Chapter 12: Chapter 12

MYRA

After Sloan left for his meetings, Declan insisted that she have breakfast—eggs and toast—then he asked her what her plans were for the day.

Besides going home to pack up her belongings, she desperately needed to go and check up on Baron and see if he’d received the part for her Jeep.

Declan simply nodded as she listed all her errands, but she noticed him tensing when she mentioned Megan’s name.

After breakfast, he took her to the parking garage, and her jaw hit the floor. The room—or should she say house—was the size of a grand ballroom, with over two dozen luxury cars lining the walls.

Each sparkled cleanly in the morning sunlight streaming in through the glass panel doors. At the center of the coffered ceiling was a large crystal chandelier.

~Their garage has a fucking chandelier. Plus, my Jeep will look like trash next to those types of cars~, she thought.

There was a small battle of wills when it came to her sitting in the front passenger seat instead of in the back. Declan attempted to persuade her by locking the doors to stop her from entering the front.

Not one to give up easily, Myra provided him with an ultimatum: either he would unlock the door, or she would return to Sloan’s bedroom.

In the end, she won.

They arrived at Baron’s shop, where he gave Myra the now familiar excuses: he couldn’t find a part…his men were too busy…

“You have one hour, so stop fucking around,” Declan said to the mechanic.

She glanced at the two men. Declan looked extra tall and menacing next to Baron, who suddenly looked like he was about to crap himself.

~I should feel sorry for him, but he’s been making up excuses for weeks now, and it’s getting ridiculous.~ She smiled shyly and waved at him when he looked to her for help.

The missing part mysteriously appeared, and different mechanics were soon hustling around working on her Jeep.

“Have it detailed, washed, and waxed as well,” Declan added as he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He glanced at the screen, quickly sent a text, and pocketed the device again.

He then placed a hand on Baron’s neck and drew the man closer to him, so that he could whisper into his ear. Myra smirked and switched to her heightened, animalistic hearing.

“One last thing. Stay…the fuck…away…from Megan. Do you understand me?” Declan warned him in a low menacing voice.

Baron feverishly nodded his head, trying to avoid the murderous look in Declan’s eyes.

“Myra?” he called out, nodding to the door, signaling it was time to leave.

~I shouldn’t get on his bad side.~ She nodded. “I need to pay.”

“No, you don’t. It’s already taken care of,” he replied. He seemed angrier. He opened the back door, and she quickly climbed in without a fight. Declan shut the door and got in behind the steering wheel.

“Um…are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he snapped, putting the car into drive.

“And I’m a Pomeranian pup. All of a sudden your panties seem to be in a tight knot and stuck up your ass.”

“You aren’t omega yet.”

“Tell that to Sloan. Just so you know, Megan’s a free spirit, and very, very, very human.

“She doesn’t fully understand our ways. Being possessive and all caveman-like with her won’t produce the same results as with shifters,” Myra explained.

He glanced at her through the rearview mirror before focusing on the road again.

“I understand, and thank you. But you’re right. You’re Sloan’s mate and my omega, and I shouldn’t have snapped at you. For that, I’m sorry.” He looked at her again and smiled.

“Oh, boo.” She smiled and stuck her tongue out at him, having already forgiven him. “We’ll need to stop off at the supermarket for food supplies.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

***

As Declan pulled up to her family’s home, Myra was suddenly hit with a sense of homesickness. The reality of her current situation and impending claiming finally hit her.

This wasn’t going to be her home for much longer. She would be mated to an alpha who had significant power and influence. She’d be held accountable for her actions, since they’d be considered an extension of his.

~I don’t like this feeling of uncertainty~, she thought as the car came to a complete stop.

She realized that Declan wasn’t making any move to exit the vehicle. He sat rigid in the driver’s seat, as if contemplating his next move.

“There’s a slight change in plans. While you were looking for cereal, Sian called me.”

“What did she want?”

“To remind me that other males aren’t allowed in the same house with a soon-to-be-claimed female, especially the day before the ceremony,” he said.

“I don’t understand.”

Just then, the front door to her house opened, and her dad walked out with an overnight bag. Not waiting for Declan to explain further—he still showed no initiative to exit the car—she emerged from the vehicle.

Laurence smiled and threw his bag into the cab of his truck, and Myra launched herself at him.

“Daddy!”

“My little vixen pup.” He kissed her cheek and whispered into her ear. “My house is overrun by women.”

“What?”

“DAD! Ms. Sian just explained the rules to you,” Myra heard Myrielle shout.

“Yes, yes. But she’s still my daughter and your sister.”

“It’s okay. We haven’t done the cleansing yet, so he can give her one last hug.”

“Cleansing?” Myra released her father and looked toward the house. Myrielle, Sian, Bryn, Megan, and some other females she didn’t recognize were all crowding the house’s entryway.

“I don’t think I bought enough groceries for all of you.”

“Don’t worry, the house is full of food. Come on, we have lots to do.” Myrielle smiled sweetly.

However, the smile that spread on all the women’s faces caused Myra to step back in fear.

