by KD Jones
Ric looked her over from head to toe. She was short. Really short, like barely five foot one. She had blond/grey hair pulled up into a tight bun and bright blue eyes. There were dimples in each cheek that he wanted to explore with his tongue, and then there was her shape. The female was plump, but he liked that about her. Too bad she was taken by his friend Adrian.
“Actually, I’m Jackie Copley-Tegan. How can I help you?” Jackie opened the doorway further to step beside Mary almost moving her behind her.
“I am Ric Nelson…” He kept looking at the smaller woman who was peaking around the tall, younger, female vampire.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Vampire here. I heard you across the house already. What do you want?”
“I was told there was a young female werewolf that needed a pack. I came to bring her into my pack.”
“I didn’t think Strange Lake Falls had a werewolf pack.” Jackie didn’t budge an inch and neither did the short spitfire who crossed her arms over her large ample breasts.
“It does now. I just moved my pack here from Canada.”
“Well, there’s no female werewolf here. Just a bunch of vampires and one human.”
Ric lifted his head and sniffed. “You lie. I can smell her. I was told her name was Samantha Regan and that she didn’t have a pack.”
“Who told you all that?” Jackie demanded.
“Adrian Belliveau.” Ric watched as the two women looked at each other.
“Oh hell.” The short woman said to her friend. “Now Jackie, let’s stay calm about this.”
Hold please.” Jackie shut the door in Ric’s face.
Here we go again. Ric sat down on the steps to wait.
Chapter 16
Adrian’s phone was ringing as he got out of the shower, and he smiled when he saw the caller ID number. “Hi baby. How’s everything?”
“What the hell are you doing telling a werewolf alpha to come and get my baby girl?” Jackie screamed over the phone.
“Easy now, sweetheart. It’s not what you think.”
“Then tell me what to think because right now if you were here I would rip your head off your shoulders!”
Wow, she was really angry. “Listen to me Jackie I would never do anything to jeopardize you or your daughter, but Samantha needs to be part of a pack. The pack will become a family support system for her.”
“She has a family, me, Mary, and Mary’s son Connor. Even her deadbeat dad is family. Not some Alpha werewolf that will pass her around like a party favor!”
He ignored the pain he felt that he hadn’t been included as part of her family. He pushed that aside and concentrated on what was important. “Jacqueline, most packs don’t work the way that wolf’s does. He left his pack and went lone wolf. He is acting on his own. He’s a sick wolf in and if his pack approves such behavior then the whole pack is sick, following sick ways. Let the Alpha, Ric, explain to you how a true healthy pack works.”
There was a pause and he knew she was still not happy about this. “Honey, Samantha is still in danger from that lone wolf Carter. Having a healthy wolf pack in Strange Lake Falls will keep out the lone wolfs and will give Samantha added protection.” He knew he was playing dirty by bringing up the danger, because Jacqueline would do anything to protect Samantha. It wasn’t fair, but sometimes you couldn’t play fair. He had to take care of what mattered most.
“Fine. But we are having a serious conversation when you get back. When will that be?”
“Soon I hope. The investigators have asked their questions, and I have sorted through insurance policies on the building, but I have funerals I need to see to.” He sighed with the weariness of it all.
“I’m sorry I can’t be there with you. I…” She wanted to tell him she was falling in love with him. But it was too soon. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too. I need to catch this next meeting. Let the Alpha explain things to you and Samantha. I will call you before dawn.”
“Okay. Talk to you later.” Jackie hung up still not happy but at least she felt a little reassured. Adrian wouldn’t do anything to hurt her or Samantha. She headed back to the front door where Mary and the Alpha werewolf were engaging in a heated stare down. Interesting.
“Mary show Mr.…”
“Nelson.”
“Show Mr. Nelson to the family room.” Jackie went to the kitchen where she had the other two vampires stay with Samantha to protect her. “Samantha, come and let us see what this Alpha has to say. If we don’t like it, we’ll kick his furry ass out the door.”
Samantha followed her Mom out to the family room. The other two vampires surrounded her. She felt better knowing that Brock was there. No one would hurt her as long as he was around. She glanced up at him and blushed when he winked at her.
Ric stood tall and turned as he scented the female werewolf. She was a young thing. He could scent her innocence, and he could also sense her fear. He held up his hands to show them all he meant no harm.
“My name is Ric Nelson. I am Alpha of the newly formed Strange Lake Falls werewolf pack. We just relocated here from Canada. I believe you have already met two of my pack members the other night at Mr. Belliveau’s club.”
“The twin hotties?” Samantha asked. A growl emanated from Brock that had her raising her eyebrow at him.
Ric nodded his head noting the silent exchange between the young female and the male vampire. This wasn’t good. He had males in his pack that wanted to court the female, but seeing her in person he now realized she was too young for courting. It would be a while yet. “Yes, Rod and Jay Baker. They are good young men. They helped search for a new location for the pack to move to that had jobs available.”
Jackie felt like she had let her manners go out the window. “Please sit down. Would you like something to drink? Water, soda, sweet tea?”
Ric sat carefully in a lazy boy chair. “Tea would be nice.”
