Jasmine tossed in her bed unable to stop her thoughts, unable to find a comfortable position in the bed, unable to rest for the additional hour Silas requested. Her cramps had eased, so she would walk into the ceremony in two hours with her mate. Her mom would come assist her in an hour to oversee the hairdresser and make-up person.
She sighed. Why couldn’t she settle down? Her babies played in the room next to hers, Asia and Angus would be with them all night. Angus would use his chameleon capabilities and appear as Tyrese. Few people knew of Silas’ litter mate so he would not be missed. Silas did not want anyone to know Tyrese was not a part of the festivities; she had no objections as long as Angus never left the children.
Worry niggled in the back of her mind like a worrisome nail fragment scratching everything until its removal. What? She closed her eyes, exhaled and remained still allowing her mind to open and roam.
Her children, all six were okay. Ever sense Tyrese left this morning she’d been concerned. Wherever he was, he was alive. That eased her somewhat. However, the niggling persisted. Rose, Tyrone…Cameron, Lilly… her mom, Jacques… Davian, Matt, Tomas… Her eyes flew open.
“Silas,” she called through their link.
“Yes?”
“Where is Thorne? Is he here?” She had not seen him. Her chest grew heavy with a sense of urgency.
“No, he is with Cam in West Virginia, he will fly in with them later today,” he said in a considering tone.
“Check, make sure he is there.”
“Okay.”
She exhaled to soothe her jumbled nerves. Thorne’s mother had been killed by a small band of rebels when the family left a meeting at a hospital in West Virginia. Fifteen and orphaned, he lived with his sister Rose first and now Lilly, Cameron’s mate. Lilly thought it would be a good idea for her brother to hang with Tomas, Corrina Griggs son.
Corrina Griggs plan to rule full-bloods using half-bloods, failed. Silas allowed Jasmine’s ex-husband, Davian, and his mate, Matt to become guardians of Griggs son, Tomas.
Thorne and Tomas had joined the rebels in anger over what happened to their mothers. She had personally punished both boys and sent them home. Davian’s experience with teens and Matt’s quirky sense of home provided exactly what Tomas needed. The young wolf thrived beneath their care. Thorne still hadn’t adjusted, instead of thriving he sulked, and withdrew.
“Cameron’s down in Melton solving a property dispute before his flight. He said Thorne was with Lilly at Alpha house preparing for the trip. She couldn’t find him but promised to contact as soon as she does.” He paused. “What’s going on?”
“Just a bad feeling, somehow Thorne’s involved.”
“I’ll have security detain him if he shows up here without them, otherwise I’ll let Cameron find and bring him with them. Once he gets here, I will have Hank deal with him. I can’t be bothered with that pup right now.”
“Okay.”
“I sense you are feeling better. Your mom will be there soon, do you need anything?” Even though he asked, he sounded distracted. Something or someone else had grabbed his attention,
“No. I am feeling better, well enough to walk in the room with you. I probably won’t stand too long.”
“You can lean on me.” She heard the smile in his voice.
“No. No leaning. I am the Alpha Bitch. We do not lean.” She tried to inject a bit of humor into her refusal. He had been offering to bolster her energy all day, the last hour she finally accepted. His energy did not mesh well with her current health challenges; it made her loopy, punch drunk. They decided that was not the effect they wanted for her presentation tonight. So she rested.
“Okay, I will come for you soon.”
“Yes, I know. Go…go do La Patron stuff. I’m fine.” Clothed in her robe with her undergarments, she stood up slowly and walked toward the makeshift nursery in the room next to hers.
Damned queasiness in her belly. Something major was happening. Silas claimed it was her cycle, but she knew better. This was different, an anxious, hollow feeling lodged in the pit of her stomach.
“Mistress,” Asia said from across the room near the four cribs lined neatly in a row where she stood with her hands behind her back. “They are still napping. Master said to wake them in an hour if they do not wake on their own.”
