Werewolves in Love 2: Yours, Mine and Howls (19 page)

And why would she want to leave, anyway? He was a rich Pack Alpha, he could offer her a life she’d never been able to have, and she could stay with Dylan and Seth. Sure, she was bossy as hell, and it would take her a while to get used to not being in charge. But she wanted him.

Smiling to himself, he got up to shower and then go look for his mate.

His first stop was the kitchen.

“Good morning, Alpha.”

Cade ignored the Irishwolf. “Becca, are you done with breakfast?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Go play in your room. And Mr. MacSorley is not your uncle. You’ll call him Mr. MacSorley.”

“Can Nana come with—?”

“Nana’s going to talk with me. Go.”

Becca paused to kiss Sarah Jane, who hugged her tightly. “Promise you’ll remember what we talked about, all right?”

Becca nodded and scampered out. MacSorley rose to follow her.

“MacSorley. Wait. Do you know where Ally is?”

The Irishwolf paused in the doorway. “No, I don’t. She left in a hurry a while ago.”

Cade frowned. “Why?”

MacSorley leaned in the doorway and regarded him levelly. “She was embarrassed. I tried to explain she needn’t be, but Ally’s rather…shy in matters like this. Good Catholic girl, y’know. And I think everything that’s happened recently has frazzled her a bit.” He paused. “I’m not sure how to say this, but—”

“Then don’t. It’ll just piss me off, anyway.”

“Aye,” MacSorley murmured, eyes fixed on the floor. Somehow he managed to be vaguely insolent even while submitting. Cade recalled something from last night, something he’d forgotten as soon as he saw Ally.

“Why’d you get in front of me last night?”

The other wolf shrugged, still looking at the ground. “I’m not sure. Instinct, I guess.”

“Since when the hell does a beta’s instinct put him in front of an alpha on the rampage?”

“I think I was trying to protect Ally. Or maybe Sarah Jane. I’m not sure, to tell you the truth.” He sounded sincere this time.

“You are the strangest wolf I’ve ever seen in my life, and I don’t like you.”

Sarah Jane gasped.

“Yeah. Yeah, I can believe that. It’s understandable.”

Cade heard sadness in MacSorley’s words. He hadn’t expected to wound the Irishwolf. It irritated him. “Well. If you see Ally, tell her I want to talk to her.”

MacSorley left.

“Cade, maybe I should talk to Allison, I could—”

He spun around to face Sarah Jane. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Her hands trembled as they gripped the back of a chair. The scent of her fear filled the kitchen, but she didn’t flee. She stared hard at a spot somewhere above his head as she stuck out her jaw and said tightly, “I was in the area and I wanted to see my grandbaby. I didn’t call until I got here because I thought you’d say no.”

“I can’t imagine why I’d do that, Sarah Jane. Can you?”

She closed her eyes. “I’ve said things in the past, Cade. Thoughtless things. I made stupid, reckless threats because I was angry and scared and unhappy about Mary Ann.” She opened her eyes and tried to look him in the face. “I don’t want to take Rebecca away from you. That’s not why I’m here. I swear.”

She seemed sincere, but he couldn’t sense whether she told the truth or not. What had become of his mystical powers of discernment in the last week? Had his new mate shorted out his mojo? He stared at Sarah Jane for a minute, then shook his head to clear it. He was a civilized wolf. He didn’t threaten old women.

“Sit,” he ordered.

She sat while he got himself coffee, pouring more into her cup as well. They drank in silence across the table from each other.

The silence got uncomfortable.

“How’s Mary Ann?”

“No idea. I haven’t heard from her in two years. I assume she’s still in California.”

“I see.”

“It’s my fault.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why? Did y’all have a fight?” Sarah Jane normally gave Mary Ann anything she asked for.

“No, I mean the whole thing. All of it.” She made a vague sweeping gesture with her hand. “Mary Ann is my fault. I spoiled her. I excused her for everything she ever did because her daddy died and I never wanted her to suffer anything again. That’s no way to raise a human being.”

“You’re right,” he agreed, “it’s not. But at some point she became responsible for herself. You can’t take the blame for everything.”

