CHAPTER 12
Justice
MY HEART ACHED AS I descended the steps early the next morning. I knew leaving would be difficult, but something internally was roaring desperately for me not to go. I’d packed the few things I’d acquired into one of Seuss’ bags to make traveling easier plus a few of his t-shirts. Consider it payment. I rounded the corner to see Augusto leaning against the wall.
“Want to go for a walk?” He was way too comfortable in here.
“No, actually, I was on my way out.” I squinted my eyes at him trying to figure out how he’d gotten in.
“Yes, let’s walk.” Augusto turned and walked out of the house, and I sighed following him.
Once we were outside he turned toward me and examined me closer in the dawn’s light. “Why hasn’t he claimed you?”
“Eh …” I stuttered. What kind of question was that?! I wanted to yell at him for bringing my insecurities present. I wanted to kick him, hard!
“You are his mate, yes?” Augusto studied my features.
“I don’t know …” I hated to admit it to myself let alone another person. Especially Augusto. Why were we examining this again when I should be leaving? I shouldn’t be having this conversation! I wanted to believe that I was, but Seuss was able to walk away from me so easily. Maybe I wasn’t his mate.
“But you helped to heal him,” Augusto said.
And I’d done that through the bond that we had because of the way that he’d saved me? I knew there was magic involved. Maybe it created a link between us of some sort?
“How would he have saved you with the mate healing spell if you weren’t his true mate?” Augusto asked.
I looked up toward the window that I knew was Seuss’ room. He’d used a spell?
“A mate spell. Risking his own life in the process,” Augusto responded.
Maybe Alice had something to do with it.
“Alice isn’t as strong of a healer as Seuss can be for his mate.” Augusto nodded his head reassuring me of his answer.
“But …” That’s when it hit me. “Who in the hell gave you permission to read my thoughts?!”
Augusto laughed. He held up a vial that held a few strands of hair. I didn’t need to look closely to know that they were mine.
“Where’d you get that?” I knew the answer immediately. That night when he’d pulled my hair.
“As the former Alpha, it benefited me to have my own resources. I can always tell ill intent by taking a few strands of someone’s hair. Call it my gift. If I put forth the right energy for the right reasons I can also read their minds. It’s draining so I don’t do it often.”
“Why did you today?”
“You glowed.” He spoke so matter of fact that it made me feel as if I’d missed something.
“I … glowed?”
“Ill intent makes the vial glow. You … glowed.”
“I have no ill intent. I only wish to go home.” If that was ill so be it.
“And what of the Alpha?” He raised his head higher than mine as if to prove a point.
I stood my ground not backing away. “What about him?”
“Is he well? What will he do about a mate? What about the mating fever? The future heirs to the throne?”
“I’m sure that he’ll figure it out.” I moved to walk around Augusto, and he cut me off by sidestepping to his left.
“I have a better idea. You promised me a meal. I’d like for that to be today.”
“Today!” I exclaimed.
“Yes.”
I sighed and looked back at the Alpha House. I really didn’t want to spend another day in there. “Can’t this wait until a different day?”
“I’m sure that if you leave, you won’t be back. May as well settle this today. Don’t worry, you can use my kitchen,” Augusto smiled knowingly.
I huffed and tried to think of a way out. I’d expressed that to him at the meeting but never expected him to cash it in. This was not happening. Plus, I didn’t trust him. His threat to Seuss wasn’t forgotten.
“One meal and we’re even. You’ll be free to go,” Augusto said.
“One meal?” I asked for confirmation.
“One meal.” But why did it feel like I was signing a deal with the devil?
Augusto smiled. I snatched the vial of hair from him, and he laughed. “Feisty. I like you.”
He turned, and I followed him off the property to the smaller estate. If he was up to something, there was only one way to find out what it was.
***
Next time, I’ll ask better questions. The meal he wanted me to prepare was dinner. We spent the day getting to know one another. He showed me into a room that he called The Family Room. There were so many pictures of his beautiful wife. Something about her seemed so familiar. I looked around at more photos before I saw a picture of three teenaged boys sitting around the happy Alpha couple. There was one intense gaze that I couldn’t ignore. One that pulled at me so intensely that my heartbeat accelerated.
“Seuss.”
“Yes, my strong-willed son.” Augusto looked over my shoulder at the picture with proudness beaming from him.
“I—I feel idiotic for not realizing the resemblance.” I turned toward him feeling horrible for not knowing.
In the picture, without the facial hair, I could see how striking the kindship was. Seuss was the perfect blend of his mother and father, but this photo put things into perspective. Seuss was the younger version of his father, but I could see the man that he would grow into. A seasoned Seuss would be no fret.
“No one told you?” Augusto seemed hurt by the neglected information.
“Wait, you’re trying to challenge your son for the throne!” I exclaimed.
“No.” Augusto laughed. “There’s talk of a rebellion. Making myself known means that they’d have to fight me, too. I’m no spring chicken, but I’d flatten anyone that tried to harm my son.”
