Phoenix pulled to a stop behind a massive, beautiful, wrought iron gate. Looking to her left at an adorably tiny security cottage, she saw the wolf making his way to her. She rolled down the window with a smile. Tall and good looking, he couldn't be more than twenty. But to be at this post he had to be a great warrior. He was the first line of defense and if he failed, he needed to have the skill to stay alive long enough to warn the others. She'd always had a deep respect for the ones who did this lonely, boring, dangerous job. His eyebrows rose as he took her in, seeing the respect in her gaze, but not understanding. She knew with the spell she lived under constantly, to any werewolf delta blood and below, she looked, smelled, and felt human. So why would a human respect what in their world was just another minimum wage job?
Still, the respect had his eyes softening. "Can I help you?"
She smiled, "I'm here to see Mr. Belcourt, please."
"Is he expecting you?"
"No."
He looked regretful. "Then I'm sorry, but he is very busy right now, maybe he'll be able to see you sometime next week if you call and make an appointment..."
She slowly held up her right hand and allowed the light to fall on the gold and topaz ring she had earned a few years ago by saving some foolish Bell Moon boys from a Rogue-owned night club. "I really need to see him right now." Glad she had some gold ones. A platinum one would be hard to explain.
His eyes widened and then went blank. She waited patiently as he mind linked for permission to allow her to enter. Turning, he pressed a button. "I can't guarantee that the Alp... Um. Mr. Belcourt himself will see you, as I said, he's extremely busy, but you'll be seen by his second in command, which should work just as well."
She thanked him and rolled through the entrance. The shock of crossing over the boundary line thrummed through her and her hands tightened to white on the steering wheel. But she was able to keep her face composed and sped up once the shock was over.
She looked at the passing scenery with wonder and when she pulled up in front of the Packhouse she could see why the Lunar Craters would hate this pack enough to kidnap an Alpha's son. The whole place screamed of privilege, old money, and even older power. For the Lunar Craters who clawed their way up, this place must be a constant reminder of what they truly were. Mongrels in rhinestone collars.
She reached over and held her hand over the basket Lorenzo was in. He lay asleep under a soft spell, one that also blocked anyone from smelling or sensing him, but would break when the basket was opened.
The spell was still in place. She might be being paranoid, but someone had walked off with him. And until she made it to his Daddy, or aunt, she thought with a smile, no one could or would know she had him.
She was escorted to a large office and, walking in, set the basket on the floor below one of the chairs before turning to examine the Beta. Tall, muscle bound, with dark brown hair, and sharp grey eyes, he was watching her narrowly. "What can I do for you, Rogue?"
She didn't deny it. His blood could sense her wolf and while she still didn't have a scent or strong power level to him, there was also no aura of belonging to a pack either. "I need to speak to your Alpha."
"He's busy. Whatever you have to say you can say to me."
"It won't take long."
"He's busy."
"Then I'll wait." She smiled at him impishly and settled in the chair above the basket. Now, to find his week spots.
The first to come in mind was the fact that he hadn't physically set her from the room, even though it was very apparent that he wanted to. Examining the office, she quickly found a few more.
Sending him a true apology in her mind, she began tapping her heel on one of the legs of the chair in a constant rhythmic noise. She was immediately rewarded. Watching, from the corner of her eye, him stiffend and turned to stare at her. She continued to examine the painting across from her, but added a random hum, with just enough length to get what the song was across, but never finishing it.
The poor man didn't last five minute. Standing abruptly, he stalked to a different door from the one she'd entered, closing it with a restrained violence behind himself. She hoped that would do it. Because she still had more, slightly more evil, ways to get to see the Alpha if it didn't.
***
André snapped his wondering mind back onto the work at hand. It had been over a week since Lorenzo was kidnapped and he had been hunting for him. Over a week of Yvonne in a coma.
Unfortunately, the pack was a giant machine that needed the Alpha and Luna to keep it running. And after a week, he'd had to return to work to fix a few glitches. His men were still out there, but he was behind his desk trying to catch up. A week. He closed his eyes in pain before reading another report and signing off on the request for more funding for the children's wing of the hospital.
