dollars that had never even been sent to the clients. I printed them and posted them all out last week. Toni thought I was amazing, and even though I had the sneaking suspicion I was already pregnant, she said I could work there as long as I wanted to.

Pregnant. Me! I shook my head and tried not to think about it. Life would change so dramatically if that happened. Ollie and Markus would be thrilled, of course. I already knew that.

I’d learned a lot about wolf shifters in the past month and they were very family orientated. Driven. Loyal. Insane when they were in love.

The sound of a sick, revving engine met my ears and Toni looked up from the concrete where she was literally under an engine. “You got that?”

I nodded and headed for the entrance to the shop, where a girl I’d never seen before was riding a clearly screwed up bike.

“Hey!” I called out, waving at her and pointing to where she could park her bike.

The rider pulled her pink Harley into the spot I indicated and pulled off her silver helmet.

Long dark hair spilled out and the look of annoyance on her face was hard to miss.

“Can I help you?” I asked her, crossing my arms over my chest and smiling at her.

She kicked out the stand and swung her leg off the bike. “I hope you can. I hit something just outside your town, some sort of small... squirrel, or something. Now my bike’s not running right.”

I squatted down next to the beast of a machine. “Sounds like the carbie’s stuffed.”

She groaned, pulling off her gloves and unzipping her leather jacket. “Yeah, I know. Fuck it. Just my luck.”

I stood up and held out my hand, noting that the woman in front of me was a similar age and weight to me. She’d blend right in. “I’m Lexie.”

“Nancy.” She said, shaking my hand then shrugging out of the jacket. “I need to be on the road as soon as possible. When can you get this fixed up?”

I glanced back into the shop when Toni was working. Her waiting list was weeks long. “I can’t give you a time, but you’re in the best place for a bike like this. Come in for a drink, meet Toni the owner, and she can give you an idea of when she can squeeze you in.”

Nancy’s eyebrows shot up. “This is an all girl mechanic shop?”

I laughed. “Don’t think that was Toni’s intention... exactly. But she runs everything, and I just came on. So... yeah.”

Nancy smiled and seemed to relax in a way that told me she was relieved to know that she wouldn’t be dealing with any men.

“It’s all good.” She agreed. “I just... didn’t expect it I guess.”

“Come on in.” I said, gesturing to her that she should follow me. “You look like you could use a coffee. Or something even stronger.”

Nancy chuckled again. “Something stronger. Definitely.”

I led her into the office, made her a coffee with a dash of whiskey, while Toni hopped up and went and looked at the bike.

“This is a great place.” Nancy said, glancing around at the brick walls, full of bike memorabilia and old posters.

Despite the fact that it wasn’t fancy, I agreed with her.

“Yeah, its not modern or anything, but it kinda feels like home doesn’t it?” Much like our whole town did.

Toni walked back into the office wiping her hands on an oil rag. “Your transmissions shot, and the carbie’s got a hole in it the size of my fist.”

Nancy covered her face with her hands. “Oh no.”

“I can fix it for you,” Toni went on, “Around the jobs I’ve got booked in, but the main problem is that transmission.”

Nancy nodded and dropped her hands away. “I know. You don’t have another one, do you?”

Toni shrugged. “It’s a custom part. I can order it in, but it’ll take a week.”

“And money.” Nancy added.

“Yep. I’ll need the money upfront for the part I’m afraid.”

“And it’s completely unrideable?” Nancy asked, her tones strained now.

I turned away so I didn’t do anything rude, like laugh. It was obvious she was worrying about the money, and I’d been there too many times to think that money worries were funny. But that bike was cactus. She was lucky she’d made it this far.

Toni nodded. “Any further and you’d probably blow the engine completely.”

Nancy groaned, stood up and started pacing the room. “Okay.. okay. I can cover the cost of the parts. But I’ve got nowhere to stay while I’m here.”

“You can stay with us if you want.” I offered without even thinking first.

She stared at me and I stared back. I wasn’t sure why I’d offered, but I wasn’t taking it back now. She was a girl alone, and she needed help. Seemed like the right thing to do.

Nancy grimaced at me, “Ah... thanks, but...”

“That’s a good idea actually.” Toni agreed, interrupting Nancy’s speech. “Lexi’s place has heaps of spare bedrooms, and her men might look a bit rough, but they’re as loyal as the day is long.”

Nancy blinked at Toni, then turned to me. “Did she say... men?”

