“Yes,” said Alicia.
Max didn’t expect that from her. “And what was your conclusion?”
She hesitated. “You’re either the type of jerk who will force people to do what you want through threats and fear, or there is a method lost in the madness.”
“I’m hoping you’re leaning toward the second one.” He smiled and hoped she caught the humor.
“The verdict is still out on that one.” She gave him a fleeting smile. “You know I listen so much better when I have all the details. Why do you keep things from me?”
“Because there are some things I don’t know. I’m using instinct and history to base my decisions off of.” He held up his hand before she started to argue with him. “Before you throw the ‘I can protect myself card’ one more time, hear me out. I’ve only underestimated someone one time and I lost a dear friend because of it. That will never happen again. If I have to I’ll lock you in a closet and throw away the key to keep you safe.”
“I’m not a porcelain doll that will break easily.”
“I know that, but you don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
“Exactly. There’s so much I don’t know about you, about this job, or your enemies.”
Max paused for a moment. “My life has always been different and I wish to share it with you, but there are things about me and our enemy I’m pretty sure would scare the hell out of you. I’m not sure you’re ready for that.”
“Why not?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“You keep telling everyone we barely know each other. If you only see us as acquaintances then why should I confide my deepest darkest secrets?” He watched her eyes widen at his words.
“You’re right and I’m sorry.” She paused for a moment. “But your secrecy is why I say that. How can I say we’re close when you hold me at arm’s length?”
“You are the only one I feel safe confiding to.”
“Then confide in me. Tell me the deep dark secret that will send me running for the hills.” She looked at him with such innocent eyes.
If only she knew. He turned away from her, trying to figure out what he should say. If he told the truth she’d either laugh in his face and call him crazy or it would frighten her too much. Either way she’d never want to see him again. He wouldn’t stand for that.
“How about if I explain it after dinner?” That would give him a few hours to try to come up with something better than ‘I’m a werewolf, can you cope?’.
“You better explain it now or I’m walking.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
He felt trapped. Botching this wasn’t an option. “Okay, but we have to go back to the legend for a moment.”
“Max.”
“Please?” He turned back to face her. “I promise to explain it, but you have to go along with me for a few minutes. It will make sense.”
She narrowed her eyes at him but kept quiet, waiting for his story. And boy, it was a doozy. “My people have lived near the coast of Ireland for thousands of years. We’ve been able to keep it hidden from the outside world. For a reason.”
“What? You weren’t like everyone else?”
“We found normal society hard to deal with. No one would accept us.”
A frown creased her brow. He had to start talking fast or he was going to lose her. “Look, this isn’t easy.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “We have kept our differences secret for so long it’s hard to just blurt it out.”
“What are you trying to tell me?” Alicia pulled back from him.
“I have an ability most humans don’t.”
She looked at him, tilting her head like she was trying to figure out what he was really saying. “Wait. What does the legend have to do with it?”
He didn’t say anything. He just waited for the information to sink in.
“Werewolves? Are you trying to tell me that you’re a werewolf?” Laughter danced in her eyes. “Oh, that’s rich.”
“I said you wouldn’t believe me.”
“Prove it.” Her posture telegraphed her disbelief.
“Okay.” He hooked his fingers in the waistband of his trousers.
“Wait. Why are you undressing?”
“Shifting ruins my clothes. I always undress before.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” She wrapped her arms around herself.
He relaxed his hold on the waistband, but kept eye contact. “Yes.”
“Wow.” She shook her head.
Part of her didn’t believe, but he could smell her fear at the fact that it could be true. He hadn’t forgotten she was afraid of wolves and knew he needed to handle this carefully. She was just starting to understand the mating, and the shifting went right along with it. She had to accept both and him.
“You really believe you can shift?”
“And I’m more than willing to prove it to you.”
Alicia didn’t answer right away. "Does it hurt?”
“Shifting?” He shook his head. “No. I know movies have made it look painful, but it’s not.”
“Do you have super hearing and smelling abilities?”
“My hearing is a little better than most, and my nose does pick up things the average nose might miss.”
“Way to not answer my question.”
“But I did,” he protested.
“Really? ‘I hear better than most’, you can do better than that.”
“Do you want me to tell you that I can hear your blood coursing through your veins? That I can hear your heart beating a little quicker because of the fear I can smell? You don’t want to believe me, but are afraid of what could happen if I am telling the truth.”
“I don’t think you’ve proved any special talent by saying that. Anyone paying attention knows I’m scared of wolves and it would be natural for me to be afraid.”
“All right.” Max stepped closer to her. “Right now, you’re torn between being afraid of what I’ve revealed and being aroused by my state of undress.”
Alicia didn’t look at him after that.
“You know I would never hurt you.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I push you in ways you hate, but you know I’ll be there when you need me.”
“What about this shifting thing?”
“I promise to never shift in front of you unless you ask to see it.”
She nodded.
“So you believe me?”
“You know you’re asking a lot from me, but there have been things I’ve noticed that I couldn’t explain.”
“Like what?” She was accepting this a lot better than he expected.
“The way you move. So fast at times. No human can move the way you do.” She looked at him, a thoughtful look on her face. “Can I ask you a question? Can you read minds?”
“No, but I can figure out your mood by your scent.”