Theo abruptly stepped into his office, closed the door with purpose, and stood staring at it for a second or two before turning to look at him.
"A weak female rogue wearing a gold and topaz ring is requesting an audience with you. There are eight rings of that combination in circulation, but she won't talk to me."
André took a deep breath and shook his head, "I can't right now. I have more important business that needs my attention. Tell her I have complete confidence in you and have her tell you."
For a minute Theo looked like he was going to say something else, but instead nodded and left.
André dismissed them from his mind and went back to work. He'd finished another report and was half way through the next when Theo burst back through his door. His faced flushed, hair messy, and eyes a little wild.
André's own eyes widened. "Theo?"
"She won't stop touching my things." Theo burst out, then flushed even deeper, "She says she's trying to help and keeps moving things around. She still won't talk to me and I know your busy, but since she's showed up, I've read the same sentence eighty times. At this rate you'll have to do my work, as well. So please. I'm begging you. Talk to her."
André realized that his mouth was actually hanging open and closed it with a snap. He had never before seen his Beta this flustered. He had to know what she was doing.
"I want to observe her actions before talking to her."
Theo nodded and turning to the door, straightened his shoulders before exiting. André quickly went to the spy hole and opening it, watched as a tiny female tried to wrestle Theo's desk from him because "It is in the wrong position to promote health and luck."
André tighten his jaw to stop from laughing and walked back to sit behind his desk. "Send her in," he mind linked Theo and felt Theo's relief.
She walked through the door with a big smile on her face and carrying a large basket. She was a tiny little thing. Long brown hair, pulled back on either side of her face, fell in thick chestnut waves down her back. Small ears where pearls dangled. Large eyes surrounded with long eyelashes set under arched brows looked down at the basket. A small nose and tilted red lips made for a lovely face. A chain disappeared beneath the neckline of a blue dress that had a darker ribbon under her small, but perfect bust, then fell straight down, showing off her shape in soft outlines: a small waist, round hips, the dress stopping midcalf accenting killer legs, and tiny feet in dark blue flats. On her right hand was a gold signet ring glittering with topaz.
Definitely a rogue with minimal power. His wolf didn't like her lack of scent. Or rather, almost lack of scent. It was there, but so elusive it was like a memory of a really good scent. You couldn't quite smell it, but you wanted to.
She set the basket on one of the two chairs in front of his desk and took the other. Her feet did not touch the floor. He smothered a smile at that.
"You have come to claim help in exchange for your ring? First, I will need to know the number on the inner band. And then..."
He stopped when he noticed she was shaking her head. "I only used the ring to get to see you. I don't need help." She hopped down from the chair and he stood as well, unsure of what she thought to do. "I'm here to help you." She hefted the basket onto his desk and opened it. "Or rather I've already helped you."
André grasped the desk to steady himself as Lorenzo sat up with a smile, holding his arms out to be picked up, and his smell filled the office. His hand shaking, André reached out to touch him, fearing this was a dream. Real warm flesh. He gathered him close and breathed him in. Feeling tears fill his eyes and shaking harder, he tried to calm his wolf, letting his son's warmth and smell soak into his senses. Eventually he was able to regain control and he looked over at her. She was smiling at Lorenzo with what looked like love and pride. Noticing his eyes on her, her smile grew to include him.
"I'm so sorry it took me so long to find you. I've been trying since I found him in the forest. But there was no gossip about someone losing a pup. I drove right here as soon as I realized who he belonged to."
"Thank you."
She nodded.
He began to laugh and, lifting Lorenzo above his head, spun as the baby giggled. "Theo!"
Theo burst through the door with a fierce expression that turned into shocked joy.
She smiled even bigger. "I'm sorry about the tactics I used to get into see your Alpha. I hope you can forgive me and I promise never to touch your stuff again."
Theo stared at her in shock. "You knew that?"
"Yes."
"And you'll never."
"Ever again."
"Since you brought Lorenzo back."
"Good."
André stared at them, they spoke on a different level, like they'd know each other forever and finishing the other's sentences was common place. What was more odd was that they didn't seem to realize they'd done it. He cleared his throat, feeling jealous.
"Please tell us all."