Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

T hey sped off into the twinkling lights of the city and arrived at the museum in plenty of time for Mariah to meet her parents, the museum director, and Renata.

"Sweetheart," her mother called from the director's office. Roz Kincanon Halsey was still a gorgeous she-wolf and a force to be reckoned with. Mariah resembled her mother—dark hair, dark brown eyes, and was more petite than some she-wolves. Roz was dressed in a stunning nude-colored haute couture gown with detailed beading and lace. The skirt was romantic and flowed beautifully, and the nipped-in waist showed off her mother's still enviable figure. It also happened to complement Mariah's dress perfectly.

"Mom, you look gorgeous!" Mariah said, embracing her mother.

"Watch yourself," Roz whispered, "your father is up to something."

"That's what the bodyguards are for. Simon Howard thinks I'm his fated mate."

"Shit!" said her mother. "That's not good. What are your plans?"

"I've got it handled. I plan to enjoy the event and then my bodyguards will whisk me away like Cinderella at midnight, only my pumpkin is a private jet. I'll bet I'm home before you and dad."

"That should work. If I get any inkling that your father is in cahoots with Howard, I'll let you know. Oh, and did you hear? Simon ousted his father this afternoon and is now Alpha of London. I hear it was a bloodless coup and he has the backing of the entire pack."

"How dreadfully dull," quipped Mariah, making her mother laugh.

She joined her father, the director, and Renata for a quick cocktail before heading to the museum's gallery. Mariah watched from the mezzanine level as some of the UK's wealthiest patrons moved through the exhibit hall. Five hundred people had been invited. The director had mentioned there was a waiting list for cancellations and numerous individuals who couldn't attend in person were going to participate electronically in the bidding.

The sculpture in the center of the foyer was the one that she was gifting to Renata, and it was garnering a lot of attention. Mariah smiled to herself; it felt good to bring people happiness with her art.

"This is so incredibly generous of you," said Piper Nichols as she joined her. "I didn't really get the amount of work you put in for this thing until I got here. Then it hit me—all of these sculptures. This must have taken months of your time and you're just giving them away. Well not giving them away, but the proceeds aren't going to you."

"It was a lot of time and effort, but the cause is worth it. Besides not all of the sculptures are mine—only seven of them are. The event also has another sculptor who works in clay and two painters donated their work as well."

"Yeah, but it's pretty obvious who the big draw is. Face it, Halsey, you're a genius. Your work is amazing. My dad has his eye on one of the two horse sculptures."

Mariah laughed. "He'd better get his checkbook out. My dad lost out on one I did last year, called Play Ball, and he's determined to get one of these two."

"By the way, you look gorgeous."

"You too, cowgirl. What do you say we go get something to eat? Those appetizers look yummy."

She was just reaching for a bite-sized meatball when a wave of dizziness swept over. It was quick and devastating. Mariah barely wobbled and immediately one of the bodyguards was at her side, steadying her.

"Are you all right, Ms. Halsey?"

"Please, call me Mariah. And yes, I think so. I guess I should have eaten more today. I'll just gobble up some of these meatballs and worry about the calories tomorrow."

"I know it's not my place, but you don't ever need to worry about that. You are stunning. The next time you're at Baker Street, I'd love to do a scene with you."

Mariah could feel herself blushing. "Thanks. Maybe we can do that. I don't get over here very often though."

Scanning the crowd, she spotted him. If his navy suit last night had made him drool-worthy, tonight's black-tie evening wear was designed and fitted to make a girl come close to orgasming on the spot. Simon Howard was sex on a stick and women and she-wolves fluttered around him.

He handled them with a practiced and deft hand—he was charming, semi-flirtatious, and unfailingly polite. When an unmated she-wolf from up in northern England placed her hand on Simon's arm and batted her eyes at him, it was all Mariah could do not to find a blowtorch and go after the bitch. Just as she was glaring at the girl, Simon locked eyes with her, and a sensual smile illuminated his handsome face.

Mariah looked away. What did she care? He was welcome to flirt, fuck, and mate any she-wolf he wanted—except her. As she turned to walk in the other direction, Skylar followed, wrapping her arm around her.

"We can get you out of here," she whispered.

"No, I'm good. I have bodyguards and he won't want to make a scene. They'll get me to a plane after this and by the time Simon can leave his pack, he'll have forgotten all about me."

Skylar shook her head. "I don't think so. Travis talked to him after his coup. Apparently, it was all very civilized, and you are now his top priority."

"It's all good, Sky, I'm fine."

"Mariah, take it from someone who knows, that dizzy feeling doesn't get any better until he sinks his teeth into your neck. Then a whole lot of other incredible sensations take the place of the dizziness and nausea. And Kat says he seems like a really good guy, for what it's worth."

