by JJ King
They sat there like that for almost five minutes, neither saying a word, neither willing to crack. Quinn didn’t know Ronan at all but he knew Katherine. There was no way in hell she was going to let her little brother win this battle.
No way in Hell.
♀♀♀
The drive to Wild River took three hours and two extra-large cups of coffee as well as a box full of breakfast sandwiches from Tim Horton’s.
Katherine sat in the passenger’s seat and occasionally turned her head to glare at Ronan who just grinned and sang along to the French radio station as they left Montreal at 4:34 am
“I hate you.”
“Et il m'aime encore, et moi je t'aime un peu plus fort…” His singing voice sucked so he sang louder to make up for it.
She tried to force her face to retain its angry lines but by the time he was halfway through the chorus she was singing along with him in an equally loud and terrible voice.
“Mais il m'aime encore, et moi je t'aime un peu plus fort!”
The drive to Wild River flew by. Katherine couldn’t remember the last time she had spent time one on one with Ronan. He had always seemed like a little boy to her but, somehow in the time she’d been gone, he had grown into a man, a fascinating and hilarious man.
He grilled her on her new relationship and eventually apologized for interrupting their moment. After an extensive round of “punch buggy no punch back” that included everything from an old broken down Honda to a lumber truck, he gave in and told her that he had met someone named Anna not that long ago and that it might be serious.
“Has she met Mom and Dad yet?” Introducing their consorts to the parents was always a tricky endeavor. After all, Pierre and Sylvie weren’t just parents, they were royalty and every wolf in Canada and the world knew that.
“Not yet. I just figured I’d wait a little while until Anthony finally asks Rachel out and takes her home.”
“I knew it!” She congratulated herself on picking up on the subtleties of romantic tension that had been present between Anthony and the female tracker when she’d seen them at the restaurant the night before. “What’s his problem? Rachel’s awesome and mom and dad both love her. I only saw them together for a minute but he was totally mad for her and it was obvious.”
“Obvious to everyone but him apparently. Dumb ass. Don’t worry, though, mom knows about it and she’s planning something. I can tell. She gets that look in her eyes whenever he’s in the room with her.”
“Well, then they’re doomed. Mom’s like a voodoo doctor or something. She’ll have them both straightened out in no time.”
The laughter they shared filled her heart. It struck her that her decision to leave home was so that she could find herself, but in returning home she had not only found happiness but she had also finally found who she truly was and who she wanted to be.
♀♀♀
The family was just stirring when she walked into the house. Ronan had disappeared to parts unknown as soon as they’d climbed out of his car, leaving her to wake up their parents.
She was a little surprised to see that her mother was already awake, though, on second thought, she shouldn’t have been. Sylvie was receiving guests today, a large contingent of guests that would stay for three whole days. If Katherine knew her mother at all, there had been some serious cleaning and preparation over the past three days that would continue until the group arrived. The help would regret their jobs today.
Sylvie was puttering around the enormous kitchen in a long silk robe, her hair mussed and her eyes still sleepy. Katherine loved seeing her mother like this. As a child, she had raced to her parent’s room in the mornings to snuggle with them both while they still looked and felt homey. After breakfast, a shower, makeup and a wardrobe change, Sylvie the mommy was replaced by Sylvie the Alpha’s wife. Both were amazing women but Sylvie the mommy warmed Katherine’s heart just a tiny bit more.
She was standing in the kitchen now, bare feet covered in fuzzy slippers that Teagan had given her two Christmas’s ago. She was gripping an oversized novelty mug from Newfoundland that read “Yur mudder” as though her life depended on it.
Katherine supposed that it was her life rather than her mother’s that depended on Sylvie’s caffeine intake. Sylvie the mommy was sometimes cranky if she didn’t get her coffee fix within ten minutes of opening her eyes.
Since she had already had her coffee for the morning, Katherine waited for a few moments in silence until the heat from the black liquid had done its job and given her mother life. Sylvie nodded in her general direction once, acknowledging Katherine with a smile barely noticeable above the rim of the mug.
Katherine smiled back. “Good morning. Is Dad awake yet?”
Sylvie shook her head over her mug and took another sip. “He was awake half the night going over what he wanted to say to that man.” She walked across the kitchen and wrapped her arms around her daughter, careful not to spill. “Thank you for finding out the truth about the rogue. Don’t tell your father I told you this, but the stress of this situation was beginning to really affect him. I was so worried my darling, but since Anthony called to tell us what you had discovered, he’s been like a new man. He’s been my Pierre again.”
Katherine knew that her mother wasn’t exaggerating. She had seen the strain on her father’s face when she had first arrived home. She was overjoyed to know that he was feeling relieved of some of that pressure.
“It wasn’t me you know,” she spoke over her shoulder to Sylvie while she took down another mug and filled it with coffee. The smell of the beans had been too much to resist. She might spend the morning buzzing but it would be worth it.
