He hurried across the room to his desk and settling behind it, reached for his phone.
"What's happening?" Luc whispered with a twinkle.
"He's apparently calling for help." Yvonne giggled. Tom, busy researching laws, looked up with a smile. Theo, reading a report, shook his head. Luc hurried to the desk and perched on the corner.
Yvonne settled into one of the chairs.
The listened to the other line ring.
"Hello?" Yvonne's eyes widened as Charlie's voice sounded on the other line. Phoenix's shared memories flooding her brain. She felt pride glow in her heart. Her brother.
"Hello, Charlie."
"André. I didn't except to hear from you so soon. Are the battle plans ready? Freddy found no Craters here, by the way."
"That's good. I was actually calling to talk to your mate, Charlie."
"Ivan? Why?"
"A few questions about how to be a laid back and sensitive mate myself."
"Oh, André." Charlie sounded sad. "Okay. I've called him. Just give her time. She's worth it."
"I know she is. I just don't want to make avoidable mistakes."
"Here's Ivan."
"Hello, Alpha Belcourt."
"I return the greeting, but I don't believe I got your last name."
A deep laugh sounded. "Ivan's fine. We haven't decided on what our last name will be. Two ruling Alpha's mated is rather unheard of. I have volunteered to change mine since I'm on her lands, but she's being stubborn about it. We were going to ask Phoenix the next time we saw her."
"Then please, call me André."
"Sounds good. What can I do for you, André?"
"Explain the hesitation. How'd you know what it meant?"
"Charlie wants to give me all this credit for being sensitive. But the truth is, Lily's my cousin."
André shared confused looks with his siblings.
"The first true mate to be claimed? By Beta Smithson?"
"Yes. I asked her, a long time ago, why she started crying when he offered her his hand. She told me about the doubts. So when Charlie stared at my hand I had a good idea what was happening. I was tempted to touch her cheek like Lily's Beta had done. But that felt like cheating. And I wanted her to choose me."
"Phoenix said the doubts go away with our touch, do they?"
"Yes. And Lily swears hers have never come back. But the thing is, I asked her Beta. He says that while they never overwhelm her, they do come back. When he wasn't chosen for the first beta post he applied to, she began to cry, certain it was because of her. So I asked Charlie what ran through her mind. Trying to get a better handle on her feelings. And let me tell you, if I am the most 'sensitive' male she's ever met, she is the most forthright male, female, human, or werewolf I've ever met. She gave me every doubt in detail. From the ones about her past choices to how she knew taking my hand was giving up freedom of being a sole Alpha. I doubt Phoenix will be as forthcoming. Or anyone really. But Phoenix, definitely not. I am lucky in my mate's bluntness. Still. it never hurts to ask. Give her time. She did choose to take your hand. Remember that when you get frustrated."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Give Phoenix our best."
"I will." André slowly lowered the phone.
"She felt doubts?" Luc had gone pale.
André nodded. "But not about you. They were doubts about herself. From what I can gather. Other than us offering our hands, we contribute very little to the them."
Luc sighed. "She can't be a New Yorker with a mate and pack."
"No. But she took your hand."
"I hope she never regrets it."
"So do I."
Yvonne shook her head. "They won't. They took your hands when the doubts were the nastiest. From now on that part is smooth sailing. Just don't mess up the other aspects of it and you'll both be fine."
***
Phoenix knocked softly on Eevi's bathroom door and entered at her call. Eevi, drowning is a green robe, was applying bright red lipstick. Her eyes already done in a cat look and her brows darkened. Their gazes met in the mirror and she smiled. "You look nice."
Phoenix shifted her attention to study herself. She had blown her hair dry and pulled it back from her face, before letting it fall free. Subtle mascara and eyeliner made her eyes look huge and a tiny bit of stain defined her lips. She was in a teal halter dress that showed off all of her back and stopped at her knees. Teal flats, white gold hoop earrings and his ring on her finger. She nodded. She did look good.
"What are you going to wear?"
"My red..."
"Of course."
Eevi grinned back at her. "At least you were in something cute when you first met him."
"Believe it or not, you looked adorable."
"I'm too tall to be adorable."
"Nah. Just like I'm not too short to be hot. We both can pull off a variety of looks."
"I don't want to disappoint, but if that's what you're going for ..."
Phoenix shook her head, "I don't think he's ready for hot."
"With all he's been through, it could kill him."
Phoenix laughed before turning serious eyes to watch Eevi start on her hair. "He's going to want you to unlock it."
"You did let him know it was locked."
"I like that people,"
"Wolves."
"underestimate me."
"It's your decision. You're my Alpha. Not him. I take orders from you. Even when I don't like them." Eevi gave up and let her golden ringlets fall as they would.
"As a good Beta should." Phoenix grinned.
They moved into the bedroom so Eevi could change.
Phoenix sat on the bed, her thoughts a million miles away. To a different time. "I did do well by my pack, didn't I?" she whispered after a long silence, still staring into the past.
"Phoenix. You saved us all that night." Eevi turned to look at her. In red lace underwear. A blood red dress in her hand.
Phoenix finally came back as her brown gaze snapped to Eevi's gold. "Except for our fathers."
"No one could have saved them. They would be proud of you."
"I might have saved all the rest. But I changed both of us that night."
Eevi pulled on stocking. "I quite enjoy being a sorceress."
Phoenix gave her a wry smile.
"And you settled the others well. They're all happy. You are the one that got the worst end of the deal."
Phoenix shrugged. "As it should be." She jumped off the bed. Turning, she picked up a long, navy cardigan with pocket and big black buttons, pulled it on and buttoned the middle button. "And it looks like the Moon Goddess is pleased with both of us. If our mates are anything to go by. Can you half unlock it? Let people know I'm an Alpha blood, but not the truth in total?"
Eevi, smoothing the other thigh-high stocking down, paused to pull a large leather bound book out of a bag and began flipping through it. Stopping on the page she was seeking, she nodded, "easily, but it's a new spell, I will have to cancel the other."
"Tell me what you need while you get that dress on. I can practically feel their impatience."
Eevi continued to dress while she read out the ingredients to Phoenix. Straightening her shoulders she asked. "Well?"
Phoenix looked up and her eyes widened. The dress clung to every curve and ended tight just below the knees. With a low princess neckline that a single ruby pendent rested tauntingly above. Rubies also glittered on her ears.
"Going for killing him, I see." Phoenix grinned.
"I think he can take it."
Phoenix's smiled faded. "You paused. Even knowing he'd offer his hand. Were they bad?"
"The doubts?" Eevi shrugged. "Yes. Were yours?"
"Excruciatingly."
"Do they stay away?"
"Yes. Shall we join them?" Phoenix stood with a small bag.
Eevi nodded and took a quick picture of the page she'd need with her phone. "Lets."