Emily followed Janine downstairs to the kitchen. “Now dear, we need to get food together on the road. That rain last night was quite bad, and we don’t know how the cliff will respond to it. I don’t want to be here if or when it goes finally. So, I’ll make something portable to eat. You pack up what’s in the kitchen. I seriously don’t know why my son keeps this place stocked. It’s not safe, and it’s encouraging people to come here.”
“I can see where you’re coming from, really, I do. But it’s done for those in desperate need. Hikers and such. A night or two with a roof over their head. Someone checks on this place regularly, so we don’t have people taking up residence here.” Emily automatically explained their reasoning for the decision to keep the old
“Fix my reputation? What is that supposed to mean?” James didn’t know what started this or why Haden thought it was his right to say anything. “Exactly as it sounds. You have the eyes of several packs right now and they are all betting on you screwing up so royally they’ll walk right in and take over without having to lift a claw to fight for it. We’re wolves, boy, and you’re supposed to be the one at the top. But you’re acting more like a moody preteen pup.” James stood up and looked the older man in the face. “You’re seriously standing there and insulting me?” He was ready to do something about it. &ldq
Thomas sat there after disconnecting the call with Damon. This was a mess. He’d offered so much to get this contract through quickly. If he needed to back out the contract, he’d look like a fool and all the favours he used would have gone for nothing. Now he didn’t know what he’d do if push came to shove, and his pack needed help. There was one call he could make but thinking of placing this call proved to him he’d hit rock bottom. Calling Asia meant he’d failed as alpha, and she’d won. She’d predicted he’d come crawling back when he chose his pack over mating with her while she ran her pack. Her pack structure differed completely from any other pack he’d encountered. She inherited it from her mother. They didn’t have an alpha. Only a Luna and as far as Thomas could t
Asia awoke from a dead sleep to her cell phone ringing. Very few knew the number to it. Her elite staff and a select few possess knowledge of it in case of emergency. Now it rang on the bedside table. This better is good because she’d just gotten to sleep a little over an hour ago. Asia growled something into the phone. She didn’t know exactly what she said. But they greeted it with a pause before a voice she thought never to hear again said her name. Thomas Reyden. The wolf that got away. A very drunk wolf, by the sounds of his words, as he spoke. There wasn’t enough caffeine in the world that would help her make sense of his rambling words. After a bit of
Eva’s eye cracked open just a little. She couldn’t believe what they’d done, and they weren’t in Los Vegas, so there wasn’t any of that what stays in Vegas mentality. Resisting groaning in regret, she slipped out from under Damon’s arm and the bed they’d found at some point in the night. She groaned after she locked the bathroom door. But it was a relief. She didn’t remember biting him and she didn’t see or feel any bites on her. Eva thought she might have gotten out of this without needing to tell Emily that she betrayed her with her future mate. Eva couldn’t think straight even now she knew how twisted this was. Damon was her fated life-mate, not Emily’s, but an unsigned contract said otherwise. Men and their need to complicate life. A hundred years ago, this wouldn’t have h
James got no chance to speak with Emily privately on the way back. This made it much more difficult than he thought. As his mother decided that Emily could drive the other SUV home with Haden beside her. He tried to put up a fight. He didn’t like the idea of his mate driving with another man. It didn’t make it any easier that, that man was interested in his mother. In fact, that might have made it worse. This drive needed to end soon. The silent treatment from his mother was beyond horrid and into gruelling agony. Janine tried no less than three times to say what was on her mind to her son, but every time she spoke, words failed her. It was getting uncomfortable sitting beside him in silence.“Alright, mother, you want to say something? Please, just say it and put me out of my misery.”“I&
Emily was extremely aware of the wolf sitting beside her. She couldn’t fathom what he was thinking, and this disturbed her more because she couldn’t think of a response to what he’d say. So, it was silent much of the way back.“Do you think Janine might have left the keys deliberately in the car to strand us there last night?” That wasn’t what Emily thought he’d lead off with, but it was something she guessed.“She does that every so often. Mostly when her mind’s tied up with worrying about something important. I wouldn’t see anything more than that in her actions.” Emily would not tell him that Janine used her flighty nature as smoke and mirrors for her true motives. Now Emily questioned what Janine said to her. This was exhausting.“I hope the boy straightens out and does right by you and your pack.”“It won’t be my pack much longer. I’m stuck between a rock
It was nearly lunchtime where Thomas lived. He should be awake by now. He’ll also be well and truly hungover. Asia would not allow this to stop her, and he’d learn not to repeat this later in their relationship. The phone rang, and she heard Thomas’ annoyed and pained growl. “What?!”With a satisfied smile on her face, she looked out into the early evening. “Well, hello to you too, future mate. Glad to see you made it through the night.” She was ready with a copy of the phone call, all set to email to him. Just in case he didn’t remember what he agreed to. “What...? Who...? Asia, is that you? What are you talking about?” “Dear, check your email and play the audio clip attached to th
Haden waited for the others to come down for dinner. However, no one else came down tonight for dinner but Janine. For Haden, this tied in perfectly with his plans. He’d spoken with James earlier and they’d agreed if they could save the old packhouse and build a proper road into it. They’d take it further and go into the private resort business. This would be a location for only wolf shifters. It’d be a project that would take years to get off the ground, but he needed to know where Janine stood on it. For she must be her pack’s representative. “Well, it’s just the two of us here for dinner. Eva and Damon are eating alone tonight to come to an agreement about their possible mating. James and Emily aren’t speaking currently. That I don’t see lasting long.”