by JoAnna Grace
"Don't encourage him," Bianca muttered. Z had a vast collection of smart-ass shirts he wore at inappropriate times.
Kasey just laughed. He was the same way as a youth, if his sister cared to remember.
The alpha family waited as people piled out of the vehicle. A tall drink of water with long, thick reddish-brown curls hanging to her shoulders and hazel eyes that could ensnare a man with one look stepped out of the car first. There was a collective gasp among the wolves. Kasey's jaw fell to the ground.
Vivian was too goddamn sexy for her own good. What in the hell had he been thinking?
* * * * *
That morning Vivian had sat in their dingy apartment looking through a magazine for inspiration on what to wear. Even after flipping through three catalogs stolen from Amilynn's stash, she hadn't come up with anything that she was comfortable in. Her bed was covered in clothing. Time after time she had shifted, used the magic of the shift to clothe herself, not liked the outfit, taken it off and piled them up. That was it; she was calling in an expert.
"Amilynn!" she screamed. The blonde came in the room. Fresh out of one of the ads Vivian had been looking at, she was in low slung leopard print pants and a black tank top that showed about four inches of her incredibly defined abdomen. Over the tank was a tan suede jacket with brass-studded accents. Vivian looked her up and down and giggled, "Leopard print? Really? You don't think that's a bit over the top?"
Amilynn ran a hand through her long blonde and black hair. "Might as well let the mutts know what they're in for." Then Ami studied V, looked at the bed, and back at V. "Uh-oh."
"Help me," Vivian pleaded. "I have no clue what I'm doing. This is why you are in charge of wardrobe for the show. I'm just not good at this girly crap."
Amilynn smirked. "Ok, you need something sexy so that all the men know why the big bad wolf chose a cat. You need to also be elegant so the women know why the wolf chose a cat. And it has to be comfortable so you aren't preoccupied with your clothes." Amilynn continued with a game of twenty questions until she knew exactly what Vivian needed to wear.
As Amilynn helped Vivian fix her hair, she asked, "So, uh, this whole mating thing, you cool with it?" Truth be told, Amilynn was scared to death she would never find a man her leopard wouldn't chew up and spit out. The fact Vivian, who was ten times more dominant, had found a mate gave her reason to hope.
Vivian shrugged. "I'm warming up to the idea. My cat is in heaven. I guess the human has to take her time and fall in love, or whatever." Vivian tried to act like the idea of being committed to Kasey for the rest of her life wasn't a big deal.
"I guess that kind of makes me the odd woman out, huh?" Ami didn't give Vivian a chance to answer. "The truth is I'll never really find a guy that meets all my expectations, you know? I want a guy who isn't intimidated by me, but doesn't try to chain me. Like Kasey is with you. I don't guess he has a twin brother?"
Vivian smiled. "Nope, sorry. Ami, if I can find a man who doesn't scare me but does challenge me, then you can find a guy who loves the—" Vivian searched her vocabulary for the right word. "... unbridled side of you."
"You're not worried about Conall and me being around?"
Vivian looked up at her, completely confused. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"
"Because that means that you're merging our Pride with unmated members. What if we cause problems? Two dominant, unmated cats among a Pack of wolves and bears."
Vivian laughed, holding her stomach. "What's the matter, Ami, afraid you're going to mate with a wolf or a bear?"
"Oh, that's just nasty—" Ami paused, remembering that Vivian was now mated to a wolf. "Nice, it's nice, a perfectly acceptable thing." Amilynn nodded and quickly looked down even as she and Vivian laughed.
"Kasey doesn't know what the hell he is getting into."
"Do I look okay?" Melissa came bustling in the room and stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes took in Vivian. She smiled brightly. "You look amazing."
"Thanks to me," Amilynn preened. "And you're very welcome."
Vivian nudged Ami affectionately, then replied to Melissa, "As do you, little sister. Real pretty."
Melissa had picked a long flowing black multilayered skirt with white lace roses on the trim. A simple white cotton tank top and lots of beautiful beaded jewelry made her look elegant and casual at the same time. Her long black mane looked like a sheet of silk around her shoulders. Vivian loved the maroon at the tips. It was just enough color to add character, but not enough to be distracting.
