The Sentinel's Maid

Chapter 5

Cat’s POV

Just. My. Rotten. Luck!

I’d broken into and gotten caught by the Head Sentinel of the Royal Pack?! I was in Luka Stone’s home?!

Did I think I’d been screwed before?

How I just loved being proven wrong!

Because now I KNEW I was screwed!

“Are you going to tell me who put you up to this?” Luka asked, shaking me out of my stupor. I mentally groaned, hating that I actually had to consider it. I didn’t owe Rick, Susann, or Lauran anything, but giving them up just didn’t sit right with me either. Especially if it meant that the alpha or Luka himself would go after them and kill them!

So with a heavy sigh, I shook my head. But since I wasn’t going to need it any time soon, I plucked out the memory chip Rick had given me and handed it over to Luka.

“They told me to put that into your computer,” I said, feeling as if I was signing my death warrant. “That’s all.”

Luka took one look at it, before pocketing it along with the remote. I kept a good eye on the remote. Sure, it might have seemed like I was accepting my fate staying here, but I had other plans. The man had to sleep at some point and when that came, I’d sneak into his room and steal it! It controlled the damn shock collar, so it had to unlock it as well, right? Once I had it, I was hightailing out of there and no way in hell was I ever going anywhere near the Black Lunar Pack, or the Head Sentinel EVER again!

“Good,” he said again, in that deep baritone voice of his. Goddess, why was his voice so deep and gruff? Sure, it had something to do with those scars around his throat, but why did my core tingle every time he opened that stupid mouth of his?

This was because I was still a virgin, wasn’t it?

I saw a male, that was hot, handsome, and not Jack, and I instantly melted into a puddle! Damn it, why did a girl’s brain seem to become French toast every time a---

I gasped when suddenly Luka bent down and the next thing I knew, the whole world was upside down. Or rather, I was upside down, hanging over one of his enormous shoulders.

“Let’s get you to bed,” he murmured softly, his voice husky and vibrating in the room like a base.

“Bed?” I echoed, trying to crawl my way up his back again so I’d be vertical again. But my hand slipped and my sore stomach jolted against his hard surface. I hissed in pain and instinctively reached up to cup my stomach. Instantly, Luka froze. I cursed under my breath, hoping he didn’t notice. If I learned anything over the years, it was that a wolf would jump on any weakness he found. If Luka knew I was in pain, he’d use that against me! He’d exploit me, make it worse, and probably torture me for the information he wanted---

The next thing I knew, I was gently placed on my wobbly legs again. I clenched my teeth and tried not to show weakness. To keep my hands away from my throbbing bruise but failed miserably. Being tossed over a man’s shoulder felt almost as bad as when Jack punched me in the first place. I couldn’t stand upright, not really anyway, and my traitorous hand clutched at the place, where I knew a big, black and blue bruise had taken shape yesterday morning.

“What’s wrong?” he asked--- and to my surprise, he sounded worried.

“It’s nothing…,” I maintained, but apparently he didn’t buy it. I squirmed when he reached down and pulled my shirt up. I’d tried to fight it and when that turned out to be useless, I opened my mouth to curse him, all the way to his grand kids! But the protest died on my lips when his warm hand extremely carefully brushed against my skin. As if he was afraid he’d break it, as his callused fingertips gently brushed over the sensitive and sore skin. I couldn’t help the shivers that crept down my spine. The kind of shivers that vibrated in my lower abdomen and made my p***y throb.

“Who did this?” He asked, his voice was steady, but I could still hear the anger that simmered beneath the calm. My heart skipped a beat, unsure of what to do next. So I did the same s**t I’d done all my life.

I lied!

“It’s nothing,” I rushed out, wanting to get away from this huge predator--- “I fell!”

But the thing was, he didn’t feel like a predator. It was so strange, but--- he felt like a protector…!

“Sure,” he sighed and rose to his full height again, rolling his eyes at me. “And I’m the pope.”

Well, in that case…

“Feeling saintly enough to let me go?” I gulped--- What? It was worth a shot!

His lips twitched into that almost smile he did from time to time, as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his phone. Cold sweat broke out across my skin and the familiar shiver of fear was back. “What are you doing?”

“Calling a doctor,” Luka said calmly as if he hadn’t just confirmed my worst fear. If I ever was to avoid anything like the plague, it was doctors, nurses, and social workers at all costs! Lauran had drilled threats of raping foster fathers into me since I was old enough to understand s*x and Susann had on more than one occasion promised me a slow and agonizing death if I ever told anyone what really happened inside our home. If I did anything to endanger our family, they’d make sure I paid the price…

“NO!” I blurted out before I could even think. “Don’t…!”

