She poked her head into a large room furnished with an enormous wooden table and at least a dozen chairs and concluded it was a meeting area. The scent of several virile shifters still permeated the air and she hurriedly backed out, turning right to find an open living area leading into a good sized dining room. As with the second floor, everything was immaculate and the furniture and window coverings blended nicely. Not that she was any decorator, but it was pleasing to the eye. The kitchen must be across the way, and she followed the sound of conversation, picking out a male and female voice.
Squaring her shoulders, she advanced and found herself in an area worthy of a magazine spread, absolutely nothing like her kitchen at home. Chrome and stainless steel vied for a polished look and she thought the countertops were black granite. Gray cabinets stretched to the ceiling. She took it all in, in one awestruck sweep before the individuals occupying the space became silent and turned to stare.
“Hello.” As far as awkward went, it ranked right up there. The tall, statuesque female had to be Jett’s sister, with the same wintry eyes and ebony hair, only hers spilled down her back nearly to her hips. The male wolf hulked—there was no other way to describe him. Muscles bulked on muscles and made him look shorter than he probably was, and his bald pate was a surprise. Wolves were never hairless in human form, in her experience. She took a second to note that he had absolutely no interest in her and her relief made her light headed.
The female smiled widely, and it felt sincere, especially when she stepped forward and grabbed River’s hands, squeezing them gently. “You’ll be River! I’m Desiree. We knew Jett had gone to seek a mate, but he wasn’t certain one would be suitable. But you are! And you’re here!”
Compared to Desiree, who exuded supreme confidence, backed up by her gorgeous face and stunning body clad in an amazing royal blue dress and matching heels, River couldn’t hope to measure up. Why was the other woman so happy to see her?
“I am. River, that is. And I’m here.” Oh, clever. Make her think you’re a dullard too.
Desiree didn’t seem to notice, gesturing to the male. “This is Max. Fitting name, eh?” She giggled and it sounded like music. River laughed too and nodded at Max but kept her distance. One could never be too careful.
He nodded back and kept his. “Pleased to meet you. Jett left me here to keep watch. You and Desiree are to remain in the house with the doors and windows locked, the alarm on.”
“Okay.” Where had Jett gone and why did Max sound so annoyed that he’d been left? Jett had said business…
“Don’t scare her,” Desiree chided. “We’ll hang out inside and behave, though the pool looks inviting. You do your guard thing.”
The behemoth nodded again, naked scalp catching the overhead lighting, and ambled out of the room. Or maybe he was too big to amble. But he didn’t make a sound. River watched him go and breathed a sigh of relief.
“You okay?”
“Sure. I…” She debated putting it out there, used to keeping secrets, but this young woman seemed pretty nice and her earlier thought of finding an ally and confidant surfaced. “I’m uncomfortable around male wolves is all.”
Desiree nodded as if she understood. “Some of them warrant caution. Especially the rogues. And there are a few in our pack who can be disrespectful.”
River couldn’t help it. She snorted. Disrespectful. Hardly what she meant.
“Excuse me?” If a woman could wrinkle her brow and look enticing, it was Desiree.
“Sorry. I was thinking beyond disrespectful.”
“Like rogue behavior?”
“Is there a difference?”
Jett’s sister gaped—looking gorgeous doing it. “I would hope there’s a difference. Jeez, River. What goes on in your pack?”
Wishing she hadn’t opened the conversation, River shrugged. “The usual.”
“What’s the usual? I mean, Jericho is Jett’s sire and my brother hasn’t said anything untoward about that pack. Maybe he doesn’t know?”
“I didn’t want to mate. But I had no choice.”
“Sister, we need a drink for this discussion. C’mon, we’ll find an expensive bottle of wine from Jett’s cellar and have some girl talk.”
She followed Desiree to a small room with a heavy door. The walls were lined with racks of wine, and the temperature was obviously controlled. A huge fridge held dozens of other bottles, evident through the glass doors.
“Red or white?”
