Josette knew Max would follow her. She only hoped he wouldn’t try to stop her from leaving. She ran around Mrs. Anderson’s house and into the back yard. It was dark and she couldn’t see very well but didn’t care. As a kid she’d played in the yards of all her neighbors and hoped her memory would allow her to navigate it.
All the houses in her neighborhood sat on large lots of land. Most people couldn’t afford or didn’t bother with cutting down the trees on their property, so there were a lot of them. When she was little she would pretend they were a forest. Tonight she ran blindly into them, pushing low hanging branches out of the way and trying not to trip over roots as she made my escape. She could hear dogs in the distant and was only mildly scared that one or more would be loose. People in her neighborhood tend to let their dogs roam and not all of them were friendly. She didn’t worry too much; she’d cross that bridge when she got to it. Josette couldn’t have ran very far because she would have dumped out into someone else’s yard. She stopped when she came to a fallen tree and sat down. Her breath was coming in pants and her side hurt. Running was not her forte, she was winded by the time she crossed the manicured part of Mrs. Anderson’s back lawn and she’d been running for a while.
She flopped down on the trunk of the fallen tree and cried. She put my hands over her eyes and tried to block out everything but it didn’t work that way. In her mind’s eye everything was vivid, re-mastered and in techno-color. She saw Pops face, the strange look in his eyes the first time he attacked her. Her father’s when he first walked down Mrs. Anderson’s sidewalk and the love that he had for her mother. She saw her mother’s, so in love with her soul mate. Max’s face was the only one she tried not to see and to see at the same time. How could he keep such a secret from her if he loved her? He’d known about her father and her horrible grandmother who had tried to arrange her murder. But Josette loved him and more than anything she wanted to have the calm she always felt when he pulled her in his arms.
She heard something or someone behind her and thought of the dogs that she’d heard while running, but she didn’t think she could run any further and didn’t if a pack of angry wild dogs killed her. She almost laughed at the thought. Her grandmother would be pleasantly surprised to find out that her worrisome granddaughter had been taken care of not by assassin werewolves but by some wild dogs.
“Josette.” It was her father’s voice and he’d stopped before getting too close; waiting for her to accept him.
“What do you want,” Josette said her voice thick with the tears.
“May I sit with you?”
“If I said no would you go away?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Josette didn’t look at him, but he stared at her. She could see him out the corner of my eye. She wasn’t mad at her dad. He had been held prisoner by that witch of a mother. She couldn’t blame him for leaving her mother or not being a part of their lives.
“You know, your mother and I use to come to this very same spot when I first met her,” he said.
Josette didn’t say anything. She sat there letting the last of my tears dry up.
“It was in this very spot that your mother told me she was pregnant,” he went on,” I sat where you are right now when she made me the happiest man in the world.”
“You were both kids,” she huffed.
“Yes, well, the happiest kid in the world then,” he said and laughed a little. “She was so beautiful... but scared. We’d been dating forever and had only recently bonded in that way.”
“TMI,” Josette muttered not ready to hear about her mother’s sex life. Some things kids never needed to know.
“TMI?” Her father said confused.
“Too much information,” she said.
“Oh,” he said, “Yes, I guess it is.” The chuckle made her smile—a little.
They sat in silence for a moment before her dad started again. “I never would have gone back home if I had known my parents would keep me from the two of you. I’d gone home to tell them I was going to marry your mother and I thought that—” he sighed.
“You thought what?” Josette asked when he didn’t continue.
“I thought that they would be reasonable.”
“I don’t know your mom, but nothing about her says reasonable,” Josette said looking at her dad for the first time since he had sat next to her.
“No,” he said and there was sadness there.
“So you’ve been held prisoner in your own home for eighteen years.”
“Yes, and the moment I was released I started to make arrangements to come straight here,” he said looking in the direction of their house. “I missed my father’s funeral.”
In all that had happened Josette had completely forgotten that her father had lost a parent and very recently. She had never known the man, her grandfather, but if her mother died she could only imagine how devastated she would be.
“That sucks about your dad,” she said.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I’ve sent my mother home. Would you consider coming back to Mrs. Anderson’s?”
