Begrudgingly Yours Ch. 09

ASH'S POV

Two limousines had arrived to drive us to the hotel, obviously sent by my father. Liam was reluctant at first but then Jai explained to him that it would be taken as in insult if he refused our father's hospitality. So Jai, Liam, and Carter rode in the first car while Jonah, Sloan, Victor and I rode in the second one. It was a bit awkward, especially with Jonah riding with us. I could tell that he really didn't want to be there but I wasn't sure if it was the meeting he was nervous about or being in such a small space with me.

Most of the members of Liam's house had gotten more comfortable around me. Especially after finding out that Victor was my mate. There were others though that still seemed a little wary of me. I don't know if they expected me to suddenly vamp out in front of them and go on a killing spree or what. I didn't take it personal. They still had a lot to learn about Vampires. Real Vampires, not the ones depicted in horror movies. That's all horse shit.

For one thing, Vampires are unusually beautiful. I've never seen one that was bald with pointed ears and long fingers. Our fangs are retractable and rather tiny. And we don't go around wearing long black capes or dress like we just stepped out of a 'Jane Austen' novel. If a Vampire were walking down a busy sidewalk in the middle of a city filled with Humans, no one would notice. They might see a handsome man or beautiful woman but they wouldn't think 'Oh my God that's a Vampire!' They would just think they're looking at another Human. Once they were out of sight though, the memory of them would begin to fade. Eventually the Human might remember seeing someone but wouldn't be able to recall their face, or even the clothes they wore. They would become a phantom memory and after a month, nothing.

It was one of our defenses. Blend in and leave no trace. In order for a human to remember us we'd have to have prolonged exposure to them. That's why we try not to live around Human's or work with them. We have our own shops and stores. Even restaurants. Our own farms, factories and medical centers. Almost everything we needed we provided for ourselves to limit interactions with Humans. It was harder for us to remain 'unseen' by other supernaturals because our spells and glamour didn't work on all species of otherkin, especially those who used magic as well. And obviously it didn't work on other Vampires. That's why Jai was able to recognize me after so many years of being apart.

The limo drivers were both Human. I realized this once they had gotten out and held the door open for us. They would remember Liam and the other shifters, possibly Jai as well. But as for me, they would only remember that there was another person with the group but they wouldn't remember what I looked like or any other details about me like my age, gender, name or clothing. Liam was a bit annoyed at my father for giving the location of the mansion to Humans but I explained that likely after we were brought back, father would have their memories wiped. Liam seemed less angry after I'd told him that but he still didn't like that my father had sent the cars without asking, and I didn't know if my father was just being a good host or trying to show his own authority.

The cars pulled away from the mansion and headed down the long, winding, road that passed through Belle Village, and to the main gate. This was the first time I had actually seen the village. From the mansion you could see lights from the many houses and shops but that was about it. Seeing it now, I was in awe.

Belle village wasn't large, but it breathed a kind of peaceful calm I'd never known before. It rested at the base of the Zion mountains, and the forest, dense and green, wrapped around it like an emerald shield. A sturdy wrought-iron gate guarded the only entrance from the outside world.

The village had been built to house, as well as protect, Liam's people. His care and love of his Pride showed in every corner, every street, and every stone. There was an overwhelming sense of familiarity, of family, to the village and a kind of warmth that you could never find in the Vampire community.

The homes looked lived in but they were also tidy and proud, not sprawling estates like the mansion perched above, but warm and solid in a way that felt old, but resilient. There were rows of tiny cottages with wide porches and painted shutters, ranch-style homes with sloping roofs and long driveways, and a handful of larger, two-story, single family homes, clustered near the village square. A couple of modest apartment buildings stood near the gate house, constructed of red brick walls and clean white trim. Each one surrounded by neatly kept gardens.

There were no slums or crumbling houses in Belle Village. Liam wouldn't allow that. Every lawn was trimmed, every fence mended, and every roof sound. It didn't scream luxury but it whispered dignity. In the center of the village, along a cobble stone street, were many small shops and places where Pride members could gather and relax. The place really had everything. There was a small grocery store, and a quiet little restaurant with a weathered sign. Thick patches of Ivy climbed it's stone walls, making it look like something from a fairy tale.

