Fated Mates: Book 1 of the True Mates Series (6 page)

Turning around, Alynna let out a quiet sob, and unshed tears began to flow down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly, hoping Grant had not noticed them. “I can’t…I don’t know…”

“Look,” Grant lifted his hand to put it on her shoulders, but changed his mind, and put them down instead. “I know this is all too much…believe me, I’m having a difficult time myself and you…well…” he cleared his throat. “I’m doing this because…it’s what dad would have wanted and it’s the right thing to do.”

She sighed. “Look, if it’s a money thing, I told you, I don’t want anything. I know this place isn’t exactly the Ritz,” she said sheepishly. “But I’m fine.”
 

“It’s not that I don’t believe you,” Grant stated. “But it’s not just that. Don’t you see Alynna? You didn’t grow up as a Lycan, nor given the same training as us. You just turned 22, right? Have you ever shifted before? When you were younger?” She shook her head. “Alynna, all Lycans start the shift around the age of 15 or 16. It’s usually unintentional for most of us, triggered by hormones or emotion. These types of shifts, they’re dangerous and because you’re basically turning into an animal. Normally you do it at home, where you can be protected.”

Alynna swallowed a gulp. “When I turned… I don’t remember anything. I just blacked out and then woke up hours later.” She had a vision of herself as a wolf, stalking the streets of New York.
Did I hurt anyone that night?
Her heart pounded, thinking about what could have happened.

 
“We’re all taught how to tame and take control of our wolf and how to stop shifting accidentally. Eventually, we learn how to shift back and forth at will and remember our time as a wolf.” He pulled her to face him. “There are also many other things you need to be taught, to help your protect yourself and others. I can’t have you running around New York, knowing that you could shift at any time. That’s not safe for other people and you run the risk of exposing us.”

Alynna gave a defeated sigh. He was right. She did not want to hurt innocent people. Plus, if she was discovered, the authorities might throw her in a lab or something and she’d end up being experimented on her whole life. “So…when do I sign up for wolf lessons?” she said wryly.
 

Grant gave her a weak smile. “The sooner the better,” his phone chirped, interrupting him. He took it out, looked at the screen for a second, then put it back into his pocket. “I have to go, but look, why don’t I give you some more time? And I’ll have Cady contact you about what you need to do.”

Alynna laughed at the name, a light bulb going off in her head. “VP of Human Relations?”

He gave her a smirk. “We call her position Liaison. She’s the best, and she’ll know what to do to help you transition. But,” he gave her a slip of paper. “My personal phone number. Call me anytime for any reason. I always answer, night or day and if I don’t, it goes to a call center that will know how to contact me.”
 

Alynna nodded, taking the paper from his fingers. “Ocean…salt spray…and sand…that’s how you smell to me,” she said, looking up to meet his eyes.

He smiled. “That’s kind of how dad smelled to me too, plus this…I don’t know, feeling that I was home.” He grabbed her wrist and rubbed it against hers. “This is called ‘scent sharing’” he explained. “It’s very…intimate, only people who are very close do it. Like family members and lovers.”

She took her wrist back and put it to her nose. The smell hit her again, and this time, she felt a warmth she hadn’t felt in years, not since her mom died. “Thank you,” she said.

“Daises…fresh cut and cool, clean water. That’s how you smell to me,” he said, his eyes lighting up. “I was only thirteen, but I remembered the day he died clearly, the last time I saw him. Not because of what he said or what he did. He came home that afternoon to say hello when I came back from school and I remembered smelling that scent on him.”
 

Alynna said nothing and he gave her a nod before he left her apartment.

True to his word, Grant gave Alynna some space, allowing her time to process all the new information. She went about her days pretty much the same, working on active cases and pursuing potential clients, though the day after Grant’s visit, she went to her mom and Uncle Gus’ graves to put some flowers. She wasn’t one to talk to the dead, but it gave her a little bit of comfort. She also knew she was being followed, but they gave her a wide berth, staying back as far as they could. Part of her was comforted they were there, though she didn’t take on any dangerous cases. She didn’t want to be shot with a tranquilizer again, but if it stopped her from hurting innocent people, then so be it. She also wondered who was sent to watch her, but she was certain is wasn’t Alex as she didn’t smell a trace of his scent, which a small (
very small
, she convinced herself) part of her found very disappointing.