Jasmine nodded, agreeing with Silas. Asleep, her babies appeared angelic. Renee had her thumb in her mouth. Adam lay on his side, curled in a ball. Jackie lay on her back with the blanket pulled up beneath her chin and David lay with back up against the side of the crib, his arm in front of him.
“Can I help you with anything?”
Jasmine pulled her gaze from the cribs and motioned Asia to the rocking chairs.
Asia took the seat, her calm expression contrasting with Jasmine’s jumbled emotions. She didn’t know how to explain what she wanted, or what she thought she wanted. “Tyrese left this morning.”
Asia nodded. “I heard talk of it.”
If the young bitch harbored feeling for her son, Jasmine could not tell. She glanced at the younger woman who sat watching her. “I’m scared,” she said through their link, glad Silas couldn’t intercept this conversation since he was still unable to secure a link with Asia.
“I understand. Your son is walking into an unknown situation. But…he has done this before. I sense there is more to your…concern.”
Jasmine slapped the arm of the chair. “Something is going to happen, I’m not sure if it’s good or bad, and that scares me shitless. What should I do? Silas thinks I’m making a big deal out of nothing. That my hormones have kidnapped my mind or something…but that is not it, there is something.”
Asia nodded which eased the burning in Jasmine’s chest. Just having a listening ear who didn’t think she over-reacted helped.
“You are not the type to press a matter unless you have a strong reason. Your instincts are normally correct, I believe you. But…you must not be hard on La Patron, he must believe Tyrese will be fine and all is as it should be, otherwise he would need to change directions, decisions and possible alliances at this point. Can you imagine how difficult it had to be for him to allow Rese to leave today, of all days? He knows how close you are to your sons. Without knowing his reasons, I have confidence that it was because he was left with little choice.”
Jasmine nodded. Defending her mate wasn’t what she expected from Asia, but the young woman’s words made sense. Silas loved her sons as his own; his reasons for allowing Tyrese to leave were more than valid. It was the persistent nagging sensation that a corner had been turned that bugged her.
“I can go after him, shadow him…” Asia said, her voice loud in the silence.
“No.” She met Asia’s serene gaze. “No. You and Angus are assigned to the babies. You have Renee and Jackie and he has Adam and David, right?” In order for the children to be presented tonight, Jasmine demanded Asia be on baby duty, she wanted the young bitch to spend more time with her pups.
Asia smiled. One of her rare, genuine smiles eradicating the somber, distance look she normally wore. “No. The children chose. David and Jackie chose me. Renee and Adam chose Angus. They are sponges, learning everything at an accelerated rate. I have never seen anything like it.”
Jasmine grinned at the astonished praise, tilted her head and stared at Asia. “They are, I’m really proud of them. I can see David and Jackie choosing you.”
Asia’s brow rose. “Why do you say that?”
Leaning back onto the soft pillows in the chair, she thought about her answer. “Those two are methodical, planners. David watches everything and everyone, Jackie is similar but she’ll actively try to seek a solution. Renee and Adam are more abstract, more in the gray areas in their approaches to solving problems. I can see how Angus would appeal to that part of their nature.”
“It’s an honor to be in their presence, I swear I will protect them with my life.”
Jasmine nodded, having firsthand knowledge of how serio
usly Asia took her vows. They had gone through life and death together in order for the young woman to keep a vow she made to Jasmine. Another reason Jasmine wanted the young wolf guarding her babies’ tonight. Asia was extremely difficult to kill. And a tough fighter, few could best her in a fight.
“One day you will have your own and I will protect them in the same manner as you protect mine.”
Asia’s mouth opened for a few seconds and then snapped shut. It wasn’t often she surprised the young woman, happiness bubbled inside Jasmine at Asia’s stunned expression.
“Mistress… I don’t…I don’t think that will happen. I am full-blood and can only conceive from my mate’s seed. He died at the lab decades ago.” Asia clasped and unclasped her hands in her lap.
“Maybe. But one thing I learned, most things are not as they seem, the rules have been stretched. Things are happening now that did not happen before. Only time will tell if your mate has been replaced by another or if your mate still walks amongst us.”