As we continued our drive, I saw a day care center, painted in soft, cheerful colors, beside it was an elementary school, both had modern looking play grounds where the cubs could let loose and burn off energy. Both buildings were surrounded by tall oaks that provided shade for the children while at play.

I also noticed a high school for the older kids that sported a ball field as well as a gym and training grounds. They even had a medical clinic. All of these buildings were nestled in the heart of the village, accessible to all. From the mansion at the top of the ridge to the main gate below, it was a slow ten or fifteen minute drive, but I didn't mind because the view was amazing. The whole place stretched out before us, wide enough to breathe but not so far you'd ever feel lost. It's what I imagined a real home would be, open, and alive. Safe. It's what I had always dreamed of and what I wanted more than anything.

***

As ordered, there were five men manning the gate that night but Liam had already cleared the two limousines when they'd first arrived so when we pulled up to the gate, the guards just waved us through. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. This was it, the point of no return. I'd either be returning later with Victor and the others or... I closed my eyes and tried to push the thought out of my mind. Tonight had to go well. It just had to. Why would fate bring Victor and I together only to tear us apart?

Victor picked my hand up and slid it into his, entwining our fingers then he gave it a gentle squeeze. I looked up at him and he smiled, softly. His eyes, so gentle and full of love, whispered to me, 'relax, you'll be fine.'

Would I though?

Would I really?

***

The hum of the limousine was steady, almost hypnotic, but it didn't do much to settle my nerves. My stomach was twisted in knots and if it hadn't been for Victor sitting beside me, I'm pretty sure I would have freaked out. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows. Streaks of gold and silver against black glass flashing and dancing in the night. It was mesmerizing, magical almost, and distracting. Starring at the lights nearly made me forget where we were going and why.

I was brought back to reality when I glanced over and saw Jonah sitting across from me. His shoulders were squared and his jaw locked tight, his sharp profile shadowed under the low cabin lights. He was too tense and his apprehension rolled off him in strong, sour waves. Jonah had seemed off somehow, even before the limousines had arrived. There had been an argument between him, Victor and Liam. I don't know what started it but I did catch the end of it.

***

Earlier that night I had been woken by the sound of shouting. I opened my eyes and looked around. I wasn't in the room I'd originally been given and I wasn't in another guest room. This was someone else's room. Someone's private room. I inhaled deeply, taking in every scent around me.

Victor.

I was in Victor's bedroom.

He must have carried me up here and laid me on his bed after I'd fallen asleep in the library. I smiled, it felt nice being in his bed, it felt intimate. I would have closed my eyes and snuggled down into the comforter, surrounding myself with his scent if the shouting out in the hallway hadn't reminded me of what woke me up in the first place.

I recognized Victor's voice immediately. "Will you please keep it down." He was saying to someone I hadn't heard yet. "He's still asleep."

I wasn't, but he didn't know that.

"Victor, we don't have time for this. Gerard has sent ahead two drivers to pick us up. They'll be here in twenty minutes." That was Liam. He was nervous, worried. I could hear the frustration in his voice but I could also smell his anxiety. I know that sounds strange, to smell someones emotions, but it's one of the skills we Vampires have. We're predators and master huntsmen. We can smell fear, pain, apprehension and other emotions. It allows us to track our prey and anticipate their movements like, are they going to run, or attack?

I've never hunted a truly dangerous animal before but I could still rely on my senses to tell me how something or someone felt and right now, my senses were telling me that Liam and Victor were about to butt heads.

"Hell be ready by then." Victor said. "I was just about to go in and wake him up. I just wanted to let him rest a bit."

"He wouldn't have passed out if you hadn't bitten him." It took me a moment to recognize this new voice but when I did, I cringed. It was Jonah. What I sensed from him wasn't worry or fear, it was anger and disgust.

I realized, with a sinking heart, that Victor must have told them he'd claimed me and neither of them were happy about it.

"I did what I had to do." Victor countered. "What I thought was right."

"You should have consulted me first." Liam told him. "At least let me know what you were planning."

"Did you ask permission to claim Jai?" Victor shot back.

"No, but Jai wasn't about to meet with his father either. Are you prepared for what Gerard might do when he finds out? Vampires have strict rules when it comes to claiming and mating."

"I didn't do it lightly." Victor told him, "But anyway, it's done now, so there's no use arguing over it."

