Pride to Pack (The Mount Roxby Series)

by Aimie Jennison

  “We’ll bring Alyssa home. She looked well tonight. She didn’t have any injuries. I promise we’ll get her back.” I give him a reassuring smile, which he surprisingly returns.

  “I know we will. Thanks, Rosabel. You really are going to be a great addition to the pack.”

  I stand up and kiss him on the top of his head.

  Shit! Maybe I shouldn’t have done that in front of Theo.

  I glance up at Theo, dreading seeing the look on his face, but he’s giving me a heart-warming smile.

  As I sit next to him he leans into my hair and whispers in my ear, “Thank you. That’s the first smile I’ve seen on his face since Alyssa went missing.”

  Billy suddenly appears with five mugs on a tray. He hands us all a coffee and places a tea on the table for himself. We all give the fifth mug a curious glance,

  “I thought Chloe might be joining us, what with her staying here and all. Shall I take it up to her or just leave it here, boss?”

  Theo grabs the phone out of its cradle on the coffee table and dials a number.

  “Hello,” Chloe answers.

  “Hey, there’s a coffee here for you if you want to join us?” He hangs up without giving Chloe a chance to reply.

  Chloe arrives in the room so quickly she must have been in the other room still. She sits on the floor leaning next to Theo’s legs.

  “Thank you,” she says, taking a mouthful of her drink. She really is grateful for us letting her join us. Her emotions are so strong.

  We all enjoy our coffees in silence.

  Looking at Billy reminds me that I still have his jacket. “Billy, I forgot your jacket. It’s still on the sofa at Misty’s apartment.”

  “No worries, Rosabel. It’s not like I really feel the cold anyway. Just leave it at the bar tomorrow and I’ll pick it up.”

  I could try my newfound trick. I suppose now is as good a time as any. “It’s okay; I’ll get it for you now.”

  As Theo and Billy both go to protest I put my hand up to silence them. I shuffle my bum in the seat to get more comfortable making all four of them look at me with puzzled expressions.

  This will be so much more fun if I don’t tell them what I’m going to do.

  I close my eyes, take a deep breath and concentrate on breathing in and out. When I feel totally relaxed, I picture Misty’s huge lounge, the cream leather sofa in the middle of the room with Billy’s jacket on the back, the wooden sideboard with the telephone and answering machine on top, the three tall floor lamps; the one next to the sofa, the one next to the sideboard and the one in the far corner by the brown suede beanbag. I feel the thick luxurious cream carpet under my feet and smell the lavender scented candle that Misty always burns before bed.

  I open my eyes and see all that I just pictured behind my eyelids. I can’t believe it worked first time. I grab Billy’s jacket pulling it on, I quickly pull a pen and paper out the sideboard drawer to write Misty a note too.

  Misty,

  I’ll be staying at Theo’s tonight. I promise I will fill you in on everything tomorrow.

  Bel

  X

  Leaving the note on the sideboard for her to see, I place the pen back in the drawer and step into the middle of the room. Again, I take a few deep breaths as I close my eyes. I picture Theo’s two red suede L shape sofas one opposite the other with the solid oak coffee table between them. I feel the cold slate floor under my feet. I smell Theo’s lovely scent - Billy’s, Wesley’s and Chloe’s too. I open my eyes to find myself standing behind the sofa.

  Billy and Wesley are both staring at me stunned.

  I walk around the sofa to Billy while taking the jacket off and pass it to him.

  “There you go, one jacket. Thanks for the loan!” I turn to and sit down next to Theo. Both he and Chloe are equally stunned.

  “Wow, that really was something - minus the fear,” Theo says, proudly putting his arm around me and pulling me against his side.

  “I figured I might as well try my new trick out,” I say with a shrug.

  Billy finally remembers how to speak. “How the hell did you do that?”

  Wesley and Chloe still seem to be struggling to pick their jaws up off the floor.