“Hi, Greg! It’s Luka,” the man continued, not even taking notice of me. I blinked. Did he know the doctor by his first name? So, it wasn’t a real doctor? Or was that too much for a girl to hope? “Can you come by and bring the medkit?” He paused, listening. “It’s not me, it’s a---” He eyed me. “Employee of mine. It looks like someone punched her stomach.” He paused and listened again, ignoring more of my protests. He actually rolled his eyes at me, like I was some troublesome child, he’d had to deal with. In the dark, it was hard to make out his expression, but I’m pretty sure he was sporting some kind of "oh, lord give me strength" look.

“I don’t think there’s any internal bleeding, but I want to be sure,” he said after a short pause.

“I’m fine!” I growled and tried to get past him and march my ass upstairs. Why I was heading upstairs instead of the door, I don’t know, but---

“Thanks, man! And have Uncle Mick send an electrician my way! There’s been a blackout,” Luka sighed and within seconds he was behind me. Another shrill escaped my lips when his hands locked behind my legs, and he once again swept me off my feet. This time he took me gently and pulled me into his arms, bridal style.

“Come on!” he mumbled, and I think there was some slight remorse in his tone.

“What the hell?!” I gasped but locked my arms around his neck, nevertheless. “Put me down!”

He lifted me like I weighed less than a feather. It made my stomach flutter in a way it hadn’t fluttered before and made my heart skip beats it probably shouldn’t skip.

“I will,” he replied, his deep rumbling voice sounding like a caress against my body. “In your room, on your bed!”

And now I was confused!

“My room?” I frowned, trying to look at him through the darkness. “Bed?!”

“You’re mine for the next 3 months, remember?” he replied, and I could have sworn he was sporting that half-grin of his again. “That means you live here, you sleep here, and you stay here.”

Say what?!

“What school are you at?” he asked as if my world hadn’t just tilted on its axes.

WOW! Hold up a second!

“I-I-I…,” I tried to form a coherent--- anything! – but my mind didn’t want to work. Instead, my mouth opened and closed and I probably looked like a freaking fish out of water.

“You’re cute when you’re speechless,” he said, and I knew he was smirking.

Yeah! That just happened!

“You’re an ass!”

It was the best I could do at the moment!

But seriously could you blame me?! The guy just uprooted my life, and demanded that I work for him – or go to jail, sure, but still! – and now he was saying that I was to live here?! AND he thought I was cute?!

What had this guy been smoking?!

“Thanks,” he was all he replied, not sounding the least bit angry. “What school?”

“I---,” I gaped some more, but this time forced my brain to say something other than mimicking a goldfish! “If I don’t go home, my-my family will be worried!”

“The rogues?” he scoffed.

I frowned.

“What’s a rogue?” I asked, trying to look up at him again. Honest to God, I had no idea what he was talking about. And judging by the way he was looking at me, he honestly seemed surprised that I didn’t know.

“Werewolves that don’t live in a pack,” he explained. “Were they the ones who hit you? Who put you up for this?”

I kept quiet and lowered my gaze. Again, it was because I didn’t want anyone’s blood on my hands. Not that Jack didn’t deserve a good beating, but still. They were my family! My f****d up, ‘don’t give a s**t about me’-family, but if I just did to them, what they did to me, I’d be no better. Besides, being a werewolf and not being allowed to join a pack must already be punishment enough. I didn’t know the feeling – human here! – but wolves were social animals. They thrived in packs, they belonged in a pack! It made me wonder how much worse it could have been if the four werewolves didn’t have each other…

“I’ll take that as a yes on both accounts,” Luka grumbled, and I didn’t say anything to let him believe otherwise. Luka wasn’t stupid and I wasn’t stupid enough to lie to his face twice.

“And let them worry,” he continued, his tone hard and a low growl rumbled in his chest. He was pissed! “Clearly they’re not worried enough about you if they’re willing to have you break into my house.”

He opened a door that led to a spare bedroom and walked us straight over to the bed, gently setting me down on one. For a split second, I was worried that he’d do something other than just put me to bed and when he bent down, my fear spiked. But to my surprise, he helped me take off my shoes. It was strange but weirdly thoughtful…

“Do you even go to school?” he asked, and despite him kneeling in front of me, with me sitting on the bed, it just barely made us eye-level.

“Of course!” I lied--- and cursed myself for lying. Hadn’t I just told myself that it wouldn’t work? Yet the response flew so naturally out my lips, that… hell, I could almost believe it myself.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a terrible liar?” he asked, signaling for me to take the rest of my clothes off, and stood.

“In my defense, you have an unfair advantage,” I grumbled back, taking off my jacket. He sighed deeply.

“I’m not cut out to deal with this,” he groaned and left the room. He came back, handing me an oversized T-shirt. One of his obviously.

“Put that on,” he demanded more than he asked. “Do you need help with the rest of your clothes, or can you manage?”

Was he being cute or just a drill sergeant?

“I’ll manage,” I said, blushing, nonetheless. He nodded and then he turned his back to me, giving me some privacy while I changed out of my robber’s outfit and into the tee. Well, at least he was giving me some privately, but that didn’t mean my fingers weren’t working overtime to get dressed again. I placed my clothes within easy reach so that when I was going to run away later, I could easily bring them with me.

