Your father is a fresh face for Dee. Perhaps a fresh start," Kyle sighed, "I will talk with him."
"Dad will fix this," Will said with conviction. "He has been around a long time and has a great deal of practice. I trust he will know what to say."Kyle released Will to follow his father."Perhaps it would be better for Dee if I sent them home with Cedric," he said, leading Rosette to their rooms. "Despite Will's conviction, he is learning here; his mate doesn't feel safe with us."They got their answer to Kyle's question at dinner. It was a private affair tonight held in one of the smaller dining rooms. Kyle and Rosette were breaking bread with Cedric's pack and the human females.The hall they were in was still fairly sizable. The women were seated together along a large table. Most of Cedric's Betas sat at another table. Cedric, Will, Dee, Kyle, and Rosette sat at their own smaller table."What do you plan to have Dee do after she is changed?" Cedric asked Kwatched him with narrowed eyes. Yes, she was upset that another Alpha had noticed she hadn't been keeping up. Being knee-deep in guts in the infirmary was preferable to the tedious tasks she had Emily handle for her. She glossed over the intricacies of pack management, leaving it to Kyle and Emily."Maybe," she hedged."Meaning, yes," Kyle said, rolling to face her."Fine, yes," Rosette grumbled, settling back and pulling the covers up to her chin."I'd love it if you willingly spent time with me in pack meetings," Kyle said softly, his gaze locked on hers. "I enjoy having you near me. Your ideas are always fresh and insightful, and I love listening to them. I know you don't like the meetings, though."Rosette's hand reached out to trace the line of Kyle's cheek. She hoped he hadn't noticed her aversion to meetings."I'll be better, Kyle," she whispered as his lips brushed hers."I know, my love," he said, pulling her close so they snuggled together. "We
"Luna," Rick said quietly, "may I speak to you."Oh Luna, he was going to refuse. He probably felt the same way she did and didn't want to play the mind games to make these women see it their way.Oh well, they'd do the mating thing and try to keep them alive until they left their territory."Of course, Rick, say whatever you need to," Rosette said, her voice sounding defeated even to herself.Rick stepped uncomfortably close to her, but she held her ground. He leaned forward until he was literally whispering in her ear. His breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine. It was disconcerting."It's not my place to tell this to you, Luna," he said quietly, glancing at the Betas lining the hall, "so I apologize if it seems rude. I get the feeling from you that you think what I do for these women is somehow wrong or a trick."Rosette was surprised by his assessment but nodded in agreement."It's not," he said, "I've been reading our history in the library o
"Would you like to see my security suite, Cedric?" Kyle asked casually, gesturing towards the main hall."Why Kyle, how generous of you," Cedric said, motioning to several of the Betas down the hall to come and for the rest to stay.They walked quietly into the security suite, and everyone stood up. They had obviously been expecting the entourage; they would have seen them coming on the cameras. Kyle directed one of the men to set up a viewing of the camera they were interested in inside a conference room.The security men seemed wary of the strangers in their midst. They cautiously stood in front of their monitors and watched Cedric's Betas with suspicion."George would be most interested to learn about your set up here, Kyle," Cedric said, motioning to a younger man with him. "I would like to have a similar arrangement.""Ethan," Kyle said, motioning for his second in command, "set George up with whatever information he wishes. These are friends and can be trus
One woman had been pacing quietly by the window; Rosette feared she would jump if the window was open. Kyle told her the Betas outside the door would not let her get that far. If they heard it open, they would enter, or Rick would stop her."Are vampires real?" she asked quietly."Does it matter?" Rick asked. "Did you know about werewolves? In five minutes, won't another mythical creature permeate your senses, and you will be terrified of that one? I beg you to accept your lives have changed. The only way to deal with it is to stay with us; we can help you, protect you, and guide you."It continued for hours. The women went round and round with Rick until they each came to the same conclusion. They were not the same; their worlds had changed, and they could never go back to the way it was.The women sat around the room in huddled piles. Some clung to each other; some sat by themselves. Rick circulated the room and touched each of them. When none of them recoiled from him, he went to t
Rosette smiled, her eyes sparkling as she read the new social security card and driver's license Kyle had pulled from his desk. "Rosette Anne Luther?" she questioned.Of course, he'd changed her name to match his."I believe," Kyle explained, "that it is appropriate in human society for the woman to take her mate's name. I'm sorry you can't keep your own name in the middle as women usually do. It would be too obvious.""Thank you, Kyle," Rosette said, hugging him tightly. She kissed his mouth tenderly, holding his jaw."You taste like candy," he marveled, dipping down to capture her lips again. "I like it."They curled up in the bed, cuddling for the afternoon. Feeling guilty about simply lying in bed with her mate, Rosette offered him sex, but he declined."This is not about me wanting to bed you," Kyle whispered into her ear. "This is about comfort. While your presence arouses me, your sadness sobers it. Let us just be here together for a little while."As they lay there, Rosette ta
The Betas who had witnessed the scene remained motionless, simply staring at Rosette. She politely excused herself and calmly walked out of the room.Kyle and Cedric were watching from one side as the Beta dusted himself off. His eyes glowed fiercely as he stood up. The wall behind him was destroyed, the small decorative table he'd landed on demolished. He eyed Rosette warily.Rosette came to a stop in front of him and addressed him as coolly as she could. "I believe we have a difference of opinion. How far you would like to take this difference of opinion is up to you."The man straightened his outfit and bowed his head slightly to her. "Luna, I apologize if I offended you. I will watch my tongue when talking with your pack in the future.""Lovely," Rosette said, turning to Cedric and Kyle. "Cedric, please educate your pack members. I don't tolerate disrespect in my home, and I'd hate to have to replace any more wallboard."Kyle looked at Rosette appreciatively. They'd have to talk a
"If you're good," he whispered when she stopped for a breath, "I'll give you back the knife I took from your room."That did it. Marybella lashed out at his larger frame, seeking to drag her nails down his cheeks. Chuckling, Dom quickly restrained her arms behind her back and hauled her body against his in one swift motion.The Betas in the room started to close in, and Rosette waved them off. Dom's reputation was as a lethal fighter. To try to take Marybella from him would lead to a giant brawl. She wanted this done peacefully.Dom's eyes never left the face of the woman he held. He seemed oblivious to the commotion he was causing in the room as he spoke to her."When I heard about the unfortunate death, I feared for your safety, sweet. I removed anything from your room that could be harmful," he said softly."You had no right," she said, struggling against him and pressing her chest into his. "It is mine, for my protection. I can't sleep without it.""You s
didn't seem possible. Marybella was soft with generous curves. She didn't seem like a rough and tumble type of girl. Tracking was grueling work and only attracted the toughest in the pack. Rosette would have thought the same for the human equivalent."I am...I mean I was a forensic accountant," she told Dom, pushing her glasses up her nose slightly. "People try to hide their money, it was my job to know where it went. I was the best in my department."Dom took her hand and led her to a small sofa off to the side. "Tell me how you did that," he said, very interested.Luckily, the rest of the afternoon was boring. Rosette didn't think she could stand another scene like Dom nearly caused. When the meeting was over, she was thrilled.Walking with Kyle toward the circle later that night, Rosette spoke to him about new concerns she'd realized.'Cedric's pack members were picking on Rick. It's not safe to send him around, they may try to hurt him,' she sent to Kyle thr