Tyrone was right behind her sporting a simple dark blue jean button up shirt and his signature black baseball cap. It was simple, efficient, timeless and essentially Ty. Even Conall looked nice in western-style rust colored shirt. It complimented his sandy hair and blue eyes.
The five of them stood in the living room, ready to leave for their introduction to the Blackburn Pack.
"Before we leave," Vivian commanded their attention. "If anyone has anything they need to say, now is the time to do it. If there is any hesitation or resistance in your mind, you'd better speak up now. Because once we're with them, we're with them for good. Right now there are no hands tied. I will not force you. I chose Kasey, not you. You don't have to do this."
There was a moment's pause when she thought someone might speak against the merge. It was Melissa who broke the silence. "Ty and I have really talked about this over the last couple of days." She placed a loving hand on her mate's chest and leaned into him, cradled under his arm. "If Kasey's Pack can give us the home we've been looking for, and you're finally with your true mate, then there's no hesitation within us." Melissa looked up at Ty's dark features. "Right, baby?"
Ty nodded. "I'm cool. Got a solid grip on this."
"Me too," Amilynn said. "Besides, we all do have our hands tied. You're our alpha and we'll never let you escape us—I mean, leave us." She jested in a moment of stress, her specialty.
Everyone looked to Conall for the final answer. Melissa always went with Vivian, Ty with Melissa, and Ami with Ty. The four of them were connected by blood and mating. Conall was the odd man out, but his loyalty was as strong as any of their bonds. "We go. We follow you. But you should know, V, you're the only alpha I'll ever give my allegiance to. Maybe one day I might trust this Pack, be a part of them, but the only person I answer to is you."
Vivian nodded. She had expected as much. Conall had witnessed everything Trace had put her family through and had been a faithful friend through it all. No one dared mention that Conall was Trace's first cousin and by blood should have been bound to Trace. He had never been loyal to his cousin from the time he rebelled against the horrific things Trace had wanted him to do. Conall had vowed that no one but Vivian would ever rule over him again. And Vivian knew that it was Conall who would always remind her what it meant to be a true alpha, to lead those who look to you with honor, trust, and love.
Decision made and seconded, Conall drove the group out to the edges of the forest where the city seemed to dwindle and finally disappear. "Are you sure this is the way?" He turned onto a well-used rural road.
"That's what he said. Go two miles to the gate."
"I'm not going to have to get out and move the cows to open it, am I?" He chuckled.
They were deep in the mountains when they approached a large bricked entryway with a guard station to control the twenty feet tall set of solid wooden doors. The wood was carved with a beautiful picture of a pack of wolves. The gate looked ancient, but Vivian was not fooled. She had no doubt that those doors were a mere façade for what was really guarding this place.
Conall pulled up to a shack that sat on the outside of a simple wooden privacy fence. A man in blue jeans and a tee shirt came out with a huge smile on his face. He knew who they were, their scent unique. Pleasantries were exchanged. He reached for something inside and then waved at their vehicle as the gates swung open.
"Bet that shack is a ruse," Ty muttered. He and Conall were on high alert. The rural road
turned into black asphalt. "Sharp shooters a hundred yards from the gates on either side. Surveillance cameras and motion detectors."
Conall pointed deep into the trees. "Looks like wooden fence turns into a block wall. They've made it look so innocent from the road, but this place is protected."
Even after they entered the gates, there was a mile of wilderness before the first signs of life. Once they cleared the trees, forest opened up into rolling hills dotted with houses. A sidewalk and street lamps appeared as the houses became more and more dense. The homes were like any other subdivision they had ever seen. Garage doors open to reveal the simplest of things: cars, lawn mowers, children's toys.
"I don't know why," Amilynn mused from the back seat, "but I actually expected caves and huts or possibly tee-pees. Is this the Stepford Pack?" She gave everyone a laugh, but Vivian was also caught off guard by the human looking neighborhood.
