Chapter 55

It was time for dinner and time to meet the mysterious someone that his dad had invited to join them. Jaxson was not real happy about exposing Charlotte to any other shifter. She was unique and somewhat of a mystery, herself. However, Jaxson was a little anxious about meeting this 'someone' his dad wanted him and Charlotte to meet. Dinner dress was a casual affair for them, so after his shower, he pulled on fresh jeans and a short sleeve button down shirt in navy blue. He slipped his feet into a pair of leather deck shoes.

Charlotte came out of the bathroom and walked into their closet. Getting her clothes, she got dressed. She also pulled on a pair of jeans after laughingly batting away Jaxson's hands. Having seen her put on a tiny almost nonexistent and barely there thong, it was a struggle to keep her clothes on, let alone put more on.

Laughing, Charlotte batted away his hands as he once again tried to grab her hips.

"Jaxson, stop. We have a guest at dinner. We cannot be late."

Grabbing her graphic t-shirt, she pulled it on over her head, leaving Jaxson looking like a kid that someone stole their candy. Laughing at the picture he presented, she slipped her feet into her own shoes and then grabbed his hands and they left their suite to go downstairs and meet their guest.

Standing in the dining room, talking to his mom was his great-aunt. The woman looked like she hadn't aged in years. Twenty years ago when he was a teenager, she was in her sixties. As far as he could tell, she hadn't changed a bit.

Turning to watch he and Charlotte enter the room. Belinda eyed the woman up and down. from the hair on her head to the shoes on her feet. She noticed several things at once. She moved with the same animal grace that all shifters moved with. She radiated strength. She didn't know who or what she was.

Her father's parents had been her and her mate's friends. Their son, who could only be Charlotte's father, had had a bitter disagreement about an arranged mating. A mating that Lucas had refused, the mating had caused his dad to disown him and Lucas had left their pack.

Walking up to Charlotte, Belinda offered her hand to shake, when the Alpha did something unexpected. He stepped in between them to stop the action.

"Jaxson!" exclaimed Charlotte in a surprised tone.

"She wants something. I'm not sure what it is, but I know it's something big. What do you want Elder?"

"Elder?" Charlotte asked.

"Yeah. An Elder from the Council. She's here to check you out. That much I do know. What else are you here for, Belinda?" Jaxson said.

"Son! That's enough. Belinda is my guest and as such you need to treat her with respect. If nothing else, then because she is a member of the shifter worldwide council."

"Perhaps, but this is my home. As Alpha, I demand that her reasons be revealed. I will not have council politics at my table or in my home. Nor will my mate be the subject of those politics. I refuse to allow it." Jaxson was growling and his bear was coming out.

Charlotte stepped up in front of him and placed one hand on his chest and the other on cupped his cheek.

"Bear, I am safe. How could I not be? I am with you. You have always protected me." She whispered to him.

Bear reached out his overly large partially shifted paws and grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. "Mate, our cub needs to be safe. Guard you and cub."

Anders stepped between the couple and the Elder. "Jaxson, take your mate into the dining room and have a seat. We will join you when you settle down."

Rio and Amber stepped up to the older woman. "Council Elder or not, you will reveal what you know. Whether you want to or not. Or I will call the Council and denounce our membership."

The woman nodded. "The information that I have will cause a great deal of dissension with the young Alpha's mate. She has no idea who or what she is. That is all I am here for. To give her the family history that she desires that she doesn't have." Turning to Graeham, she said, "Mr. Frazier, I have knowledge of Charlotte's father, your daughter's mate and husband."

Rio looked over at Charlotte's grandfather and for the first time since they met, he saw shock on his face.

"Anders, please bring everyone else in." Charlotte said softly.

Anders indicated that everyone follow him into the dining room. Everyone sat in their seats and Jamie and the other servants began serving the first course. the crisp, cold salad with cold dressing. The second course followed. Tender and juicy steak with baked sweet potatoes. The bread and whipped honey butter that was served with it was so delicious. The third and final course was wonderfully rich and satisfying chocolate cake with fluffy and rich chocolate icing.

"Jamie, you always make the best desserts for us. Thank you," Charlotte told the woman, smiling.

"Thank you, Luna. I love feeding your sweet tooth. The Alpha tells me what you might be craving that day and I do my best to make." The cook and head of the servants replied to her Luna.

"You are so like your father, Luna. He was a very gracious man. He would have been a great Alpha." The Elder said.

"You knew my father?" Charlotte asked. Rio and Jaxson growled low.

"Let's take this into my office, Sweet Mate." Jaxson said, cutting off the conversation.

