“You are so mean to me sometimes. I heartily accept all proposals. I shall go and get us coffees to celebrate and thus do a little earth-angeling at the same time while I check what Seth is doing.”
As she walked past me she knocked a cobweb off my skirt. “I hope that’s from the room and not your vagina.”
The door swung shut behind her and closed before my mouth did.
Chapter Four
Darius
I headed to an area at the edge of the woods where the community hall stood. This was where we held our pack meetings and ceremonies. We weren’t a huge pack, with around thirty adult males, twenty-five adult females and then the kids. Altogether our group totalled around seventy. We had different duties around the park. I did some security detail alongside my job as a Police Officer.
Our Alpha, Edon, was around sixty years old and had been the Alpha male for the last twenty-nine years. Alpha’s were elected by the rest of the adults in the pack. Edon was a charismatic leader with a huge presence. With short salt and pepper hair and a long grey beard, he stood for no nonsense. He was like an uncle to me. The whole pack were family to each other whether through blood or circumstance.
Any adults could attend the pack meetings but it was mainly the adult males who attended, following meetings with a game of pool, and a beer or scotch.
I walked into the meeting room looking at who was here already. There was Edon; his sons, Reid and Sonny; my stepfather, Billy; my younger brother, Rhett, who was twenty; and about another eight of the pack males. Alyssa had assured me that she would kick sexist butt when she was eighteen and could attend the meetings. I gave her two meetings maximum before she was bored out of her brain and back to taking selfies on Instagram. No one willingly wanted to attend, it’s just how it was. Back in the old days tradition deemed it the man’s role, and because it was boring, the women still let us get on with it. Some things were worth fighting about in equality, pack meetings weren’t one of them. Everyone got a say in pack business anyway. My stepdad always warned me that when a woman put their mind to something not even being a scary arse wolf would stop them. “Your mum goes feral without changing if I’m not careful.”
I took a seat around the large meeting table and poured myself a scotch.
Edon cleared his throat. “Okay, all, if you’re ready. I’d like to get down to business.”
We nodded and murmured our agreement.
“Right, the first thing on the agenda is I would like to announce the engagement of my eldest son, Reid, to Sierra. Their mating ceremony will take place in three full moon’s time with their civil ceremony here in the hall. Invitations to come.
We all clapped and patted Reid on the back. He and Sierra had been together a long time. He was a good friend and Sierra had been my best friend for years. She was a year younger than me, so three years older than her fiancé. The pack had always thought Sierra and I would get together but we’d never felt that way about each other. As soon as Reid hit twenty-five the mating call had passed between them. I was so pleased for them both.
However, at the same time I felt a pang that Reid at twenty-five would be mated before me. It might have been my imagination, but I was sure I’d felt some of the others looking at me when Edon made the announcement. In one years time I’d be an embarrassment to the pack if I remained single.
Edon went through some other more mundane business before tapping his papers on the desk and then placing them down.
“Okay, the final discussion of the evening relates to the future of the Withernsea pack. Now I know there have been rumours going around. That ends right now. I’m going to tell you the truth and you make sure this gets back to those who need to know.”
There were murmurs of agreement in the room.
“Darius was fated to mate to a human female, by the name of Kimberly Fletcher. However, things have gone awry and Kim ended up contacting Jett Conall and asking him on a date.”
More murmurs along with surprised gasps circulated.
“So, that means at some point soon she will be forced to choose between them.”
“Shame it’s not the olden days when you’d just go in and bloody carry her out. Tell her to be quiet, she was yours and that’s that.” Said Bryan, our oldest member, at eighty-six.
“Yes, well times have moved on and you’d be arrested if you did that now.”
“Can’t arrest himself, can he? Can’t he have a word with the bosses? Just go into that agency and get her, lad. Tell her who’s boss.”
“If I may carry on…” Edon gave Bryan a cool-eyed gaze and Bryan sat back suitably chastised. “The woman will have to choose and being a modern day woman could accept neither of the wolves and someone else entirely, a possibility given she has an entire database of available males at her disposal.”
“So does Darius have to court her?”
“No. The Seer says that the woman has to do her own choosing. If she requests his company, Darius can attend but he can’t tell her that the pack are under threat should she choose Jett.”
“And if she doesn’t want either myself or Jett?” I asked.
“Then they can’t come back to Withernsea. Unless they find another female. The other option is we take them on in a pack challenge and run them out of the area altogether but that would be a last resort.”
“So what’s the plan of action?” I asked.
“If she asks to see you, you go. If she wants to speak to you, you speak. If she wants you in her bed you make sure you fuck her until she wants to scream no one's name but your own.”
I guessed I needed to unblock her telephone number then.
“And what if she dates the other wolf as well?” I needed to clarify the arrangements.
“You can’t interfere. Not until one of you mates with her. Once she agrees to be your mate, she is in effect engaged to you and will have to make a date for the mating and civil ceremony. We wish you luck, son.” Edon said.