"You never know what's behind those walls though," Conall mumbled.
Vivian's heart caught in her throat as they headed up the main road to a sprawling house on the other side of a long, thin lake. The driveway led over a curved bridge to the side of the house where a portico was flanked by two garages, three stalls on each. The rustic mansion was built into the waves of the earth and covered with a mixture of stone, slate and siding. It sprouted from the landscape naturally.
Kasey was standing under the covered patio. Her brain acknowledged there were others, but her eyes were on Kasey. He was so handsome. The black button up shirt he wore made his hair look darker and his eyes were watching the vehicle closely. Her chest pounded like snare drum.
"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine." Conall assured her with a pat on her leg, the touch anchoring her.
Vivian took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Look at how proper they were! What in the hell had she done?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"My God," Bianca whispered with her hand over her mouth. "You said she was beautiful, Kasey, but your mate is ravishing."
Vivian and her Pride walked up the concrete path to meet him and his family. She was breathtaking. A red silk shirt flowed over her body like a dancing wave of air. It dipped down between her breasts exposing just enough plump luscious flesh to tempt Kasey's strained control. The sheets of silk were bound at her waist with a thick leather belt. The short, brown leather skirt she wore curved over her hips and stopped mid thigh. Endless legs flowed into a pair of red boots. Vivian was a tall woman anyway, but in the slight heel of the boot, she was even more statuesque. Holding back some of her curls was a red flower. His eyes got stuck on her plump red lips and his mouth watered to taste them.
"Man, Uncle Kasey," said Nathaniel. "Your mate has some hot friends." He stared adoringly at Amilynn. Most likely at the four inches of toned midriff she was exposing between the black top and leopard print pants hanging low on her hips.
She flinched when Nate winked at her. God, the boy was shameless.
"She's still a cat," Ezekiel sneered, thumping his little brother on the back of the head.
Kasey shot Z a look of reprimand and the boy turned his eyes away. Unable to stand it, he walked the rest of the way to Vivian and took her in his arms. Kasey didn't care who was watching, he kissed his woman. They had been apart for a few days, each to get some well-needed time with their families before taking this big step. Seeing her now made him think of the hours they spent in the cabin alone, naked, lying in front of the fireplace talking about how to make everything work. He was pleased when Vivian threw her arms around him and pulled him closer while they kissed.
"Oh, come on!" Sampson hollered out with a laugh. "You two can take care of that mushy stuff later."
His comments made wolf and cat alike snicker. Vivian pulled back, her cheeks flushed. She wiped the bright red lipstick from Kasey's lips with a smile. "Sorry. Guess I've missed you."
"You act surprised."
"I am. Pleasantly." Vivian smiled like she'd just had an epiphany.
"I've missed you too, kitty cat." Inhaling a deep breath of fresh air to help clear his mind, Kasey greeted each member of the Pride before turning to lead them to his immediate family. "Vivian, I would like for you to meet my sister Bianca and her mate, the bone head, Sampson."
Bianca took Vivian's hand and pulled her into a hug. The familiar embrace threw Vivian off guard for a second. "I'm so glad we finally meet! Talking to you on the phone is one thing, but to have you here now, and to see your family." A tear rolled down her cheek. "I'm sorry. I'm just so glad Kasey has found you!"
Feeling overwhelmed by the woman's attention, she pulled up a shield. "Bianca, I'd like for you to meet my baby sister—"
"Melissa!" Bianca embraced her as her own. Melissa, who wasn't used to such open affection outside her family, returned the hug with stiff arms. She quickly returned to Ty's safety.
Kasey locked his fingers with Vivian's once all the introductions were made and hands were shaken. Something about having her here, on his lands, in his den made him fiercely protective and proud. It didn't help that she looked so damn sexy. God, she was going to start a riot.
Amilynn already had admirers. It seemed Sampson's young boys were taken with the unmated female. Too bad they were about a decade too late. It was Z that Kasey kept his eyes on; he was studying over Amilynn and Conall, assessing the situation. Interesting.
