Sam snorted but handed over the torturous comb and bottle of detangler. She arranged herself between Nicole’s legs on the floor and let her sister go to work. Anger was the only emotion she had right now, and her hair didn’t deserve to take the brunt of it.
“So,” Hallie started, “what’s the plan for tonight?”
“You know if we could take those cute guys off your hands we would, but Daddy says they have to meet you first,” Tess offered with a snicker.
Sam laughed. “I don’t give a shit who they meet first. I don’t want to have anything to do with them. I don’t want a match. I want to finish school.”
“Sam, you knew it was coming, didn’t you?” Nicole spoke slowly as she brushed gently through Sam’s wet hair.
A tear rolled down Sam’s cheek, and she swiped it away. “I just thought since the year was so close to over that they would just overlook it…maybe. I thought I was safe.”
“Well,” Tess said and sighed, “That’s part of the reason Hallie and I stayed in Vegas to go to school. Lots of nice men to enjoy before mom and dad decide to match us up to the richest men they can find when we turn twenty-five.”
“Shut up, Tess. I’m the one that’s next,” Nicole whined. “You and Hallie still have four more years of freedom. I get auctioned off next year.” She yanked Sam’s head backwards and placed a light kiss on her forehead. “All done.”
“Thanks, Nicole.” Sam turned and looked at Hallie. “You’re being awfully quiet, Hallie.”
Hallie pulled her legs up into the chair. Sam noticed her look of discomfort. Her sister had something she wanted to add to the conversation but didn’t want to rock the boat. Hallie was a twin, but she was a very different personality compared to her identical sister. Tess was loud and proud and in-your-face happy most of the time; whereas, Hallie was quiet and much more reserved about her state of mind.
“I think you should give the guys a chance, Sam. They came from all over. Riccardo Savona is here from Italy. He’s from one of the oldest noble families. Another man, from a California family, requested permission from Daddy to meet you. I think Daddy said the third man was from Brazil.”
Sam shook her head. It didn’t matter. She didn’t care. “Hallie, you may be fine with letting Mom and Dad pick out your matched mate, but I want to have a say in it.”
“Sam,” Nicole broke in, “would you choose to disgrace our family?”
Sam turned and clambered up from the floor onto the couch next to Nicole. She couldn’t believe all her sisters were really okay with having their mates picked out for them. She glanced at Tess, who also seemed to be waiting patiently for her to answer Nicole’s question.
“If I were to mate with a wolf outside the noble family, would you think me disgraceful? If I merely wanted the chance to…let’s say…add a name to the list for the hunt…would that be so bad? Would it be so terrible to want the match to be someone my wolf desired?” She laid it out there. Why not?
***
The bedroom door clicked shut and all four girls turned to face their mother. Sam clenched her teeth. Shit! How much had she heard?
“So you’re saying if you get to add a man of your choosing to the hunt, you will comply with tradition?”
“Maybe.” Sam ventured. What was her mom getting at? Renata Demakis never gave anyone a boon unless it helped her own cause.
“No, Samantha. Yes or no? And the answer to your first question is yes. You would be seen in disgrace if your mate were not of noble blood. Your children would not be favored for good matches nor theirs and so on.” Her mother paused and gave her coy smile. “He would still have to win the hunt to claim you. It would be difficult since only the noble families train their children for this ceremony.”
Oh, God. What had her big mouth gotten her into now? Sam shot a quick glance at Nicole and she nodded.
“Fine. Yes. I will comply if you can get Daddy to let me add a choice to the list.” She narrowed her gaze and stared at her mother. “What about the last question, Mom?”
Renata Demakis shifted her gaze to the floor before meeting Sam’s, her discomfort at the question evident. “A bond between wolves will grow. You are noble, and with that birthright comes certain obligations. Your wolf doesn’t get to choose.”
“That didn’t answer my question, mom.”
