Chapter 23

When Darien finally returned from his nap, it was during the busy rush period of the afternoon. Remi was stuck in the kitchen helping Soren keep up with the orders. While the bar was usually pandemonium on the full moon, the café was chaos the next day. Remi often thought those people that swore the moon didn’t affect anything were idiots that probably never left their house, lab, or wherever. She damn well knew the cycle of the moon messed with everything and everyone in one way or another.

Darien came through the door carrying another tray of dirty dishes. She glanced away from the salad she was making and watched him place it beside the dishwasher. He looked over and winked at her.

“I’ll give you a hand getting the dishes done when it settles down out there.”

She watched him walk back out again.

“Our wolfman seems pretty spunky today,” Soren said softly in her purring voice. She took the salad from Remi’s hands and set the plate in the window with the other two sitting there. Ringing the bell, she turned and grinned at her. “It’s nice seeing him happy.” She pulled the next ticket off and looked at it before putting it back up. “Two more house salads, one without tomato, both with ranch on the side.” Humming, she turned around and went over to the grill.

Remi pulled two plates off the shelf and set them on the cutting table. She began to cut more lettuce.

Cait came out of the back room with a case of juice. “We’re going to have to up the juice order. We’re going through it really quickly lately.” She swung through the door, letting it swing after she was out of the way.

Remi made a mental note to go over the order and adjust what wasn’t selling if the juice was going faster.

“Can you add green onions to the produce order next week?” Soren asked her. “Berk and I were thinking of trying a new soup and it will be better with green onions.”

“Sure.” Remi put the lettuce on the plate and flipped the lid up on the salad bar to get the other ingredients. “I’ve been debating on cherry tomatoes for the salads too, just to give them a new look.”

“Oh.” Soren turned from the grill and nodded. “That would be nice.” She gave her a smile and turned back to what she was doing.

Through the order window, a cup of coffee appeared. Remi smiled and watched Darien walk by with a grin on his face. Sighing, she pulled the cup down, took a sip, and then set it beside the salad table.

Caitlyn came back in and stood at the door. “So, with the council coming tomorrow, how is that going to affect things around here?”

Remi finished the salads and set them on the ledge. “I don’t know. I’ve only heard about them, never had anything to do with them before.”

She winced. “I’ve heard a lot of scary things about them.”

Soren glanced at her. “They’re only scary if you’re the one they’re looking for.”

Cait gave Remi a look full of apprehension. “Let’s hope so.” She sighed. “I just want things to get back to normal around here.”

“Cait, can you go get me some more oil out of the back?” Soren asked as she looked on the shelf beside the dish rack.

Remi wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and tossed it on the counter. “I’ll go. I want to grab the order book.”

Cait went to the sink. “I’ll get started on some of these dishes.”

Picking up her cup, Remi went into the back. As she rounded the corner, she stopped. Darien and Nadine were standing by the supply room door, faces close, talking quietly. Remi didn’t need to hear what was being said to know that Nadine was upset, her face was flushed.

“What’s going on?” She stood in the doorway and watched them jump.

Nadine huffed out a breath. “Just banging my head against the same wall as always.” She glared at Darien and then spun on her heel and went into the office, closing the door completely.

Eyebrows raised; Remi turned from looking at the closed door to Darien. He stood there, hands on hips. the expression on his face showing he was almost as pissed off as Nadine seemed to be. “What was that about?”

Taking a deep breath, his chest rising, he exhaled loudly. Lifting his hands, he let them drop and slap on his hips again.

“Don’t say nothing, Darien, because something has been going on around here for a while now and I’m sick of playing these guessing games.”

He looked at her, several emotions going through his eyes before he closed them and shook his head.

“Just let me get the oil for Soren and I’ll be right back.” She went into the storeroom and grabbed a bottle of vegetable oil and headed back to the kitchen. Setting it on the counter, she looked at Caitlyn. “If you guys need a hand, Naddy is in the office. I’ll be back shortly.” Without waiting for a reply, she went to find Darien, but he hadn’t moved from where she left him. She motioned for him to go up to her apartment.