The Elder nodded. She understood what he was trying to do. Once again, he was protecting her. Belinda had heard the stories.

"Jamie, would you like some help?" Miney asked.

Shaking her head, she replied with a smile, "No ma'am. However your offer is appreciated." Directing the servants, the table was cleared and the dining room set to rights in no time. She watched the group going in the direction of the Alpha's office. She knew without being told that the Luna was some kind of shifter. To her, it was obvious.

When everyone was gathered in Jaxson's office, there wasn't a single empty seat, with Charlotte sitting on his lap.

"Speak, Elder." He commanded.

"Charlotte's family line is one of the oldest in Europe. They were some of the first. Their wolves were some of Selene's favorite children. The pack was the loup-garou supreme. Their line was produced the Alpha of all Alphas. When Lucas was small, he began his training as an alpha. His brother was a spare, but because his father didn't believe in leaving anything to chance, Alain, his brother, was also trained. Good thing too, because Lucas refused the arranged mating that his father set up for him. He said that only his real mate would make him a strong wolf and a better Alpha. Human or shifter, he didn't care. When he met your mother, Charlotte, it was instant love. Even your mother understood that he was powerful. After they had you, they were going to go back to his pack and take over. But, fate intervened and they were killed in a freak accident."

Graeham was shocked. He had never suspected. Never realized. He had never met Lucas before that day at the hospital when he had been introduced to his precious granddaughter.

"You mean, Charlotte is the heir to the European pack?" Rio asked, stupefied.

"No. When Lucas refused the arranged mating, his brother took her as a mate. It happened that it was his actual mate, so he was very happy to have her. When Lucas and Jackie died in that accident, Alain took over as Alpha. He will be here for your ceremonies and weddings. I wanted you to be prepared. I have brought pictures of your aunt and uncle as well as your cousins. You, Charlotte, are a shifter princess."

The shock that she wore on her face said it all.

"But, I don't want to rule Europe. I'm content here in the Smokey's." Charlotte murmured.

Belinda stood up and pulled out a phone and called a number. The person who answered spoke French and had a deep voice. "Oui?"

"Alain, I have found your niece. She is the Luna of the Smokey Mountain pack."

"Tres bonn. How is she?" The disembodied voice asked.

"She is well. Her Alpha is a big man. A bear, if I am not mistaken." Belinda replied.

"A bear?" Was the response.

"Yes, a bear, and what's wrong with that? My mate's pack is made up of bears, wolves, cats and foxes."

"Ahh Charlotte, sassy. So like our mother. Father will be pleased. But come, let us speak of these things."

To Charlotte, it sounded like an order, and she responded to it the way she normally would.

"You can be a lot more pleasant and ask instead of demanding. Now. This conversation is over. I will see you in two days time at my wedding and Alpha ceremony. Or don't come, your choice." Charlotte reached over and took the cell phone out of the elder's hand and disconnected the call.

"That's my Charley. I was beginning to think that her sassy attitude had disappeared." Rio said, with a smile.

Looking at the Elder, Charlotte said, "You may stay in the motel in town. Our house will be reserved for family members only." She nodded to Rio and Amber and they escorted the woman out of the the house and down the street to the motel where she had once stayed. The rooms were clean and well maintained, so it shouldn't be a problem.

"Charlotte, that might have been a bad move, politically," Anders said.

"I don't care, Anders. They have known about me for my entire life. Not once have they ever stepped forward with that information. That is, until it suited them and they stood to gain something from it. No. I'm not going to be sorry that I did that. This is my life, and while I was secure in the love of my grandparents growing up, knowing where I came from would have been a wonderful thing, in itself. But, they denied me that, until they thought they would gain something by it. As I sit here, I would love for you to deny it."

"I can't, little daughter. I would love to. But, you're right, I cannot. This puts me in a rather delicate position, both with my family and the council. This will not be the last we hear of them. Mark my words. They want something from you. Jaxson, Charlotte, I am so very sorry that I brought this to your home." Anders said, letting his head hang.

Getting down from Jaxson's lap where she had returned after the phone call, Charlotte walked over to Anders and hugged him.

"You thought you were doing the right thing, How can I be upset with you about that?"

The shock that she wore on her face said it all.

"But, I don't want to rule Europe. I'm content here in the Smokey's." Charlotte murmured.

"Not to worry, young lady. No one will take you away from us." Anders said.

Charlotte ran to her mother figure, her mate's mother and flung her arms around her. "I don't want to go anywhere, Momma Miney." she said with tears in her eyes.