She turned to him as if just now remembering he was in the room.
“Congratulations on your new position.” Jared opened a drawer and removed a key on a ring. “There is a cottage near the top of the mountain. Esme suggested you would feel better with a place of your own. It’s closer to the resort, so you wouldn’t be able to run as a wolf up there. However, if you want it, I have the key here. This is not a charity gift. Part of your wages are for housing. That money will come to the pack to cover the costs. The rest of your wages are, of course, yours to do with as you please.”
Granger stiffened in his chair. Jared was giving Brenda the key to his house?
“What about when the weather changes? Would I have to vacate the cottage?” Brenda asked. Granger felt how much Brenda wanted to say yes to the offer. He relaxed into his chair.
“No, I’m sure there’s a summer job at the resort you could fill. We still need security, or you could work at one of the summer recreational activities.”
“How can you do that? Offer me a summer job. The pack doesn’t own the resort.”
“Not on the surface, but we are a silent partner with Parker Martin. He owns the resort openly. He’s a human heartmated to a lycan and lives at the resort with his lycan wife, Lizette, and daughter, Margot. The pack always has first choice of jobs available. If a lycan doesn’t want to work at the resort, there are other jobs available with the dog sled company we partially own, as well as the Wolfe Maple Syrup Company.”
“Wow, the pack has fingers in a lot of pies. How do you manage all that?” Brenda asked, plopping down in the second chair in front of the desk. Granger looked at his mate in surprise. She had never shown an interest in pack dynamics before. This looked promising.
“We don’t manage all of it. The resort and dog sled company are managed by the human owners, we help with manpower. The maple syrup company is managed by Aramis, Granger’s father. As a pack member, you will be given a percentage of the profits that come in.”
“Why would I get a percentage? I just moved here.” Granger tried not to smirk. Brenda didn’t need the pack profits. As his mate, she was entitled to half of whatever funds he had, and he had a lot.
“A pack is family, Brenda. As a member of my pack you are entitled to share in our profits. If there is a bad year, you share in that as well. We support each other.”
“I’ve never heard of anything like this before…”
A soft knock came on the door. “I hope I’m not interrupting,” Esme said, before entering. “Jared, Felicity is waiting to serve you and Granger breakfast. Brenda we need to leave now to get to the Bridal Boutique on time.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Jared said, drawn from his chair to the small curvy woman who held his heart. Granger smiled. He was so happy his best friend had found his heartmate.
Brenda rose from her chair. “Let me grab my purse, I’ll meet you at the door.” She hurried from the room.
Granger got up and leaned against the chair, watching as his best friend kissed his fiancée. When the kissing got heated, Granger cleared his throat. “Esme will never get to Quebec City in time if we have to put out a house fire.”
Esme laughed and pulled back from Jared. Her eyes twinkled. “Someday soon, you’ll burn as hot, Granger.”
“I hope so, Esme, if I don’t expire from the heat first.” Granger winked to ease the truth of his words.
“Remember one thing, Granger. Brenda suffers the heat too. Now be a good Beta and bring the Jeep up. You and Jared, both, can cool down while I take the girls to town.”
“Separation from your mate doesn’t cool the fire, Esme. You know that. If anything, it stokes the flames,” Jared said, his arm around Esme’s waist.
“Just what I need, more stoking,” Granger said, shaking his head. “And what is the deal with giving Brenda my house? Not that I don’t like the thought of her in my bed. I would have preferred to be in it with her.”
“You can get your stuff out while the girls are in Quebec. Esme feels Brenda will be happier setting down some roots. I didn’t want her to have to move again when you cement the mating bond into place.”
“If she finds out what you’ve done, she’ll be angry. She’ll think you’re manipulating her,” Granger warned.
“I’m hoping that by the time she finds out, she won’t want to leave the cottage,” Jared said.
“I hope you’re right. Let me go get the Jeep ready. Give me ten minutes, Esme.”
“Thank you, Granger.” Esme leaned up and kissed Granger’s cheek.
