Wolf Creek Alpha (Texas Pack 1) (12 page)

    “Can
,
I mean,
may
we ride
the horses
tomorrow,
Uncle Rafe?”

“If you
r
mom says it alright, then
yes, but wait for an a
dult.  Never go near the horses
alone.
”

They were too young to be left unsupervised, but he knew how fast pups could run off. 
Rafe walked along
side Lisa as they returned
to the house. 

“Mom is in the kitchen making dinner.  Don’t worry about meeting her.  She’s not an ogre, trust me,” he grinned.

“Oh than
ks, you’re just so reassuring,” she said smartly.

Entering the kitchen, Lisa saw a woman with auburn hair standing at the stove.  This was
Mom
?  She l
ooked so young, and pretty
. 

“Mom, this is Lisa. 
Lisa,
my mother,
Elizabeth.”  He kept the introductions short, as Elizabeth was already talking to Lisa.

“I am so happy to meet you.  P
lease make yourself at home,” Elizabeth said taking her hands.
 

“Thank you, Elizabeth.  It’s a beautiful place.”

“Please, call me Liz.  We’re pretty informal around here.  Go have a drink
and
relax.  Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes.”

Both Stephanie and Lisa offered to
help,
but she shooed them out of the kitchen. 
They ran
into
Colin in the great room. 

“I’m going up to bathe the girls,” Stephanie gave Colin a pointed look. 

Laughing, Colin said, “I think I’ve been summoned.  See you at dinner.”

“Let me get you a drink, I’ll be right back,” Rafe said.

Lisa settled herself on the sofa.  Looking around the room, she was admiring a huge painti
ng above the fire
place. 
In the painting was
a castle, which looked like the one she was
in now.  Trees surrounded
it with mountains rising in the distance
. 
The sun was shining off the water
in front of the castle
.  Looking closer, she realized there was a pack of wolves in the forest.  Of course, she thought. 
It wasn’t
like
there would
be
a herd of
elephants in the background.

Rafe returned, handing her a glass.  Taking a sniff, she recognized her favorite soda.  He sat down next to her, his thigh touching hers. 

Sheesh,
these wolves did not recognize
personal space.  She almost told him
that
he was in her bubble and
for him
to scoot over. 

“How did you know to get me Dr. Pepper?” she asked.

“Stephanie told me.  She said it was the way to lure you here.  If I tell you I bought a case, will you stay?  Or would it take the whole bottling
company?”

“
Oh,
you don’t have to buy the company,
I’d take stock,
”
she
said deadpan
.

Ian came in and flopped down across from them.  He stretched out his long legs and leaned back with his arms crossed behind his head.

“Robert hasn’t shown yet.  We’ve been patrolling all the way to the edge of our property.  No trespassers.  No one has seen or scented anything out of the ordinary.
”

“Can you smell fairies?” Lisa asked, mystified. 

Both men burst out laughing.  Lisa crossed her arms, glaring at them.

“I’m sorry,
”
Rafe said between snorts. 
“
It was the way you phrased it.  We would notice a scent that wasn’t pack.  But no, they don’t have their own special scent.”

Ian was still laughing.  “He’s wrong, faeries smell like a rose garden.”

Just then, the front doors opened and Rob
ert walked in
;
f
ollowed by two
of his warriors.

“
I heard that.  W
e’re going to have to kick your
ass,
laddie
, for lying to the pretty lady,” Robert
said,
noticing Lisa sitting there.
  

   
Lisa sat there, simply s
t
aring.  Oh
,
my God,
three
gorgeous men wearing kil
ts.  S
he touched her mouth, checking for drool. 
She heard Rafe growl bedside her.  S
he glanced at him and shrugged her shoulders. 

“What?  I’ve never seen a fairy before,” she said innocently.

Rafe stood and introduced Robert. 
As Robert told them the men’s names, each nodded their head.

Before they could report their findings, Liz walked in
,
saying dinner was ready.  She greeted all the warriors
and said
there was plenty for everyone. 

Liz was used to feeding large groups of people.  As Colin and Stephanie returned with the girls, everyone went into the dining ro
om.  They had a long,
bench
-
like table set up so that they could all eat together.  Colin went to set up the high chair for Amy while Sar
ah ran to Mack with her arms up.

Mack picked her up, giving her a hug.  He had just come in through the kitchen, helping Liz put dishes on the table.

    He immediately zeroed in on Lisa.  Walking over, he moved Amy around to his back, making sure her arms were secure around his neck.
  Her little feet were all you could see, as he was so broad.
  With one hand behind his back, he held her bottom firmly so she wouldn’t fall.
 

“You must be Lisa.  Welcome to the family.  I’m this
pup’s
dad, Mack,” he said as he hugged her with one arm.

