Love and Deception

Chapter Eight

Noah

He’d thought he had been struck utterly speechless once before in his life. He was now learning that had been nothing compared to this. He had expected his mate to answer him with ‘a roommate’ possibly even ‘the door was like that’. But not that he… That they… He couldn’t even form the words in his head. “Noah?” She asked softly giving him space which was probably a good thing. “Are you going to say anything?” Sure he was. Soon as he remembered even one of the five languages he spoke. They all seemed to elude him at the moment. He opened his mouth, nothing came out, and so he closed it and tried again. Still nothing. He felt his face frown and watched the reaction on hers. Like she was expecting it.

He slowly reached out a hand that was not trembling, his eyes were shaking, and turned the doorknob. The setting that greeted him was nothing less than he would expect of a young boy’s room. A young boy who wasn’t born into the kind of money that he had been. Blue walls, blue bed spread, blue dresser with red knobs, a floor that still had the latest half finished block creation spread out on it. His eyes blinked as he took it all in abstractly. The name, Luca, it was stylized into the headboard. But he wasn’t there. There was no sleeping child underneath the blue comforter that looked well loved. His frown returned. It was late at night. Where was he? He turned, not realizing until that moment that he’d stepped into the room, to face Carlie who was leaned against the frame looking almost…sad? “I want to see him.”

“No.”

“No?” Both of Noah’s eyebrows hit his airline. She’d deny him access to his own son? Just who did she think she was? Her eyes flashed angrily at his tone and she dropped her casual lean.

“No. Visiting hours don’t start until eight in the morning you can see him then.” Noah blinked again once more lost amid a brain that was utter chaos.

“Visiting hours?” The sad look returned and she stepped into the room herself, tracing a finger over the top of the dresser and then wrapping her hands around a picture frame.

“He’s sick Noah. Very, very sick. No one has a clue what’s wrong with him. I’m…sorry. I don’t…I don’t know what to say here.” She faltered and he could smell the sadness in the air, hear it in her voice, and feel it through their bond. It broke his heart. He didn’t know much about hearts but he was fairly certain his probably couldn’t put up with too much more of a beating. She held the picture frame out to him so he took it and studied the faces on it. Carlie’s was there smiling brightly although her hair was shorter. Her arm was wrapped around the shoulders of what appeared to be a younger version of himself. The boy, no, Luca’ eyes stared back at him. Same dark brown shade as his mother’s. They sparkled happily as he held up the small fish.

“He looks like me.” Noah heard his voice say, finally, but it was soft and distant. He was transfixed by the photo. Abruptly he was violently angry. His family. This was his family and it had been cheated away from him. All of this time, the things he’d missed out on, things he hadn’t even known he wanted in the first place.

“I’m a horrible mother.” That snapped Noah’s head up and locked his eyes to his mate. She meant what she said he could feel it.

“How so?”

“I didn’t tell you. I should’ve told you the second I knew it was really you.” He nodded. It made sense. He didn’t agree with her statement and didn’t particularly give a s**t. He was still absorbing the information and readjusting to his new status in life.

“Why didn’t you?” She shrugged and stared at the floor. He didn’t like this new docile behavior of hers and was all too knowledgeable of just where it had come from. It was going to change but one major life reorientation at a time.

“I was worried you’d be upset.”

“Well I am upset. Actually I’m f*****g pissed.” She winced and wrapped her arms around her herself again. “I mean, damnit! My son is seriously ill, my mate is trapped in some sort of dominance game with a sorcerer and everywhere I turn my hands are tied. That’s why you borrowed money I’m assuming?” She nodded.

“Luca’s hospital bills were just too much so I borrowed the money from my boss.” He pressed his lips together to keep from shouting or growling. The beast was not happy. “I’m sorry Noah I didn’t know what else to do.”

“I’m not angry with you.” He bit out and threatened his wolf with a week’s worth of confinement if he didn’t back it down. Surprisingly he listened. “I’m your mate and his father. Caring for you is my job. I’m pissed that someone else was doing it.” Her eyes rounded and she made an ‘o’ with her mouth. He didn’t know if she knew she hadn’t made noise. He looked down at the picture again. They were so happy. They were so his. All of a sudden his brain rebooted. All pistons firing at maximum. “Okay. Okay. So he’s ill and none of the halfwits here seem to know what’s wrong with him?”