“It’s one thing to say that. It’s harder to believe it.” She sighed and took a long sip of coffee before continuing. “Well. I decided I want my granddaughter to know who I am, and I calculated that if I just showed up and begged you to let me see her, your innate nobility of spirit would assert itself and you’d take pity on me.”

He nearly choked on his coffee trying not to laugh. “Fuck.” He knew she hated the word. “Sarah Jane, I could’ve killed you last night.”

“I didn’t think you would. You’re too much like your father.”

“Don’t try to flatter me.”

“I’m not. Declan worried how’d you’d react, but I thought if you came home enraged, it would be best if Rebecca weren’t here.”

He’d never admit she’d made the right decision. “Declan, is it? You two look pretty comfortable with each other.”

“He’s charming. I can’t imagine what would make you dislike him so.”

“I’m not getting into it right now.”

“All right. Let’s talk about Rebecca and Allison.”

“You first.”

“Well, Rebecca is perfect. But she needs to be around children and women.”

“I know that. And Allison?”

“And Allison is no more the nanny than I am.” Before he could respond, she held up both hands and said gently, “I’m not criticizing. I know Michael was worried about what I would think, so he got rid of the wolves and Allison volunteered to play Mary Poppins.”

“We’ve had some nanny trouble lately.”

“I’ve heard. Cade, if I thought you weren’t taking care of Rebecca, or she was the least bit unsafe, a pack of werewolves couldn’t stop me taking her. But I’m not going to interfere when I see how happy and loved she is. And she certainly seems to like Allison.” Leaning across the table, she smiled at him the way an older woman smiled at a male who’d been leashed and brought to heel. “When are you going to tell her you claimed her?”

He stared at her. “Who told you she’s my mate?” Maybe he needed to rip some fur off Michael after all.

“No one had to tell me, Cade. I can see it, just like I saw it when your father brought Eirny home from Scotland. You’re bonded, pup.”

“If you can tell that from seeing me for ten minutes, maybe Mary Ann was right about the Fae blood. Don’t tell the ladies in the Junior League. And don’t call me pup.”

She laughed and leaned back. “I’ve been around a lot longer than you. You have no idea what I pick up on.” Suddenly, she looked pensive. “Cade, is everything all right?”

He frowned. “In what sense?”

“I’m not even sure. I’m not talking about Allison, or the trouble you’re having with the other packs.”

“And what do you know about that?”

She waved the question off. “I just mean, has anything unusual, or unusually bad, happened?”

“One of my wolves attempted suicide this week. That’s very bad.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean something closer to you, something about you or Becca? Maybe Dylan…” She played with the rings on her hands as she talked, her brows knit in worry. A strange anxiety had crept into her tone.

“No. The packs, the nannies and Aaron. That’s it. Why?”

“It’s nothing. I think I’m just turning into a superstitious old woman. Forget I brought it up.” She beamed at him. “Oh, and that Dylan. What a beautiful boy! He looks just like you and Carson at that age. Allison must be a remarkable girl to have raised a kid like that.”

He didn’t attempt to hide his smile this time, secretly glad for the opportunity to talk about Ally. “Yeah, yeah I think she is. She’s definitely remarkable. I’m just not sure how. There’s a lot about her I haven’t figured out yet. In fact,” he said, draining his cup, “that’s what I’m about to do now. I need to have a chat with Ally.”

“I think I’ll take Rebecca into to town with me, if that’s okay with you?”

“You’d better bring her back.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

“Do you honestly think I would kidnap my own—bah.” She broke off with an exasperated wave of her hand. “Never mind. I’m not about to start a fight at this point.”

“Wise decision.”

On her way out, she paused at his chair and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for letting me stay.”

He looked up at her with a half smile. “I didn’t say you could stay. I’m just not kicking you out right now.”

She startled him by laying a hand against his cheek as she looked at him almost fondly. “All right, then. I’ll be here to help as long as you let me.”

“I don’t need your help, Sarah Jane.”

“I hope you’re right, Cade. I really do.”

He smelled Ally’s lavender scent as soon as he walked out of the kitchen. It came from her room. On the way up the stairs, he called out to Michael to get the wolves back. They were his pack and this was their home.

He knocked on Ally’s door. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

A pause.

“Just a minute.”

He heard some scraping and bumping, and she opened the door.