Jackie looked over at Mary who huffed before stomping out of the room towards the kitchen. She looked over to find Ric’s eyes following her friend the whole way. Very interesting.
Ric spoke to both mother and daughter at the same time careful not to set off the mother’s protective instincts again. “I know you have many questions for me, but could I ask a few of you first?” When Samantha nodded her head he continued on. “How is it that you’re a werewolf and know nothing of your own kind and your mother is a vampire?”
“It’s a long story.” Samantha admitted. She went into how she met Carter and what he said about sharing her with his brothers. That bit made both Ric and Brock growl. Then Jackie filled them in on how Carter showed up again and she had to be turned into a vampire.
There was a pause as Mary returned with refreshments for everyone. She handed Ric his glass of tea and their fingers touched briefly. He thanked her but she avoided looking at him.
“All this time you've had to hide your nature. A newly turned werewolf does not have control over their emotions, which can be dangerous. How did you two manage?”
“We had our moments, but when Mom puts her foot down on something, not even a werewolf would go up against her. She’s a force to be reckoned with.” Samantha complimented her Mom.
“I can see that.” Ric gave Jackie a measuring look. He then turned back to Samantha. “Most packs don’t work the way Carter’s does. I admit that there have been some packs that have reverted to that kind of thing, sharing their females, because of fear their numbers will die out, but healthy packs do not function that way. We work like a family. Once we find a property big enough here in Strange Lake Falls we will have a new pack house. Everyone in the pack has the right to use the pack house temporarily if they do not have their own home. My pack has several families and newly mated couples with one expecting their first cub. So those families will need their own homes. We come together to support one another and to offer protection to all pack members. We take pack runs together for safety. That is what I would like to offer you Samantha. I would like to formally
offer you a place in my pack.”
“She won’t be living in a pack house. She has a home.” Jackie spoke up.
“I understand. She doesn’t have to live with the pack. We would expect her to continue with her schooling. Maybe she will be able to help teach our young ones to prepare them for school with human children. She can come to pack meetings and pack runs only if she wants to. Interacting with other pack members will help her learn more about her life as a werewolf.”
Jackie had reservations.. “I don’t know.”
“The other reason Adrian contacted me is that you needed daytime security. He’s offering jobs to my people for both his business in town and for day guards for you Mrs. Tegan.”
“Call me Jackie. I won’t agree to security if I don’t approve of the pack.”
“I understand, but Adrian was adamant that you have security twenty-four seven. Who guards you during the day now?” He asked.
“Me and Big Bob.” Mary spoke up.
“Who’s Big Bob?” Ric asked surprised that a vampire would let a frail human guard them. And who was the male that the little human worked with?
Mary picked up the shotgun she had been holding at her side the whole time. “Big Bob.”
Ric smirked. “Yes, we’ve met.” He turned back to Jackie. “At least meet the other members of my pack before you make a final decision. Get to know us and see how different we are from what that lone wolf told you. Give us a chance.” Ric looked Jackie directly in her eyes and spoke with sincerity.
“We’ll meet the other members before we make a decision.” Jackie relented. All the tension in the room seemed to evaporate. Jackie wasn’t sure if the pack would be right for Samantha, but she could tell how much her daughter wanted to believe what Ric was saying. She had to give it a chance, for Samantha’s sake.
Chapter 17
Ric left after Jackie had agreed to have the pack come over to her house to meet with Samantha. The pack didn’t have a place yet so they were all staying at the local Strange Lake Falls Motel. She felt bad for the pack being homeless, so she asked Mary to see if she could help find them a suitable property. Mary grumbled but agreed to help. The evening should have been pretty tame after the Alpha left, but that wasn’t the case.
Mary had left to go home to sleep, and Samantha was settled into bed for the night. Brock was checking the outside perimeter and miss blond bitch was sprawled out on her sofa with her feet up. Jackie was thinking of hiding out in her bedroom the rest of the time, but she refused to let someone else run her out of her own home. The doorbell rang.
“Who the hell is that?” Jackie stood up but she didn’t get to the door before Christina was there. She motioned for Jackie to go back to the living room. What had gotten into her?
Jackie could hear everything being said. Christina was talking to another woman. “You should not be here Elena. Adrian won’t be happy about this.”
“Child you know so little. Adrian and I go way back centuries. I wanted to welcome the newest child to my clan.”
“It is Adrian’s clan not yours.”
“Move out of the way.” Elena growled.
“No!” Christina yelled back.
Jackie had heard enough of this crap. “Let her in Christina.” Jackie waited. She didn’t know what to expect. The poised elegant woman that came around the corner wasn’t it. She had perfectly managed curly red hair and a pair of blue eyes that were unusually pale. She had a pale complexion, and she was taller than Jackie by about an inch. Her figure was model perfect. She looked like a damn centerfold. Jackie had no doubt she was another past lover. “Elena I presume?”
Elena looked at her from head to toe. Jackie knew what she was seeing. Jackie was a mess. She had a falling down ponytail, baggy sweats, and her big bunny ear bedroom slippers on her feet. Next to the impeccably dressed Elena, Jackie looked like a damn bag lady. She wished they had gone clothes shopping like Samantha wanted. Oh well.
