He stopped, his mind raced back to the night the birthmark appeared on his backside. What were the odds. They ran to catch up with Angus. “What did it look like, the birthmark?”
She described it and his breath hitched. “Okay. We have incoming and need to focus, but I want us to talk about that again.”
“Okay. You should've told me your mom mated La Patron.”
“Would it have mattered?”
“No... but I would've understood a few things better.”
Angus held up his fist.
Tyrese held up his fist. “Soldiers.”
Chapter 18
Jasmine stepped into the hall and inhaled deeply. Sometimes Silas drove her crazy. Her son's life was on the line, as well as every wolf in the country. This situation called for a level head, and zero emotions. There was too much at stake for him to be all Lone Ranger and using the wolf nation as his Tonto. She didn't want her kids to grow up in a place that hunted full-bloods like they hunted deer. No matter how bad the government was in the states, this country was the best place for their pack in general and her family in particular. It was inconceivable that Silas missed such an obvious clue. She picked up on it right away. Someone was playing a deep game and stirring a pot of bullshit that looked like stew.
“Mistress Jasmine.... Mistress....” Jasmine turned and saw Maheegan and a tall broad-shouldered young male moving fast in her direction. She tried to remember his name and couldn't.
“Hello Maheegan, what's wrong?” The older woman's eyes were red and her face lacked color.
“I just found out my granddaughter is missing and no one will tell me anything. Please... I need someone to get some answers. She is all I have... my baby is missing and no one will tell me anything.” Jasmine caught the woman before she hit the ground. Loud, gut-wrenching sobs filled the hall. Maheegan's body shook so hard, the young man lifted her in his arms and cuddled her like a baby. His eyes were glassy and filled with a silent plea that she help.
Jasmine touched Maheegan's arm, sending her comforting, healing energy. She sensed Silas' presence, but did not look in his direction. They had personal problems that need to be resolved, but she was not in the right frame of mind to deal with him right now. Right now she wanted to help Maheegan.
“I'm sorry, I don't remember your name,” she said to the young man holding the older woman who appeared calmer.
“Conner. I'm Beta to the Montana Pack. My father is Alpha Edon. Maheegan's granddaughter was working in another country, there were some problems, the Ambassador was killed and they’re putting all the Americans out of the country. But no one will give us any information on my girl... on Danielle. She just disappeared. Can you help us?”
“We will do our best. Bring her in here...” Jasmine pointed to a small room that held a table and a few chairs. Silas remained silent but followed them inside. Conner placed Maheegan onto the chair and held her hand.
“Tell me about the young woman and any information you have so far,” Jasmine said taking a seat. Silas sat next to her.
“I saw Dani in London. I was returning from a job for my Alpha and she was headed to some small out of the way county for a ceremony...”
“Danielle, not Dani.” Maheegan said. “It was the crowning ceremony of the prince and princess in Lyrill. I went sixty years ago. It was a beautiful place and the ceremony was magical,” Maheegan said in a soft voice. “Danielle fell in love with the pictures I took during the ceremony and always wanted to go. After trying three times, the ceremonies are every ten years, she was accepted this year.”
No one spoke. Connor filled the silence. “She was excited about going.”
“She made it to Lyrill?” Silas asked. “When did she get there?”
“I talked to her after she arrived...” Maheegan looked at Connor and then at Silas. “She sensed her mate at the airport in London.”
“That's right, I forgot,” Connor said.
Maheegan shot him a look that clearly said no you didn't.
“Honestly. I forgot. I love Danielle; we have been a couple...”
“Off and on...” Maheegan interjected.
“Yes, off and on for over ten years. I asked her to marry me and she said she couldn't because she sensed her mate somewhere in the London airport. We walked through a few terminals and she couldn't pick up his scent again.” He turned to Maheegan. “You think they found each other?”
“No, although that would be wonderful. But when she told me about sensing him in the airport, she was pretty sure he had flown out somewhere.” She looked at Jasmine and then Silas. “Is there any way to find out what happened to my baby? Anyone I can contact?”
“I've already received permission from my Alpha to go look for her, I just need to know which direction to begin my search,” Connor said.
“Danielle is Tyrese' mate?” Silas said.
“Looks like it. And my daughter-in-law's lover is sitting in front of me, ready to go kamikaze to save her. What a lucky girl to have so many who loves her.”
Silas looked at her.
She ignored him. “How much do we tell Maheegan? I have to tell her something, she thinks Tyrese was here at the ceremony. I know that's touchy, but no parent should suffer like this.”
“Maheegan, Connor,” Silas said in a low tone. “We have information regarding those who escaped Lyrill and all I can tell you right now is Danielle is with them and headed back to the States. As soon as she is in a place where she has access to a phone, I will have her call you.”
The older woman fell forward, crying.
“I am sorry, but I didn't know Danielle was related to you. I should have done a more thorough background check on all the American full-bloods.” Silas patted her shoulder.