"How can you be so cavalier about this?" Jonah snapped. "You acted rashly, without thinking. You could have very well put the entire Pride at risk, and you don't even care!"

"I care." Victor growled. "I care about the Pride. I care about every member of the Pride but I also care about Ash."

"Ash isn't one of us." Jonah hissed.

"He's my mate, therefore he is a member of the Pride."

"Liam," Jonah turned his attention to his chief, and brother. "Surely you see the danger in this. Why are we fighting for someone who's not even our species? Vampires have isolated themselves for a reason. They don't want our interference. I still say we should just turn Ash over to his father and be done with it."

I heard a low, rumbling growl that could only have come from Victor. He was on edge, his lion rising to the surface, ready to fight.

"Ease up." Liam said, probably to Victor. "No one is going to turn Ash over to Gerard."

Just that simple promise from Liam seemed to calm Victor a bit more, but Jonah was getting angrier and more hostile by the second.

"So, you'd just turn your back on your own for the sake of some leech?"

I flinched as though I'd just been slapped. Leech was a derogatory term for a Vampire. It was cruel. I couldn't believe that Jonah had actually used such a slur.

There was a loud thud followed by Liam shouting at Victor to release Jonah. Next I heard the scuffling of feet as what I could only assume was Liam trying to keep Victor from killing their brother. I wondered if I should go out and help calm Victor down but then I thought better of it. Three fully grown lions could crush me to death without realizing it if I got caught between them.

"If you ever call him that again," Victor thundered, "I will fucking end you!"

"He's weak and he's made you weak!" Jonah yelled back. "You compromised us all with your selfish actions. You've put us all in danger."

"You are so wrong." Victor told him. "Ash is the strongest man that I know, stronger than you, Jonah. He's suffered and fought and survived and still he's willing to stand before his father and ask for mercy. Anyone else would have fallen apart by now but not Ash. The more he fights, the stronger he becomes. And, having a mate hasn't made me weaker. Having Ash makes me stronger. He gives me a reason to fight."

"If it weren't for him, there wouldn't be a need to fight in the first place. He came here and disrupted all of our lives and made his problems our problems. It isn't right."

"Jonah," It was Liam who spoke now. His voice was surprisingly calm. "Ash is not only Victor's mate but also Jai's brother. I can't ignore either of those facts. And while I don't agree with how the claiming happened, or the timing of it, I do respect Victor's claim. As of now, Ash is one of us. He's a member of the Pride and we protect our own."

"And if Gerard challenges the claim?" Jonah asked. "What then?"

"Gerard can't challenge the claim once it's been made." Victor argued. "Ash consented to it, willingly. He was unmarked and unmated and free to choose his mate. We followed all the rules. The only thing we have left to do is declare ourselves as mates before Ash's father."

"Is he strong enough to stand before his father and declare himself?" Liam asked. "I know from experience that a fated claim drains an omega's energy. Jai slept for twelve hours straight after."

It was true. The claiming bite had drained me. That's why I'd passed out earlier, and I wasn't back to full strength yet, either. My body felt heavy, my limbs weak, and my muscles sore. All I wanted to do was close my eyes and go back to sleep but I also knew I couldn't do that. I willed myself to stay awake. Victor was counting on me and I refused to let him down.

"I don't know." Victor admitted. "This is all new for me. What I do know is that my mark is the only shield Ash has against Niklas. So, don't expect me to apologize for protecting my mate because I won't do it."

There was a long silence, then Liam finally exhaled through his nose. "I'll stand behind your claim." He said. "I don't agree with the way you handled it. I still think you should have discussed it with me first but I do understand why you did it and I respect that."

"Let's just hope Gerard respects it." Jonah snapped. I heard him turn and stomp away in a huff.

Liam left shortly after, leaving Victor standing in the hallway just outside the bedroom door. A moment later and Victor had come in to check on me. He looked distressed to see me awake and asked if I'd heard him talking to his brothers. I told him I had and he frowned.

I assured him that I was fine, both mentally and physically. I already knew how Jonah felt about me, he had made that perfectly clear earlier. What was important now was that Liam accepted me as Victor's mate and respected his claim. Even if the others didn't stand behind Victor and I, they would stand behind Liam, and that was all that really mattered... for now.

***

Victor squeezed my hand, pulling me gently back to the present. "We're here." He said, nodding to the window beside me.

