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  "Will I introduce you?" Using his hand to walk me into the living space, Dale kept his body close to mine. Everyone turned to watch us like Dale's presence was magnetic. "This is Vera Cana, my new neighbor." He then proceeded to introduce me to everyone.

  They were all very friendly and cordial. Some of the girls noticed Dale's hand placement on my back, and nearness, but didn't seem phased by it. The men seemed to regard it more than the women.

  Breathing deep, I let my senses take in the room. There was some flowery perfume on the women, but from the men, it was all musk and earth. Memories of the men from my childhood home intruded, how they all carried a similar scent.

  The safety that Dale's presence usually provided vanished. Panic shot through my body and adrenaline injected into my bloodstream. This scene was all too familiar.

  Trying to step back, Dale's hand felt like a restraint. Thankfully, I was well-practiced at controlling my reactions. Turning to meet Dale's eyes, I used the movement to remove his hand from me. Touching him made my fingers itch.

  "Bathroom?"

  Dale's smile was already gone, and I had no doubt he felt me tense up. Eyes flicking to a door by the kitchen, Dale shook his head and pointed in the opposite direction. "End of the hall, turn left, through the door, and it's on your right."

  My entire body trembling, I tried to be casual walking out of the entertainment area. "Is that her?" One of the men asked someone else as I walked down the corridor. "She's not what I expected."

  Once out of sight, I hurried around the corner. Opening the door, I stepped through, then shut it behind me as breathing became difficult. The room was a large bedroom, king size bed, with masculine colors. I didn't have to guess whose it was, I could smell Dale all through this room. Expecting his scent to make my panic worse, I prepared for it. Instead, it calmed me. Taking deep breaths, I tried to be logical.

  Running out of here screaming wasn't sensible. If I could keep it together for the next hour, then I could get through the evening, and go home. Then I'd distance myself from Dale and his household. That meant selling and finding a new place to live. Groaning, I moved into the bathroom. How did I escape one pack-house just to move in next door to another? What were the chances of that happening?

  Tears started running down my face, unbidden. My body trembled with the need to cry with despair. "Is this because I touched you?" Dale asked from the bathroom door.

  Lifting my eyes to meet his in the reflection, I sucked in a breath. "You promised you wouldn't."

  "I never promised that. I said my guests wouldn't touch you." Dale's eyes traveled my body. "It would be impossible not to touch you. It is my natural instinct to do the exact opposite. I won't make a promise I can't deliver on."

  Sucking in a shaking breath, I needed to know. "Is this a pack-house?"

  Chapter 5

  Stepping into the bathroom, Dale slid his hands into his suit pockets. He appeared contemplative. "We aren't like the packhouse you ran from, Vera. We treat women like the precious things they are."

  My heart stuttered and fell in my chest as I closed my eyes. "You know where I came from?"

  "Yes. There has been a lot of chatter amongst the packs about a woman almost killing Alpha Malcolm. A lot of speculation about the sort of woman who could do that. A full-blooded female of our kind."

  Tears flooded from my eyes as I backed away from Dale. There was only one way out of this room, and Dale was blocking it. Trembling with adrenalin, I scouted for anything I could use to defend myself.

  Not coming any closer, Dale shrugged. "Anyway, she died. Suffered a pulmonary embolism while recovering from her injuries in hospital."

  My throat convulsed aware that Dale knew where I'd been in hospital. His lawyer had confronted me in my hospital bed. That had been far from here, and even further from Malcolm's pack-house. But Malcolm had needed to treatment at the same hospital before I died there.

  Eyes full of intent as they met mine, Dale hypnotized me with his indigo gaze. "She's in a better place now. If she did what the rumor mill claims, then she earned her freedom. I'd never take that from her."

  Surprising me, Dale turned to leave, keeping his eyes on his bedroom. "I'm sure your life was hell, but I would like to help you get over that, Vera. As much as anyone could." Peering at me over his shoulder, his eyes sincere as he held out his hand to me. "See out this dinner with me; I'll allow Jeremy to train you."

