Chapter Eight

Alicia watched the scene unfolding in front of her. She had seen this before. Every time she spoke to any male that was nice to her Max would stand there and stare until she was back at his side. Conor had the same look, and Sarah was talking to her father.

“Interesting,” commented Max.

“You see what I see?”

“He’s acting like I do when someone pays a little too much attention to you.”

“Oh? Is that what you call it?” She nodded. “I’ll remember that when you want to rip someone’s throat out just for talking to me.”

“I’m not that bad.”

“Yes, you are, and I feel very loved every time you act that way.” She wrapped her arms around him. “Right now, I recommend you make Conor aware of what we’re seeing.”

“You are learning.” He pressed a quick kiss against her lips before standing up and walking over to where Conor sat. “You’re acting as if you have claimed her.”

“What?” Conor turned to him. “What are you talking about?”

Even though Max and Conor pitched their voices Alicia could still hear them.

“You are staring at Sarah and her father like you want to punish her father for taking her from you.”

Conor looked shocked.

“Do you want to claim her as your mate?” Max watched Conor, knowing he had no clue how he was coming across.

“What?”

“It’s a pretty simple question.”

“I-I don’t know how to answer that question. I’m not looking for a mate.”

“Yeah, I said the same thing when I met Alicia.” He looked at her and winked. “You might not be looking but it doesn’t mean you won’t find your mate anyway.”

“Sarah?”

“Why are you asking me?”

“I don’t know.” He looked down before he looked at Max. “I mean she’s smart and sweet and I’m attracted to her, but my mate?”

“Have you ever felt this way about any other woman you’ve been with?”

“No. She is different. Right now, I want to steal her away from her father so I can have all her attention.” He shook his head at Max’s smile. “That doesn’t mean I want her as a mate.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t believe me.”

“I’m not the one that counts. I don’t think you believe it either or you’d behave differently.”

***

The plane landed at the small airport near the college.

“I talked to Catherine and Sarah and we’re going to give you Sarah’s bungalow. It’s right next to Conor’s and since he has an extra bedroom Sarah can stay there. That way you have your own place and Sarah would be right next door if you need her,” said Alicia. She turned to Sarah. “Catherine had most of your things moved to Conor’s place for the time being. Hope you don’t mind.”

Sarah shook her head. Alicia was just as good at dominating the conversation and getting things to go her way as any of the men. For some reason being manipulated by a woman didn’t bother her as much.

As her parents walked with Max, Sarah dropped back to speak to Alicia. “You realize they’re going to find that place void of any of my things.”

“That has been addressed.” Alicia smiled at her. “Your parents will believe that you lived in the bungalow until now.”

“Hope so.” Her parents weren’t easy to fool.

They all climbed into different cars. Max and Alicia were heading back to Charlotte so they were heading to a helicopter that would take them to the city. That left Sarah alone with her parents and Conor. Who had been acting a little strange since Max talked to him on the plane.

“Are you okay?” she asked Conor softly after they had entered the car that would carry everyone back to the college.

“I am.” He smiled at her. “Max was just reminding me that I was being a bit of an ass earlier and I need to readjust, or he’d be mad at me. I’m sorry if I upset you or your father.”

“You’re fine, Conor,” said her father. “I think we’re all a little tired. It has been a long day.”

“Thank you, sir. I feel bad about the way I was behaving earlier.” He took Sarah’s hand. “I appreciate you understanding that I wasn’t being myself.”

The car brought them to the college and their bungalows. Sarah took her parents into hers and was surprised how Catherine knew what belonged to her. There was just enough of her things there that her parents wouldn’t question if she had stayed there. Tomorrow she would thank Catherine personally for what she did.

She walked into the bungalow she had shared with Conor to see him standing with his hands on his hips.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” He turned to her. “I worked hard to fit our things together and Catherine came in and somehow knew what was yours and took it without asking us. I’m a little upset she took it upon herself to commandeer the things she did.”

Sarah couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face.

“Am I that easy to figure out?”