  I suddenly realise the consequences of my actions. I’m going to have to tell them about the druid in me. I hope this doesn’t change how Billy and Wesley feel about me. They seem to have accepted me. It can’t really change the way Chloe feels. She already hates me. I look at Theo and he seems to understand the inner debate I’m having. His reassuring smile gives me the courage to bite the bullet.

  “When I disappeared earlier, Dominick called me to him. I thought he was able to do it due to our tie. He informed me that I actually have druid blood in me, giving me the ability to teleport just now and earlier when Theo called the meeting, although it was Dominick controlling my dematerialising earlier, not me.” No one spoke; I couldn’t handle the silence for long. “Theo, I told you the pack wouldn’t accept me, they barely accepted me before this druid shit.”

  I stand up and turn to head for the door, although as I think about it I don’t really need to leave via a door not with my newfound ability. Being as upset as I am, I don’t think I would be able to focus enough to get to Misty’s anyway so the door is best.

  I manage to get as far as the back of the sofa before Theo jumps over it planting himself in my way. “Don’t even think about leaving!”

  It was an order so I just stand and stare into his beautiful eyes. My vision blurs as my eyes fill with tears.

  He gently strokes my cheek with the back of his knuckles. “Okay, now that you’re staying put, you’re going to listen to me.”

  I can only manage to nod, being too choked up with tears to speak.

  “First things first. The pack have no decision in the matter of who I choose as a mate, they will respect you whether they like you or not. Secondly I love you, druid or not.” He leans forward and kisses me on the forehead, pulling me in to hug him.

  Once I get my tears under control I make a move to pull away, only to feel Wes and Billy both join in on a group hug. “You are our alpha’s true mate, making you our alpha female. We all stated our loyalty earlier. We have accepted you just like Theo said, druid or not,” Wesley says making his feelings clear as we all take our seats once again.

  “What is wrong with you three? Are you insane? She’s a Druid Werewolf? She can materialise wherever she wants! What else can she do? She’s playing you all. Druids are dark and evil. Well, I’m not falling for whatever spell she’s put you all under. I do not trust her,” Chloe hollers as she stands.

  The sofa vibrates with the growl coming from deep in Theo’s chest. I grab for Theo’s hand to try and calm him, but before I can get a hold on it he snatches it away.

  Billy speaks first - probably trying to give Theo time to calm down before he bites Chloe’s head off - and I mean literally bites it off. His eyes have already gone the deep black of his wolf’s. The anger filling the room stinging against my skin.

  “Chloe, not all druids are bad. There are some that focus on the dark magic but not all. Some are healers. Before you ask, no we don’t know which Rosabel is but I can sense and so can you that there is nothing evil about her. You’re just jealous of the fact that Theo doesn’t want you as a mate. If you just accept that, you might notice that there are plenty of others in this pack that actually would take you as a mate and be worthy of it too. But you are too blind to see that.”

  “But—” she starts to argue before Theo cuts her off.

  “No buts Chloe, you need to apologise to Rosabel and you will respect and accept her. Do you understand?” His eyes are back to his human emerald green but if she doesn’t agree they won’t stay like that for long. His anger is still stinging against my skin. It hasn’t even gone down a notch.

  “Yes, I understand. I’m sorry, Rosabel,” she says bowing her head in submission. Her tone makes it blatantly obvious that she is anything but sorry.
/>   “Get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again until you apologise and mean it,” Theo demands.

  Chloe turns on her heel and short of stomping her foot like a child she storms off.

  “I’m sorry.” The disappointment is clear in his voice.

  “You don’t need to be sorry. Like Billy said, Chloe wants you and no matter what or who I am, I don’t think she will ever like me.”

  “Theo, I’m going to head off if that’s okay?” Wesley stands, looking at his feet.

  “Goodnight,” Theo snaps. I think someone is still grouchy.

  Wesley walks out of the room and we hear the front door open and close.

  I quickly jump up, realising that if I was in his shoes, there is no way I would want to go to an empty home with Alyssa missing.

  Just as I rush past Theo I sense his concern. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I shout, running out the front door, hopeful of putting his mind at rest.

  “Wesley, where are you planning on going?” I ask just as Wesley is unlocking his car door.

