Amber shook hands with each and every one as they were introduced. All were werewolf except for Seriana. “Please forgive me if I don’t remember your names right away. There are so many of you.” Amber smiled a little overwhelmed. Unlike the men, who were all just big, the women were all in varying sizes, from small and petite, small and robust, tall and slender to tall and full-bodied.
It appeared that some of the women who had been outside earlier were missing; Amber noted the absence of hostility in the room. This bunch seemed to be pretty friendly and she didn't expect to have to defend herself, so she relaxed somewhat. She looked around at the faces staring at her with curiosity. “So, how can I help you ladies?” she asked cheerfully.
A bowl appeared in one hand and a spoon in the other. She was pulled into the mix of women, joining them while they bustled around the room preparing the afternoon meal.
Amber had learned to mingle with people at work, but never on a personal level. Her being in the same room with so many women who were werewolves was going to be a new challenge for her. Her wolf was more territorial than she anticipated and pushed against her. The women in the room were too close just by being in the same house as her mate.
Amber felt a mental nudge of amusement at her wolf's jealousy and pushed herself to remain calm and be part of the group. She had chided Blake about his lack of control with being jealous and didn’t want to give him the chance to get back at her. Laughingly, she responded to Blake with a nudge of her own and set about the chore she had been given.
The group appeared to have accepted her as Blake’s mate, but Amber knew she had a long way to go to prove herself as a person to this group of women if she was really going to fit in. Her part in the morning escapades was only a small step in that direction.
Amber worked side by side with the women preparing the enormous amounts of food. Seriana seemed to be overseeing everything happening in the kitchen. Amber also remembered how she had taken over on caring for Zach. Amber wondered what Seriana’s role in all this was. She was not werewolf, yet she didn’t quite appear to be human either. There was just something about her that intrigued Amber. She would have to investigate and find out.
∞∞∞
Blake sat on the leather chair and watched the man in front of him closely. “Jonas, your brother is fine, but he kind of lost part of his finger.” At his frown Blake explained that the finger had been bitten off by an angry wolf.
“You mean he was bitten?!” Jonas demanded leaping to his feet.
Blake didn’t react to Jonas aggression, but his wolf raised its head in anticipation. “Calm down and please, sit back down. Seriana is in with him now working to replace the finger. He will be out for a couple hours, but he should be fine.” Blake shook his head when Marcello who had been standing by the door, took a tentative step towards Jonas.
Marcello’s shoulders were broad; his jet black hair was cut short, left over from his military days. His pale green eyes were intense and his strong features drew a lot of attention. He was large and very intimidating. To come through the doorway, Marcello had to turn sideways to avoid rubbing his massive shoulders on the door frame, ducking his head to keep from banging into the top. He was a man of few words and was quick to take action. As his name represented, he was a warrior and was not afraid to fight. He was strong and would fight to the death to protect those he was sworn to.
Blake was glad to have Marcello on his side. A slight move of his head and Blake knew the man would be smashing Jonas with his bare hands. As Marcello reset to his former position Jonas looked over his shoulder, sensing the threat and quickly sat.
“You promised our family would not be brought into this. You told me we would be safe from, from,” Jonas waved his hand around indicating the other people who milled around outside in the yard and through the house. “From being turned into what you are!” He said quietly looking at his hands, resting his arms on his knees in frustration. His body tense, he lifted his face, staring pointedly at Blake.
“Jonas, your brother was stupid enough to shoot a ten year old boy! Luckily, he only nicked his arm! And, he almost shot my woman trying to get at me!” he growled between clenched teeth at the thought of Zach hurting Amber. “You’re lucky he’s not dead!”
“Is he going to turn into a werewolf?” Jonas couldn't seem to get past the fact that his brother had been bitten. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa, running his hand across his face in agitation.
Jonas was well aware of the werewolves in the area; his sister was married to one of Blake’s men. Jonas had been there when she had been willingly turned and just the thought had freaked him out. Zach however had only recently become aware that he was working for werewolves and knew nothing of his sister’s “other” life and Jonas wanted to keep it that way for now. Blake had been right, the less people who knew the better. He had been surprised they had allowed him to be a part of his sister’s life, to know their secret. Blake had trusted him, so in turn, he had to trust Blake, but at the moment, he was just a little stressed.
“Jonas, you know there’s more to it than that. Zach’s finger was taken off at the first knuckle and is being reattached. He should be fine,” Blake told him, amusement lacing his words. It’s ridiculous that everyone thinks that a human can become a werewolf just because he’s bitten. Movies really had that part of it wrong. Yes, the mutation virus is in their saliva. But to become a werewolf, a large amount of the virus has to get into the blood stream. A quick, clean bite is not going to allow that to happen. If Amber had clenched on to Zach’s arm and held on, her teeth would have punctured the vein and allowed the virus to enter. But that had not happened, so there was no chance of Zach being infected.
Blake continued, bringing his focus back to the man in front of him, “We have a bigger issue at hand here.”
