I don’t care! I don’t like the way that she was all over him.
She wasn’t all over him. She gave him a hug that’s all. It’s not as though it meant anything.
How can you be so sure? The voice demanded. Affairs happen all the time and I’m sure that the poor person who got cheated on probably thought something similar.
Are you trying to say that you think Sebastian would cheat on me? Because if you are, then I’m done listening to you. I told myself that as long as you didn’t start spouting absolute rubbish that I would do my best to put up with you, but the idea that Sebastian would be unfaithful is absolute nonsense and I refuse to listen to it.
I’m not saying anything against Sebastian. It’s Madam Slutty that worries me.
Just shut up. I don’t want to hear anymore.
“Erica, are you ok?” Alex asked. Erica was still shaking her hand but her gaze was vacant as though she was no longer listening to the conversation that was flowing around her.
She snapped back to attention at the question, smiling widely as she released Alex’s hand. “Yes, I’m fine.”
“I doubt that you remember but, I hear that you met at my party.”
“Like you said, I wouldn’t know,” Erica said ruefully.
“No worries,” Alex beamed. “Your memories will come back eventually and when they do I think you should name your first child after me. After all, where would you be without me?” She winked conspiratorially.
Erica blushed reminded of the sexually heated encounter that she and Sebastian had had so recently. “Can’t you name your own child after yourself.”
“No. That could get confusing. It’s better all round if you name your baby after me. Luckily Alex is a unisex name so you can use it for either a boy or girl. Only one mind, they don’t all need to be called Alex.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Twins run in this family. Sebastian has a twin and on your side there’s Dylan and Wyatt. Chances are that when you have a baby, you’ll give birth to twins as well.” If not more. “So remember me when the time comes ok?”
“I suppose.”
Alex laughed loudly at Erica's dejected tone, causing her to look at the new comer with curiosity evident in her gaze. “I’m just kidding Erica. I don’t need you to name a child after me. Honestly, the only thing you need to be worrying about is regaining your memories. Kids and all the related stuff can wait until after that happens. You know, I think that you’re a good person Erica.”
“How would you know that? You just met me and I don’t even know exactly who I am.”
“I think that the essence of a person stays the same throughout life. It isn’t something you can change and it isn’t something that comes and goes with what you remember. You seem to be making a bloody brilliant go of things even without your memories. As for how I can tell you’re a good person, I’m usually very nervous around strangers, but you have a very calming air about you. It’s nice.”
A smile made it’s way to Erica's lips at Alex’s cheerfulness; it was infectious. “You’re not from around here are you?”
“Why do you say that?” Alex questioned, her smile never fading.
The question and the sound of Alex’s voice forced a small chuckle from Erica. “You have a funny accent.”
“I don’t have a funny accent. It’s you and everyone else around here. The way I talk is perfectly normal. But you’re right. I’m not from around here. I was born in England.”
“So how exactly did you manage to make your way here? Did you come here by yourself or with your family? Then again you seem pretty young to have made the trip alone.” Erica mused.
“It’s a long story and I’ll tell you all about it at another time.”
“But…”
Alex was extraordinarily grateful for the reprieve from questioning that Erica's siblings provided when they called her. “Erica!” Wyatt shouted from the kitchen quickly gaining her attention.
“What is it?”
“Hurry up, you said that you’d make the cake for us.”
“I’m coming,” she called back before turning to face Alex. “It was nice meeting you but I have to take care of something in the kitchen.”
“That’s alright. Remember though, even though they can be a bit overbearing, they only do it because they love us.”
Her eyes caught Sebastian's and Erica smiled warmly at Alex. “I’ll remember that.” She turned and walked into the kitchen. She seemed nice enough. A little forward, but nice.
“Alex,” Sebastian hissed, pulling her to the side of the room farthest from the kitchen. She winced at the strength he was exerting in his state of agitation and he instantly released her. “Sorry, did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine. I’m a lot tougher than I look.”
“Will it bruise?” If Tobias sees a bruise and smells me, he’ll come here looking for blood and it will be very difficult to explain to Erica why there’s a full grown wolf in our home and even harder to explain why I wouldn’t fight back.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Besides, darker skin means that it takes a lot for a bruise to really show. He won’t notice a thing.”
“Why are you here?” he sighed.
“Honestly?”
“Yes.” There have been enough lies told.
“I came to warn you.”
“Warn me? About what?” he questioned confused.
“I heard that you and Erica's friend Anna had a bit of a smack down back at the estate, is that true?”
“Yes. We didn’t exactly see eye to eye.”
“Well I also heard that she was asking about trying to find where you had taken Erica. It’s actually harder than you would think to try and keep something like this a secret even when you expressly tell people to be quiet. I did all that could to make sure she wouldn’t find out, but I can’t work miracles and news travels fast within the clans you know that. Someone outside of the estate was bound to find out soon enough. She knows and she’s on her way. I did think about going to the Lord of her clan and having her put under house arrest but I wasn’t sure how you would react if I did that. From what everyone has told me, or more accurately tried not to tell me, you want this kept within the family. If I had gone to the Lord and managed to ask him to confine her without throwing up all over him, then questions would have been asked.”
