Rhys looked up and growled low. "Where did you get this? How is this possible?" Rhys' wolf was circling, irate, ready to attack.
James looked in the rear view mirror when he heard the growl and saw the ferocious look on Rhys' face. The one they called Jรณszef was wide eyed and looked like he wanted to jump out of the car, moving or not. James was having a difficult time understanding what Guillame was saying. His accent was thick, maybe french? He wasn't sure.
"That was my mate Rhys. That picture was taken one month before I sent her to America. She was pregnant with our cub. I smuggled her and as many as I could out of Europe. And then I contacted you, and asked you to keep track of them. Do you remember?" Guillame spoke softly, calmly, in the face of the outraged wolf next to him. "You promised me you would watch over them and track them and report back. And you did for one hundred years. And then you stopped."
"Your mate?" Rhys' face softened, his eyes returned to their normal color and he relaxed in his seat. He seemed to be thinking.
"Her name was Orsolya. When you told me her daughter was named Mariska I cried. Do you know what that name means in Hungarian Rhys? It means bitter." His face fell as he thought about his precious mate. He had been able to barely make out her emotions through their bond from so far away. Her sadness tore out his heart. And when she died he became a broken Werewolf, always missing a part of himself. And not to know his cub was excruciating. But he'd had the reports from America. He had known his daughter's every move. He had known when she married, had her child, and died."
The truth dawned on Rhys. He turned his head to look at the wolf sitting next to him. "Katy is your third great granddaughter!"
"And she is the image of my Orsolya." His face softened as he looked again at the glass picture, softly touching the image of his mate. "The name Kati means pure." He looked sideways at Rhys who was deep in thought.
"She is pure Guillame, pure as the driven snow." His empathy for the mateless Were was short lived. His face hardened. "She will be my mate no matter what you say."
"Why do you think I am against the matings? I am here to help you, help Katy, and the other women." His voice had a plaintive tone. He wanted Rhys to believe him. He needed him to believe him.
"You will have to introduce me to my other progeny." He smiled at Rhys. This was his way of atoning for not doing more back then. He should have found a way to stop it, not sent his mate and the others into exile. He'd left her alone when she needed him most. She had died alone. He would not let that happen to his grandchildren. They would have a chance to mate, to become what they were meant to be.
"And who is this?" Rhys pointed to the pale faced male sitting on Guillame's other side.
Guillame laughed. "Jรณszef is my assistant. He's learning the importance of the past and how to apply it to the present and future. His father thought it would be good training. He will be Alpha of his pack someday. You can trust him Rhys. I would not have brought him otherwise."
"Sir, do you want me to drop you off at the main house?" James had to interrupt. They were arriving at the compound.
"Yes James, thank you." Rhys was deep in thought. Should he trust Guillame? He had in the past and it was obvious now that Guillame had lied to him. He'd said the women had escaped on their own. Rhys had always wondered how they had eluded the executioners sent for them.
Cole and Lila were waiting for them at the door. They watched Rhys for any hint of what had happened during the car ride. There was none.
Lila immediately noticed his gorgeous face. If she didn't stop staring word might get back to Nathan.
"Guillame, this is Cole, the Alpha's second and brother. And this is Lila, second to the Alpha Bitch. I'm sorry they aren't here to greet you, but the Alpha was seriously injured early this morning and only recently regained consciousness. And of course his mate is at his side."
Guillame nodded to Cole and smiled warmly at Lila who smiled back. If she hadn't found Nathan, she would have invited the strikingly handsome male to her bed for some fun. Of course she didn't need to do that anymore. She quickly wondered to herself if any of her friends would take the plunge. Lila called an Omega over to show them to their rooms. She hoped they didn't have many more guests. They were running out of space. She suddenly felt an urgent need to find Nathan.
"So why did he show up before the Council? I thought he was arriving with them?" Cole watched them walking up the stairs. Guillame was chatting good-naturedly with the Omegas. That was out of character for a Were of his standing.
Lila slowly licked her lips, her wolf impatient. "I don't know, but I have a feeling he won't be wanting for female companionship." She winked at Cole, elbowed him in the ribs and went to find her mate. She needed a little quick attention.
Guillame stopped on the second floor landing and turned, looking down. "I would like to meet with you and Alistair as soon as you are able Rhys." He waved and walked away.