Soul Mates

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

King Maximus Redding/Max

I step out of the SUV, happy to be out of that car, but hit with the most amazing smell I have ever experienced in my life. Peaches, cream and a hint of vanilla. Instantly my wolf Ezra is jumping off the walls. What the hell is going on? I close my eyes and button my suite jacket, and hear Kyle, “MOM, DAD?” I turn to see him hugging a short woman with his same eyes and a man with the same haircut as Kyle’s.

“Hi Sweetie, I am so excited to see you! When you said you were coming, I called Elizabeth and asked if it was ok to welcome you, and she invited us to dinner. Isn’t she wonderful!” Yep, that woman is still working it.

“Yes, Mom I will tell her Thank you here shortly, first let me introduce you to my Alpha and King Maximus Redding.”  I shake their hands and exchange pleasantries.

As I look up at the porch most exquisite woman I have ever seen. She literally took my breath away. As I stare at her, my eyes are taken away when I hear a familiar voice.  I look down the way, only to see the one person my family has been looking for, for the 8 months! My jaw clenches and eyes go black. What the hell happened? How is she here. I follow her as she introduces HER Alpha, Beta and Gamma then says she is the First Warrior and uses her real name. At that point I look at the women who are all slack jawed. Oh, so they didn’t know. Interesting.

I step up to the steps and go to hug her and she retreats to her line up. I step back and look down the steps at Kyle as he steps up, “Thank you for opening your House to us, we look forward to this visit. My Alpha and King Maximus Redding. Next to me is Travis Parker Second Beta to the King, going down the line of Warriors is, Randy, Mark, John, Paul and David. And you know me, Kyle Robertson, First Beta to the King.”

Elizabeth steps forward still holding hands with Charlotte and her Beta Laura Grace, whose name in my head could just take me to my knees, seriously I have issues. Without missing a beat, looking magnificently strong, yet delicate, Alpha Elizabeth smiles at us. “Thank you for the lovely introductions, please follow us inside and we have dinner prepared.” It looks like they have rehearsed this a million times, in unison they unclasp hands, turn and go in order, with Lizzie going first and Charlie going last. As they go back to their line-up, to the side of the entrance to the dinning room. I follow them in followed by Kyle and his parents, who have now stopped to thank Elizabeth for her invitation. She shakes their hand, and hugs Kyles mother. I look at Laura Grace and she is stunned and looking at Elizabeth as if she had grown a second head. You can see Sarah and Charlotte linking someone as Laura Grace looks over at me, it rocked me and stirs my co@k. I look down and see name tags at the place settings and thankfully I am in front of mine. Kyle on my right and Travis on my left. As the ladies enter the room Elizabeth goes to the chair directly across from me with Laura Grace on her right.

“Please be seated.” Out of nowhere four women step out and pull out the chairs for the women across for us. At this point I feel like an absolute i***t. Elizabeth sits, and turns to me, “We have prepared 3 courses, if that is acceptable to you My King.” She bows her head.

“Please call me Max. You’re a friend of Kyle’s thus you’re a friend of mine as well Miss Elizabeth.” I say hopeful for Kyle. As I look at him, he looks like a sick puppy dog looking at her.

“Thank you Max and you can call me Liz.” She says with a short smile.

“You do realize we could have just had Pizza and beer, right?” I say with a smile. “Charlie should remember, I am not big on formalities in a personal setting.” I turn to Charlie as she turns to Liz, who gives her a short smile. Liz really had no clue who Charlie really was.

The next voice I hear is like the sweetest song, “So Max, what brings you to Lost Souls, I had expected your father, to what do I owe this pleasure?”  Laura Grace says with a smile that makes be go hard instantly. I no longer can move and make a coherent sentence. I just stare at her.

It isn’t till Kyle kicks me a minute later and I clear my throat. “Ah, yes, My Father sings your praises Laura Grace. He told me to make you all a top priority. He insisted you were one of the first Packs I visit.  He loves what you have done with the community and businesses.” I finally can make somewhat of a coherent statement.

“Well he is a very honorable and smart man.” She says back.

As we are brought out our salads, I see Liz refilling her wine glass as well as Laura Graces. I had not even noticed they were drinking. I pick up my glass and take a large drink, thankfully being greeted by the sweet nectar. It is at that moment the door flies open and a large man looking very much like Liz come in and yells, “Lizzie you have Rogues on the north side!” Charlie and Sarah jump out of their seats as does Liz and they kick off their heels at the door and take off. Laura Grace stands, “Please continue with your meal, we will deal with them.” 

As she turns to the large man next to her, she touches his arm and before I could stop myself, I am out of my seat. “MINE!” I am looking directly at the man with my wolf on the edge of coming out. I look at the table and everyone is shocked sitting with their mouth open.