Myra muttered to her father, “Daddy, take me with you.”

“Babe, you’re in safe hands,” Megan laughed, wrapping her arm around Myra’s shoulder.

Myra, however, was in shock that Megan had materialized next to her.

“Ladies, could you get the groceries from the back of the car?” Sian ordered the three tall, young, fit women who were standing near the front steps of the house. “Myra, we need to get started.”

“But Sloan wanted Declan to—” Myra started to explain as Megan pulled her away from her father.

“Stay with you all day? I know. That’s Leanne, Declan’s second-in-command, as well as Bridget and Jo. The three of them are senior members of the pack security team.”

Sian introduced the three ladies, who were now standing by the SUV chatting with Declan through the rolled-down car window. Sian took Myra’s hand lovingly in hers and led her inside.

“Declan won’t be far away, however. He takes his duties very seriously. He’ll be stationed outside with the other shifters, patrolling the surroundings and watching over us females.

“As my son’s intended mate and soon-to-be pack omega, preparations for your claiming ceremony differ from the traditional ceremonies,” Sian explained as they entered the living quarters.

The usually spacious room was now crammed full of aged women, who were seated on every available surface.

A hush came over the room when they entered.

“Ladies, this is Myra. Myra, please meet the female half of the elders council.”

One of the women waved to the small ottoman situated in the middle of the room. “Delighted to finally meet you. I’m Susan Blackstone. Please be seated.”

Myra timidly inched her way into the room and took the seat indicated to her.

~God almighty, I hope they’re not planning to give me the sex talk. If so, I think I’ll hurl.~

“No need to be nervous. We don’t need to have a birds-and-the-bees conversation with you.

“We’re simply here to welcome you, so you can relax,” Susan said.

~Thank God.~ Myra breathed a sigh of relief as each of the ladies got up, introduced themselves, and provided Myra with some life advice about handling her mate.

They ended their talk by presenting Myra with a claiming gift.

Two hours later, Myra said thank you and goodbye to the women and allowed Sian to take over. This provided Myra with an excuse to escape the room and find refuge in the kitchen.

There she found her twin and the baby, as well as Megan and Bryn, who were all laughing and eating.

“Yay, you survived!” Megan cried in joy, clapping her hands before waving Myra over.

“That was intense,” Myrielle agreed.

“I honestly thought they were going to lecture you about sex and give you a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the topic,” Megan laughed, giving Myra a shoulder hug.

“Hurl!” Bryn gagged, sticking her finger in her mouth.

“My thoughts exactly,” Myra muttered, taking a drink from Megan’s glass. “Mmm. Whatever this is, I want some.”

Megan nodded. She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a glass jug of sangria.

“Could I also state that we are not going to talk about my brother and sex?” Bryn said, looking very green in the face.

“Where’s the fun in that?” Megan teased, filling up a glass for Myra. “I want all the graphic details.” She smiled wickedly, causing Myra to blush.

Myra wiped the smile off her face and took her niece from her sister. “Your auntie Meg-pie has no manners. No, she doesn’t,” Myra cooed to the sleepy baby, who briefly smiled, then yawned.

“Oh, come on. Please spill the beans,” Megan begged.

“Bryn, look who I found,” Sian said, walking into the kitchen with a young woman.

Everyone turned to the kitchen entryway as the new arrival and Bryn both screamed in joy and embraced each other. Their joyous screams startled the baby, who started to cry.

“Seriously, girls. There’s a baby in the house,” Sian scolded them and swiftly took the baby from Myra. “Oh honey, it’s okay. Nana Annie is here,” she said to the baby and gently bounced her back to sleep.

“Nana?” Myra looked at her sister, who was smiling lovingly at the scene before her.

“I took it upon myself to become this little pup’s unofficial/official grandmother.”

“Benji and I were honored when she asked, especially with you and Sloan mating very soon. My baby’s going to need some sibling cousins.” Myrielle smiled.

Her statement slapped the smile off Myra’s face. “Um, pump the brakes. No one is—” Myra tried to defend herself, but Sian cut her off.

“Oh yes, Sloan would welcome as many babies as you’re willing to give him,” she stated dreamily, gazing down longingly at the baby in her arms.

“Wait! Hold up, Misery One and Two. Yes, Sloan and I will be claiming each other tomorrow night, but we’ve only known each other for three-ish days. I… I… Oh God.”

Myra’s mind started racing, and her breathing changed as she slowly began to lose focus.

Being away from Sloan, the intoxicating scent of his pheromones, and the tidal wave of sexual energy had cleared her mind.

She was suddenly struck with the reality of her situation, and it hit her like a ton of bricks. ~What the hell am I thinking? I can’t be mated, nor can I be a mother.~

“Oh no.” Megan quickly grabbed a paper bag, emptied its contents, and handed it to Myra. She guided Myra to bend over and place her head between her knees.

Myra attempted to calm herself by breathing in and out of the bag.

“That’s it. Breathe in slowly and breathe out.”

“I…don’t think…I can…do…this,” she whispered between breaths.