The Alpha's Mail Order Mate: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (9 page)

CHAPTER EIGHT

Chastity and Night were seated on a plush couch in the sitting room of Julian’s public house—the house that the general public believed to be his residence. They were holding hands as they waited for their old pack leader to arrive. Their smiles must have been contagious, for as soon as the old werewolf saw who his visitors were, he was all smiles.

“Are you showing yet?” he asked Chastity excitedly. “Get up, girl, let’s have a look.”

“Really, Julian, must we go quite so far?” she complained as she allowed him to pull her to her feet and twirl her around a bit, having a better look at her slightly rounded belly.

“What have you done to her, Night?” Julian wanted to know. “She never used to blush like this.”

“She never used to know what she had to blush about,” Night replied with a grin, making his old Alpha laugh and smirk at the same time.

“You, however, don’t seem to have changed much at all,” he said as he gave Night a big bear hug and thumped him on the back a few times. They both laughed when they caught the pleased look on Chastity’s face. It exuded “my two most loved men together at last.”

“So, what brings you two into town?” Julian wanted to know.

“That wicked nice new truck you sent me along with the ownership papers,” Night commented dryly. “I wasn’t sure if I should just thank you or tell you to stop using up all your money on me.”

“Nonsense, I’ve got more money than I know what to do with,” Julian scoffed. “Just don’t ask me where I managed to obtain it. It’s doing no good sitting around here, and neither are the hundred extra wolves who would love to come out and join you if you ever get the blasted place built.”

“Why don’t you send out a few women, then?” Night suggested. “If you did that, all the men there would start trying to show off, and the work would go much quicker, to be sure.”

Julian laughed. “Always thinking on your toes, aren’t you, my boy? I may just do that. However, I understand from Rick that you were thinking of approaching the mining supervisor before he approaches you—maybe throw him off the scent a bit. I think that’s a great idea, but I also agree that you need to look the part first. As soon as I can book you an appointment this afternoon, I’ll want you to come with me to my tailor and have a few suits made. We simply must think up your backstory as well. I think it would be advisable to let him think I am your rich uncle, and by all means, let it slip that you were working as a miner in the past. It would give the two of you some common ground.”

“And what am I supposed to do while you are at the tailor?” Chastity wanted to know.

“Oh, my dear, never think Night’s the only one who gets to have fun,” Julian laughed. “Nanna is just dying to take you out on a shopping spree as well. She’s going crazy wanting to pamper you now that the cat is out of the bag about the baby. I don’t doubt you’ll be going home with a full truck tonight.”

“Nanna?” Chastity grinned. “Where is she? I’d love to see her.”

“In the kitchen, of course,” Julian chuckled. “You go ahead and see her now, if you’d like. I’m sure Night and I can find something to occupy our time.”

“I think I will,” she agreed, and jetted excitedly out the door.

The two men chuckled as they watched her go. Julian spotted the glow in his companion’s eyes and grinned at him. “I think you are very much in love with her, Night. Tell me I am right.”

“Of course you’re right,” Night replied. “We were made for each other, after a fashion, were we not?”

“Something like that,” Julian agreed.

Before they could say anything more, the house phone jangled, and Julian stepped over to answer it. “Yes, of course. Thank you, Pierre, we will be there soon. I appreciate the promptness of your reply.”

“Time to go already, I take it?” asked Night when he had hung up.

“Yes, I’ve just rang Donald to have the car brought around as well,” said Julian. “He’s also been told another car is needed for Nanna and Chastity. A nice bit of shopping for us all will be just the thing. By the way, I have arranged for a large sum of money to be placed into a bank account in your name. To be used at your discretion for the betterment of Wolfhaven, and of course, presents for Chastity and the baby.”

“You’re too good to me, uncle,” Night smiled.

“No, my boy, I think of it as an investment in the future of our race,” he replied. “I have always believed that one day you would bring us into the future, and now it’s time that you did so.”

“It sounds like a tall order, but for some reason, it doesn’t seem to intimidate me,” Night replied. “I wonder why that is.”

“Because you’re ready to do it, my boy,” Julian said. “One doesn’t shy away from something they know they are able to do.”

“Sir, the car is waiting,” said Donald through the intercom.

“We’ll be right there,” Julian replied. The two men collected their coats from the rack near the door and headed outside. Donald ushered them into the car and returned to the driver’s seat to take them wherever they wished to go.

Night allowed Julian’s tailor to measure him, and then they spent several hours looking at various catalogues, outfits and fabrics. Julian ordered ten new suits to be made and also bought him four others off the rack that he could make use of while the others were being sewn. They would then be sent directly out to him when they were done.