“He’s in a coma now. He was in and out of the hospital for months and then he slipped into the coma about six months ago.” He’d fix that. His uncle was a doctor and the best there was. He also happened to be a werewolf and got the added bonus of understanding the extra DNA that came along with that. Assuming Luca was in fact a werewolf. That brought up all manner of questions he had no answers to so he moved on.

“Alright. If I’m not allowed to kill Lucius,” He paused and looked to her for confirmation to which she nodded firmly. Damn. “Then I think it’s best if he doesn’t know I’m here.” She frowned at him. “I’ll have Liz look in on Luca and keep me updated, which now that I think of it, how did you never see her?”

“I knew there was another wolf here and I was careful to avoid them. I didn’t know it was Elizabeth.” God how close. How close she’d been this whole time and yet still virtually beyond reach. He watched her shudder, no doubt at memories of contact with other wolves and made a mental note to hunt each and every one down when this was all sorted.

“Lucius, your boss, has attracted the attention of his own kind. They are unhappy with him. One of them has approached me and requested my help. I think I’ll help him while you and I get our lives sorted out and let the sorcerers deal with each other. Sound fair?” She turned a very suspicious stare at him.

“And just what do you mean by ‘sorted out’?”

“The plan is still the plan, if you still want it.”

“But Luca…”

“I’ll take care of that.” She opened her mouth to argue so he held up a finger. “Please don’t fight me on this, I promise you won’t win.”

“I was merely pointing out that if you are trying to keep a low profile jumping in and ‘taking care’ of everything is not going to be very subtle.”

“Again, let me worry about that. I don’t want you to say anything to Lucius about my being here. In fact, it would probably be best if you just went about life as normal. This other sorcerer, Wade, is hanging with my sister while he gets his bearings.”

“And this Wade person has a plan?”

“Yes.”

“Am I allowed to know this plan?”

“Yes but answer my question first.” She frowned.

“What question?”

“Come with me Carlie. We’ll live wherever you want. You, me and our son. Marry me and let me take you away.”

“Okay.”

Carlie

She couldn’t believe the drastic change in herself. How was she supposed to keep it from Lucius? The past year had turned her life into a constant bleak storm and then suddenly it had broken. Noah had shown up and made it all go away, just like he always did. She sat at the bar toying idly with the little umbrella to her drink waiting for Lucius to come out of his office. She’d turned her phone back on and called to explain that it had died last night and she hadn’t known. All under Noah’s watchful eye. She’d then spent the next hour rediscovering the fine art of shower s*x with the man in question before he left for his father and she left for work. She was sure the happiness she felt was radiating out of her skin. There was no way Lucius would fall for the air of nonchalance she was going for.

Was it wrong of her to allow some of Noah’s hope to seep in past her layers of cynicism? He seemed so sure that he could cure their son. Or pay, bribe, inflict bodily injury, extort, or by any other means necessary have him cured. After so long of hearing ‘we’re sorry but we have no idea’ it seemed foolish to think that just because Noah was here it would change. Yet here she was doing exactly that. Maybe she would stop by the hospital later and visit with Luca. Scratch that, definitely. She had to tell him his father was here. That they were leaving. She felt her lips start to curve in a smile and resolutely squashed it. Where would they go? She had no doubt there would be a family visit. His father was going to flip his s**t. Or Erik’s version of flipping s**t when he found out he had a grandson. And that she was alive. And Ari…she longed to see Noah’s mother again. The woman hadn’t known her more than five minutes before she’d made her feel part of the family.

Lucius was a problem. One she was hoping she could deal with minus bloodshed. He wasn’t going to want to let her go. Hopefully he’d be too busy with his own problems that it wouldn’t be too much of an issue. Of course, that was if everything went according to ‘the plan’. She would’ve snorted, again, if she was home. Noah had told her ‘the plan’ before he’d allowed her to call her boss. And he was not above stealing her cell phone and refusing to give it back to her no matter how creatively she tried to get it from him. She’d told him exactly what she thought of his so called plan surprised all over again when he smiled at her. She was so used to being met with anger and flat out violence when she contradicted something. Having this wry amusement and actual conversation over the whys and whats was something she had forgotten existed.

As if he was in fact capable of the mind reading she frequently feared Lucius settled himself gracefully into the stool beside her and kissed her cheek. She hadn’t heard him approach which was bad. Meant she was off her game. “And how is my lovely one this morning?”