“Red.” She might not be as classy as Desiree but she knew a little about wines.
“Great. My preference too.” The other female ran a manicured finger along a rack and plucked a bottle free. “This one’s my favorite.”
They opened it at the island and poured big goblets full, and then carried them into the living area. Desiree dropped down on the end of a leather couch, pulling one long leg up beneath her and pointed to the other end. River set her glass down on the heavy wooden coffee table before taking her seat.
“So spill. I don’t think I’ve ever met a wolf who actually said she didn’t want to mate. Not a male wolf either.”
It was what Desiree inferred that caught River’s attention. Taking a sip of the robust liquid first, she swallowed slowly in appreciation. “So while you haven’t met one, you think there might be a few of us who don’t want to mate?”
“I’m sure of it, though Jett would strangle me if I said it out loud.”
River’s spirits drooped and she drank more wine. So her mate really did believe it was destiny, not that it mattered now. What was done was done. She’d been done. “Uh huh. He’s pretty adamant on the subject.”
“It’s more that he fears what will happen to those who leave the pack. You know, go rogue and end up in trouble, get tracked down and terminated. If they don’t agree to return to the pack. Or a pack.”
She hadn’t eaten for a while, and the wine made her head buzz. Wolves metabolized spirits quickly, so it had to be her empty belly. Regardless, she was overwhelmed at the idea she could have been considered rogue. Only males went rogue, didn’t they? “That’s antiquated thinking.”
Desiree considered her wine, peering into the glass. “I sometimes think so, except we’ve got a big problem right now with rogue wolves chipping away at different packs’ territory. Max told me they are taking females and I doubt that bodes well.”
River realized she needed to rethink some of her more recent choices. She still resented being claimed, particularly without even a rudimentary introduction, but it could have gone worse. And with a worse man. Her wolf purred at the thought of Jett and River clenched her thighs together. Not now.
Desiree was staring, a horrified look on her face. “Oh my gosh, River. How could I be so stupid?” She leaned over and snaffled the wine glass. “You’re still in heat, so you probably aren’t pregnant yet, but you need to be careful! Jett will kill me.”
“Your brother seems to possess a violent streak.” She couldn’t help being snarky, embarrassed by both Desiree’s observation and her own stupidity.
“Oh, he does, not that you’ll ever see it.” The young female set her own drink down. “I’ll get us both something soft in a minute. But if you didn’t want to be mated, how did you plan to avoid it?”
“By going rogue, not that I thought about it that way,” she admitted.
“Wow. I can see we’re blessed with the addition to our family. I bet you drive Jett insane. Good for you. I can’t wait for you to meet Mom and Lizbeth. They’re gonna love you.”
“You think so?”
“For sure. You’ll see. But that’s later. Tell me what you think of my big brother.”
“Um. He’s okay.”
Desiree threw herself back on the cushion and laughed. Loudly. “Faint praise,” she choked. “You’re killing me.”
“I met him late afternoon yesterday, Desiree, and the next thing we were on the road to here. And I was claimed in between.”
The other woman sobered and shook he
r head. “River, I’m sorry. Again. I tend to be self-absorbed and not always sensitive to others. You must be overwhelmed.”
“I am.” And anxious, and scared. And starved.
“But you’re mated. He claimed you.”
“True.”
“So he must want you. I mean, there had to be an attraction.”
“I guess I was suitable.” No way was she copping to taking supplements. The next thing she’d be telling Desiree that her brother spanked women. Not that she’d ever see his violent streak—she hoped.
“You’re not his usual type, and I’m not saying that to be a bitch. I know my brother, though, and you are more than suitable. Or you wouldn’t be here, claimed.”
“My Alpha, well, my old Alpha picked me for your brother,” she explained, curious as to Jett’s type. No, she wasn’t. “You know, Jericho wanted a female from his pack to join with Jett and build bridges between the two packs. And because he’s Jett’s father.” Though there were a number of other females back home to choose from.
