Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

S imon checked in with his men who were watching Baker Street. His mate had taken her time at the museum, staying to have lunch with her friends and the administrator for the school in the Hebrides.

Oliver's comments about getting his own house in order hadn't gone amiss with Simon. His father's long-time beta had agreed to remain in his position until Simon made the move to take over as alpha. The pack's omega had been among those killed by the Darkness.

After coming up with an impromptu plan, he placed a call to the castle outside London.

"Harry, it's Simon. Are Archie and Graham at the townhouse?"

"Graham is, but Archie's here with me at the castle."

"And my father?"

"Sleeping it off in his bedroom."

"Get Archie and the two of you bring my father to the townhouse. How fast do you think you can get there?"

"Ninety minutes unless the traffic is bad."

"Good. I'll see you then."

He ended the call and headed for the townhouse. On the way he called Noel at the office to check in and ask him to have flowers delivered to Mariah. He thought about having them delivered to Baker Street but decided against it. Instead, he asked Noel to send them to the museum, with nothing more than an innocuous note congratulating her on her success. It wouldn't do for her to know that he was aware of her hiding place. Better for her to think she was safe where she was and to deal with her after the gala.

His cell rang and Simon recognized the number as one of the men he had watching Mariah. "Simon Howard."

"The mistress has arrived back safely at Baker Street. I just had a call from Harry. Are we taking her tonight? I think it would be best if we avoid a run-in with Cerberus."

"Thus, the reason I haven't yet moved to claim my mate. She engaged Cerberus just for the event and to see her safely onto a private plane afterward. Harry will be the pilot and has instructions to take off as if he's headed back to the United States. Then he'll change course and head to Tanglewood, where I will meet my beautiful mate when she lands."

Simon arrived at the townhouse, left his SUV out front, and went to find his mother. She was holding court in the drawing room at the back of the house. As he strode toward the room, he heard his mother's voice raised in a strident tone but couldn't make out the words. Graham, who had been beta to the pack since before Simon was born, approached him before he made it to the door.

"Sir, if I might have a word?"

Graham looked like the quintessential English nobleman: tall and elegant with an almost regal bearing. Simon was deeply grateful for his dedication to the pack. It couldn't have been easy being the chief bulwark between his father, his mother, and the pack.

"Graham, you can have all the words you want, after I deal with my mother."

"Of course, Sir. I spoke briefly with Archie. He said he and Harry will be here in short order. I take it you are going to oust your father?"

Simon nodded. "I am. It's about time, don't you think?"

"I do indeed, Sir. Long past time. You will have the complete support of every member of the pack. I don't even think your father will say a word, although your mother might object."

"I'm sure she will, but she will either learn to abide by my rule, or I will have her removed to some place where she cannot be a negative influence on the pack. Thank you, Graham. I don't know that I'll ever be able to repay your service, but I do intend to try."

A brief smile crossed Graham's features. "Thank you, Sir. I'm not sure if you've been in contact with your mother today, but she's in an ill temper this afternoon."

"I'm afraid I'm not about to do anything to improve that. I'm about to inform her that I'm going to claim Mariah as my mate this evening after the gala. We'll be at the castle afterward. I don't expect any opposition from her father, but if I'm wrong, I'd rather be where we are the strongest."

"I think it might be best if you have your parents confined to the townhouse?"

"That was my thought. I hate to ask it though."

"No need, Sir Simon. I'll ensure a smooth transition of power here at the townhouse so that you may focus your energy on your mate. Have you spoken with Oliver Halsey?"

"I have. We had lunch together today. He said that he would keep his own pack out of the fray, and I received his blessing to claim his daughter as well."

"I'm confused then—what opposition might present itself?"

"Mariah has a group of girlfriends who I doubt would be opposed to storming the castle. All of them have their mates with them, except for Piper Nichols who is here with her mother, Riley. I don't envy Cameron trying to keep the two of them contained. I'll discuss my other concerns when Archie and Harry arrive."

"Very good, Sir. I'll have a room prepared for your father."

"Have things gotten that bad between them?"

Graham shrugged. Simon was sure he'd never seen the man shrug before in his lifetime. He hadn't even realized he knew how.

