More than anything, Granger wished she could have been enjoying lunch with him. Shaking his head, he pulled his consciousness back to the duties of being the only Beta in residence.
§
“How’s Susan doing?” Brenda asked Esme, before taking a sip of her water at the table.
“You mean besides trying to burn down the Alpha’s lodge?” Esme asked.
“What?” Brenda asked, almost choking on the liquid. “What happened?” Why did trouble seem to follow Susan?
“Felicity, Granger’s mom, left casseroles for us to heat up while she and Aramis are on vacation. Susan put one in the oven, and set the temperature way too high. The food caught fire and set the smoke detectors off. I burned my hand trying to open the oven door. Luckily, Granger showed up and turned off the oven and opened the windows.”
“Yeah, luckily Granger showed up,” Brenda said. Why did the thought of Granger, rushing to the rescue of her friends, bother her so much?
“Susan lost it and ran out of the room. Jared came running, feeling my pain, and dragged me upstairs,” Esme said, blushing. “Anyway, when we came back down, Susan was okay. She helped Granger cook breakfast. He is so patient with her. I have to say, I almost lost it with her during the fire. Once we finished breakfast, Granger left to take Susan to the Dog Sled Company to see if she’d fit in working there.”
“Well, I hope it works out for Susan. At least she won’t be able to start any fires while cleaning up after the dogs.”
“I hope so, too. I’ve been worried about Susan. I’ve been worried about Granger, too.”
“Granger, why would you worry about him? He’s always there to help out and save the day,” Brenda said.
“Why do you dislike him so much? Granger is such a good man. He works hard in the pack to make things run smoothly. I’m not sure you deserve to be his mate.”
“What?” Brenda asked, amazed.
“You’re always so snide, making comments to put him down. Granger deserves someone who appreciates and respects him. Why Asena made you his mate, I don’t understand.” Esme glared across the table at her.
Brenda took a deep breathe. How could Esme side with Granger? Didn’t she see that Granger was too perfect? That he couldn’t possibly be so good? Someday, Granger would show his true nature, and Brenda would be there to tell them, I told you so.
“Do you hear yourself? Do you feel the fear behind your thoughts? As your Alpha, I do. If you want to know who Granger really is, all you have to do is link with him telepathically, like I am doing now with you,” Esme’s mind connected with Brenda’s flooding her with love and reassurance.
“Brenda,” Esme said, reaching across the table and taking Brenda’s hand. “By fighting the mating bond, you are fighting yourself. Why do you think you are underserving of love? Why do you think you don’t deserve a man like Granger?”
Brenda pulled her hand out of Esme’s and stood. “I can’t do this.” She walked away.
Chapter Five
Brenda paced in front of her kitchen counter. Remi and Luc dropped her at the house after her shift. If they wondered at her strange mood, they didn’t ask.
Chicken in wine sauce waited on the stove, and a pie sat on the counter. Brenda screamed in frustration and knocked the pie from the surface. The confection hit the wall and the glass pie pan shattered, leaving the wall painted with a purple stain as glass rained onto the floor.
She was so mad! Why couldn’t he leave her alone?
A knock on the door had her whirling around and marching to the entrance. She would give him a piece of her mind. She threw the door open…
Susan flinched. Her smiling face turning into one of alarm. “God, I’m sorry. Whatever I did, I’m sorry, Brenda,” Susan said, tears starting to flow down her cheeks. “Was it the pie, I left you? Did I ruin it? Granger helped me heat it up. Felicity actually made it before she left. She’s normally a really good cook. I’m sorry if I ruined it.”
Brenda froze. My God what was wrong with her? She was becoming a monster. Everyone tried to be nice to her and all she could do was get mad. Was Esme right? Did she feel undeserving?
“Come here, silly,” Brenda said, gathering the sobbing Susan into her arms. “You didn’t ruin the pie, I did.”
“I don’t understand…” Susan got out between hiccups and sobs.
