The afternoon was crawling by for Rheia. Colton dropped her off and headed back to the clinic. His parting kiss had scorched her, sending shivers of excitement through her. Grinning like an idiot he got back in the car and drove off, leaving her to feel frustrated and on edge.
She was now relaxing with Meryn and Beth in the family room as Penny worked on her letters, when the doorbell rang. Looking at each other, they all got up and followed Meryn out into the foyer. Meryn opened the door and an irate stranger shouldered his way inside.
‘Where is it? Where is this necklace that was found?’ he demanded.
Beth stepped closer. ‘Elder Evreux, how nice to see you again.’
The Elder nodded at Beth and then his eyes traveled downward until he was looking at Penny. His lip curled. ‘How disturbing. Children like her always make me nauseous.’ Penny edged behind her as Rheia glared at the odious man.
Meryn stepped forward. ‘Elder, I’m afraid the necklace isn’t here. Aiden has it with him at the clinic.’
Elder Evreux looked down at Meryn and sneered. ‘I heard you were breeding. Gods only know why the world would want another version of you running around. You probably won’t be able to carry to term you know, most human shift pregnancies are dangerous.’
Meryn’s eyes filled with tears and she stepped back placing her hands over her stomach. Without even thinking Rheia reared back and punched the man as hard as she could, aiming for his nose. When she heard a crunching sound she smiled.
The Elder spun around and hissed at her. He took a step forward and was brought up by an incandescent Ryuu. The squire had a faint blue glow surrounding him. He placed his body directly between the Elder and the women.
‘Elder, I suggest that you leave. I will let the Unit Commander know that you were inquiring about the necklace. But for future visits, please call ahead and make arrangements with me, personally.’ Ryuu seemed to swell, his presence filling the foyer.
‘Elder McKenzie will hear about this!’ he said threateningly. When it seemed that Ryuu was about to step towards him, the Elder turned and left.
‘I am not going to lose my baby!’ Meryn wailed.
Rheia turned to her. ‘Of course you aren’t, I’m here now and I don’t make it a habit of losing patients.’
Beth took out her cell phone and brought it to her ear. She didn’t even give him a chance to say hello.
‘Uncle, you will probably be getting a phone call from Elder Evreux about an assault charge, don’t even bother listening to his drivel, he completely deserved it. In fact, he’s lucky I didn’t hit him myself! No.. I don’t care about his station. You shorten his choke collar Uncle, or I will!’ Beth stabbed her finger at her phone ending the call, her normally creamy cheeks flushed pink.
Ryuu steered Meryn and Beth into Aiden’s office. ‘Why don’t you two work on your projects, that should take your minds off of things. I’ll bring in some tea later.’
Penny pointed to her wall and Rheia nodded.
Meryn sniffled as she turned on her laptop. ‘Fucking douchebag.’
After all of the afternoon’s excitement she didn’t know what to do with herself. She walked around and found her way to the kitchen. At home when she felt discombobulated, she always did the dishes. She looked around the kitchen and sighed, it was immaculate, every surface gleamed.
Ryuu walked in from a back room holding a pad and pen. He looked surprised to see her in his domain.
‘Was there something I could help you with?’
Rheia shrugged. ‘I’m feeling out of sorts and was hoping to find some dishes to wash so I could feel useful, but it looks like you clean just as well as you cook.’
His expression softened. ‘Why don’t you sit down, I’ll make us some tea.’ He pointed to the small table that held five chairs.
She sat down. ‘Why is there a table in here if everyone eats in the dining room?’
Ryuu put a kettle on to boil. ‘Because less than two months ago, only five men lived in this house. First Aiden found Meryn, or I should say Meryn crash landed in his life,’ he smiled, ‘Then Beth came. After Beth we got Jaxon and Noah, then you and Penny. This family is growing exponentially,’ he said smugly.
‘You seem pleased with the idea.’
Ryuu nodded. ‘The last family I served, I was with them until the last of their line drew breath. Then I found myself banned from my own country. I came to Lycaonia thinking this would be a good place to die. My kind, what I am, we have to be bound to service. Without a family to serve, I grow weak and begin to fade away. The larger this household, the more mates and children that live here, the better.’
‘Don’t you ever get tired of taking care of everyone?’ she asked, curious.
