Chapter Thirteen
Sarah greeted her guests with caution. She had no idea why James wanted her to meet this woman, but she bet it wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart. He was up to something.
As the leader of their pack, she led everyone into the dining room. The table had been set for four people and she made sure she did the formal setting just to be a little spiteful. She sat at the head of the table that could hold twelve or more. The other three sat on the sides. There was no way she’d put her cousin at the other end of the table. He’d take that as a sign, and she didn’t want to give him any encouragement.
The conversation was a little stilted. She had something to do with that though. Whenever she was asked a question, she gave a short answer. Nothing rude, but she also didn’t give them anything to latch onto. There was no way she was going to make this, whatever James was trying to do, easy for them.
Once dessert had been cleared, she placed her elbows on her table and placed her chin on her hands. She looked at the woman they brought with them. “So, why are you here?”
James spit out the drink he had just taken. His father turned pale, but the seer laughed.
“You are a breath of fresh air. So like your Nana. James asked me to get to know you. You’re part of the pack and it’s good to know everyone who influences your pack.” The woman smiled at her.
“And as seer you know who should be couples, help bring children into the world,” said Sarah. “Help people see the right path for them.”
She nodded. “Help those who need to deal with the death of a loved one.”
“How do you become a seer?” asked Sarah.
“Some are born into it.”
“Really?” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ears.
“Runs in the family for some. Others have a knack.” She touched her chest. “I’m a little of both.”
“Alicia has a knack.”
“You noticed.” She watched Sarah. “Are you and Alicia close?”
“I mean, I know her. She and Catherine were the ones who answered my questions when I first learned I was a werewolf. At least the ones that Conor couldn’t.”
“Tell me about Conor.”
“I met him before I knew I was a werewolf.” Sarah smiled. “He was there when I shifted for the first time. He helped me understand.”
“Do you plan on mating with him?”
“Why does everyone focus on that?” Sarah slammed her hands on the table. “Everyone seems to forget that I wasn’t raised with your pack mentality. Mating isn’t the end-all and be-all for me. I have the human mentality of a woman can survive on her own without a man. I’ve been taught that I am strong, and I shouldn’t let any man try to dominate me.”
“Even your mate?”
“Let me be clear.” She looked at James and his father. “No one will control me. That will not happen. Understood?” Sarah didn’t wait for an answer she turned and left the room.
***
“Oh, I like her,” said the seer. “She has moxie.”
“You came here for a reason, seer,” said James.
“Yes.” She glared at him for a moment. “Sarah is beyond your reach. She told you that she would rather be without a man than to allow one to control her. You only see her as a way to a means. She is so much more.”
“What do you know, old woman!” His anger flared at her words. Something she had seen many times in this pack.
“I know she won’t take you as a mate. She barely tolerates you. Your father has been feeding you lies all your life. You never would have been in control of this. Only a woman can reign.”
He growled and charged at her.
She growled back as she held her ground. “I am the seer. You harm me and you will have to answer to the entire pack. Do you dare take that chance?”
James’s father stood and grabbed him by the scruff. “She speaks the truth. All seers are protected. They tell the truth, whether we like it or not. They feel comfortable doing that because we can’t harm them.”
***
Sarah slammed the door to her room and then leaned back against it. Her heart pounded in her chest. Conor was going to kill her for blasting them the way she did, but she had to stay in character, right?
Why the hell did they bring a seer anyway?
Sarah pulled out her phone. Alicia and Catherine should be available to answer her questions. She didn’t want to disturb them, but she needed to know before she spoke to Conor. Instead of calling she texted them. Whoever answered her first would be the one she would ask her questions to.
It only took seconds for her phone to ring.
“Hi Alicia. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Oh, course not. We’re just waiting for our table.”
“Oh.” She was disturbing them. “My questions can wait.”
“Sarah, it’s just me and Catherine right now. What is your question?”
“I have you both? Um, James and his father came here for dinner, and they brought a seer. Do either of you know why?”
“Really? Wow. Normally it would be to see if you were a good match but you’re Conor’s mate, so I doubt if it’s that,” said Alicia.
