SIW : Christopher Saint Ives -- Whelan.
As always I'm thanking my faithful editor Asylumseeker for his swift work, The Guild and Jaz for their everlasting support. My tweeps for their continuous support and nagging to keep on writing.
Without much further ado, enjoy the read. Don't forget to comment/vote/feedback. It's our payment we crave so much ;-)
Mokkelke
Chapter Ten : Solutions.
Chris saw Ed and Adam were already back at the club. He parked himself next to his own car. They had left his flat in a better mood then he'd arrived, but now the trepidation was returning. He knew they would accept her as his mate, he just wasn't sure about all the "baggage" that came with it. He really would have liked to have Nick on board, he was the Alpha after all. It would make a lot of things a lot easier.
At least Mia hadn't made a scene when he told her how things had turned out when they went after the rogues. She took it rather easily, maybe she was finally realizing they needed the numbers to confront the MacLachlan pack.
As they made their way over to the back of the club, he had Mia close to his side. Entering his safety code, the door sprang open and they walked the narrow corridor which led to Ed's office in the back of the club.
He announced themselves with a single knock on the door before he opened it. Two pairs of eyes shot up in surprise when they saw Chris entering with a gorgeous woman tucked close to his side.
Ed looked curiously at his brother, Adam just smiled after their initial surprise ebbed away.
"I think you remember Mia? She's my mate," Chris announced nonchalantly.
"I'll be damned. You were jealous of Nick or what?" Adam laughingly stated.
"Not really, but when it happens, it happens," Chris said back.
Ed sniffed the air. "How was it we didn't smell you last Saturday?" he asked in a reserved tone.
"That's why I brought her with me now and also why I said I didn't want the Council involved in this," Chris replied, cutting Mia off.
"I can talk for myself, you know," Mia said as she gave Chris a light blow on his arm.
"A sassy one. Good, you can use a firm hand," Adam teased.
Looking down at Mia Chris asked if she wanted to tell her side of everything first.
"Think that will be the best way." Turning towards Ed and Adam she started, "You know me as Mia Barlow, but in fact my surname is MacLachlan." She paused a second waiting for any visible reaction from the two men in front of her.
Adam visibly tensed up whereas Ed looked more like a blank canvas, not a single emotion readable on his face.
"I see now why you don't want the Council involved," Ed spoke in a clipped tone.
"That's not all of it, Ed. There is more," Chris said.
"Well, do tell, we're waiting."
"I was never part of that pack or any other. It's always been just my parents and me. It's only recently that I have found another family member, thanks to Chris," Mia said as she lovingly looked up to her mate.
"He surprised me with it," she said as she gently gave him a nudge with her shoulder, "but I couldn't have been more happier to meet my grandfather. Even better for my mom to be with her Da again too. From what Chris told me, my grandfather is a person you all know and trust."
Ed's curiosity now showed for the first time. "And who might that be?" he asked.
"It's that old bastard, Ed, you know, Merlin," Chris revealed.
The two other men looked shocked now.
After several minutes of uneasy quietness Ed was the first to speak again.
"You're a MacLachlan, but also Merlin's granddaughter? How do those two things add up?" Ed asked.
"My father is Richard MacLachlan and my mother is Gwenyth Myrddin, only daughter of Merlin," Mia explained then waited again to let the others process the few facts they knew so far.
Ed looked at Chris, who nodded affirmatively.
"I'm starting to understand now why you don't want the Council involved. They don't want to piss off Merlin," Ed said.
"We talked to her parents and Merlin last weekend. Richard is going to confront his father in the near future. That's why I called you the other day," Chris directed at Adam. "I wanted someone with me who I can trust and who would have my back at all times. I didn't know of the attack on Bronwille and when you filled me in on that I figured you'd have other things on your mind. Pigheaded as this lady is, she doesn't want us going down there in big numbers. Just Merlin, her parents and us two. Reluctantly she agreed to let me take one person I trusted. Adam was the first I could think of since I have promised to keep her heritage a secret for now."