I looked out the window and held my breath as the limousine slowed before coming to a complete stop. I felt the shift in Victor's posture beside me. The faint stretch of his legs, the way his shoulders rolled back. He was ready to get out of the car before the door had even opened.

The driver was the first one out and beside our door faster than I even knew a Human could move. He opened the door wide and Sloan stepped out first, brief case in hand, looking as composed and elegant as ever. Jonah followed. His jaw tight as his eyes scanned the street and surrounding area. I noticed Carter from the other car do the same. They were on high alert, already anticipating trouble. Jai was more relaxed. He knew father would never harm him and no Vampire would attack out in the open, in full view of the Humans.

Liam stood beside his mate, holding his hand. He looked regal and confident, exactly how he should look and act when meeting the Vampire King. I'd say he played the part well but it wasn't an act. He was a born leader, it was in his blood. He may not have been a King but he was close and he definitely carried himself like royalty.

Jonah should take lessons.

I frowned looking at Jonah as he fidgeted near the open door. He was too nervous, too angry, and not in control of his own emotions. He gave away too much. His expression, his eyes, even his body language. It all screamed prey rather than predator and that was dangerous when walking into a room of Vampires. They would almost certainly see his anxiety as weakness.

Victor was next to exit the car and to my relief, he exuded the same composure and self-assurance as Liam. These two men had the love, strength, and integrity required to lead. Every member of the Pride respected Liam. It came as naturally to them as breathing. Victor was competent and reliable, he kept the Pride safe, always willing and ready to defend his people. That's what made them both true alphas. They didn't gain power through intimidation or fear, the earned it through love and trust.

Jonah would never be the kind of alpha that his brothers were. No one would follow him. How could he expect an entire Pride to trust him when he didn't even trust himself? Jonah may have been Liam's second in command but I figured it had to be all for show. Jonah wasn't a coward, but he wasn't a leader. He didn't have the kind of strength and passion that it took to lead. I hoped, for all our sake, that Jonah kept his mouth shut during the meeting and let Liam do the talking. If Jonah showed even a hint of weakness, my father would chew him up and spit him out.

I was so concerned about Jonah that I didn't notice Victor looking down at me. When I finally did look up, he gave me a small nod that meant 'your turn.' I hesitated just for a moment before sliding across the smooth leather seat and stepping out into the cool night air.

And there it was.

The Palace hotel, in all its grandeur.

I'd seen hotels in films--the sparkling penthouses where millionaires stayed, or the endless marble lobbies where people in tailored suits strode past bellhops with brass carts. But no image or grainy screen had prepared me for this.

The building rose up into the night like something carved out of old money and even older stone. Ten, maybe twelve, stories of white limestone and black iron balconies, each one draped by climbing Ivy and tiny lights that glimmered beneath the golden glow of electric sconces. The windows were tall and arched, with velvet curtains pulled back at the sides, giving those outside a small glimpse into the hotel lobby. Above the front doors, the hotels name--The Palace--scripted in gilded letters, elegant and as regal as it's name suggests.

I tilted my head back and let my gaze trace the perfect symmetry of the balconies, carvings, and warm light spilling out through the towing windows. It was truly a marvel and I was in awe. I couldn't tear my eyes away as I watched the people inside, moving past the grand glass doors--men in black suits and women in silk dresses, their laughter low and polished, like cut crystal. Even the doorman stood straighter than any soldier I had ever seen. His gloved hands were folded neatly behind his back and his uniform was crisp, clean, and newly pressed.

It truly did look more like a Palace than a hotel. It was no wonder that my father had chosen this particular place to meet with Liam.

This place... it was built for people like him.

It was built for Kings...

And monsters in fine suits.

I swallowed hard, chest suddenly aching as my heart beat against my ribs. The realization had just hit me that my father, the Vampire King, was somewhere inside.

I wasn't so sure anymore that I could go through with this. I was terrified. Not of my father, but of the truth.

My entire life up until this moment had been dedicated to trying to please my father. To make him proud. All in the hope that he would show me some amount of affection, some measure of love, no matter how small. I craved his acceptance and attention but had always been denied and I never understood why.

Why couldn't he just... acknowledge me?

I feared now that when the truth came out I'd never get the love and attention I'd always yearned for. Instead, I'd be met by repulsion, disgust or worse, indifference.