“Hey, no kissing the Beta,” Jared growled, tickling his mate until she laughed.
“Someone has to do it…” she said, between giggles.
Granger shook his head and smiled as he headed out the door.
Chapter Two
Brenda drove down the highway enjoying the scenery. Esme and Susan laughed about wedding horror stories they found online. Brenda couldn’t blame them, the stories were funny.
“You know, Brenda, since you are maid-of-honor, you get to plan the bachelorette party. So, what are we going to do? Club crawl? Male strippers? What?” Susan asked.
“Me?” Brenda squeaked. It didn’t occur to her that she would have to plan the party. Plus, there was the Bridal shower to plan.
“I think a Club crawl would cause too much havoc in the male population. Besides, lycans don’t get drunk, so drinking is kind of a waste of time. Jared wouldn’t like the male stripper bit, unless he and Granger were doing the stripping,” Esme said.
“Really? Lycan’s don’t get drunk?” Brenda asked.
“Nope, our metabolism is too high.” Esme laughed.
“No drinking? That’s a bummer.” Susan pouted. “There was this one party I went to after basic training. I got so drunk I could hardly stand up. Lucky for me my sergeant was there, he picked me up and took me back to the barracks. Never yelled at me or nothing, just said to call him to come get me anytime I wanted to rip one. He was so nice.”
“Susan, I hope you didn’t make it a habit to get drunk while in the military. You know that’s not safe, or healthy,” Brenda pointed out.
“Aww don’t be such a downer, Brenda. Having you for a big sister is looking more and more depressing.”
“Susan, that’s not nice,” Esme said, jumping to Brenda’s defense. “Brenda wouldn’t say that if she didn’t care about you. Besides it doesn’t matter anymore. We can’t get drunk, even if we tried. At the most, we’d get a stomach ache and throw up, no buzz or happy feelings. So that’s it.” Brenda felt a warmth in her chest. It felt good to be connected to these two women, lycan sisters by blood, if not by birth.
“Maybe we can get Jared to change his mind about the male strippers,” Susan said. “Granger told me we can have sex with humans if we want. I guess he and Jared were a little bit wild in their teens.” Brenda coughed, her throat suddenly constricted. Granger had been a little wild?
“Unmated lycans might be able to have sex with humans,” Esme said. “Once mated that is no longer an option. Be careful, Susan. Several of Jared’s pack members found mates among the human population. So, don’t go around having casual sex, you might end up mated.”
“You aren’t much better than Brenda, Esme. You probably have never been drunk, or had casual sex in your life,” Susan whined.
“I was sick for a long time with cancer. I never had a chance to do a lot of things. I think I wouldn’t miss the hangover and throwing up. So it’s okay,” Esme said.
“What about you, Brenda? Have you ever been drunk or had casual sex?” Susan asked.
“Yes, to both. I wish I hadn’t, and I hope you will have more sense than to fool around like that,” Brenda said, pulling up in front of the Bridal Boutique.
Susan’s mouth hung open, and Esme looked at her in shock. Brenda finished parking the SUV and reached for the door handle. “Are you coming, or what?”
§
Granger put the last of his clothes into a box before heading
out to the truck. Jared would send a cleaning crew out to spiff the place up for Brenda. He wished things were different, that he was the one giving “The Cottage” to his mate.
What Brenda didn’t know was that Granger built the house himself. There wasn’t another one like it on the property or in the world. He spent months designing it and then worked alongside the contractor building it. It might sit on pack land, but the building was his alone. Now it would be Brenda’s. His heart settled. It was okay. Brenda was the only person he could give the cottage to without feeling resentment and loss. She belonged to him as much as the house did. It would feel good to know she lived here, even if he wasn’t.
“Are you okay?” Jared asked, from the door. “I guess I should have talked to you first. When I saw how she reacted to the job, I figured she wouldn’t accept the cottage if she knew it was yours. I’m sorry if I screwed up.”
“No, you’re right. She would have pitched a fit. I’m not sure what happened to her that she thinks everyone wants something from her. But, I’m going to find out. I want her happy. Whatever that takes, including giving up my house.”