“Yeah, but no one knows that.”
“The seer would. She knows what to look for.”
“She didn’t let on like she knew.”
“She is your seer. She might have wanted to get to know you and might have wanted to see if the bond between you and Conor could be broken,” added Catherine.
“Broken? Why would someone want to break a bond? I thought what a seer did was match people together.”
“And she does,” said Catherine. “But what if the parents don’t approve? There have been times when a couple wanted to be together, so they went behind their parents' backs. If the parents don’t want the match the seer can tell how strong their bond to each other is. If it’s weak enough to break a seer would be able to tell.”
“Well, damn.”
“What?” asked Alicia.
“I left before she said anything.”
“I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t have said anything in front of you, but I bet if you ask the staff, they probably heard her verdict.”
“Oh my god. I forgot to talk to the staff about tomorrow.” It would also give her a chance to find out what had been said once she left. “Thank you so much, ladies. I appreciate your help.”
“I’ll do a little more research in the morning to see if I can find anything else,” said Catherine.
“That would be great.” She disconnected the call and stood there for a moment. Knowing that James and his father were gone made her feel safe enough to go back to the dining room. Sarah could use the excuse of having to explain what was needed the next day. She walked into the room to find several people finishing up cleaning.
“Where is Moira?”
“She be coming along presently, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Sarah wasn’t sure what to do but the head of her staff showed up quickly.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry you had to wait.”
“It’s okay. I had a little mental hiccup too. I was getting ready for bed when I realized we hadn’t discussed tomorrow.”
“No problem, ma’am. Tomorrow you are to have company.” She handed her a card. “It seems that Nana set this up for you before she decided to take her vacation. She ordered for you to have a new wardrobe more befitting your station.”
“Can we reschedule?” She looked at the name of the seamstress and wished she hadn’t asked the question.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but it wouldn’t be wise. It’s a little too late to reach her without interrupting her at home. Nana would never do that.”
“I know. I guess it was wishful thinking. After this evening I’m not sure I want to face anyone else.” She went to her chair and found a small envelope on the chair. Where did that come from? “I’m assuming you heard my little tirade earlier.”
“It was hard to miss.”
“Ha! I’ve never been so mad!” She knew her thoughts were so different than most. They grew up with the males being dominant. “What I said probably seemed strange to you. I know you were raised to be subjective of the males.”
“I think you misunderstand, ma’am. The alphas are our protectors, but they don’t control us. The right woman keeps her alpha in check. She stands up to him when she has to but always makes the man think he’s in control. It cuts down on the fighting.”
Something she needed to learn. “I think the anger that filled me was that he brought a seer to see if he could be my mate. I don’t need any man to make me whole.”
“You have no worries there. She loved you and told them they couldn’t control you.”
“Did they believe her?” asked Sarah.
“Yes. James wasn’t happy with her answer, but she spoke the truth.”
“Good. I don’t want to have to fight to show I’m just as strong as any man.”
“Even if it is with Conor? I have found fighting can lead to some wonderful moments.” The head of the staff smiled then. “My mate can be quite hardheaded at times, and we’ve been known to butt heads, but he has always been there for me and our children. His love for me is endless and I feel the same way about him.”
“Then why does Conor keep reminding me that he’s my alpha and I have to obey him?”
“Because that is the way he was taught. You weren’t raised in this world. If you had been you would have seen how your mum handled your da. I watched and learned as I grew up. The men taught each other that they were in control. They would fight for dominance. We women had to be more subtle.” She smiled. “We learned a lot from our human counterparts. As they fought for their freedoms, we learned how to make what they did work for our needs.”
“And the men were none the wiser?”
“Are the human males?”
“Nope.” She grinned at that. There wasn’t that much of a difference between her old world and this new one once she figured out how to maneuver through it. If Alicia could do it, then she should be able to do it too.
“What time will the seamstress arrive?”
“Right after breakfast.”
“Thanks.”
The head of staff smiled at her and went to the double doors to let the evening staff in. Sarah took that moment to scoop up the envelope in her chair and slip it inside her top. She left the dining room and went back to her room.