“Thank you for trying Alex, you didn’t need to go to all that effort though.”
“Of course I did Sebastian, we’re family and family look out for one another,” she smiled.
“Are you feeling ok Alex? Why would you be sick simply from talking to the Lord of Erica's clan? Does Tobias know that you’re not well?”
“I’m fine. I just don’t particularly like talking to new people; they make me nervous. Besides, if I were sick Tobias would be the first one to know, trust me.”
“I haven’t been gone long but you’ve changed since the last time I saw you,” Sebastian commented. His eyes could detect no visible difference but she wasn’t the same shy, reserved woman she had been the last time they had met.
“Really?” Alex questioned cheerfully. He nodded his agreement. “That’s good to hear. I’m getting Queen lessons from Yvonne. Well she says they’re lessons, they seem more like informal chatting sessions so it’s good to know I’m making some sort of progress.”
“They are definitely working.”
“They should be after all the hours I’ve put in.”
“Is there a particular reason that you’re working so hard?”
“Tobias’ coronation is just around the corner. Apparently I have to be crowned as well.”
“Yes, you do.”
“In front of all the clans,” she grumbled her voice becoming smaller as she remembered all the details that Tobias had told her were involved in the coronation.
“It’s tradition,” he commented calmly.
“I’m learning how not to make a fool of myself. I might be able to talk to Erica just fine but s
he’s family, I have to learn how to interact with her on an easy going basis. My ability to meet crowds of people and not just an people, important people, is still sorely lacking.”
“You’re going to be fine Alex. Tobias will be at your side the whole time. Just stay close to him and don’t let go.”
“How did you know my grand strategy?” she gasped, feigning shock. Sebastian laughed and she couldn’t help but join him. “Anyway, I’d better started heading back. Tobias will start to worry if I don’t come home soon even though I took the guards he assigned me.”
“He assigned guards to look out for you?”
“Yes he did,” she sighed. “And they are beyond annoying. “Honestly ten people to watch over one me? Don’t you think that’s a bit excessive?”
Sebastian chose to remain silent knowing that she was unlikely to appreciate his answer. If it were me, I would have double the amount of guards watching over Erica, the woman is a magnet for trouble.
“Thanks for coming to warn me.”
“No worries Sebastian. I hope she gets her memories back soon.”
His eyes wandered to the kitchen where Erica was currently trying to prepare the ingredients for her promised cake with Dylan and Wyatt doing nothing but impeding her. Despite her lack of memories she was trying to be positive about the whole experience but he knew that she was suffering and the thought didn’t sit well with him. “Me too,” he whispered.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sebastian sat on the sofa in the living room, his eyes glued to the door in anticipation of Anna’s arrival. He hadn’t moved from this position since Alex had left, determined to prevent Anna from coming into contact with Erica. He could hear Erica and her siblings from down the hall, apparently the necessity of unpacking had taken precedence over the desire for a cake. As he continued to watch the front door, he found that he was increasingly grateful for Dylan and Wyatt’s distracting presence. From what he could hear they were making the simple task of unpacking their belongings far more difficult than necessary and keeping Erica preoccupied and that worked in his favour. He didn’t know when Anna would arrive but he was hoping that he would be the first one to see her so that he could prevent her from coming into contact with his mate. Anna and her unfathomable demands weren’t what Erica needed to recover and he wanted her to get well, now more than ever. Anna was a potential obstacle to that recovery, one that he was intent on getting rid of.
Although he had been waiting anxiously for Anna’s arrival, the sound of short, hard knocks against the sold wood of the door still surprised him. He breathed deeply, allowing the wind to bring the visitor’s scent to his sensitive nostrils. He had been in contact with Anna only a few times, but he instantly recognised the smell as that of his mate’s friend and any hopes that Alex’s warning had been unnecessary died a swift and silent death. It wasn’t as though he had doubted that Alex believed that Anna was on her way, she wouldn’t have risked worrying Tobias just to visit him, but the hope that the Anna problem would simply disappear had risen nonetheless.
The knocking continued, giving him no choice but to answer the door unless he wanted Erica to find out about the unwanted friend on their doorstep. Though he knew that their meeting was inevitable, he was still reluctant to answer the door. He couldn’t understand why, but Anna didn’t like him and that made him distinctly uncomfortable. In fact, if her scent was anything to go by, she hated him with an intensity that only served to confuse him further. Hatred that deep took a lifetime to develop and he had only met her twice and on one of those occasions she had been civil to him. The fury that Anna felt while in his presence couldn’t be explained by attributing it to the lies he had told her, there was something else at work but he didn’t understand what it was and judging from how uncooperative she had been the last time they had met, he doubted that Anna would simply tell him.
Sighing deeply as he resigned himself to the upcoming conflict, he stood and walked to the door, opening it just enough so that his head could be seen, he didn’t want this woman pulling the same trick as Alex had done with Erica and slipping past him to enter the house. Anna looked exactly as he remembered, small and to another’s eyes rather attractive, though at that moment her looks were marred by the intense frown she was giving him.
