Chapter 12 #2
‘Too much,’ Alexander agreed. ‘Off you go.’ The teenager grinned and loped away.
‘He’s a good kid,’ Mallory said.
‘He is. He’s been through a lot but he’s coming out the other side. You know his parents died in an accident?’ Mallory nodded. ‘I was close to Nick’s mum – my sister – when we were growing up. Have I mentioned my bastard of a father?’
‘Yes,’ she said softly.
‘Partly because of him, Andrea and I stuck close to each other, for comfort as much as physical safety. As soon as she was old enough, Andrea couldn’t wait to get out of Coldstream.
She wasn’t interested in being a werewolf – she’d have ripped that part out of her body if she could have done.
For a long time we barely spoke, not because we’d argued but because we simply drifted apart.
We were just starting to regain our old relationship when she died. ’
As he drew in a breath and looked away, Mallory realised how difficult this was for him. He was trying to open up, to show his more vulnerable side; he really was much more than just his job title.
‘I’m so sorry, Alexander.’
He smiled wanly. ‘Thank you.’
‘What was your sister like?’
‘Nothing like me.’ His smile grew warmer. ‘She was fun loving and not afraid to say exactly what she thought. People always think I’m the strong one in the family but it was her. She wasn’t afraid of anything.’ He glanced at her. ‘You remind me of her.’
‘I always wanted a sister,’ she said. ‘I was an only child.’
‘Are your parents still around?’
‘No.’ She sighed, though it wasn’t an unhappy sound.
‘They were lovely people and I had a really happy childhood. They never quite understood my fascination with Preternaturals and Coldstream, but they knew I wanted to live here and they were happy for me when I found my place here. They visited a few times before they passed, but I usually went to see them. They found Coldstream quite unnerving.’
Alexander examined her with frank curiosity. ‘Do you wish you had magic?’
‘Sometimes.’ Mallory shrugged. ‘In the same way that I sometimes wish my hair was poker straight or I was good at maths or better at organising myself.’
‘You shouldn’t.’ He cleared his throat. ‘You’re already perfect as you are.’
Mallory smiled. ‘Thank you, Alex. So are you.’ His eyes crinkled with pleasure. ‘And you’re already getting top marks for tonight, even though we’ve not even had the starters. Be this version of yourself with Cathy and she’ll be completely charmed.’
A muscle jerked in his cheek. ‘Have I charmed you?’
Far, far too much. Mallory continued to smile and answered lightly, ‘Absolutely. You’ve rocketed to the top of the class.’
The next few days passed in a blur. Although she’d proved she was more capable than her squib status suggested, Mallory had several sessions with Samantha and some other MacTire werewolves to improve her self-defence techniques.
It was good to brush up on old skills and she learned far more about what werewolves were capable of during the full moon.
Each session confirmed that Alexander had been right; she should never have ventured out during those dark hours.
She wouldn’t tell him that, of course, and in any case he stayed away from the gym. She tried not to wonder why.
Mallory had dealt with numerous werewolf clients over the years and counted several of them as friends, but she’d never spent this much time in their company and she marvelled at the intricate relationships they formed as a result of being part of a pack.
There were forty-one members of the MacTire pack, including Alexander, although only a dozen or so of them lived in the main stronghold.
They treated each other like siblings even though not all of them were blood relatives and there were vast differences in age.
It was akin to being part of the Waltons if the fictional family had been larger in size, considerably more sweary and turned furry once a month.
‘No, not the Waltons. Think of us as more like the Medicis,’ said Hannah, one of the younger werewolves who’d joined the MacTires with her mother from a failing wolf pack almost a decade ago. ‘Dynastical, powerful and,’ she pulled a face, ‘occasionally corrupt.’
Mallory blinked. ‘Corrupt?’
‘Not now Alex is in charge,’ she said. ‘But in the past…’ Her voice trailed off. She was referring to Alexander’s father and possibly others who were also long gone. Mallory nodded her understanding.
Hannah twisted her fingers. ‘It was my mother who made the decision to join the MacTires. I didn’t get a say in the matter.’
Mallory chose her next words carefully; she sensed that the younger woman needed someone to talk to who wouldn’t judge her for her darker thoughts.
If Hannah wanted to confide in someone, she was prepared to listen.
‘Do you wish things had turned out differently?’ she asked softly.
‘Do you wish you weren’t a MacTire wolf? ’
Hannah took a long moment before answering.
‘Not really, but sometimes I wonder about the road less travelled, about what some of the MacTires were doing before we joined up and if you can rub away the stains of what’s gone before.
I’m happy here but…’ Her eyes were sad. ‘What if everything changes again? Some of the things that happened here were truly despicable.’
‘I’ve seen nothing about the MacTire pack that suggests anything other than deep-seated camaraderie.’ Mallory hugged her briefly. ‘You can’t let the past steal your present, Hannah.’
The girl smiled faintly. ‘That sounds like something Alex would say.’
Something twanged deep in Mallory’s chest. ‘The easiest way to make sure your mother made the right decision for both of you is to make sure your voice is always heard.’
Hannah chewed a fingernail. ‘I thought about suggesting a monthly forum where the less powerful members of the pack could have their say.’