“Well, the painting she took was painted by my grandmother and I bet she knows yours so when the name didn’t look familiar, she knew it was mine. She also took shoes and dresses I rarely wear.” She touched his face. “I think she did a great job. Now you going to explain what was going on while we were on the plane? I don’t believe a thing that you said when we were in the car.”

“I don’t know.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Max said I was acting territorial. All I know is that I need you bad. That’s all I could think of since we got on the plane.”

She wondered if that was why he had been staring at them on the plane. “Were you jealous that I was talking to my father instead of you?”

“I don’t know.” He ran his hands up and down her back as he maneuvered her backward. “I don’t remember doing anything odd on the plane.”

“My father even noticed. You looked like you wanted to devour us.” She felt her back touch a wall. “There was this intensity to you that would have frightened others. I had never seen you behave that way before.”

“Why didn’t it frighten you?” He lifted a strand of her hair to his nose and inhaled.

“I don’t know.” Why was he smelling her hair? “Because you’ve never given me a reason to fear you before?”

He brushed his knuckles against her jaw for a moment before he captured her lips with his.

The kiss was intense, but for some reason, she wasn’t frightened. She found it arousing. Sarah felt his hands on her thighs, lifting her and driving deep inside her. When did he remove his pants? She gasped into his mouth. He started moving inside her, setting a strong pace that filled her with the same need flowing from him. She moved with him. Wanting what he wanted. Her body tightened against him, and she heard him moan.

Conor moved faster and she picked up the pace to keep up with him. Sarah was now only feeling. Thought flew out of her head when he broke the kiss and moved to her throat. She tightened her legs around him. Her breath came out in short pants. One particular stroke had her clenching deep inside, drawing a moan from them both.

“Conor.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. He started to move faster. Her body started to vibrate. Then it started. This time even stronger than before her body sang its joy as she flew through her release.

Conor hit his release right after she hit hers and she heard a soft howl.

***

Catherine stopped by their place the next morning. They were in the kitchen just finishing up their dishes from breakfast.

“I wanted to let you know that we have no appointments today,” she said to Sarah. “The two we did have ended up rescheduling. And the results are back.” Catherine held up an envelope. “Do you want to know what it says?”

“Yes.” She reached for Conor’s hand, and he took it.

“The sequence is a ninety-eight percent match.” She found their behavior interesting. Catherine handed Sarah the results. “They are your family.”

“So, what’s the next move?” Sarah had a frightened look on her face.

“That’s up to you. Do you want to meet them?”

“I guess.”

“You guess?” asked Catherine.

“Okay, so maybe that’s the wrong answer.” She smiled. “I’m not sure I want to go to Ireland to meet them. Would they be willing to come here?”

“We can ask.”

***

Sarah’s new family agreed to come to the U.S. to meet her. They understood her hesitation and were willing to work with her to get a chance to meet her.

Conor suggested they meet in a central location where she would feel safe and she allowed him to set that up. She spent the day trying on different outfits, trying to find something she thought would show she was happy in her life. Nothing worked. Once again Conor stepped in and chose one of the dresses his aunt had made for her.

“Sarah, relax. It’s going to be fine,” Conor said as they pulled up to the restaurant.

“What if they don’t like me because I’m an American?”

“You are worrying about nothing.” He grabbed her arms and made her focus on him. “They’re going to love you. You’re sweet, kind, and beautiful.”

They climbed out of the car and walked into the restaurant. Sarah looked around, staring at any of the older women she didn’t know. None of them acknowledged her, making her take a deep breath. She tried to calm herself. Sarah stiffened when the door opened.

“Please help me to get her to relax,” Conor said to the person who had walked in. “She’s tight and I’m afraid she’s going to break.”

Alicia laughed. “Sarah won’t break. She’s nervous and that is understandable.”

“Alicia? I didn’t expect to see you tonight.” Sarah gave her a quick hug.

“We want to support you.” She gestured to Max, Catherine, and Jacques. “We don’t want to interfere with your meeting, but we’re here if you need us.”

“Thank you.”

