She panicked. There was no disguising what she‟d been doing, or with what.
Damn, she thought she‟d have more time. She should have known they‟d come to check up on her, especially after she blew off Thanksgiving and the entire Christmas break to spend time with Mark. Not that she‟d do things differently, given a second chance. Mark had wined and dined her, treating her like a queen.
Dates to the movies, the mall, flea markets, not to mention the fine restaurants and nightclubs he‟d taken her to or the gifts he‟d showered on her. Anything she‟d wanted was hers for the asking. That kind of thing quickly went to a girl‟s head.
Mark still lay propped up on the pillows, languidly stroking his erect cock.
“Come back to bed. Whoever it is will go away when we don‟t open the door.” Scrambling around, she snatched his jeans and sweatshirt off the floor and threw them at him. “It‟s my guardians,” she informed him in a fierce whisper as two car doors slammed shut.
“So? We‟re both—”
“Shh! Lower your voice. They‟ll hear,” she admonished him, despite knowing that with their sensitive shifter noses, Tom and Mona had most likely already picked up his scent and knew Mark was in the house, even if the extra car in the driveway didn‟t clue them in that she had company. By now she had on everything but her socks and shoes and was balancing on one leg at a time, putting them on.
“Carol, you‟re being ridiculous. There‟s no way they can hear us up here. The window‟s closed,” he told her, but he‟d lowered his voice and, catching a bit of her urgency, finally moved. He rose and began pulling on his jeans.
“Close the door behind you when you come down, and hurry up.” She left the bedroom. As she closed the door, she could hear Mark muttering about women who didn‟t know how to stand up to their parents as an adult.
Heart pounding, Carol took the stairs in a single bound and sped into the kitchen. She snatched up the damp dishrag and a bottle of air freshener and raced around the living room, straightening pillows, wiping down tables, and spraying the couches and carpets—every surface where she and Mark had made love. It wouldn‟t mask what they‟d done, not from shifters, but it would tone it down, make it less obvious. She hoped.
She could sense them standing at the door, politely waiting, and knew they could hear her frantically scrambling around inside. Carol dashed back into the kitchen and grabbed a trash bag. Two pizza boxes, newspapers, a couple of empty two-liters, empty plastic water bottles, and multiple chip bags later, she tossed the now full trash bag in the pantry, wiped her hands on her pants, and went to the door, trying to calm down.
Saying a brief prayer, she swung open the door. “Alpha, Mona. I didn‟t expect you.”
Mona came inside and gave her a brief hug. “I told Tom we should call first.” Nostrils visibly twitching, Thomas Wolfe, the Raven pack‟s alpha, glanced around briefly before his gaze locked on to Carol. She swallowed hard and lowered her gaze submissively. He stepped forward, and his mate moved to the side to give him room. “Family never stands on ceremony,” he stated as he swept Carol into a brief but powerful hug that lifted her off her feet.
Upstairs, the bedroom door opened and closed; then Mark‟s slow and steady tread sounded on the stairs. The scent of sex, followed quickly by Carol‟s fear, filled the air. Tom‟s eyes went wolf, and a low growl vibrated through him. Carol shot Mona a pleading look.
Mona took his arm and said, “Let‟s go into the living room and give Carol a moment to collect herself.”
He allowed himself to be led away but kept looking back. Not at Carol, but to the opening of the stairwell. The minute he was out of sight, Carol turned to confront Mark as he stepped off the last stair. “You need to go,” she said in a low voice. “Now.”
Mark narrowed his eyes, his expression one of disbelief. “I‟m not running out of here like some teenage boy caught with his pants down.”
“You don‟t understand,” she began.
“No, you don‟t,” he corrected. “I‟m a man, and you‟re my woman. Now, unless you‟re ashamed of me…?”
“I‟m not,” she rushed to assure him. Scared Tom would rip his throat out, yes.
Ashamed of her relationship with Mark? Never.
“Then we‟re going to walk in there like adults, and you‟re going to introduce me to your parents.”
“Guardians,” she corrected absently.
“They‟re still your family, whatever you call them, and they‟re important to you. Now come on.” He took her arm, much like Mona had taken Tom‟s, and led her into the living room.
Mona and Tom stood when they entered. “Alpha, Mona, this is Mark. Mark, my guardians, Mona and Thomas Wolfe.” Carol cursed inwardly at her slip, hoping Mark wouldn‟t ask what an alpha was. Way to go, stupid, as if you’re not in enough trouble already.
Mark leaned forward with his hand outstretched. “Sir, ma‟am,” he greeted them.
“Nice to meet you,” Mona stated.
The alpha gave Mark a measured glance as he shook his hand. Carol held her breath. Finally Tom nodded and said, “Have a seat.” The alphas settled on the couch like they owned it—which they did—and she and Mark sat on the love seat across from them. Carol had to make a conscious effort to keep her leg from shaking. Tom hadn‟t tossed Mark out on his ear. So far so good. Shifters respected courage. Mark couldn‟t have known her guardians would hear every word he‟d spoken earlier, and that made his actions all the more courageous.
“So how did you two meet?” Mona asked.
“A group of us guys were playing football on the green. The opposing team asked Carol to play, and we were introduced,” Mark answered.
“You‟re a student here?”
“Yes, ma‟am.”
“What field of study?”
“Pharmacy.”
“You‟re a little old to be a full-time college student, aren‟t you?” Tom asked, speaking for the first time since they‟d sat.
Mark nodded. “I served four years full duty to get the money I needed for school, and another four years in the reserves.”
“What branch?” Tom asked.
“The army.”
The alpha nodded once and sat back, allowing Mona to continue her grilling, disguised as polite conversation. Carol sat tensely, speaking when spoken to but otherwise remaining silent.
After about fifteen minutes of tortuous questioning and answering, the alpha interrupted. “As pleasant as this is, we came to see Carol on a matter of important family business. I‟m sure you‟ll understand and excuse us,” he said dismissively as he came to his feet.
“Of course, sir,” Mark stated agreeably as he rose to a standing position. “It was nice meeting you,” he said to Mona.
“You too. Carol, walk your young man to the door,” she commanded.
Carol stood and led the way. As soon as they were out of sight, Mark caught her to him and kissed her soundly. “Call me.”
She nodded as she opened the door and all but pushed him outside. As soon as the door closed, Carol turned and, taking a deep breath, prepared to face the music.
Before she could take the first step, Mona called out, “Go shower and change into something nice. We‟re taking you out to eat.”
A reprieve, she thought, as she ran up the stairs.
They were seated in the high-back, U-shaped booths of the local expensive steak restaurant, whose low lighting and spacious seating offered the illusion of privacy from other diners. Carol was in the curve, with Mona on her right and Tom on her left, hemming her in. Not that she was intending to run. The Wolfes had been extremely good to her. She loved them as much as she could love anyone who were not her parents. They took their responsibility toward her seriously, and she knew they‟d made it a point over the years to treat her with the same loving care that they gave Alex, their birth son. Still, she was extremely uncomfortable.