With a sigh, he turned and went over to the door.

They went up the stairs in silence. He followed her into the living room and still didn’t say a word when she walked to the middle, turning around to look at him. “What’s going on, Darien? I feel like there’s some big secret that everyone knows but me.” She shrugged. “I know I’m only the measly normal around here, but I…”

He growled and closed the space between them. “You’re no more normal than I am a goldfish.”

She blinked up at him. “Interesting comparison.”

“You know what I mean.” He grasped her chin lightly. “You’re not just a normal and you know it.”

Squinting at him, she pulled her head back, freeing her chin. “Oh? Then what am I?”

“You’re my mate, that’s what you are.” He flung a hand in the air. “That’s the big secret that everyone has been nagging at me about.”

Remi stepped back so quickly, she hit the coffee table and wobbled until she had her balance.

“Shit.” Darien reached and took her arm to steady her. “That is not how I planned to tell you.”

Opening her mouth, she closed it again with a snap, her teeth clacking together. Pulling away from his hand, she moved over and dropped down to sit on the couch before her legs gave out completely.

“Remi…” He came over and sat on the table in front of her.

“How,” she cleared her throat, “how did you plan to tell me? How long have you known?” Her brain wouldn’t focus on one complete thought.

“I planned to tell you soon,” he leaned on his knees and looked at her, his eyes moving all over her face, “and then this morning…” he shook his head. “I didn’t plan for that...”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she took a deep breath and then looked at him again. “You didn’t mark me.” She frowned. “I didn’t think it was possible for mates to be together like that without…”

“It wasn’t easy.” He reached and brushed the hair back from her face that had fallen out of her braid during the hectic day.

“How long have you known, Darien?”

He exhaled, leaning back. Shaking his head, he stood up and paced across the room. “Pretty close to that first day you walked in the door.”

Remi knew she was sitting there with her mouth hanging open but couldn’t move a muscle.

“For that first year, I was drawn to you, but it set off my wolf, which made me wary and uncomfortable. I knew something was up but didn’t clue in right away.” He turned and looked back at her, his whole body tense.

Remi finally forced her mouth to close and sat there frozen staring at him.

“Then I suspected,” his voice was quiet, hesitant, “so I spent every moment I could with you, wanting to be sure.” He shrugged. “And got attached to you even more.” Coming back toward her, he slowly sat down on the table, his brown eyes moving over her face looking for something. “Doyle warned me off, saying you were too young, so I had to bide my time and fight my instincts to be close to you without,” he smirked, “being close to you.”

Leaning forward, he captured her hands and held them in his. “When Doyle died, you were devastated and mourning, and then your gifts appeared and there was that adjustment to deal with.” His thumb stroked over her hand in a gentle caress. “Next thing I know, you’re hooked up with Randell and you seemed happy.” He looked down at their hands. “I couldn’t take your happiness away even if I was in pain and miserable.” Lifting his long lashes, he looked at her for a moment. “For the last year, I’ve thought about it above all else, to the point I think and breathe only you…” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, “But every time I see you look at him, I see the grief from the loss of what you thought was your normal happiness.” He dropped down off the table and kneeled in front of her. “I’m not normal, you’d never have normal with me, Remi.” Releasing her hands, he reached out and brushed his fingers slowly down her cheek.

She sucked in a breath from the tenderness of the movement.

Darien gave her a weak smile. “Normal doesn’t involve locking your partner in a cage once a month.” Placing a hand on either side of her on the couch, he watched her and continued to talk softly. “So, I spend my every waking moment of each day watching over you, helping you, comforting you, and keeping you safe as much as possible.”

His eyes stared at her mouth and Remi’s breath caught in her throat.

“When all I want to do is hold and claim you.” He took a deep breath and got up, moving to stand by the window. “After this morning, it will kill me if you’re with another man, Rem and that’s not fair to you.”