While all of this was going on, Chastity was having a great time with her old nanny, going from store to store and stocking up on clothing, toiletries, baby supplies, and even a few gifts for Night as well. She stopped suddenly in the middle of the shopping center and began to twirl delightedly.

“I can’t believe I’m really doing all of this,” she sighed as she sat down on a nearby bench. “Julian never used to take me shopping or treat me like I’m all grown up.”

“That’s because you weren’t yet,” Nanna smiled. “But by the look of you, I think that Nightsky has most definitely helped in that department.”

“What do you mean, just because I’m pregnant?”

“No, darling, just the fact that you’re different,” she said, assessing her and smiling. “You’re much happier than you ever used to be.”

“How can any woman be unhappy with a mate like him?” Chastity scoffed.

“Just so,” she said with a smirk. “Much happier, indeed.”

“Yes, but I think it’s more than that,” Chastity added. “I think I love the woods almost as much as I love him. I am truly happy to finally be able to stretch my arms and legs without running into anybody. It’s a most liberating experience.”

“That sounds wonderful indeed,” Nanna replied with a sigh. “Perhaps I will try it sometime.”

“This baby might be in need of your help,” Chastity suggested.

“I don’t know, dear,” she replied. “We’ll have to wait and see.”

*

When Chastity returned to Julian’s mansion, she couldn’t wait to show Night some of her new things.  She found him sitting in the library with the old Alpha drinking a glass of port. Smiling, she came to join him.

“You should see all the packages they’re loading into that truck right now,” she said, happily.

“Well, I hope you kept out something nice for the evening, my sweet,” Night replied. “Julian wants to take us to the opera.”

“Nothing as fancy as that, I’m afraid,” Chastity replied. “Besides, the opera is so boring. Can’t we go someplace fun? It’s been ages since I’ve gone to Central Park.”

“Now that sounds very much like a trip for two,” said Julian. “Perhaps we shall dine somewhere first, and then I’ll leave the two of you and a horse-drawn carriage to explore all the possibilities?”

Chastity could swear that he was suggesting the pair of them get kinky in the park. There was a bit of color to Julian’s cheeks that she’d never seen there before, and the smile on his lips could have no other possible meaning. She stared at him, somewhat shocked, for he had never even hinted at the existence of such thoughts in his head before this.

“Yes, that does sound like a good idea,” Night readily agreed.

Chastity just nodded dumbly and wondered if she was even in the same place where she’d spent her childhood at all. In a sense, she supposed that it must be she who had changed more than the place itself. As Nanna had said, she wasn’t a child anymore.

“I think we shall dine at Taberelli’s,” Julian decided. “I’ll have the appropriate attire found for you, my dear, since you didn’t think to retain anything of that nature. I believe I took you to Taberelli’s on your thirtieth birthday, did I not?”

“Yes, I think you did, come to think of it,” she agreed. “Right before you sent me to learn medicine from Boris eight years ago.”

“You are still so very young,” Julian said then, casting her a melancholy glance. “I had my reservations when I sent you to Night so young and untried, being that the place is crawling with males—and made males, at that. One never knows what type of people such creatures are likely to be.”

“They have only ever been kind to me,” Chastity defended them.

“That is all to the good,” Julian said. “I’m sure if they hadn’t been, Night would have been—less kind to them as well.”

“Julian, can we find a more pleasant topic?” Night inquired. “Chastity has not seen my more forceful side, and I’d just as soon keep it that way.”

“Never deny the wolf within, Night,” Julian reminded him. “You know that it must be let out sometimes if you do not wish to lose your sanity. Chastity knows what you are, just as she knows she, too, harbors a beast within. I do not think you could shock her if you tried.”

“Well, I can’t change clothes if I don’t go where the clothes are,” Chastity said briskly. She turned and left the men where they stood without another word, unwilling to take any further part in the discussion.

Night took her departure as his cue to go also, and then Julian headed for the stairs. So about half an hour later they all met in the drawing room again, all ready to go. Julian picked up the phone and had the car brought around, and then they all headed for the door.

“This actually should be fun, Night,” said Chastity with a grin. “Have you ever been?”

“I don’t think so, sweetheart,” he replied. “Wasn’t the place built after I took the mining job, Julian?”

“Yes, I believe so,” he said. The three sat companionably in the back of Julian’s limousine as the driver took them to where he’d been instructed over the next ten minutes.