She looked across the small clearing thinking about if she even wanted to know the rest of the story. She was tired and really only wanted to go to bed.
“Do you know about Pops?” She asked.
“Of course, Maxwell sent me reports daily.”
She looked at her father surprised. “Max works for you?”
“Yes,” her dad said, but he was treading lightly.
“You sent him?”
“Yes.”
“So this was just a job for him?” Josette asked. She felt like she was going to start crying again.
“Oh no, it was more than a job the first time he saw you.” Her father laughed again taking her hand.
She looked down at their joined hands. His were large and surprisingly soft. She’d never imagined ever meeting him and with all that was going on, good or bad, she was happy that he was there. That he still loved her mother and that he wanted to be a part of their lives.
“As I said, it is in our nature to love for life. Max tried to hide it from me for as long as he could and Mrs. Anderson tried to separate the two of you as soon as she realized.”
“Why?”
“Max was sent to protect you, not fall in love with you. It seems he followed in my footsteps in not following instructions well.”
“This is so messed up,” she said.
“Yes, and running away from it will not make it disappear.”
“Letting it rest for a day isn’t running away,” Josette said. She looked at her father and blew out a breath. “ Look, I’ve had a pretty shitty night, actually, it’s the perfect ending to a pretty shitty week. I know that there’s a ton more that we need to talk about but for right now I just want to go to bed,” she said. She was not going to discuss anything else until she had a chance to recoup for the shock of the evening.
“Fair enough, let’s go get your mother and we can go back to my house” her father said. He brushed the seat of his pants and then held his hand out to her.
If she had been anyone else, Max would have ripped out the queen’s throat. Even with the Lycaon sitting across the room from him. Hurt had rolled off Josette like a tidal wave almost doubling him over. When she ran from the room his fingertips ached as his claws sought release, his arms twitched to strike out at the person that had caused her such pain. The Lycaon had stopped him from going to her. His body fought the order and he was sure he could have disobeyed, but Josette needed to spend time with her father. Even in his angered state he knew that. So he’d stood down, looking at his feet instead of the woman he’d grown to hate in a matter of minutes. The queen was always a hard one to follow, the loyalty of the pack had been with her husband and a few with his son. When the Lycaon sent his mother packing, all but banishing her from his presence, Max smile was only hidden because his face was downturned.
Max could feel Josette’s exhaustion. His attraction wasn’t just hi
m wanting to check on her. It was much more than that. It was metaphysical, supernatural. It was an ulric’s need to protect his ulrich, his mate. Josette came above all else. Their bond was becoming stronger, soon it was be undeniable and he couldn’t wait.
Max was standing on the porch when Josette and her dad came from the back of the house. He couldn’t wait a second longer. He damn near ran to her. He heard her father say, “Don’t be too hard on him,” right before he reached them.
“I’m going to get your mother so that we can go home.” He turned and passed Max but not before giving him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
Josette looked into his beautiful face and knew she wanted to be with him for the rest of her life. He had asked her to marry him earlier and she thought she needed time and now she couldn’t remember why she needed it.
“Yes.”
“I was worried,” he said.
“I’m sorry.” She reached up and cupped his face in her hand. Max closed his eyes.
“I love you so much Josette,” he said without opening his eyes.
“I love you too Max.”
He opened his eyes and took her in his arms and kissed her. She put her arms around his neck and he bent down slightly to pick her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Max felt like they’d been away from each other for an eternity. His skin actually missed her touch and he couldn’t get close enough to her. He wanted to crawl right into her skin.
“May I go with you to your father’s house?”
“Please,” she said.
Max and Josette followed behind her parents to the house. He couldn’t wait for her to see it. His own father had help with the design. Her body was turned facing Max, with her head on the headrest. She couldn’t take her eyes off him and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Max gave her quick glances as he drove.
“Werewolf,” Josette said with a smile on her lips.
“Yeap,” Max said nodding with a smile of his own.
“That’s pretty hot,” she said.
Max stunned look made her laugh until tears rolled down her cheeks. She was drying her eyes when they pulled into a gated community. The houses were mini-mansions, Josette was shocked that it was where her dad lived. They passed several houses before pulling into the driveway of the largest she’d seen. Her parents were out of their car and Max had come to her door while she gawked openly. She stared, wide-eyed, at the three story house as Max took her hand and they followed behind her parents. Her dad opened the front door and stepped into a large foyer.
