Her heart warmed as it always did when he referred to their children as kids rather than pups. Although she knew “pups” was an affectionate term, she preferred kids. Holding hands as they left the building and slid into the limo. Hank closed the door and Jasmine was happy to see Maheegan waiting for them. Her eyes glowed with excitement.
“My baby’s home…she’s mated to your son. I had no idea. I’m so happy.” The normally regal Maheegan literally bounced on her seat.
“Yes, we couldn’t tell you when you came to us, there was a lot of sensitive information, I hope you understand,” Jasmine said wondering if she would be forgiving if their roles were reversed. Maybe somewhere down the road, in ten or fifteen years. The last few nights she had tossed and turned thinking about all the things that could go wrong with Tyrese’ escape. But she hadn’t been raised with an Alpha or pack mentality, and that made a difference. She really liked the older woman and hoped she would visit often.
“I understand. Danielle contacted me when she reached London. We chatted and she sounded great after her little adventure. Did you know she is under suspicion for murder?”
Jasmine’s brow rose. “She is? Who did she kill?” This was an odd conversation, even for a full-blood.
Maheegan told them what she had been told. “So she’s on their most wanted list.” The older woman laughed and clapped her hands as if her granddaughter won an award or something. “Oh, you have to understand something about Danielle to really get how perfect this is for her. You see,” Maheegan leaned forward in her seat, her eyes lit with an inner light and a smile that invited Jasmine to enjoy her secret. Enthralled by the sheer radiance of joy reflected by the older woman, Jasmine leaned forward as well.
“Danielle’s mum left when she was two weeks old, who knows where the bitch went.” Maheegan waved her arm in a cavalier manner that tickled Jasmine. She squeezed Silas’ arm, drawing him into what appeared to be an interesting tale.
“Before she took off, she named the three remaining pups in her litter. She gave each a variation of the name of one of her lovers even though they were all sired by one.” She eyed Silas. “Do you remember Dani Viron, Sir?”
Silas frowned and then his face tightened. “Yes…he was a bad one. I sent a couple of Alphas after him; he led them for a bit. He…” He shook his head. “Is that Danielle’s sire?”
Maheegan nodded, chuckling. “Yes. When she was small, others shunned her because of him and his wicked ways. But I will tell you this Sir, Ma’am, he doted on Danielle at first. He sent money for her care, sent the prettiest dresses…then he stopped. Never heard a peep from him again. Although the stories of his… activities became widely known.”
Silas snorted. “He was a thief and a murderer and reckless with no concerns of violating humans. I could not afford to have him loose, too dangerous.”
“Someone coined a phrase, that’s too DaniVee, meaning too weird or wicked or wacky,” Maheegan said. “It became really popular while he was on the run and his exploits were being talked about in most dens. He did have a certain flair. Very charismatic, charmed both full-bloods and humans.”
“That’s what made him so dangerous,” Silas said. “But I knew him before he turned rogue, he constantly sought adventure, had an eye for it.”
“Yes. Danielle is an adrenaline junky… just like her sire. She travels all over the world with her camera and a driving need for a good story. My family room is littered with awards she’s won.” Her voice brimmed with pride. “Something happened after she graduated from college, she went on a trip to western Africa and when she returned, she hated her nickname. Up until that point we called her Dani, not because of her sire, but because Danielle is a mouth full.”
Jasmine laughed. “Growing up people shortened my name to “Jazz,” I hated it.” She looked pointedly at Silas who slipped a few times calling her that.
He nodded and gazed at her lips for a few moments before returning his attention to Maheegan.
“But we had been calling her Dani from birth. So I was surprised by how much she hated the nickname, she never discussed it with me. She did say she was no Dani and would never be like him. From the return of that trip, she changed from the happy-free-spirited young woman to a conservative prune. She wanted nothing to dirty her name, or any comparisons to her sire.”