  Staring after him for a moment, I took a few breaths. My mind needed a moment to process how that encounter hadn't resulted in how I feared. My head spun, trying to accept that Dale hadn't hurt me or worse when he trapped me in this room. In fact, his retreat to his bedroom opened the path to the exit. It was as if he created that distance, understanding my anxiety.

  Facing Dale with my entire body, I wiped my tears as best I could and indicated to my face. "I'll need a moment."

  "I'll wait right out here."

  Able to feel him out there, I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. Turning back to the bathroom mirror, I cleaned my face up. Thank god, I hadn't bothered with foundation. "Are the women here part of your household?"

  "Two of them are," Dale answered from further in the bedroom.

  "Are they full-blooded?"

  "No. Their mother was human."

  Moving to the doorway, I found Dale by the end of his bed, watching me from the darkness of his room. "If they have children with one of the males, will that give you a full-blood?"

  Eyes squinting, Dale shook his head. "Their children would then have to mate with a full-blood." Moving forward, a frown creased his forehead. "Was this never explained to you?"

  "I only know alpha meant the boss because of the way they used it."

  "So you know nothing about your own heritage? Know nothing about why we are different?"

  His wording got my attention. "Different how?"

  Lightning flashed in Dale's eyes. Anger blew through the room like an unexpected hurricane. Scurrying out of the way, I squeezed myself between the freestanding bathtub and the wall. Hunkering down into the smallest possible size, my body quaked with fear. Memories of Malcolm stormed my mind, then blew away. No, it wasn't Malcolm; I had been right about Dale, he was different.

  Malcolm's anger was choking, like a pair of nylons strangling you. Dale's rage left you unable to breathe, think, beg, or hope. Nothing but cowering, awaiting the hellfire of his wrath to tear your flesh and burn your bones to ashes. Like a neutron bomb, his temper sucked the oxygen from my lungs. Seconds later, the air returned to normal and rushed into my lungs, causing me even more pain than when it went. Wheezing, I panted for breath, curled over my knees, petrified.

  "Vera." Dale rushed into the room, remorse coating his voice. "Oh, goddess, I'm so sorry." When he reached for me, I flinched. Hesitating only a moment, Dale proceeded to place a firm hand on my back and press down.

  My eyes widened as my breathing hitched then immediately evened out. Calmness radiated through my body. The offering was safety, assurance, and love. Yanking back from that last emotion, I glared at Dale. He had the decency to wince. "Too far, too soon?"

  "Too far."

  Dale snickered. "Well, at least you recover fast." Rising up, Dale held out a hand. "Come on, Vera, dinner is ready."

  Taking his hand to help me up, my nerve impulses fired where he touched my skin. Removing my hand from his, shaking still, I lifted my eyes to his. "You frightened me."

  Something flittered across his eyes, but it wasn't an emotion I recognized to capture. "Can I show you something?" When I gave a slight nod, Dale gazed into my fake brown eyes. "I will need to touch you."

  Pausing, I swallowed but decided there was nothing malicious in it. Cautious, but willing to give Dale the chance, I gave a single nod again.

  Slipping his hand behind my neck, Dale pulled me close, my body pressing to his, as he brushed his lips against mine. Sighing at the feather-light touch, I stared up into his swirling indigo irises. The chocolate stria
tions spread until only a ring of indigo remained on the edge of amber.

  A growl of hunger rippled through me. Grabbing Dale's collar, I was hot and needy as I smashed my mouth against his, lips pinching and pulling. His gaze drew me in, and I fell; somewhat like I imagine Alice felt falling into wonderland.

  Images of a woman in period wear, early nineteen hundred at a guess floated in my mind. She was walking down a cobblestone street with her mother. When the young woman noticed me watching her, she blushed. Her mother scowled and dragged her along faster.

  In the forest, at night, the girl smiling as she stepped inside the tree line, dressed only in her nightdress. She didn't stay covered for long. Desire rippled through me as I watched the girl panting beneath me. Sweating and smiling, I loved the way she bit her lip as I lost myself inside her.

  Her tears and fear as she told me she was with child. Stealing her away into the night, taking her from her family and making her my wife. Her belly heavy with child as I knelt and kissed it. Watching my beautiful twin girls born into the world.

