A Mate For Christmas

Chapter3

When Evie woke, she was in a moving car. Soft leather seats. Classical music playing quietly. The smell of pine and something wild.

She sat up with a gasp. Gideon sat beside her, watching her with concern. He had changed his shirt. The blood was gone.

"Easy," he said softly. "You fainted."

"That man," Evie said. Her voice shook. "That wolf. It turned into a man."

"Yes."

"That is impossible."

"Many impossible things are real," Gideon said.

Evie pressed herself against the car door, as far from him as she could get. "What are you?"

"I think you already know," Gideon said quietly.

"No. No, that is crazy. Werewolves are not real. They are stories. Movies. Halloween costumes."

"They are real," Gideon said. "And those wolves who attacked that woman? They were rogues. Werewolves who have rejected pack law and hunt humans for sport. I have been tracking them for weeks."

Evie laughed. It sounded hysterical even to her own ears. "This is insane. I am losing my mind."

"You are not," Gideon assured her. "Everything you saw was real. And I am sorry you had to see it like that. I wanted to tell you properly. To ease you into it."

"Into what? Into the fact that you think you are a werewolf?"

"I do not think," Gideon said. "I am."

Evie shook her head violently. "No. No, this is some kind of trick. Special effects. You drugged me or something."

Gideon sighed. "I understand this is difficult to accept—"

"Difficult? You just killed someone!"

"I killed a rogue wolf who was trying to murder an innocent woman. And who tried to hurt you." Gideon's eyes flashed gold for a moment. "I would do it again without hesitation."

The car pulled through tall iron gates. Evie saw a massive mansion ahead, lit up with white Christmas lights. It looked like something from a movie. Three stories tall with large windows and a circular driveway.

"Where are we?" Evie asked.

"My home," Gideon said. "One of them. You will be safe here."

"I do not want to go in there," Evie said. "I want to go to the airport. I want to go home."

"The first flight to America is not until tomorrow afternoon," Gideon said gently. "And even if there was one sooner, you are in no state to travel. You need rest. Food. Time to process what happened."

"Time to process that werewolves are real?"

"Yes."

The car stopped. The driver, the man in the suit, opened Evie's door. She did not move.

Gideon climbed out on his side and walked around to her. "Evie, please. Come inside. If you still want to leave in the morning, I will personally drive you to the airport and pay for your ticket. But tonight, let me keep you safe."

Evie looked at the beautiful house. Then at Gideon's concerned face. Those strange golden eyes.

She should run. Should scream for help. But help from who? The police? What would she tell them? That she was attacked by werewolves?

They would think she was crazy.

Maybe she was crazy.

"Fine," Evie said quietly. "But I am leaving first thing in the morning."

"If that is what you want," Gideon agreed. He offered his hand to help her from the car.

Evie ignored it and climbed out on her own. The moment her feet hit the ground, her knees wobbled. Gideon steadied her with a hand on her elbow.

That same electric jolt went through her. Stronger than before. Like touching a live wire.

Evie jerked away. "What is that? Why does that happen when you touch me?"

Gideon's expression softened. "I will explain inside. Along with everything else."

The front door opened before they reached it. A woman stood there, tall and elegant with silver hair pulled into a neat bun. Her eyes were ice blue and sharp. She looked at Evie, then at Gideon, and her expression shifted to shock.

"Gideon," the woman said slowly. "What have you done?"

"Mother, meet Evie. She will be staying with us tonight." Gideon's tone was pleasant but firm. "Evie, this is Victoria Blackwood."

"Just tonight?" Victoria repeated. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Evie. "Gideon, you cannot be serious."

"Quite serious," Gideon said. He walked past his mother, gesturing for Evie to follow. "Evie needs a room. The blue room will be perfect."

Victoria stood frozen in the doorway. Then she turned and followed them inside, her heels clicking sharply on the marble floor.

The inside of the house was even more beautiful than the outside. A grand staircase curved upward. A massive Christmas tree stood in the entry hall, decorated with silver and blue ornaments. The smell of pine and cinnamon filled the air.

Other people appeared from different doorways. A young woman with dark hair and amber eyes. An older man with gray hair and a kind face. A muscular man with red hair who looked at Evie with immediate dislike. A young man with black hair who smiled warmly.

They all stared at Gideon. At Evie. Back at Gideon. Like she was something unexpected and possibly dangerous.

"Everyone, this is Evie," Gideon announced. "She is my guest. You will treat her with the same respect you would treat me."

The young woman with dark hair stepped forward with a bright smile. "I am Delilah. Welcome." She elbowed the red haired man. "This is Jayden. He looks mean but he is mostly harmless."

Jayden did not smile. "Alpha, what is the meaning of this? Bringing a human here? Tonight of all nights?"

"I do not need to explain my decisions," Gideon said coolly. "This is my home."