“Oh…wow, I see,” Jasmine said, wondering what happened to change the young bitch. “Is it possible Connor was involved in some way?” Jasmine had wondered about his involvement in Danielle’s life. Was it possible for wolves to turn their emotions on and off so easily?
“Connor?” Maheegan waved her hand shooting down the possibility. “No, she never took him to work with her…he travels a lot for our Alpha. I think his dad sends him out of town hoping he’ll find his mate, we all knew he and Danielle weren’t a forever item, more like a convenience coupling for them.”
“Would you like me to look into what happened on her trip? It’s obvious she discovered something about Dani.”
Maheegan stared at him for a few seconds and then sighed. “No, Sir. Thank you, though. I took the trip a few months after she returned.” She paused. “I didn’t know it, but she had been searching for her mom for years. She found her on that trip and two male brothers. They looked exactly like Dani and had nothing but praise for their sire. They glorified his actions, even went into gory details and showed her pictures. Once Dani died, they moved off the continent, unwilling to remain… well they left.”
Jasmine understood, they didn’t want to honor Silas, probably since he ordered their sire’s execution.
“Although Dani never visited Danielle, he spent years with those boys. I think his desertion hit her harder than his reputation. But rather than deal with her feelings, she chose to despise everything about her sire.” She rubbed her hands together. “Being accused of murder…having that connected to her name on an international level will cause her to deal with the issue of her sire and her name. Those two issues are not the same and she has hidden behind that long enough.”
“I certainly won’t hold her in the same light as her father. Do I need to address that?” Silas asked.
“Perhaps…but I am hoping she’ll open her heart to her mate and share her feelings. She needs to get them out and stop hiding.”
Jasmine frowned. “Hiding?”
“Yes. She stopped going to events where everyone knew her sire. In our pack, we stopped using his name period. Her assignments took her further and further away for longer periods of time. After that trip Conner was the only male she brought home or dated. I asked her why she stopped dating other full-bloods; she said she didn’t want to explain her situation anymore.”
Jasmine was beginning to understand. “You think now that the label she has been running from for years has been attached to her anyway, she’ll have some sort of breakthrough and deal with real issues?”
“Yes.” She looked at Jasmine and then Silas. “Tell me, is your son an understanding sort? Will he help her work through these issues?”
Silas coughed.
Jasmine squeezed his hand, hard. “Tyrese…he’s not…well…let me say it like this. He is protective and will protect her with his life. In my opinion, this situation falls under the umbrella of protection, mental protection. It will depend on how she presents it to him and how he sees it. My son is not a patient person and is kinda… a call’em like I see’em person.”
Maheegan’s brow furrowed. “You don’t know how he’ll respond, do you?”
“No, not a clue. Tyrese never really did relationships, I think the last girl he introduced me to was his prom date and that was because I demanded it for pictures. He is domineering, arrogant, smart, compassionate, and loyal to family.”
“Those are good traits. The Goddess be praised, she knows what she’s doing. I am happy she is alive and home. If she has a breakthrough that would be a bonus.”
The car pulled into the back of the mansion beneath the covered drive. Hank ope
ned the door, held out his hand and assisted Maheegan. Silas slid out, turned and helped her out of the car. They walked inside holding hands. He pointed toward the first floor family room. “They are waiting in here.”
Jasmine’s heart raced, she missed her son. Silas squeezed her hand and opened one of the double doors. Her heart constricted. Sitting on the floor playing ball with Adam and David were Rone and Rese. She stopped and took a moment to drink in the sight of all her children on the floor, laughing and playing.
A beautiful young woman shrieked, jumped from the sofa and ran to Maheegan. “You masked your scent and shut the link,” she said in a semi-stern voice.
“Yes. I wanted to surprise you.” Maheegan held Danielle at arm’s length and looked her over. “Are you sure you were in a life or death situation two days ago, you seem fine to me.”
Danielle snorted. “Yes, I have more to tell you but first I want you to meet my mate.” She looked over her shoulder. “Tyrese!”