Ryuu shook his head. ‘It pleases me to serve others, especially someone as special as my denka.‘
Rheia had to grin, Meryn sure was special alright. ‘Thank you for all your help with Penny’s family.’
‘Family is important.’ He lifted the kettle and poured the hot water into a simple cream teapot, the smell of jasmine filled the air. He carefully poured two cups and set them on the table. He sat down next to her and took the second cup for himself.
‘Do you believe finding your mate results in an ‘instant love’?’ she asked. She’d been battling her feelings for Colton all day. Her body and her heart wanted him, craved him like a drug. Her mind, however, kept rejecting the idea that what she felt was love. It shouldn’t be so easy.
Ryuu sipped his tea. ‘I believe that matings induce the feelings one experiences when one falls in love. That rush one feels at the thought of seeing their mate, the overwhelming desire to touch and be touched, the realization that no one else in the entire world will ever suit them as perfectly. These are all things humans experience over a certain amount of time when finding a life partner. For paranormals, these feelings herald the knowledge that the person they are with are their pre-destined mate, that literally the person that they barely know will be the only person they will be with for the rest of their long lives.’
He paused, taking another sip of tea. ‘The feelings are real, but they aren’t true.’
She was about to ask him what he meant when he held up a finger smiling.
‘What you feel, the impatience, the desire, those feelings are real, however, they aren’t manifestations of a true love, that takes time. However, by the time the first flushes of the mating heat subside, you are truly in love with your mate. That is when the true heat begins. What you feel for them will intensify a thousand fold over the years, before the two of you move on to the next world.’
‘So what you feel is real, but it isn’t love, not yet. For those who don’t fight the mating heat at all, love can develop quickly. But for someone like you, someone who is used to working with facts and science, I have a feeling that it will be a defining moment. Now, if I can offer two pieces of advice?’ he asked. Rheia nodded spinning her teacup in her hands.
‘Don’t doubt Colton’s feelings for you. He didn’t fight the mating at all and I am almost one hundred percent certain that he is head over heels in love with you and your child already, that’s just how is he.’
Rheia took a deep breath. She had suspected as much; his sincerity and intensity was hard to fake. ‘What’s the other piece of advice?’
Ryuu set his cup of tea down and allowed himself to relax against the back of the chair. ‘Don’t doubt yourself. You’re a very intelligent woman; don’t doubt your inner voice. Your biggest battle won’t be falling in love with Colton; I think that battle is half lost as it is.’
Rheia snorted in agreement.
Ryuu chuckled, then sobered. ‘No, the biggest battle you will face will be admitting it to yourself that you do love him.’
‘Well damn.’ She set her cup down and sighed.
Ryuu took one final sip of tea and stood. ‘It’s time for me to start dinner. Please, don’t feel like I am expelling you from the kitchen. Quite the contrary, I find that I have enjoyed having tea with you.’ Smiling he gave her a half bow. ‘Thank you, Rheia.’
Rheia stood and gathered up her teacup. ‘So you won’t mind if I invade your kitchen every once in a while? At home, it was my place of solace.’ She carried the cup to the sink and set it down carefully.
‘I will even save you a dish or two to wash,’ Ryuu teased.
‘Speaking of dishes, I have a tea set that’s very precious to me, it was my mother’s. If I’m to live here, I’d like to find a safe place for it.’
‘Bring it down and I will care for it personally,’ Ryuu promised.
‘Thank you, Ryuu.’
‘Anytime.’
She walked out of the kitchen feeling better, but she knew she still had some things to work out for herself before she could give Colton any kind of definitive answer. She walked upstairs and went to Colton’s room. She opened the door and closed it behind her. Fighting a wave of homesickness she grabbed the cream knit throw from the bench at the end of the bed and wrapped herself in it. Padding over to the soft, light brown wingback chair that was by the window, she sat down and stared out.
What was she going to do?
*****
Colton scoured every inch of the clinic with Aiden; they had determined the ferals had entered through the opened windows of the morgue. The more they found out about this convoluted mess, the less they knew what was happening.
His wolf was constantly at the surface now. He would never tell Rheia how desperate he was to claim her. She was having a hard enough time accepting the fact they were mates. Even now, his wolf was torn between wanting to track down the threat to his family and his overwhelming desire to return to the estate to claim Rheia as his. He knew Aiden would never allow him to hunt alone and he had only known Rheia for a day, looked like he wasn’t going to be able to do either.