Everyone raised their glass. I drank several. The challenge was on and I knew that if I didn’t win I might be out of the pack soon and more catastrophically we were all potentially out of Withernsea.
Back in my room, I unblocked Kim’s number and waited. There was nothing. It looked like I’d succeeded in driving her away. I called Sierra.
“Congrats, lady. I’d better be going to be the best man.”
“Of course you are, silly. Thank you. Now how are you doing? Reid’s just filling me in.”
I’d bet he was. Newly engaged males were randy as all hell.
“I need a favour. Could I buy you a coffee tomorrow and one of the nicest doughnuts around?”
“Oooh Jax’s?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. What time do you want to meet?”
“Well, that’s the thing. I want you to go without me.”
“Huh?”
“Let me explain.”
The following morning just after 10am my mobile phone pinged.
Kim: I demand you meet with me so I can explain everything. Stop being an arse Darius Wild.
I sat back and laughed, waited five minutes and then sent a reply.
Darius: Fine. Where then? This better be good. I don’t like my time being wasted.
In seconds I had a reply.
Kim: Eight pm. Hanif’s. I’ll pay.
Fuck. It went against every bone in my body to let a woman pay for dinner. I thought about my sister’s face if I said this, growled, and typed my response.
Darius: See you then.
I opened up a new message to Sierra.
Darius: Thank you so much. You’re a star!
Sierra: My pleasure. Her face was a picture. She deffo likes you, so something else must be holding her back. Anyway, good luck, bestie.
Hmm, could that be true? Was there something stopping Kim from being mine? I guess I needed to find out.
Chapter Five
Kim
I’d spent the night catching up on Stranger Things on the te
levision. I’d had a good nights sleep. Life was good.
Today me and Lucy were going to get the staff room cleaned up, so I’d tied my hair up in a ponytail and put on my painting clothes. No point in getting dressed up if we were going to be knee deep in dirt. Shelley would man the phones and keep an eye on the emails. All I needed to do was go get a coffee and doughnut from Seth to get a head start on the day. The eye candy wouldn’t go amiss before all I could see was dust.
Once again the coffee shop was bustling. Jax spotted me and motioned for me to take a seat. Even better. Table service. She wandered over.
“The usual, babes?”
“Yes, please. Wow, it’s not letting up in here is it? Are you this busy all the time?”
“This is slow. I don’t know what Seth has but I need to bottle it if he leaves.”
I laughed. “If only you knew before that the way to a successful coffee shop was a hot barista. Now the other women, and some men, of Withernsea will be getting hooked on your superior brand of coffee. They are so lucky.”
“They are. Well, I’ll be back in a moment with your order. You staying in or taking it back to the office?”
“Staying thanks. I don’t start for another twenty minutes today.”
“Do you know, I'm going to come join you. I could use a rest, it’s been relentless.”
I was pleased for Jax. She’d been running the coffee shop for three years now and it really was an amazing venue. Choose what had brought in the extra custom—her products reputation or the hot new assistant—she deserved every success. I looked around the space. The atmosphere was amazing with everyone laughing and chatting.
Then I saw her.
Seated at a table near the counter.
I’d been so distracted from looking at Seth, I’d failed to see the other person under my nose.
Sierra Forrester.
There she sat with a friend. The large beaming smile on her face revealed her white movie star style teeth. Her chestnut curls bounced as her head went back with laughter. Even her freckles seemed to dance across her nose and cheeks.
Bitch.
Then her friend grabbed Sierra’s hand. Her left hand, and they both stared and admired a ring on her finger. My eyes zeroed in on it. At a large oval diamond. I checked out which finger it was on and felt my heart plummet. No. He wouldn’t do that. Would he? Had Darius proposed to Sierra? What had I done?
I only realised I was staring rather rudely when Sierra’s gaze caught my own.
Fuck, she was coming over! I froze.
“Hey there. Kim isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Look at her, smile. Come on body do something!
“The coffee here is fabulous. I shall have to come here more often although I’m not sure my fiance will approve of me hanging here with that hottie behind the counter. Am I right?”
“The coffee really is lovely here.” I forced out, refusing to acknowledge her use of the word fiance lest I leap up and pull a few of her curls out.
She swept a few said curls out of her face, using the aforementioned hand. The dazzle almost blinded me as the sun hit the diamond.
Just then Jax arrived with my order and a drink of her own. She sat down. “Am I missing anything then?” She asked me. “Any gossip. News? I get so bored sometimes stuck behind that counter all day. We’ve not had a girls night out for ages, we must have one soon.”
“No, nothing of any excitement to report.” I said.
“I got engaged!” Sierra squealed. “Sorry. I know Kim. My name’s Sierra.” She held out her hand for Jax to shake. “Your coffee is delightful by the way. I shall tell all of my friends and the pack. I know Darius comes here a lot already. Now I know why he was always hanging around. I couldn’t understand why he was always here before. Now I know. It’s the coffee and doughnuts.”
And me you cow. Before you stole him.
“Is that who you’re engaged to? Darius Wild?” Jax looked shocked as well she might.