His heart started tripping to a happy staccato when he saw her there in bare feet, faded jeans and a soft yellow tank top. She looked drawn and tired, with heavy eyelids and dark circles under her eyes. He should pick her up and carry her back downstairs to bed. He stepped forward, intending to kiss her, but she backed up to open the door wider, so he walked in past her.

She stood with one hand on the doorknob, the other stuffed in her pocket, not looking directly at him. MacSorley was right. She was uncomfortable about last night. That touched him, arousing his protective instinct.

He had to tell her he’d claimed her.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi yourself. Why’d you disappear?”

“I woke up early, and I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I thought I’d just get up.” She tucked her hair behind her ear as she glanced from the bed, to the carpet, to him, and back to the bed.

“Why don’t you come downstairs with me, and…” Something in the closet caught his eye. Or, rather, something didn’t catch his eye, because he saw nothing there. He knew she’d hung some clothes up, but now the closet was empty. He turned back to Ally, who wouldn’t meet his gaze.

He walked into the bathroom. The counter was bare. When he walked back into the room, he spied the corner of a suitcase sticking out from under the bed. He reached down to pull it out.

It was full.

He dropped the case and stared at her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

She flinched and crossed her arms tightly, looking down as she whispered, “I think I need to— To just…”

“To just what? What, Ally? What do you think you need to do?”

He advanced on her. She retreated until her back hit the bedroom wall, hugging herself with her eyes downcast and her hair obscuring her face. He didn’t care if he frightened her. He wanted to yell at her, to shake her ’til her teeth rattled, to lock her in that goddamned closet ’til he could figure out what to do with her.

“I think I need to leave.”

He heard it, but he couldn’t quite believe it.

“Why?” he snarled.

No response.

“Why?” he roared, and she shrank back, covering her face with her hands. A part of him was ashamed of frightening her like this. But a bigger part, the bonded wolf with a mate he couldn’t trust part, didn’t care.

She’d made him feel like a fool.

He placed his hands against the wall, trapping her between his arms. Leaning in until their bodies almost touched, he stared at the top of her head and willed her to look up at him.

“How did you plan on leaving, Allison?”

“The Cherokee,” she whispered, close to tears.

“It’s yours?”

“No, Seth’s.”

And here came the tears. She’d get no comfort from him, not this time.

“Okay.” He stalked out of the room. Leaning over the railing, he called for Seth and waited in the hallway while Ally stayed in her room, quietly sobbing.

She was a better actress than Mary Ann, he’d give her that. She’d tried to slink away without a word to him and when he caught her, she manufactured tears. A wolf’s mate could manipulate him six ways from Sunday and he might never know it, so strong was the bond. Ally had a gift for manipulation. He’d be a fool if he gave her the chance to use it again.

Seth came jogging up the stairs, slowing when he saw the expression on Cade’s face.

Her eyes widened when she saw Seth. “Why did you—?”

Cade cut her off, holding out his hand to Seth. “Give me your car keys.”

The beta, ashen-faced, looked from Cade to Ally. “What?”

“Your keys. Give them to me.”

For a minute he thought Seth would ask him for a reason, but Guidry was smarter than that. He handed the keys over silently, casting a worried sideways glance at Ally, who stared at Cade with mounting sullen anger.

“You can’t make him do that,” she said through gritted teeth.

Cade smiled grimly. “I just did, sweetheart. My wolf does what I—”

“
Your
wolf?” She looked stricken.

“My wolf,” he replied with satisfaction. “He’s in my pack now, and he’ll do what I tell him.”

His resolve almost faltered at the agony that crossed her face, an expression bleaker and sadder than the one she’d worn the night Seth confessed to killing Guy.

But as soon as he saw it, the look disappeared, replaced by one of glowering fury. She balled her fists at her sides as her chest heaved in short, shallow bursts. This petite female smelled deadly furious. If she were a wolf, he’d be in defensive posture by now, expecting an imminent attack.

“Cade, for God’s sake, what’s going on?”

Another spasm of pain crossed Ally’s face at Seth’s plaintive question, but then the anger returned.

“Why don’t you ask Allison?”

Seth turned to her. “Ally?”

She kept her gaze on Cade as she said with exaggerated calm, “I think it’s time I left, sweetie. I was going to borrow the Cherokee to get to town, but it looks like Cade objects.”