Chapter Fourteen #2
Emberlyn settled at her table with a cup of tea and toasted bagel. The more she considered the matter, the more she doubted its accuracy. Particularly since he’d scent-marked her – werewolves didn’t idly do such a thing. Still, the prospect continued to nibble at her.
Putting it all out of her mind for now, she ate her breakfast, snatched her purse and drove to the town hall. She spotted a few other familiar cars parked around, telling her that her family had already arrived.
Exiting her vehicle, she glanced around. There was no sign of Ripper or his truck. But as she began to clamber the wide white steps of the town hall, another werewolf caught up to her. Sadly.
The Alpha gave her a smarmy smile. ‘Emberlyn.’
‘Carver,’ she greeted flatly.
He clasped his hands. ‘Ready for the meeting?’
She paused on the top step near a tall column. ‘I am.’
‘You’re not having second thoughts about going through with this?’ He grimaced, a flash of compassion in his eyes. ‘I would, in your shoes. It’ll be hard to prove that Millicent was sane at the end. Or ever.’
‘Hmm.’
‘You know, you could always drop this here and now,’ he ever so innocently suggested. ‘I’m sure your family will agree to not—’
‘Save it, Carver. You don’t care how I feel, or how they feel, or how this affects anyone but you. Don’t insult my intelligence by implying I should believe otherwise.’
His expression hardening, he moved closer. ‘You won’t win this, you—’ He stopped dead in his tracks, his nostrils flaring.
Ah, he’d picked up Ripper’s scent on her skin. ‘You were saying?’ she prodded.
A muscle in his jaw flexed. ‘He chose not to listen to my warnings about you, then.’
‘You warned Ripper to steer clear of me?’
‘It would have been for his own good.’
She felt her lips quirk. ‘Don’t tell me a strong wolf like you is leery of a little witch like me. You sure you’re Alpha material?’
His eyes flashing, he walked toward—
‘Step back, Carver,’ a gravelly voice calmly ordered, a hint of menace there.
She looked to see Ripper coming at them from the side. Her system spluttered like a faulty engine, overwhelmed by all that raw, gritty masculinity. It drummed at her skin, waking and charging her nerve-endings.
He kept his dangerously intent gaze locked on the other werewolf as he reached her. ‘You’re standing too close to Emberlyn for my liking.’
Carver took a slow but very notable step away. ‘Getting involved with her . . . you have balls, Ripper, I’ll give you that.’ He walked off, his mouth flat.
Ripper’s gaze landed on her, the menace rapidly receding. His feral energy swept over her, tugging at her magick like a damn magnet. Tension rose, the air all but molten with memories of last night.
‘You look calm,’ he observed, ‘so I’m guessing he didn’t say or do anything that pissed you off.’
‘All he did was make himself look stupid – thinking I’d buy he cares if I’m worried that the meeting won’t go as I hope.’ She briefly relayed the conversation. ‘Oh, and he said he warned you about me.’
Ripper grunted, stepping into her. ‘He told me it was a mistake to ally myself with you. I disagreed. I disagree with most of the shit that comes out of his mouth.’
‘I think the majority of people outside his clan do.’
He parted his lips, his eyes flitting over her face, and she thought he’d bring up what happened last night. But, instead, he bit down on his lower lip.
She rolled back her shoulders. ‘Don’t know about you, but I’m all for getting this meeting over with.’ And getting some space from him so she could get a reprieve from the mess he made of her body.
‘I’m with you on that.’ He pushed open the door and tipped his chin, indicating for her to enter first, and then took up the rear.
In the foyer, Clarence grinned broadly. ‘Ah, there you both are.’
‘Morning, Clarence.’ She glanced around the empty space. ‘I’m guessing the others are already seated.’
He confirmed that with a nod, stepping a little closer. ‘I suggest we . . .’ He paused, his gaze flying to Ripper as his nostrils flared. ‘Well, that’s a surprise.’
Tell me about it.
Clarence cleared his throat, gestured for them to follow, and began walking.
Plastering on the bright smile that she knew made people nervous, Emberlyn followed the lawyer through the pointed-arch doorway and into the grand hall with Ripper at her back.
The rectangular space had oak-paneled walls and patterned marble flooring.
Two columns of benches were separated by a narrow walkway.