“Uh uh. Jericho might have picked you as a candidate, but Jett doesn’t march to his sire’s drum. Nope, it was Jett’s decision. And I can see why.”
River desperately wanted to know why but wouldn’t ask. “You keep referring to Jericho as Jett’s father. Isn’t he yours?”
“No.”
Well, that was interesting. “Would it be okay for me to ask something? Like how my old Alpha has a son here and a mate and sons back home? I thought, you know, that we mated for life and had pups within that relationship.”
Desiree’s lovely face closed off. “That’s true under normal circumstances. But my mother is anything but, same as her relationship with Jericho. It’s complicated. And that’s for Jett and Mom to explain.”
“I’m in over my head.”
“Politics are the same across packs, I expect. And you’ll soon be acting as the Alpha’s mate. If you struggle, I’ll have your back and Jett won’t expect you to be perfect. After all, you obviously have some pretty novel ideas and it remains to be seen how they will integrate.”
River wasn’t going to argue that fact. “Can we get some tea or something? I’m hungry too. It’s been a long time since dinner yesterday.” Not to mention she’d used a ton of calories. She had a mild headache too, denoting the definite possibility that the coffee today had been decaf. It stood to reason that Jett would be perfect in choosing that beverage for her, aware she might have conceived. She should feel humbled and grateful for his concern, but all she experienced was annoyance.
“Dinner! I am such an idiot. C’mon. Jett has all kinds of things prepared for him. We’ll raid the fridge and failing that, the freezer. Max will want something too.”
She wondered who prepared things for Jett and chewed on the inside of her cheek so she didn’t ask that either. She was definitely taking an inordinate interest in her mate, even if a lot of what she thought was negative, and she wondered if she could blame it all on nature.
They found a large plate of cold cuts and cheese in the huge refrigerator, and there were crusty rolls in the pantry. Jett had kept that promise too.
“Do you cook?” Desiree sorted napkins.
“Yes. My mother died when I was ten, so I kinda took over. There’s just me and my little sister and our father.”
“That’s hard, River. Our dad—Lizbeth’s and mine—was killed repelling a rogue attack about five years ago. I miss him lots. My mom stayed single afterward, so she was hit hard too. You don’t have a stepmother?”
She noted that Desiree’s mother hadn’t been deterred by the absence of Jericho Reeves in taking a mate, but then they hadn’t been mated. Except wolves didn’t conceive unless they were a pair—she didn’t think. Were there other things she didn’t know? Hopefully, she’d have her curiosity satisfied sooner than later. “No. Maybe my dad felt the same as your mom.”
“You don’t know?”
“We’ve never talked about it. I was ten. And we aren’t close.” Strange that she would be feeling sad about that now, and missing her dad just a little.
“Sit at the island. Max will sniff out the food soon and join us, so get something on your plate before it’s gone.” Desiree winked.
They made their selections and River said, “You aren’t mated.”
“Not yet. I have my eye on someone but he’s playing coy.”
“Wait. You have your eye on someone? But you’re a female.” Definitely, things were different here.
“In this pack females tend to indicate our interest, and not just for casual sex.”
“Okay. It doesn’t work that way back home. I mean, casual sex is allowed, but the males chase. And the Alpha blesses the request to claim.” Did this have something to do with Jett’s mother’s situation?
Max ghosted in and took a seat before she could think of a way to casually inquire. The platters magically emptied before River’s fascinated eyes.
Desiree said, “We’re a progressive pack. Just ask Max.”
“Don’t involve me in your female machinations, Desi.” The big male spoke around a mouthful of food.
“I was explaining that females are allowed to express their inclination for a mate, past casual, rather than have Jett and the council arbitrate. Like you and Josie did.”
Max’s face and scalp bloomed deep red and he stuffed another bite in his mouth.
River stared in between him and Desiree, and the young female explained, “Josie set her sights on Max a long time ago and he dodged her. But she was determined and when she came into her first heat, she contrived to be where he was. And the rest is history. Jett knew she was interested and also aware Max wasn’t adverse, just shy.”