  Being happy, playing with my daughters, loving their mother, a lot. Considering the relentless practice, it took years for her to get with child again, but that was the way of our kind. Children were scarce. Still, I was over the moon to see her tummy grow a second time, followed by the birth of my son.

  When I found her with another man, rage burned within me. Calm as a summer breeze, she touched my face and made me look in the mirror. Dale's youthful face reflected back at me. He looked eighteen at most. She made me see hers, no longer the young woman, but a matured one with teenage daughters.

  As she explained that it was time for her to find a man of her own kind, to grow old in happiness, I seethed. With a farewell kiss to my lips, I let her go, wanting her happiness more than anything.

  Dizzy, strong arms held me tight as Dale removed his lips from mine and I returned to his bathroom. "I cared deeply for Rebecca. When I found out about her affair, I felt betrayed. I'd never felt that much anger in my life."

  Having felt his rage back then, it was ten times what I'd experienced in the bathroom.

  "I could hold my temper when I felt gutted and betrayed by someone I cared about. So, I can hold my temper with anything you dish out."

  Taking a second to find my voice, I licked my lips. "How did you do that? Are you a witch or something?"

  "We have a connection that allows me to share my memories and experiences. You could share yours with me, but I don't think it's a good idea for us to dredge that lake. All you need to know right now is that connection will make it impossible that I will ever harm you, Vera. You are safer than Rebecca, and I could never have harmed a hair on her head, even when she broke my heart."

  His lips were still only millimeters from mine. Tempting me. "I want to trust you. My instinct tells me too. The scars are still too fresh." Detaching myself from him, I created space between us, cold with the lack of contact.

  Dale's eyes dropped to my covered abdomen. "Malcolm is a monster. I'm sure the scars are deeper than flesh, but I will help you heal what I can." Holding out his hand, palm up, Dale tilted his head to the door.

  Sliding my hand into his, the tingles climbed like ivy along our connecting flesh. As we walked out to join the others for dinner, Dale chuckled to himself.

  "What?"

  "I can see in your eyes what your instincts are wanting right now. Most consider that dessert."

  Heat flushing my entire body, I hid my face by looking at my feet, biting my lip? "Can you blame me after the porn show you showed me?" Looking around, I noticed the lounge area was now empty.

  "They are already seated waiting for us." Placing his hand into the small curve of my back, Dale directed me into the dining room.

  Did I let him touch me without flinching? 'Yes, you did.'

  Sitting next to Dale at the long stone table, I studied the two girls who were spitting images of each other. Now that I'd seen her, I recognized their mother in them. The girls' flaxen hair, olive skin, and bone structure was their mother's. Their indigo eyes were their father's. They were stunning, there were no two ways about it. Considering I knew they were born over a hundred years ago, they looked around twenty-five.

  Frowning, I wondered if the immortality was a magical thing. Malcolm and his household had never aged in the twenty-eight years I'd lived there. If living is what you could call it.

  "I'm into men," Alexia, the twin opposite me, chirped as she lifted her wine glass to her lips.

  Realizing I'd been staring, I cleared my throat. "I'm sure men are into you too."

  Her sister, Hymn, giggled. "Are you into men, Vera?"

  "I haven't had many options."

  Everyone at the table stopped and stared at me. Clearing his throat, Dale placed his hand over mine on the table. "Vera has come out of a long term relationship not long ago."

  It made me wonder what his household knew about me that he didn't mention who.

  "How long were you together?" Juliet, who was sitting next to Bob, was pretty; model like beautiful. But she didn't have the earthy smell like Dale's daughters.

  "Since I was fourteen."

  "Oh, gosh, wow! So he's the only man you've ever been with? Why did you leave him?"

  "Because I finally could." Picking up the wine in front of me, I took a mouthful.

  When Juliet looked confused, Bob leaned into her, dropping his volume. "He used to beat her."

  "Oh, God, how horrible." Ready to cry, Juliet gazed with sympathy at me. "Well, at least you are young. You can go out and live your life and have fun now."

  "I'm twenty-eight."