Brianne seemed just as spellbound as Josette and she turned around in a slow circle taking it all in as Julian watched her. He went to her and took her in his arms, smiling down at her has she looked at him in disbelief.
“This is all yours,” he said.
“Mine,” Brianne said confused. “Julian, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything Brianne. Are you too tired for a tour?”
“No. Of course not.”
Max and Josette followed. The first floor had four rooms: a great room, a formal dining room, a restaurant size kitchen the sitting area and the den. The second floor had four bedrooms all with private baths and a second den with bar and theater. The third floor had two master suites that were on each side that were big enough to fit the house Brianne and Josette just left in; one for her parents and the other for her. There were even elevators.
“There’s also a pool house and servant quarters in the back, but you can see that in the morning,” Julian said.
“Servant quarters,”Brianne said pulling to a stop.
“Brianne, you will never want for anything again, you or Josette,” he said.
Julian turned to Max now, “You know the rules,” he said sternly.
“Of course sir,” Max said.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Josette’s father said as he pulled her mother into his arms and they walked towards their bedroom.
“Was that code for not funny business,” Josette asked.
“It sure was,” Max said and smiled at her. “Let’s get you to bed.”
Her room was unbelievable. The bed was the biggest she’d ever seen on one wall, and a large flat screen TV on the other. There was a sunken in sitting area with a wrap around couch, chairs and desk, as well as another TV and stereo. The bathroom was cream marble with double sinks and a large Jacuzzi tub and the shower was as big as the bedroom at home. But the closet was Josette favorite thing of all.
For someone who was a self proclaimed fashion dodger Josette stood wide-eyed at the entrance. As big as the bathroom, it was already fully stocked. There was a large center island that had drawers and compartments. There was a vanity area where she could sit and put on makeup if she’d worn any. The shoe racks on one wall had every pair of shoes imaginable from designer heels to tennis shoes. The clothes were color coordinated and sectioned according to occasion. There were even a few cocktail dresses and evening gowns thrown in. She walked around touching everything as Max stood behind her. The price tags were still on all of the clothes. Everything was beautiful and perfect and her size. She looked at Max, shocked by it all. She wanted to pinch myself.
“I hope everything is okay,” Max said stepping into the closet standing behind her taking her in his arms so that Josette’s back rested against his chest.
“How could it not be,” Josette said. She could feel his body shake as he laughed.
“You must be tired, why don’t you put on a night gown and get to bed,” he said.
Josette turned to him. “You’re not leaving are you?”
“No, I’m just giving you some privacy.” Max walked backwards until their outstretched hands came apart.
“I’m going to take a quick shower and then I’ll be right back,” he said.
“Me too,” Josette said. She looked around the closet trying to figure out where night gowns would be stored.
“Your gowns are in the island,” Max said from the door, “Top drawer.”
“Thanks.”
Max stood there a moment longer and finally turned to leave. She walked over to the island and pulled opened the top drawer and picked a white gown that was so soft, just feeling it made her sleepy. Josette went back to the bathroom and peeled off her clothes before stepping into the shower. The warm water was a relief. She washed and conditioned her hair and brushed her teeth before going back into the bedroom. She was inspecting the sitting area when a soft knock came from the door.
Brianne had on a beautiful long night gown that looked more appropriate for a wedding night. Josette guessed it was sort of a special occasion and she was happy for her mother all over again. Her mother walked into the room giving everything once over.
“Wow,” she said.
“I know...right.”
Brianne made her way to her daughter and stood in front of her. Brianne glowed with happiness and Josette couldn’t help smiling with her.
“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it,” Brianne asked.
“Yeah,” Josette said looking around again. “You deserve it all. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you,” she said and guided Josette to the couch.
“Your father told me about Max and how he feels about you.”