Conor led everyone to the room at the restaurant that he had rented for their meeting. It was quiet and secluded so they wouldn’t have a bunch of gawkers. The waiter would give them some time before he came in to get food orders. He would watch for a signal from either Sarah, Conor, or Max.

Sarah closed her eyes and worked on controlling her breathing. The sound of Conor saying welcome made her open her eyes. There stood her grandmother.

“Oh my,” said the woman. “You look so much like your mother.”

“I do?” That relaxed Sarah.

“Yes. I brought pictures so you could see what your parents looked like. But where are my manners? I’m Elizabeth Murphy, but most call me Nana.” She gestured to the young man standing behind her. “This is your cousin, James.”

“This is Conor O’Malley. Catherine and her mate Jacques Beau. Alicia and her mate Max Santos.”

“I swear Max you look better every time I see you.” She smiled as she stepped forward and offered her hand to Alicia. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who tamed Max.”

“Tamed?” Alicia laughed at that. “I’m not sure I have tamed him.”

“You make him happy. I can see that. And knowing Max, he wants to make you happy. He doesn’t get into as much trouble when he’s focused on something.”

“And she has all my focus.” Max wrapped his arms around his mate. “Nana has known me since I was a pup. She’s known Catherine since she was a pup as well. Nana’s family was close friends with our parents.”

“Did I hear right?” She looked at Catherine. “Patrick is mated and a father?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Catherine smiled. “A beautiful boy.”

“Good for him.”

“Why don’t we order our meals?” offered Conor. While Max stepped out of the room to speak to the waiter, Conor pulled out a chair for Nana.

“I’m surprised you aren’t cooking, Conor,” said Nana, as she took her seat.

“Tonight, I’m here to support Sarah.” He offered her his hand, and she took it.

“You have some wonderful and powerful friends, Sarah. I’m proud.”

Max came back in and stood next to his mate.

“Why?” She hadn’t thought about what having her friends with her would mean to her grandmother.

“Max told me that you just learned you were a shifter, and you were raised by humans.”

“I think of them as my parents, not humans.” Sarah sat in the chair Conor had pulled out for her.

“I meant no offense.” She pressed her hand against her chest. “I’m just surprised you weren’t put with a werewolf family.”

“I was, too,” said Max. “But it was when records weren’t kept the way they are now. I believe a human found her and brought her to an orphanage that didn’t have one of our people working there when she arrived, or she would have been placed with a werewolf family.”

“Why didn’t I shift when I was a child?” Sarah asked her grandmother.

“I’m not sure. Not having someone to tell you that you were a shifter and then showing you how to do it did affect when you should have started shifting. I can only assume you didn’t shift until you didn’t feel safe. Your wolf would protect you, so something happened to trigger it.”

“Then if I had felt safe, I might not have ever shifted?”

“I don’t know. You’re the first to go as long as you did before shifting. We’re only guessing.” Nana placed her hand on top of Sarah’s hand. “The fact is you know how to shift now. You know what you are, and you’re back in my life. That’s all that really matters.”

“Thank you.” Sarah found her grandmother very sweet. “I’m glad we got a chance to meet.”

Sarah felt Max place his hand on her shoulder. Not knowing what that was all about she looked up to find him staring straight ahead. Beside him stood Jacques doing the same thing. Conor was also looking in front of him, so she had to look too.

Her cousin was staring at Conor with a slight sneer on his face.

“What is your problem, James?” she asked.

“He is beneath you.” He nodded his head toward Conor.

“Not as often as I’d like.” She watched as he looked at her and she kept his gaze until he backed down. When she looked back at her grandmother, she found the woman smiling at her.

The soft laughter in the background told her she hit her mark.

“Shamus, stop showing your ass or I’ll have your meal packed and you can wait in the car.”

His face turned beet red, but he backed down.

She felt Conor’s hand on her thigh.

“If you wanted to be on top more all you had to do was say something.” Conor pitched his voice so only she could hear it.

“He was being a jerk and you know it.” She pitched her voice as well. “That wasn’t a complaint. Each time we’re together is magical.”

“That’s good to know. If people thought I wasn’t treating you right we both would be in trouble.”