One column was taken up by her family, Tyra, Sera, Carver, Reena, Ward and a few other members of the coven.
All faced the dark and striking male sitting at a table on the elevated platform.
Normally, Ripper, Carver and Reena would be up there as well. But, being the only impartial member of the council in this case, Shane would be handling it alone.
Though many in the hall turned, Emberlyn didn’t meet any gazes as she followed Clarence to the front row of the empty column.
He indicated for Emberlyn and Ripper to slide in first and then joined them, which placed her between both werewolves – a no doubt deliberate move on their part, feeling she would be better protected this way.
Tyra slid Emberlyn a quick look, a smug light in her eyes that said she was sure she’d win this case. Oh, that light wouldn’t be there for long.
Though Sera was Tyra’s assistant, there was no actual need for her to be present. The little bitch no doubt wanted the pleasure of seeing Emberlyn legally lose the manor.
Shane glanced at his watch. ‘The meeting is due to start in a few minutes but, since we’re all here, we might as well begin. I’m assuming neither of you needs more time to speak with your clients,’ he said, looking from Clarence to Tyra.
Tyra took papers from Sera. ‘Actually—’
‘We can start, then,’ declared Shane. ‘We’ll hear from the applicant first. As I understand it, Tyra, your client wishes to have her mother’s will declared invalid.’
‘That is correct,’ Tyra confirmed.
‘And this is on the grounds that, in her belief, Millicent wasn’t sound of mind?’
‘It is, yes.’
Shane’s gaze slid to Gill. ‘Why are you so sure of this?’
Gill squared her shoulders. ‘My mother may not have been a good person, but she loved her family in her way. She would never have treated her children and grandchildren so unfairly as to only bequeath them small or petty things. Not if she was of sound mind. The will can’t possibly reflect her true last wishes. ’
Shane let out a pensive hum. ‘I have read a copy of it, so I’m aware of what each of the beneficiaries inherited. What exactly is it you believe that it should have stated?’
‘That as the eldest I would inherit the manor, my brother would be given the land and her small fortune be distributed amongst her grandchildren – Mari, Ames and Emberlyn.’
Oh, how reasonable Gill sounded. Given that none of the others objected, it had to be a case of them coming up with this together.
Shane skimmed his gaze over Dez, his son and Mari. ‘You agree?’
They all responded in the affirmative.
‘In truth,’ Dez added, ‘my mother did not at any point in her life have the testamentary capacity to make a valid will. As we all know, she regularly performed magick that most consider taboo. She was a lone practitioner. A recluse. Always looked haggard and unkempt. She exhibited all the signs of somebody who is mentally disturbed.’
Ames nodded. ‘We all attempted to help her, but she didn’t want to be helped. The fact that she left land to an Alpha werewolf shows she was not thinking rationally.’
Shane’s brow lifted. ‘How so?’
It was Gill who responded. ‘She wasn’t thinking of the consequences. Reena’s plans to expand Bellcrest were no secret. My mother approved of them. It makes no sense that she’d then bequeath the land to Ripper.’
‘How do you know that she approved of them?’ asked Shane.
‘She told me so. Carver was there.’
Behind Gill, Carver raised a hand. ‘I was. Millicent praised the drawings I showed her of the houses we intended to build.’
Shane’s brows winged up. ‘Millicent dished out praise? An anomaly, I would think.’
Emberlyn inwardly snorted. It wasn’t an anomaly. It was a crock of shit.
‘She was softer near the end,’ Mari piped up. ‘Maybe because she knew her time was almost up. It’d explain why she openly spoke of who would inherit what.’
Shane folded his arms. ‘And what did she explicitly state?’
‘She told us all at different points that we were either the main or sole beneficiary,’ replied Mari.
‘If was as if she didn’t always know who she was speaking to, or didn’t remember what the will stated.
But she was always very clear that Emberlyn would inherit nothing.
That doesn’t line up with the wishes in her will. ’
Shane twisted his mouth. ‘Do you have witnesses outside of your family who can confirm that she made these promises to you and laid out these terms?’
‘I was present for most of these conversations,’ Tyra claimed, the lying little bitch. ‘As was Sera.’
Nodding, Sera said, ‘Millicent kept calling me by my mother’s name, clearly confused. She would also ask where Avery was, so lost.’
Bullshit. Millicent hadn’t been in any way ‘confused’ or ‘lost’ near the end.