“Here we are,” said Chastity as Night helped her up the steps. “It’s just as I remember it. It’s so good of you to think of the place, Julian.”

“How could I not, when you are gracing us with your presence only a short time, poppet?” he pointed out. “It seems strange, not having you around.”

“Well, I can’t say I mind not being here,” she admitted. “It’s so nice out in the countryside. Perhaps you might visit one day?”

“I don’t like it out there, myself,” he said with a grimace. “However, since you are the one carrying the hope of the future inside you, I might make an exception once that hope has been born.”

“Hope?” she smiled. “That would be a nice name for a girl, but Night and I had said we would call her Julie.”

“You can always make a Julie next,” he told her with a smirk. “Hope sounds like an excellent name for a girl.”

“And for a boy?” she chuckled.

“A boy, I should be most displeased if the first was named after me instead of his father.”

“Julian, how many babies are you trying to get from me?” Chastity laughed.

“Oh, ten, twenty, I don’t know,” he teased her.

“Reservations for Hunter, sir. Thank you.”

The waiter he’d said this to, bobbed his head and turned as he said, “This way, please. Non-smoking, as per your request.”

“Very good, then,” Julian replied as they all took their seats.

Only when they were alone again did Chastity say, “I know I did not hear that correctly. Three, maybe four at best, should be more than enough, even for you.”

“Oh Chastity, do you never realize when I am just teasing you?” Julian said with a laugh. “You may have two babies or ten, and I will love you just the same. The two of you are like my own children, and I shall love to see how many babies you’ll make for me to spoil. But don’t think of it as an obligation to me, but only to the future of our race. I’ve had great concern for years that werewolves would die out completely if something were not done to advance them into modern times. I am very appreciative that you chose to help in the endeavor.”

“I do have a small confession, sir,” she said with a blush. “As noble as the cause might be, it helped very much that James Nightsky is one sexy beast.”

Night almost choked on his drink and stared over the rim. Julian covered his eyes with one hand while he used the other to pat Chastity’s hand. The three of them laughed together for a moment before he made any sort of reply.

“Night, what have you done to my little girl?”

“Only exactly what you asked me to do,” Night chuckled. “And I have every intention of doing so again.”

CHAPTER NINE

Julian left the two of them with the man driving a coach and four, as soon as he’d agreed to take them around the park. “I’ll send your truck here for you, locked and ready to go. Take your time, enjoy yourselves, and when you’re ready to go home, return to my mansion first. I’ve decided to send a few people along with you, and of course you’ll want to get Rick back from Dietrich and take him along with you.

“Thanks, Julian,” said Chastity as she gave him a hug. “Don’t be such a stranger, okay?”

“All right,” he answered gruffly. “Call me when you get home. I won’t be returning to the house tonight. I’ve other business to attend to.”

With that, Julian signaled for the driver to move on, and the two of them were gone. Night and Chastity looked up at the carriage for a moment, shrugged and got inside.

“Where to?” asked the driver through the little trap door.

“Just drive,” said Night with a smile. Knowingly, the driver nodded and shut the door tight. The carriage began to move, and for a while, the two contented themselves with looking out the windows at the greenery. However, with the sun finally gone and their interest in anything but each other mounting, Chastity was not overly surprised when Night surreptitiously pulled the curtains closed and took her into his arms.

What he did next did take her somewhat by surprise, however.

“Let’s get married,” he said as he kissed the ring finger of her left hand, and she then felt him slip on something cold and metallic.”

“What?” she gasped. “I thought we agreed that was a human tradition.”

“Yes, I know, but I really just want to show off my lady to the entire world,” he said with a grin.

“Julian thinks it’s a good idea?”

Night laughed and shook his head. “Well, yes, there is that. But that isn’t why I asked.”

“Isn’t it?” she chuckled.

“We can say our own vows,” he said. “They can be about nature, and love, and working together and such. I really love how well we work together, Chastity.”

“I’m not going to marry you, Night, but I am going to make love to you right this very minute,” she told him then.

“Well, that’s a start in the right direction at any rate,” he teased her.

Their lips brushed together before the rest of them even managed to touch. Their tongues caressed as Chastity’s fingers slid down Night’s biceps. She gave a hungry little sigh as he pulled her up onto his lap. The roof of the coach was only inches above her head, making Chastity chuckle.

“This dress is totally holding my legs together,” she complained.

Night grinned, and pushed the skirt upwards, effectively freeing her. She giggled as he unzipped his pants, pulled out his cock, and simply pulled her underwear aside. “Get on him, sweetheart,” he whispered hotly in her ear.