"I thought that we could start the day off with a tour of the house, let you guys see your rooms, get familiar with the place. Usually this house is teeming with people, but I've asked for privacy so we aren't tripping over them," Kasey explained while leading the group into the side foyer. Vivian was holding his hand and arm like she needed him to hold her up.
Never before had Kasey really cared enough about this house. It was a set of walls to him, nothing more than a place to rest his head, entertain and shelter his Pack members, and eat. Bianca had put her heart and soul into the decorations, the furniture, and the warmth of making it a home. Today he was grateful for all of her efforts. The moment he looked at Vivian's face as she took in the simple elegance of his home, there was a rush of pride. He never would have guessed that when his Pack built this house twenty years ago or when they had updated and renovated and added on throughout the last two decades, that one day he would be standing here with his mate, happy that he could give her such luxury.
"I love the floors." Vivian flashed a sexy smile just for him. "Great for claws. The slate doesn't shred as easily as carpet."
"This place is designed so that no matter what animal or form you want to be, you can be comfortable." Bianca took over some of the tour duties.
* * * * *
Vivian was in an odd state of shock. The Pride lands in Nevada were out in the middle of the desert because that was the only large plot of land that they could purchase. The homes were prefabricated and while they had to be well kept or the families would be punished, they were nothing this extravagant. Vivian was intimidated by the luxurious home and that was a feeling she did not deal well with.
It blew her mind that Kasey's Pack all lived in nice houses, drove respectable cars, and he lived in house that belonged to the whole Pack, not just him. It made her respect him more. She looked around and noticed that Bianca was correct; this house was made for two or four legged animals. All the decorations were higher up on the walls so that no tails accidentally knocked over a vase or picture frame. The foyer was furnished with a sturdy table bolted to the floor.
Bianca continued her tour. "To your right and left are the entrances to the garages. These closets lining the hall are for the people living in this household. There is a free closet for your things. Boots, camping gear, sports equipment or whatever you need to keep near your car. We have a fifteen-passenger van and an SUV, Sampson's truck, my Minivan, Kasey's car and one open stall for your vehicle. If you have another car, it can be kept in the garage behind the pool house. But our cars," she motioned to herself and her family, "are always open for Pack use. If someone nee
ds a car and we can let them borrow it, we try to accommodate. I understand if you don't want people using your suburban and we will respect that."
"It's all we have, so it gets used a lot. It might never stay in that stall for too long—unless I'm working on it again." Conall rolled his eyes.
"You all five share one car?" Nate asked with disgust. "What happens if two people want to go two different places?" Sampson hit his son on the back of the head as a reminder to mind his manners.
Vivian smiled.
"We make do, my man," Conall shrugged. "We've learned to be considerate of the other people in our house so that one person doesn't leave another without a ride, you know?"
"A very wise thing indeed," Sampson commended them. "You an engine man?"
"That's his super power," Amilynn informed, giving Conall an affectionate nudge. "If it's got an engine, this lug will tinker with it."
"Oh no!" Bianca shook her head, "Not another one! I don't know if this house will survive all the men and their toys." The short jolly woman laughed, making her curly hair bounce. Vivian noticed she had the same happy expressions as her brother.
"Don't worry, Bianca," Melissa grinned. "The three of us gals have lots of our own toys. We should even things out a bit."
"Thank God! It's been rough being the only woman to corral these males."
Kasey separated Melissa and Bianca. "You two together are going to cause trouble. I can see that already." The women laughed.
Bianca shocked Melissa by taking her hand. "Go away, Kasey. Come on, why don't I show you and Tyrone to the suite that we've set aside for you? I just know you're going to love it. It's across the house from our family wing, but we'll be on the same floor."
"We really should have thought this out better," Kasey joked to Vivian. He was glad that his sister didn't show the slight fear she had of Ty. Not that he blamed her; the man was scary.
It was only then that they noticed Sampson and Conall had slipped off into the garage. Kasey made the boys' day. "Tom, Nate, Z, why don't you take Amilynn and show her to her room and then to the gym? Vivian and I will meet up with you there. I'm going to show her our suite."
