Authors: Jana Leigh
Chapter
6
Quin and the rest of the Council actually listened to her. She felt a sense of relief when the meeting was over. They had agreed that since they knew nothing about the Vampire s, they would have to double the security and find a place for them to stay.
Devon suggested refitting the basement of the Pack house with dark rooms, that way they would be able to guard them, as well as make sure none of them were roaming the streets of Milliken . Caterina felt uncomfortable about being in t he same house as them, but Tripp assured her that he would be with her at all times, and no one would get close to her if she did n ‘t want them to .
They discussed the ways to kill a Vampire. Caterina explained how she witnessed Adolfo do it so many times with a stake. Argus and the rest of the Council agreed that the Vampire s would be guarded heavily until they found out their intentions. Finally, Cloe noticed that Caterina was going to fall asleep at the table. She got Tripp’s attention, and he excused himself and helped her guide Caterina out of the room.
“Hey Cat, let’s get you up to bed,” Tripp said softly, and she looked up at him in surprise. No one had called her by her nickname since her siblings were alive. They used to love calling her Cat. “What?” he asked and kept her moving.
“Nothing, no one has called me that in a long time, that’s all,” s he whispered.
“It will be my own name for you, my own Cat,” he said and winked. She felt the tension leave her from having him so close. She knew he would be true to his word and not hurt her. Cloe opened her suite door and then stood back.
“Go, I have to go back to the meeting, but here,” she said and pulled out a small device and handed it to Cat. “Push the button if you need me. It’s connected to my pager; I took it from my mate. I can be back here in seconds if you need me. I won’t be far. My mates and I are going to move in across the hall for a few days until you ‘re comfortable.”
Caterina felt the tears gather in her eyes. She felt such a kinship to Cloe. She hugged her new friend and said, “Thank you, ” in her ear.
Tripp nodded to her and then held open the door for Caterina to go into her room. She should not have been surprised when Tripp followed her into the room.
“I’m going to sleep on the couch; that’s all. I want you to feel safe, go; we will talk when you are more rested. I p romise you will be safe tonight, “ Tripp said and just walked over to the couch and sat down.
Caterina didn’t know what to do, but finally, she realize d that the man was not going to leave. She walked to her bedroom and shut the door, making sure it locked —not that it could keep a wolf out, but it made her feel better.
Suddenly exhausted from the day, she walked to the bed and laid down fully clothed and pulled the comforter around her. In her hand, she gripped the small device that linked her to Cloe. Relaxing, she fell into a heavy sleep for the first time in days.
***
She woke to the smell of bacon. Wow, she was hungry, Caterina thought, and then rolled over on her back and sighed. She stretched and felt amazingly good. She opened her eyes and sat up straight in the huge bed, how could she have forgotten where sh e was? She slept so deeply. Caterina looked to the clock beside the table and noticed she slept for almost fifteen hours. Oh my, she had never slept that long before without waking. It felt great.
She looked down and saw the rumpled clothes she slept in and groaned. Cami had gone to all that trouble, and she had slept in t he jeans and shirt she gave her yesterday. Remembering Cami said something about another change of clothes; she stood up and walked to the wonderfully huge walk-in closet she discovered yesterday after her shower. Inside, there were rows and rows of new clothes. She stopped and stared with her mouth open in surprise .
As she moved closer, she saw the tags, all in her size, all brand new. She walked back out of the room and pulled the drawers open on the dresser that held a full mirror on it and laughed. There were underwear, bras, and nightie s all in her size. Any color you could think of. She felt herself blush and wondered who put them away.
Grabbing a comfortable looking pant suit and clean underwear, she showered quickly and then went to the door. The device Cloe gave her was held tightly in her hand.
She wondered who would be on the other side of the door. Tripp was the only one who was in the suite when she left; she could hear t he soft murmur of conversation through the door. Caterina pushed her head against the door and then let out an impatient sound. She needed to stop acting like a fraidy cat and get out there. This was her suite now.
Slowly, she opened the door and then took a deep breath and walked down the hallway. Tripp was sitting at the table t alking to Cloe, and an older woman was bustling around the kitchen , making what smelled like an amazing breakfast .
“Look who finally decided to rise and shine,” Cloe said and smiled at her.
Tripp jumped up and came to her side and said, “Cat, I hope you don’t mind that Cloe, and my mother are here. They showed up an hour ago saying they were going to cook breakfast and wait for you.”
Caterina nodded slowly and looked at her friend and then the woman who stood quietly in the kitchen waiting for an introduction . She saw the kindness in the woman’s face, and wished for a brief moment her mother was still alive. Tripp’s mother was tall and full figured. She had soft brown hair that was tied up in back of her head. She would have loved Cloe and this other woman, she thought; her mother made friends so quickly.
