Branches of the Willow 3 (3 page)

I walked across the living room as Mikael headed into the kitchen. “We’re actually going to try to make this really quick and painless tonight, since it’s late. You guys will be given quarters for the night, and arrangements will be made in the morning.

I had not bothered to introduce myself, or display any power for that matter, so it didn’t surprise me that one of the wolves was eyeing me up like I was a dinner entre and he was starving. Andy walked over to stand beside me, apparently having noticed the same thing. “Let me introduce everyone.” He pointed to the starving man first. “This is Nicholi.” If I didn’t have a mate, I would have been interested in this man. He was the quintessential tall, dark, and handsome. His hair was the color of a raven’s wings, almost blue-black. Those eyes that were devouring my very being we so deep brown that they nearly appeared black themselves. The five o’clock shadow that sprung up across his jaw just added to the look for him. He was as tall as Mikael, with broad shoulders, a trim waistline, and perfectly pouty lips that a girl could suckle on forever. Just as I was thinking that, those lips turned up in a very self-assured grin. I was saved from further perusal when Andy continued on with his introductions. “The man to Nicholi’s left is Demetri.” Demetri had a fine build too, as most werewolves did. He was tall, with defined muscles, and topped off with a coppery, reddish-brown hair and shining blue eyes. The smile he bestowed upon with his introduction was a welcoming hello. It was nothing like the sex in a smile look his compatriot had given me. I smiled back and moved on to observe the third man. “And this is Brian.” At Andy’s introduction Brian bowed his head in my direction. He was a much smaller man. He probably only stood at just under six feet tall, and while he was well proportioned for his height, he was trim, but not well defined. Brian did not, at all, leave me with the impression of being an Ancient.

Andy began to introduce me. “Gentlemen, this is…” He was cut off by Nicholi who didn’t bother to wait for the full introduction. Instead he stepped forward, closing the space between us, and with a cocky grin plastered across his face he finally spoke in a gravely deep voice, thick with his Romanian accent. “Pleasure to meet you, draga mae.” He bowed slightly, reaching for my hand to kiss it. I backed up a step and turned as I heard a dangerously low growl coming from the doorway to the kitchen. Mikael stalked towards us with two bottles of beer clutched in his hands.

“You,” Mikael started stiffly. “Will show some respect.” He started to hand me a bottle, but an odd look crossed his face, and he placed both of them down on the side table by the chair instead. Then he came to wrap his arm around my waist. “This is Jessica St. Marks De’Lune. You will not refer to as anything less than Jessica, or M’Lady.”

Amusement flickered over Nicholi’s face. The other two men standing with him blanched a bit. Demetri shook his head in disbelief before he spoke. “We were not aware.” He bowed his head respectfully then, as did the third man. Nicholi just stood there, having a staring match with Mikael. The dynamic would have been funny, with Mikael’s anger bubbling to the surface while the other man still just seemed amused.

“State your business so we can be done with you for the night.” Mikael managed to get out, his voice low with barely contained anger.

Nicholi ignored Mikael then, and moved his body so that he was facing me alone. “More than a pleasure, now that I know to whom I speak.” He granted me another mock bow, the grin never leaving his face. “We are here to be immersed in yo…” The man couldn’t even get one sentence out before Mikael was growling again. I bumped my hip into him slightly, and tried to hide the smile that wanted to creep up my face. While this wasn’t the time or place for a pissing match, I hadn’t seen someone get under Mikael’s skin this bad since his brother, Evan.

“It’s been a long day, gentlemen. I want to get home, so let’s speed this up. You, Demetri, can you please speak for your group?” More amusement, tinged with just a flicker of ill will, flashed across Nicholi’s face as he was dismissed.

“M’Lady,” Demetri started with another small bow. “I am honored to be in your presence. We are seeking entry into your immersion program. Both Nicholi and I are from Ancient clans. Brian is a Lesser, but he lived in our community. While he’s not strictly speaking an Ancient, the others will see him as such. We want a chance at finding a mate, and perhaps a little happiness after many hard times.”

“You are not what I was expecting with the white wolf.” Nicholi spoke out of the blue.

“No?” I questioned turning my attention back to the man.

“No.” He said simply. “Not at all.” His appreciative gaze was about to send Mikael into another tizzy.