Jasmine thought Asia would argue with her, the young woman sat so still. Instead, she nodded. “Yes, Ma’am” Those two words held a world of hope, surprising Jasmine. Reaching out, she took Asia’s hand and squeezed.
A second later, the gesture was returned. No one truly wanted to live long lives, alone.
The door opened and her mom entered. “There you are, feeling better? You up to tonight?” Her black and silver gown sparkled as she walked toward them.
“Yes, much better. I love your dress and your hair. Did the make-up person do your face? It looks great.” Jasmine stood when her mom reached them and spun her around slowly. “Oooh, you’re showing some flesh tonight, I see.” She ran her fingertip down the middle of her mom’s exposed back. A large clear stone hung off a long chain near the end of the Vee. She flicked the stone.
Her mom looked over her shoulder with a smug grin. “Nice touch, isn’t it?”
“Very nice, classy. You look happy…really happy.” Jasmine took note of the blush reddening her mom’s cheeks.
“I am happier than I ever thought possible. Jacques…there are no words. That man spoils me.”
Pleased to see the stars in her mom’s eyes, Jasmine grinned. “He loves you. You’re his sun.” Her mom never gave her the name of the man who raped her that night and impregnated her with Jasmine and her twin. It was moments like this that she knew she would never push, never rake up those painful memories. Her mom deserved to be happy.
“He is my sun,” her mom said, her tone serious. “For the first time in my life I have let go. I am me… that is such a gift. To put off all the airs, the preconceived ideas what a woman’s supposed to be and just…be me.”
Jasmine knew the feeling. Silas accepted her temperamental outburst and met every need she’d ever had. “I know mom. I know.”
The light caught the tears in her mom’s eyes, they sparkled bright like the sun she equated her mate. “Good… enough of this. I don’t want to mess up my makeup.” Her mom patted her eyes and turned to her. “I can tell you are ready for hair and makeup.”
Jasmine looked down at her robe and then at her mom. “Yeah, I guess so.” She turned and looked down at Asia who’d remained quiet the entire time.
“I will return to assist with the children, and then you can get dressed.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Jasmine left the room, her arm laced in her mom’s. The queasiness shadowed each step she took.
Chapter 6
Danielle stepped out of the cab in front of Terminal one at Heathrow airport and stretched her cramped muscles. It seemed she had been traveling for days when it had been less than twenty-four hours. The flight from the states hadn’t been bad, just long. She had gotten to know more about the man and woman on both sides of her than she cared. Each talked non-stop for the first hour.
When she turned ten, her grandmother taught her to mask her scent whenever she went out as a safety measure. It would have been nice to have her wolf rise just a bit to scare the two chatterboxes into silence.
Finally, she told them she was tired and suggested they sit next to each other. Despite acting offended at her comments, when she returned from the bathroom they had changed seats, leaving her on the aisle, and kept each other company.
Her flight for the last leg of her journey was on schedule, but she needed to clear security and depending on the crowd, could take some time. Time she didn’t want to spend with her Alpha’s son, Conner. The moment he found out she was headed across international waters he delayed his flight and met hers when she landed in London. Since she had a ridiculously long layover she agreed to go have a meal with him.
Now she regretted her decision.
“Come on Dani,” he said walking toward the glass doors looking over his shoulder at her grinning.
Her back muscles jumped, irritation skittered up her spine at the name. She turned away from him, unclenched her fist and handed the driver an extra tip. Conner was notoriously stingy. The driver’s face lit up, he tipped his cap to her and eased into traffic. She glanced at her watch, she had another three hours before her flight boarded. Fortunately, Conner’s flight left an hour before hers so she would soon be rid of him.
“Dani?” Conner yelled. His brownish-black hair brushed against his shoulder and fell across his face when he turned.
Releasing a stream of air, she looked around the crowded pavement, hiked her bag up her shoulders and walked into the terminal. She passed Conner, pulled out her passport and identification before reaching the back of the long line for security.