“No problem,” she said with a wicked grin as she did just that. From this angle, her sheath was tighter than ever, making Chastity groan with delight. Every little move felt better than the last, and it didn’t take her long to orgasm. But Night wasn’t about to let a little thing like climax stop him from continuing to pump up and into her. She wasn’t even sure how long this went on before they stopped because the carriage was no longer moving.

The pair quickly righted themselves before the driver rapped on the door. “We’re back at your vehicle now, and I’d really like to go home and do what you two have been doing already. It’s practically ten o’clock.”

“Oh, sure, no problem,” said Night as he helped Chastity straighten her skirt before she stepped out and headed for their truck, avoiding eye contact with the other man as her cheeks brightened just a little. Night caught up with her and unlocked her door, helping her inside.

He kept a hand on her thigh as they drove back to Julian’s, smoothing his thumb just under the hem, and at the same time teasing the fabric upwards just a bit with each stroke. By the time they got where they were going he’d almost hiked her skirt all the way up again.

“You’re really going to have to stop doing that when the others get in,” she told him sternly.

Night smirked at her. “Am I?” he asked in a disappointed tone.

“I’m going to have Rick sit up front, I think,” she announced then. “He probably wouldn’t give the girls a moment of peace if we put him back there, and I know you’re not going to behave yourself if I stay up front, so we might as well nip the whole thing in the bud.”

“Bud?” Night chuckled as he reached up to tweak her clit before he let her go. “Fine, then you can go in there and tell them to bust a move.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” she grinned, and kissed his cheek before she got out of the car. She didn’t have to tell anyone to hurry up, however, because in another few seconds, Rick and four women all came out the front door and headed in their direction. Chastity simply climbed in back instead.

“Wow, that’s quite a rock you’re wearing,” said one of the women as she seized Chastity’s hand and held it in the light. “When’s the big day?”

Chastity had completely forgotten that Night had put some ring on her finger earlier. She hadn’t even looked at it before this, but now she was staring at the huge diamond in stunned silence.

“Well?”

“Oh, um, we haven’t really discussed it yet,” she said, her face going a bit red.

“I’m so glad we’re going to follow that tradition, at least,” the woman said. “Not the religious one, just the one where you celebrate your togetherness, right? I don’t think werewolves and religion go very good together, do you?”

“No, not really,” Chastity answered. Night was watching her through the mirror, and she could she triumph in his eyes. She didn’t want to tell these women she didn’t believe in marriage now that they’d seen her rock; it would make her look completely stupid.

“Great,” the woman continued. “I’m Grindelle, by the way. Weird name, I know, but what can you do, right? I really hope to be one of the bridesmaids when you two work out all the kinks. I really love doing that sort of thing—it’s just so fun.”

“We’ll see,” she said, glaring at Night through the mirror as he smirked. She was really beginning to wish she had stayed up front, and he knew it. Grindelle talked all the way home, and Night just kept right on smiling while Chastity dreamed of having invisible earplugs. Yes, another item that might sometimes come in handy to add to the list.

*

“Well, ladies, we really didn’t have a dorm for you set up, as such, but for now, we can put you in a house we didn’t tear down yet,” said Rick as he smiled at the four of them when they got back out of the truck. “Everybody start unloading these bags and we’ll sort out what belongs to you and what belongs to Chastity and Night, since I believe it all got mixed together back there. I’m aware it is four in the morning, but we are werewolves, after all. Traditionally we’re supposed to be awake at four in the morning.”

“Come on, Chastity, we may as well help unload,” said Night as he reclaimed her hand—the one with the ring on it, and gave it a squeeze. “Then we can go home and plan our wedding.”

Chastity glared at him for a moment, but then she chuckled. She really did love him, so it wouldn’t bother her to make a big show of it. She had just been refusing on the principle of the thing. She really wanted the werewolves to form their own traditions instead of continuing to cling to human ones.

“No snappy comeback, sweetheart?” Night chuckled. “You’re either really pissed, or really pleased.”

“Probably both,” she told him, and she swatted his butt before she broke away and headed for the back of the truck, joining in on the task at hand.

Night kept grinning as he worked, and then the two gathered up all their purchases and asked Rick to help them carry it home.

“So, have you picked one out yet?” asked Night.

“I may have done,” he admitted ruefully. “But it depends on whether or not she picks me. I’ve told them that the choice of mate will be theirs.”

“I hope the men don’t overwhelm the poor dears,” Night chuckled.

“I hope they all dogpile on Grindelle,” Chastity said then. “Maybe then she’d stop talking for ten minutes.”