  "Really? You don't look old enough to have finished college. What face cream are you using?"

  Beauty products brought Cindy and Heidi into the conversation with Juliet. Alexia and Hymn chuckled while the wait staff served the entrees. Taking his hand from mine, Dale started eating his salt and pepper squid. Missing his touch, I blinked and stared at my fingers.

  "Are you settling into the cottage?" Adam, one of the Armani clad men, smiled, ignoring the girls' cosmetics debate.

  "I am, thank you. Bob and Jeremy have been accommodating."

  His eye's shifting to Dale and raising a brow in question, Adam chuckled and shook his head. "I'm glad to hear it. Do you work?"

  Nodding as I chewed a piece of squid, I forced myself to swallow. "I'm a freelance graphic designer and web designer."

  Brow lifting, Adam's eyes were molten warmth like a puppy dog. "You have formal qualifications?"

  "No." Looking away, I took a gulp of wine.

  "I meant no criticism, Vera. I was only wondering if you went to college?"

  "No. I never left the house unless it was with him. I was homeschooled, and my teacher taught me web design so that I could assist the family business."

  "If you worked for the family business, how'd you make money to buy the cottage?" Howard had the same rough manner as Jeremy and a physical resemblance. But unlike Jeremy, Howard didn't make me feel safe. In fact, out of all the men present, his gaze oozed over me like slime and made me shiver.

  "I was working freelance for years, earning my own income." Seeing Howard get ready to question further, I jumped in first. "What do you all do?"

  Shifting beside me, Dale set his fork down to collect his glass. "I run a model and talent agency. Everyone at this table, except Jeremy and Bob, are one of my employees at the agency."

  Peering around the table, I started chuckling.

  "Something funny?" Howard asked unamused.

  "The moment I walked in here, I felt like I'd gone backstage at a fashion show. Now, I know why. How come you and Bob don't model, Jeremy?"

  Jeremy lifted a brow at me as if to ask if I was serious. "I have a business degree; I'm not selling my body."

  "Hey!" Several voices complained around the table, especially the girl on his arm.

  "I am Dale's personal assistant, not an eight pack."

  "I thought you were the
butler?" Everyone snickered at my question. Sniggering at the insult on Jeremy's face, Bob lowered his head.

  "Jeremy is filling in until I find a new chef," Dale clarified.

  "I'm the only person here who can cook a damn. That's why," Jeremy added snidely.

  "A five star Michelin chef taught me to cook. Just ask Alpha, he's been enjoying my cooking for a month now."

  Everyone looked to Dale who smirked but said nothing. Jeremy huffed into his drink, but the side of his lips tempted a smirk. "No wonder that mangy wolf has been off his food. He's getting fed elsewhere."

  Alexia laughed. "Be careful, Vera, once you feed a dog, you can't get rid of them. We'll come home to find Alpha living down the cottage." Turning her gaze to Dale, she winked.

  "Not likely. I'll move Vera in here before that ever happens."

  Dropping my cutlery, I knocked my glass as I started shaking, but managed to catch it before it spilled. "Sorry." Taking a deep breath, I hid my hands in my lap.

  Reaching behind me, Dale placed a hand at the back of my neck as he leaned in and lowered his voice. "Calm down, Vera. I didn't mean that like it sounded. I meant Alpha wouldn't be moving to the cottage, that's all."

  As the main course came out, Dale pulled away and used his fingers to massage my neck until the plates were set down. The chatter continued throughout the main meal and dessert. They gossiped about colleagues, asked Dale for particular gigs, and other random stuff. No one asked me any more questions. Every time someone looked at me, Dale gave them a hard look, and they'd discuss something else.

  When the meal finished, I excused myself to freshen up as everyone left the table. As I came back to the living area, there was raucous laughter. The models were making their way to the steps downstairs along with the other five males. "What's going on?"

  "Time for a swim," Alexia giggled. "Come on, join us."

  "Oh, I didn't bring a swimsuit."

  "Neither did we." Juliet winked before disappearing down the stairs, leaving me alone with Dale.

  Eyeing me as he handed me another glass of wine, Dale smirked. "Are you sure you don't want to join them?"