‘At no point did she even hint at leaving the manor to whoever could manage to gain entrance,’ Tyra continued.
‘That she would use such an extremely outdated tradition seems yet another sign that she wasn’t thinking rationally.
All my client wants is for her mother’s true wishes to be reflected here. As things stand, they are not.’
‘Hmm.’ Shane cut his gaze to Clarence. ‘I understand that your client feels her claim on Black Willow Manor is not false and shouldn’t be rendered invalid.’
‘That is so,’ Clarence confirmed.
Shane looked at Ripper. ‘And you, similarly, feel that your claim to the land is fair.’
‘I do,’ Ripper firmly stated. ‘It originally belonged to Lupin. I am his descendant. Had I inherited the manor, the Vautiers would then claim it should be returned to them due to them being descendants of Lilith. I fail to see the difference.’
Shane inclined his head. ‘Interesting point.’ He returned his focus to Emberlyn. ‘Do you feel your grandmother was of sound mind?’
‘Millicent was eccentric to a large and varied degree,’ Emberlyn allowed, ‘but she was very much sane. She couldn’t have controlled her magick if that were not the case.’
Ward leaned forward. ‘Actually, that is—’
‘My question wasn’t directed at you,’ Shane told him. ‘I’ve heard from the applicant and those on her side of the argument. Now I want to hear from Emberlyn and Ripper.’
Ward bristled, looking as though he would argue, but he subsided when Reena rested a hand over his.
‘No one here needs to take my word for anything,’ said Emberlyn. ‘One of the signatures on the will is that of a doctor whom Millicent asked to verify that she had mental capacity. She also wrote a letter that puts the wishes of her will into context.’
‘Letter?’ echoed Gill.
Shane’s attention shifted to her. ‘You knew nothing of it?’
Gill shook her head wildly.
‘Millicent left it to me in an envelope she instructed to be given to Emberlyn should anyone attempt to overturn the will,’ said Clarence, plucking a piece of paper from his leather satchel. ‘I have it here and am happy to read it aloud.’
‘Go on,’ invited Shane.
Clarence cleared his throat.
Emberlyn, if you’re reading this letter then my suspicions are just and my children are in fact hoping to have my will declared invalid.
Such loving children they are. I don’t blame them for not thinking much of me – they have good reason for that.
Why should they love a mother who isn’t a real mother?
But it gives them no excuse to demand that my last wishes be ignored. I could tan their asses for that.
Despite the crap they tell me, I don’t believe for a second that either of them want the manor for themselves.
They only wish to sell it. Still, I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt by allowing them to win over the manor themselves.
If they’re contesting the will, it means they did not; that you now hold it.
The house will have sensed what I myself strongly feel – they care nothing for it and have no intention of nurturing it with their own magick.
And if that’s the case, where’s the wrong in it going to the one person who adores it?
You, I know, will cherish the manor. You, I know, will raise children there who will also grow to love it. That’s how it should be.
Gill loved the dollhouse as a child, you know.
And Dez’s father taught him to drive in my truck.
Mari is obsessed with the brooch she stole, and Ames was a master chess player as a child.
In other words, I have not bequeathed random objects to them.
They will inherit things that have meaning to them, they just probably won’t find that enough.
As for my leaving the land to Jax Stone, it’s only fair.
The land should rightfully be with a descendant of Lupin, just as the manor should always home a Vautier.
It’s as simple as that. I also know he won’t let it become a pretty housing estate – the coven doesn’t need one.
It’ll actually be safer for them not to use my land, since someone has made several attempts to poison it.
I have dug up three curse jars in the last six months.
I don’t yet know who buried them there. What I do know is that my days are numbered, so I’m not sure I’ll figure out who did it before I pass.
If I don’t, I’m relying on you to do it.
They need to be exposed and dealt with – I trust that you’ll be creatively vengeful about it.
As for my children and other grandchildren, my hope is that they come to understand why I made the decisions I made regarding the will. I don’t expect them to like or approve of those decisions, only to respect them. If they cannot, it’s unfortunate. But it changes nothing.
Be well, stay safe and live—
‘This is bullshit!’ Dez burst out, jumping to his feet.
—large. P.S. Tell Dez, it isn’t bullshit at all.
Clarence looked at Shane, lowering the letter to his side. ‘That’s it.’