I felt my stomach twist and turn in knots but before I allowed myself to sink deeper into despair, a warm hand slid into mine.

Victor.

He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. His fingers curled around mine, certain and unafraid. His confidence grounded me and allowed me to breathe once again. I hesitated as he led me away from the car but with one small tug, he coaxed me forward.

"Com on, Kitten." He whispered in a voice soft enough that only I could hear it. His thick, velvety tone reached out and brushed against my racing pulse.

He pulled me along, leading me towards the hotel doors and I let him.

Even as my heart fluttered in my chest like a caged bird, I followed him.

I followed him up the wide stone steps, toward the glass doors, gleaming in the moonlight like crystal gates.

The Palace.

My first hotel.

And maybe--if Victor kept holding my hand like that--it wouldn't swallow me whole after all.

***

The lobby was huge. As soon as we stepped beneath the grand, cathedral-like ceiling, I found myself stunned speechless. The entire lobby was bathed in a warm, golden light, provided by three enormous chandeliers. Their crystal facets caught the shimmering light and broke it up into tiny pieces of diamond shaped rainbow lights that danced across the marble floor. The floor itself shimmered white with flecks of gray and gold and polished so brightly you could see your reflection in them.

Victor's hand stayed wrapped around mine, gently pulling me along behind him. I was grateful for this assistance. The more I saw, the more amazed I became. I found it hard to concentrate on what we were even doing.

Victor chuckled at the child-like wonder he must have seen in my eyes. "I've never seen a grown man get so excited over shiny objects." He teased.

"If you could see things the way I do, you'd understand." I smiled.

He looked at me for clarification.

"Imagine you've been blind you whole life, then suddenly, you can see with perfect clarity." I tried to explain the best I could but it was like trying to explain red to someone who's never seen colors before. "Seeing through the eyes of a Vampire is like seeing shapes and colors you didn't even know existed. Everything you see is amplified. Colors are sharper, lights are brighter, the entire world is just... more beautiful. When I see 'shiny objects' as you say, for me it's like looking through a window into heaven."

"But, you were born a Vampire. Isn't seeing the world so vividly normal for you?"

I shook my head. "Vampires aren't born with enhanced senses. That comes with age and as we age, we learn to control it so we don't become overwhelmed. I've only partcially developed that skill. In part due to my age but also because my father kept me sheltered and isolated. The mansion I grew up in was dark and dull. Lights were always kept low and the color scheme consisted of deep, dark, shades of crimson, browns, gray, and burnished gold. It was more like a dungeon than a house."

"Hold up." Victor stopped and looked down at me. His expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. "So, you're telling me that all of this..." he motioned around us, "this is all completely new for you?"

I nodded. "Pretty much, yeah. When I first arrived at your families mansion well, that was the first and only time I've ever been away from home. I've seen modern, colorful homes on television but never in person. I was even amazed by how bright and cheerful your house looks but this..." I looked around, awe struck by everything I saw, "this is on another level all together."

It took Victor a moment to process all that I had just told him and even then he still only got a glimpse of what my eyes saw on a daily basis. Eventually I'd learn to filter out the colors and the brightness of the lights to a level that was more comfortable but even then my perception will still be more advanced than any of Liam's Pride while in their Human forms. Especially at night.

"I guess we have a lot to learn about each other, yet." Victor said.

"Yeah," I agreed. "Hopefully we get the chance."

Victor pulled me against him and hugged me tight. "We will." He promised.

I smiled, but deep down, I wasn't so sure. My future hindered on what my father decided at this meeting tonight. I could either be going home with Victor, or dragged back to my father's mansion in shackles, and I really had no way of knowing which one it would be.

***

Moving further into the hotel, I noticed just how packed the place was. I had never been around average Humans, only Vampires and now, Shifters, but the hotel was full of them. I could tell by their scents. Some of them, most actually, had tried to mask their natural scent with perfumes or cologne but I could tell the difference between artificial smells and real ones.

There were Humans standing around talking or playing with their phones. There was even a middle-aged woman sitting on a cushioned bench, sobbing loudly into a handkerchief. Most though stood clustered around a bar, sipping amber colored drinks. Others were sitting on velvet chairs around small, black tables, the air around them alive with the low murmur of conversation, soft laughter, and the chime of clinking glasses.