“We are people first, Samantha. Eventually your wolf will understand her place. Mine did. Does that answer your question,” she snarled.
Sam drew back in disbelief.
“She did not just say I am less than you.” Her wolf growled in disgust.
It was a mutual feeling. How could she say that? Sam stood and stalked toward her mother. Her wolf’s magic clawed to the surface, demanding retribution for the insult. I’ll handle it.
“You can tell Daddy. I’m going out. I won’t be attending dinner.”
“This isn’t a choice you can make, Samantha.” Her mom’s eyes flashed with concern. “It has already been made for you. Fighting will only make problems for everyone.”
Sam narrowed her gaze and growled, allowing her vocal cords to change. The sound her wolf produced would have turned the average person’s blood cold. She brushed past her mother and disappeared into her bedroom. Sam snatched a long white sweater from her dresser and pulled it on over the camisole she was wearing. It hung down past her hips, hugging her smooth curves. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror across the room. The black leggings showed off her long, muscular legs. She slipped her feet into some lightweight sandals and grabbed her purse.
Alcohol was needed desperately, as was space from her conniving mother and father. Her mother’s brief indulgence about adding a name to the list had given her hope for a short moment, but it had been dashed to pieces.
“We have to find Chase. Please look for Chase.” Her wolf nudged gently. The weight on Sam’s shoulders lightened when she remembered the gentle smile of the soldier at the airport.
She walked out into her sitting room. Nobody had moved, and her mother’s heated glare could have cut steel. Even though her mom was clearly angry, she could see regret in her mom’s face, too. At the moment, it didn’t matter. She needed space.
“Give my apologies to the guests, Mom. I’m going out. Don’t wait up.”
“You are not going anywhere, young lady.”
Samantha sidestepped her mom’s attempt to grab her purse. “I’m a grown-ass woman, and you will not keep me in here like a petulant teenager.” She flashed a glance at her sisters. “Are y’all coming?”
A chorus of yeses sounded through the room and the other three girls followed her out the door. She overheard Tess whisper to her mother that she would “keep an eye on her.”
“Traitor.”
Sam shook her head and hushed her wolf. It doesn’t matter. You know there’s no way out of this for me. I’m not willing to abandon my family.
***
Sam bounded down the rear staircase, through the chef’s kitchen, and out the back door. Her eyes widened when Johnny, one of her dad’s drivers, came ambling out of the garage. She put on her best cheerful face and flashed him a sweet smile.
“Johnny,” she called out and walked toward him. Her sisters followed close behind, their heels clicking on the stone driveway.
“Miss Samantha, it’s so good to see you.” His gaze drifted over her shoulders and came to rest on Hallie. Sam’s smile widened.
“I’m going out for a bit. Which car has plenty of gas?”
His face paled. “I will take you, Miss Samantha. You know your father doesn’t wish you girls to go anywhere alone.”
“Thank you, Johnny,” Hallie piped up from behind. “We need to go now.” Hallie stepped forward and placed her hand on his forearm. She whispered something into his ear, and he nodded. Sam watched in amusement. She wasn’t the only Demakis sister rebelling against tradition. After everything she said about giving those guys a chance…
“She did say she was just playing the field,” her wol
f whispered.
True. But, the parents still won’t be pleased.
Johnny darted into the garage. A few moments later the white Tahoe pulled out and stopped in front of them. He slid out and opened the back door to help them in. Sam walked around to the other side and climbed into the front passenger seat. He closed the door behind her sisters before sliding behind the wheel.
“How long have you had feelings for my sister?” Her voice was a whisper, but he froze and slowly met her gaze. His nervousness filled the air with a sickly sweet tension.
“Not here,” he mumbled, breaking the moment. They pulled out of the neighborhood and onto a main street.
“Head to the Mirage,” she directed. He nodded and turned the vehicle to the right.
“Sam?”
“Yeah, Tess.”
“You know this disappearing act will only make Mom and Dad angrier.”