She watched his shoulders rise and fall as he took several deep breaths.

“It’s getting harder each day to keep my wolf at bay, to stop every time I’m near you.” He made a strangled sound. “Of course, I’m a sucker for punishment and can’t stay away.” Turning, he placed his hands in his pockets and looked back at her. “Nadine has been making me one of her magic potions for years. The potion barely works now, even with the increasing the strength and using it more frequently...” Heaving a sigh, he moved back toward her with his predatory grace. “I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad or put you on the spot.” He shrugged. “I’ve put it off as long as I can.” He gave her a soft smile. “You’re only twenty-five,” dropping his hands on his hips he shook his head and mumbled, “way too young for me.”

Remi waited and he didn’t say anything else, he continued to stand there looking at the floor. “So, what now?”

Darien lifted his head slowly and looked at her. He shook his head, an unsure expression on his face. “You’re my mate, Álainn and there will never be another for me. Ever.”

Remi blinked and watched him. Several emotions went through his eyes.

“I refuse to take away your choices.” A soft rumbling noise came from his chest. “There’s a lot more than the mindless killing that I don’t agree with from my clan.” He lifted his hands in a move of frustration. “If I don’t claim you, I’ll have to watch you grow old and eventually die. If I do claim you, then I may lose you anyway. Wolves are very possessive and dominating. Two things I know you won’t tolerate.”

“I don’t know what to say, Darien.” It took a lot to shock her, with some of the things she’d seen before she’d always managed her way through, but this had her completely at a loss.

Shaking his head, he lifted his eyes and studied her for several long moments. “I don’t know either.” He shrugged. “I’ve been in knots over it for years now. The staff, our friends, have all been running interference for me.” Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. “Everyone agreed with Doyle at first, that you were too young.” Dropping his hand down to slap on his leg, he gave her a lopsided grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s the big secret you’ve been sensing.”

“It’s a pretty big, life-changing secret.” She sat back, hugging the cushion off the couch into her chest.

“I know and for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

Eyes wide she stared at him. “It’s not like you can prevent it from happening, it’s part of who you are…”

“You mean what I am.”

She shrugged. “Whatever. I don’t have a problem with what or who you are, Darien, so you shouldn’t hold it against you either.”

He smirked and then sobered. “This morning…”

Remi held up a hand. “Don’t go distracting me with sex talk, there’s a lot more going on here than just sex.”

“I know.” He continued to stand there looking down at her, the expression in his eyes not telling her anything.

“You’re very important to me, Dare.” She waved a hand around, “Before the sex, before this mate stuff, you have always been my rock and a very important part of my world.”

“You’re my weakness,” he whispered, “and my greatest strength, Álainn.”

Nodding, she swallowed the lump in her throat. She wanted to scream, to cry to yell. This was so unfair. Fate could get stuffed for tossing this at her. Her whole world included Darien, but she didn’t know if she wanted to be mated happily ever after right now, or ever. It was so much more than a piece of paper and a ring that normals believed were binding. Mating in any of the para cultures was more permanent than stone.

Blinking, she dragged her mind from her thoughts and looked back at the man standing, predator still, in front of her. He hadn’t moved, she doubted he had so much as taken a breath while she sat there trying to digest everything he’d just told her. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, “this is huge and is going to take me a little time to process.”

He nodded. “It doesn’t have to change anything between us right now…”

Remi laughed and shook her head. “It changes everything, Darien.” She tossed the cushion on the couch and stood up, suddenly feeling restless. “You can’t just tell me that then expect me to shrug and go back down to do the dishes.”

He gave her an exasperated look. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

There was a soft growl in his voice making her stop and study him. “This explains the growling lately.”

Darien shrugged and lifted his arms in a move of acceptance. “I curb it as much as I can.”