“Both?” She tilted her head.

“I’d be in trouble for not being a good lover and you for making me look bad. I could spank you for that.”

“Really? A spanking?” Her voice held a small tone of excitement.

“Oh? Do you want me to spank you?”

“I– uh.” She looked around. “Maybe we should talk about this later.”

“Is that when you’re on top?”

She couldn’t stop the blush that filled her cheeks.

He pressed a kiss against her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Nana.”

“Oh, don’t be sorry. I saw the family backbone there,” she said. “James believes he should be my heir, but he is my brother’s heir, not mine. You, on the other hand, are my heir.”

Sarah found a small turquoise box with a bow on it sitting in front of her. “Nana?”

“That is for you.” She gave her a nod to open it in front of all her friends.

Sarah pulled at the intricate bow then lifted the lid. Inside was a beautiful necklace. “This is exquisite.”

The moment James saw it he frowned. “Nana?”

“That is a family heirloom. Anyone with it is the leader of our pack. When you mate,” she looked at Conor, “he will be the alpha. But you will still be the leader. There is a bit of training to this, and I would love for you to come to Ireland to learn what you need to know to inherit all you’re supposed to.”

“Nana, I’m supposed—”

“One more word, Shamus...” Nana turned to him and gave him a glare that made him back down immediately. “Sarah is my, and note the word my, granddaughter. She is next in line, not you. If you’re not happy about that go to my brother and complain. It won’t do you any good. You might be my brother’s son, but that doesn’t give you any power. Females have always run this pack and you know that. So does my brother.”

“I’m sorry, Seanmhathair. I meant no disrespect.”

“So,” Nana turned back to Sarah, “would you be willing to come to Ireland for a visit?”

“Um, my mother, the woman who raised me, has dementia and isn’t doing well.” She paused for a moment. “I can’t leave until I know she is stable.”

“I’m sorry, child. I hope she will do better.” She touched her hand again. “The offer stands. Take care of your mum and come when you feel you can.”

“Can I ask for a favor?” Sarah asked.

“Of course, my dear.”

“Can I bring someone with me?”

“Conor is more than welcome,” said Nana. “Your future mate should know everything you do.”

She wanted to tell her that Conor wasn’t her future mate, but only nodded when she felt Conor’s hand on her leg again.

They spent the next few hours, eating, drinking, and getting to know each other. Her grandmother gave her a framed picture of her parents to keep. She felt so much better after meeting the woman.

After saying goodbye to everyone Conor ushered her to their car.

“Why did you stop me from correcting my grandmother when she called you my future mate?”

“Because your cousin would have jumped on that, and I don’t trust the man. Max was serious when he said you were under his protection. I’m that protection if you go to your ancestral home.” He looked over at her as he drove back to their bungalow. “I’m happy we could connect you with your grandmother. I’ve cooked for several of her soirees, and she has always been a wonderful host. Everyone who knows her loves her. Have you thought about how you’re going to explain this to your dad?”

“Honestly, I mean, he knows I was going to meet her tonight and I know he’s going to want to know how it went.” She brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. “Did you want to come with me?”

“I don’t want to interfere.”

“My dad likes you and I know you can help fill in any awkward moments that might pop up. I want you there.”

“Then I’ll be there for you.” He gave her a quick glance and a smile before focusing on the road.

Her father was looking out the window when they pulled up. They climbed out of the car and walked up to the door. He opened it for them.

“So how did it go?”

“Great.” Sarah handed her dad the picture.

“Holy cow! You look so much like your mother, and I can see your father in you, too.”

“Kind of amazing, huh?”

“What did you learn?”

“My parents were in a car accident that killed them. I was in the car with them when this happened. No one knows how I made it to the orphanage that day. My grandmother thought I died with my parents.” She looked at her dad. “I was lucky you were there that day, Dad. I could have spent my young life at that orphanage.”

“At least you know now they didn’t give you up.”

“I do.” She hugged him. “But it’s sad to know how they died or that I should have died with them.”