A week after her last meeting with Grant, her phone rang from a number that wasn’t on her contact list. “Alynna Chase,” she answered in a professional manner.
 

“Alynna, it’s Cady,” the now familiar voice said to her. “What are you doing today? Are you free?”

“Actually, you caught me at a good time,” she said. “A prospect bailed on me, and I’m kinda just hangin’ around today.”

“Perfect! If you’re not doing anything, I’ll take you to lunch and shopping ok? See you in a 10!”

“Wait – shopping? What? Cady? Hello?” Alynna sighed. Cady was either being rude or smart. Either way, she couldn’t back out now. Well, it was a good thing she was wearing her nice professional outfit (slacks, blue button down, and her best boots) so she didn’t have to get all dressed up for lunch.

***

Cady put the phone down and looked at Grant, who was sitting across from her desk. “Ok, it’s all set.”

“Good. Take her to lunch or shopping, or whatever she wants,” Grant leaned back and stretched his legs.
 

“I will, but you are going to spend time with her, right?” Cady asked sternly.

“Yes, I will,” he chuckled. “When I have time.”

“You never have time,” the redhead muttered. “Ok, so should I take Alex and Patrick with me? Just in case?”

Grant put his hands together and placed it under his chin. “Yes, about that. So, you know who she is, Dr. Faulkner knows, and of course, Nick Vrost knows who she is. We need to keep a tight lid on this information for now, at least until we know more.”

“But, there is the fact that Alex has seen her transform, twice now,” Cady filled in, seemingly reading his mind. “We should inform her of who she is, so he knows and he doesn’t panic.”

“Right,” Grant agreed.

“Well, he’s right outside, let’s call him in, shall we?” Cady picked up her line and gave instructions to her assistant to let the younger Lycan in.

Alex strode in through the door a minute later. “You called for me, Ms. Gray? Primul?”

Cady motioned for him to come closer to her desk. He did, but didn’t sit down, instead remaining standing, as a sign of respect to his Alpha.
 

“Alex, I called you in here because…” Grant began, unsure of how to continue. “I can trust, you correct?”

“Of course, Primul. With your life.”

“So, you’re pretty much in deep with this situation with Ms. Chase, and I thank you for being discreet about it,” Grant cleared his throat. “But soon, everyone will know and
 
I want to tell you about her. Alynna - Ms. Chase - is my half sister. When you met her, she didn’t know…I didn’t know either until you and Mr. Vrost brought her here and she shifted in my office.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. Alynna had known since that day and when they were out at the diner, yet she didn’t tell him. The Alpha’s sister. His mind wanted to wander, but he took a deep mental breath and cleared it. He would think about what that meant another time.
 

“Once we’ve…made some more adjustments, we’ll be ready to announce who is she is, but please keep this information to yourself for now,” Grant instructed.

“Of course, Primul,” he nodded in deference.

“Thank you Alex, that’s all.”

“Thank you, Primul,” Alex turned and headed out the door. His head was spinning from this new information. Probably grew up without knowing she was a Lycan, which made sense now. But what did that mean for him? He shook his head, trying to shake off the memory of key lime pie and her pretty green eyes.
 

***

Right at 10am on the dot, her doorbell buzzed. Instead of opening the door, she used the intercom. “Be right down!” she told whomever it was that buzzed. She grabbed her purse and raced down the stairs. She didn’t even have to step out to know who was waiting for her, not when her nose told her.

“Good afternoon,” Alex greeted. He smiled at her, but he seemed a little more distant.
 

“Hello,” she said, a little unnerved by his cold politeness. “Er…thanks for picking me up.”

He nodded. “No problem, just part of the job, Miss.”
 

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Yeah, ok, whatever,” she shrugged. Why he was acting formal and distant, she didn’t know.
 

He let her walk in front of him, towards the familiar black town car. But, before she could reach for the door, Alex stepped in front of her, opening it.

“Alynna!” Cady scooted over to make room for her. “Glad you could make it.”

“I didn’t exactly have a choice,” she said wryly.