Josette doubted her father or her mother knew the extent of her and Max’s relationship, the connection that they shared with one another. She watched her parents and she knew that they loved each other, but there was something missing in their relationship that she and Max had. Her parents love each other; that she had no doubt, but Max and she were connected on a deeper level. Josette was ready to defend my feelings for Max and his for her. She didn’t want to fight with her mother, not tonight, not after everything that had happened, but she was prepared to do just that.
“I’ve left you alone a lot, trying to make ends meet. You’ve almost raised yourself.” She rubbed J
osette’s arms, “You have an old soul Josette; you always have. I’m not worried that you won’t make the right choices. I just don’t want you to rush into anything or getting hurt.”
“I love him,” she said unexpectedly. There was no embarrassment or first-time-kid-love awkwardness; just a simple truth finally said out loud.
“I know and he loves you. I could see it the first time I saw the two of you together. I think I knew it before either of you did,” her mother smiled, “I just want you to take it slow.” Josette guessed now was not the time to tell her that she’d already made up her mind to marry Max. With all that had happened maybe she had forgotten that he had even asked to marry him.
“I was young when I met your father and I know I would never have chosen another. Having you was the best thing that ever happened to me, but I want you to wait to have children. I want you to live your life first, even if you should decide to marry Max right away.”
Josette looked at her mother shocked. She’d guessed wrong. Had she just given her permission to marry Max?
“So you’re okay if we get married?” She asked to confirm.
“As okay as a mother can be about her seventeen year old getting married,” her mom answered.
Josette wanted to tell her she’d wait to get married but she didn’t want to make promises she didn’t know she could keep. She loved him and wanted to be tied to him in every way. Her mom saw that in her eyes without her saying a word and nodded her understanding.
“I love you Josette, your father loves you too and we only want you to be as happy as we are.”
It was strange hearing her mother say the words. As if they had been a happy family for the last seventeen years. Her father had just come back into her life, but there they were, sitting in a not so mini-mansion, in a room the size of a house, talking like they’d been there forever. Her parents had picked up right where they left off, not skipping a beat.
“I love you too, I’m really happy for both of you,” Josette said.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you in the morning,” Brianne said standing up to take her leave and return to her room. She crossed the bedroom and opened the door to find Max standing on the other side of it.
“Max,” she said not surprised at all, “I trust you’ll continue to be the perfect gentleman where my daughter is concerned,” she said reiterating the warning he’d been given already by her father.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Max answered.
Max shut the door gently behind him and walked into the room. Josette met him halfway and they ended up standing at the foot of the bed.
“You ready for bed?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m exhausted.”
The sun was coming up outside and she wasn’t sure if she would be able to sleep. Josette was still overwhelmed by the house and a nervous excitement had filled her. Max took her hand. He reached for a remote sitting on the night stand and pointed it at the window. Blinds started to lower from the top of the window. Max sat the remote down and pulled back the covers. He climbed in first and then pulled her into his arms. Once the blinds were closed the curtains followed and the room was completely dark. He kissed her on my neck as she snuggled into the comforting folds of his arms.
“Good morning Josette,” he said and laughed a little.
“Good morning Max,” she said.
They lay in bed quietly and the steady rise and fall of his chest lulled her to sleep. She was almost asleep when he whispered, “I love you.”
Josette woke up about two in the afternoon. Max was not in the room and she was disoriented. There was a moment when she didn’t remember where she was. Then it hit her. She was in their new house; Josette, her parents and Max. Her dad had bought this house for her mom. Last night had been torturous but she couldn’t help but smile as she sat and looked around her grand new room. Max had opened the curtains but not the blinds. She picked up the remote that he’d used earlier to close everything but quickly put it back down after seeing the complex array of buttons. Time was wasting and she didn’t want to sit there figuring out a remote. She threw the covers off and noticed the note next to her on what she already considered Max’s side of the bed.
Tehila, went to my grandmother’s.
Max
She jumped from the bed and opened the doors of her closet with the sound of heavenly music playing in her head. It was just as wonderful and impressive as it was the first time she saw it. She went over to the island on the hunt for underwear. Ten minutes later she was dressed with her hair down in the curly mess Max liked it in. Taking the stairs two at a time she barely felt her feet on the ground. She bounced in the kitchen to find her mother making breakfast.
“Good afternoon, Josette,” her dad said from his spot at the granite countertop island.