In the kitchen, Amber’s wolf was reacting to Blake’s frustrations. His moods were affecting her intensely. Without realizing what she was doing, her mind melded with his, soothing him. Her warmth enveloped him while he sat in the study with the very agitated Jonas. With her ever present in his mind Blake had to struggle to stay focused when all his instincts told him to go into the kitchen and take his woman, his mate, from this place.
Amber realized, with her in his mind, his thoughts were teaching her some of the things she needed to know. She hadn’t given a thought to whether or not Zach would have been infected by her biting him. She had never considered the fact that humans could be turned into werewolves. She really did have a lot to learn and was now looking forward to more of those lessons from Blake. Amber listened and joined the conversations in the kitchen, but kept her mind melded with Blake’s in the study.
Instead of rushing Amber out of the house like his instinct were telling him to, Blake forced his mind back on to the issues and informed Jonas. “Your sister-in-law and nephew are being held hostage.”
“What?” Jonas sat up fast and hard.
“That’s why your brother was such a dumb ass today. Bloodsworth wants me dead, so he’s holding them hostage.”
Jonas jumped to run out the door in a blind rage, but Blake had anticipated his move. Quickly blocking him from reaching the door where Marcello still stood. The slight movement of Marcello’s head turning in his direction reminded Jonas that he was still there. An unmovable wall of muscles if need be.
Years of military training had taught Marcello patience. People reacted differently in stressful situations, most of the time panicking, but eventually would calm down and listen to reason. Blake knew how to handle the human, so Marcello manned his post.
Blake placed a calming hand on Jonas’ shoulder, easily holding him in place. “Jonas that’s the same reaction Zach had and the reason he’s lying in bed recovering. He didn’t think this through.”
Jonas’ threw his hands up in frustration, turning back towards the center of the room. His knuckles turned white where his hands grabbed the back of the sofa, and hung his head. Quietly
, with a dead calm voice he asked Blake for advice, “So what am I supposed to do?”
“Well, first of all, you can’t go off half-cocked,” Blake told him leaning casually against the back of the couch as if he were relaxed. But that was just an outward appearance; his wolf was ever vigilant for trouble, almost hoping it would happen so he could emerge. “We need to think this through.” He assured him, “We’ll figure something out, get them out of there tonight.”
Blake, maybe I can help? He had become used to her presence hovering at the edges of his mind. When Amber pushed deeper and spoke to him it startled him for just a moment. Amber felt his surprise and laughed in his mind. You were broadcasting.
Blake couldn’t help but smile and Jonas frowned at him. He quickly hid the smile. What do you suggest? He was open to anyone’s suggestions at this point.
First, come and eat something, then I will tell you what I’m thinking.
“Eat something? What if I just want to eat you?” Blake replied in a low, rough, sexy voice as he pushed mental pictures to her of what he would like to be doing. There was something about her that just made him think of raw, hot sex all the time.
We’ll have time for that later, Amber promised and laughed out loud, then blushed when the women looked at her, a few knowingly.
Blake turned to Jonas, “It’s been a long day and we need nourishment. The women have made us a meal, so let’s grab something to eat; then we’ll discuss a plan.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The kitchen filled up quickly after Blake sent word to his pack that food was on the table. Amber stayed out of the path of the hungry men when they began piling into the large room. There appeared to be even more people than there were out in the yard. She counted at least forty people that had already gone through the line, but lost count the moment he walked in. Her senses began tingling, heat running through her veins. Her wolf nudged her to take notice when Blake spotted her by the counter in the corner. Amber watched his graceful movements while he made his way through the crowd, filling two plates to almost overflowing with food. She wondered how he could see what he was doing since his eyes never left her face.
Blake’s caramel eyes softened, looking into her chocolate brown ones, he swore every time he looked at her the yellow specks in her eyes glowed at him. The noise of the crowd was gone. They were in their own little world, with each step he drew closer to her. Sitting the plates on the counter, Blake placed one hand on the wall beside her head and one on her waist, pulling her towards him.
“Hi, sexy,” he murmured his lips brushing her.
The touch of his lips on hers set her heart to thrumming in her chest, warmth slipping through her body, his hardening immediately when her fingers glided up his chest. Looking into his eyes, a knowing smile curved on her beautiful mouth. Blake’s head descended towards hers again, before his lips melded to hers once again, Amber grabbed a chunk of meat off the plate and stuck it into his mouth.
He laughed, taking the bite, slightly snagging her finger in the process. Laughing together they lounged against the countertop, feeding each other from the plates as the crowd moved noisily through the kitchen.
Now that the threat to the pack had been eliminated and the grounds were secured, the men were more relaxed. Their pack was no longer in danger; they could deal with the humans issues later.
As the atmosphere became more playful, some of the younger members began picking at one other, pushing and shoving to get through the line again, to be the first for a second.
Amber didn’t even see him move, but Blake was in front of her suddenly, stopping the boy from falling into her. Pulling the teenager up by the collar, the boy’s older brother looked on with worry seeing Blake glaring at them.
“You hurt my mate with your stupidity and it will be the last thing you do,” Blake nearly roared, his temper flaring quickly. His wolf was very protective and would not allow anything to harm her.
