Chapter Fourteen
Alicia knocked on the old wooden door and waited for Catherine to answer.
“You got the goods?”
“Right here.” Alicia looked around. “You going to let me in?”
Catherine opened the door and waved her in.
“So what did you think?”
“It was fun. You have a few though that are either sexually frustrated or into bondage because they wanted to tie up the person they need to convince until they see the light.”
“Really? See the light?”
“One of them used those exact words.” She pulled out the blue books from her oversized purse. “The ones on top are the ones I liked the best.”
“Any reason?”
“Their ideas are plausible. The top one was remarkably close to what happened.”
“You mean the person in question already knew the truth?”
“The spontaneity of it. An opportunity appeared and she charged forward instead of backing off. I liked that.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“I do have a favor, though.”
“Sure.” She placed the booklets on her desk and leaned against it. “What do you need?”
“Everything you have on the white wolf legend.”
“I don’t have much.” She went to her chair and opened her laptop. “I’ll email you the files I have and the links I’ve found on it.”
“Thanks.”
“I also have a book.” She got up and walked to an overflowing bookcase. After rummaging around for a few moments she pulled out a worn leather book. “Now before you say anything this is a diary. One of the first elders was also clairvoyant and wrote down what she saw. Sometimes it was in a dream and others were visions. She’s the one who saw the white wolf. She wrote what she saw here. Some of it might not make sense because she wrote them a long time ago, but I’ve always found them a fun read.”
Alicia nodded as she took the book. “Anything else?”
“There are a few more diaries that you should probably read as well. They don’t reference the white wolf like this one does, but they do hold most of our legends.”
“Okay.”
“Everything Max will give you on this basically comes from the book in your hands. As time went on the stories in the diaries became tales told to children when they were going to bed, when they misbehaved, when they were scared. The stories changed and were embellished, and you might not even recognize the original when you do hear the latest version.”
“I’ll get it back to you as soon as I can.”
“I think it’s time for me to pass this book on. I have a feeling you’re going to want to keep it once you read it and I know you’ll cherish it as much as I do. I have the other diaries at home and will bring them over later.”
“I can’t keep any of these.”
“Why not? You’re mated to Max and have used the Tears. If that doesn’t make you worthy I’d like to know what it would take.”
“No one seemed to notice.”
“Really?” The teacher in her took over and she grabbed her tablet. “In what way?”
“Well, first Max can’t detect a difference in my scent.”
Catherine stepped close and took a big inhale. “Hmm, there is a subtle change, but if I didn’t know you had used the Tears I think I wouldn’t notice it either.”
“Why do you think this has happened?”
“Well, you did mate with Max before you changed. Your scent changed when you did that. You already carried a werewolf scent because of Max and your personal wolf scent is very subtle. I can see how they missed it.”
“Well, that makes me feel a little bit better. How about the fact I could hear Max even after he pitched his voice so only Patrick should hear it?”
“Where were you?”
“At his office?”
“Were there any loud noises around? People talking, um, radio blaring, that kind of thing.”
“No. It was quiet.”
“Okay, so most of us can’t hear if a voice is pitched to be private. It’s like whispering amongst humans. And there are a few who can still hear even though they shouldn’t. But, this is Max we’re talking about. He is the alpha and has all the talents an alpha should have. You shouldn’t have been able to hear him, even though you are his mate. I think you and Max need to test this more. It could have been a fluke.”
“Great.” She said it softly and with a sarcastic tone. Max would push her to be sure she could hear him no matter what.
***
Stacey walked beside Patrick, contemplating all they had seen in the last forty-eight hours. “Do you think Alicia is the white wolf of the legends?”
Patrick grabbed her arm and stopped walking. “I don’t think this is something we should discuss in public.”
She nodded and dropped her gaze to the ground in front of her.
He knew he had upset her and wished he could take the last minute back. “Pitch your voice.”
“Oh.” She looked at him. “I don’t know how.”
“What?” he gave her an odd look. “You want to explain that?”
“We never used that talent in my pack.”
“Wait a minute. Everyone uses it in every pack I’ve ever met. How is that possible?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Once we were on our own my father banned everyone from using it. He didn’t want secrets among our small group.”