I swallowed hard, still uncomfortable explaining my polyamorous relationship to humans outside of the pack. The wolf families accepted us no problem.

“Ah... yes. I’m in a relationship with two men, Oliver and Markus. We only take up one bedroom, so you could take any of the spares. They won’t mind.”

In fact, they’d probably tease me about bringing another woman home. They told me all the time that they didn’t want anyone but me.

Nancy pressed her lips together, obviously considering her options. Then she nodded slowly. “I appreciate the offer but...”

Toni jumped in again, “The motel’s flea bitten and any of the expensive places will be more money than you’ll make in a day.”

I stared at my boss. Why was she encouraging Nancy to stay with me? It was nice and all, but was there some other reason?

Nancy finally sighed and conceded. “Um... well, I suppose I don’t have much of a choice. Ring up the parts you need and take my credit card before I change my mind.”

She pulled a card out of the zipper pocket on her pants and handed it to me.

Toni waved her hand to stop the transaction. “I need to make some calls first. See where I can source these parts. How about you go get some lunch and come back. Actually, Lexie, can you go pick up our orders at The Pantry?”

I handed Nancy back her credit card and grabbed my hand bag and a sweater.

“Sure.” I said, “Come on Nancy. I’ll walk with you.”

The biker girl swept her long hair up into a high pony tail. “Okay. Thanks.”

We left the shop and she grabbed her cell phone from the saddle bag on the way past. “I can’t believe my bad luck.” She grumbled, “Seriously.”

I shrugged, remembering that feeling oh too well. “At least you’re okay. The bike’s fixable.” Things could always be worse.

“Yeah... but I’m down to my last few grand.” She said, staring at the road as we walked along the footpath. “I’ll have to get a job here, or something.”

“What do you do?” I asked.

She turned towards me with a smile. “I’m a hairdresser actually. Know anyone who needs a cut?”

A hairdresser on those sorts of wheels?

I tilted my head at her. “Seriously?”

She burst out laughing. “Seriously. I just like bikes. Always have.”

We’d reached The Pantry and I opened the door for her. “I know the feeling.”

Tanner and Wade walked through the door before Nancy could walk around. They were grinning at me. “Thanks, cousin.”

I chuckled at the two gorgeous wolf shifters. “Hey guys. I didn’t know you were back already.”

Wade and Connor travelled all over the state with work and they’d left two weeks ago for some big job.

“Yeah... we, ah... got back today.” Tanner said, sounding tongue tied for the first time in his life. He was staring at Nancy like he’d just seen the sun for the first time.

Weird.

I glanced over at Nancy who was avoiding his gaze, then I turned back to Wade.

“Wade... um...” I didn’t finish my sentence because Wade wasn’t listening to me. He was staring at Nancy like she was the answer to all life’s questions.

The realization clunked into place with a thud. Fated Mates.

Tanner and Wade were Ollie and Markus’s first cousins. They were a perfect pair also. There were a few sets in the pack, but I’d never really taken notice of them before. They were just in-laws, family. I hadn’t really considered them single, gorgeous men before now.

There was only one way to find out if I was right about Nancy though.

A shot of excitement shot through me as I said, “Nancy, this is Tanner and Wade. They’re cousins to Ollie and Markus. Guys, this is Nancy. She just came into town and she’s gonna stay with us for a bit.”

I waved my hands between them as introduction, but no one moved. They were all frozen, barely breathing. I was getting a bit excited now.

“Guys, you’re being rude.” I chided them. “Shake the woman’s hand.”

Wade glanced at his twin, looking half terrified. Then he lifted his arm, ever so slowly.

Nancy glanced over at me looking just as nervous as Wade was. I elbowed her in the side. “Don’t worry. They won’t bite.” Not hard, anyway.

Finally, Nancy reached out to shake Wade’s hand and the moment their palms connected, he groaned like someone was pulling his arm out of his socket.

I gasped loudly at the sound. I remembered that noise.

Then Wade collapsed onto his knees.

Nancy pulled her hand out of his grip as she jumped back, rubbing her palm on her leather pants. “He shocked me!”

I’d found a mate for them! How? Why? No idea!

I covered my mouth with my hand as a laugh burst out of me, pure happiness filling up my heart. Ollie and Markus were gonna love this!

Nancy rounded on me with a clearly angry expression. “What the hell is going on here?”