Chapter 43

Agnes was waking up slowly, when she realized that she was not exactly lying on a mattress, but across a masculine, hairy chest. Trying not to move too quickly, she levered herself up. As she was leaving the bed, Graeham awakened.

He watched her through slitted eyes. She crept out of his bedroom as quietly as possible, closing his door. He assumed she returned to her room. Knowing that he needed to speak to her, he got up and followed her out of the room and into the sitting area.

She was on the suite phone, ordering them breakfast. She smiled at him while speaking to the kitchen about their order before finishing the call. Placing the phone back on the cradle, she looked up at him and said, "I'm sorry. I tried to be quiet when I left the room. I didn't mean to wake you up."

Sitting on the sofa next to her, he just looked at her. Then he smiled.

"That was the best night's sleep I have had in years. Thank you." Leaning in, he kissed and said, "I'm going to shower and get some clothes on. We'll be leaving and headed back to the mountains and the bear clan." Leaving her, he went to his bedroom.

Agnes took the time to go and get dressed herself and fix her hair, while she was waiting on their breakfast to be delivered.

Going to the closet, she looked through the obscene amount of clothes that Miney had picked out for and paid for with Graeham's card. Seeing a pair of tan linen trousers and a matching top. Pulling out a pair of glittery pair of expensive sandals, she slid her feet into them and left the room just in time to hear the knock on their suite door.

A waiter came in pushing a cart. Looking at her with a sneer, he looked her up and down.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked the man.

"I was just trying to figure out how much you cost?"

"Excuse me!"

"You heard me. How much for a night? Whore like you, willing to sell yourself for a few nights of luxury with a rich man." Agnes was so angry. Tears of rage welled up in her eyes. Drawing back, she was getting ready to smack the smart ass little man, when a gentle hand grasped her wrist.

"Don't do it love. Little shit isn't worth it." Graeham walked over to the suite phone and called the direct number of the hotel manager, Bennett Travers. "Hello

Bennett, It's Graeham." He nodded, "My family and I have enjoyed your hotel tremendously, with one exception. The waiter that just brought our room service. He propositioned my fiancé in a rather vulgar manner. I believe he offered her money." Looking over at the man and pinning him with a stare, "Yes, I most certainly will. Thank you, Bennett."

Walking over to the waiter, Graeham snatched the bill out of his hand and pointed to the door. "Mr. Travers would like to see you in his office. Immediately!"

The nasty man was leaving as Charlotte and Jaxson were entering through the suite door that had been left open by the waiter.

Charlotte took one look at Agnes and her grandfather and could almost figure it out. Agnes looked shattered and her grandfather looked ready to explode.

"Did that little shit proposition you, Agnes?" she asked quietly.

When Agnes lifted her eyes to look at Charlotte, they were full of tears and they were spilling over to run down her face.

Charlotte felt her heart turn over. Agnes was a sweet and gentle woman, and didn't deserve to have that happen to her. Walking over to her, she wrapped her arms around her and just simply hugged her.

Hearing movement behind her, she knew Miney and Amber had joined them along with Rio and Anders.

"I'm sorry Agnes. I never thought something like this would happen. This is the most prestigious hotel in Knoxville. I never would have dreamed that someone would act like that." Walking over to the two women, he pulled Agnes away from his granddaughter and into his own arms. He wrapped one arm around her waist and cradled her head with the other.

She was shaking, she was so upset.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I have sworn to protect you and I failed. I wasn't here when you needed me. I'm so sorry." Graeham kept repeating over and over.

Charlotte stood amazed at the picture before her. Her grandfather was essentially groveling to the woman in his arms while placing small kisses all over her cheeks and forehead.

After a few minutes, when Agnes had calmed down, she gently pulled herself out of Graehams arms. Lifting her head, she looked at the man who had already pledged so much to her. He was completely tormented by what he perceived as his failure to protect and shield her. Smiling up at him, she placed one hand on the side of his face.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. There is something of an age difference between us. People are going to assume. We both knew that, even though we didn't discuss it." Reaching up, she wiped her tears and said, "It didn't hurt me, Graeham. It filled me with rage. That little troll actually thought that he could afford me." Realizing what she said, she blushed and her mouth formed an O. When it clicked in Graeham's brain, he stopped and stilled completely and then, he started laughing.

"Troll, huh? No, that little twerp couldn't afford you. A real lady is a treasure and as such, is priceless. So no, he couldn't afford you, my dear." Leading her over to the sofa, he sat them both down and Charlotte followed with the cart.

"Should we order more food?" She asked.

"No need. Agnes ordered enough for all of us. I believe she was going to call all of you to have breakfast with us." Indeed, the cart that he indicated was indeed laden with food. There were three coffee pots and several pitchers of cream for the coffee.