Josette took the note from her pocket and handed it to her father. It was short and before she had a chance to ask his low chuckle made her blush.
“What or who is tehila?” she asked. Her mother came over and her dad handed her the note. “The te is pronounced day, and the hi makes the sound of the long g,” he said smiling at Josette.
“Day-ghee-la,” he said smiling bigger, “It’s an endearment. The literal translation is lover,” her father finally said.
“Oh,” Brianne said handing the note back to a beet red Josette who took and quickly stuffed it in her pocket. She waited for the floor to open up and swallow her whole in her embarrassment.
“Don’t worry Brianne. Maxwell is very traditional and old fashion,” her father said.
The door located to the right of where Josette was sitting opened and Max walked in. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him. She was giddy and couldn’t hold back the smile on her face. He stopped right in front of her, close enough to cover her in the warmth of his body and took her hand. He kissed the palm before kissing her forehead. It was such an old person show of affection. Her father was right Max was very old school.
“Alright, everyone, grab a plate, we have a lot to discuss.”Julian said.
Oh right, werewolf stuff. What kind of thing was that to forget?
They were all sitting at the table, Max and Julian with plates piled high enough to feed two people, Josette and Brianne drinking coffee. Josette don’t know about her mom, but her stomach was tied in knots.
“At the time of my birth I was betrothed to a neighboring pack’s daughter. The marriage was to join the two packs and together my wife and I would rule the largest pack of werewolves in America,” Julian said.
It was a logical beginning Josette guessed, except it was kind of in the middle if you didn’t know werewolves existed twenty four hours ago.
“Can you go back to the werewolf part?” she said.
“No one knows when or where the first werewolf came from. We only know it’s passed like a virus or infection through fluid exchange or birth,” Max said.
“But not from scratches,” Brianne asked.
Julian shook his head and picked up where Max left off. “Not unless there is blood on the hand or claw of the werewolf that is attacking.”
“Were you born a werewolf?” Josette asked.
“I was, and so was Max,” her father said.
They listened as Max and Julian took turns giving Werewolf 101. Werewolves, even in human form, were stronger. Silver couldn’t kill them but they could be mortally wounded. There were three shapes or forms, but only the strongest werewolf could take the wolfman form. Werewolves shared many of the characteristics of the animal, like pack mentality and matting for life. Werewolves could be in wolf form anywhere from one to four, sometimes five, days; the strongest only one day the weakest the longest. Julian turned for one day and Max turned for three.
Werewolves sometimes marry humans. But humans don’t share the same absolution devotion that wolves have that allows them to mate for life. Children born of a mix couple may or may not be born a werewolf. Those born usually make their first transformation at five. Julian s
uspected that his parents had sent someone to check on Josette periodically in the beginning to make sure she wasn’t a werewolf.
Julian’s devotion to Brianne had started a war between the two packs after his parents were unable to get him to agree to marry the other pack’s princess, or Lupa, as werewolf princesses are called. A prince was called Lupus. His father the Lycaon, or wolf king, had tried negotiating after seeing his son’s love for Brianne, but the other pack didn’t care. The Lycaon refused to give his son forcefully and so they went to arms.
The first several years were the hardest, but it’s hard to have a secret war. Werewolves’ number one law was that their existence could not be known and it was pretty hard go on a full out attack. But people had died.
Josette had never met the Lycaon, her grandfather, but felt sorry for him. Torn between the love of his wife and that of his son. Her grandmother, the Nonakris, or wolf queen, had insisted on keeping her own son prisoner. The cherry on top, was that there was also the beginnings of civil unrest brewing within Julian’s own pack. Seventeen years was a long time to worry about running into an enemy in a dark alley and having to fight for your life. But Julian was adamant, he would marry one woman and one woman only, and that was Brianne. It was sweet until Max filled the two women in on challenges.
A challenge was when another alpha werewolf basically fights for dominance, from small things all the way to the title of Lycaon. It wouldn’t have been so bad, if it wasn’t a fight to the death.