"It is the pack's home," Victoria said from behind them. "And you are putting us all at risk."

Evie was getting more confused by the second. Pack? Risk? What were they talking about?

"I am sorry," Evie said. "I do not want to cause problems. Maybe I should just go."

"No." Gideon's hand came to rest on her lower back. The touch sent that warm shiver through her again. "You are staying. At least for tonight."

"Gideon—" Victoria started.

"Enough," Gideon said. His voice carried absolute authority. "Delilah, please show Evie to the blue room. Make sure she has everything she needs."

Delilah nodded quickly. "Of course. Come on, Evie. Let me show you upstairs."

Evie followed Delilah up the grand staircase, aware of everyone's eyes on her back. She heard whispers starting behind her but could not make out the words.

Delilah led her down a long hallway lined with paintings. She stopped at a door and pushed it open.

"This is the blue room," Delilah said. "It is my favorite guest room."

Evie stepped inside and gasped. The room was huge, with a four poster bed and a fireplace already crackling with warmth. Large windows looked out over the snowy gardens. Everything was decorated in shades of blue and silver.

A Christmas wreath hung on one wall. Garland decorated the mantle. It should have felt festive and welcoming.

Instead, Evie just felt numb.

"This is too much," Evie said. "I cannot stay here."

"Why not?" Delilah closed the door behind them. "We have plenty of space."

"Because your family does not want me here," Evie said. "That Jayden guy looked like he wanted to throw me out himself. And your mother, Victoria? She looked at me like I was something nasty she stepped in."

Delilah sighed. She sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot beside her. "Come sit. Let me explain some things."

Evie sat down hesitantly, keeping her distance.

"First," Delilah said, "Victoria is not my mother. She is Gideon's mother and the former Luna of our pack. Luna means the Alpha's mate or mother. She ran things for a long time."

"Pack," Evie repeated. "Everyone keeps saying that word. What does it mean?"

Delilah took a deep breath. "Okay. I am going to tell you something, and you are probably going to think I am crazy. But after what you saw tonight, maybe it will make sense."

"What I saw tonight," Evie said slowly, "was impossible. I am still not convinced it was real."

"It was real," Delilah said gently. "Gideon is a werewolf, Evie. Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. One of the most powerful werewolf packs in all of Europe. And everyone in this house? We are all werewolves too."

Evie stood up abruptly. "No. No, I am not doing this. You are all insane."

"Am I?" Delilah's eyes seemed to catch the light strangely. For just a moment, they glowed amber. "You saw those wolves tonight. You saw one of them turn into a man after Gideon killed it. How do you explain that?"

"I do not know," Evie admitted. "Trick lighting. Hallucination. Maybe I hit my head."

"You did not hit your head," Delilah said. She stood and walked to the window. "Look, I get it. This is a lot to take in. But werewolves are real. We exist. We have existed for thousands of years, living alongside humans, hiding in plain sight."

"If that is true," Evie said, "then why tell me? Why not just let me leave and forget I ever came here?"

Delilah turned to face her. "Because Gideon will not let you leave. Not now."

"Why not?"

"You should ask him that," Delilah said. "It is not my place to explain. But Evie, you need to understand something. Gideon is one of the most powerful Alphas in the world. He is over two hundred years old. He has fought wars, built empires, and ruled his pack with absolute authority."

Evie's head spun. "Two hundred years old?"

"Werewolves age very slowly," Delilah explained. "Gideon was born in the late 1700s. He has seen empires rise and fall. And in all that time, through all those centuries, he has never brought a woman to this house. Not once."

"So?"

"So you are special," Delilah said. "More special than you know. And that is why Victoria is worried. That is why Jayden is suspicious. Because they know what it means that Gideon brought you here."

"What does it mean?" Evie asked, even though part of her did not want to know.

Before Delilah could answer, there was a knock on the door. Gideon's voice came through. "Delilah, may I speak with Evie? Alone?"

Delilah gave Evie an encouraging smile. "Listen to what he has to say. Really listen. Then decide what you believe."

She left, closing the door behind her.

Gideon entered a moment later. He had changed clothes completely now, wearing dark pants and a soft gray sweater. He looked normal. Human. Except for those eyes.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Like I am losing my mind," Evie said honestly.

Gideon nodded. "That is understandable. What you saw tonight was traumatic."

"I do not believe in werewolves," Evie said firmly. "I do not care what I saw. There has to be another explanation."

"Then let me prove it to you," Gideon said. "Beyond any doubt."

"How?"

"I will shift for you. Right here. Right now." Gideon's eyes were steady on hers. "And then you will know the truth."

Evie's heart pounded. Part of her wanted to refuse. To run away. But another part, a deeper part, needed to know. Needed to see.

"Okay," she whispered. "Show me."