“Then I’m going to teach you. You need it to be able to speak to me or Alicia freely. Now that she is a werewolf she will need to choose a second. It’s either going to be you or my sister. No matter who she chooses you spend the most time with her because you’re the one who works with her.”
She looked at him, knowing he’d pitched his voice just for her ears.
“Now. Clear your mind.” He walked beside her. “As you talk think of only me. Then like a whisper on the wind speak to me. Words for my ears only. Like you do when we’re in bed together. Soft, special, personal.”
“Like this?” Her voice was barely a whisper, but he heard her loud and clear.
“Exactly.”
She smiled, one that seemed to stun Patrick.
“Wow.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I want to see that smile all the time. What else can I teach you? How can I get that smile all the time?”
She laughed at that, making him kiss her.
“You keep this up and we won’t even make it back to your office,” Patrick whispered against her temple once he broke the kiss.
That sent a little thrill through her. They walked into headquarters holding hands and trying to pretend they didn’t want to race for the stairs and her office. Just as their goal was in sight Max stepped out into the hallway.
“Patrick, can I see you two for a minute?”
Stacey felt his hand tighten against hers for a moment before he let go. He turned to her and gave her a strained smile.
“Bring Stacey with you.”
Patrick took her hand once again and pulled her with him. She really didn’t want to go but knew better than to fight. They stepped into the room and Patrick closed the door.
“Since my mate has made the change she will be picking a second soon and although your sister has seniority it’s Stacey she works with so I’m assuming she will pick you. I know you’ve never been trained in any of these things so you’re going to get a crash course.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Dom has been on the move. I’ve had a few people watching his compound and he’s left it a few times.” Max moved behind his desk. “He’s been following my mate.”
“What?” Stacey couldn’t stop the words.
“He didn’t see you,” Max informed her. “When he visited my home I realized I had seen him outside of the doing Alicia was working out in a couple weeks ago, so that’s when I assigned people to watch him. He has followed her to the university when she went to see Catherine and a restaurant where she had lunch with her mom. Never when you two were together. I think it was because of the limo.”
“So, Alicia is still the focal point?” asked Patrick.
“So far and we need to keep it that way.”
“Has he made any move toward your mate?”
“Not yet. No one seems to know that she has changed. The longer we can keep that under wraps I think the better we might be.”
“Alicia has always been around us. Her new scent is extremely subtle so as long as she is surrounded by other werewolves no one will know she has changed.” The moment Stacey spoke she realized she said something the two men didn’t know. They turned to look at her.
“Then you can detect a scent?”
“Ever so slight.”
“How come I can’t?” asked Max.
“In our society a female might be responsible for all the cubs in a pack. She is also responsible for noticing who is attracted to whom. Our noses are more sensitive to the nuances. The little things that a mother or a mate might pick up on.”
“But I’m her mate.”
“And you’d know her scent if you were blindfolded and stuffed into a room filled with people. You’d be able to find her without fail. If you were forced into a situation where you had to, you would always find your mate. Her scent has changed, but overall the subtle change doesn’t change your scent as a couple. The one that shows you’re mated. In a group of werewolves, she would still read as your mate. Just like she did before she used the Tears. But on a one on one situation, a female would pick up the new scent.”
“Can you prove this?”
“It would have to be someone who knew her before.”
“Like my sister?”
“Or Sonora,” Stacey added.
“Sonora? She is local and as much as she avoids the rest of us she likes Alicia.” Max picked up the phone.
“Um, sir? Perhaps it would be better if Alicia contacts her?” Stacey spoke softly, afraid Max would tell her to shut up and be quiet.
“You’re right.”
She blinked. Max said she was right.
“Can you arrange that?”
She nodded. Her lips curled up into a soft smile.
***
Alicia picked up her phone on the third ring. She looked at the number and took a deep breath. “Yes?”
“It’s me.”
“Oh, Stacey, thank goodness. I was afraid it was Max. He’s called me several times today to make sure I’m fine.”
“Um, have you contacted Sonora and invited her to the wedding.”