‘Colton, why don’t you head home? There’s not much else to do here. We’ll wrap up and be right behind you,’ Aiden said walking up behind him.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Go to your mate, you haven’t had a lot of time together, go get to know her.’ Aiden gave him a not so gentle push towards the exit.
‘See you at dinner.’ Colton gave him a salute and practically ran for the door.
The entire drive home all he could think about was Rheia. The kiss earlier had relaxed her quite a bit and her true, teasing personality has started to shine through. Colton wanted to peel away the layers until he found the Rheia she kept hidden.
Once at the house he parked her car out front where she could see it later. When he walked through the front door he looked around and listened carefully. He could hear Meryn, Beth, Jaxon and Noah in the office. The question now, was Penny with them or her mother?
Colton peeked his head into the office and saw Penny hard at work decorating Aiden’s wall. If he had his way, Aiden would never paint over her drawings. He wanted to keep them forever. She looked adorable sitting cross-legged on the floor, her tongue sticking out as she concentrated on her artwork.
‘Hey, Colton, if you’re looking for Rheia I think she went upstairs,’ Noah said looking up from his laptop.
‘Thanks, Noah.’ He turned and was about to leave when Jaxon called out to him.
‘Hey, Colton. We know you haven’t had, umm, time alone with your mate. So if Rheia’s comfortable with it, Penny can have a sleepover with Noah and me tonight,’ Jaxon offered.
Colton felt his heart skip a beat; these two might be his new best friends. Colton looked over to Penny. ‘What do you think princess? Would you like to have a sleepover with Jaxon and Noah?’ Penny looked at the two young men who were smiling at her and nodded. Colton wanted to jump up in the air and click his heels. ‘Okay, darling, I’ll let your mother know.’ He turned to Jaxon. ‘Thank you.’
Jaxon blushed slightly, though his grin was knowing. ‘We may be young, but we’re not monks.’
Colton laughed. ‘I hear that. Okay, I’m going to go find my mate.’
‘Toodles! Don’t do the things I wouldn’t do if they’re boring,’ Meryn called out. Colton nodded, then stopped.
Don’t do…
He turned back to her. ‘What?’
‘Have fun,’ Beth said nudging Meryn.
Colton winked at them and jogged up the stairs.
*****
Colton walked in and saw Rheia was sitting in his favorite chair in his reading nook by the window. Wrapped up in his large throw she looked small and vulnerable. He didn’t like the serious look on her face.
‘Is everything okay?’ he asked. He walked over and sat down in the other wingback chair next to the window. He loved the fact she had gravitated to his favorite spot in the room and wrapped herself in a blanket cover in his scent.
She turned to him, her blue eyes thoughtful. ‘I’m really going to have to move here, aren’t I?’
The sad look in her eyes hurt his heart. He would do anything to make her happy, even give up the Alpha Unit and move away, but that wouldn’t keep her or Penny safe.
‘Yes. It’s no longer safe for you outside of Lycaonia. To be honest, I’m not sure how safe it is here since the ferals have decided to learn new tricks, but at least here we have the other units to fall back on.’ He scooted his chair close to hers so he could reach out and take her hand. She smiled and gripped his hand like a lifeline.
‘I’ll call Radek tomorrow and tell him to start boxing up my stuff. I never thought I would ever leave that house. It’s the last tie I have to my parents.’ She dashed a tear from her cheek and looked at him, her bottom lip trembling. ‘I’m being silly, aren’t I?’ It broke Colton’s heart that she was trying so hard to appear strong, when he was the one person who could be strong for her. He was overwhelmed by the sudden need to show her how good they could be together.
Without saying word he stood and scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
He looked down and let what he was feeling show on his face. When her pupils dilated and he caught the faint scent of her arousal, he nearly groaned out loud. Breathing hard, he pressed his forehead to hers. ‘Tell me to stop and I will, but if you don’t, I am going to do my damnedest to show you how I feel. I know you’re giving up a lot to stay here with me. Let me show you it will be worth it.’
Her arms came up and circled his neck. She pulled back and looked up at him, eyes hesitant. Whatever she was about to say, she wasn’t sure of his reaction. Colton wanted to drive away every trace of doubt that, he needed to prove to he was hers, no matter what.
