Chapter 8

ELIZABETH'S POV

The mansion is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and it takes great effort for my mouth not to hang open as we walk in. Everything seems larger than life. From the gardens to the facade and the neatly dressed servants. Marcus walks silently, observing my reaction which I try to control in order to withhold the satisfaction he must be feeling but he does not seem to be affected by my antics.

Marcus stops in front of one of the sculptures then he nods towards it.

"You know who that is?"

"Am I supposed to?"

"That is my great grandfather, Leonard Harrington. He was a mechanic and a soldier. His father owned a ranch. Leonard fought in the first world war. He started all… this. I see you are interested in this story which means it did not have the intended effect. I was bored by it. You don't seem to be. Let's move along now. I am getting hungry.

"Why are you bored by your family's history?" I ask him and he shakes his head.

"Unlike me, you haven't had to memorize half a dozen names along with all the things they did in their office. All the cousins you have and all the lessons you must learn. I don't even know why they never did exciting things. It was always fight and give birth and build this or that. They never traveled just for the hell of it or danced or played Jazz or something like that. Everything always had to be so serious and dreary," he says then shoves his hands into his pockets.

Marcus almost fills the doorway we pass through and I realize that I have been staring. I look away but I decide to take one more peek and that is when I see he is looking at me. He smirks and continues walking, to my embarrassment.

The dining room is filled with flowers and sculptures. The table is vast with flowers all over, in colors that grow progressively darker as the time goes. The scent fills my nose and I have the urge to close my eyes. I don't resist. When I open my eyes, he is looking at me, only that his face is serious and thoughtful.

"What?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"One of these days, a painter should sit you down and make a rendition of you. Of course it would never be close to the magic of the real thing but it would be a lovely painting."

I don't know what to answer and I suddenly can't keep staring at him so I nod and look away. He takes out his phone to answer a call, stepping a little distance away from me and that is when I feel the presence of another behind me. Not as strong as Marcus's but extremely powerful and vicious. The only reason I'm not terrified is because Marcus is there and I have gotten used to his presence. I turn around to see a tall, big man standing there in a shirt sleeved shirt that seemed to be struggling to keep him in. His chest is broad and his arms are filled with veiny muscles. He looks just like Marcus but his face is darker, leaner, his eyes blue and terrible.

He smiles at me.

"Who is this one now, big brother?" He asks who I am sure must be Marcus without taking his eyes off me.

"She is my companion and employee. A dear friend as well," Marcus says with a chuckle, ending the call and putting the phone in his breast pocket.

"Elizabeth, meet my brother, Elliot. Elliot, Elizabeth. Now, don't be frightened of him. He had this thing about him that chases people away. I have told him that he could do with more charm but he adamantly refuses. I mean, look at how he's dressed?" He says, gesturing at his brother who meets his eyes and scowls. I could have stepped back a few dozen paces had Marcus not been behind me.

"Mother will be coming down soon and there is nothing wrong with how I am dressed," Elliot says and walks to the table.

"You did not even tell the lovely lady that it is a pleasure to meet her, little brother. See what I was saying about charm?"

"You want me to lie?" He asks and Marcus goes still. I can feel his brief annoyance but it quickly goes away as another person enters the room, a beautiful young woman with a delicate, lovely figure and bright brown eyes. She smiles at me and I can already see the similarities between her and Marcus. She walks to him.

"Anna, my moon. How are you, this morning?" He asks.

"We missed you at the morning run. I know, I know you have business but I am glad you came to eat breakfast with us. Who is your friend?" She asks and he introduces me to her. She reaches out and I take her hand which is so soft and smooth.

"You look really lovely," she says in a voice so melodic, it appears she is singing.

"Thank you very much. You are beautiful as well and I love that dress. It certainly is your color."

Marcus stiffens behind me and that is when I look up to see a regal looking woman with a straight back, a proud smile and silver hair. She gives me a quick glance, looks at Marcus and I can see her dismissing me from her mind.