She pulled the envelope out of her dress and sat in the overstuffed chair near the fireplace that dominated one wall. Opening the envelope, she found a card with a number on it. She flipped it over but found nothing else. Should she call the number? She glanced at her phone and realized it was probably too late, but first thing in the morning would work.
***
The next morning, she had just grabbed her first cup of coffee when her guest was announced. She smiled when she saw who it was.
“Siobhan?” she went to her and gave her a hug. “I didn’t know Nana had hired you to make a new wardrobe for me.”
“She set this up before you had left the states.” Siobhan returned the hug. “I already have a few for you to try on and sketches of a few more that I think you’ll look wonderful in.”
“Would my suite work?”
“Perfect.”
They took their time walking up to her room.
“Have you talked to your security? You might want to ask them to look the other way while we’re working.”
“Oh, I don’t have to worry about that. Nana only put cameras on the first floor, all the halls throughout the castle, and any room being used above the first floor but she hadn’t gotten around to adding them to my room yet.” She looked at Siobhan. “The only thing I need to worry about is someone trying to listen in by pressing their ear against my door, but the cameras in the hall would tell me who was listening in.”
“I’m guessing you check every morning.”
“I do.” They reached her door and paused as Sarah pushed it open. “Welcome to my inner sanctum.”
“Wow! Nice suite.”
“Thank you. It’s a bit lonely right now.”
“I know.” She busied herself by unloading her bags. Siobhan held up a cell phone and offered it to her. Sarah took the phone and opened a secret place where she hid some of her more precious items. Placing it on the small shelf she left the door open for anything else Siobhan might want to place in there.
They worked for a few hours finishing a few outfits Siobhan had started when she first arrived and starting on a few others that they decided would look good on her.
“There is one thing I would like you to make for me.” Siobhan looked up at her when she spoke. “I want a leather outfit.”
“Leather?”
“Yes.” She walked over to the section of the wall that opened to the old passages. She opened the door hidden there. “I’ve always wanted something like that. It wasn’t practical on a student’s salary.”
“You know Conor won’t like this at all.”
“He can’t get angry if he doesn’t know about it.” She closed the door, watching as the wall sealed seamlessly.
“And if he shows his displeasure over this outfit?”
“I’ll take it like a woman.”
Siobhan laughed.
A knock at the door disrupted them. Sarah opened the door to her head of staff. “Something wrong, Moira?”
“Oh, no, ma’am. But you have a guest at the door. He’s saying he’s from your father’s pack.”
“My father’s pack?” She looked back at Siobhan, who shrugged. “I’ll be right down.”
They followed the woman down to the main floor into a room she hadn’t used before. A young man jumped up the moment she entered the room. Michael? Why was he here? Nana had told her that she did her research and she didn’t have any obligation to him.
“Sarah.” He took her hand into his. “You look beautiful.”
“Michael? I didn’t know you were coming here.”
“Oh, right. I’m so sorry. I guess I should have called first.” He let go of her hand and bowed. “I had hoped to speak to you alone.”
She looked at Siobhan. “I’m getting fitted for a new wardrobe. Whatever you want to talk about would have to wait if you don’t wish to speak to me with Siobhan present.”
“Oh.” He looked a little uncomfortable. “I’d like to see you.”
“I’m standing right here.”
“I don’t think that was what he meant,” Siobhan commented.
“No.” He took a step closer to the door. “I’d like for us to spend some time together. Get to know each other. See if there could be something between us.”
“Michael. You’re very sweet but everything is so complicated right now.” She needed to talk to Conor before she took another step. “I need a little time. How about I schedule a dinner where we can talk this over? I’ll contact you when I have everything ready.”
“Of course. I know this is a lot to take in.”
She smiled, hoping it would hide the fear running through her. “It shouldn’t take me long to bring everything together.”
He took her hand and kissed it before he walked out the main door and down the steps to his car.
“Now what do I do?”
***
The day raced by as she tried to figure everything out. She had called the number on the paper from the phone Siobhan brought her and wasn’t surprised when she heard Conor’s voice on the other end.
“Why all the subterfuge?”