“That’s a bit negative. Maybe you survived because you were destined to. I’m sorry about what happened to your parents but you coming into our lives was the best thing that ever happened to your mom and me.”

“Love you, Dad.”

***

Conor was proud of how she handled her father. She said all the right things to show she still saw him as her father and that she was proud they adopted her. The way she handled the complexity of her loved ones was something he wasn’t sure he would have handled as well.

Conor realized he was attracted to Sarah in a way he had never been to another woman. She was beautiful, sweet, and honest. Even though she told him she was a fan she had never tried to manipulate him. He had to realize one of the reasons he stopped her from correcting her grandmother was because he wasn’t sure how he felt about her, and if she told her grandmother he wasn’t her mate he could be dismissed. That was something he didn’t want.

He had gone into the kitchen to put together a light snack for Sarah’s father. It was obvious the man had been too nervous to eat anything. He could hear them as they talked.

“So you were happy you got to meet your grandmother?” asked her father.

“I am. She was so sweet, Dad. Just the way a grandma should behave. I’d love for you to meet her. She is willing if you are. I did tell her about Mom because she asked me to go to Ireland to learn about the family business. She said I’m the heir to her legacy.”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know, but it can’t hold a candle to our world.”

“True, you are the princess. No one is fairer, smarter, and more beautiful. No one can outshine you.”

“Love you, Dad.”

“What about the chef?”

“Conor? I don’t know how to answer that question. I will tell you that he knows I was one of those uber fans. I also really like him. Not the chef that I fantasized about, but the man I learned to know. I don’t know if he wants a lasting relationship. I entered this relationship with my eyes wide open. I refuse to try to tie him down. If he wants something permanent, he needs to make the first move.”

“Then why did you sleep with him?”

“Uh, come on, Dad. The first time was because I thought I’d only have one night with him. You never would have known.”

“Yet, he hung around. I think there is more to your relationship than just sex. He wouldn’t still be here if he didn’t have feelings for you.”

“Please don’t play matchmaker, Dad. Conor has a wonderful career, and I don’t want to mess that up.”

“Have you thought about the fact he might be afraid of messing up your life? I hate to see you two break up because you didn’t talk to each other.”

Conor hadn’t thought about their future. He just knew he wanted her in his present. Did he want more than that? He brought in the food and pretended he didn’t hear anything. The moment he looked at Sarah he could tell she wanted to apologize to him. He gave her a smile that relaxed her. His family had tried to match him with too many women, not to understand.

The conversation changed when he brought the food in. It was a nice quiet moment. Sarah’s father had accepted him no matter what might happen between them.

They helped her father put his wife to bed and Conor could see that he appreciated the help. As they walked to their bungalow, he wondered how he would handle it if something like this happened to his mother.

“You’re deep in thought.”

“Can’t help it. You’re such a good daughter to be there to help your dad. I wonder if I would be such a good son if it was me mum.”

“Do werewolves get the same diseases as humans?”

“We can get the flu, colds.” He took her hand. “So far our longevity has kept some of the deadlier diseases at bay.”

“Then I wish Mom was like us. I hate seeing her this way.” She rested her head on his shoulder as he opened the door for them. “It just breaks my heart to see her struggle. Then when nurses come by, they say she’s doing great. They don’t know her like we do. They never saw what she was like before dementia started to take her from us.”

“I know it’s frustrating, but this isn’t your fault. You and your dad are taking good care of her and now she’ll be under the care of the college doctors. She’ll have the best care possible.”

“As long as my father is willing to stay here.”

“Max told me he has offered your father a scholarship to the college if he was interested.”

“Really?” She walked over to a small table and placed the picture and her purse on it. “I know Dad wanted to get his masters, but I don’t think he wanted to be a lawyer, doctor, or chef.”

“He might just want something to do here. I think the moment he sees how good the medical staff is and how they can help your mom he’s not going to want to leave.” He led her into the kitchen. “How about a snack?”

“Are you trying to get me fat?”

“First, werewolves have too high a metabolism to get fat. Second, I had planned on helping you burn off these calories later.”

“In that case, what did you have in mind?”