Jasmine smiled at the aggravated scowl on her son’s face. Oh yes, she liked Danielle for him. Tyrone and Rose both grinned proving she was right in her analysis.
“Dani,” he snapped.
She spun around and glared at him. “I want you to meet my grandmother. And you know I don’t like that name.”
“You know I don’t like when you yell at me either, but you keep doing it.” He gave David the ball, stood, walked over to them and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her close to his side. “La Patron, I would like to introduce you to my mate, Danielle. She is a handful but we are making progress.”
Danielle’s mouth opened and closed during the introduction. It was obvious she had forgotten protocol. But that did not stop her from elbowing Tyrese for his last comment. “I apologize, Sir. I should have…I’m sorry I did not acknowledge you when you entered the room.” She bowed her head and looked at the floor.
“No worries. Tyrese is my son, you are my daughter. I am blessed to have a large family,” Jasmine said before Silas could speak. She embraced the young woman and gave her an extra squeeze; she would need it to deal with Tyrese.
“Thank you, Ma’am. Tyrese this is my grandmother, Maheegan.”
Tyrese surprised them all when he stepped forward and embraced the older woman. “Thank you for taking such great care of my mate until I was prepared to handle the job.” His sincere words touched Jasmine deeply. She had raised her sons’ right.
“And now you’re prepared to care for her? Love her? Place her above all others?” Maheegan asked, staring into his eyes.
“Yes, Ma’am. Love will come in time. I care for and place her above all others except the Goddess.”
Jasmine released a breath, most women wanted to know they were loved, but Tyrese had been honest. She glanced at Danielle; his words didn’t appear to bother her.
“You will remove her from my house to West Virginia? You have a home to place her in?”
Tyrese straightened and Jasmine hoped he would remain respectful.
“Yes. We’ll be living in West Virginia in La Patron’s compound. I work on his personal security team and my mate will be with me in my quarters until we need more space.”
Maheegan nodded, crossed her arms and stepped back. “What about her career? Is that over? She has spent decades building a reputation as a notable photographer and journalist.”
Tyrese stared at the older woman for a moment. “My mate’s safety is my first priority. Her happiness falls a little behind that. If she is across the world, I cannot keep her safe, not by my standards, not in a way that would satisfy my wolf. And then there is the problem of being separated by great distances, neither of us would function well, but as a full-blood, it would be harder on my mate than on me. I cannot allow her to suffer for something easily fixed. I have no real answer for your question. If Danielle can continue her career within the boundaries that I’ve explained, I have no problems with her continuing her work.”
Danielle snorted but didn’t speak.
Maheegan looked at her granddaughter and smiled. “I’m happy you have an Alpha male who will always look after your best interest even when you don’t agree. I could not have asked the Goddess for better on your behalf.”
Danielle moved forward and wrapped her arms around the older woman’s neck. “Thank you, I wasn’t sure…but I know you can tell things… well you know what I mean,” Danielle whispered although everyone heard her.
Jasmine shook her head at the scowl on Tyrese’ face and smiled. A passive female would bore him to death; Danielle was exactly what he needed. He turned, saw her and smiled. A moment later she held him in her arms. “I am so happy you’re home, safe. I was so afraid.”
“I’m glad to be here. La Patron said I’d be here and I am.” He squeezed her again and then walked to Silas. They embraced and broke apart. Silas slapped him on the back and they looked at each other for a few moments, no doubt talking through their links. Tyrese smiled and walked back to Danielle.
“Mama,” Adam said, pouting with his arms in the air. Jackie looked up from her cube puzzle as Jacques and Victoria entered the room. She bounced up and down and then stood. Jacques kneeled as she ran to him on her chubby legs. He picked her up and spun her around. Loud giggles filled the room.
“Oh grandbabies…” Maheegan said, her eyes lit with an inner light as she stepped closer to David and Renee. “You are quite an artist; look at how well you’re mixing those colors. She stooped and pointed but didn’t move any closer. Renee glanced at her and then looked at the picture. A moment later she picked up her pad and chalk, walked to Maheegan and lifted them to her.