“I know. I’m not sure I understand. Come in. There is still chicken and wine sauce on the stove. Eat dinner with me. That’s why you came over, isn’t it?”
“I can come back if you don’t want me. I just wanted to tell you about my new job,” Susan said, wiping at her eyes.
“Let me get you a tissue,” Brenda said, dragging Susan into the front room. Brenda hurried over to a table and grabbed the tissue box and handed a wad to Susan. “Here you go. Wipe your face and then come upstairs to the kitchen. I’ve got to clean up the mess I made with the pie before it leaves a stain.”
“So, you’re not mad at me?” Susan asked.
“No, not at all. Hurry now, I’m not sure if the paint is going to withstand the berries in that pie,” Brenda said, running up the stairs to the second level. She rushed into the kitchen closet where the cleaning supplies were stored. “Be careful of the glass on the floor. Don’t cut yourself.”
Susan stood in the doorway, her eyes wide. She looked from the counter to the wall covered in purple goo. “You threw my pie?”
“Yeah, pretty stupid of me, huh?”
“But, why?” Susan asked.
“I’m not really sure. I was mad that Granger, one more time, did something nice for me.”
“You don’t want Granger to be nice to you?” Susan said, grabbing a rag off the sink and scrubbing at the pie filling on the wall.
Brenda swept the glass and stuff on the floor into the waste pan and dumped it into the trash before coming back with a mop for the floor. “It’s not that. I guess I’m mad because I don’t feel like I have a choice.”
“I don’t think Granger has a choice, either. If he did, he would have chosen someone easier than you, no offense,” Susan said, quickly.
“None taken, and you’re right. Esme said something at lunch about not understanding why Asena, all knowing lycan goddess that she is, picked me for Granger’s mate.”
“I’ve been wondering why Asena let Esme’s brother turn us into lycans,” Susan said, rinsing out the rag before returning for another swipe. “I’ve been feeling kind of worthless for a while now. Well, until today, when Granger took me to work with the sled dogs. I love the job. I don’t even mind cleaning out the pens. The dogs are so nice, and Rosalie and her husband, Hubert, are really patient with me and explain everything really well.”
“I’m glad you found something you like, Susan. I really like working with the Ski Patrol. Of course, all I’ve been doing is working on the equipment and making sure the trails are clear. The real work won’t start until the trails are open to the public,” Brenda said while putting the mop in the closet. Luckily, the wall washed clean. Brenda would have to buy Felicity a new pie plate.
“You know, you and Granger are kind of alike that way. Protecting people, and then helping them when they’re hurt,” Susan said, rinsing the rag and putting it on the sink. “You do like him, right? I mean, you like men, don’t you?”
“Yes, not that it’s any of your business,” Brenda said, pulling plates out of the cupboard. “Why don’t you get the silverware and glasses while I serve this?”
“Okay,” Susan said, searching the drawers for silverware.
“It’s the drawer next to the stove,” Brenda said, scooping first one piece of chicken and then another out of the pan. She then dripped sauce over the meat. “I guess I should have cooked some vegetables to go with this. I wonder why Granger didn’t leave any.”
“He had to go into Quebec. He’ll be staying overnight at a pack member’s house in the city. I heard him and Jared talking before I came over.”
“Did they figure out what’s be
en going on at the resort?” Brenda asked, as she carried the plates to the table and sat.
“I think it has to do with that man who yelled at Jared the other day. The one who wanted to buy the mountain and Jared said no. Mmm, this is good.”
“Yes, I remember hearing him yell. I think the whole pack heard him.” Brenda took a bite. “It is good. I guess I’ll have to ask for the recipe.”
“Jared thinks the power outage and the lost food shipments to the resort were somehow caused by this man. Granger is supposed to investigate and then have a little talk with him.”
“A little talk? Is that safe?” Brenda didn’t want Granger to get hurt.