Sierra giggled for longer than she needed to. Yeah rub it in, cow. You won. I was an idiot.
“Oh God, no. Ewww. Darius is my best friend. He’s like a brother to me. No, I’m engaged to Reid Woodland.”
“Oh I don’t think I know him. You’ll have to bring him in and have a coffee and bun on the house from me in celebration.” Jax said. “Won’t she, Kim?”
I was still trying to find my voice. She wasn’t engaged to Darius.
SHE WASN’T ENGAGED TO DARIUS.
A massive smile lit across my face and I grabbed her hand. “Where are my manners? Let me look. Oh my, that ring is amazing. You’ll have to be careful you don’t start a fire with that baby. Why wait for Reid? Why don’t we celebrate now? Let me buy you and your friend a drink and bun, whatever you like.” I was rambling but my mouth wouldn’t stop.
“Have you seen Darius lately?” I asked her. “Only I’ve tried to call him but there was a fault with his phone.”
“Yeah, he said there had been, but it’s fixed now, so you should ring him.” She replied.
Jax got up to get the drinks and buns leaving us alone.
“I don’t know what was going on that night at Beached when you ate with Jett, but it has caused problems for the pack.”
“Oh, I didn’t realise. I’m sorry.”
“Why did you date Jett anyway? Are you serious about him?” Sierra’s voice had softened.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Look, it’s none of my business but you need to be honest with Darius. He’s my best friend. If you don’t want anything to do with him in a romantic way, that’s fine. Just let him down gently okay?”
“I’m going to ask him to meet me, so I can explain.”
“Great.” She smiled at me. Fuck, I was beginning to like the bitch now. “Well, thank you for the coffee and cake. I’d better go back to my friend now.”
I took out my phone and scrolled through to Darius’ number and typed him a message.
Kim: I demand you meet with me so I can explain everything. Stop being an arse, Darius Wild.
Now I just had to wait.
Chapter Six
Shelley
I was in my office—alone.
Thank fucking God.
The last four months had been a crazy whirlwind. I decided to write bullet points on the notepad on my desk so I could try to get my head around everything.
Discover supernaturals exist.
Meet and fall in love with a 126-year-old vampire.
Discover your mother is a witch.
Find out you have witch powers.
Discover father is a wyvern.
Inherit wyvern powers.
Be informed that your future child shall be the most powerful ruler of Withernsea which started out as a place called Wyvernsea.
Marry the vampire.
Discover the ghost of your vampire husband’s mother lives in your new home.
Have to defeat Satan.
Find out you’re pregnant.
Vampire husband decides this is a good time to redecorate and turn the farm into a Bed and Breakfast.
I think that was all. I stared at the list. There was no wonder I was having a little meltdown moment right now. On top of this, the dating agency business needed attention, and I was worried about my best friend. I knew Kim’s past, knew about her awful father and why she was so hesitant to commit herself to a relationship. Headstrong, stubborn, and impulsive, my bestie had made some rash choices of late and was now living with the consequences.
But picking dates off her work computer as she had with Jett had been a step too far.
One minute she did something crazy like this, the next she rocked up with big ideas for the place like the awesome plan to bring Lucy in. I really did believe that Kim needed a steady influence in her life. She didn’t have parents or siblings around and despite my best intentions, with work and my personal life getting ever busier, I wasn’t able to be there for her all the time like I could when I was sin
gle. The time when I didn’t have to look out for Withernsea, when I was just a normal resident and could have a piss in peace without a ghost floating in to tell me some gossip she’d heard, or a husband coming to make sure I was okay.
Thank fuck he slept all day, so I was able to spend the majority of my work hours in peace. Well, as peaceful as it got around here, bearing in mind we’d had Frankie hanging around for months and now we had Lucy. I didn’t know what her earth angel duties were about—she couldn’t say—but I hoped they didn’t have repercussions on my decision to let her have an office here.
The reason I had peace and quiet today was that Lucy and Kim were sorting through all the crap in the old staff room. I’d said I didn’t know if dust could affect vampire babies and so they’d agreed to keep me well out of it.
The only thing I was allergic to right now was drama.
I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes.
Peace and quiet at long last.
I woke with a stiff neck from being laid back on the office chair. For a few seconds as I came around, I stared at the clock at the bottom of my computer. I’d been out of it for fifty minutes. Swiping my bag off the floor I took out a bottle of O-neg and downed the contents, giving a satisfied belch at the end. What was happening to me and my life? I had to consider being turned into a vampire along with everything else. I think I was about to have a panic attack.
Instead I had a small heart attack when a middle-aged woman with long dark hair with a white stripe zapped into the room.
“Jesus Christ, mother. You can’t do that. You’re going to spook the baby out of me.”
“I detected anxiety in my firstborn. I had to come. What’s the matter, sweetheart. Can I help?”
“Yes, you can start by not doing that again, so I manage to stay alive a few years longer.”
My mum sat down opposite me. “What’s going on, Shelley?”
Hate, Date, or Mate? (Supernatural Dating Agency Book 3) Page 3