Chris gave an apologetic look to his brother. "That's why at first I couldn't say anything, but after we learned of Bronwille's attack she agreed I could tell my brothers. The thing is, Mia is special, not just because of who her parents are, but also because of who her grandfather is. Her mom didn't lose her abilities when she mated Richard. Just the opposite, Richard learned a few things from her. Mia," he said as he pulled her closer again, "is a perfect hybrid of the two. One of the things her mom taught all of them was to mask their scents. That's why we couldn't scent the wolf in her. You know Merlin's little tricks? They're just that, little tricks, they're all capable of so much more."
"If Richard has gotten some neat tricks after his mating," Ed pondered out loud, "didn't you get anything too?"
"He has and he will get more over time. It's a gradual change in him, not really a change, more like enhancing what's already there. Adding little things to the mix," Mia answered instead of Chris.
"There is only one I know of right now, I'm still mastering it," Chris explained.
"What's your new thing then?" Ed asked.
Chris smiled down at Mia, who knew right away what he was up to. Taking a step back he was gone in the same moment. Ed looked surprised. Adam who was sitting sideways in front of the desk had seen Chris disappear as well. His eyes turned into big wide saucers as he saw Chris reappearing behind Ed. A big smile on his face Chris waited a few seconds while he enjoyed Ed's confusion.
Finally he tapped Ed's shoulder, who spun around and was grabbing for the unknown threat, startled to find his brother standing behind his chair.
Ed just stood there, mouth slightly open in disbelief.
"No fucking way. How in the hell did you do that?" Ed asked.
Chris simply tapped his temple. "I just have to think about the location and be sure there is or will be room when I teleport. How do you think I got Jack out of that clearing so fast? Jack wasn't even aware of it that I transported us away."
Ed dropped in his chair, baffled with this little revelation. Chris was a formidable fighter if he wanted to be, but he preferred to keep his battles short and clean. This little trick was a nice addition to his fight style, not to mention all the other possibilities it opened. Looking around he gave Mia a thorough perusal.
Now he knew, he had to admit part of her features reminded him of that old dog. He grinned inwardly, realizing they really had a point when teasing him about his old age, he was a grandfather. Then it dawned on him, the little pieces of the puzzle falling into place. Merlin always lived like a hermit, discouraging every and any kind of confirmation he still lived.
Their pack knew it was an unwritten rule to never mention him outside of pack company. If word were to get out that Merlin was still around and was now tied to the Whelan pack by blood, that would put the Council on edge. Nick was ruler of their territory but globally seen he didn't have the majority on his side.
Seeing the matings had a neat side effect, other packs would be lining up for any future children. They might as well be born with a bulls eye on their head. They'd be in danger from the second they took their first breath.
Children? Lives, plural he had said, not willing to lose them?
Ed thought.
Ed took another sniff, turned to Chris and a smile crept over his face.
You didn't wait long to knock her up, little bro. I understand now why you don't want the Council involved. They would indeed be in danger. We may live by another code but most out there are still a power hungry pack of assholes.
Amusement flashed in Chris' eyes.
I see your strategic mind still has eye for every detail. You're going to love that she wants to go after the MacLachlan pack just with her parents, Merlin and me. She didn't want me to tell anyone about our mating until the next full moon.
Mia cleared her throat, "I know you two probably want to play catch up, but there are more people in this room," she said impatiently.
"I was just filling in a few blanks, dear," Chris spoke sweetly. "There isn't much that escapes Ed's keen eye."
He knows you're pregnant, sweetie. There is little you can hide from him,
he added mentally.
Her eyes turned big then into tiny slits as she eyed Ed.
He just smiled knowingly and winked.
Adam just sat there, looking from one person to another wondering what the hell was going on now. Oh he was surprised as much as Ed was, but he wanted to get on with things.
"Care to fill me in as well so we can move things on? We still have a pack to put in their place!" he said gruffly.
Mia kept looking at Adam. He was huge in every sense of the word. Muscles strained against the tight black T he wore, the black leather pants hugging his legs as if they were a second layer of skin. She could see the tension as he kept contracting the muscles in his upper legs, as if he was trying very hard to stay calm.
"How is Bron?" Mia addressed Adam.
"She sounded calm but looked like a hellfire cat last time I saw her. She isn't answering any of my calls or doesn't open up when I stop by. How do you think she is?" Adam shot back.
"Coping with everything her way. Chris told you about before?"