“I guess Granger is going to use his telepathy to convince the man to leave us alone. If you want the recipes, I think they’re in Felicity’s notebook. She keeps it in the kitchen at the Alpha’s lodge.”
“So, the recipes are Granger’s mom’s?” All this time she thought Granger came up with the recipes himself. Was she jealous?
“Yeah, I’m sure Felicity wouldn’t mind sharing them with you. When she found out you liked to cook, she said she hoped you guys could share ideas and recipes.”
While staying at the Alpha’s lodge, all Brenda could think of was getting into her own kitchen. She’d never taken the time to talk to Felicity, if anything she ignored the woman. She had been afraid the mating bond with Granger would come up.
Brenda moaned. “I’ve been such a fool. I’ve treated everyone so badly, I’m surprised anyone wants to have anything to do with me.”
“What are you talking about? You’re family. Haven’t you learned anything about lycans? They support and take care of each other. A pack is family.”
“Yeah, a family I didn’t want to accept. I’m sorry, Susan.”
“It’s okay, I didn’t think I was good enough to be accepted. Granger showed me I am. If he wasn’t so crazy for you, I’d make a play for him. Or I would have before I turned into a lycan. He’s rich and gorgeous, just my type.”
“Wait a minute, Granger is rich?”
“Well, the pack has money, so I guess everyone is rich. Granger is a famous artist, so he’s made quite a lot by himself.”
“Granger is an artist?”
“Yeah, didn’t you notice him scribbling on napkins and stuff while we were in Europe? I asked him one day and he showed me his picture.” Susan looked around the room at the art on the wall. “He probably did these.”
Brenda looked around at the beautiful pen and ink pictures she had been looking at and enjoying every day. Granger made these. Something else she didn’t bother to find out about her mate. “What else. Tell me everything you know about him.”
“Gosh, I don’t know if I should. Didn’t you think to ask around? The pack members love to talk about Granger, if you ask.”
“I didn’t ask, okay? Tell me now.”
“Well, this is his house.”
“Jared gave me Granger’s house?”
“Yeah, Jared felt bad afterwards. He told Esme that Granger said you should stay here because you were his mate and Jared didn’t have to feel bad.”
“That sounds like something Granger would say. What else?” Brenda put her plate in the sink. She began to pace. Esme was right. Granger deserved someone better. Instead of trying to get to know the man she had been paired with, against both their wills, Brenda had shut him out completely.
“He designed the house and then worked alongside the builders. He picked out everything himself. He said this was where his family would live and he wanted it to be special.”
“Of course he would say that. God, he makes me want to barf.”
“Granger didn’t tell me that, Mathis did. He’s head of security. He’s cute too. Why does Granger make you want to barf?”
“He’s too good. Granger needs to get a grip before someone fleeces him.”
“Don’t forget Granger is a wolf. He makes people toe the line when needed. When we were attacked in Paris, didn’t he take on those two men who tried to grab you?”
“Yeah, he did. I was kind of busy fighting off the third man, but he did take out the other two. I guess I see him like a knight in shining armor. I keep wondering where the rust is.”
“He’s real pathetic where you are concerned,” Susan said, as she added her dish to the one in the sink. “Most guys would have done the he-man thing and ask for forgiveness later. Esme told me the mating bond is always working to connect the couple together. He must be getting really horny by now.”
“Susan, watch what you say.” Brenda felt her body flush, a sudden image of Granger’s naked form filling her head.
“Well, it’s true. What about you? Maybe you’re getting so mad because the mating bond is working on you too.”
Could Susan be right? Was she angry and aggravated because of the mating bond? It might explain her lack of sleep. Was her extreme reaction to everything Granger did sexual frustration? There had always been chemistry between her and Granger. Wanting him had never been the issue. The issue was about choice. “Come on, leave the dishes. Let’s watch a movie and forget our problems for a while. The TV is in the den. We can snoop through the DVD’s and see what kind of movies Granger likes,” Brenda said.
“I’ll bet they’re all adventure flicks,” Susan said, on her way down the hall.