If it had been anyone but him that had dumped all of this on her, she would have shooed them away so she could think, but seeing him standing there, pain and anxiety on his face, made her heart ache. He’d always been there for her, for whatever she needed. If she needed to yell, he gave her the fuel and yelled back. When she needed to cry, he held her and soothed her until the tears stopped. If she needed to laugh, he’d made her sides ache from laughing too hard.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and then opened them and looked at him. He still hadn’t moved an inch, just stood there tense and silent. “Well, fuck.” Moving over, she stopped in front of him and shook her head. “It couldn’t just be good sex with us could it?” Leaning closer, she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, resting her head on his chest. She closed her eyes in relief when his strong arms wrapped around her.

“Just good?” His voice was strained.

Grinning, she leaned back and looked up at him. “Okay, explosive.” She blew out a breath and then rested her head against his chest again. “I don’t know what to do with all of this, Dare, so please give me a bit of time.”

Darien squeezed her tight in his arms. “I wasn’t even planning on telling you yet.” He kissed the top of her head. “I was hoping for some more explosive sex first.”

Lifting her head, she gave him a wide-eyed look.

He smirked. “I’m kidding, sort of.” His eyes flicked to her lips and then back to her eyes. “With the killings and threats, I think you have more than enough on your plate to handle for now.”

“I had actually forgotten for a few wonderful minutes.” Biting her lip, she looked back at him. “It’s not good that the council is coming, is it?”

Slowly his eyes moved away from her mouth to her eyes. “No, it’s not. They’re intrusive. They believe nothing is private, it’s all their business…”

“You’ve dealt with them before?”

“Some of them.”

She gave him a look of curiosity.

He shook his head. “It was a long time ago.” His hand began caressing her back as if he could sense her stress.

“Are they going to be okay dealing with me?”

A low growl came from deep in his chest. “They don’t have a choice. Doyle chose to pass Serenity on to you; they have no say.” His arms tightened. “It’s not like they can revoke the gift. Serenity is you.” Giving her a reassuring smile, his arms loosened a bit. “Not to worry, if they mess with you, they’ll have to deal with me…” his eyes flashed yellow, “and Pascal, and Attis, Finn, and gods forbid, if we have to we’ll sick Iris and Vienna on them.”

Remi laughed. “I think I’m more frightened for them with the girls than all of you men.”

“Hey,” he pouted, “don’t be like that.” The playful look faded from his eyes. “We’re good for now?”

Taking a deep breath, she thought about how she was feeling inside. “I’m still a little freaked out, but I think we’ll get through it.”

The large body in her arms relaxed. Grasping her chin, he tilted her head, so she was looking in his eyes. “Telling you was the scariest thing I have ever done in my life.” His eyes held hers with such tenderness she couldn’t have looked away, even if she’d wanted to. “I should also tell you that I don’t plan on making it easy for you to forget.”

Eyebrows furrowed and questioning, she searched his face. “Forget?”

“This.” Still holding her chin, he lowered his mouth to hers and tasted her lips slowly, savoring them.

Remi’s eyes closed as the feeling moved through her. Hard kiss, soft kiss, passionate kiss it didn’t matter; the man could melt a glacier with his lips. When he lifted his head, she opened her eyes slowly to look at his hooded ones. “So, you plan on cheating?” She asked slightly out of breath.

Grinning, he dropped a quick kiss on her mouth and then released her. “Damn right, I do.” Backing away from her, the smirk still on his mouth he winked. “I’m going down to rustle us up some food.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s the second night of the full moon.”

Shoulders drooping, Remi sighed. “I can’t believe I forgot that, too.”

“Tsk tsk, where is your mind at, Ms. Foster?”

Baring her teeth at him, she watched him smile wider. “Go away, wolfman, I’m going to soak in the tub and prepare my weary body for pandemonium, the sequel.”

With a chuckle, he turned and walked out of the room.

Grasping her head between both hands she sighed loudly. “A killer, a council, and a mate.” She groaned. “It’s like a bad joke.” Dropping her hands, she kicked off her boots. “This is my life.”