  “I don’t know. Our house is going to be so quiet and empty without Alyssa.” He stares off into the distance with glazed over eyes.

  He isn’t going anywhere.

  “Lock your car! You’re staying in one of Theo’s spare rooms. If he can let Chloe stay, even after he got so mad at her, I’m sure he won’t mind you staying! Come on lets go find you a room.”

  He locks the car and takes the hand I offer him as we head back into the house. I lead him up the stairs that are off to the left of the front door. They lead to the wing that Chloe is staying in. At least I think they do.

  We reach the top of the stairs that lead into a narrow corridor. The walls are white with no photos, paintings or windows, just doors spread about seven metres apart on the left, and three doors right next to each other on the right wall. The first door on the left has some very strong anger seeping out so I think it’s safe to assume that’s the room that Chloe is staying in. The three doors to the right must be some sort of storage I’m guessing linen cupboard, since they’re right near the spare rooms.

  Once we reach the next door on the left I open the door and find a larger room than I expected. It’s been painted in a lovely lemon colour, which makes me smile. It’s a happy colour. There is a king size brass bed opposite the door with a window at either side of the headboard. It’s neatly made with white satin sheets and has a lemon knitted blanket folded at the foot. There is a white painted chest of drawers against the left wall and hanging above that is a beautiful painting of a view of a sunset off the top of a mountain. I will have to ask Theo where that was painted. That is a place I would love to visit.

  I check the bathroom for towels, toilet rolls and soap. “Is this room okay for you, Wes? Chloe is in the room next door. You don’t want move further down the hall do you?” I say knowing he can hear me from where he is sat on the bed.

  “No this room is fine. I can ignore her,” he replies. I can hear the smile in his voice.

  Not finding any towels in the bathroom I head back out to what I hope is a linen cupboard in the hall. If I am wrong I might have to ask Chloe where the spare towels are. I really don’t want to talk to her. If I don’t have to. Thankfully my guess is correct. I take a couple of towels back into the room and place them on the end of the bed.

  “There are a couple of towels; if you need more there is plenty in the cupboard out in the hall.” He probably already knows all of this, no doubt having stayed over before.

  “Thanks, Rosabel, for everything. You are going to make a great alpha female,” he praises.

  “You’re welcome. I am sure Theo would have offered you the room himself if he wasn’t so worked up about Chloe. Now you get some sleep so we can find Alyssa tomorrow.”

  20. HEART TO HEART

  Theo

  Having heard Bel enter the house again a few minutes ago, I decide to go track her down. I know Chloe is down at the front of the house. I don’t want her to be causing any trouble while I’m not there. I know Bel would be able to handle herself against Chloe. She has lived through numerous duels after all, but Bel doesn’t need the hassle or guilt if she injures Chloe.

  I head towards the front of the house with Billy following behind. It doesn’t take me long to realise that I made the right decision. I can clearly hear Chloe and Bel at each other’s throats.

  “Are you threatening me?” Chloe demands. I have no doubt that she probably threatened Bel first.

  “I hope there isn’t any threats being thrown around in my house,” I command from the bottom of the stairs. Neither of them could have heard me approach because I watch helplessly as they both stumble around at the top of the stairs grabbing opposite walls to steady themselves.

  “Theo you surprised us both so much we nearly toppled down the stairs one after the other. You might have had two dead women to deal with.” Bel chuckles nervously. The fear I can feel in her makes me think she very nearly did do just that. I should have been more careful. They were in a heated discussion. Of course they wouldn’t have heard me.

  “Sorry,” I grumble, still thinking about what I could have caused.

  “There are no threats here, are there Chloe?” Bel asks as she glares at Chloe. She can no doubt sense that I can’t handle much more tonight before my wolf comes out to play.

  “No,” she replies before going into her room and shutting the door.

  Bel jogs down the stairs to join us by the front door.

  “Night, Rosabel, I’m going now! I’ll probably see you tomorrow at Misty’s,” says Billy.