"I think it best, Sir. They've been using adjoining rooms for years now. We can talk when we meet with Archie and Harry."

"Thank you, Graham. Let me know when they arrive. We'll meet in the study."

Graham turned and walked away. Simon hoped that Graham would stay on as a kind of senior counsel to the pack, a role that was usually filled by a retiring alpha or the new alpha's father. But it was Graham's advice he needed and trusted.

Simon opened the door to the drawing room. Any thought he'd had of his mother retiring to dowager were dashed the instant he entered the room and found her with his aunt and the mistresses of Sussex and Normandy. His mother was holding court and the determined look on her face let him know she was up for a fight.

Genevieve Howard was no man's fool. She was a lovely woman with medium brown hair kept short and neat in an old-fashioned style. At first glance she appeared to be younger than her true age, but the illusion was quick to disappear if you looked closely at her. The fine lines around her eyes and mouth belied the skillful application of makeup and artful dressing. She favored various shades of pink, mauve, and pale blue. Both her jewelry and clothing were chosen to portray wealth and power.

"Simon, dear, I wasn't expecting you." His mother's voice dripped honey and venom.

He walked to her and bent down to kiss her offered cheek. "Mother. Ladies, I need to speak with my mother privately."

"These are my oldest friends and are invited guests with their mates to the gala this evening."

"Then I suggest we have them taken back into town so they can rest and get dressed. I would hate for the evening not to be all it can be."

"I think your mother would prefer that we stay," said the Mistress of Sussex.

"And I believe she would prefer that you not overhear what I'm about to tell her. Graham?" Simon growled the first sentence and called the latter.

"Sir?" said Graham, opening the door.

"Please see the Mistresses of Sussex and Normandy back to their mates in London. My aunt should be shown to her room and afforded any and all niceties that we can provide. Dear Aunt Cecily, I do hope you'll think of leaving your origin pack and joining us here in London. A new day is about to dawn, and I think you would be happier here than in Gloucestershire."

"Don't any of you move," his mother commanded, standing imperiously. She might have been more intimidating if she'd stood at least as tall as Simon's shoulders. "You are not alpha of this pack and that strumpet you went after last night is not mistress. Your father and I rule here."

"Graham, show the ladies to the door. If they don't go willingly, get what men you need to escort them from the estate. Deliver them to their mates and tell them that a new wolf rules in London and until further notice, they are no longer welcome here."

"Very good, Sir. Ladies?" he said, gesturing toward the front entrance. When they didn't move, he continued, "Let me remind you that Sir Simon has the backing of the entire pack save his parents, and I am quite sure your mates would prefer you not cause a scene and enrage our new alpha."

Realizing that their friend was losing the iron grip she had once had on the London pack, the three she-wolves turned their backs on his mother and left the room. Simon almost felt sorry for her.

His aunt stopped at the door. She looked very much like her older sister, but her sunny and pleasing disposition had not marred her face with deep lines of worry or scowling. "You'll let me stay, Simon? I won't have to go back?"

Simon smiled. "Aunt Cecily, other than taking Mariah to mate, nothing would please me more."

"She seemed like a spirited one; I imagine you two will do well together."

"I agree. Sometimes we are called to our fated mate and are also fortunate enough to be able to spend a life together. And sometimes," he said, glancing between the unmated Graham and his aunt, "we have to wait. But when that happens, the pairing is all the sweeter."

His aunt blushed, his mother's friends gasped, and his mother huffed. When he looked back at Graham, the senior statesman of the pack smiled. "The Mistresses of Sussex and Normandy will be taken back to London, and I'll make sure that your aunt is comfortable before returning with Archie and Harry. They should be here at any moment. Might I ask, Sir, what about your father?"

"He'll be with Archie and Harry. I'll speak to my father first and then once we have him upstairs, I will meet with you, Archie and Harry."

"Very good. Shall I take a moment to tell chef to prepare something a bit more festive for tonight?"

Simon nodded. "Yes but tell him not to go to any trouble. I would like to make the announcement here at the townhouse before I attend the gala and if you could have a video feed to the castle, I would appreciate it. I'll speak with those at the castle in person tomorrow."