Yet, even among the polished and wealthy, there was an undercurrent of tension that radiated along the skin like static electricity. That's when I noticed it, the deception. No one in this place were what they seemed. It was a ruse, an act, but I saw through it. Beneath the sweet floral fragrances or the musk of cologne, even through the fog of stale cigar smoke and whiskey, I could smell it... the fear.

These people feared us. It was there, in their scents and the subtle changes in their expressions. Their smiles were too tight. Their glances too sharp. And when the doors eased shut behind us, more than a few heads turned our way. I could only imagine what they were thinking as our group walked in. They would have noticed Liam and Jonah first, their towering height and good looks. Then Carter's quiet, observant eyes, or Sloan's sharp focus. Jai and I would seem abnormally beautiful, our movements graceful and lithe, almost inhumanly so.

Then there was Victor. My ruggedly handsome Victor. Just as tall and broad as his brothers, exuding a quiet strength that could bring the bravest men to their knees and those dark, brooding eyes. They were as fierce as they were beautiful with the sharp gaze of a born predator. No Human could look at Victor and mistake him for being safe. No Vampire for that matter either. The way Victor moved and carried himself, the way he strode through the room with absolute confidence and swagger, all of it, it was an unspoken warning to all. "Fuck with me and I will kill you."

It wasn't ego, it was fact.

Victor was guardian to the Pride. He was a warrior and it showed. More than that though, he was my protector, my champion. My mate. No one could get to me or the others without going through Victor first and God help them if they tried. I had never seen Victor's lion form but I could only imagine. From the amount of raw power that rolled off the man, his beast had to be massive. I could picture it, nothing but muscle, claws and teeth. A jet black mane and golden-brown fur. The image jumped to the forefront of my mind and wrapped itself around me like a warm blanket. Victor looked down at me and winked. I was stunned. Had he sent the image, or had it truly been my imagination? As his fated mate, anything was possible.

Liam and Jai approached the service desk where a thin man in a tailored gray suit stood, flanked by two other clerks. When he saw Liam, the man straightened so fast I swear I heard something in his spine pop. His smile flickered at the corners of his mouth like a candle caught in a breeze.

"Good evening, gentlemen." His voice was smooth but tremulous. His fingers twitched nervously against the desk. "Welcome to the Palace Hotel. How may I assist you tonight?"

Liam stepped forward, unhurried, his large presence filled the room and I realized that all eyes were now on him. An uncomfortable hush fell over the room as if they were waiting, with baited breath, for Liam to speak. Liam remained as calm and controlled as ever and when he spoke, his voice, low but non-threatening, carried.

"I believe that Mr. Dargan, is expecting us."

It was strange, hearing my father referred to as mister. In all my life I don't think I'd ever heard that. Lord, usually. Sire occasionally, but never mister. It was too informal but I understood how it would look to the Human receptionist if Liam had walked in and asked for King Gerard Dargan, Lord of the Vampires. We'd probably get a few snickers and at least one horrified glance.

The receptionist paled just slightly, a sheen of sweat coated his temples despite the cool air.

"Ah--of course, Sir. We were informed of your arrival. Mr. Dargan has secured the Werburg conference room for your use tonight. If you'll allow me just one moment." He flicked his gaze toward one of the other clerks who snapped into motion so quickly it startled a nearby bellhop into dropping his pen.

The man disappeared through a set of double doors, leaving the thin receptionist fumbling to straighten a stack of papers that didn't need straightening. I noticed how his eyes kept darting toward Liam, toward Victor--and even once toward me. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, hands trembling slightly.

These Humans, they didn't know what we were.

Not exactly.

But something inside of them recognized that we were different, maybe even dangerous. It was something old and primal, like a defense from long ago when Humans were hunted for food. This feeling or warning within them made their hearts beat a little faster, their breathing a little heavier and their palms sweat just a little more. Their instincts were keen enough to let them know there was something unnatural about us, but not advanced enough to tell them what it was.

I glanced around while we waited, letting my gaze wander over oil paintings and old black and white photographs in gilded frames. The faint scent of leather and aged scotch hung in the air and soft piano music drifted in from a hidden speaker. The music was soft, delicate, and too refined to be obtrusive.