"I'm sure he is. And I'm glad that you, Kat, and Abriana are happy with your fated mates. I just don't want one. I haven't told my folks, but I'm moving to the city. I have an appointment with a realtor next week."

Mariah drew away and began mingling with the press, the bidders, and the staff. The gala was running like precision clockwork that would have made a Swiss watchmaker proud. It was a wonderful event, all in all. The bidding on all of her sculptures and most of the other artwork was exceeding expected prices.

She watched as her father and Cameron Nichols ruthlessly bid against each other.

There was a beautiful outdoor terrace on one side of the hall, and Mariah wandered out into the darkness and away from all the light and noise. When the door closed behind her, the sounds of the gala drifted away, but the sounds of the city filled her ears: traffic; a busker playing bagpipes on the street not too far from the museum; the Thames as it rolled along, lapping and splashing; the distant sound of a plane overhead. The balcony wasn't completely dark, there was some ambient light from the nearby buildings and a sky full of stars overhead. It seemed as if all of London was determined to make the event a success. The rising moon cast its ethereal glow on those down below.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" came the smooth as silk voice she dreamed about all last night.

Her bodyguards were closing in, but Mariah waved them off.

"They're not very good at their job. If I'd wanted to harm you, you'd be dead," Simon said quietly.

"I didn't hire them to be assholes. I hired them to make sure I could attend the gala and then go back to my life."

"Then tell them to go home. Your life is here, in London, with me."

"No, Simon, it isn't. But I hear congratulations are in order."

"I didn't want to force my father to step down. He never liked being alpha, except for all the perks he gave to himself. But as your father pointed out to me when we had lunch today, I needed to get my house in order. And now it is. My beta and omega are already in place. The wolf who was my grandfather's last beta and took care of my pack while I went off and played at being some kind of high society mercenary, will be our senior statesman. A consigliere, if you will."

"It sounds like you owe this paragon of virtue."

"I do. His name is Graham, and this afternoon I gave my blessing for him to be bonded to my Aunt Cecily. She's my mother's sister and her polar opposite."

"You just gave your aunt to some wolf because he served you well? Do you know how fucked up that is?"

"Watch your language, Mariah. And no, I did not. My aunt and Graham have been in love for decades. Her father and his successor forbade the match and my mother made it impossible. But as they say, l'amore conquista tutti ."

"Love conquers all?" she snorted. "Don't you believe it. Look Simon, you have a lot on your plate right now. But next time I'm in London, maybe we can get together and have a little fun."

Simon surprised her by chuckling. "The next time you're in London, we'll be together and madly in love."

Mariah rolled her eyes. "You're delusional."

"No, Mariah. I am your fated mate and alpha. If you would agree to make this easier on both of us, we can simply enjoy this event, make a lot of money for that school, and go back to my home. I have a converted mews. Do you know what that is?"

"Yes, a converted stable. Agatha Christie lived in one."

Simon nodded. "We're in the same neighborhood, only three doors down from what used to be her house. Our mews doesn't have an odd addition, like Agatha had made for her writing room. Ours is in much better condition and has a larger, nicer garden. We can stay there when we're in town or at the family townhouse. You didn't stay long enough last night to see it. We can also choose to make our main residence at Tanglewood Castle outside the city. Or if none of those suit you, we can find a new place together."

"I'm planning on an industrial loft in New York City."

"I'm afraid not, love. That's much too long a commute. I feel like our pack has waited long enough for me to become alpha. I've got to stay here. This afternoon I submitted my request for a leave of absence from Lloyd's. I think we need some time in seclusion and then I need to get up to snuff on the pack's business."

"Do you hear yourself? Does it matter at all to you that I don't want any of this?"

"As I understand it, neither did your mother, and look what a spectacular mistress she has made to the Hamptons pack."

"I'm not my mother."

"Of course not," he said, letting out a short laugh. "According to your father, you inherited the worst traits from both of them."

"Good. Did you know my father was in special ops? Did you also know my mother lived for years on her own and few wield a knife better than her? One of the things she taught me is that no matter what," she said, letting the stiletto she had secreted up her sleeve drop down into her hand, "never go anywhere unarmed."

Simon looked down and seemed genuinely surprised as she pressed the deadly weapon into his side. "I was willing to let the other night slide, love, but threatening me with a weapon is not something I'm prepared to tolerate or excuse. However, since we haven't yet had a chance to go over the things I expect from you, I will overlook it this once, provided your behavior the rest of the night is exemplary and you agree to take your vows in front of your parents this evening."

"Not a chance."