“What do you want?” he asked directly, not even a hint of his usual kindness was evident in his tone. He had given up on trying to be nice to the woman in front of him the moment she had endangered his mate’s recovery. There was nothing she could do or say to gain his forgiveness now and if she wanted to be hostile towards him, then it was only fair that he extend the same courtesy towards her.
Undaunted, her eyes began trying to scan the interior of the house behind him, presumably in the search for Erica. “I’m here to see Eric, you can’t stop me from seeing her, she’s my friend. I’ve known her far longer than you have, I know what’s best for her and what’s likely to help her recover.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is. Now open this door and let me in.”
“No,” he responded simply. There was no need to elaborate, Erica didn’t need to see this person and it was as simple as that.
“Open this door now,” she hissed.
“Do you think that you’re scaring me?” he chuckled. “You aren’t what Erica needs right now. She needs to be surrounded by people that put her well being and care first. You don’t qualify, so please leave.”
“What’s your problem? I just want to see her.”
“I could ask the same question of you. You seem to have something against me and are willing to make Erica suffer so that you can spite me. It’s unacceptable. Perhaps if you explained exactly what it is you think I’ve done to you, I’ll consider allowing you inside our home. If not, then just turn around and head home. Forget where this place is and wait patiently for Erica's memories to return on their own.”
“And what exactly makes you think that I have anything against you?”
“It’s written all over your scent Anna. I, unlike Erica, remember what the subtle changes in scent mean. You don’t like me. If it were up to you, Erica and I wouldn’t be together.”
Anna flushed at the accurate assessment of her feelings towards Sebastian but she didn’t try to respond to the accusation.
“If that’s all then goodbye Anna.”
“Sebastian,” a small voice called and he inwardly cursed at Wyatt’s poor sense of timing. “I thought I smelled Anna, is that her?”
Taking full advantage of the situation, Anna smiled widely, before calling out to him. “Wyatt, is your sister here?”
“Which one?” he giggled.
“Erica silly,” she mock scolded.
“Yeah.”
“Is it okay if I come in?” Anna inquired, side stepping the problem of Sebastian and going to a far more amiable source.
“Of course it is. Sebastian, you shouldn’t leave people standing on the doorstep. It’s not nice.”
I’m getting lessons in manners from a boy decades away from maturity, Sebastian laughed, trying to repress the disappointment he felt.
“Yes Sebastian,” Anna concurred, “it’s not polite to leave guests on the doorstep, so why don’t you let me in?”
He growled at her attitude, forcing her to take a step back. “I’m going to let her in Wyatt, I just have to explain the rules to her. You remember the rules don’t you?”
“Of course I do silly, Ryan drilled them into us before he said it would be okay for us to visit.”
“The rules are only there to make sure that Erica gets better, you know that right?”
“Yes,” the little boy admitted before turning his attention towards their guest. “Anna, you have to listen and learn the rules otherwise you can’t come in okay?”
“I understand.”
“Okay, I’ll go and tell Erica that you’re here.” He grinned before running down the hall towards the room he shared with his sister and where Erica was currently trying
her best to help them unpack.
Anna smirked at him in triumph, silently gloating about the fact that she had managed to go around him and get what she wanted. He growled, the sound reverberating through his chest and the longer she looked at him, the louder it became. “So what exactly are these rules then?”
“For you, I have special ones. If you do anything to jeopardise her recovery, I will personally throw you out and your mate isn’t here to save you from your own stupidity.”
“Eric is my friend, I want her to get well.”
“You could have fooled me,” he groused, finally opening the door enough for her to enter the house.
Taking the reluctantly offered invitation, Anna stepped inside just as Erica walked up the hall into the living room. “Eric!” Anna cried happily running towards her and embracing her tightly. “I’ve missed you so much Eric. Come let’s have a talk just the two of us. There’s so much I want to tell you and I want to hear all about how life has been for you up here.”
Erica accepted the woman’s hug though slightly unnerved by her enthusiasm. She had a vague recollection of the woman, though it was nothing as detailed as what she had remembered about her siblings, it was enough for her to know that the two of them were friends and good ones at that. “Calm down Anna, it’s nice to know that you missed me, but you’re making me feel exhausted already,” she laughed.
Anna stepped back, pulling away from Erica. “You remember me?”
“A little bit,” Erica admitted.
“Woohoo!” Anna screamed in jubilation. “Have all your memories come back? Why did no one tell me? When did you start to remember? I can’t believe no one told me that you’re better. When are you coming home? There’s no need to stay here anymore so I suppose you’ll be coming home any day now.”
“Anna, I said calm down. I haven’t recovered, so I’m staying here.”
“But you just said…”
“I said I remembered you a little and I do. I remember who you are, your name and the like, but nothing much beyond that. I still don’t have most of my memories, I’m not much better than the day I left home if I’m completely honest.”
A Wolf's Oath Page 23