“And what about you?” I turned to the third man, choosing to ignore Nicholi before Mikael decided to take the man’s head off.

“I simply want to have the normal pack experience. I was turned by one of Antoine’s guards, years ago, and forced to live as a low class worker for the royals. I just want to get a taste of some freedom, normalcy, and if I find a mate while I do that…” He let the words trail off as he closed his eyes. I had no idea what he imagined his new life to be like, but my heart went out to him. I had heard that Antoine treated the turned wolves no better than indentured servants or slaves in a lot of cases.

“I am the opposite of Brian. I was born Ancient, and there were certain things that were expected of me. I was given a guard position, while all I wanted to do was work with my hands. I used to stand guard for the King’s brother as he worked in the shops. I always dreamed of being able to craft such things as he did.” The wistful look on his face nearly broke my heart too. These men were each slaves to Antoine, and their fates, in their own ways.

“I think perhaps Nicholi and Brian should go to Avery’s clan.” I was thinking out loud, but I noticed Mikael’s head nod in agreement.

“Do you not want to hear my sad story too?” Nicholi interrupted with a faux pout on his face.

“NO.”

“No,” I said at the same time Mikael had. “Definitely Avery’s. He’s going to need to keep this one in check.” I nodded to Nicholi as if he were no more than a pesky child. “Demetri, I think you should stay here, in this pack. One of our craftsmen was recently taken from us.” My voice cracked a little as I spoke of Jack again. “We need another hand there, and it would be the perfect place for you to apprentice, and see if it’s everything you have hoped for.” Demetri couldn’t contain the grin that spread across his face like wildfire. “Mikael’s uncle taught him quite a bit, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sharing that knowledge.”

“I’ll be happy to assist you with further lessons, once you have the basics down. I am not nearly as good as my Uncle, for he was a true artist, but perhaps you will surpass my own skill as well.”

“I would be honored.”

“Who is this Avery person?” Nicholi spoke up again, not at all happy that his friend Demetri was being received better than he was.

“He is your only hope of staying here, and possibly being part of the immersion program. So, when you meet him, you will want to show some respect. I value his opinion. If he says you’re too much trouble, I will take him at his word.”

“Fair enough.” Nicholi ground out.

“Andy, if you would show them to Jack’s place?” Weariness seemed to seat itself deep in my bones at that point. I wanted nothing more than to go home and collapse in bed with Mikael’s arms wrapped tightly around me. He seemed to sense this too, and gave my hips a little squeeze. “Once you see them dropped off, I want you to get some sleep, and then head to Avery’s in the morning. Take the pass to get there, because I want him to have a proper heads up. He has enough going on over there as is.”

“Let him know we’ll be bringing these two with us in a few days.” Mikael added.

“Also, find out if he needs any assistance with his current situation.”

“Will do.” Andy spoke up, before nodding his head to the others indicating that they should follow him. “Let’s go get you guys settled in.”

“Oh, hey Andy…” I waited until he turned to come back closer before I finished. “Let Avery know that Freedman’s pack is going to be a problem too. I know he has people out there that keeps tabs on things, and Freedman’s people need to be on that priority list, if they’re not all ready.”

“Sure thing, Jess.”

I turned to Mikael after Andy left with the three new werewolves. “I guess I should have been expecting that level of cocky, considering Evan, Asi, and you were the first three Ancients I met.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Mikael spouted out in mock indignation. Then he grumbled. “But if that jerk eyeballs you one more time, or tries calling you his girl again, I will be more than happy to take care of the Ancient problem for those objecting to the program.”

“Is that what he said?”

“Yes, that’s what he said.” Mikael pulled back a little. “Don’t look so flattered.”

“I guess you better hurry up and get me home, before I have to take that jerk up on his unspoken offer.” I teased, and just like that Mikael was on me in a flash of furious passion. Strong arms caged me in as if I were his unwilling prisoner. His kiss, bruising my lips in such a delicious way, was just what I needed to rejuvenate myself a bit. That is until I heard a throat clearing from across the room. I peeked over Mikael’s shoulder to see my parents standing there. My mom seemed to be amused while my dad definitely was not.

“Sorry.” I managed. “We were just heading home.”