“What’s your name?” he suddenly asked. For a second, I pondered not telling him, in case that led him back to my family, but apparently, he knew what the silence meant: “You can tell me or I can find out by myself, your choice,” he continued and I frowned. Did he have some kind of mind-reading capability? And how could he---? “Head Sentinel, remember? I have resources.” He cut me off--- making me slightly terrified!

Oh, goddess! Did he know I thought he was hot?!

“Cat Summers,” I replied, gulping when I remembered someone once telling me, that werewolves had some sort of psychic capabilities. Oh, dear goddess, please, oh please! Don’t---

“Short for Catherine?” he asked still having his back turned.

“Catelyn actually.”

“Catelyn,” he echoed and the way my name rolled off his tongue made my stomach quiver. “You should go by that name, it’s beautiful.”

Did he just compliment me?!

Good thing his back was turned because my jaw just dropped in the most unsexy and undignified way ever! The guy seemed too tough, too gruff, and just too damn sexy to pay any attention to someone like me. Let alone compliment me. No, it had to be some kind of mind trick. You know, ‘good cop, bad cop’-thing. As long as I cooperated, he’d be nice to me and say nice things. And if I didn’t, he’d turn all Terminator on my ass…

So, I didn’t reply but just put on the T-shirt, although, on me, it was more like a tent for a toddler. The guy was enormous, at least a foot taller than me, and a continent wider. On a daily basis, I felt small, but damn, this guy made me feel tiny!

“LUKA?” Someone suddenly called from downstairs. “It’s me, Greg! Why the f**k is it so dark in here?”

“I wonder why,” Luka murmured, just low enough for me to hear. He snuck a glance in my direction and since I was feeling particularly childish, I stuck my tongue out at him. He just let out a huff of a chuckle, before calling out: “Upstairs!”

A few seconds later the tallest man I’d ever seen walked in through the door. Damn, he was at least 6”5 but built more like a radio tower than the mountain I’d gotten stuck with. He was lean, with thick, black hair, and even in the sparse light coming from his cellphone, I could see the blue in his eyes. He was somewhere in his mid-forties and had that kind-doctor look on his face, that instantly made me like him.

Which meant I definitely couldn’t trust him!

“Greg, meet Catelyn. Catelyn, meet Greg, my uncle,” Luka introduced us in his usual monotone grumble. He sounded like a stone crusher like that and I had to lick my suddenly dry lips.

Did I have a thing for men with impossibly deep voices?

“Greg Danvers,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand to me. “Nice to meet you.” I shook it but didn’t reply. He didn’t seem to take any offense. Instead, he put down his medical bag and flashlight on the table and ordered me to lie down. I didn’t see any point in arguing, but I felt extremely embarrassed when he pulled up the shirt, revealing my black undies. Luckily, a quick glance around and I realized, that Luka had his back turned to us again.

Phew!

“I hope the big brute hasn’t scared you?” Greg asked, smiling kindly at me while feeling my stomach.

“No,” I shrugged--- and decided to test the waters a bit. “He just kidnapped me and forced me to be his maid.”

“What?!” Greg stopped mid-motion and blinked up at me. I nodded. He then turned to Luka, still looking just as confused as before.

“She tried to rob me and then wanted me to leave out the cops,” Luka shrugged. “So she’s my maid for the next three months as punishment.”

And at that, Greg burst out laughing.

“Taking a page out of Levi’s book?” he grinned.

I frowned. Levi’s book?! Why did that sound like a story I wanted to hear?

“Something like that,” Luka replied, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was feeling just the tiniest bit embarrassed about being called out on his obvious plagiarism.

“Seriously?” I asked the good doctor, wincing slightly when he hit an especially tender spot. “You’re not going to help me?” Greg first glanced up at me, before turning to Luka, as if asking him something I didn’t understand.

“She knows,” Luka replied and the tension in Greg’s shoulders evaporated.

“You’re on pack territory now, little human,” he told me, using the same tone on me a mother at her wit's end would use on her tantrum-throwing kid. “And we have our own way of justice. You should be grateful that it’s Luka and not some other Enforcer who caught you. Otherwise, you’d be dead now.”

“What?!” I gaped, bolting up in the bed. “No! No, this house isn’t on pack land! They said---!”

But as I said it, I did remember Luka threatening me with Alpha Stone. As in the baddest, badass this side of the Atlantic. Why would he do that, if I wasn’t on pack land?

“They lied!” Luka growled.

Well, no real f*****g surprise there!

I mentally groaned and threw myself back on the bed. Someone just shoot me now!

“And even if my house wasn’t on pack land, I’m still the Head Sentinel,” Luka continued, his voice holding just the barest hint of anger. “That means that no matter where I am, the only person more powerful than me, would be the King of the Werewolves.”

I gaped at him, as he threw me a glance over his shoulder. An all too satisfied smug on his face.

“So enjoy your stay, Mouse. You’re not going anywhere.”