My eyes settled on a young woman in a pink silk dress. Her long red hair hung loosely down her slender back and when the light hit it just right, it gave off the illusion of blood. Her laughter halted mid-breath as her gaze landed on Victor. Her eyes moved up and down his body, drinking him in. She smiled, then tossed her hair over one shoulder while she uncrossed and crossed her legs. A surge of anger rushed through me so fast that I had to hold onto Victor just to keep from storming over to the girl and bleeding her where she sat.

A long, low hiss slipped from between my teeth, sharp and venomous, before I even realized my lips had pulled back--the instinct to bare my fangs burning through me faster than thought, faster than breath. I clamped my mouth shut with a snap and the girl looked away quickly, the color draining from her face. She didn't see my fangs. My secret was safe. But I must have looked insane to her. I felt a little insane.

I knew, in my head and in my heart, that she was no threat to me. Victor was mine and always would be. I wasn't in any danger of losing him but my reaction was instinctual, ingrained in my omega DNA.

Victor belongs to me.

He was mine, and no one was going to take what was mine.

Victor's thumb brushed against mine, calming me down. I felt the anger wither away like a flower withers under winters first frost. He reminded me of who I was to him and why our bond was stronger than anything. I let out a breath and slipped my arm through his as I rested my head against his bicep.

The double doors opened again and this time a different member of the hotel staff appeared. He was an older man, maybe late fifties. Stocky and dressed in a gray suit with a neat, white trim. He didn't smile, just eyed our party with quiet reserve before introducing himself. "Good evening, gentlemen." He said, his voice tired and raspy yet still it held a hint of dignity and sophistication, the kind that was straight out of an old black and white film. "My name is Mr. Grady. I'm the concierge here at the Palace hotel. If you'll please follow me, gentlemen." Without waiting for a reply, he turned, gesturing for us to follow, then began walking away, toward the back of the hotel.

We fell into formation like it was second nature. Liam and Jai in front, Carter close behind. Jonah trailed after him with Sloan at his side, murmuring under his breath, reciting Vampire law like he was studying for an exam. Victor and I brought up the rear, walking hand in hand though Victor's attention was more on our surrounding than on me. Even in a hotel full of Humans he was on guard, overly aware of our surroundings and seeking out any sign of a potential threat. He was doing his job and he did it well. I couldn't have been prouder.

Every now and then I caught Jonah turning to look back at me. His shoulders were rigid and his lips pressed flat and thin. His eyes narrowed then he whispered something to Sloan.

I had heard what he said and when he realized I'd heard him, he turned his head, sharply.

"He doesn't trust me." I whispered to Victor. "And he doesn't trust you for choosing me."

"Not trust me?" Victor looked surprised.

I nodded. "He thinks your loyalty is in question for siding with a Vampire over your own kind."

For a moment, Victor's eyes blazed red and he growled, catching the attention of the others. He and Jonah locked eyes for a brief moment before Jonah pulled his gaze away and hung his head in defeat. Not even Jonah would challenge Victor. Not if he wanted to keep breathing.

Jonah didn't look back my way again after that but he didn't have to, I already knew what he was thinking. Not because I could read his mind or sense his emotions, I could sense his emotions, but I didn't have to read him that way. I knew because his opinion of me hadn't changed since leaving the mansion and his recent comment to Sloan just confirmed it.

I was an outsider, a Vampire, and not worthy of the Pride's protection. Jonah couldn't accept me as Victor's mate because I wasn't one of them. He thought Victor had made a mistake in accepting me as his mate and he thought Liam had made a mistake when he let me stay in the Pride's territory. Jonah also thought this meeting was a colossal waste of time. If he had things his way he would just drag me back to my father like a wayward cub and wash his hands of the whole thing.

I realized that most of his hatred of me was born from fear but fear of what I didn't know. I doubted that he actually saw me as a threat to anyone's safety. There were Shifters in his Pride that were way stronger than me. Hell, he was stronger than me, at least physically. In his lion form he'd have the speed and strength to rip my throat out if he caught me, and there would be no way I could fight him off.

It's possible he feared what my father might do if this meeting went sideways or if the Vampire community decided to retaliate against the Pride. Liam's father thought I was part of some conspiracy to overthrow the Shifter community so Vampires could reign supreme which was bullshit. I had never heard of any Vampire uprising and seriously doubted there would ever be one. The Vampires just wanted to be left alone to exist they way they wanted to exist without any outside influence. Or, maybe Jonah feared the change that allowing a Vampire into the Pride could bring.