  “I have the night off, so maybe not. Then again, I can’t seem to keep away from that place so you’re probably right,” she says with a laugh.

  I open the door and my laugh falls flat when I spot Wes’ car. “I thought Wes left. Why is his car still here?” I give Bel a questioning look.

  “Oh yeah, erm... you were mad, but I didn’t think you’d mind. He’s in the lemon room. He didn’t want to go to his without Alyssa. He wouldn’t have been able to handle the emptiness. I’m sorry.” Bel rambles with her head bowed in submission. She is my mate. She doesn’t need to show me submission like that.

  I tilt her chin up with my hand until her worried eyes meet my stare. “Thank you.” I pause, not hiding how mortified I am. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. What kind of an alpha does that make me?”

  I shouldn't be allowed to call myself Alpha if I can’t even care for my pack members like I should.

  “Come on, boss. You have a hell of a lot on your mind at the minute. You were furious when Wes left. You had Chloe’s shit in your head and fighting your wolf wasn’t helping you with being considerate and compassionate,” Billy says.

  I catch the worried expression he throws Bel’s way. I know what that expression means. The last thing the pack needs is the alpha to be feeling weak. It will cause the whole pack to weaken. The pack is weak enough at the moment. I need to find them. We can’t go on without clues much longer.

  Bel’s voice brings me out of my internal musing. “Billy is right, Theo. I only thought of it because of my empathic ability. I could feel Wesley’s emotions. I couldn’t let him leave feeling like that.”

  Billy looks at Bel, clearly astonished. “You’re an empathetic, druid blooded werewolf?”

  We all laugh.

  “Let’s just say I’m unique!”

  I look at her admiringly. “You certainly are, but in a good way.”

  “Right, I’m off before Little Miss Unique Wolfy here decides I’m not fit to leave and sends me to the pink room,” Billy jokes as he steps out the door.

  I laugh. “Have no fear; Chloe is in the pink room.”

  We both stand and watch as Billy walks to his bike, straddles the saddle as he turns it over and speeds off down the drive.

  As I lead Bel back to the lounge I can feel her energy changing by the second. She is worried about something, no longer laughing and joking. I can’t le
ave her to worry like that. We are mates now. She has me to talk things through with.

  “What are you thinking about? You feel sad and worried.” I sit on the sofa opposite her. She seems to be staring into space and my question jolts her back to the here and now. She looks around the room as if she doesn’t even remember getting here. She stands up and picks up the tray with the mugs from earlier on it.

  “Do you mind if I make another coffee?” she asks. Not exactly what I was hoping for, maybe the coffee will relax her enough to talk to me.

  “Go ahead help yourself.” I watch as she goes into the kitchen to make her coffee.

  I have a bad feeling that she is trying to delay something and, from what her feelings through our bond is telling me, I’m not going to like where this conversation is going.

  She walks back to the sofa with two mugs, placing one in front of me and then sitting down opposite me again. “I don’t know how you take it or even if you wanted one. I hope it’s okay.”

  “I’m not fussy. It’ll be fine,” I say absentmindedly as I reach through our bond hoping for some insight into her thoughts.

  “You regret what happened between us earlier?” I ask. “Upstairs?” I quickly clarify. I can’t stop the sadness escaping me. The bond might not be telling me what exactly she is thinking, but her regret and sadness are coming through loud and clear.

  She takes a calming breath before speaking. “Yes, in a way I regret it, but not because I didn’t enjoy it, or want it, or because I don’t think we are true mates. We are, I know that. I love you, Theo. I want to be able to do what we just did every night. I want to be able to wrap my arms around you and fall asleep cuddling you like my personal teddy bear.” She stops to catch her breath and I take the opportunity to ask the most important question.

  “But we can do that, every day. So why regret it? I can feel it’s the truth you speak, but I can feel your regret too. I don’t understand why you regret it?”

  “Please, just let me finish. It might take awhile but when I’m finished you’ll understand, I promise.” Her begging does me in. I nod for her to carry on, imitating zipping my mouth locking it with a key. I lean over the table to pass her the imaginary key.