“Please come in and have a seat.” At least this time she remembered her manners. She motioned for the woman to sit on the good chair, ignoring Christina’s protests.
“Mrs. Tegan, Adrian would not want Elena to impose upon you.”
“Then he should be here to prevent it.” Jackie looked over at Elena who was now giving her home a disgusted look. “My name is Jackie Copley-Tegan”
“Elena Belinko, Adrian’s business partner and long time close personal friend.”
Jackie didn’t miss the emphasis the other woman put on close and personal friend. “Why are you here Miss Belinko?”
“I wanted to welcome you into the Belliveau Clan.”
“So Clan is like everyone who Adrian has made into a vampire?” He had only referred to them his people.
“Yes of course. Do you not know anything about vampires and your own clan hierarchy?”
Jackie was a bit miffed over her attitude. “Well I really haven’t had a lot of time to learn much. I was attacked and almost killed by a lone wolf and turned without my knowledge. After I woke Adrian and I were preoccupied, so there wasn’t a lot of talking involved.”
Christina snorted but said nothing else. She was letting Jackie handle Elena.
“Allow me to help you with your ignorance. Adrian’s clan is far reaching from the United States throughout Europe and the far East. Our customs go back hundreds of years. The hierarchy has been in place for as long as I can remember and should be adhered to.”
“Hierarchy?” She glanced at Christina briefly and noted the other woman’s look of disgust at Elena. Evidently Christina didn’t rank high on that hierarchy.
“Yes. Adrian is master of us all of course, our sire. We owe him our allegiance without question. His second is Charles Norris who is currently based in Boston. Third…”
“Wait, he has a second named Chuck Norris? Really?” Jackie interrupted her laughing.
Elena growled before she continued. “Third in line is a recluse that rarely shows his face so he’s not really counted.”
“So, who would be next in this hierarchy…after the absentee recluse?” She had a sinking feeling before she heard the answer.
“That would be me.” Elena told her smugly.
“Well, thank you for coming all this way out to explain this to me. I hope to see you again soon at the next clan bakes.” She was dismissing Elena and the other woman was not happy about it.
“This is not the reason I came here. I wanted to not only welcome you to the clan, but to also invite you to a tasting party that I am throwing on you behalf.”
Christina snorted. “Is that what you’re going to tell Adrian? That you stopped by to invite his newest lover to an orgy?”
Elena’s face turned bright red. “Shut up Christina. You have never gotten over the fact that Adrian tired of you in one day.”
“Shut up bitch!”
Elena snorted. “It’s been years since he touched you but it’s been barely a month since I’ve tasted Adrian’s charms.”
Jackie had silently watched the two women go at each other verbally absorbing everything that they said. It was clear that Christina was still in love with Adrian. But it was more disturbing that he had slept with Elena recently at some kind of orgy.
She jumped when Brock suddenly appeared in the room glaring at Elena. The big guy was scary, but this was one time she didn’t mind.
Elena knew her time was about up. “I understand how you might get attached to Adrian easily. All his women do. He is a wonderful man and quite a generous lover. I wish him only the best. He just hasn’t been the same since he lost his wife and child. No one else could ever take their place in his heart.”
Jackie had no idea that Adrian had been married before. She was hurt that she had to find out things about Adrian from his former lovers.
Jackie stood up with a smile plastered on her face. “Well thank you Miss Belinko for coming by and explaining all that. I will make sure that Adrian knows to thank you for it. At this time I am not going to be going to
any tasting parties. But I will let Adrian know that he has been invited. He may decide to attend without me. Christina and Brock will see you out.” Jackie turned her back and left the room heading upstairs to her bedroom. God she felt tired so tired and that wasn’t supposed to happen to vampires.
She took a long hot shower letting the day run through her mind. Life was so strange. She never thought she would be turned into a vampire and joined to a clan of vampires full of the ex-lovers of the man she was starting to fall in love with. When she climbed out she heard her cell phone ringing, but she didn’t rush to answer it. She knew who it was and she didn’t really want to talk to him at that moment.
Jackie dressed in her most unflattering plaid pajamas before she went to check on Samantha. Old habits were hard to break. The door was cracked and the lights were off, but Jackie’s new vampire vision allowed her to see clearly in the dark. Samantha’s beautiful dark hair fanned out across her pillow and her breathing was deep and rhythmic.
She quietly went back to her own bedroom. Glancing at her cell phone she noticed several missed and voice messages. She played the messages. Adrian’s deep sexy voice came over the line.
“Hi baby. I just wanted to call to see how your evening was going? I’ll try back in a few.” The next message was the same. “Just calling to check up on my favorite vampire mom.” The phone started ringing again immediately. Jackie put the phone on silent. She lay down on her pillow and prayed that the darkness would take her soon.
✯✯✯
Jackie woke at the next sundown in a bad mood. She had a ton of stuff to get ready for today. It was Friday and she had agreed to let the wolf pack come over to do a meet greet with Samantha. So she was doing a pack warming party so to speak. She had to get food to feed twenty hungry werewolves. That was going to hurt her pocket book.
