I remain mute for the rest of the drive hence the constant circles on my skin renders my brain useless to the point of not being able to form words. I try to speak as we pass the entrance of the Lazarus estate but no sound leaves my lips.
My silent question is answered as we zoom past the large walls to another gated land, this one 10 times smaller than the estate however, it is 3 times larger than most mansion compounds.
He honks at the tall black metal gates and it takes mere seconds for the object to slide to the left, giving space for the vehicle to enter. Steering inward, my mouth games in awe as the first thing my eyes meet is a water fountain that sits at the centre of the vast compound.
I spot the van that contains my belongings parked in front of a two story striking edifice, the same men of earlier offloading the objects. Two tall and well crafted white pillars standing strong and imposing as the house is built in the most modern state of the art architectural design.
Floor to ceiling glass windows reflect our forms as he cuts the engine and unlocks the car for me to step out. Nicholas alights after me and I cover the bumper of the GLK to meet him a few feet away from the veranda of the white painted building.
"I can't believe my man is back for good," A blonde haired man appears from the entrance doors, brown eyes shining, straight nose between nice cheekbones and lips stretched in a welcoming smile. "Come here."
He is adorned in a loose fitting black shirt that shows his lean figure above a pair of jeans and white sneakers. As he approaches, I notice a hint of resemblance, nevertheless it is something I find myself unsure of.
"Will it be a sin to show some respect to your senior cousin and Alpha of your pack?" Nicholas implores as he dodges the man who charges at him with a goofy expression and arms spread wide for a hug. "Don't come close to me."
"You know I won't let you be till I have my hug Nick," the man conveys as he pursues Nicholas who strives to hide the smile peeking at his lips.
"You also know I hate public displays of affection, Jazreal," Nicholas growls at whom I now know his name as he jumps away from an attempt to tackle him.
"Well you have to suck it up like you always do," Jazreal counters and halts his movements. I have to hold in a laugh as I watch the grown man put his hands on hips and tap his foot like some impatient mom waiting to spank her child.
"Why do you look like a mom right now?" Nicholas asks in a frown, blurting the words that sat in my head.
"You know this will end with you succumbing," Jazreal tilts his head to the side. "So why don't we end this now with you accepting my arms?"
I marvel as Nicholas comes across to be pondering the words of the blonde man. I'm more shocked as he proceeds to nod and ready himself as he says. "Okay, but only to the count of five."
"Enough time for me," Jazreal beams and the next second, he has a grumpy Nicholas wrapped in his embrace. Despite the reluctant expression he is portraying, I see warmth in his eyes as I observe his body relax.
"5, 4, 3, 2," Nicholas counts. "1, that's enough."
"Now that's out of the way," Jazreal grins as he is pushed away by a scowling Nicholas and turns to me. "Can I be introduced to this exceptional looking woman here?"
"Lisa, meet my cousin and pain in the ass Jazreal," Nicholas introduces and grunts as I am roughly snatched into one of Jazreal's hugs. "He is my best friend and beta."
"Jazreal," he calls between his teeth as his cousin still has me trapped. As if burned I am swiftly released and he breathes a sigh as he goes on to say. "This is Lisa Violet Dayle, my mate and future Luna of this pack."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Jazreal." I stretch my fingers toward Jazreal for a shake but get turned down.
"We don't need that after our hugger section," he waves me off. "Also call me J, I find Jazreal a mouthful."
"Okay," I offer a smile.
"You can call him Nick too," Jazreal suggests and lifts a brow at Nicholas. "I think aside from me, you are the only one permitted to call him that, am I wrong Nick?"
"No, you are not," Nicholas agrees to my surprise. "Nick is fine from that pretty mouth of yours, though I'll prefer you moaning Nicholas when I have you in bed."
"Again with the sexual innuendos." Jazreal rolls his eyes at his cousin who proceeds to smirk at me as my cheeks go flush in response to his statement.
"What?" He raises a brow at Jazreal. "She's my mate, it's only fair I let her know how she'll scream my name when I'm fucking her insides up."
"Uhh I can't deal with you hormonal teenager," Jazreal scoffs and abandons us to walk in the path of the wide wooden doors. He seems to have noticed our lack of movement hence he turns and cocks his head. "Aren't you tired of standing out there?"
"One will think it's your house and we are your visitors," Nicholas, who I'm permitted to now call Nick, mutters under his breath, shaking his head.
"Well technically it's my house," Jazreal shrugs and pushes the barrier inward as we walk behind him. My feet meet shiny black marble tiles as the first room we enter is the supposed living room.
A massive fireplace is at the left end of the maroon coloured wall, a sparkly white piano facing it, a bookshelf to its right that contain what comes off as ancient books from their worn out covers and a rocky chair beside the window.
In front of me is an empty space that leads to the staircase behind the longest blue leather covered couch that sits between two matching coloured smaller ones. A glass table is situated at the centre with gold rimmed legs.
a 72 inch screen TV is pinned on the wall facing the plush cushions with suitable sound systems below it. The grandfather clock above the TV is in the same gold-rimmed style as the foot of the table, couches, and stair rail.
Everything my vision touches screams class, taste and riches, my feet seem to be rooted to my spot as my eyes try to drink in everything. From what I can see I can tell the whole floor is taken over by the living room.
"How is it your house?" Nicholas asks in reply to Jazreal's earlier statement. "I own the land, plus I single handedly designed every inch of it, so how is it yours?"
"You can't call a house you abandoned and rarely visit yours," Jazreal counters, their conversation enough to make me tear away my attention from the objects before me to them. "I'm the one who keeps it running and safe from invasion and imminent collapse."
"In-invasion?" I inquire in slight confusion.
"Oh, about that you see Nic--"
"I'll fill her in about the situation in time," Nicholas cuts him off and my curiosity is stirred. I open my mouth to ask but he interrupts. "Patience hun."
"I've been told the patient dog eats the fattest bone so you're good," Jazreal says in an attempt to assure me I'll definitely get the full gist later on.
"Alpha, Luna," two women appear from a corner dressed in aprons, one older and the other looking about my age, however judging by the fact they are all werewolves it's hard to guess their ages.
"Lisa, meet Olivia," he points at the brunette haired older woman, she is spotting a flower patterned brown dress beneath her apron. "She's like a mother to me."
"Pleased to meet you Olivia." I walk to grab her hand in greeting as I feel a warmth from her grey eyes and wide smile. She is a bit on the plumpy side and a few inches shorter than me.
"Next is her daughter Charlotte, and your personal maid," he introduces the other female with sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, pucker lips and cute cheekbones. She is clad in jeans and a blue blouse.
"You are beautiful Char," I utter in greeting, not hiding the truth. "Can I call you that?"
"You can call me anything Luna," she beams in delight, her cheeks staining pink. "And you are more beautiful."
"Glad that's settled," Nicholas blurts and turns to me, "you can get settled, I'm sure your meal is ready, right Olivia?"
"Yes Alpha," Olivia answers. "You can sit on the couch, we'll bring your food."
"Is there no dining area?" I implore you to do nothing. "I can eat in the kitchen too."
"Guess you need to bring out the furniture from the attic," Jazreal conversed and Nicholas nodded. "You now have someone to sit with."
"Yes," he murmurs absentmindedly, an unknown emotion entering his eyes. "Now I do."