“Little miffed actually.” One blonde eyebrow arched. “I understand that I am your employee and as such don’t need to be privy to everything you do. However, I feel that when it directly affects my safety or well being, a little heads up isn’t too much to ask.” She stared him down with a moderate level of frustrated anger. He closed a hand around hers, pulling it close while she desperately fought herself not to yank it back. She apparently no longer had any tolerance for his hands on her, even platonically.

“I agree but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She gave him her best disbelieving scowl.

“Right, you expect me to believe that you sent me after those two telekinetics, where I would undoubtedly run into your friend’s guard, and then sent me after the guard again when I failed to realize he was a wolf like me the first time?” She was pleased with the brief flash of terror that he quickly masked.

“The bystander was a werewolf?” She frowned.

“He said you knew he and his master were here.” She feigned concern and Lucius patted her hand.

“I didn’t actually but no worry. I assume his master will contact me soon. I take it to mean you didn’t kill this wolf?” She growled softly but shook her head.

“No I didn’t but I did bruise his ego and his rear when I sent him off without any tail.” Lucius smiled.

“Not to your liking I take it?” She grinned at him and took another sip of her drink.

“He was alright I guess but I have no tolerance for males who just assume that because I’m single I automatically want them.” Lucius barked out a laugh and motioned for the bartender to pour him a drink as well.

“Well when his master contacts me I imagine you’ll be spending some time together, if you think the city is big enough to share that is.” He cast her a wicked grin that had once made her think him almost handsome. Now he looked…well not enough. She made herself return it and even turned her eyes to her drink. Lucius was all about perceived submissiveness.

“I suppose I could share. For a little while.” She added on at the end. Inside she was laughing. She already shared the city with Elizabeth, a fact she wasn’t sure Lucius was entirely aware of. He must’ve known there was another wolf but why not approach her? Or perhaps he had, figured out exactly whose daughter she was and decided against further pursuit. A wise choice. Elizabeth could more than take care of herself but if for some reason she couldn’t she had a family that could get to wherever she was in hours. A family that Carlie herself had always been jealous of. Although now she supposed she was going to join it. That thought made her head spin and she blinked quickly to clear the haze. When that didn’t help she reached out for her drink and took another sip.

“I must say it’s refreshing to see you here and so relaxed. Although I confess I am curious as to the reason behind the change?” Damn. She shrugged casually, she hoped, and leaned back in her seat.

“I had a good day. Luca is stable. No change but stable so that’s something at least. I got to chase a wolf around the city and then give him a good one for assuming I was easy.” She shrugged again. “Guess I’m just easy to please.”

“No more than myself I assure you. Now, let us talk about how we will greet this fellow sorcerer of mine once he makes contact.” Lucius stood, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her around the club. She half listened to what he was saying as he expanded on some remodeling he was doing and how he wanted the place to look. The basic idea seemed to be the same as wolves. A show of power to establish dominance right at the beginning and since Lucius had the home turf advantage; it seemed to her like he was going to win. However, she hadn’t met this Wade person only heard about through Noah. Clearly her mate’s opinion of almost any other male was going to be dismissive and on occasion flat our derisive.

She paid more attention when he discussed what she should be expecting from the other sorcerer. There was apparently a rather complex way to greet such a person in within the world of magic users. She herself had an important role to play in that ritual and she asked questions to make sure she would get it perfectly right. When Lucius turned the conversation to clothing she couldn’t help but smile. He thought it was at the prospect of buying some new clothing far above what she could normally afford. It was part of it but she knew her mate would be playing a part as well. So she would dress to the nines and watch as he sat forbidden to do anything to her to show his appreciation for all of her efforts. Sweet revenge and delicious anticipation all rolled up into one happy bundle.

It took him well over an hour to outline every piece of the plan to her and his other staff. All that was missing was the time. He left her to go make phone calls with another kiss on the cheek that she very nearly turned away from. She took a deep breath once she was out of the building and made her way to her motorcycle. Her part of ‘the plan’ was going smoothly. She’d planted seeds of doubt and dread in Lucius’ mind that should help keep him off balance. When he saw Noah whenever the initial showdown happened he would hopefully be even further off balance. She grinned and started the bike which roared to life beneath her. Things were heading in her direction for sure. She tore off into the night towards the hospital to share the good cheer with her son.