Jasmine’s breath caught. Renee didn’t allow others to use her things, not her art supplies. Maheegan looked up at Jasmine. She nodded and the older woman sat on the floor and blended a few colors. Then she handed the chalk to Renee, who mimicked her moves. When she was done, Renee started talking and pointing. Although the language gibberish it was obvious she was excited with the new knowledge. Jasmine looked at Silas, who stood next to her holding David.
“We should invite her to come for an extended visit in West Virginia, possibly move there. She can receive and record pack history from the compound,” she told him.
“Maybe later, after Rese and his mate are more settled.”
Jasmine nodded and looked around the room for Tyrese. He and his mate sat in the middle of Tyrone, Rose, Jacques and her mom. “Cam and Lilly?” she asked.
“Someone gave them a tip on Thorne’s whereabouts; they went to check it out.”
She hoped the troubled teen was okay.
“I told Tyrese I would introduce them at the ball tonight. He asked me to call her Dani. She has already discussed her issues with him. He wasn’t as sympathetic as Maheegan would like, and after they tussled a bit, she agreed her reluctance was not …um mature behavior.”
Jasmine grinned, she could imagine Tyrese’s opinions on that matter. His father had abandoned her and for years he wanted nothing to do with Davian. He never wanted to be identified “like your daddy.”
“I know you’re being kind and I appreciate you cleaning that up for me. I know Tyrese and he has no tact.”
The door opened and Angus strode into the room as if he owned it. His gaze stopped on Maheegan, the only unattached female in the room. She glanced at him and then did a double take. The two gazed at each other until Renee started talking and pointing to the paper.
“Good to see you Angus,” Silas said, drawing his attention.
Angus stepped in their direction and took David from Silas, leaned over and placed a kiss on Adam’s cheek. “Good to see you. Did you get my notes on the extraction?”
Silas nodded. “Yes. Any word on Asia? Gunnolf?”
“My contacts say Gunnolf is dead, has been dead for over a decade. I don’t know who or what is in that dungeon, but I doubt it’s him.”
Jasmine’s heart dropped to her stomach. “It’s a trap?” she whispered. “Asia.” she searched their link to m
ake contact and received the same busy signal. Frustrated, she looked at Silas, a plea in her eyes.
He nodded. “I’ll send someone to check around, someone from over there. I’ll check my contacts and have them look into it immediately.”
Although he didn’t say, she knew he was just as concerned about Asia as she was. “Thank you, wolfie,” she said grinning at his frown.
Angus laughed and headed toward Renee and Maheegan. When he sat on the floor next to them David settled on his lap and watched.
Adam wiggled in her arms until she put him down. He ran to Tyrone who had been squeezing the softball. Laughing, Adam tried to take the ball from Tyrone who kept moving it around.
Silas took Jasmine’s hand and pulled her close. “I promised to have your son here by today, he is here. Do you have a reward for me?”
She looked into his eyes, read his hunger for her and nodded. “Yes…” she ran her fingertip down his chest. “My lingerie arrived yesterday; I’ll model it for you tonight, after the ball.”
His eyes deepened to an emerald green, she definitely had his attention. “You will make me wait… I have waited months for you to dress for me in those frilly things…”
“I know, but I want to spend time showing you my appreciation, I don’t want to rush.”
He turned and pulled her toward the door. She walked fast to keep up and to stop the grin from spreading all over her body.
“If we’re late, start the ball without us,” Silas said over his shoulder.
“We can’t, it’s your ball,” Angus said, laughter in his tone.
“Dance, eat, do something until we get there,” Silas said, picking her up and jogging to the stairs. “See what you do to me? I am leaving everyone on a promise of pleasure for you.” His voice deepened and his eyes turned serious. “Never doubt my love or commitment to you, Jasmine. I love you more than I could ever express.”
“You only say that because you know I love you more.”
BirthSign (La Patron, The Alpha's Alpha) Page 23