“What wasn’t you dear?”
“It wasn’t really my information that saved the day. Well, it was, I passed it on, but Quinn was the one who filled me in. He’s the one who fixed this.”
She watched her mother’s face over her mug, waiting for the inquisition to begin. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Anthony or Ronan, or both, had filled in their mother about her budding relationship with Quinn. The question now was if Sylvie would take the direct route or the more subtle route.
“So, is he a good kisser?”
Direct route it was then.
Katherine burst out laughing and put down her mug. She grabbed Sylvie’s hand, pulled her forward and planted a big kiss on her mother’s mouth. “Not as good as you, Mama!”
She couldn’t help herself from gushing to her mother about Quinn. It felt so good to sit in her parent’s kitchen and talk with her mother about him. Sylvie seemed equally excited about her interest in a man.
Sylvie had only one reservation about him; that his family name was unknown to her or to Pierre who also knew and who was also excited for her. Neither of them knew of any Deschains and both agreed that they would need to meet him as soon as was possible.
As her mother was voicing her thoughts, Pierre walked into the room and seconded them after giving Katherine a hearty kiss on the cheek.
“I want to meet this man,” he boomed, “and I want eggs for breakfast, with bacon. My will be done.” He bowed his head.
Sylvie threw her empty mug at him laughing when he caught it without looking up. Katherine agreed with her mother that her father seemed a new man. His face was bright with happiness and ease. There was nothing she could refuse him in this moment.
Before she knew it, Katherine was agreeing that she would invite Quinn to Wild River as soon as possible for a big family reunion, a reunion she, surprisingly, couldn’t wait for. She marveled at her parent’s amazing manipulative abilities and wondered if she would ever get to be that good. She doubted it, but in the meantime she would give it her very best try.
Chapter Eleven
The early morning flew by.
The smell of food from the kitchen had Katherine straying into the room several times only to be chased out by Ginnie, the family’s longstanding cook. She was a big woman and an intimidating wolf who k
new how to brandish a wooden cooking spoon like a weapon. Katherine escaped with her life and a sandwich, but barely.
The entire household was full of nerves and anticipation by the time Little Foot and his contingent arrived just before 9:00 am Pierre didn’t have to call his family to him in the foyer; they stood by his side without his request.
The first impression Katherine got of Little Foot was that he was, in no sense of the word, little.
Katherine stood back with her mother and Ronan while Pierre and Little Foot, who immediately requested that he be called Jacob, shook hands and greeted one another with a handshake.
Pierre was considered by most to be a big man. He stood at six foot and three inches tall, weighed approximately two hundred and forty pounds and was solid and lean. Jacob, on the other hand, was roughly twice the width of the Alpha with hands the size of pitcher’s mitts and a face that was all angles. He wasn’t a tall man but that didn’t seem to be an issue since he somehow seemed to be made of pure granite. His ready smile softened his lines considerably but still left him with an air of command, much like Pierre.
Little Foot had arrived with a contingent of wolves, four men and three women, who stood at his back, surveying Pierre and his family as they were surveyed in turn.
Katherine turned her attention to them, sizing each up individually. They were all well-built, long and lean and apparently strong. The main difference between the two groups was in their coloring. All seven were a beautiful bronzed color that Katherine thought only existed in movies where makeup was applied liberally to enhance a person’s glow. Katherine felt positively pale in comparison.
They were all of native blood but it was obvious that they weren’t all from the same family or even the same tribe. She and her brothers had been taught the history of Canada’s native peoples and she could identify the facial features of at least three different Canadian tribes within this group. She was pretty sure one of the women was Mi’kmaq, the largest of the men Algonquin, and, she thought, the rest were Cree like Little Foot.
It came as a bit of a surprise that these tribes would be joined together now in one group, backing Little Foot. The Mi’kmaq people lived mostly in the Atlantic Provinces, the Algonquin in and around Quebec, and the Cree were generally settled out in the Prairie Provinces. She wondered what influence Little Foot had over them to bring them all together like this and, more importantly, why her father hadn’t known about it.
Katherine stopped her assessment of the group when her father turned to introduce his family to Jacob. His hand moved instinctively to the small of her mother’s back, claiming her as his own.
“May I introduce my family? This is my wife, Sylvie, my eldest, Katherine, and my son Ronan. I have two other sons, Anthony and Teagan but, unfortunately, they are elsewhere dealing with pack issues.” He looked proudly back at both Katherine and Ronan as he spoke.
Katherine waited for her mother to offer her hand and a brief word then moved forward boldly; her chin raised high as she took Little Foot’s hand. His grip was strong so she squeezed back and noted the glint of respect in Jacob’s eyes that resulted from her motion.