"I'll take care of it. Madam?" he said, looking at Simon's mother.

"Give me a minute with her, Graham."

"Very good, Sir," he said stepping out and closing the door.

"Who do you think you are?" his mother hissed.

"I am Simon Howard, Alpha of London. You're not a fool, Mother. You've had to have known this was coming and I suspect your foul mood has to do with knowing that taking a mate of my own signals the end of your reign. I am hopeful that you and father will relinquish your places with a minimum of fuss."

"We'll go to the Council," she insisted. "And the pack will never back this blatant power play." Her tone and demeanor convinced neither of them.

"The Council will do nothing, and the pack has been asking for some time when I planned to give you and father the heave-ho."

"You are the most ungrateful son."

"Not at all," countered Simon. "I'm grateful the two of you acted as a placeholder until I found my fated mate. But now it's time this pack regained its place at the table and didn't settle for crumbs."

"Perhaps I should return to my origin pack with my sister," she threatened.

Simon laughed. The last thing his mother wanted was to be in Gloucestershire. It was an idle threat and not a very good one. "If that's what you want, I'll assign people to facilitate your move, but Aunt Cecily stays here."

"Our father was alpha. She should have been mated to someone of our rank long ago. She won't have your grandfather's miserable beta. He's far too old for her."

"If Aunt Cecily and Graham wish to be together, they'll have my blessing and support. They can spend the rest of their lives together." Simon ran his hands through his hair. "Look, Mother, I don't want to have to exile you and father to some godforsaken portion of our territory, but I also won't have you trying to undermine my or Mariah's authority."

"How can you want her? She's an American. Her father works for a living. I thought you might be paired with a she-wolf from the Sussex or Normandy packs."

"I'm well aware of what you wanted, and that was never going to happen. Mariah is my fated mate and I will have no other. You and father should take the evening to reconcile yourselves with your new station. But if you cannot, or you do anything to harm my mate or my pack, I will do whatever is necessary to protect Mariah and our people."

Simon walked to the door and opened it. "Graham, please escort my mother to her room. We'll need to let the gala organizers know that my parents will not be attending."

"I took the liberty of already doing that. Mistress?" Graham held out his hand.

His mother stomped across the room, as angry as he'd ever seen her. At the door she looked back at her son. "You'll pay for this. And you," she said turning on Graham, "will never have my sister."

Graham bestowed the most benign and knowing look on Simon's mother. "Mistress, I have been having your sister for almost thirty years. Had your father or his successor tried to force her into a pairing, we would have fled and begged sanctuary with another pack."

"Well done, Graham!" Simon laughed. "Now I expect you to make an honest she-wolf of my aunt within short order."

"Nothing, my Alpha, would give me greater pleasure."

"Would you and Aunt Cecily like to attend the gala in my mother and father's place?"

"I think someone should remain here."

"It's an offer, not a command. Neither Archie or Harry were planning to go, and Archie can remain here. Tell Aunt Cecily there are several shops in the city that I'm sure will have an evening gown to fit her."

"Good, because I won't loan her one of mine," said his mother, every word dripping with poisonous intent.

"I would never ask my beloved aunt to wear your hand-me-downs. Graham, encourage Cecily to attend the gala with you. Tell her the dress and any accessories she needs are my treat. Once she's chosen something, pick out some jewelry from the family collection."

Simon could see tears welling in Graham's eyes. "You are too kind, Sir. And I will double-check with Cecily, but I do believe we would love to attend."

"Excellent. Best to let the gala organizers know that we are adding back two." He walked to a side table and found a slip of notepaper, writing down the name of two stores he thought would be able to accommodate their needs. "Tell them I gave you their names and they are to bill me. And may I be the first to congratulate you."

"Thank you again, Sir," he said, letting Simon's mother pass him in the doorway.

Archie and Harry came down the hallway toward the drawing room.

"We got here as quickly as we could," said Archie.

"Swine," hissed his mother as she stalked past them and up the staircase.

"Did we miss all the fun?" asked Harry. "Your father was passed out in the back of the car, and two staff members have taken him up the back stairs to his room."

"Good, and you didn't miss out on the fun. Come in. Graham will be back with us shortly."