“No. I wasn’t sure how to handle that,” Alicia said. Sonora was the mate to the previous alpha of Max’s pack. She was the one who cried the Tears. “What would be proper?”
“I think this is all new territory, but I know she trusts you and is probably expecting something. If you don’t tell her yourself you could hurt her feelings.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.” When she and Max were searching for the Tears, Sonora had one and she trusted Alicia enough to give it to her. If she upset Sonora by not inviting her to the wedding, she could lose that trust and alienate the woman. Sonora still believed that Max’s pack no longer respected her and went out of their way to avoid her. It wouldn’t take much for Sonora to turn her back on all of them and Alicia didn’t want to see that happen.
“You could invite her to lunch,” said Stacey.
“Good idea. Will you come with me? I mean it is the two of us doing this.”
“Um, I’m not sure if I should. She barely knows me.”
“I’d feel better.” Alicia switched her phone to a different ear. “Please?”
“All right.”
***
Alicia walked into the restaurant Sonora recommended. The woman in question was already there waiting. Stacey came with her, but she was reluctant and trailed behind her.
“Alicia.” Sonora stood and took her hands. They pretended to kiss each other’s cheeks then sat down. “I was surprised to hear from you.”
“I know and I’m sorry. I should have contacted you weeks ago.” Alicia gestured to Stacey. “You remember my assistant?”
“I see she still follows you everywhere. Is she your guard dog now?”
“I don’t need a guard dog.” Alicia looked Sonora in the eyes. “But perhaps you might need a muzzle.”
Sonora busted up laughing. “You never play coy with me. I think that is what I like most about you.”
Alicia grinned. She knew Sonora was being rude on purpose. She wanted Alicia to show she wasn’t afraid of her.
“Is Max treating you well?” Sonora sat down and gestured for the two women to join her.
“He’s wonderful.” Alicia adjusted herself in her seat. “Even when we fight.”
“Good. He needs someone to keep him on his toes.” A waiter came by and set glasses of water on the table for them before giving Alicia and Stacey menus. “So what brings you here? To me?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard about the marriage.”
“Oh? You’re getting married?”
“Oh, cut the crap, Sonora. I know you keep tabs on us. You probably know about Dom too.”
“Ugly little man.”
“I agree.” She set the menu down, signaling the waiter. They quickly gave their orders. “I don’t know how you feel about human marriages, but I wanted to invite you. You are family.”
“How does Max’s family feel about this?”
“It’s not their decision.”
“I’m not sure I’ll feel comfortable.”
“You know I would never force you into something you don’t want to do, but I don’t want you to think anyone is trying to alienate you.”
“And the Tears?”
“Can’t be used against you.”
“What?” She looked at Alicia.
“Yeah, um, the Tears talk to me. You know that. They let me know that no one can be forced into using them.”
“So my fears were unfounded.”
“You didn’t feel you could trust Max’s pack. That wasn’t fear.” Alicia touched her hand. “And I don’t blame you.”
“You are the only one who understands me.” She tilted her head to the side. “There is something different about you.”
“Happy to be getting married?”
“No.” She shook her head. “You’re not pregnant.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You don’t carry the scent mothers-to-be have.”
Alicia looked at Stacey. “How come I never heard this until now? Max is going to know the moment I become pregnant?”
“Not the moment, but he’ll notice something different about you.”
“Great. He’ll probably know before I do.”
“Men don’t have a discerning nose. They miss the nuances.” Sonora picked up her drink. “Knowing Max, he’ll probably be clueless, but his sister…”
“I know.” Alicia sighed. “She will be at the wedding.”
“The pack is coming?”
“Yep.” Alicia said. “And my family.”
Sonora started laughing. “Now that would be interesting. How many of your family know?”
“Mom and Dad. I don’t know about anyone else.”
“I just can’t put my finger on it.” Sonora continued to watch her.
“Can’t put your finger on what?”
“What’s different about you.” Then her eyes widened. “You used the Tears?”
Alicia looked at her. She knew this place was a safe place for werewolves, but she didn’t trust anyone. She gave a slight nod.
“Prove it.”
“Thanks for taking me at my word.” She pulled the necklace out of her pocket. She carried it everywhere now. The white diamonds glittered in her hand.