“Really? We smell different with different moods?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “You’re more relaxed now. I didn’t force you to see something that would frighten you; you’re not quite ready, although, you are willing to believe, for now.”
Surprise filled her face. “You got all that from a whiff?”
“How about we move slowly on this? When you’re ready to learn more you let me know and we’ll talk.” He used one hand to cup her cheek. “Catherine and Patrick are coming for dinner and I’d like you to be here. Will you join us?”
She continued to watch him with a questioning look. If he could read her mind he’d know where he stood with her.
“I’d like that.”
“Did you want to run home and change before they arrive?”
“I’d love to.”
***
Alicia stood next to Max while Jacob answered the door. Patrick came in and gave her a slight bow before he said hello to Max. Catherine came to her and gave her a quick hug before she acknowledged Max. When they headed to the dining room Alicia walked beside Max. He held out the seat at one end of the table for her then sat at the head of the table. Somehow she had become the lady of the house without anyone saying anything.
The meal passed quickly while Max and Patrick talked about business or something else she didn’t really care about.
Catherine had remained quiet, too. She didn’t seem to be interested in what they had to say either.
Before long the men dismissed themselves, leaving the two women alone.
“Are all your dinners like this?” asked Alicia. Catherine gave her a lost look. “Boring. The men talking work and totally ignoring you?”
“Oh.” She smiled. “Pretty much.”
“No wonder you hate them so much.” Alicia stood. All through dinner she found herself watching the three of them. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but she did see them in a new light. Werewolves? She just wasn’t sure. “I don’t know about you, but I need to get some fresh air.”
“Sure. How about the Atrium?” She stood up as well.
“I know I’m still closed in by four walls. How about outside? The weatherman said it was supposed to get warmer again.”
Catherine hesitated for a moment. “How about the back porch? It’s screened in and has a portable heater so we’ll keep warm.”
“That sounds great.” Alicia let her take the lead. “Let’s go.”
They stepped out on the porch.
The cold breeze brought a sigh to Alicia’s lips. It felt cool against her skin. She could hear the sounds of the night nearby. “This is much better.”
“Max likes to come out here a lot.” Catherine gestured to a couple of chairs nestled against the wall before she turned on the portable heater. She took one after she turned it on. Alicia had already settled into hers.
“These slide back so you can lounge.” She pushed against the back to show her what she meant.
“Oh, wow.” Alicia pushed back against the arms and closed her eyes. The heater kept their area just warm enough. “I could stay out here all night.”
They sat in companionable silence.
“Wonder how long it will take Max to figure out we’re no longer in the house?” Alicia couldn’t help but ask. It helped keep her other thoughts at bay.
“We could bet,” Catherine commented.
She laughed.
***
Max stared out the window. “It’s just a matter of time.”
“Time you don’t have,” countered Patrick. “Just tell her the truth.”
“How many times must we talk about this?” Anger boiled. He smashed his hand against the wall and bashed a big hole in it. Alicia needed time and damn it, he was going to give it to her. “This is my mate and my decision.”
Patrick bowed his head.
“Why don’t we go back to the dining room?” Max started walking. He didn’t wait to see if Patrick followed. He was so sick of everyone telling him what to do about Alicia. It was none of their businesses.
Max marched into the dining room only to find it empty. “Where the hell are they?” He turned to glare at Patrick.
“Hey, I have no control over this.” Patrick held up his hands in supplication.
Max growled and snatched him by the neck. “It’s your sister.”
“I’m sorry, Max.” He lifted his nose and took a whiff. “They’re not in this wing any more, but they didn’t leave that long ago.”
Max let go of his neck.
“This way.” Patrick headed out of the room and down the hall toward the atrium. Another growl escaped Max when they didn’t see the women right away. Patrick kept going scurrying toward the back of the house. “I think they are out on the porch.”
Max inhaled deeply. He picked up Alicia’s scent. Thank God, she was safe.
When the two men walked out on the porch, Alicia looked at her watch. “Ten minutes. I won.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Max as he eased his weight down on the arm of her chair.
“I made a bet with Catherine on how long it would take for you to come looking for us. She said twenty minutes, but I called ten.”
“Am I that predictable?”
Alicia looked up at him. Laughter in her eyes. “Yes.”
He laced his fingers with hers and leaned back. “I love coming out here, too. Sometimes you just need the fresh air.”
“It’s great out here.” Alicia rested her head against him.
Max wanted to shout for joy. This was the first time she had shown any physical attention to him in public. If Patrick and Catherine counted as public. It didn’t really matter. He knew they were making headway. She was accepting him, even if she thought he was a little touched in the head.
A slight movement in the brush caught his eye. They didn’t normally get too many animals this close to the house. They smelled the animal in him and gave him a wide birth.
Eyes flashed at him. Feral. Predator. Something that shouldn’t be this close to the house. “It is a bit nippy out here. Maybe we should head back in.”
“Why? It’s beautiful out here.” Alicia’s voice came out almost as a whine.
He continued to watch the creature move about. It worked its way closer to the house. Didn’t anyone else notice? Standing up, he felt the hairs bristle against his skin. He lost sight of the glowing eyes.
***
Alicia felt Max stiffen. What the heck was he sensing? She heard something moving in the bushes close to the house just before it leaped up and slammed against the screen. A scream ripped from her throat.