“For emergencies.” The sound of his voice calmed her. “I worry about what James could do and want to be prepared. I thought you might want to keep it in a safe place.”
“He’s not going to hurt me.”
“I don’t want to take any chances.”
***
Sarah used her normal phone to contact Max. She walked out of the castle and took her time to walk through the grounds as she asked him to be her sounding board. She needed to think this through correctly and knew her emotions would make her careless. She had a strong plan in place by the time she went back to her room.
She stared at the bed she had shared with Conor. She wished he was there to talk to her. He wouldn’t be happy to hear how she had antagonized James once again or the plan Max suggested she use. She slipped her shoes off and pulled out her robe.
A soft knock on her door stopped her from disrobing, then climbing into bed so she turned and opened it. Robe in her arms.
Moira stood there with her clean clothes. She put them away and then turned to Sarah. “Would you be wanting a late-night snack?”
“That does sound good.” She knew if Conor did show up he would appreciate something. Sarah just hoped he wouldn’t throw it at her once she told him her news.
“Tea?” asked Moira.
“As long as there’s no poison in it.” Sarah knew they had taken all the tea and given it to their police, but it had been a joke since Sarah normally wanted coffee.
Moira laughed. “Promise. I’ll be back right away.”
“Thanks.” Sarah climbed out of her clothes and into her robe before she slipped between the sheets and curled up as she grabbed her newest book. Would she get pulled into the story so she couldn’t sleep until she finished the book, or would Moira come back and find her sound asleep?
The secret door opened just as she got into the story. Conor closed the door and sat on the bed as she put her book down.
“You look comfortable.”
“Thanks. I feel comfortable.” She sat up and smiled. “Having you here makes me extremely relaxed.”
He pressed a soft kiss against her lips. “I have missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
A quick knock on the door had them jumping to their feet. Conor slipped into the secret passage while Sarah opened the door. Moira brought in a large tray with a teapot, cups, and a pile of finger foods. “I know you feel I bring too much, but most of the time you eat all of it.”
Sarah folded her clothes while Moira set the tray down on a nearby table. She wished she could tell her that she had help on those nights, but the less she knew the better it would be.
“Do you be needing anything else?”
“That’s plenty, Moira. Thank you.”
Moira picked up the small pile of clothes Sarah had folded. “What time do you want breakfast in the morning?”
“About the same time.”
Moira nodded and headed out the door.
Sarah opened the passageway once it was safe. “She’s gone, but brought some of your favorites.”
“You think she knows,” Conor said as he stepped back into the room.
Sarah nodded and pointed to the extra cup. “She’s worked for Nana for years. You know she’s very loyal.”
“I do. Max has already investigated her because of the poisoning.” He walked up to the tray and poured them each a cup of tea.
Sarah took the cup, but she didn’t want the tea. She wanted Conor. Setting it on a nearby table she stood and released the tie holding her robe together.
Conor set his tea down as well. “You are so beautiful.”
“I hate the fact you can’t be here with me all the time.” She brushed some hair out of her face. “I hate the fact we have to sneak around to be together.”
“I hate the fact you are in harm’s way and I can’t do anything to protect you.” He stepped up to her. “You are my mate and every bone in my body screams that you need to be protected by me.”
“Yet you know I’m in no danger. I am the prize that everyone wants. You know Max won’t let anything happen to me.” She started to unbutton his shirt. “You want me all the time and you can’t have access to something you should and it pisses you off.”
“True.” He shrugged out of his shirt then released his belt and undid the zipper to his trousers. “I want to wake up next to you. I want to be there for those moments that couples get to share. I want to be there when you get mad at me for being too dominating and I want to be there when you’re glad I'm that way. I want to be there to hear you call me an asshole and I want to be there when something amazing happens and you’re so happy it makes you cry.”
“I want that too, Conor, but right now I want you. I want to feel you inside me. I want the joy only you can bring me.”
Conor offered her his hand then drew her to the bed. He needed her as much as she needed him. He pulled her toward him. Capturing her lips with his he wrapped his arms around her.
She maneuvered them toward the bed. Conor must have hit the bed because he stopped moving. He pulled her down with him toward the mattress then flipped them so she was on the bottom. His hands moved across her skin.