“Max, sit down, that is Alpha Lance. He is Elizabeth’s brother and Alpha of the Golden Moon Pack. He has been friends with LG since they were children. And he has a Luna!” Kyle says in a calming voice as he grabs my arm and drags me down. “LG can I please go out and help with the Rogues?

“Um, no, thank you Kyle, but most of the Rogues we get are usually seeking asylum. We are going to lockdown, just as a precaution. Lance here is going to have a few of his men outside since our Warriors are currently preoccupied. If you would like I will have them bring in your luggage and take them to your rooms.” Laura Grace says calmly not even making a reference to my outburst. As if she knew the whole damn time.

“My Guards will go out and protect the house. They can take the luggage out of the car and bring it in as well. Alpha Lance can go back to his pack my men are enough.” I stand as I look at Lance giving him an authoritative growl. My men have already gotten up and walked out the door.

Laura Grace then looks at me, “Well alright, uh Lance I will walk you out.” As she walks out the door.

I thought my eyes were going to pop out, did she just leave the house after telling us it was on lockdown? I rush to the door with Kyle right behind me. I watch her from the porch, as she walks him to the bridge crossing the river.  She turns to walk back up to the house and sees me on the porch. I look directly at her, “We need to talk! NOW!” She jumps a bit and walks up the steps.

“Kyle, please go back and enjoy your meal with your family. Max why don’t we go to my office.” She looks at me and starts to walk to the hall just past the stairs. We go to the second door and she opens it and gestures for me to walk in. “I hope you don’t mind, but I would like to check on my Pack.” As she walks to her desk and awakens her computer screens.

The office itself is a stark contrast to the rest of the house thus far.  There is not one flower in the room. Well no I take that back looking over to the bookshelf I see a single white flower in a small glass vase. I walk over to it and look at it as if its an intruder. The gray walls with Black desk and bookcases have more of a masculine feel, but with softer touches hidden in the bookcase. Next to the vase is a picture of two little girls, arms around each other skinned knees and large smiles, you can’t help but smile. You can tell it is Liz and Laura Grace as children. Just as I was going to reach for the vase a hand comes us grabs the delicate flower and small glass vase and I hear something shatter against the door. I turn to her looking highly confused. “I have told her; mark my words I will get revenge!” She says as she if bent over the desk looking at her computer as her giant TV comes to life with what looks like 20 different images from what looks like cameras around the property. She picks up her iPad and starts tapping. “You may want to advert your eyes; they are no longer in wolf form.” She says with a smirk.

“I am good!” I say until my cousin comes on the screen. I put my head down and shake it back and forth. As I hear her laugh and my stomach gets tight. “What the hell have you done to me?” I look at her questions fill my eyes.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She looks at me with a straight face, but I can feel it. Her heart is racing her breath is catching. She is in as much agony as I am. I take a step towards her and put my hand out. She jumps back, “Please don’t touch me.” She says in a pleading voice looking like she will break if I take another step towards her.  As I hear a knock at the door. “ENTER.” She says with a commanding voice, but her eyes are locked on mine. Kyle opens the door.

“Is everything okay in here? I thought I heard something break?” He states as he steps on the delicate flower that was once housed on the bookshelf. He looks down with a smile. “She still up to her old tricks?”

Laura Grace’s face turns to Kyle and smiles. “You know of her games?”

“Who didn’t?” Kyle says with a laugh. “Just walk into the Pack house on any given day and within an hour there would be a flower being thrown and something shattering.  There was never a dull moment with you two around.” He says now holding the crushed flower as his eyes go to the TV screen and a very naked Liz comes into view and looks like she is walking to a large barn looking building with about 20 women and 2 children behind her. I hear a growl and look at Kyle as he looks at me, “Close your damn eyes!”

“I apologize, they will be back shortly.” Laura Grace says, and the TV goes black and she puts down her iPad. “Let’s go back to the dining room.”  As she goes to move around me careful not to touch me as she gets past me, I grab her hand and a jolt goes thru me. “Oh, dear Goddess!” She moans.

I feel her try to pull away and hold on tighter, “What the hell is this? I will ask one last time! What have you done to me!” I use my Alpha tone, looking her dead in the face as she looks scared and continues to try to get away.

“Max! Let her go, or you will no longer have an arm!” I look at the door to see Charlie in black t-shirt and leggings. Her arms are at her side in fists holding her wolf back.

I let go of Laura Grace and she steps behind Charlie. “Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on!”

Charlie sighs, “Max, LG is you Mate.”

I blink twice, “Not possible.”  I say as Laura Grace takes off down the hall, my heart falls and I feel a pain in my chest and grab my chest and go to my knees. Kyle is standing shell shocked with lips like a fish.

Charlie looks down at me, “Oh trust me cousin she is. And right now, you are feeling her pain from your own words, you Douche Canoe!”