Truths Collide (WolfGirl 2)

Chapter 6: Brothers

(Scarlet James)

Tristan reaches into the back of the car and brings forth a bottle of wine and we're ready to head inside. When I step out of the car, I immediately notice Keith's Jeep and my Mom's BMW. There are a lot of other cars outside the Asher manor too.

Tristan comes around and holds out his arm for me to take before we walk up the pathway to the big double doors. As we wait for someone to open them, I ask him, "Does your home in Seattle look like this?"

He lets out a laugh. It's the first time I've heard him laugh since he's been home. The corners of his eyes wrinkle slightly from his chuckle as he shakes his head, "God, no. I didn't get far away from this place to live in a home that looks like it."

I don't know how to respond to that, and luckily I don't have to, because Diana opens the door for us, filling our ears with music and chatter. She sees the wine bottle in Tristan's hands, and goes for it.

"This is just what I needed," she takes it before we can even step foot into the house. She barely acknowledges us, which I'm not surprised about. While the Asher brothers and I have always been close, I never had that kind of relationship with Diana. As children, we never got along. I used to feel as though I was always walking on eggshells around Diana and frankly, I got tired of it. I still remember freshman year when Diana was the captain of the varsity cheer team, making my life a living hell. No, that stuff does not just happen in movies.

Tristan closes the door behind me before taking us into the living room where everyone is gathered. Anna finds me automatically and rushes over, "Yay! You came!"

"I couldn't let you enjoy all the food yourself," I wink at her, before I catch Caius on the opposite side of the room, talking lowly with a hot, tall, brunette. My heart starts racing and my hand on Tristan's arm must've tightened its grip because, he eases it and follows my gaze.

Anna has left to find us drinks, so Tristan leans in and whispers to me, "I didn't know she'd be here."

I shake my head, "She's his girlfriend, she should be here," I look away before either of them can see us watching.

"You're here!" Bethany exclaims, catching everyone's attention in the room as she comes to hug Tristan and me.

"Didn't know we had an option," Tristan says with a mock frown.

"Oh shush," she dismisses him with a wave of her hand, and tells everyone, "Dinner's almost ready, so meet and greet people. The Elders are dying to see you."

"I'm sure they are," Tristan mumbles as he rolls down his sleeves. I'll have to remember to ask him about the tattoos another time.

There are seven leading families in our Pack. Tristan leads us to a group of older men, sitting on the couches, smoking cigars and drinking scotch. My dad is among those men.

"Ah, Tristan, about time you showed with your new mate," Anna's father, Sheriff Cox, smiles at us, "Scarlet, congratulations on your transformation. I'm sorry you didn't get your first hunt in last night."

"Thank you, Austin," I smile back at him. I wonder if they can see through our little charade. Who here knows the truth about Tristan and me, beside Caius?

"Yes, we sure do have a beautiful addition to our family," Johnathan grins at me, charmingly. He's still quite beautiful for a man his age. It's blatantly obvious where the Asher brothers get their genes from, and not to mention Bethany is gorgeous too.

Seeing Tristan and Johnathan, I do have to say, I see more Bethany in him than I do Johnathan. Caius is a mirror image of his father, but while the two of them are loud and in the spotlight, Tristan's like his mother, reserved and on the down low. Yes, he his rich and famous but there are very limited press on Tristan out there in the public. He's always loved his privacy.