Midnight Dare (A Paranormal Romance) (Golden Pack Alphas) (5 page)

Standing up, she pulled on a sweater, then slipped into her heavy winter coat.

She had more pressing issues to deal with.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door separating her from the main cabin and stepped over the threshold.

Marcus stood waiting for her, his own heavy coat sitting on his shoulders.

She let her gaze roam over his body in one quick sweep. Their journey was almost over and it was time to get back to reality.

"Ready?"

Nodding her head she approached and noticed for the first time that the main hatch of the plane was open.

Passing Marcus she walked to the opening and breathed in deep. The air was crisp and stinging, so different from the balmy breezes of the Caribbean.

The cold slammed into her the second she stepped off of the plane and onto the steps leading down to the ground.

As a shifter, she had a higher tolerance for cold than humans, but that didn't mean her body wasn't affected. It just took more extreme temperatures. And Vancouver in the winter was as extreme as it got without moving to the North Pole.

She pulled her long coat closer around her and continued down the stairs.

A large dark SUV waited for them on the tarmac. She recognized the vehicle and smiled. It belonged to Justus on of her father's sentinels.

She hurried down the last few steps eager for her time with Marcus to be at and end. She paused at the restraining grip on her elbow.

"Watch your step."

Rolling her eyes at his unnecessary warning she continued down.

Justus climbed out of the car and walked towards them, his loose hipped gait eating up the ground between them.

He was one of the few men in the pack that didn't avoid her at every turn and she'd grown to like him. With his tall wide frame, dark hair and chocolate eyes she couldn't deny that he was attractive. He seemed safe enough and at one point she'd even reconsidered forgoing her no shifter rule and taking him on as a lover, but his position as a pack Sentinel kept her from pursuing him. In the end she'd didn't regret the decision, despite her mother's constant laments over her single status. Justus had proved to be a good friend.

Reaching the final step she leapt forward and gave him a hug.

"Welcome back," he said pulling her close.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you right now," she whispered.

His soft chuckle tickled her ear.

"Bumpy flight?"

"No comment."

"I was expecting Darius."

Marcus's voice sounded rough and clipped behind her.

Giving one last squeeze, she tuned to see Marcus staring at Justus with cold eyes.

"He had a few things to take care of, so I volunteered."

"I'm sure you did."

She raised her brow at Marcus' curt words. They didn't seem to faze Justus at all. He just stood there rocking back on his heels with a wide smile stretching his lips.

"Excuse me, Mr. Legrand."

They all turned as the pilot walked into view, looking disheveled and a little sheepish.

She turned her head away from the uniformed man, her cheeks warming.

"I'll be right there," said Marcus.

He looked at Justus with a narrowed gaze for a moment.

"Take care of the bags," he said before turning and walking away.

Oh someone has his boxers in a twist. Hmmm boxer briefs maybe?

Her gaze zeroed in on his retreating ass for a few moments before she wrenched it away.

Turning quickly she found Justus staring at her.

"What," she asked growling out the words.

"Oh nothing, just curious if the rumors are true."

"What rumors?"

He turned away from and picked up her suitcases.

"Georgia and Marcus sitting in a tree," he sang.

"Don't even think about it completing that," she said, growling out the words.

"K-I-S-S—"

His song was abruptly cut off by Georgia's fist planted solidly on his arm.

"Ouch!"

"Hurry the hell up," she said stomping to the back of the car, getting in and slamming the door shut.

She tapped her fingernails against the door handle clenching her teeth.

Is that what everyone thought? That she'd disappeared to have some sort of tryst with Marcus?

Justus opened the door and slid into the driver's seat.

"Your boyfriend has some fancy toys."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Uh-huh. I can smell him all over you," he said smirking at her through the rear view mirror.

She clicked her mouth shut and glared at him.

He chuckled at her and before she could think of a retort the back door opened and Marcus folded his big body onto the seat next to her.

He glanced down at his watch.

"We're later than I expected."

Justus turned the key in the ignition and the car revved to life.

"The roads are pretty clear. I'll get us home quickly."

Marcus grunted his response and stared straight ahead.

Georgia stared out of the window and watched the snowcapped trees whiz by.

Oh the joys of traveling.

Six

Georgia walked up the three small steps of her home and breathed a sigh of relief. She had at least an hour to spare before she needed to be dressed and primped for the Christmas Ball.

If her luck held she wouldn't have to see Marcus at all for the rest of the night.

She turned the key in the lock and stepped inside.

"It took you long enough."

Why am I not surprised?

Shaking her head she shrugged off her coat and hung it on a hook by the door before turning to the force of nature sitting primly in her living room.

"Merry Christmas to you too Mama."

Her mother sat on the deep red, suede couch situated in the middle of Georgia's living room. And as usual she'd made herself at home.

A tray of cookies and tea sat on the coffee table and a magazine lay on her lap.

Typical.

