Chapter 8

Anton didn't giveus time to change clothing. We'd been traveling for two days. I badly needed a shower and my bed.

However, duty called.

I followed my brother through the receiving room and into the small meeting room. As we crossed the threshold, I announced, "All Rise. Our esteemed Leader, Anton Redd, is in attendance."

Anton paused beside his chair at the head of the table so that I could pull it back for him.

I then walked the five steps to the wall and leaned my back against it.

Sig was mirroring me across the room.

Although only four of his advisors did not make the trip with us, Anton needed to review everything that had happened with his staff.

In my opinion, the only pressing business matter was Burke's outstanding payment. However, we would be required to stay here until Anton was finished.

Anton finally asked, "Bredon, what say you?"

"I take it that there have been complaints from our guest?" I looked at Meyer.

"He's submitted a list of demands. They range from a new mattress to satellite television." The male crossed his arms over his chest. "Your edict that he have no female interaction has caused issues with Mrs. Cormer."

"We will entertain his list once his father makes good on his promise," I stated. "Mrs. Cormer can direct her concerns to my office."

"Very good, Second." Meyer's cheeks reddened. He didn't like being left behind to deal with this miscreant.

"Bredon, contact Travis Burke and explain that although we hold him and his Pack in high esteem, we will not overlook the missed payment," Anton said.

"Yes, sir." I dipped my chin as was expected.

"We will meet in a day or two. I wish to hear about the plans for the ball." Anton pushed his chair back, and Sig and I followed him and two of his staff to his office.

Sig closed the door behind us.

"I must have food, Bredon. How do you expect me to run things if I am hungry?" Anton frowned.

I selected the brass bell, entered the hallway, and rang it.

Very soon, a teenage boy appeared, "Sir?"

"Our Leader wishes for a meal."

"Yes, sir." He took off at a run.

As I turned to return to Anton's office, my wolf stirred. I did not pause because I knew Anton awaited my response. "Sire, the order has been placed."

He didn't look up from his desk.

I glanced at Sig to check if he'd noticed anything odd.

His only response was to slowly raise an eyebrow in question.

Anton began to list his wishes for the upcoming ball.

I rarely declined a duty that my half-brother assigned. However, planning a ball was something I refused to do.

He had others panting for a chance to carry out his orders and every desire.

I slowly looked around the room. Nothing was out of place, and yet, something was off.

Anton droned on.

Suddenly, I caught a scent I didn't recognize. I inhaled twice loudly. It was a stranger, a human. "Lock the door behind me," I ordered as I rushed from the room. Following my nose, I ran away from the Royal Wing, through the public meeting rooms, and into our wing.

I concentrated on the scent. My wolf was pushing me to find our prey—the interloper.

In the back of my mind, it registered that I was entering the room Talia used for storage. I had not seen the inside of it in decades.

The scent was more robust on this floor, and a…human had stepped away from a large worktable and was staring at me, surprised, frozen in place.

Tackling her to the floor, I tried to cushion her fall by wrapping one arm around her waist and the other shielding the back of her head. I growled, "Stranger."

A pair of bright green eyes stared into mine. She wasn't fighting me. In fact, her body seemed to fit nicely against mine.

I took another deep breath, and my wolf growled, "Mine."

Running steps sounded in the hallway.

"Bredon! What are you doing?" Talia's voice was filled with anger.

"Step back, Tallie." Sig entered the room and most likely cut off the angry female's advance.

"He's hurting her." Talia sounded as if she were struggling with Sig.

The stranger continued watching me.

I used my arms to press up to my feet.

The woman did not move.

"Did you kill her?" Talia had broken free of Sig and approached us.

I held out my hand and slowly helped the stranger to her feet.

Talia advanced on her. "I'm so sorry. I have no idea what got into him." She was running her hands over the woman's arms and shoulders while shooting me an irate look from time to time.

"I'm okay," the woman said. "Really." She began batting away Talia's hands.

My wolf wanted to grab the woman by her waist, toss her over our shoulder, and take her to our room. "Who is this?" I asked Talia in a rumbling voice.

"I told you I had hired a curator." Talia's blue eyes flashed with fury. "You are always complaining about what a mess this is." She included Sig in her explanation.

"Name," I demanded of the human.

"Sage."

"First or last?" I would order a deep dive into everything I could find on this human.

Goddess. A human. What was Talia thinking?

"Sage Isaacs." She rolled her shoulders back as she continued to watch me.

Sig approached. "We received no formal notification of your guest."

"I told the fat one with the weird eye." Talia refused to learn the names of the team of advisors that surrounded Anton. "He probably forgot because he was too busy looking at my breasts."

Sig's growl was low.

There were too many emotions swirling in the room. Two of us were tired, and one was furious. It made for a dangerous situation.

I turned back to the human. "I apologize, Miss Isaacs. I am responsible for Security. When I noted that a stranger was in the house, I had to investigate the threat."

She wet her lips and took a deep breath, drawing my gaze to her rounded breasts. "I'm fine. You were only doing your job."

I liked her voice. It wasn't too loud or shrill.

"It will make for a wonderful story when asked how we met. But…I think you should call me, Sage." She smiled, trying to calm the situation.

Did the human know that she was ours?

I found myself returning her smile.

"What is happening?" Talia asked in confusion.