§
Granger woke with a start. The need to feel Brenda in his arms, a physical ache in his chest. He glanced around his hotel room, taking in the fine furnishing. At least his art gave him the ability to live well. He could have stayed with a pack member who lived here in Quebec City, but he needed space alone to think.
For the first time that he could remember, he was unsure how to proceed. Nothing he did seemed to make things better between him and Brenda. He kept waiting for her to call. To reach out, using the mating bond, and let him know she wanted him. She chose him as her mate.
Fur ran under his skin threatening the change to wolf. He pushed hard on his wolf spirit, forcing the need to hunt down his mate and take her, away from his consciousness. The problem was the man wanted the same thing. Granger couldn’t wait much longer. His wolf rode him hard. He didn’t want his coming together with Brenda to be aggressive. He wanted to give her tenderness and love.
Shaking his head, he climbed from the bed. Today he would spend checking into Ouelette and the development company that wanted to purchase their property. If he was lucky, he could be back to the lodge this evening. Because tonight, Brenda would find more than food waiting for her.
§
Later that afternoon, Granger sat in front of his laptop, a frown marring his face. It couldn’t be. He had searched the records for the owners of the conglomerate behind Ouelette’s offer and one name kept coming up. Granger grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Jared’s personal number.
“Jared, do you remember the man in France who is giving the Paris pack such a hard time, Thomas Lebrosse? He’s the one behind the offer on our land.”
“Thomas Lebrosse? Isn’t he the leader of organized crime in Paris?” Jared asked.
“The very same. Looks like he is trying to move into Quebec. Don’t forget what he did to the restaurant owned by the Paris pack. Mathis needs to check the resort for incendiary devices.”
“I’ll contact him immediately. What about Ouelette?”
“I plan to speak to him after lunch. One of the suppliers admitted to taking bribes to delay the shipments to the resort. I visited all our contacts this morning and gave them a telepathic push to see our shipments arrive on time.”
“Let me know how it goes with Ouelette. There might be something personal going on with him. He seems a little too zealous over getting our property. There’s another storm coming in tonight, so be careful on the way home.”
“I’ll give you a call before I leave.” Granger hung up the phone.
A growl escaped his lips, he wanted to rip and tear something or someone, preferably Ouelette and Lebrosse. Granger took a deep breath to
calm himself. Ouelette’s secretary assured Granger the man would be in his office after lunch. It was time to pay the human a visit and show him that coming after lycans was a bad idea.
§
Brenda angled her skis and stopped inches from the downed tree. This was the third she had found lying across the trails today. It neared lunch time and she still had two trails to check. She used her poles to push off to the edge of the trail and examined the base of the tree. Like the others, the trunk had been cut.
Brenda pulled her radio out and called into the Ski Patrol office. “Remi, I have another tree down on Le Loup-Garou. Cut like the others.”
“Come on down, Brenda. I’m not sure it’s safe. I’ll call for another clean-up crew to take care of the tree.”
“I’ve still got to check runs Le Sous-Bois and La Forêt Enchante՛. I’ll come in once I finish.”
“All right, but be careful. Security has been increased. If you see anything at all, call it in immediately.”
“Will do.” Brenda signed off and tucked her radio onto her belt. Getting around the tree would take some time. Thank goodness the resort wasn’t open for skiing today.
Brenda walked into the Ski Patrol office two hours later, tired and hungry. She had been tempted to go straight to the resort for lunch, but wanted to check in with Remi first. She carried her skis through the back door and stored them in her locker, along with her poles and ski boots. She slipped on a pair of walking boots and walked out to the front counter. Remi sat by the radio.
“There you are,” he said, with a sigh of relief. “I was about to send out a search party. From now on, I want you to pair up with one of the men. No more checking runs by yourself.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why the sudden change?” Brenda asked, a spurt of anger making her tone sharp.
Beta's Mate (Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series Book 8) Page 6
