Chapter Twenty-Three
To say Catherine was nervous would be an enormous understatement. Even waking up curled into Graham while he snored above her wasn’t enough to quiet the nausea she’d been feeling since Graham told her she would be meeting the alpha. Everything they wanted was riding on this meeting going well.
Graham sauntered out of the shower wearing a towel and she allowed herself a singular moment to admire her mate through the reflection of the mirror. His scent flooded the room with the steam from the shower and she inhaled to help calm her nerves. He walked up behind her and ran his nose along her shoulder. He slid his hand up her black dress to rest flat on her belly.
“Do you need help relaxing before we leave?” he asked against her ear. She looked up at his reflection to find his eyes swirling with black and a slight tilt on his lips.
“Right, that’s just what I need. To go meet the alpha smelling like sex,” she responded, pushing him off.
“Better than going smelling like a horny teenager,” he reasoned, walking toward his closet.
“Why would I…I am not…”
“I wasn’t talking about you,” he said and winked at her.
”
She rolled her eyes and donned her heels. She stepped into the bathroom and looked around for her contact case. After several minutes of futile searching she returned to the bedroom and sucked in a breath at Graham in a suit. He wanted to dress to impress and impressive he was. The top few buttons were undone on his white dress shirt, his jacket flexed against his wide shoulders as he buckled his belt. When she was finally able to tear her eyes from his figure and look up at his face she found a knowing smile lingering there. He lifted his nose and sniffed the air, now filled with her desire.
“You sure I can’t help you?” he asked. She swallowed and shook her head. Then changed her mind and nodded. His eyebrows shot up.
“Not with that. I was looking for my contacts. Have you seen them?”
His face changed and he scowled. He turned to pick up some cufflinks from his bedside table. “I threw them out.”
“You… what?!”
He turned to her again and his face was stern. “I don’t like you hiding your eyes. It’s a rarity in lycan culture as much as human or wolf but for lycans it has a different meaning. Alpha Jensen has the gift himself. You should be proud of your blessing, Catherine, whether you understand it or not. Your eyes are beautiful and when you hide them it pisses me off.” He shrugged and picked up her shawl from the bed. He stood in front of her, shawl extended for her to take.
“People stare and ask lots of questions,” she said, blushing at his declaration. His assertiveness should have angered her, instead his authority turned her
“People stare at you even with those things in. You’re beautiful, Catherine. Your eyes merely amplify that fact. People ask questions because they sense your gentle, approachable nature. Now come on, we don’t want to be late… Unless…” He winked and she smacked him.
They took Graham’s mustang to the packhouse. With each second her nerves grew and grew until she felt they would suffocate her. Graham placed his hand on her thigh and squeezed. She wrapped both of her hands around his and gripped him tightly. He parked in front of the house, turned the car off and faced her. He lifted their hands to his mouth and kissed the backs of hers.
“It’s going to be okay,” he told her and she smiled.
Graham and Catherine walked hand in hand into the packhouse. She kept a step behind him and gripped his upper arm with her free hand. He had yet to give her a tour of the building. He’d made it clear he wanted her to stay away from the packhouse whenever possible. When she asked why he only told her it was a den of vipers and he didn’t trust a single person inside.
The house was four stories high, covered in stone and boasting numerous fireplaces. It had to be at least two centuries old. The front entryway made her gasp. The floors were the same stone as the house, covered in warm rugs. A large chandelier hung above her head, casting the wooden beams in a soft light.
They walked up a set of stairs and down a long hallway. They passed several open rooms that looked like offices. Once or twice she’d notice someone or a group of people who stopped to stare at her as they passed. Graham’s hand tightened against hers and he pulled her closer against him. They continued down until the end of the hallway. He knocked on an ornately carved wooden door and a voice from within beckoned them in. Graham took a deep breath, his shoulders tight as he opened the door.
