The Contrary Mate

2 Jack

I was only home for a few minutes when my guests finally arrived. I'd met my business partner's mate a few months ago at a conference we spoke at, but neither of them had ever been to my new home. Vander was looking around with a half-amused smile on his face. His pretty mate Kylie was looking around with wide green eyes.

Another young woman from the Lightwood pack had come with them. According to Kylie she was twenty-one and was going to help babysit, but was actually just hoping to find her mate if she tagged along with them. She was cute with her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail and was carrying my friend's infant on her hip with an expression similar to Kylie's.

I let my gaze linger over her for a long moment, but my wolf was completely disinterested. I mentally shook off my disappointment and turned my focus back to my friend's words.

"Seems a step up from the garage," Vander commented. I just laughed at his wry expression since it felt like old times. He had retreated after my sister's death—everyone had mourned her greatly—and it was good to see Kylie bringing him out of the misery he had sunk into.

"Your home is beautiful," she said, still sweeping her eyes over the wide staircase, the fancy light fixtures, and decorative features.

"I can't take much credit. Lenora hired me a decorator after I bought the place. I just pointed to the simplest options he presented."

"Well, I still feel totally out of place," she commented, glancing at Vander. "Could I maybe skip tonight?"

Vander wrapped his arm around her. It was touching, although my wolf felt another pang that we hadn't found her yet.

"You don't have to worry, Kylie. You'll look great and will fit right in," I told her.

Vander shot me a teasing jealous expression before speaking to his mate. "He is right, you'll outshine them all. And I'd hate to miss the chance to see you dressed up, I've been looking forward to it for so long. And it'll be a night off from Nadia..."

She smiled at him. "Well, you do sell it pretty well."

I winked at her. "And I'll be there, too, and so will Lenora. You haven't met my secretary yet, but I promise you that she's a force to be reckoned with. If anyone dares snub my friends in her presence, I pity them."

Vander nodded solemnly. "Lenora is a force of nature."

She smiled at me and then shot Vander an affectionate expression that stabbed so sweetly. She had been nervous the first time she met me, clearly worried that I would hate her as if she were replacing Darlene. She had no need to. How could I hold her bond with Vander against her, when Darlene would have smacked me upside the head for it? She wouldn't have wanted to watch Vander sink into despair, and if his second chance pulled him out, she would have welcomed it.

Vander had blamed himself for Darlene's death, but it hadn't been his fault any more than anyone else's. It was a horrible tragic accident that no one could have predicted, and if he had been there he would have as likely died as my sister. Of course I wished Darlene hadn't died, but there was no technology that could turn back time.

Fred showed up, reminding me that we had places to be. "But first, Fredrick will show your rooms." They followed him as he took them off to the guest rooms.

Fred had been playing the butler for me for months now, and he was doing a good job of it. I found the formality he now insisted on jarring—I'd known him as Fred since we were kids—but since he had agreed to do the job I left it to him. All my staff were pack wolves other than a few vampires in security. Having no mundane humans on the premises made keeping our natures secret from humans that much easier. It wasn't that I had a problem with humans, I just didn't want myself and my pack mates to have to be constantly on guard when we were at home.