“I know, but I’m not in the mood to have three blind dates at once during dinner.”
Hallie and Nicole giggled. Sam smiled and looked back at Tess. Her lips were drawn tight, and she was shaking her head. “We can drop you back at the house, Tess, if you would like to have the dates instead. Maybe Daddy will let me off the hook if you want one of them.”
“It’s tradition, Sam. I couldn’t take one of them even if I wanted to,” Tess snapped. Sam scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. Then it dawned on her. Holy hell!
“You like one of them, don’t you?” Sam smirked when Tess gave her an appalled look.
“Not true,” Tess argued.
“Okay, whatever you say,” she added and turned back around in her seat. If Tess liked one of the contenders for her hunt, it was doomed. Men participating in her hunt would not be allowed to participate in one of her sister’s hunts. If they survived it at all.
The Tahoe pulled to a stop in front of the Mirage, and Sam slid out before Johnny could get around to open her door.
CHAPTER 3
She marched in the doors and straight to the VIP bar. A pretty brunette woman in a skintight white dress greeted her at the door and pulled it open for her. “Good evening, Sam.”
“Evening, Maggie.” Sam had grown up with Maggie. They graduated high school together. She wouldn’t say they were best friends, but they had hung out some. Maggie had always loved the lights and energy of the casino and was a pursuing an online business degree while working at the Mirage. Sam wanted to get as far away from all the lights and glamour as she could and had chosen to go to college on the east coast.
“Will your sisters be joining you?” She asked, inclining her head to the three girls finally trailing through the casino entrance.
“Yep, I just really need a drink.”
Maggie laughed. The soft sound relaxed Sam. “The booth in the corner that you like is open.”
“Thanks.” Sam gave Maggie a quick squeeze before walking into her favorite lounge. The VIP Mirage bar was her quiet place in a sea of noise. Her family’s status got her in, and Maggie kept the unwanted male attention out.
***
“Why are we going to the Mirage? Her family owns The Glass House.”
“Shut up, man. I’ve got inside sources. She hangs out at the Mirage when she’s in town. Come on.”
His brother slipped the keys into the valet’s hand, and Chase reluctantly climbed out of the truck. The dinner at his parents’ had been great, but his wolf was antsy and wanted to find Samantha. His wolf was never anxious. It was making him uncomfortable and irritable.
“And your source would be?”
“The VIP bar hostess.”
“Good grief, Chris.” He flashed his brother an accusatory glance. “Are you stalking the Demakis girls?”
“Just one of them. Samantha’s sister Nicole frequents the Mirage as well. The two younger sisters, the twins, are usually at The Glass House.”
Chase’s eyes widened with interest. “Why are you stalking her sister?”
Chris glanced at him with a twinkle in his eye. “Why are you looking for Samantha?”
“Fair enough.” Chase sighed and followed Chris through the sparkling glass doors.
A barely dressed woman with shoulder-length black hair, greeted them with a red clipboard in her hands. “How can I help you, boys?”
Chase snorted. He was easily twice her age, though she would never be able to tell by looking at him. Adult werewolves weren’t ageless, but it took centuries to develop any wrinkles at all. Chris backhanded his shoulder, and he grabbed at the offending hand, missing by a hair.
“I’m looking for Margaret,” Chris piped up.
“She’s working.” The hostess gave him an evaluative once-over. Apparently Chris passed her test. For some unknown reason she smiled, stepped aside, and waved them toward a tall brunette in a curve-hugging white dress. Spiked red stilettos and red coral jewelry made for an unforgettable statement. Chase couldn’t shake the thought that he recognized her from somewhere.
“So what’s the plan if they are here, Chris? I just walk up and say hi?”
“Chase, they are here. I spoke to Maggie on the phone.” Chris waved at the sexy brunette. She held up a hand, indicating she needed a minute.
“Who is Maggie? I think I recognize her.”
“Don’t you remember Maggie and Maggie?”