Agnes reached for the stack of plates to pass them around. Graeham took them from her and sat them back down. Taking one plate, he fixed a plate and handed it to her and then poured her coffee and fixed it just like she liked it. She was really impressed. She had never seen a man pay that much attention to what a person ate or drank.

Graeham, knowing that he had surprised Agnes, smiled and then leaned in to kiss her on the tip of her nose.

"What are we doing today, Granddad?"

We are driving back to the mountains. I know you would probably prefer the helicopters. But, I have more security teams joining us there and they will stay with us until about a week after the Ceremonies and weddings." Looking around, he sees that Anders, Jaxson and Rio agree with him.

"Has anyone figured out what the best way to do this will be?" he asked.

Anders put down his coffee and nodded. "I thought it best to have Rio and Amber's wedding and then Jaxson and Charlotte's wedding. Then the next day, we can do the Beta ceremony and then the Alpha ceremony. After that, we can do the reveal during the banquet. That way, it's done and out of the way, and if the two couples want to take a honeymoon. But, I believe you and I are of the same mind there, Graeham. I would be more comfortable if they each take a security team with them if they do go."

"Well, Anders, I like the way that sounds. However, it's not my Beta or my Alpha ceremonies, or my wedding or receptions. I agree that the security teams for

honeymoons are a great idea, though." Looking over at the brothers, Graeham asked, "What do you boys think?"

Jaxson looked at Rio and then they looked at their mates. "Charlotte, as far as I am concerned, you have the final say about our wedding and the Alpha ceremony. Are you okay with the scenario that Dad suggested?"

"I'm okay with it. But, we aren't the only couple getting married or having a ceremony." Looking over at Rio and Amber, Charlotte indicated to them to ask them what they thought.

"I'm okay with it." Turning to her mate, she asked, "What do you think about it, Rio? Are you okay with how your dad has laid out that day or days?"

"I actually think it would be ideal to do it the way Dad suggested and over two days. We could do the weddings together on one day and a reception. Then the next day, the Beta ceremony followed by the Alpha ceremony. And Jaxson can finally mark his mate." Rio replied with a smirk.

"We can't afford for Charlotte to go into heat just yet. We need all of our wits about us." Jaxson growled.

"Will I though? Go into heat?" she asked him.

Jaxson looked down at her, and leaned in to kiss her. "Most likely. As an Alpha, even though I was not born Alpha, but assigned, it still will happen within days

of marking you. You will be extremely uncomfortable especially if I am not around to ease it."

Rio cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Well, during the Alpha ceremony, we can do the reveal. But, I don't know if you will like the way it really needs to be handled."

Graeham looked at Rio and asked, "What exactly are you talking about, Rio?"

"Well, when we shift, if we are wearing any clothes, they will be shredded. The only sensible answer is to do it naked. But, I don't want to stand like that in front of everyone in the clan and on streaming TV. I was thinking maybe a loincloth of some kind. So that when are standing on stage, we are covered and not showing everyone everything we are born with." Jaxson nodded, liking the idea.

"You boys know that years ago, and even in some areas today, ceremonies are done nude. Both the Alpha, Beta and their mates. Human or not." Anders informed them.

Charlotte and Amber looked at each other, then at their father-in-law in horror and both replied at the same time. "Loincloths."

Turning to look at each other, they laughed together. Then Charlotte had an idea.

"Hey, Granddad? Got a question for you."

Graeham, seeing the look on Charlotte's face, was wary and replied, "What is it?"

"Why don't you and Agnes get married too? You know the press would love it and eat that up," she said, grinning.

"I would love to. But, I don't think Agnes is ready for that just yet."

Graeham would have loved to show the world just how much he loved Agnes. Loved? Did he really love her? He was not one to over-analyze his own thoughts and emotions. Never had been. But with Agnes, it was different. She was different and she made him feel different.

Agnes had been watching Graeham. He had been quiet for a few minutes. She knew that he was turning something over in his mind, and she felt like she had a good idea as to what it was.

"I'm not ready for something like that. I don't know if I ever will be. I have never been in the public eye and wouldn't know how to live like that."

Charlotte looked at the woman who was quickly gaining a foothold in her heart. "It's okay, Agnes. None of us like living in a fish bowl, with the world watching our every move. It's just who we are. The paparazzi will always be present. Especially in certain situations. They never really go away. The only reason they aren't here is because Granddad has kept a very low profile this trip." She watched as Agnes digested this information. "In fact, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they weren't hanging around the hotel waiting for us to come out. Most likely, some will actually follow us home. However, things will change soon and the spotlight will be taken off of you and placed of the four of us." Pointing to herself, Jaxson, Rio and Amber.