Dressed in a white silk evening gown, with diamonds studding her ears and her long curling hair piled on top of her head in an artful display of salon magic, she looked like a queen holding court. Her mother never ceased to look elegant no matter what she wore or did.

She didn't look a day over forty. But to be honest, Georgia doubted anyone who treated their moisture regimen like their religion would age much either. Growing up, that ability always held Georgia in awe, and it still did. But at times, it could be annoying as hell. She'd spent most of the day on a jet and she still felt grimy and groggy despite the luxurious amenities.

"I was expecting you sooner."

"I got here as soon as I could, trust me," said Georgia, walking over to her mother.

She leaned down kiss her smooth brown cheek before standing and frowning down at her.

"Now what the hell is going on?"

"Language!"

She rolled her eyes at her mother's admonishment.

"Really, you have me fetched home like some errant child and you're surprised at a mild curse? And trust me, with the expletives running through my head right now, be thankful that I'm restraining myself."

Pulling her luggage behind her, she walked passed her mother and entered her bedroom. She didn't bother closing the door behind her. She'd learned a long time ago that it took more than a shut door to keep her mother from pestering her.

"You know, you're never too old to have your mouth rinsed out with soap."

Her mother drifted into the room and sat down on the bed with the same amount of grace and composure as she would serving afternoon tea.

Shaking her head, Georgia ignored her and lifted the suitcase to the bed.

"You've been saying that since I was four, and it's yet to happen, so as threats go it's a non-starter."

"Hmm, you might be right. Maybe it is time I start asking Marcus for advice."

Georgia stiffened at her mother's words.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sweetie, I raised you. I know when you're lying about something. Besides I have visions remember?"

Her eyes widened in horror.

"You saw—"

Her mother tilted her head back, her tinkling laughter filling the room.

"Saw what darling? Did you do something naughty?"

Snorting in disgust, Georgia turned back to her suitcase.

"I can't believe this. Most people get a Mrs. Garrett, Claire Huxtable or Kitty Forman for a mom. Hell even Lois Griffin would be good. How did I end up with a mix of Morticia Adams and Lorelai Gilmore?"

"I'd be offended if they both didn't have such great style."

"Morticia wore the same thing every episode."

"She was a woman who understood the importance of staples."

"Jesus."

"Again language."

"I can't believe we're having this conversation."

"I can't believe you still haven't jumped that man's bones yet."

"Oh my god."

Georgia sank down onto the bed and buried her head in her hands.

"This is so not happening."

"Georgia, you're not getting any younger."

"Shit, it really is."

"Ow!"

She cried out at the pinch at her side and looked up, glaring at her mother.

"I told you language."

"How can you sit there and encourage me to go sex some man and then complain about language."

"Don't sass."

"You raised me. You're responsible for at least half that sass."

"I blame your father for at least sixty percent of it. If not more."

"Sheesh, I can't believe this."

"You still haven't answered my question. How long are you going to ignore Marcus?"

"Don't we have more important things to talk about? Like the reason I got dragged home."

'You know more than anyone that nothing leads to everything and everything leads to nothing."

"Oh great we now get to the riddle part of the conversation."

"Hush!"

Her mother stood and began pacing back and forth in the room a frown marring her otherwise smooth face.

"Things are about to change Georgia."

She stared at her mother's serious expression for a moment and nodded slowly.

"I know."

"No you don't. This is more than just your father choosing a successor."

"What do you mean?"

Her mother stopped her pacing and took a deep breath.

"I had a vision about the pack's future...What I saw disturbed me."

Ice frosted down Georgia's back. Very little scared her mother, yet the look on her face showed fear.

"What did you see?"

Her eyes watered and she shook her head.

"The end or the beginning. I'm not sure, but either way I can't tell you."

"But you told Daddy."

"Yes."

Georgia's breath left her chest in a loud whoosh of sound. This was not good.

Visions weren't exact representations of the future. Free will and chance played a huge role in the outcome. A seer understood that revealing a vision had the chance of making the outcome either better or worse. It always depended on the players and the moves they decided to make. No one could change fate, but they could determine whether their destiny was a blessing or curse.

A king could be told that his kingdom would fall and either save his people and move to a new land or stay and fight, watching his people die. In both cases the kingdom fell, but the king's actions could change death to life. Very few people realized that they showed more strength in retreat than war.

When a seer's had a vision of an event they knew that elements of that glimpse into the future were subject to change. In some cases, the pieces of the puzzle were so exact that providing a warning didn't cause any danger. Like the warning of a natural disaster. But other, pieces, like death, were much more dangerous to convey. There was no telling what chain of events may be set off.

For her mother to be afraid of revealing the vision, meant that Georgia's actions however small had the chance of tipping the outcome of whatever she'd foreseen.

"What does this have to do with the alpha succession," she asked.

"After I told your Daddy what I saw he became convinced that choosing now would make a difference."

"Oh Mama—"

seers knew better than to mess with fate.

"I know, I tried to tell him but he wouldn't listen, But...I think he may be right."

"What?"