“No...I thank you La Patron. You are in the middle of your mating ceremony, and yet you are caring for pack members on foreign lands. That's a lot of mental stretching and I am so grateful. Just knowing you are involved has eased my mind.” She stood slowly and wiped her eyes. “Thank you La Patron, Mistress.” She nodded and left with Connor's arm wrapped around her waist.
“I am sorry, Jasmine.”
She closed her eyes. He was going to push. “I know. But sorry doesn’t fix things; it’s just a verb you keep using.”
“Can we go somewhere private and talk?”
“How? Part two of today's celebration starts in...” She looked at her watch. “In twenty-five minutes.”
“It won’t take long. Please, we need to talk.”
Sensing he his determination, she stood. “Okay. Let's go.”
Silas took her hand and they walked to the room set aside for them. Hank nodded as they approached, but remained alert in the hall.
“The kids are asleep,” Lilly said when they walked through the nursery.
“Good, thank you. They should sleep for an hour or so,” Jasmine said.
Cameron stretched out on the sofa behind Lilly. “We should rest while they rest.” He pulled his mate close to his chest.
Tyrone held Rose in his lap, but they stood and walked to the other sofa. “That's a good idea,” Tyrone said, pulling his mate down.
Silas tugged on her hand and they headed to their room. Once the door closed, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest. Heat seeped into her pores melting places around her heart she’d frozen in her anger.
“I messed up... again. I should have listened to you about sending Rese. I am so sorry... I know, I know it doesn’t fix things, but…please… forgive me.” His barrage of emotions hit the gate of their link cracking it open, until they rushed in. His pain and sorrow wrapped around her heart until tears leaked from her eyes. Silas didn't do anything in half-measures. Guilt over Tyrese, the heavy anchored-not-going-anywhere-soon kind, festered in the back of his mind blinding him to other things. The internal mirror of his conscience revealed a long, jagged crack gave him a distorted view of the situation and his role in it.
She leaned back, her head rested
against his chest. This man could send her over the moon in pleasure and to the moon in aggravation. Imperfect but competent. Egotistical but kind-hearted. Overbearing but loyal. Most importantly, faults and all, he belonged to her. They were one. She had to make him understand why his actions pissed her off so that they could avoid those problems from now on. She turned in his arms and ran her thumb across his lower lip.
“I don't want to be in charge the way you're in charge, Silas. But sometimes... sometimes I know things. Things that can help us. You have to let me in, especially when it comes to the kids.”
“You’re right. I just... I trusted the wrong people. I should've asked more questions. It won't happen again.”
She was sure it wouldn't. Next time they'd have to give him more notice if they wanted a favor. But she needed to be sure there was a next time. It was critical that he did not alienate the government completely.
“You didn't trust the wrong people; it's possible that a lot of people got punked on this deal. We need to get more information and not make rash decisions. We gotta think outside the box, go beyond the obvious.”
He stiffened and waved his arm enclosing them in a bubble similar to the one they had done for Tyrese.
Her brow rose. Whatever he needed to say he didn’t want their family members in the other room to hear, which surprised her.
“Jasmine, I trusted the wrong people.” His earnest expression convinced her he considered this point important. “Do you think humans don’t know about us? In this technology driven world?” He sounded like it was a given.
She hadn’t known and her sons lived in the same house with her. But obviously that was the wrong answer. “Some may know…”
“Exactly, but I have been able to keep our existence quiet for centuries. Do you think the government keeps our secret out of kindness or the goodness of their hearts?” He snorted.
“No Sweet Bitch, they don’t. The United States government is a slow moving multi-faceted beast that must be handled with force. What they did with Tyrese was disrespectful and must be addressed with a solid slap to the face that’ll leave a mark or they will do worse next time. Trust me, there is always a next time.”
“Silas, you can’t go against the government… we live here. Our children…”
“That is exactly why I have to take them down a few pegs or they will hunt our children down like dogs.” He stepped back and ran his hand over his face.
She didn’t understand why he was being so stubborn. Violence was not always the answer. She opened her mouth to refute him, but he spoke.
“Listen… the reason our people have grown and prospered through the decades is because we offer something the government cannot get anywhere else…financial stability and a serious army of warriors. Those who have been around a while are aware of the power we wield, but every twenty or fifty years those people die off and a new set come in who underestimate our value and power. Our financial resources are the strongest in the world, living over three hundred years allowed me to make damn sure of that. We are vested on every continent. I have the ear of every government if I choose and have gotten this country in doors they never could have walked through without my help.”
Jasmine swallowed hard. Perhaps she had been hasty, she certainly had no idea his reach went that deep.
“Those in power have called on me many times through the decades for favors; the price is a favor for a favor. They swear to keep our existence a secret and never attack or prohibit our people from living full lives. The government has come begging favors of me more than I have asked anything of them. I told you there would be representatives from every branch of government at the ceremony. There are full bloods in the senate and the house and every level of government. They have one job, and that is to keep humans from knowing we exist. Everything else is a bonus.”
“They run… for office? But you won’t allow humans on your land yet you have wolves in government offices? That doesn’t seem fair…” She wondered if she had met full-bloods during her ex-husband’s time in the military. It was possible.
