Chapter 16

16

KILLIAN

S tripping angrily, I pull off my clothes but can't bring myself to throw them into the hamper. Instead, I shove them under the bed where Edmund hopefully won't find them, and then drag myself into the bathroom to get ready.

It's an ordeal to get dressed again. All I want to do is climb under the covers and lament my shitty luck. What I'd really like to do is order Charlotte to get in with me, but somehow, I doubt she'd respond well to me using my command on her.

I don't even know if it would work.

"Goddamn it!" My fifth attempt at tying my tie has me shredding it in bad temper just as a concerned looking Edmund enters the room.

"Having problems, sir?" He's cautious as he approaches, and I don't blame him. I can feel my anger leaching into the atmosphere around me, but I can't stop it. "Your guards look like they're about to pass out, trying not to bow down and submit in the face of your irritability . Can you take it down a level or two?"

As soon as it registers that my mood is negatively affecting Charlotte, I concentrate on taking some deep breaths and let the fire in my veins cool to a mere simmering heat.

"Better. Thank you." Edmund goes to the wardrobe and selects another tie from the row of suits that miraculously appeared the moment I got here. My older, less expensive-looking ones are shoved to the side.

"Chase has arrived. And I believe your nieces are just passing through the gate and will be with us shortly. It's time to join them."

Stifling a groan, I nod. I want to get to know them better, and I need to find out what their thoughts on this royalty thing are. Plus, I have lots of information about how they ended up with shifter DNA mixed into their bloodline that nobody else can give them. We've had some time to talk, but always with others around, snooping and listening for some tidbit of gossip they can spread.

Tonight's dinner is more intimate. It's just my sister Michelle's four children, and their mates.

My gaze lands on the closed door.

My own mate is just on the other side. It would be the perfect opportunity for her to meet them, to show her off as my own fated match. But that wouldn't be fair to either of us.

"Zane also said to say he's sent you updated security protocols, what will happen in case of an emergency, attack, breach of the property, all that kind of stuff. Says you should read it before you attempt to travel anywhere."

Makes sense. I'm sure they have a procedure that needs to be followed in each situation. The least I can do for the people protecting me is to know what I'm expected to do if something goes down.

"I'll read them after dinner." I promise, thinking I'll probably need to read something as boring as that to get to sleep.

Edmund finishes tying my tie and herds me to the door.

Although I attempt to steel myself against it, the strength of her scent as I step into the hallway is overwhelming.

Edmund continues to talk to me as he leads me down to the dining room where my family waits.

All I can focus on is the presence of my mate at my back. It's tempting to think she might find an excuse to brush past me, to speak to me, something , but she doesn't.

Charlotte is the consummate professional.

First to greet me as I arrive, is Chase, an eerily similar younger version of my father, and plenty of people have commented on how alike we are.

"Killian? Fuck, I don't know what I'm supposed to call you when we're here." Chase frowns, even as he extends his hand to me. His rough edges are a welcome departure from the polished performances most people put on for my benefit.

"It's Killian. Always Killian." Turning away from him, I shake the hand of his mate, Natalie. Her energy is impressive. Chase has that familiar wolf strength that's easy to measure and compare.

Natalie is a different animal altogether, literally.

I liked them both instantly. Direct and honest, they're my kind of people.

"This is a nice place you have here," she comments, staring around at the intricate carvings on the furniture, and the heavy, weighted drapes.

"Obviously, that's not something I can take any credit for." It's grand and beautiful, with ornate furniture and delicate antiques, but it's not cosy, and it doesn't feel like home. And I doubt it ever would, no matter how long I lived here.

"Ah yes, that would be the work of the lovely Elodie," Blake says, smiling as he enters the room. "I presume she'll be joining us this evening?"

Panic grips me, aware that Charlotte is listening to this conversation from her position guarding the doorway.

"I'm not sure," I admit. "I haven't seen her all afternoon, but I'm sure she's around her somewhere."

I haven't seen her, because I've been obsessing about her sister. Fuck, how did this become such a mess? I'm supposed to be here for one reason, and one reason only: to keep my family safe.

Regaining my composure, I grin as Zoe crosses to me and gives me a polite hug and kiss on the cheek. "It's good to see you again," she murmurs. "You look a bit more relaxed this evening."

Is this what relaxed looks like? Have I been relaxed for even one second since I caught that first whiff of Charlotte's scent? I don't think so.

I don't get the chance to reply, because Hayley and Cooper, and Rex and Leah all flood through the door at the same time, increasing the volume in the room significantly with cheerful greetings and excited chatter. It warms my heart to see them all together, and to be part of their family now, even in a distant way.

Eventually, everyone settles down to eat, and conversation flows easily around the table as I catch up with everyone about what's going on in their lives. Work, babies, running packs. It's mundane and boring to them, but to someone who's lived their entire life hidden away in a place with no wolf shifters, it's thrilling.

"And the pack run is next week. Mum is trying to convince Ethan that he should provide a pit stop for hungry shifters at the brewery. He was asking how he'd explain to other patrons why he was feeding dozens of wolves, or dozens of naked men and women, and offered to host a party afterward, but then he figured out too late that it's exactly what she wanted in the first place." Cooper gives a dramatic eye roll. "He should know better by now."

Chase's loud laugh bounces off the walls, and Natalie reaches for his hand, enjoying how much the idea of Marie getting one over on Cooper's beta tickles him.

"I'd love to join one of those," I blurt out, adding before I go to the end of that sentence in my head. "Obviously, not while I'm a security risk to everyone near me, but maybe at some stage."

Everyone at the table stops speaking and turns to face me, for some reason, surprised I'd want to join in their full moon celebrations.

"Please come to ours. Nathan thinks he's so fast. I bet you'd leave him in the dirt." Rex's invite lights up my soul. Even though I'm not that much older than some of them here, I feel like we're a world apart in terms of the lives we live. It would be nice to be normal again for a while.

"Speaking of security risk, have you had a chance to review everything Max sent over as part of his investigations into the attacks on your family? And what we were able to piece together from what Michelle can remember her mother saying." Blake sets his napkin down and takes a drink.

It looks like the fun part of the evening is over for the moment.

"Zane and I are working through it. We've always suspected it was someone from the council, but we need solid proof before we can say or do anything. Hopefully, we find something in there."

Blake nods, looking thoughtful, and I can practically hear the hamster wheel starting to spin to life in his head.

"And you think they'll come for you again?" Hayley is worried. She doesn't like the idea of me putting myself up as bait. But they'll come for me anyway, so at least this way, I have a chance of being prepared.

"I do. And potentially, not just for me, which is why I wanted to invite you all here." Everyone is serious now. "You have a decision to make, and pretty quickly is probably best."

Leaning forward, Cooper, Rex, and Blake are all ears. They're already concerned for their mates. I can see it in their eyes.

"You need to decide whether, if something were to happen to me, you'd want to step up and take the crown."

The table remains quiet, but everyone's eyes glaze over, and I can imagine the streams of conversation darting back and forth across the mind-link. Pointing at Hayley and then Leah, I wait until I have their full attention to speak again.

"And you two will have to decide whether you want to call forward your latent wolves."