The response I received was a grumble from my father as he meandered through the living room and into the kitchen. He never dropped eye contact with Mikael as he went. It was probably his way of assuring Mikael’s mouth didn’t find mine again until dad was out of sight. The snickering in my ear let me know Mikael was well aware of that fact too.

“Jess, Mikael.” My mom started. “If you’d like to stay for some late dinner, I was just about to throw something together.”

“No thanks, mom,” I managed to get out before a yawn overtook me. “I’m beat,” another yawn, “and just want to go home.”?

“I understand. We’ll see you tomorrow. Stop in for lunch, Jessica. You’ve been too busy, and you don’t look like you’ve been stopping to eat at all.” My mom’s gaze travelled the length of my body, noticing that my clothes were fitting a little looser than they used to. She was right. Often times, I was skipping meals in order to fit everything in. Unfortunately, she had to call that out in front of Mikael, who started noticing too.

“Let’s get you home, and fed.”

~*~

I woke up to pancakes with fresh cut strawberries and whipped cream on top, bacon, some juice, coffee, and the most gorgeous man in the world delivering it all to me with a smile on his face. “Is this heaven?” I asked, voice still husky with sleep.

“Every day with you is heaven, baby.” Mikael closed the distance between us as he spoke, and placed a sweet kiss on my lips before pulling away and sliding the food closer. “Now, eat. I don’t need your mom insinuating that I’m not taking good enough care of you.”

“She never said that,” I huffed.

“No, but she did notice you’ve lost weight, and she’s right. You aren’t taking good enough care of yourself. You come first, Jess.” I started to argue with him, that making sure my people were taken care of comes above all else, but he cut me off. “You can’t take care of your people effectively if you’re so warn down that you can’t even pay attention to what they need.” He smiled at me as I begrudgingly took a bite of my food. That bite was heavenly, and I couldn’t even fake my displeasure anymore. I dug in, and ate like I hadn’t in a long while. “The white wolves have warned you about finding balance in your life. Maybe, this is exactly the kind of thing they meant. You needed a mate in your life who would kick your ass and tell you to slow down a bit.”

“Okay.” I bit out through a mouthful of food before I could swallow. “I get it. I will do better, promise!”

“Good, now I’m going to shower, and when you’re done there, you need to get ready. I just happened to think of something this morning, and we need to get back to talk to the guys who came in last night. I have some questions for them.”

The water was already streaming from the shower before I could find out what Mikael wanted to ask. I hurriedly finished up my meal, and snatched some clothes up out of the closet, in hopes of joining Mikael in the shower before he finished. I had fallen right to sleep the night before, despite the fact that I desperately wanted to be with him. We could make up for that this morning as part of my new ‘taking care of me first’ life plan I was being shoved into. Unfortunately, before I could get more than a couple steps, my phone was ringing.

“Why me?” I huffed out as I reached for the phone I had tossed on the desk last night. “Hello?”

“Jess?” I knew the voice instantly. It was Sierra, Jack’s widowed mate.

“Is something wrong, Sierra?”

“Well, I was on a walk last night, headed to the lake, and I saw some lights on in the house.” By ‘the house’ she meant, the house she used to share with Jack. Sierra had chosen to move out and go live with her parents again for a while, because she couldn’t stand being there alone.

“I’m sorry, I should have told you. We have some guests staying there for right now. Two of them will be leaving soon, and the third may end up staying put right there.” I heard her breath hitch through the phone. “I’m sorry, Sierra. I know, it’s hard, but we can’t let the house just sit forever.”

“I know. I just… well, I was just surprised, I guess. It’s okay, Jess. I knew someone would have to use it sooner or later.”

“How have you been doing, Sierra? Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No. I’m fine. Jess, do you think…” her voice got quiet and then trailed off completely.

“Do I think what, hon?”

“I don’t know why I didn’t die with him. I hurt so much. I still hurt. I just don’t understand why I survived it. What’s the point in being here without him?”

My heart ripped open right then and there. “Oh Sierra…” I whispered. “You will be with him again. You’re just not done here yet. I don’t know how I know it, but soon you will realize why you survived. Your purpose is out there, and it’s going to find you soon.” I wasn’t entirely sure where the words were coming from. I was overwhelmed with a feeling of rightness as they left my mouth. Sierra had more to do with her life before she would be called to her mate’s side once again. “I’ll come see you in a bit, okay?”