“Dani?” Conner said, an angry whine in his voice.
He knew she hated to be called that. Her throat tightened. “I will not slap the shit out of him. I will not slap the shit out of him...” she repeated silently and continued looking straight ahead, ignoring him.
He sighed loud and long as if she complicated his life to no end. “Danielle, I’d like to sit in the departure lounge with you, finish our conversation, while we wait for our flights.”
A prickling sensation raced across her back.
“Next.”
She looked up. They had opened another line and it was her turn. Her wolf rose. With each step she took, her beast whined.
“You’re clear.” The man nodded for the next person to come.
Nodding, she stuck her passport in her bag, but looked around to determine the source of her unease. Something…was off. She inhaled deeply. There was nothing. Wait…maybe there was something.
“Ma’am, you’re holding up the line.” The security officer waved her forward. Conner stood behind her with a strange look on his face.
Rather than talk to him, she placed her carry on down and walked through the metal detector. In her profession she traveled constantly all over the world and breezed through security. Once through, the uneasy feeling returned. Hair rose on her arms and her heart raced. She spun, trying to locate the source but there were too many people, too many odors, too many barriers for her to pinpoint what stirred her wolf.
“You okay?” Conner asked walking up to her.
She ran her hand through her thick curly hair and moistened her lips with her tongue. “Yeah, yeah, I’m okay.”
“Let’s sit down there, you want something to drink?” he hefted his backpack on his shoulder and placed his hand on her elbow leading her to one of the restaurants.
She flinched. His hand felt wrong. The new sensation surprised her. She and Conner had been lovers for years, now the idea of him touching her made her stomach turn.
“You want tea?”
She nodded, watching him move gracefully through the crowded area. He stood a good foot taller than everyone else, but wasn’t a muscle-fiend like others in their pack. His lean, sculpted body resembled a swimmer’s and up until today had been her main sex-partner.
What happened?
Her wolf whined as if she had lost her best friend, which was impossible. She would know if anything happened to her grandmother.
Still, sadness rose from her beast and filled her chest. A fist squeezed her heart. She hurt bad and had no idea why.
Unable to take the next breath, she closed her eyes and focused. There had been a unique scent. It… it had been tasty, masculine, and frantic. Who was it? She tried to locate the smell and could not. Whoever he was, her wolf wanted him bad.
“Here you are.” Conner placed the foam cup in front of her and took the seat next to her. His scent disturbed her. It was wrong. Out of place. None of that made sense. The past five hours everything had been fine.
“You seem distant…”
She glanced at him and took a sip. “I’m good.” The hot tea soothed allowed her a moment to think. None of this made sense. She’d call her grandmother to see if she had another dream or something.
“I was just teasing you earlier… when I called you Dani… I know you hate that name…”
She stiffened and glared at him. “So why the hell you called me that?”
He jerked back and stared at her. “I was playing.”
“You play too much, stop that shit. My name is not Dani. It will never be Dani. I am not Dani, damn it,” she hissed leaning toward him so he realized how serious she took this. She hated her name being aligned with the rogue wolf. As a pup she had been teased mercilessly by the other kids and adults.
Everyone knew her sire, Dani Viron, had been a rogue, a thief, a murderer and a dead-beat dad. The last filled her with more shame than the first. As a pup she’d idolized the big, tough man. Every once in a while, he’d contact Maheegan and ask how she was getting along. Why her mom named her after him was a mystery she had taken to the grave. The man had killed innocents, both human and wolf. There was a river of blood on his hands and it embarrassed her that they were kin.
He nodded slowly. “Got it. Won’t happen again.”
Leaning back, she exhaled and took another sip of the warm tea to cool her burning anger. Thinking of Dani would only make matters worse and she had bigger problems. Her skin itched. Her wolf wanted out in the worst way. If she didn’t regain control soon, there would be some real news on television.
BirthSign (La Patron, The Alpha's Alpha) Page 6