He smiled and nudged her nose with his own. ‘Whatever you want to say, just say it. Nothing you say or feel can be wrong.’
She took a deep breath. ‘I do want you to show me how good it can be between us, but I don’t think I’m ready to be claimed yet,’ she confessed.
Colton kept his smile frozen on his face. His wolf was already chomping at the bit to claim her, but he had a feeling if he pushed the issue, she would just pull back even further.
‘You’re mad aren’t you?’ she asked. The scent of her arousal began to diminish.
Colton shook his head. ‘No, it’s just that …’ He paused, trying to figure out the best way to phrase what he wanted to say. Somehow, he knew, ‘I may accidentally fuck you to death in an effort not to claim you.’ probably wouldn’t go over very well. ‘Without claiming you, the sex may be a little wild.’
Her eyes widened and his heart stopped when she gave him a sultry smile.
‘Challenge accepted,’ she said and leaned forward and bit his chest.
Growling, he tossed her onto the bed. His canines burst through his gums and he knew without looking his eyes would be the yellow color of his wolf.
‘Strip,’ he ordered, reaching for his own shirt.
She gave a startled gasp before she began to quickly undress. He was completely nude by the time she was down to her bra and panties. She hesitated and looked up at him. When her eyes landed on his groin she subconsciously licked her lips and he growled low in approval.
‘Do you want to suck my cock, baby?’ he asked as he started to stroke himself.
Her eyes followed his hand. She nodded, completely mesmerized by his movements.
‘Let me see your body, baby, show me how wet you are and I’ll give you a treat.’
Rheia raised a brow at him. Without breaking eye contact she reached behind her back and unsnapped her bra, letting the material fall away before she threw it over the side of the bed. Colton had to grip the base of his dick tight to keep from coming, her breasts were perfect. They weren’t high and perky like those fake human commercials. She was rounded and completely natural. He knew he could spend hours between her breasts and never tire of them. When she shimmied out of her panties, he nearly came undone.
Without hesitation, she opened her legs wide and pulled apart her tender folds. He could see that she was already dripping wet. When he looked up, he saw that she was biting her lip. Despite the sex kitten act she was nervous; she was the best of both worlds.
‘Do you have any idea what you do to me?’ he asked. He watched her shiver at his deep bass-filled voice. His wolf was truly at the surface now.
‘Please Colton, make me forget, even if it’s just for a little while. I just want it to be you and me,’ she pleaded.
He crawled onto the bed, moving slowly until he was kneeling between her legs. ‘Then I can do nothing less than give my mate what she wants. Now turn over and get on all fours.’
She looked at him, uncertain.
‘It will help me not to claim you, sweetheart,’ he explained.
Understanding filled her eyes. Grinning she turned over and raised her ass in the air. Unable to help himself he leaned forward and buried his nose against her slit.
‘Gods, baby, you smell like heaven. Later, when we have more time I am going to tongue fuck you until you beg me to stop, but I don’t think either of us wants that right now, do we?’ He reached forward and lightly traced her opening with two fingers. She moaned and pushed back against his hand.
‘So eager.’ He leaned forward and nipped her right cheek. She yelped but he noticed that the scent of her arousal got muskier. Grinning he did the same to the other cheek.
‘Colton,’ she moaned his name.
‘It’s gonna be fast and hard, baby.’ He couldn’t wait another second. He reached down, lined up the head of his cock and thrust hard. He placed his hand on her lower back for control and set a merciless pace. Beneath him she gasped for breath and groaned his name over and over again.
With his canines fully extended, every fiber in his being wanted him to lean over her and bury his teeth into the soft flesh of her neck, welding them together for all eternity. But he’d made her a promise, they would take this at her pace, the thought of breaking her trust was the only thing holding him back.
He felt his balls draw up and knew that he was close. Leaning forward slightly he reached around her hip and snaked his hand down to dip between her folds. He found her clit and fingered it roughly. She went wild and he felt her body clench around him. It was enough to send him over the edge, crying out he emptied himself deep inside of her.
Colton shook his head to focus; he had never come so hard in his life. Slowly, he pulled out of her and she slumped down onto the bed, she was gulping air. He slid off the bed and headed to the bathroom.
