Karen walked slowly through the door, trying not to glance at the stranger in the room. She knew he was the European Archivist. She wondered what he was going to tell them. And why weren't Troy and Danielle here? She spotted Cole and sped up her walk to get to his side faster. She sat down quickly and leaned back into his inviting body. Her wolf was much happier now that she was with her mate. She didn't like forced separation for any amount of time, even a few hours.
Sarah took James' outstretched hand and he pulled her close. She noticed the tall Were looking at her. There was something so familiar about him. But what? Her wolf seemed happy to see him and wanted to greet him. She didn't expect the growl coming from James, and her wolf immediately laid down in response.
Katy walked confidently into the room but was surprised when Rhys jumped up to meet her at the entry. He never did that. He seemed ridiculously possessive as far as she was concerned. She thought he was being entirely too protective of her. It was so unlike him. What was it about the Belgian Werewolf that had him on edge? He looked nice enough. She looked sideways at Rhys, hoping for some sort of explanation or at least a smile. She was disappointed. He looked like he was ready to attack if given any provocation.
Jenna was the last to enter. As always, she seemed to make a grand entrance with no effort at all. There was something about her that shone through to everyone, something special. The bruises on her face and neck were noticeable to all, a grim reminder of what Gary had done to her. She almost floated across the room to Alistair who waited for her with open arms, enveloping her when she stopped in front of him. He hugged her tightly in greeting and then held her chair as she sat.
Guillame watched as his granddaughters entered the room, one at a time. He saw Karen breeze in, a newly turned wolf with auburn hair. He'd never seen a wolf quite that color. She looked a little timid and seemed to almost run to her mate. Guillame smiled as she leaned into him for safety.
When Sarah arrived he saw her longing gaze for her new mate. He could tell her wolf had just recently come out. He chuckled to himself at her mate's protectiveness from him of all people.
Katy's appearance almost sent him to his knees. He had known she would look like Orsolya from Rhys' reaction, but he hadn't realized how much. He so wanted to take her in his arms and inhale her scent, just to know her better. But from the look on her mate's face he knew if he attempted without Rhys' express permission he would be as good as dead. He forced himself to keep control. His wolf was not as interested as his human form. She may look like Orsalya, but her scent was not here. He would never again smell the mixture of lilac and birch. Just the thought of it made him weak, even all these years later.
His reminiscences stopped as soon as Jenna walked into the room. She took his breath away. He had known the Werepanther that was mate to the Alpha of the Vlkolak all those years ago. Jenna had to be her reincarnation. He stood there stunned, unable to move. He tried not to stare, it was impolite and would earn him the ire of her mate. That he did not wish to do. He bristled when he saw the vivid bruises that stood out so starkly from her pale skin. If Gary hadn't already been dead, he would have wanted to do it himself. It made him proud to one day have Alistair as kin to know that he killed the rogue.
Carr sat at his desk, watching the arrival of each of the women and the corresponding reactions of Guillame. He looked like a proud and protective grandfather to him. His first impression was that Guillame had been telling the truth. He was here to help them, and the women were his first concern.
Since Rhys and Alistair were so intimately enmeshed in this, Carr would facilitate this meeting. He stood carefully, still not fully healed, but well on his way. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. When all were looking at him he began.
"Ladies, thank you for coming. I know you've been wondering what we've been talking about in here for half the day. I appreciate your patience. I'm sure you've already figured out we were talking about you." Carr smiled as they nodded their heads.
"I would like to introduce all of you to Guillame Bertrand. He is the Archivist for the European packs. Before that he was a member of their Council. He came here to help you understand your past. There is no one that knows better than he does about the history of the Vlkolak and your ancestors." The women seemed to lean forward, eager to hear more about their family history.
"You've all seen your pedigree charts and know that you're cousins, descended from a Vlkolak female named Orsolya that came to America in 1860 from Hungary to escape. She was your third great grandmother." They again nodded, looking at the charts they held in their hands of their family trees.
Karen felt Cole's hands holding her shoulders, squeezing tighter as Carr continued. Something had him upset but he was masking it from her. She tried to press him through their bond and he refused to give her a clue. They'd have to have a talk later about him hiding things from her. She'd noticed it since this Were had arrived.
"And I'm sure you've all noticed the space for Orsolya's mate is blank. That's because it was kept secret from the European and American Councils for her safety and that of her unborn cub, your second great grandmother, Mariska." Carr watched as each of the women looked back at their chart, nodding their heads that they saw it. He saw the intense looks on the faces of the women as they tried to understand what was happening, and the looks on the faces of their mates, was it anticipation?
"Guillame was Orsolya's mate, and your third great grandfather." He paused as he saw the surprised expressions on their faces.
Sarah turned to James with a look of amazement. Her wolf was running around in circles her tail in the air. Now their mate would let them meet him. She wanted to have a family of her own. Sarah hadn't had one in so long. She loved James and couldn't wait to be a part of his, but this was her own family.
"Guillame, would you like to say something?" Carr motioned to him.
"My children, I am so grateful to Carr and your mates for allowing me to meet and speak with you. I have thought of you so many times over the years without knowing anything about you. You have ALWAYS been in my heart." He looked at each of them, hoping they understood how much he meant every word. "I came here to help you understand how important you are to the Werewolf race and all of the packs in the world, not just North America. My mate, your third great grandmother, saw all of you in her dreams. She always told me what she dreamt and we kept notes. I still have them. And she saw your future. She described each of you to perfection. I feel as if I'd met you before from her descriptions so many years ago. And she foretold our meeting. I am so pleased that it has all come true so far as she recited it to me."
He stood in the middle of the room, looking at the beautiful women that were his family. It had been so long since he'd called anyone family. He wanted to take each of them in his arms and hold them tight, but he knew that would not happen until their mates were much more accepting of him. He could wait.
Katy looked at Rhys. He'd known and hidden it from her. She knew he had his reasons and she tried not to be hurt by it.
Rhys saw the look on Katy's face and although they didn't yet have a mental bond, he could read her feelings. She was disappointed he hadn't disclosed this to her when he'd found out. But she would accept it. He stroked her hair, playing with the red strands as he always did when he wanted to be closest to her, when he needed to calm himself. And he needed to calm himself before he ripped Guillame apart. He hadn't said any of this to them about their importance to their race.
Guillame saw the look flash across Rhys' face and similar from Alistair. He knew he would have to explain himself soon to them. But for now, all he wanted was to enjoy the company of his progeny.