Could I trust him? I sighed, torn. “Most of the conversation directed to me has been about making Seuss better. I haven’t heard anything about any of his family.” I hoped that the information would soothe his concerns and the frown lines in his forehead.
“But he shifted?” The concern was evident in his tone.
“Yes.”
“Then all will be alright.” Augusto physically relaxed.
“Pop!” The deep baritone startled me and held my chest trying to relax. I turned toward the voice to see a man that towered over me. Fuck if he didn’t make me feel small. The room seemed to shrink with both men crowding in.
“Auggie, meet Justice. She’s Seuss’ mate.”
“The growler finally found somebody to handle all of that brooding that he does?” Auggie hugged me but then his body stiffened, and he backed away. He combed his hand through his hair and took another step back.
“Did I do something?” I inquired. I didn’t like the look on his face.
Auggie shook his head quickly and then exited the room. I turned toward Augusto and a clouded expression passed over his face before he could school his features. “Auggie has special abilities. Don’t worry about it. He just needs a minute.”
I nodded afraid to ask what he felt or saw. Did I do something? What was going on? What vibe was he getting? Thoughts passed rapidly through my mind and Augusto stood in front of me slamming the door shut on my thoughts. His abrupt movement made me focus on him instead of the other things.
“Let’s get you acclimated with the kitchen, shall we? I can’t wait to have some of those wings.”
I smiled uneasily. So that’s why we were waiting until dinner. I followed him to the kitchen while pinning up my hair as I walked. Apparently, the other brother, Alec heard that I was here and making dinner. He was headed over to enjoy dinner as well.
One thing that I noticed was that wolves had much bigger appetites, especially when it came to meat. I made a list of the things that I’d need to make this meal, leaving more than enough to spare. Dinner was completed in time for me to make some delicious, melt in your mouth lemon sugar cookies.
When I pulled the last bit from the oven, dizziness swept over me and I held on to the oven door for support. The room seemed to whiz around me while whirling so quickly that I thought the floor would swallow me whole.
“Justice!” I felt strong arms sweep me from my feet, and though I wished it were Seuss, the scent was all wrong. I’d heard that voice before, though. I buried my face into his shoulder and held on tightly. He walked, and I wasn’t sure where he was taking me until I heard the loudest growl.
“Seuss. Calm the fuck down. She was about to faint,” the man carrying me said.
“Put … her … down …” Seuss roared.
I tried to look over at him, but the head movement was enough to send the room spinning in a different direction. I wanted to reach for my head, but I was afraid to move any more of my body. I groaned in pain wanting it to go away.
“Give me a minute for fuck’s sake. I’m not going to hurt her. What in the hell is his problem?”
Mumbling and arguing happened around me. The only thing that registered was Augusto’s statement. “They’re not fully mated yet.”
The male carrying me tensed noticeably. “Fuck!”
He sat me down into a chair and moved away. I leaned my head on the chair wishing for something to make the dizzy spell and approaching headache disappear. Cool hands caressed my forehead and I leaned into it. It provided temporary sanctuary before pressure increased and then decreased in my head. Nausea set in, but the coolness kept it at bay. The pressure began again and then decreased until my headache disappeared into nothingness. I felt lightheaded at first, but then that was soothed as well. Then all I smelled was spicy wolf. As much as I hated it, it felt good for Seuss to heal me. I leaned forward and kissed him quickly.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I opened my eyes to see his glowing back at me. He was striking.
“Glad you’re feeling better.” He removed his hands slowly and I remained steady.
“What are you doing here?”
“My father felt the need to invite his sons to dinner. Now I know why.” He scoffed.
“Because he wanted to boast?”
“No. because you’re here.” Seuss seemed annoyed.
“I’m glad that you’re happy to see me.” I stood pushing him out of the way and headed into the kitchen. “Can you guys help me bring the food into the dining room?” I yelled over my shoulder.
I heard one set of footsteps headed my way and silence behind me. No one was going to challenge Seuss, and he was headed into the kitchen where I was in charge. We didn’t talk at all, but I didn’t miss the way he watched me move about, and the way that his fingers caressed mine when I handed him dishes to carry. What game was he playing? If he wasn’t going to be my mate then the funny business needed to end, too. There would be no more intimate sessions between us.
“Let’s eat,” Augusto announced from the head of the table.
Alec and Auggie sat on one side and Seuss and I on the other. There was a lot of small talk, but I remained quiet. I listened as the brothers talked about their childhood and teased one another. I excused myself to the bathroom.
I looked in the mirror to see a lovestruck girl staring back at me. I hated to admit that I was in love with Seuss, but it was the truth. He’d had plenty of opportunity to claim me and had chosen otherwise.
There were so many thoughts racing through my mind. I’d pushed the information about my biological parents aside. I still missed my adoptive parents. And I really wanted to see Ms. Sandy. I needed to go home and find my peace. Being around Seuss was too much. Knowing that I meant nothing to him wasn’t something that I could deal with. It was time to go.
When I exited the bathroom, the men were still carrying on. I picked up my bag and slipped out the front door. They were none the wiser as I made my way home.