When he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he was shocked. His eyes remained yellow and his canines dangerously low. He ran the water in the sink until it was warm and splashed some on his face. He took several deep breaths and looked back up. His eyes were back to their normal color. He washed himself off and rinsed out the washcloth.
He chuckled when he saw that Rheia hadn’t moved an inch from where he’d left her. Walking to the foot of the bed, he started to get hard again watching his seed drip down the back of her legs. Gently he cleaned between her legs before placing a soft kiss over his two bite marks on her delectable ass.
He walked back to the bathroom, tossed the washcloth in the sink and returned to his mate. She was still on her stomach facedown in the covers. He pulled her onto her side and into the curve of his body.
‘That was amazing. I’ve never come like that before. Claiming me can’t get better than that.’ Rheia said turning her head slightly to look back at him.
He leaned down and whispered into her ear. ‘Challenge accepted.’
*****
When Colton and Rheia ended up being a no-show for lunch and dinner, Meryn and Beth sat the little girl between them during meal times. Meryn was afraid at first that Penny would be nervous without her mother, but she was soaking up the attention that Aiden and the rest of Alpha Unit heaped on her. It looked like she was used to being the center of attention when it came to her uncles. Aiden had even taken her upstairs to introduce her to his fish, Jaws.
After dinner, they all retired to the family room to wind down before bed. Noah and Jaxon were absorbed in their X-Box game. Normally Meryn would be right there with them, but she wanted to work on the personnel list before tomorrow.
‘I can’t believe ya’ll are teaching a four year old to play poker,’ Beth said in disbelief.
Meryn looked up from her laptop to see what shenanigans the men were up to. They’d set up a table in the family room and were currently explaining different hands to Penny. The men decided to play for candy and snacks instead of money, for Penny’s sake.
Meryn watched the girl’s eyes go from the cards to each of the men, before nodding. When she neatly stacked her ‘money’ into piles Meryn had to hide her smile.
‘So we’ll play one hand to practice okay?’ Keelan asked. Penny nodded.
Meryn shook her head; they’d figure it out eventually.
‘Wow, look guys Penny won that hand. Way to go, baby girl!’ Aiden announced proudly.
Meryn looked up and saw Penny was on her knees raking the candy pile over to her.
Meryn smiled and reviewed the short list of Vanguard warriors Aiden and Gavriel and compiled from memory. She’d have to get with Radek soon to get a more complete list.
‘Look at that, she won again. She’s too cute,’ Keelan said as Penny arranged her winnings in order from hard candy to chocolate.
Beth walked over holding the novel she’d been reading. Frowning, she sat next to Meryn.
She nodded her head in Penny’s direction. ‘She…’
‘Probably, yeah.’ Meryn nodded.
‘Do they realize…’
‘Nope.’
‘Are you going to tell them?’ Beth asked her eyes now filled with amusement.
Meryn turned to her and just stared blankly.
Beth sat back in her chair and brought her book up. ‘Yeah, me either.’
‘Okay that’s the eighth hand in a row, that can’t be beginner’s luck,’ Darian grumbled as Penny packed half her winnings away in her backpack, making room for more candy on the table.
The men stared at Penny who expertly shuffled the deck before dealing.
Aiden cleared his throat. ‘Penny, darlin, do you know how to play poker?’
Penny looked up and nodded and the men groaned.
Darian sat forward a devilish look on his face. ‘Okay sweetie, gloves are off. You’re going down.’
Half an hour later Meryn and Beth watched on as Gavriel and Penny faced off as the last two remaining players, staring at each other across the table without blinking.
Meryn held up her pen like a microphone. ‘We’re down to the professionals folks.’
‘Hey!’ Aiden, Darian and Keelan protested.
Meryn ignored them. ‘On this side of the table we have the epic vampire legend of the past two millennia and on the other, the stoic toddler.’ Beth and Meryn giggled.
‘I believe she is bluffing,’ Gavriel announced. ‘I call.’
Without changing expression, Penny laid her cards on the table. The men crowded around, their jaws dropping. Groaning, Gavriel dropped his head to the table.
‘She swept the table,’ Noah whispered in awe.
‘How old is she again?’ Jaxon asked.
The men all looked up and answered as one. ‘Four!’