“Cat, this is my mother, Tara, ma, this is my ma te , Caterina, or Cat for short,” Tripp said and waited while Caterina smiled and walked toward the woman with her hand outstretched. His mother smiled and then pulled her into an embrace instead of shaking her hand. Caterina relaxed in the woman’s embrace and smiled.
“It’s nice to meet you, daughter,” Tara whispered and Caterina felt the tears gather in her eyes. It had been so long since she felt that connection with anyone. This woman made her feel like she would truly be getting a mother back.
Caterina cleared her throat and released the taller and larger woman. She smiled up at her. “Thank you.”
“No thanks to family; now sit down and let me feed you,” t he older woman said and Caterina saw the glimmer of tears on her lashes. When Tara turned around, she saw her wipe her eye discretely.
Cloe smiled and held out her hand. Caterina went to her and s at down next to her and smiled. “Good morning .”
Tripp helped push her chair back in, and his mother looked over her shoulder in approval of his manners. She wanted to laugh, but then he sat down next to her and pour ed her a cup of heavenly smelling coffee, and she wanted to kiss him.
“So how did you sleep?” Cloe asked and pushed the creamer and sugar in front of her.
She poured a little of the creamer in her cup and a half a spoon full of sugar and stirred. Tripp took note, of how she drank her coffee, so he could get it for her the next time.
“Great, I don’t think I have slept that well in years,” Cat erina said softly .
“Good, Tripp and I want to take you around the compound so you know where everything is,” Cloe said casually .
She looked at the man next to her and nodded, “That would be nice .”
Tara placed a heaping plate of bacon, eggs, and home fries in front of her and said, “I expect you to eat every bite.”
“Uh, I don’t think I can; besides, my waistband wouldn ‘t like it, ” Cat said and laughed to herself.
Tripp frowned at her and said, “I don’t want to ever hear you say you need to l ose weight. You are too skinny; you need a little more meat on your bones.”
Cat laughed and said, “Right, like you really like that.”
Tripp leaned into her and whispered into her ear and said, “I love to have something to hold on t o, don’t doubt that.”
Cat blushed and leaned back and looked at him while he grinned at her and began to eat his food his mother place d in front of him. Cl oe laughed and patted her arm. “Shifter men, gotta love ‘em,” she said.
She spent the day with Cloe and Tripp, looking around the compound and meeting people. She began to feel comfortable, despite her apprehension being around a large number of shifters. They were completely different than the ones she had been exposed to before. They were friendly and open. She did n’t feel threatened by a single shifter.
Tara met them for lunch in the main dining area of the Pack house and proceeded to fill her plate again and ask about everything she had done in the morning. Slowly, she began to feel at ease with the group, especially Tara. She reminded her so much of her mother.
When night came, Tara went to the room down the hallway next to hers, and Cloe went to the room across from her . She had stayed true to her word, and her mates and twins moved in with her for a while. She met them all at dinner and loved the children as they played with their food. Cami and her mates were also there with their children. They all carefully avoided talking about the Vampire s, instead focusing on making her feel welcome.
Tripp once again stayed in her suite, though this time, she insisted on him staying in the guest room. For only a brief moment she considered telling him to leave, but for some reason , she couldn ‘t bring herself to do it. He had touched her constantly today, slowly making sure she felt as ease with him . She grinned, wonder ing what the next day would bring. As she changed into her night gown, she frowned.
Tomorrow she would have to learn when the Vampires were coming ; she needed t o be prepared.
Chapter 7
Cat knew the Vampires were arriving tonight. She felt the dread from the first moment she opened her eyes this morning. Quin and Jaden assured her she would not be in any danger, already Tripp and Tara were preparing to stay with her the whole afternoon and night in the suite. She talked to them yesterday and had not felt like she wanted to even leave the room.
She believed the Alphas when they said she would be safe, all the shifters in t he compound she met had gone out of their way to prove to her she could trust them. It was the little things, the security men showing her their offices and room where they could monitor the whole compound. The Enforcers who showed her the weapons, they crafted to kill the Vampire s should they attack. And finally, the Council , who had taken her down to the rooms, they expressly had crafted to house the twenty Vampire s that were coming to the compound tonight. They showed her the locks on the doors that would not allow them out to wander unless they had permission.
Quin and Jaden and given them ground rules until they proved they were not going to harm anyone. The clan leader was gracious enough to agree to the terms. Quin had mentioned Diavolo’s name, and the clan leader had been disgusted with the Vampire , telling them that they knew about the Vampire and his clan of deviants. They assured Quin they were nothing like him and would not attack. They wanted to help the New Council .
The last five days had flown by so quickly. Cat settled into the Pack happily, even began to flirt with Tripp, who took that as a good sign. His mother explained the claiming and bonding. Tripp left the room for that talk. It was embarrassing enough knowing his mother was t a l king to his mate about sex. But Cat was innocent. His mother ordered him to go slow and make sure she was properly wooed before claiming her.