The soft brushes made her heart beat faster. This is what she wanted, her mate’s undivided attention. He pressed kisses against her temple, then her cheeks before he worked his way down her body. She felt the heat of his mouth close over one of her nipples and she moaned.
“Conor, please.” She had been without too long; she wanted to feel him fill her now.
He broke the kiss and brushed his knuckles along her jaw as he looked into her eyes. He drove into her, making her arch her back at the sweet invasion. They moved together, reaching for the same goal.
Sarah moved with him, wanting more. She picked up the pace. Her body hummed with desire.
Conor flipped them so she was on top, giving her control. She smiled down at him. He knew this was what she wanted. Sarah started to move her body, taking control of her desire. She slid up and down his length, each time she slid down his length she tightened her muscles, enhancing the friction between them.
Each time she did, the vise she encased him in was exquisite. As badly as he wanted to take control back, he didn’t. His mate needed to know they were equal. He wanted her to know he didn’t think she was a lesser creature because she was female. He just wanted to protect her because she was precious to him.
They moved together, each wanting to reach the same thing. He knew when his mate got closer by the way her breath hitched as well as the scent she gave off as her climax raced toward her. He watched for the small signs as they grew closer. Her body clenched around him and he knew she was flying through her orgasm.
She relaxed against him. She loved snuggling against his warmth. She just wasn’t sure how long this intimacy would last after she told him about Michael. “I had a visitor today.”
“Me mum.”
“True, but I had another visitor while she was here.” She paused for just a moment. “Michael came by. He wants to date me and see if there is any chance we can fulfill the promise our parents made.”
“What?” He shifted so he could look at her. “You told him no, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t know what to tell him. I postponed everything until I could figure out the smartest thing to do.”
“Sarah, you’re my mate. Why would you want to lead this man on?”
“And that was my question.” She sat up and faced him. “So, I called Max.”
“Oh, I don’t like the sound of this.”
“He helped me come up with the right decision. One you’re not going to like, but it needs to be done.”
Conor pinched his nose. “What did Max suggest?”
“That I date all three of you.”
“What?”
“Here me out. This would give me a chance to show them I’m not the right person for them. Make them think I’m not a good match and they should walk away.”
“And what if that doesn’t work?”
“I’ll know I at least tried. It might not work on James. He doesn’t want me but the power he thinks he’ll gain if I’m at his side. But it should work on Michael.”
“Why can’t you just tell them to go away?”
“Did that work on those women who wanted to sleep with you? Did they go away when you told them to? Did you make up the false wife on a lark?”
He sighed.
A small smile filled her lips. He knew she was right.
***
Her grandmother recommended that she set everything up for a formal dinner. The dinner party had grown from her, Nana, Michael and his family to adding Max, Alicia, Catherine, Jacques, Conor, and his family as well as James and his father. She wasn’t sure how she was going to control this circus, but this was her dinner.
The formal invitations had been sent out and the RSVPs had come back. Nana, Conor and his family were the first to arrive.
“Are you okay?” Conor asked her when he had a few minutes with her.
“Yes, but this is crazy. I’ve never been so popular and all I want to do is be with you.”
He smiled at that.
“You know this changes things.” She spoke softly even though she knew the sharp hearing of their friends would allow them to hear anything she might say. “Nana has suggested that I allow the three of you to court me. A contest of sorts and I am the prize.”
“How do you feel about it?”
She knew he hated the whole idea but was showing his support anyway. “I hate it. I feel like an object, not a person.”
“What about James?”
“Nana believes this will help us prove his crimes. He’s going to think he got away with it because he’s suddenly in the running.” She looked around to make sure she wasn’t needed. “James will try to make his odds better. Right now, he has a thirty-three percent chance, and, in his head, he thought he had a fifty percent chance before Michael showed up.”
“And you’re going to remind him of that, aren’t you?” The tone of his voice showed he wasn’t happy.
“I’m only following the suggestions given to me.” She gave him a bright smile. He wouldn’t argue with her in public and she knew it. “We need to get back before everyone else arrives.”