Jai was half Vampire and already mated to the Pride Chief. Now, with me arriving and finding out I was Victor's mate, it had probably came as quite a shock. Perhaps Jonah was afraid that, in time, Vampires would over populate the Pride, mating with Shifters and eventually creating a new, hybrid species. Those were just theories I had come up with but in all honesty, I really didn't know. All I did know was that he hated me.

Jonah followed Liam because he was his brother and Chief but he didn't want to be here and he wasn't shy about showing it. I had no clue how tonight was going to turn out but either way, I had an uphill battle to fight. Not everyone in Liam's Pride were ready to accept me, or trust me, and I didn't know who or how many would even respect Victor's claim on me. I'd have to earn their trust and respect before I could officially be considered one of them, and that was only if the council cleared me. At this point, anything could happen. We'd just have to wait and see.

***

Grady led us down a wide and brightly lit hallway. The floor was carpeted in thick indigo with gold scroll work. Ornate sconces lined the walls, their amber light a soft contrast against the dark wood paneling. When we had reached the double doors of the conference room, Grady stopped.

"Mr. Dargan and his party await you inside." He said with a slight bow of his head. It was then that I noticed the hair on top of his head beginning to thin, and I couldn't help but giggle a bit. I tried to hide my smile by placing a hand over my mouth and luckily, only Victor seemed to notice. He gave me a quick shake of his head and I did my best to stop the snickering but it wasn't easy. I have no idea why it struck me as so funny, especially in a situation that was anything but. My entire future, my life, hung in the balance and I was laughing over a middle-aged man losing his hair.

"Should you require anything further, please don't hesitate to ask."

Liam thanked the man, he bowed again, and then he was gone, vanishing like smoke as he retreated quickly back down the corridor. I couldn't tell if he was sacred or just... unconcerned. The man hid his emotions so well and was impossible to read. It was almost like he didn't even exist. At least, not in the sense that we did. He was definitely a mystery and one that would probably never be solved.

We stood just outside the tall, mahogany doors, their brass handles gleaming in the soft glow of the sconces. Liam adjusted his tie, his expression impassive. Jai whispered something to Carter who nodded faintly. Sloan was still concentrating on everything he'd learned earlier, reciting old laws and customs. Jonah folded his arms, his jaw like iron, and his eyes narrowed, sharp as an eagle. Victor was still holding my hand in his, warm and steady.

I took in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I swallowed hard, my breath thin and dry.

"Are you ready for this?" Victor asked me.

Was I? No, I wasn't. Not at all, but what choice did I have, really?

Run away? I'd already done that and besides, I was through with running. I wanted a life and a future with Victor. I could have that. All I had to do was walk through those doors and face my father. I could do that. I would do that.

I looked at Victor and nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready."

Everything was about to change. My life, as I knew it, was over but I had the possibility of something so much better. A mate. A family. A real home full of love and affection. Victor would never withhold those things from me. He wasn't cold and emotionless like Gerard Dargan. Victor was strong, caring and passionate. And Jai... Jai was kindness personified.

But still I worried what my father would do when I told him the truth. When I told what Niklas had done, how he'd nearly broken me. I wondered how he'd react when I told him that I'd chosen Victor as my mate and that I bore his mark. That I had chosen Liam's Pride over my birth coven. How would he react when I told him I'd chosen love, before honor?

Would he hate me?

Would he disown me completely? Cast me out like a stain on his legacy?

Or worse--would his cold disappointment weigh on my heart heavier than even exile?

Whatever he did wouldn't be as bad as the indifference he'd showed when the council demanded my arrest. I felt betrayed and my heart shattered, just a little. As my father, he should have stood up for me, protected me but no... he was ready to turn me over and accept whatever punishment I was given. How could he do that? How could he turn his back on his own child?

I hadn't even realized that I was trembling until Victor gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "I'm here, baby. No matter what happens--I'm here."

I let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Let's get this over with." I told him, my gaze fixed on the doors before me. "The sooner we do this, the sooner we can go home."

I can do this. I again told myself. Repeating it over and over again in my head as though it were my mantra.

I have to do this.

I have no other choice...