1/2
Catherine expected the meeting to be between them and the alpha which is why she was surprised to find several other people waiting. There was a beautiful woman sitting on a couch near the windows. She beamed up at Catherine, putting her a bit at ease. The ease evaporated immediately when she noticed the man sitting next to her. It was the alpha’s son, Stuart. His eyes traveled over her dress and he smirked. Her skin crawled. Graham growled low beside her, having caught the look himself. She glanced around and noticed a few other men watching them. Finally her gaze turned to the desk.
She found Alpha Jensen staring at her as though she’d just set his whole family on fire. She took a step back as a connection flared to life in her chest. Her breathing became harder as she stared at the man whose eyes mirrored her own. She couldn’t identify this feeling in her chest. It reminded her of the bond that sparked when she first saw Graham but this felt different somehow. It felt lighter, more nurturing and familiar.
“Catherine, are you okay?” Graham whispered, oblivious to the alpha’s growing anger.
“Something’s wrong,” she said back.
“What the fuck is the meaning of this, Graham?” Alpha Jensen yelled.
Graham tensed and instinctively pulled Catherine behind him. She peeked around his arm to find the alpha standing, his hands splayed along his desk. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, drawing her attention to the tattoos covering every inch of his exposed skin, even on the backs of his hands. His chest rose and fell sharply, his canines were extended and his eyes glowed silver and black. Were those what her eyes looked like?
“What is the meaning of this, Graham? What spell has she cast upon herself to distract us?” the alpha roared.
“What are you talking about, Alpha? There is no witchcraft here,” Graham answered in a calm voice that belied his tense stance and clenched fists.
“Then tell me how is it that I am feeling a familial bond as if she’s my daughter?!”
The entire room stilled. No one breathed as his words sank in. Graham grabbed her hand in a tight grip as if daring anyone to try to rip her away from him. She looked around to find everyone’s eyes already on her.
The luna looked curious. Her eyes were taking Catherine in as if trying to spot the similarities. A small smile graced her face as she noticed the similar hair, nose and, of course, her eyes. Stuart looked enraged while he shook his head beside his mother. The other men looked confused and angered. She stepped closer to Graham.
“Everyone out,” the alpha commanded.
His aura rippled out and she experienced an alpha lycan’s full command for the first time. She held firm to Graham as she fought it. She would not leave without him. Her knees buckled and she cried out. Graham grabbed her before she could fall. She clung to his chest as the pain from the alpha’s command continued to wash over her.
“Enough Jensen,” Graham said. The alpha growled and the command dropped. Catherine sucked in a breath and shook against him. “It’s okay, baby. I have to set you down now. It’ll be okay.” He set her down but she clung to his collar.
“Explain yourself,” the alpha ordered.
Catherine glanced around and noticed everyone but Stuart had cleared out. Then she realized the alpha was speaking to her.
“I…”
“She doesn’t know anything, Jensen,” Graham said.
“The hell she doesn’t. Who’s to say she hasn’t bewitched you too?” he asked. Graham growled.
“You may be my alpha but she is my mate and if you accuse her of witchcraft one more time I’ll turn rogue, Jensen,” Graham warned.
The alpha shut up and she wondered how Graham was able to talk like that to an alpha who’s aura had knocked her to her knees. The two stared at each other for several tense minutes.
“Get her out of here. I want to speak with you alone,” the alpha commanded.
Graham nodded and turned to Catherine. Panic surged through her body and she shook her head violently. “Graham, please, I want to stay with you.”
He cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “I’m going to talk to the alpha and then come get you. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The door opened and the luna woman stepped in. She nodded at Graham and then held her hand out for Catherine. “Come on, Honey. Let them talk and we
can go find something to eat.”
Graham smoothed some hair down her back and walked her to the door. “It’ll only be a few minutes, I promise. You can trust Rebecca.”
Catherine took Rebecca’s hand and took a few steps out of the door. She turned in time to see Graham nodding at her and the door close.
Surrendering to Destiny