“You wound me, Chastity,” said Rick with a pout. “You are speaking of my future mate.”

“Oh no, there’s a really bad idea,” said Chastity. “She wants constant attention, and sometimes you don’t pay attention for hours on end. I can just see that a few years down the road.”

Night laughed so hard he got a stitch in his side. He managed to add, “Hey, you never know, she might get him to loosen up a bit.”

“If I wanted to get that loose, I’d only require a laxative,” Rick replied.  “Well, I’m off. You two have a good night.”

***

“Well, now is as good a time as any to visit the mine,” Night said to Rick the following morning. “I would like you to come along with me. I’ll introduce you as my foreman overseeing the construction of our new resort. That sounds impressive enough.”

“Yeah, plus that’s pretty much what I am, anyway,” he chuckled. “You know how we were joking about Grindelle last night? This morning she’s been following me around like a lost puppy. I’m beginning to think Reina hasn’t even noticed me at all, and I’m going to get stuck with the mouth.”

“Let me guess, ‘how does that work’, ‘why are you doing that’, ‘how long do you think that’s going to take’?” Night teased him.

“Precisely,” Rick agreed. “Now how about if we get out of here before she shows up again?”

“Aren’t you glad I’m taking you with, then?” said Night with a grin.

“Infinitely glad,” Rick agreed.

They drove out to the old mine site in the fancy truck and parked at the small, whitewashed building that was obviously the office. Both of them donned cowboy hats as they headed for the door.

“Can I help you, gentlemen?” asked a pretty young woman from behind the reception desk.

“Actually, we’re your new neighbors,” said Night with a friendly smile. “We’ve come to meet the man in charge and welcome you all to the area. Maybe even bring you a cup of sugar before you even have to ask.”

“Now, isn’t that sweet,” she answered in a flirty tone. Night glanced over at Rick helplessly. He hadn’t been going for quite that reaction when he’d said it.

Rick laughed. “That cup of sugar has a mate and a baby on the way,” he drawled. “I, however, have not gotten leg-shackled as yet. I probably should not ask, but the smell is a dead giveaway. You’re a werewolf, aren’t you?”

“As are you,” she smiled.

“Is your boss—well, are you the only one or are there others?”

“No, it’s just me and him,” she said. “He’s my dad, by the way. He took this job so we could be out here, but I wasn’t sure we should try it. If these miners were to find out, I don’t know that they wouldn’t try to kill us.”

“Don’t you worry,” Night told her. “I worked alongside miners for years, and some of them even knew. I think they’re far more interested in getting the work done than they are about your shape-changing abilities, although, in your case, some of them might be interested in your shape. I hope they haven’t been giving you too much trouble.”

“Yeah, some of them have been rather persistent,” she chuckled. “So come on back and meet my dad. I believe he’s going to be pleased to see you.”

“No problem,” Rick replied.

They followed the girl back to the other room and stepped under the low-hanging doorjamb to get inside.

“Father, our neighbors have finally come to call,” she told him as the entered.

A man appearing to be in his forties, glanced up from his desk, frowned in confusion for a moment, and then smiled instead. “Ah, Mr. Nightsky,” he said as he stood and shook both their hands. “I wondered when I would have the pleasure of your company.”

“You know who I am?” Night asked curiously.

“I make it my business to know my neighbors, sir,” he said with a pleasant smile. “Though, I must admit, you are not exactly what I was expecting.”

Night grimaced wryly, well aware the man had scented him on the spot. “Yes, and here I went out of my way to look the part. But I expect the pretense to stand, mind you. The world must believe that I am who I say I am. It is vital to keep my pack undetected once our numbers begin to grow.”

“So, you’re making a pack out here? Impressive,” he smiled. “Then this is to be an exclusive resort? Might I become a member of it?”

“It is much safer to be a pack member than a lone wolf out here,” Night commented. “As long as you understand who is in charge of it.”

“Perhaps I prefer just to be an affiliate, rather than an underling,” Dawson said dryly. “Though I am certain Katie has no such qualms.”

Katie’s cheeks brightened prettily, and her eyes sought Night’s, but he was careful to look away. He did not need this female trying to attach herself to him.

Rick, seeing this, came to stand to Katie’s other side. “Yes, I’m sure you would enjoy a visit there sometime,” he told her with a smile. “I could show you the sights from our tree house. Night would not be able to join us, though. I’m sure that he will be far too busy with running his company and pleasing his lovely mate.”

Katie cast him a kind but wistful smile. “That sounds wonderful,” she said. “I look forward to it.”