“Mr. Little Foot, welcome to our home. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She kept her voice professional with a hint of warmth and studied his reaction. Courtroom training was ingrained in her and this was one man that she really wanted to pin down. If he was the type to counteract the council’s decision and try to forcefully take control of Canada then she wanted to know. So far she hadn’t seen enough to make a decision, though her initial instincts told her that he wasn’t their enemy.
“It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Katherine. If I may be so bold as to address you so informally.” At her nod, Jacob swept his hand back and beckoned a young man forward. “This is my eldest son, Keme.”
The man who stepped forward was tall, much taller than his father, probably taller than her own father. He was built thick through the chest and thighs but lean through the middle. Katherine couldn’t help but admire his physique. His shoulders were awe inspiring, and could span hers three times over. She kind of thought he looked a lot like Joe Manganiello, which was definitely a good thing.
“Ms. LaFlamme, it is a pleasure.” His voice rumbled deep in his throat and, unexpectedly, Katherine found herself liking the sound of it. An image of Quinn flashed before her eyes and she dismissed the errant feeling of guilt. The connection she had to Quinn was real and fierce, but is was also new and guilt should not be a factor, yet.
Pierre’s study was too small to accommodate the large party so Pierre led the way with Sylvie by his side to the back of the house. There, a conference room was outfitted to fulfill all their needs. Fruit baskets and hor d’ourves were scattered about artfully on beautiful trays and both hot and cold beverages were available at a moment’s notice.
Katherine knew that Sylvie had prepared for this summit with all the attention that she would grant any visiting Alpha. Her mother knew her politics and was well aware that her husband would one day soon be sharing leadership of Canada with this man. There were relations to be established and she would do her best to ensure that those new bonds be strong and loyal.
Katherine watched the two men carefully as they talked casually; taking in the reflexive minutia that would forewarn her should any real tension spring up between them. This was one of her main purposes for attending the conference. Besides her position as firstborn, she was an excellent reader of body language and facial movements from years of practice in a courtroom.
Her other purpose was to help direct the meeting according to accepted norms. Should the meeting erupt, it would be her job to mediate. Despite the obvious flaw in that scenario, that she would protect her father’s interests primarily over those of Jacob Little Foot’s, she was prepared to remain as objective as possible.
In order to retain objectivity, she had sent an invitation to Little Foot’s camp to provide a mediator of their own. From the looks of it, the bronzed brunette with the sparkling green-blue eyes was to be her co-mediator.
Katherine stepped forward and met the woman’s readily outstretched hand.
“Katherine LaFlamme.”
“Daphne Dru. Pleased to meet you Ms. LaFlamme. If I could be so bold as to ask for a moment of your time to speak privately before we begin.”
Despite her delicate frame, Daphne’s handshake had been strong and sure. Katherine liked the way the woman spoke with authority, as though this meeting were common place and her role in this summit just another day's work and not one of the soon-to-be-written about in the history books events of wolf kind. If she hadn’t been attempting to appear professional for the sake of her family, Katherine would have grinned.
Katherine’s heels clicked satisfyingly against the floorboards. Men might see high heels as phallic objects inflicted upon women to fulfill their male fantasies but they didn’t know the feeling of utter dominance in a situation when one’s heels were seriously fabulous. Phallic object or weapon of female prowess, either way, they always made her feel powerful.
There was a small alcove down the hallway from the conference room where Sylvie had arranged two wingback chairs by a window for reading or lounging. The mid-morning sun was shining brightly, dulled only slightly by the ivory sheers that hung smartly from a cast iron rod. Katherine motioned for the woman to sit down as she perched on the edge of one of the chairs.
“How can I help you, Ms. Dru?” She kept her voice formal and assumed her courtly demeanor. She had occasionally come up against lawyers who were pack members over the years and the experience still made her rise to her highest. Not only did she feel the need to excel professionally, but she also somehow felt a more primitive pull to emerge victorious against her rival in a more physical way. Although some men and women might get a kick out of seeing her and Ms. Dru wrestling in heels and skirts, it wasn’t exactly what she had in mind for the day.
“Daphne, please.” Her green eyes appraised Katherine closely.
/> Katherine nodded, “Daphne. Please, call me Katherine.” She glanced at her wrist in an obvious manner. It was wise to always keep the proverbial ball in your own court after all.
Daphne smiled casually, apparently a pro at the game. “This won’t take long. I just wanted to get a feel for your outlook on this situation and assuage any fears that Mr. Little Foot is an enemy to the Alpha. We’ve become aware of the situation your family is in at the moment with the rogue wolf and I want to personally assure you on Mr. Little Foot’s behalf that we have absolutely nothing to do with any of the deaths. Jacob is a good man, an honest man, and he wants to help, not hurt this country.”
Katherine watched the woman’s eyes as she spoke. They flashed with passion as well as regret. It was clear that she was telling the truth to the best of her knowledge and just wanted to make sure her Alpha was given the respect she believed he was due. Either Daphne was the next 007 and an amazing liar or Katherine’s instincts were right.