The redhead gave her a mischievous smile. “I’ve been dealing with stubborn Lycans all my life, so sometimes you just gotta take the wolf by the ears. Patrick,” she said to the driver as Alex slipped into the passenger seat. “Let’s head to lunch first, please.”

***

When Cady invited her for lunch, she didn’t expect it to be the type of place where ladies who lunch, well…lunched. The restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman on 5th Avenue was the place to be seen and when they ushered Cady into the restaurant, she thought for sure the snooty hostess would point her to the door. Her best outfit suddenly felt like last season’s rags.
 

Sensing her unease, Cady leaned forward and put a reassuring hand on her arm. “Grant asked me to bring you here. We can go somewhere else if you want.”

“No, it’s fine,” she turned the menu. She hoped her eyes didn’t bug out too much when she glanced at the prices.
 

“Order whatever you want. His treat too,” Cady said casually as she flipped through the menu.

Alynna ordered a moderately-priced entrée and a salad to start. After the waiters took their menus away, she glanced around and saw Alex standing by the doorway, his back straight as a rod. “Uhm…is he…I mean, him and Patrick, will they be eating as well?”

“They have their scheduled breaks,” Cady stated. “I don’t know the details since that’s Mr. Vrost’s area of expertise. But they’re well compensated, I assure you, plus it’s one of the more coveted positions in the clan, so it’s more than just the money.”

“Positions?” she asked in a puzzled voice.

“Well,” she began. “Lycan clans are mostly dynastic. Each clan has several families under it, and a ruling family. Power is passed on from father to son, or whoever the Regal or Alpha chooses as heir in the family, unless there was a challenge to the rule or the presumptive heir proves to be unworthy. If you don’t come from the ruling family, then the highest position available to you is Beta or Second in Command.”

“Like Nick Vrost?”

The redhead nodded. “Yes. As Beta, it’s his job to protect the Regal. That position, however, is pretty much up for grabs by anyone in the clan, though the Alpha usually chooses, based on who’s best for the job. Security guys, like Patrick and Alex, they’re in prime position – close to the Alpha and they have a chance to prove themselves and maybe even land the Beta spot, should something happen to the current Beta, or a head lieutenant. All the best Lycans in the clan, males and females, vie to get in once a spot in security opens. To be part of Grant’s security detail is a high honor and he gets a lot of applications because they know he and Mr. Vrost pick people based on skill and potential, not simply connections.”

Alynna noticed Cady’s use of Grant’s first name, but not Nick’s, though she said nothing. They PI in her filed that away, then continued her questions. “So, you said ‘clan’. Does that mean there are more Lycans around the country?”

“Around the world actually,” Cady corrected. “Most territories are divided up into clans who rule a particular city or area, though not every city has one. New York is one of the largest, oldest, and most powerful,” she said rather proudly.

“Hmmm…but I thought Alex was from Chicago?”

Cady narrowed her eyes, and Alynna almost kicked herself for revealing she knew that. However, the other woman seemed to brush it off. “He’s a transfer. That happens sometimes, rarely though. It’s a little…tricky. You have to get permission from your Regal and the Regal of where you want to transfer. Then the Lycan Head Council has to approve it. It’s quite bureaucratic, almost like getting a visa to another country. I think Alex was able to do it because of legacy. One of his grandparents was from New York, and one of his grandfathers actually served as Beta to Grant’s great-grandfather.”

“Oh,” she took a swig of her water. All of this was a lot to absorb, kind of like learning how to do a new job, but this time, she had to learn all the intricacies of a new society.

“Well, there are lots of things for you to learn, I’m sure Grant told you.”

Alynna nodded. “It seems so complicated.”

“That’s what why we’re gonna have to get you up to speed. Grant has put me in charge of your lessons – history, protocol, etc. Basically whatever they teach young pups up until they’re about 15 or 16.”

“Wow,” she swallowed a gulp. “Is it even possible for me to learn?”

Cady laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you the Cliff’s notes version, ok? No tests or quizzes, but stuff you need to know and maybe find interesting. I want to work with your schedule, but I’m telling you, the more time you devote to this each week, then the sooner you’re up to speed. We’ll start with the basics.”