“You left your drawings up on the walls. Aren’t you afraid she’ll realize you’re the artist?” Jared asked.
“No. They stay on the walls. I want the house like it would be if we were together. I doubt she’ll even notice them.”
“Did you clean out your studio?” Jared asked, suddenly. “Merde, I didn’t think about that. I’m so sorry. How are you going to get any work done?”
“I locked the door. Tell Brenda it’s a storage room. I can sketch anywhere, and I won’t be doing any sculpting until after the mating bond is cemented into place. I delivered my last commissioned piece of the year before I left for London, so we’re good.”
“I’m such a fool, I didn’t think about your art. You paid for this house with part of the money you made. You’re famous. I should have never given the house to Brenda.”
“Only famous in the art circles. Now settle down. Brenda is my mate. She belongs in my house. It was the right thing to do. Just don’t give her my Ferrari, or my Harley. I might get angry if you did that. It’s a good thing they’re both still in storage.”
“I don’t mean to overlook your success, Granger. I love you and my first thought of you is my best friend, the brother of my heart. I don’t think of the famous jet setting artist. But you are both of those things and I’ll try harder not to separate them.”
“Jared, I would give it all up to have Brenda willingly in my arms. This way, she’s at least sleeping in my bed. Here, take that box while I get this one. I assume I’m moving into the little place next door.”
“Yes, and here’s the key. I’ll help you get your stuff moved in. The cleaning crew finished there and is waiting to come here. I told them fifteen minutes so we need to hurry. Besides, Esme said they would be home in time for dinner.”
“Don’t forget to tell them to Fabreeze all the fabrics, or Brenda will smell me all over the place. Why do I get the feeling you are hoping for an appetizer de Esme before dinner?”
“Because you know me too well. Come on, I can’t believe how many boxes of clothes you have…”
§
Yeah, she’d been a little wild at times too, Brenda thought as she tried on the third dress that made her look like a cupcake. How hard would it be to find a simple silk chiffon that fell straight to the floor? She walked out to show Esme, praying she wouldn’t like it.
“Oui, mademoiselle looks so pretty in that one. But you are frowning, you don’t like it?” the shop owner asked. Brenda bit her tongue.
“I think we need something with a simpler line. Something to show off her slim body and long legs,” Esme answered, jumping in before Brenda told the clerk what she really thought of the dress.
Thank God, Esme knew dresses, otherwise Brenda would be stuck wearing the horrid bright pink dress Susan picked out. At least Esme had been able to talk Susan into the lighter shade of ice pink.
“Oui, I think I have the very thing. Sexy, but understated.” The shop keeper hurried off. Well it’s about time, Brenda thought.
“Thank you. How did you know I hated it?” Brenda asked.
“I’m your Alpha. I can read your mind,” Esme said, with a smile.
“Oh, right. I keep forgetting. Where did Susan run off to?” Hopefully the little nut wasn’t getting into trouble.
“She’s trying on shoes in the other room. They will be dyed to match the dresses.”
“That’ll look nice. Do you realize I don’t even know what kind of music you like? How can I plan a party for you?”
“I like all kinds of music, except maybe hard rock. I love to dance. I’m sure you’ll do fine with any party you plan.”
“What about a Bridal shower?”
“Jared and I don’t need anything. The Alpha’s lodge is set.”
“We could do a lingerie shower,” Susan said, from the door. She carried in two boxes of shoes. “Which ones do you think look best? These or these?” Susan asked, holding up first a pair of four inch heels and then a pair of two inch heels. “I like the little bow on the back of the stilettos, but the beading on the smaller heels is lovely.”
“Which ones can you dance the night away in? I want there to be lots of dancing,” Esme said.
“Well… I guess the lower ones would be best if we’re dancing all night,” Susan said.
“Here you go, mademoiselle,” the shop clerk said, walking up with another gown over her arm. “Perhaps this will be more to your taste.” The shop clerk handed Brenda a mass of silk chiffon.