"Mother, this is…"

"Marcus. You don't need to introduce them. I have told you this before," she says and he frowns.

"This is my companion and friend, Elizabeth. She works for us," he says. She pauses briefly and gives me a brief smile then she walks to the table.

I am annoyed and I clench my fist, not knowing exactly why her dismissal stung the way it did.

Marcus pats my shoulder from behind.

"Don't worry. They are like this sometimes. Focus on the food and the lovely interior. My family, with the exception of my radiant sister, can be boring," he whispers.

"We are werewolves, brother. You think we can't hear that?" Elliot asks. Marcus places his hand on his lips.

"Oh, the horror. What shall I do? My brother had heard my insulting words," he says then looks at me.

"Come, eat," he says and continues walking.

I do as he tells me and focus on the food which turns out to be the best meal I have ever had in my life. Each meal makes me feel like I have not actually been eating all my life but instead waiting for this meal. I notice Marcus looking at me and I try to keep my eyes away from him.

"So, Elizabeth. What pack do you belong to?" Elliott asks and I shake my head slowly.

"I used to belong to one but I am of no much use to them I can only transform on a full moon and I am not exactly…that powerful in my wolf form. I am stronger than the strongest humans, faster as well but…my mother mated with a human so all of that is a bit dulled in my case."

"Your mother mated with a human," Elliot says and I can hear the contempt in his voice. He looks at Marcus who shoots him a glance then he looks away.

"I do not know why wolves would mate with humans, creating things that are of no use to anyone. Weaker than a baby with twisted…"

"Did you check to make sure our territories have been given back?" Marcus cut in. His eyes were on his brother and it seemed that the man was afraid of him underneath it all. He did not meet Marcus's gaze.

"Yes, I have checked and it seems that Dona was gracious enough to return our lands. Foolish woman. She could have chosen not to and then seen..."

"That is quite enough. Any news on the business front? Has she pulled out?" Marcus asks Anna.

"Yes, actually. Not completely, yet but she is in the process of doing so."

Marcus nods slowly and continues with his food.

"Are you still loyal to your pack?" Marcus's mother asks. I am not sure she is asking me until I see that her eyes are on me and her eyebrows are raised.

"What…uh, I have not been there in years."

"But you still have the bond with your alpha, do you not? If he calls then you will obey. How can we trust you to work so closely with our own alpha when we know you could betray him at any time?

"I do not wish to…"

"It doesn't matter what you wish to do. You will do as your alpha commands and Marcus here isn't your alpha," Elliot says.

"I only work for Marcus. Of course, I do not expect to be made privy to private pack matters and…"

"What if you are? My brother can be very trusting at times. What proof do you have that you can be trusted?" Elliot asks.

"And why must she prove anything to you?" Marcus asks, leaning forward and looking his brother in the eye.

"I hired her because I believed she possessed qualities that would benefit our business." Do you have any doubts about my decision? This is a breakfast, not an inquisition. I will not have my guest made uncomfortable. Is that clear?" He asks. His voice is low but even I can taste the threat. They all keep quiet and he looks at me then smiles and it is like everything they said rolls off my back.

Elliot stands up and places his hands on the table. The man is massive, even a little bit bigger than his elder brother and he has trouble banking his own rage. He looks at Marcus who raises an eyebrow.

"Are you full? Never know you to be full so fast. Are you alright?" He asks. Elliot looks at me then he nods.

"I am perfect…Alpha Marcus," he says and walks away.

I watch him leave and a terrible feeling descends on me, one that robs my appetite, though I am already full.

Marcus drives me back to the office and we are walking in together when someone comes to him and whispers something in his ear. I look at Marcus's face and see that it is pale. His eyes are sharp and his teeth is clenched.

"The damned fool," he growls under his breath.

"What happened?" I ask him as he turns around.

"My brother has done something foolish. I'll be back soon."