***
Conor wasn’t happy. He missed Sarah and having her grandmother at his parents’ house made it hard for him to sneak away to see Sarah. She always seemed to know what he was up to.
Sarah explained Michael to everyone. He knew she had been coached by Max by the way she explained everything. She handled it beautifully.
None of the men were happy about this little twist, but at least she hadn’t cut any of them off. He didn’t understand why he had to pretend to woo her when they had already mated. Maybe they should tell everyone the truth so they could end this charade.
The meal was lovely, but he couldn’t taste it. All he wanted to do was throw everyone out so he could be with Sarah. His brooding attitude didn’t go unnoticed either. His mother threatened to send him home if he didn’t change his attitude and his father threatened to beat him if he growled at his mother one more time.
James was just as sullen as he was. The only one who didn’t seem to be upset about this was Michael. He kept staring at Sarah with a dopey grin. Was he love-struck? With his mate?
That just made him grumpier.
The meal crawled by. Max kept everyone entertained, but the looks he gave Conor made him very aware that he wasn’t happy with his behavior.
Sarah was sweet, calm and able to smile. She was taking this with grace. Watching her made him realize how much of a jerk he was being. In the last month, she had become homeless, found out she was a werewolf, an heir to a powerful pack and now she had three men interested in her. With everything she had been through, she still had a smile on her face and was calm in her movements.
“You okay?” her voice washed over him as she pitched her voice for him only.
“I am. Guess I’ve been pouting a little because I have to share you.” He wished he could take her into his arms. “Can’t you just tell them to go away?”
“You know that wouldn’t be fair.”
Her attention was dragged away by Nana. Sarah thanked everyone for coming and stood. After everyone said their goodbyes, Nana left them alone for a few minutes.
“Let’s just tell them the truth.”
“What? Why?” She picked up a drink one of the staff gave her.
“Why not?” He took her hand. “If we tell them the truth, you can tell these two to go away and we can go back to the way we were.”
“The way we were?” She gave him an odd look. “Is the only reason you want to tell everyone so everything can go back to the way we were?”
“Don’t you?” He felt like he had said the wrong thing but didn’t know what had upset her.
“You know, you are the most unromantic man I’ve met. You want them out of your way, so you won’t have to work that hard for me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You also didn’t tell me you loved me. You are only thinking of yourself.” She banged her hand against the table. “Go.”
“What?”
“Just go.” She pressed her hand against her forehead. “If you want to be my mate I want to be wooed. I want you to prove to me that you love me. That our mating means something more than going back to normal. You’ll be contacted with the details on how everything will go in a day or two.”
“But–”
“Not tonight. I’ve been through enough today. Nana is waiting for you to take her back to your parents' house.” She turned and walked away.
***
What the hell just happened? Conor helped Nana into the car. Something he thought would go so easy turned badly on him. She wanted him to woo her? What did she think he had been doing all this time?
“You’re awfully quiet, Conor.”
“Sorry, Nana. Sarah just threw me a bit of a curveball.” He glanced over at her. “She wants me to woo her.”
Nana smiled.
“You agree with her?”
“Tell me. Have you ever brought her flowers? Taken her to dinner, then wine and dined her? Showed her that you love her, and she means the world to you?”
“I…no.” He sighed. “With the way everything has gone it never crossed my mind. I thought she felt the same way I do.”
“She does love you. I can see it every time you two are together. What did you say to her that would have made her get mad at you?”
“Well, I sort of put my foot in my mouth.” He took the turn that led to his parents' house. “I thought she had so much to deal with that if we told everyone we have mated, she could relax.”
“You asked her to tell everyone you two mated?” Nana slapped him on the arm. “After all she went through to try to hide that fact? She needs your support, you idiot. You basically told her you didn’t care what she was going through. It was what you were going through that mattered.”
“I did not.”
“You did. Instead of being supportive, you said tell everyone we’re mated to make all of this go away because I don’t like it and don’t feel like fighting for you.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know, but a woman’s mind is very complex. You said the one thing you shouldn’t have.” Nana smiled. “Now you must prove yourself along with the other two. James isn’t an issue, but Michael is another matter.”