Amber immediately stepped forward and placed her hand on his arm, pushing warmth into Blake to calm his wolf. “Blake.” She said aloud to pull his attention from the boy, but to his mind I am far from delicate. Someone bumping into me is not going to hurt me. I will show you later how rough we can be.
Blake had to remain still for a moment when the images she projected sent him and his wolf senses into overdrive. At her touch, his wolf had stilled. Releasing the boy’s collar, Blake slowly eased him from the tips of his toes. “Outside if you want to rough house,” he growled, stepping back and away from the boy.
The room had gone still at Blake’s roar; it was so quiet that they all felt the kid breathe a sigh of relief. From the other side of the room everyone heard “Whipped,” from one of the other teenage boys. His buddies snickered until they realized all eyes in the room had turned on them. All his friends began backing away from the boy who had muttered the word. The tall gangly boy was left standing alone in the middle of the crowded room, all eyes on him.
Blake and Amber both looked at the boy with their eyebrows arched. The boy’s father reached over and smacked him hard on the shoulder, eliciting an “Owe!” and he grabbed his arm from the sudden pain.
“Apologize to the lady!” The father commanded.
The boy stared wide-eyed at his dad, his mouth hanging open, quickly scanning the crowd for support. When he received none the boy walked towards Blake and Amber with fear evident on his face. He stopped in front of Amber with his head hung low. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said, loud enough for them to hear and dared to cut his eyes to look at Amber then up into the stormy eyes of the pack leader. “Sorry sir.”
Blake let the boy suffer from his embarrassment for a long tense moment then said “Jeremy, when you find your own mate someday, we can discuss the idea of being whipped, as you call it.” Blake smiled slowly, then lifted his arm and placed it around Amber’s waist, pulling her to him.
“Yes sir.” Jeremy responded with a hesitant smile glancing back at Amber. “I am sorry, ma’am.”
“No harm done. Let’s finish eating, I’m still starving,” Amber said with a bright smile and urged Blake back to where their almost empty plates sat on the counter.
Crisis averted, they enjoyed the rest of the meal with no more mishaps.
After the kitchen was cleaned, the younger generation gathered around outside to play games while Blake, Amber, Marcello, Jonas and a few other pack members headed back into the study. It was time for them to discuss the plan to get Zach’s wife and son away from the Bloodsworth unharmed.
They no more had the study door closed before the door burst open again.
“Blake, I think that bastard Bloodsworth has my son!” Charles stalked into the room, his chest heaving with unreleased anger.
“How did this happen?” Blake asked, crossing his arms across his chest. Turning he walked agitatedly to the window, staring out into the forest. So much had happened in the short span of time that he was ready to burst with his frustration. Blake’s wolf pushed to be released. He wanted to take Amber and run through the trees beyond the house, to disappear for a while.
“Austin was spending the night with Zach’s son. Mandy said he never came home and there‘s no answer when she tried calling.”
Blake swore loudly and turned back to the room. Everyone stood staring, as if waiting for answers, and he had none.
Stalking out the study door, Blake headed down the hallway with everyone following closely behind. His long strides took him quickly to where Zach lay recovering on the twin size bed. The medication that Seriana had used to put him to sleep was slowly wearing off and he groggily lifted his head when the entourage entered.
Jonas went to his side “You okay?” he asked while examining Zach’s bandaged hand.
Zach lifted his head, nodding, struggling to focus his eyes on the men who gathered around his bed. His eyes focused on Charles standing there glaring at him. “Not good!” he mumbled allowing his head to sink wearily back into the pillow.
Blak
e towered over the bed with an exasperated look on his face. “Did you forget to tell me that Charles’ son was with your family or did you conveniently leave that out?”
Zach shook his head wetting his dry lips. “No, man, honestly, I thought the boy had already gone home. Charles, I completely forgot he had even spent the night until I saw you. We have to go get them!” He struggled weakly to sit up and Jonas pushed his brothers back to the bed with no effort.
“We’re working on it now,” Blake told him turning away and everyone once again followed him silently back to the study. Blake paced in front of the fireplace. His hand running agitatedly through is hair. “Now he has one of our own,” he said out aloud, really unnecessarily.
Blake, I can help if you will let me. Amber pushed into his mind.
He stopped and stared at her a moment. Apparently, she had learned to block her thoughts on her own, since he couldn’t read her at all. His mental probes were on the edge of the wall she had quickly formed. He shook his head, not liking her shutting him out so easily.
Charles knew that his leader and his mate were communicating with each other by the glances they were sharing. He didn't like not knowing what was going on, since his flesh and blood was involved. His fists clenched tightly to his side.
“Blake, this is bullshit and you know it. That’s my son he has and I want to know what the pack plans on doing to get him back. We are supposed to be safe here.” Rightly so, Charles was frustrated and angry.
Blake completely understood. “Charles, you're right, our family members should be safe on our lands and, I assure you, that we will do what we can to bring your boy home to you,” Blake said out loud, but to the pack members in the room, especially for Charles’ benefit Bloodsworth has made this pack business now that he has one of us as a hostage. We have to protect the humans, but we have to make sure the cub is not harmed in the process.
No Remorse Page 12