Mallory considered. ‘No, not monthly. For it to have substance, you need to meet more often than that. Make it weekly and divide it into two sections. Meet on your own first so everyone can talk freely, then for the last fifteen minutes invite Alex or Samantha or whoever so you can tell them your concerns.’
Her eyes widened. ‘That’s a good idea. Do you think he’d go for it?’
‘Why don’t you ask him and find out?’
Hannah had obviously taken her advice. When Mallory met Alexander later for another prep session, he told her Hannah had come by earlier with an idea for a forum to give the weaker members of the pack a chance to say what they were really thinking.
‘What do you think of it?’ Mallory asked.
‘It’s a great idea. I’ve been trying to think of ways to allow everyone’s voices to be heard and by coming to me with this proposal she’s already achieved that. Thank you for encouraging her,’ he said quietly.
It took some time before the glow inside her subsided, even when their conversation turned to the nitty-gritty of his forthcoming date.
They discussed what topics of conversation should be avoided, namely any mention of werewolf politics or past relationships, and what he wanted to ask Cathy about.
When he produced a list that included questions on her plans for the future, her strengths, weaknesses and how she would deal with pack conflict, Mallory had to persuade him that it wasn’t a job interview.
‘Keep it light-hearted and fun. It’s a first date,’ she told him firmly.
‘These are things I need to know,’ he argued. ‘I’m not looking for a roll in the hay, I want a life partner. And how do I keep things light-hearted and fun whilst also showing her that I’m vulnerable?’
‘Don’t put on an alpha facade.’
‘It’s not a facade!’
Mallory sighed. ‘This is making me want to gouge my eyes out with a spoon.’
Alexander raised his eyebrows. ‘Don’t do that. You’ll need your sight later to critique my appearance.’
‘I’m not the person to do that, Alexander.’ She gestured to herself. ‘I have frizzy hair and I wear patchwork clothes in bright colours while you…’ Her voice trailed away.
His expression turned studiously blank. ‘Me, what?’
‘You’re … you.’
‘What does that mean?’
She drew in a breath. ‘You never have a hair out of place, your stubble is designer and your clothes are professionally tailored in shades that complement your skin tone.’
‘You don’t like the way I look?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
He reached up and mussed his hair. ‘How about now?’
Mallory gave him an exasperated look, though his ruffled hair gave him a raffish air that only highlighted his handsome face.
When she saw him next, he was wearing a brightly coloured T-shirt with a rainbow unicorn emblazoned on its front. ‘Andrea bought it for me as a present a few years ago,’ he said smugly.
‘She bought it as a joke, right?’
‘Or because sparkles suit me.’
Mallory smiled serenely. ‘They do suit you. You should wear that on your date.’
His amber eyes danced. ‘Do you want me to fail?’
She clicked her tongue and didn’t let herself think about the question, not even for a moment.
Unsurprisingly, on the night of the date he dressed in a charcoal-grey suit and white shirt. ‘Well?’ he asked. ‘Do I pass muster?’
‘Absolutely. The colour suits you and a suit is an uncontroversial choice.’
‘You mean boring.’
‘I didn’t say boring and I didn’t mean boring.
It’s perfectly appropriate. You look great.
Now, remember everything we’ve talked about.
Don’t be afraid to ask Cathy on a second date or to invite her to be your companion for the Wolf Ball.
She could be the one for you. This could be the start of the rest of your life. ’
Alexander gave her a sideways look. ‘Too melodramatic?’ she asked.
‘Too cheesy.’
‘I love cheesy!’
‘I’m not even remotely surprised,’ he said drily. ‘Will you wait up so we can discuss how the date went when I get back?’
‘Sorry, Alex, I can’t stay any longer. Now that your date is actually happening, I’m going home. I’ve got work to do.’ Work which she’d been ignoring for far too long.
He frowned.
‘I have other clients.’ Mallory wondered why she felt a tad guilty about not being there for him later; after all, she’d already spent far more time with Alexander MacTire than she’d intended to.
‘The past few days have been great but I’ve been neglecting my business.
Besides,’ she added gently, ‘if things go well tonight, you don’t want me hanging around and cramping your style.
’ His frown deepened. ‘Cathy might get the wrong idea about us.’
Alexander’s eyes pierced her. ‘Why would she get any idea at all about us? What could make her think there’s something between me and you?’
‘Nothing,’ Mallory said. ‘There’s nothing. But all the same, it’s better if I’m out of the way.’
‘With your other clients.’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you stay at their houses, too?’
Mallory tightened her toes. ‘No. Not usually.’
He gazed at her for a long moment then dipped his head towards hers. ‘Mallory—’
‘The car’s here!’ Nick called from the door. ‘You look great, Uncle Sandy!’
Alexander stepped back. ‘I have repeatedly told you not to call me that, Nicholas.’
‘Yeah, yeah. Come on. If you don’t go now, you’ll be late.’
Alexander looked at Mallory. ‘He’s right,’ she murmured. ‘Have a great time. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. Cathy is an amazing woman – you’d be as lucky to have her as she’d be to have you.’
His eyes searched her face for another moment. ‘Yeah,’ he said finally. ‘I’ll come to your place tomorrow and let you know how it goes.’
She nodded. ‘You’ll have to tell me if my presence at the Wolf Ball is no longer required.’ She kept her tone light, but Alexander nodded soberly in return.
Seconds later, he was gone.