“I choose Option Two,” Bryce said. “Anybody else want to voice an opinion?”
“Definitely Option Two,” Luke said. “Don’t call anybody, Cartwright.” He glanced around at the assembled group. “Let’s have a seat in the bar. Drinks are on the house.”
“And I’m mixing ’em,” Benedict said. “You may be a better poker player, but I’m a hell of a lot better at bartending.”
Luke looked him in the eye. “That’s for sure, Cartwright. You belong here, and I don’t. I’m going to sell this place back to you. I finally figured out that was the only sensible thing to do, with a little help from my friends.”
Benedict almost smiled at that. “It’s good to have friends.”
Giselle had held it together so far, and she was a pro at presenting a calm facade, but she couldn’t guarantee how long she could keep it up. She’d risked everything to reveal her Were being, and Luke had run out on her. Bryce had told her to give Luke some time to get used to the idea, but what if he never did?
As everyone left the hallway, bound for a table in the bar, she stayed behind. So did he. He came toward her, and she tried to gauge his expression, but her darned eyes kept tearing up and she had to blink the moisture away.
“Giselle.”
“Yeah?”
“Please forgive me for running out on you like that.”
She sniffed. “It’s okay.” Close up, she could see from the look in his eyes he was sorry. “My brother’s right. It’s a shock to hear it, and I—”
“So you do forgive me?”
She nodded.
“Thank God.” He cupped her face in both hands, touching her for the first time since he’d watched her shift. “Because I love you so much.” He brushed at her damp cheeks with his thumbs. “And I feel like an ass for hurting you and making you cry.”
She swallowed. “You don’t have to say you love me to make me feel better. I’m not who you thought, or what you thought. If this doesn’t work for you, then I’ll—”
He cut her off with a kiss, a tender kiss that she would cherish forever, no matter what happened.
Then he lifted his head. “We have lots to talk about. I have lots to learn. But never doubt that I love you with all my heart.”
She gazed into his eyes and knew that it was true. They would love each other forever. But that didn’t mean they’d be together forever. She sensed he was reserving judgment on that. She couldn’t blame him. He had no idea what he was getting into.
“Let’s go in and have Cartwright mix us a drink.” With an encouraging smile, he laced his fingers through hers as they walked out of the hallway.
He kept her hand tucked in his as they ordered drinks at the bar and walked over to the spot where the others had pushed a couple of tables together. He made sure they sat close together, and his firm grip reassured her that he wasn’t repulsed by what he’d seen when she shifted. He just needed to know more, which was fair.
As they sat down, Cynthia was busy peppering Bryce with questions, questions Luke probably had, as well. But she knew he’d have some personal ones that he wouldn’t ask in mixed company.
In the meantime, Bryce was doing a bang-up job of correcting Cynthia’s misperceptions about werewolves, and possibly Luke’s as well.
She leaned toward Bryce. “Can you see better than a human?”
“Not during the day, but my wolf night vision is awesome.”
Cynthia appeared transfixed by that notion. “Do you hunt?”
“No. Yuck.”
“Is that just your preference? Because I can sort of picture you—”
“None of us hunt, at least not in modern times. Centuries ago, that might have made sense, but now it’s a lot less work to go to the store and buy the food.”
“But you could hunt if you wanted to.”
Bryce shook his head. “I’d be terrible at it. I’d have to be taught, and since nobody hunts anymore, the skill has died out.”
“I’ll bet, if you were really hungry and—”
“Hey, Sis, can we drop the subject?” Luke flicked a glance at Giselle. “She was a bloodthirsty little kid. Loved gory movies.”
“Still do.” Cynthia laughed. “While you, on the other hand, are the biggest wimp on the planet. I’d look over at you and you’d be all hunched down and not watching.”
Giselle smiled at him. “I’m the same way. Been teased about it all my life.”
“A round of drinks, coming up!” Benedict appeared with six glasses on a tray and dispersed them before pulling up his own chair. “So, how’s the discussion progressing?”
“Let’s see.” Bryce held up one hand and ticked off the subjects. “We’ve talked about the political structure of werewolf packs.”
“And you’re going to be the Landry alpha, Bryce.” Cynthia picked up her cosmo. “That’s supercool.”
“Ah,” Luke said. “So the alpha is the equivalent of a CEO.”
“Bryce will be the CEO,” Giselle said. “And the alpha.”
“Vaughn’s the alpha for the Cartwrights.” Cynthia glanced over at Luke. “Remember how we talked about the suspicious nature of the security at Illusions? You couldn’t get in the lobby because you’re not the right species. It’s a werewolf-only hotel.”
Luke nodded. “It’s all beginning to make sense to me now. The Silver Crescent used to be a werewolf hotel, didn’t it?”
“Yep.” Benedict sipped his drink. “You can’t imagine how long the renovations took.”
“Thus the stalling on signing over the deed.” Luke sighed. “That paints your father in a whole new light.”
“I’m a little worried about this security breach,” Benedict said, “but it’s kind of nice to be able to set the record straight. My dad made a mistake betting the Silver Crescent, but he wasn’t trying to drive your dad crazy. He had a Were community to protect.”
“You don’t have to worry about the security breach,” Cynthia said. “You can trust Luke and me. Right, Luke?”
“Yes.” He squeezed Giselle’s hand. “I’ll guard this secret with my life.”
“Whoa.” Bryce looked impressed. “I like the sound of that, Dalton. I think you’ll be just fine.”
“So will I.” Cynthia glanced around at the group. “I’m sitting with my new friend Bryce, my childhood friend Benedict, my second father Mr. Thatcher, and Giselle, the woman—or Were, whichever I’m supposed to say—my brother’s in love with. All of you are very important to me. I’ll do the protecting-with-my-life thing, too.”
“That shouldn’t ever be necessary,” Benedict said. “But thanks. The council will be glad to hear it.”
“Council?” Luke’s grip on Giselle’s hand tightened.
“The Were Council,” she said. “They’ll have to review this situation and determine what’s the best course of action.”
He looked at her, his gaze wary. “Meaning what?”
“Depending on their evaluation of your trustworthiness, you might just be monitored for a brief time.”
“Yeah, but you don’t have to worry about it,” Bryce said. “Giselle’s on the council.”
“Besides that,” Cynthia said, “Bryce was telling me before, when you and Giselle were kissing in the hallway, that if you mate with her, you’ll be totally accepted. And once I pass the trustworthiness test, which I so totally will, then I’ll be accepted, too, because I’m your sister.” She smiled at them across the table. “See how this is all working out for the best?”
Giselle stifled a groan. She’d just dealt with a brother who’d balked because he felt railroaded into a situation. She couldn’t imagine Luke being overjoyed about the corner he’d just discovered himself in either.