He took her hands and pulled her into the shelter of his arms. “There are more humans than wolves; we cannot afford to be fair. I am telling you these things to help you understand. We have a lot of strings that can be pulled if necessary. I promise to have Tyrese home before the last day of our celebration. Just because it doesn’t look like I’m moving fast doesn’t mean I’m not. I am following your advice and delegating.”
She pushed his chest, although her anger was long gone. Knowing how smart her man really was, was sexy as hell. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and inched up on her toes. “Thanks for explaining that.”
He slapped her ass and nodded.
“Just so I’m clear, you are messing with the world markets and strong-arming the military…for the good of the nation, the wolf nation – and you’re not worried they will turn on us?”
“Nope, they’ll be mad and bluster a bit, but I’ve done this a few times before.” He nuzzled against her neck.
She purred.
“It’s human nature to prance about as if they are the baddest thing in the room. Since I know I’m bigger and badder, I don’t prance. I wait until they grow tired and ask what I want to make the deal. I have more time than they do.” He removed the bubble.
His hard package pressed into her stomach.
She rolled her hips against him. “I’m horny.”
“You are?” He slid his arms beneath her hips, picked her up and carried her to the bed in the corner while rubbing his chin across her forehead.
She laughed trying to get away, fully trusting him not to drop her.
He dipped and she screamed. They fell onto the bed in a controlled move. He eased his weight on his forearms and looked down at her.
No matter how many times they lay together the man still made her breath catch. She traced his thick eyebrows with her fingertip and then the tip of his sharp nose, and then his lips. Those lips always brought her so much pleasure. “I could eat you up,” she murmured. A pleasant heaviness filled her core. He leaned to the side and ran his finger from the base of her throat to her chest, stopping only when the fabric of her top refused to give.
“I’m the big, bad wolf; I’m supposed to eat you…” He said in a husky timbre.
Her eyelids fluttered close as his mouth closed around her nipples and then his teeth scraped the top of the taut buds sending zings of pleasure straight to her core.
“Maybe…” she tried to speak as he pulled off her clothes. She cleared her throat. “Maybe we can eat each other.”
“No, let me take care of you…I need to take care of you,” he whispered near her ear as his fingers slid inside her wet, tight sheath.
She moaned, feeling him stretch her and then slide in and out, mimicking what she hoped he would be doing with his thick cock.
“You like that? Goddess knows you’re always so hungry for me…never change, promise me you’ll always want me like this.” The thread of vulnerability she heard in his voice, humbled her. That this man would ask her to always want him played havoc with her mind.
“I promise,” she said on a breathy whisper. Naked, her legs fell open in an invitation only he could answer. “I need you…now. Silas… ahhh,” she said as he filled her to the brim.
“I…love…you…Jasmine… no…matter…what…happens… never…leave… me…” he panted and punctuated each word with a downward stroke lifting her higher.
“I can’t leave you,” she whispered. “No one survives without their heart.”
His thrust faltered and then steadied. Her words spurred him on. “Need more…” he gritted pulling her legs up, changing the angle a bit.
“Yes…” she hissed when he hit her spot. Her back arched. Her hips lifted. He held her tight in his grip, thrusting faster. The tendons on his neck strained as he sped up. Her orgasm hit without the normal build-up and she screamed as it ripped through her. Her legs shook and va
ginal walls pulsed as pleasure swept through her.
“One more, one more for me…” Silas said. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t think, couldn’t move. Her mind protested his forceful thrusts. She wanted to bask in the glow of the most powerful big “O” she’d had in a long time. If she could push him off, she would have. Instead, she lifted her hips in silent offering. That was the most she could do.
A few moments later, he growled through his release and she was happy. When he collapsed and rolled to the side pulling her with him, she snuggled close.
“You didn’t even try for a second one.”
“Why have seconds when the first rocked my world and sent me to another planet?”
He chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Another planet? Nice touch.”
Chapter 19
Burgundy with gold stripes along the outer legs and cuffs identified the Lyrill soldiers trouncing through the bushes. Asia had hoped they would be able to leave this place without killing any more of the guards but that did not seem likely. She and Angus stood side by side in front of ten guards. The other guards surrounded their small group. Inwardly she sighed at the delay.
“What do you want?” she asked while strategizing which ones she would kill and which ones she would injure bad enough to prevent from following after them.
“Our princess would like a word with her prince.”
Out the corner of her eye, she saw Danielle stiffen and snatch her hand from Tyrese’s. Newly mated, she would rip the princess’s neck out if the woman sniffed too hard in Tyrese’ direction. Fortunately Danielle looked like an unattractive brut no one paid any attention.
“Her prince is not here,” Asia said in a bored tone. Angus looked at her and stepped to the side, giving her room.
“She only wants to talk to the man, nothing more. We will not hold you longer than the time for a conversation,” the guard said quickly, his eyes darting from Asia to Angus and back at her again. The stench of his fear pleased her wolf.
BirthSign (La Patron, The Alpha's Alpha) Page 20