Lisa stuttered, not expecting to be considered as family.  Knowing it would be rude to argue in front of everyone, she meekly hugged him back.

“Thank you, nice to meet you.”

Anna was already seated, quietly staring at the warriors.  She seemed somewhat intimidated by them.
  She noticed Robert staring at her and knew her secret would soon be out.

After everyone settled in, Devlin came
in
and sat on the other side of Lisa.

“I knew you wouldn’t miss a meal,” said Mack. 

“Not when
Mom’s
cooking,” he grinned.
 

Dishes were passed around, with Rafe making sure
that
Lisa had plenty on her plate.  There was no way she could eat all this food. 
She nibbled quietly as conversation flowed around her. 
No one was asking
questions of Robert.  She assumed the war talk would come after dinner. 

Rafe glanced at her plate and frowned.
“You’re not eating much.  Aren’t you hungry
?”

“I’m half your size, Rafe.  I simply cannot eat this much food.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t go to waste.  I’ll help you finish,” said Devlin, getting closer to her.

Rafe reached behind Lisa and popped Devlin on the back of his head.  Grinning, he moved a couple inches back to his spot.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re an instigator?”  Lisa asked.

With a modest look, Devlin replied, “Who me?”

With everyone finished, the warriors
left to speak in the great room. 
The brothers started to take plates to the kitchen when Liz sto
pped them.  She knew they wouldn’
t begin
without her sons.  Appreciating the gesture, she told them to go,
and
they would handle the
cleanup
. 
Stephanie led
the girls into the kitchen to clean
their
face and hands.  Anna
and Lisa were gathering up dishes when Rafe came over and softly spoke into her ear, thanking her.
 

Crazy
fae
.  I
research papers, artifacts
,
and not
living
people. 
Stephen started searching from his laptop.  He was surprised
at
just how much information you could find, just by having a little to start with. 
He worked all afternoon, and by evening, he had names and addresses.
He grabbed his papers and knocked on the connecting door. 

The door opened by itself.  Stephen didn’t think he could ever get used to seeing such casual use of magic.  He found Dunstan lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. 

    “I found out basic facts.  If you want more personal information, you’re going to have to talk to someone who knows them.” 

Dunstan said quietly, “Start with what you know about the red head.”

Stephen proceeded to give him her name, address,
and
job.  He also told him what he knew about Stephanie.
  Watching him, Stephen wondered what
exactly he wanted with the woman. 
He was realizing he had
put the woman in danger.
  He was drawn into Dunstan’s
blue eyes as
he
turned to speak.
 

“I release you from my service.  You are free to go.  You will not remember summoning me, or any of our conversations.
 
Reading your papers, you realized it was wrong.  Shifters are not real.
You will remember that you came to this area to visit an old college friend.
  Now go to your
room and rest.  Forget you ever saw me.”

Dunstan had retrieved his dirk from Stephen’s room.  He would not be careless with his property again.

Stephen turned and went to his bed.  He did not notice the door closing
behind him.  He was thinking that the
bed looked invitin
g.  I’ll take a little nap,
and then
look for someplace to eat.

Dunstan sighed as he sat up on his bed.  Being imprisoned by his father for so long, he thought he would never see the mortal plain again.
 

Ciar nev
er wanted a family.  His power
over his territo
ry in the
unseelie
court was what
he craved. 
When his son disobeyed him, his punishment was fierce. 
Unfortunately, being
chained in his dungeon was something Dunstan had become accustomed to.

His mother had been young and impressed by his
father’s
looks and charisma. He had been very
charming,
so she didn’
t real
ize the evil underneath.  Dunstan’s memories were of a sad woman that tried very hard to hide it from him.

When Dunstan did not do his
father’s
bidding, he was punished by being chained in the dungeon.  The last time, his mother had somehow released him, pushing him to leave and go to the mortal world.  He didn’t want to leave without her
,
but she made him promise to go.  Begging her to come with him, she refused.  He did not know or understand what hold his father had over her.
  She was physically strong, but Ciar was stronger.
 

Dunstan escaped, leaving his mother behind as promised.
  He had travelled all over the world, hoping he could find the power to defeat his father and save his mother. 

After many years, he decided to go back.  No matter what his father did to him, he wanted
to see how his mother was faring. 

Going through the castle doors, it was
as if
nothing had changed.  It was a cold, unfeeling place.  Asking servants about his mother, he received no response
.  They were too intimidated by his father.  He went looking for his mother, searching her usual places.  He could not find her anywhere.  Going to her bedroom, he searched for any sign of her presence.  He tromped from her room, heading for his
father’s
throne room.  There were no other words to describe it.  The room was huge
and empty,
except for the
large chair placed on a dais.
 

“The prodigal returns.  Very brave of you to just walk right in,” Ciar said menacingly.