“Very pretty, but that doesn’t prove anything,”
“Hold them.”
Sonora huffed as she took the necklace. Shock filled her face as the stones changed to the red she knew so well. “When?”
“A couple of days ago.”
“Has anyone taught you anything useful?”
“I’d like to think so.”
“How to pitch your voice?” Sonora changed her tone so only Alicia could hear it.
“Max said to think of the person I wish to speak to and that does seem to work.”
“Neanderthal.” Sonora touched her hand. “Clear your mind and focus on your voice. Then focus on one person. Try your assistant, just say her name like she is the only person you want to talk to.”
Alicia shifted in her seat.
“Don’t look at her. That would be a signal for her to pay attention.” Sonora sat forward. “Look at me and call her into this conversation.”
“Okay.” Alicia looked at Sonora but focused her mind on Stacey. “Stacey.”
“Yes, Alicia?” She sat forward as well.
“See?” Sonora sat back.
“Sonora showed me how to bring you into our conversation.”
“Okay.” She looked at Sonora who just smiled.
“I would love to see your wolf.”
“Oh, well, then I might as well tell you so you can join the rest in staring at the anomaly. I’m white, no color in my fur.”
“That’s not unusual in the beginning.”
“Yeah, but Max said color normally shows up within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I did this Saturday night.” Alicia sighed. “So now I’m reading everything I can on the white wolf legend.”
“You have this thing for legends, don’t you?”
Alicia laughed. “Not on purpose.”
“I’d love to come to your wedding, but I sit on your side of the aisle. I’m there for you, not Max.”
“Thank you. Stacey will make sure you get all the details.”
***
Alicia sat in Sonora’s office the next day. Stacey sat beside her. Sonora didn’t want anyone else to join them until Alicia explained that Stacey probably hadn’t learned the things she should know as Patrick’s mate.
“I bet Max wasn’t happy to find out that I wanted to teach you a few of the more feminine things you need to learn.”
“I know you think Max will never give you the respect you deserve but he was happy you want to take me under your wing. He knew there were things he can’t teach me.”
“Let’s go to the roof.”
“Okay.” Alicia didn’t know what to expect but when they stepped out of Sonora’s private elevator she didn’t expect such a beautiful lush garden. “This is wonderful.”
“I come here to decompress. It was built years ago, and I had people tend to it, but I never used it until the last few months.”
“Thank you for sharing it with us.” Alicia knew this was a big step for Sonora. Opening this to them showed how much she trusted Alicia.
“First, let me see your wolf.” Sonora undressed and shifted waiting for the other two to do the same.
Stacey was next, leaving Alicia standing.
“You know this isn’t easy for me.”
Sonora yawned and laid her head down.
“Okay, okay.” Alicia removed her clothes and shifted. She was getting fairly good at it.
Sonora got up and trotted around Alicia in her wolf form, sniffing at certain times. She did the same with Stacey.
“Alicia, you need to do the same thing. Move around me and Stacey. Let things catch your attention. Use your nose to pick up scents and smells. Nothing you notice is wrong and you’re not looking for anything in particular, I just want to see what you pick up as a wolf. Then, Stacey, I want you to do the same thing.”
Alicia was hesitant. She took a few steps toward Sonora before she stopped. She sat and tried to speak but the only thing that came out was a whine.
“So the first thing I’ll teach you is to speak in this form.” Sonora came to her and put her nose under Alicia’s. She lifted it as she looked Alicia in the eyes. “Pretend you don’t know me and you need to learn quickly.”
Alicia stood up on all fours and did as Sonora asked. She moved around her and sniffed as she found a scent or aroma that caught her attention. She did the same with Stacey who looked just as frightened as she felt. There was something different about her. A new scent she couldn’t place right away.
Once Stacey was done Sonora shifted back and dressed. Alicia and Stacey followed suit.
“So what did you notice about me?”
“You dye your hair. I could smell the chemicals.”
