Lucy
Tony’s shoulders were tense, and he sounded upset. Matt’s arms were tight around me like he thought I was going to run away, but that didn’t make any sense.
“Matt, what’s wrong?”
He placed his hand over my mouth. David’s eyes jumped to us before returning to Tony a moment later. Tony didn’t move or speak.
“I asked you a question,” Tony growled. “How do you know our mate?”
Tony sounded so upset, but that didn't make any sense. They invited him, so why would they be upset that he was here?
“I’ve known Lucy since we were kids,” David said, his eyes narrowed. “And who are you to her?”
He growled again. “Don’t pretend that you didn’t hear me. You’re a guest, so that’s the only reason I’m letting you off lightly. Touch her again, and I’ll kill you.”
My eyes widened, and I pushed at Matt’s hand, but he was so much stronger than me. He pulled me away and out of the foyer toward a small room near the staircase. Then he shut the door behind us.
“Matt, what’s going—”
The door opened just after him and Tony walked in. His eyes were glowing. He looked so mad I stepped back from him.
“Why—"
“What were you thinking?” Tony asked, cutting me off. “Greeting another man like that?”
I blinked at him. “I didn’t…”
“Especially him,” Tony growled, glaring at me. “Was anything he said true? Do you really know him?”
I nodded.
“How? When?” Tony asked. “Why aren’t you saying anything.
Matt stepped between us. “Stop, Tony.”
“I-I… Tony, I---”
Tony turned away from me and went to the window. His breathing was heavy like he had run a lot. I looked at Matt, who was staring at the floor, his jaw clenched. I didn’t move, and I didn’t speak.
“We need to know everything from the beginning Lucy. How is it that you know him?”
I hesitated. It didn't seem like the truth was enough for either of them. It didn't seem that they liked the truth. What did they want to hear from me?
“Just answer,” Matt said. “We really don't have time for you not to.”
I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. David had already told them the truth. Did they expect me to lie?
Tony turned back from the window. The glow in his eyes was gone, but he still looked angry.
“If you don't tell us all of it, I'm going to have to go get him and drag it out of him, and as much as I would like to do that on principle, today is not the day for that. How do you know each other?”
“...I met David at the orphanage when we were kids,” I said.
“Kids?” Matt asked, his eyes narrowed.
“Yes—"
“And what else?” Tony hissed. “You said you were adopted when you were three, and you've never seen anyone else since then.”
“I haven't,” I said. “Why do you sound like you don’t believe me? I haven’t done anything….”
Tony’s eyes narrowed. “You hugged him.”
“Then why the greeting you hugged him, Lucy.”
“I was just happy to see him.”
“It was more than that,” Matt said. “What else? It’s been 15 or so years since you've last seen him, but you recognize him on sight. How?”
I frowned. I didn't really have an answer to that.
“I just saw him and knew that it was David….”
Tony’s eyes narrowed. “You just knew.”
“Sure, he doesn’t look exactly the way he did when we were kids, but no one does.”
“How did you recognize him then?”
I shook my head, frustrated that they seemed so upset with me when I had done nothing, but I guess everything in our relationship was built on whatever mates were and the fact that they had bought me from an auction. Why should I expect them to believe me? What could I really expect to understand in this situation?
“There was just something about him,” I said. “Am I not supposed to hug people? Is that a werewolf thing?”
Matt growled. “Focus, Lucy. Have you seen him since then, even for a moment, Lucy? This is important.”
“I haven't, not that I can remember.” I looked at the ground. Feeling more and more like I had done something wrong.
“So what else happened? You hugged him like you couldn't help it.”
“What did you have a crush on him when you were kids?
I wrinkled my nose. “No, we were toddlers… catching bugs and playing with blocks….”
Matt went stiff, and I pulled my thoughts back from that simple, happy time.
“He just… He looked after me. Then, one day he was gone. Then, a few days after that, we were all gone.” I sighed and sank into a seat. My head was starting to hurt. “I never expected to see him again, let alone here.”
Tony and Matt turned to look at each other, sharing some silent conversation that I would probably never hear a word of.
Though, now that I thought about it…
“… what is David doing here?”
Matt and Tony said nothing, and neither of them looked happy about whatever the answer was. Tony turned back to the window and Matt started to pace.
“How do you know him? You two seem to know him more than I do.”
Neither of them answered they didn't even look at me I could tell from the expressions Matt was making that they were still having some kind of conversation between themselves, but it was obvious that neither of them were going to answer me. I closed my mouth and waited. There wasn't much else to do. I heard people coming in through the front door. I didn't know how much longer we had before the ceremony was supposed to start, but it seemed like all the guests were arriving. Were there other people from the orphanage out there or was David the only one?
I stood and headed to the door. Before I made it a few steps, Matt was in my way. His eyes weren't glowing, but he looked upset still. He worked his jaw and narrowed his eyes like he was trying to figure out how to tell me something.
Then, he said, “Stay away from him.”
I blinked at him as he looked at me. “Whoever you think you knew back when you were a kid isn't the man that's out there.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“David isn't an ordinary person,” Tony said from across the room. “How he was at the orphanage and why I have no idea, but it doesn't matter. To answer your question, he's here as a guest of the Blue Moon Pack because he is the alpha of the Blood Moon Pack.”
“Alpha…”
“He's a contemporary of ours and an enemy.”
“I want to kick him out,” Matt said.
“We can't,” Tony said. “Until he actually does something. Though if he steps out of line, he'll be tossed out before he can do much damage.”
I looked between them curiously.
“David's a werewolf?”
Matt nodded.
Was everyone I had ever known of werewolves?