“No way,” Chase exclaimed. The familiarity finally made sense. She was their baby sister’s best friend from high school.
“She ratted on a client for you?”
Chris smiled sheepishly. “Our Maggie asked her to do you a favor.”
“So now my baby sister is in on this adventure?” He narrowed his gaze and glared at his brother.
***
“The Michaels brothers.” A sultry voice behind him dripped with amusement. “What could possibly bring you to the Mirage at this hour?” Chase turned and swallowed. His little sister’s friend had certainly grown up. But even with her stunning good looks, he couldn’t think about anything but seeing Sam again.
“Maggie, you look fantastic.” Chris hugged her, and Chase watched her face turn a shade of crimson dark enough to match her jewelry. When Chris finally released her, she extended her hand to Chase. He shook it gently and smiled. His brother had a good thing right under his nose. Why couldn’t he see it?
“If they were mates, they would know instantly. Just like you did with Samantha.”
I guess.
Chris was just playing the field then, because Maggie was still twenty-three.
“Thank you, Chris. Y’all got here awfully fast. They’ve only been here about twenty minutes. I have a table for you boys just across from their booth.”
“You are awesome!”
“You know I would do anything for Maggie’s brothers, but do not harass them. They are up in arms tonight about something. One of them, poor girl, has been drinking like a sieve. She has a high tolerance, even for a wolf, because she’s not even tipsy yet.”
Maggie looked up and met Chase’s gaze. “Can’t believe it’s me, huh?”
Chase chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry. It’s been a while.”
“That’s what happens when you ship out of the country every couple of years.”
He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. Her comment struck a little too close to home.
She reached out and touched his forearm. “You miss getting to know family and friends.”
He scanned the dark blue carpet and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you right away, Maggie.”
She gave him a gentle smile and shrugged. “It’s fine, Chase. You know this girl you want to talk to, Samantha Demakis, probably won’t even speak to you once she knows what family you belong to. The Demakises are hoity-toity with a side of stick-up-the-ass.”
Chase laughed. “So I’ve heard, but my wolf wants her. I’ve got to try.”
“We don’t always get what we want, but I wish you the best of luck.” She tried to hide it—the flicker o
f fading hope mixed with sadness as from him and back to Chris. He saw it. He knew what that loneliness felt like. Hell, he’d been alone the better part of a century. She was only twenty-three years old. Life was just beginning for her.
Maggie turned and let them into the VIP lounge. Sam’s scent assaulted his senses the moment the doors swung open. She smelled like the forest after a fresh rain with a hint of honeysuckle. If only he could sweep her off her feet and carry her away from whatever troubles were weighing her down.
His wolf whispered to his consciousness, “Something is troubling our mate.”
Every cell in his body clawed to life, and his wolf stretched and rose to the surface. The magic rippled within him, and for the first time in nearly fifty years he struggled to maintain his composure and his human form.
Sam met his gaze for a moment as Maggie led him and Chris to a table a mere ten feet away from the Demakis sisters’ booth. There were four women at the table, all wolves. Two were twins and sported the same short, angled haircut to accentuate that point. The third woman wore her hair long and flowing like Sam’s, except it was reddish brown. Sam’s ash blonde hair was pulled back in a loose braid draped over the front of her shoulder. Her eyes widened with surprise, and she put the highball glass she’d been nursing down on the tabletop.
***
“Sam? Sam, have you heard anything I’ve said?”
Sam finally tore her gaze away from Chase. When she’d seen him walk into the lounge, every part of her being began to ache. Her wolf was going nuts, urging her to go over and talk to him immediately.
“He is here to see us!”
Sam glanced up at Nicole and then again at Chase. God, he was smiling. A huge, lolling, sexy grin. Her heart melted into a puddle, and all she wanted to do was oblige her wolf, climb into his lap, and snuggle against his broad chest.
Chasing Sam: Vegas Mates Book 1 Page 2