“Damn it, woman. Can you not shoot your mouth off?”
“Aww Max, Josie’s my best friend. You think I don’t know everything that happened, every freaking step of the way? And it’s not like River won’t be privy to most everything that takes place in the pack.”
River heard Max mutter something about hoping Desiree didn’t know everything. She choked on a giggle and immediately apologized to the big man. She didn’t find anything remotely humorous about sex.
“It’s all good, River,” he said. “I pity the male who ends up with that one.”
Desiree made a face and shot Max the finger. “Get guarding, wolf.”
He obligingly moved off, taking another huge sandwich with him, a package of sodas dangling from a finger.
“What exactly is he guarding against?”
“Jett and most of the males have gone out in teams to track down a group of rogues. If they can catch the leader they’ll be ahead of the game.”
Her appetite vanished and the food she’d eaten sat heavily in her stomach. Her old pack lived in relative harmony, and if there’d been an issue requiring a mobilization of force, it had been before her time. “I have no experience with that.”
“We don’t hold the safest territory, but most packs get challenged at some point, particularly younger ones like ours. Jericho’s pack is established, and rogues are wary. But Jett will deal with it.” Desiree almost sounded blasé about the situation. Almost.
“Are they going to be alright? The teams?” Jett?
Rising to clear their plates, Desiree gave her a hug first and River surprisingly clung to her voluptuous frame. “Hey. They’ll be fine. For sure.”
Staring into Desiree’s face she realized for all her sister-in-law’s lighthearted engagement, she was concerned and hiding it. “Desi. Tell me.”
Putting the dishes in the sink, the other woman handed River a cloth to wipe down the counter. “Nothing’s certain. But they have the upper hand, according to Tahl, so we shouldn’t worry.”
There was something in the way Desiree spoke the lieutenant’s name… “Is Tahl the guy?”
“And you thought you weren’t the perfect choice for Alpha’s mate,” Desi scoffed. “You’re either a mind reader or—”
“It was the way you said his name.”<
br />
“Oh. Well. It feels pretty good on my lips. He’d feel good on my lips.”
They giggled and Desiree slung an arm over River’s shoulder. River was laughing in part at the risqué comment to her shock, but also with relief. If Tahl had caught Desi’s eye then that was one less male to worry about. She wondered how many single males were in Jett’s immediate circle but didn’t know how to broach the subject with Desi without an explanation. Would the Alpha’s mate ask such things? Maybe it was okay to ask about pack configurations—
“We’ll have coffee—tea for you—in the living room, unless you want to have it in your room while you unpack?”
“I don’t have anything I want you to see. I don’t have a lot suitable to wear as Alpha’s mate.” She tasted the title again silently and figured she could accept it. “I’d be grateful if your help can extend to taking me shopping. Once the danger is over, that is.”
“We aren’t going to think about that right now. It’s hard not to worry, but I’m sure it’ll be over soon. And then I’ll help you spend Jett’s money!” Desiree handed her a cup.
“I have my own money,” she protested, as she led the way to the living room.
“Don’t challenge Jett on that, honey. He’ll be insulted.”
She knew how he responded to an insult, even an indirect, inadvertent one, so she nodded. “Okay. As long as you don’t get me in trouble by overspending.”
“Are you a frugal person, River?”
“I’m an accountant.”
Desiree groaned, and then brightened. “Maybe you can help me set up a budget. Tahl is always giving me grief over spending in what he terms a frivolous manner.” She frowned again. “He treats me like an inconvenient little sister sometimes.”
“You want to change for him?” Her own fate made her ask the question.
“I think there’s a certain amount of changing that has to take place. Not subjugation, if that’s what you mean, by the look on your face. And of course being claimed has an impact on both parties. But learning to live within a budget is, overall, a good thing.”
Bound by Destiny (Blue Star Shifters Book 1) Page 7