Pops was a werewolf... who knew? Well, Julian and Max did. Strong wolves can control omega wolves. Omega wolves were the lowest of the low on the totem pole of werewolf hierarchy. Max shared that Pops had more than likely been bitten shortly before his first attack because he was weak. Last night he had been exponentially stronger and harder to kill thanks to enhanced DNA. Go werewolf genes! But the thought of Pops being turned, just to kill Josette, was sick on a whole different level.
Josette had covered every emotion by the time they’d finished: sadness, anger, rage, disbelief. She felt like she’d been beaten with a bag of bricks when at last the two of them finished and waited on Josette and Brianne’s reaction to it all.
“Well,” Max finally said after a stretch of silence.
The two men waited for their women to make up their minds. Was it truth or were the two of them crazy? If they were crazy then Brianne and Josette were either on the crazy bandwagon or they were going to bale. Josette wasn’t baling.
Max was watching Josette very carefully. Her heart rate increased a little. The entire time she’d sat there she thought about Max and the fact that he was a werewolf. It rolled around in her mind like a marble. She waited for it to find a hole, waited on the absurdity of it all to kick in and her brain’s refusal to believe what she was hearing. A hole that the marble could fall through, but there was none. It was unbelievable and yet she believed and could see that her mother did too. For her mother, it was blind faith in the man she loved. That was all the proof that she needed. It could be worst, he could be abusive, or a drunk, or a baby killer. Being werewolf just wasn’t a deal breaker for her. She smiled a second before Max did and he winked at her.
“Okay,” Brianne said nodding and taking a deep breath. “Okay,” she said a second time to cement the idea in her head.
The phone rang and Max left the table to answer it.
“So what happens now?” Josette asked.
“Tons,” her dad said. He’d picked up Brianne’s hand from the tabletop and was rubbing his cheek in her palm. “But I think that’s enough for right now. You both have the most important pieces of the puzzle. The rest you can learn as you go. Between the two of us, we’ll teach you the rest.”
Max came back to the table, but didn’t sit down. “That was Luke. There’s a problem at the local pack and he’s asked that I come out,” he said.
“Is everything alright,” Julian asked standing up. Something like static electricity ran through the air and Josette and Brianne ran their hands up and down our arms. Josette realized that it was coming from her father. It had happened with Max last night.
“Everything’s fine, just some rowdy kids he wants me to come out to help with,” he said smiling. He walked over to Josette leaning over to kiss her. She offered her lips before it registered she was kissing him on the mouth in front of her parents. She froze the second their lips met.
“Look, my love, isn’t it beautiful,” her father said.
Josette smiled with her lips still pressed against Max’s mouth and kissed him. Her father was totally fine and her mom didn’t look too sour, but she was going to have to get use to seeing her baby girl kissing in front of her.
“I love you,” Max said making it worst. Josette buried my face in his stomach as he laughed at her.
“Go ahead and say it Josette,” her mom said and she could hear the teasing in her voice.
“I love you too,” Josette mumbled into his shirt and stood up and took his hand and walked him to the door to escape her embarrassment. Was she seriously thinking she was ready to marry someone? She couldn’t even kiss him without blushing the shade of a fire truck.
“Can I go,” she asked Max, who had gone all out and was pulling her into an embrace. Ten feet from her parents and she had eyes only for him. The rest of the world disappeared and it was only the two of them.
“Not today,” he said with his nose in her hair. “Did you wear your hair down for me?” he asked. She nodded.
“Why can’t I go with you?” She asked a little breathless. She tightened her arms around his waist and took a long deep breath, taking in his scent. He smelled like sunshine or springtime. Two things that she wouldn’t have said had a scent before meeting him.
“Your father will introduce you to the pack. Until then it may not be safe for you.”
“What?” Josette said pulling away from him. “What do you mean?”
“There are people still looking for you on both sides Josette. Once your father recognizes you as heir, and get everything calmed down from the death of our Lycaon things will be a lot better.”
“Oh,” she said hugging him again. “Will you be long?”
“Not too long. I’ll miss you.” He kissed her once more and opened the door and disappeared into the garage.
Josette sighed heavily and her shoulders slumped a little and damn if her bottom lip didn’t poke out a little. She missed him already. She heard the sound of his horn beep twice and smiled.
Chapter Ten
Lupa (Second Edition) Page 16