She left Susan and Esme to talk shoes and hurried back to the dressing room.
Brenda slipped on the chiffon dress and gasped at herself in the mirror. The halter gown showed off the long lines of her back. The front was slit up the side giving a glimpse of leg before swirling shut as it caressed her frame. Brenda had never felt more beautiful.
She strolled out, a wide smile on her face. Everyone in the room stopped to look. Esme gave her a satisfied smile while Susan squealed.
“Wow, now that’s what I’m talking about. Hurry, try on these shoes.” Susan rushed over with a pair of simple one inch heels.
Brenda put them on. She couldn’t wait to see Granger’s face when he saw her in this outfit. The thought made her freeze in place. Why should it matter what he thought? Because he’s your mate, a little voice whispered in her mind.
“Well, I don’t care if Granger likes the dress or not. I like it and that’s all that matters.” Oh, God, did she say that out loud?
“Oh, honey, Granger is going to love that dress. He’ll have a hard time keeping his hands off you when you wear it.” Esme winked at her.
“Yeah, that is a come and get me dress if I ever saw one. You rock!” Susan exclaimed.
Feeling her face heat, Brenda wanted to hide. “I’ll go change into my jeans.”
“We’ll take that dress and shoes for her. How long will it take to get them dyed?” Esme asked the shop clerk, while Brenda dashed into the dressing room.
Brenda slipped off the dress and reached for her clothes. She needed to get a handle on this Granger problem before she embarrassed herself, again. Why did she immediately think of him when she tried on the dress?
“I could eat a horse,” Susan said, a short time later as they walked into Le Café du Monde, at Le Vieux Port.
“No horse here, though they have lots of mussels,” Esme said.
Brenda stayed quiet. She hadn’t mentioned it, yet, but she was almost certain the women had been followed to the restaurant from the bridal boutique. A gray sedan seemed to weave through the traffic to keep them in sight. Brenda saw it park across the street when she pulled into the parking area. Who would follow them and why?
Brenda watched the door while they waited for the hostess to seat them. Was she overreacting?
“Brenda is something wrong?” Esme asked. “Would you rather eat somewhere else?”
&nbs
p; Brenda had been so focused on the door she missed the hostess showing them to a table. “I’m sorry. You caught me off guard. Lead the way.” She smiled at the hostess to make up for her mistake.
The hostess took them around the corner and toward the back of the building, where large windows showcased the port and the St. Lawrence River. Brenda had hoped for a window closer to the street, but couldn’t ruin the lovely view for the others.
Susan started naming different dishes from the menu in her excitement to order. Brenda smiled and tried to pay attention. Her gaze kept straying to the front door. When they went outside, would the gray sedan still be there?
The waitress took their orders and after a few minutes left to make their drinks.
“I can’t believe all you ordered was a cup of soup. You eat like a bird,” Susan said.
“I’m not very hungry. The soup will be enough. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to wash my hands.” Brenda headed for the front of the restaurant and the restrooms. She winced when she heard Susan ask, “Did I say something wrong?”
Hurrying to the entrance, Brenda hoped Esme could reassure Susan. She pushed open the door and looked all around. No gray sedan in sight. Sighing, she went back inside. She wasn’t being paranoid. That car had followed them. Shaking her head, she went back to the table.
§
“Jared, have you heard from Esme? Something is bothering Brenda. I feel it, but she keeps her mind firmly closed to mine. Can you check?” Granger said, hurrying into Jared’s office.
Jared immediately closed his eyes to contact his mate telepathically. He opened his eyes a few minutes later, his gaze soft from speaking mentally to Esme. Granger stopped his pacing and plopped in the chair in front of the desk. “Well, is everything okay? Is Brenda all right?”
“She’s fine, they all are. They’re having lunch at the wharf and will return as soon as they finish. Esme did say she thought something bothered Brenda when they first arrived, but she seems fine now. Esme assumed Susan got on Brenda’s nerves. You know how Susan can be.”
Beta's Mate (Siberian Volkov Pack Romance Series Book 8) Page 2