“I dyed one section. She showed a patch of blue in the lower layers of her hair. “It doesn’t show when I shift.” Sonora smiled. “The first time I did it I died this strip.” She touched a strand of hair near her temple. “When I shifted all the fur around my face was blue. My little betas didn’t know how to tell me so all they really did was stare at me like I had grown a third eye. I had to find a mirror to see what the problem was.”
“I bet that was a sight.”
“I did this for you to see how sharp your nose was. I’m glad you picked it up.”
Stacey had been quiet so Sonora asked her if she noticed it.
“Not really. I noticed an odd scent but didn’t know what it was.”
“How many people have you been around who would dye their hair? Humans do it all the time and there is a particular smell. Just like when someone gets a perm. I doubt a werewolf would do it because of how it would show up when they shifted.” Alicia started to laugh when she started to imagine what Max would look like with curly hair. Tears started rolling down her eyes as the image grew.
“Are you all right?” asked Stacey.
“Yeah.” She shook her head as she calmed her laughter down. “I just keep seeing Max looking like a sheep because he got a perm then shifted.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “I’m sorry. I can’t stop thinking about that.”
“Okay what else did you notice?” asked Sonora, trying to make her focus on what she picked up.
“You had coffee with cream recently and I think you had eggs Benedict for breakfast.”
“I did. Now, did you notice anything about Stacey?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know what it is.”
“What did you notice about me?” asked Stacey.
“There’s a different scent surrounding you that I didn’t notice before. It’s not your fear or your love for Patrick. It’s not the scent you share either.”
“Use your memory on what you’re picking up. What does it remind you of?”
“Oh, um, not sure. I keep thinking about a co-worker from several years ago. She left the company when she had a child but… Oh my god! You’re pregnant!”
***
Stacey stared at Alicia. “No, I can’t be.”
“It makes sense.” Alicia looked at Sonora for back up.
“You do have a new scent and I thought the same thing. A seer would be able to tell for sure.”
“I can’t get pregnant before you.”
“Stacey.” Laughter laced Alicia’s voice. “You can’t control something like this.”
“But Max is the alpha. It is expected that he sire children first.”
“That is the old way of thinking. I am his mate and I want you to be happy about this. You should be filled with joy, not upset because you got pregnant before me.”
“I am happy and scared. This wasn’t supposed to happen though. What if Dom finds out? He’ll kill my mate over this. Before, before I could have said he was a dalliance. As long as he didn’t go near Patrick he would have believed me.”
“Sooner or later he would have figured out you had mated,” Sonora commented.
“Yes, but Patrick would be safe.”
“Ah, and how would Patrick feel to know you would lie to Dom to protect him?” asked Alicia.
“He’d be mad.”
“You’d hurt his little werewolf pride,” said Sonora. “Their desire to protect is in their DNA. If you had tried to keep him safe you would have caused more damage than you wanted. Patrick is alpha. He just is faithful to Max for reasons I can’t fathom.”
“Because he and Max grew up together? You know the best friend thing?” prompted Alicia.
“Max didn’t even want to be alpha. Did he ever tell you that?”
“Yeah,” Alicia answered. “His family pushed him to be the leader of the pack so much he didn’t want to do it. Patrick and Catherine were the ones who convinced him. It was one of the reasons he came to the United States. He wanted to do what he wanted and knew he couldn’t do it in Ireland.”
“Why didn’t Patrick want to be alpha?” asked Sonora.
“That I can’t answer, but from what I’ve gleaned from conversations is that Max is more than an alpha for the pack. Every once in a while a male is born who is extremely powerful. They are stronger, run faster, are more charismatic. Max is one of those alphas. He did what you did Sonora, created a successful company but he did it in a noticeably short time. He also hired as many werewolves as he could. He knew how hard it was for them to work side by side with humans and not raise suspicion. The moment he did that the council went to Patrick. They laid everything out, including allowing Max the ability to do things his way.
“And now he runs a multimillion-dollar corporation and is in control of more than a dozen packs without interfering with their personal dynamic. No other alpha would have been able to do that. But enough about Max.” Alicia looked at Stacey. “Now you need to tell Patrick.”
“First, I need to be sure you’re right.”
“Okay. So do you know a seer in the area?”
“My mom,” Stacey answered.
“Oh dear.”