Michael reached over and stroked her cheek. "Whats wrong, s.e.xy?"

"What am I supposed to do?"

"What do you mean?" Taylor asked.

"Im used to working, staying busy. I cant just sit around and do nothing all day long."

"What would you like to do?" Sin asked.

"I dont know." Mari sighed. "I would really like to meet the other women living here. Other than Prim, I havent been able to interact with anyone. You three are keeping me locked up like a prisoner."

Michael felt guilty about that. Theyd all been so worried about her safety they had hardly let her out of her own cabin or theirs. Although she hadnt been here that long, he knew if it was him being kept behind the same four walls he would end up going stir-crazy.

"Shes right," Michael said.

"Of course Im right," Mari replied with exasperation.

Michael gave her a chagrinned smile. "I keep forgetting that you can hear us now."

Mari gave him the "youd better not say anything about me" look, but then she gave him a soft smile.

"Do you have a first-aid certificate, baby?" Taylor asked after he swallowed a mouthful of food.

Mari nodded as she chewed.

Sin sat up straighter in his chair. "The pack school has been open for a few months now. Melissa and Primrose have their hands full with cla.s.ses. Theyve both been bemoaning the fact that they need someone in the office. I think youd be perfect for the position if youre willing. And the fact you have first aid is good. The young pups often get sc.r.a.pes and such that need to be tended to."

Mari frowned. "But dont you guys heal quickly? Im sure I heard someone mention that."

Michael reached over and patted her arm. "We do, but sometimes a pup just needs a bit of coddling when they are hurting. You can clean up any sc.r.a.pes or such and give them a cuddle."

"That sounds good," Mari said. "But dont you have to ask your Alpha first?"

Taylor nodded. "We have to go up to the house this morning. You can meet our queen, Tessa, and her mates, and some of the other Omegas. We should have taken you to meet them before now."

"All right," Mari replied. "Dont you have to go to work? Youre a cop arent you?"

"Yes," Taylor said. "I put in for leave the moment I knew you were our mate. I dont have to go back to work for a couple of weeks."

"Oh." Mari shifted in her seat and then frowned as she clutched her hands together.

"Whats wrong, Mari?" Michael could smell her nervousness and wondered what was going on. He hated that his mate was feeling uncertain.

"What if they dont like me?" She whispered her question.

"Everyone is going to love you, honey," Sin said as he got up from his seat and walked around the table. He tugged her to her feet and pulled her into his arms.

"You cant know that." Mari sighed as she leaned her forehead on Sins chest.

"Yes, I can. Youre family now. Youre our mate. Everyone in this pack will do everything to make sure youre protected just like they do with the other women and the pups."

Michael rose to his feet and pressed his front to her back. "Dont worry, beautiful. Everyone is gonna love you."

Chapter Eleven.

As they walked up the steps she drew in a deep breath, held it for a moment, and exhaled. Taylor squeezed her hand and looked down at her. "Dont fret, baby. Everything will be fine. Youll see."

Mari clutched at Taylors and Sins hands as they stopped before the closed doors to the main house. She felt a bit miffed when she realized they hadnt answered her question about keeping her safe, but she held her tongue, for now. She was about to meet the leaders of the pack, and she was so nervous she was feeling ill. The breakfast shed eaten wasnt sitting well in her stomach, and she hoped she didnt embarra.s.s herself by throwing up.

Even though she was nervous, she was grateful they had given her a few moments to gather her resolved before going inside. Mari swallowed and nodded her head and let them lead the way inside. She was surrounded by all three of her men, and when she saw the other tall, muscular men, she was glad. She felt safe with Michael at her back and Sin and Taylor at her sides.

They walked into a large kitchen and dining room, and she saw an elderly woman bustling about making coffee. The table across the room was ma.s.sive and looked big enough to seat at least thirty people. But it was the three men at the far end of the table that intimidated her. They all seemed to radiate authority and power. Plus they were all built like linebackers. Shed thought her men were authoritative, but these three men seemed more so. She glanced at the woman trying to wipe a little boys face clean while he pushed at her hands.

Taylor released her hand and slung an arm around her shoulders before guiding her across the room.

"Alpha, this is our mate, Marigold Bloom. Mari, this is Lucien, Rafe, and Gabe Woolf and their mate, Tessa, and their pup, Stefan."

Mari bowed her head. "Im pleased to meet you all."

Tessa smiled at Mari as she picked her son up and hugged him before waving her hand toward the spare seat next to her. "Hi, Mari, take a seat. You have no idea how happy I am to have another woman around here. Have you had breakfast? I could have Alice bring you some."

"Weve eaten, thanks."

"Have you met Sara?" Tessa asked.

Mari looked toward where Tessa was pointing and saw Sara with two big blond men following her.

Sara plonked down in the seat across from her and the men sat on either side of her. "Hi, you must be Marigold. Im Sara, Melissas sister, and these two big lugs are my mates, Tony and Chase."

"Hi," Mari said politely but wondered if there was something in the water they drank here. All the men were handsome, tall, and muscular, and they all seemed to exude dominance.

"Lucien, were wondering if it would be okay for Mari to work in the school office. She has first-aid training and worked as a dental nurse," Sin explained.

"If that is what Marigold wants to do, I dont see why not." Lucien smiled at her and nodded, and she felt the tension leaving her body. The Alphas smile was genuine, and although she was still a little intimidated by all the big men, she felt like she was being accepted into the pack, no questions asked.

"I have a better idea," a deep voice said. Mari turned to see Ashton enter the room. "Hi, Mari."

"Hi, Ashton."

"Hows the ankle?"

Mari was surprised to realize shed forgotten all about her sprained ankle. Since her men had claimed her, the pain had ceased. She looked down and slightly lifted the leg of her jeans up. Her mouth gaped open when she saw that it was no longer swollen or bruised.

"Wow. Thats...just wow."

Everyone in the room chuckled, and she felt her face heat when she found them all looking at her, but she laughed right along with them.

"What was your idea, Ash?" Lucien asked.

"If Mari is willing I would love to have her work with me."

Taylor let out a low, rumbling growl, and then so did Sin and Michael.

Mari glared at them. "What is wrong with you three?"

"Im an unmated male, and since youd be working with me if you accept my offer, they are feeling a little jealous." Ashton grinned and winked at her.

The growls grew louder.

"Knock it off!" Mari snapped and smirked when her mates immediately ceased their show of possessiveness. She turned back to face Ashton. "I only have basic first-aid skills."

"You have more skill than you realize. If you agree, youd only need another three months study to become a medical nurse and you can do that online. Thereve been a few times where I needed help and I had to call on one of the men, but they are all so big and clumsy, they were more of a hindrance than help."

"Hey!" Taylor said.

"You helped Ashton?" Mari asked.

Taylor grimaced but nodded.

"It didnt matter if you werent much help, Taylor. At least you volunteered when you were needed." Mari reached out and touched his arm. Her body went up in flames when he gave her a heated look, and she couldnt help but respond to the hunger in his eyes. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s swelled, her nipples hardened, and her p.u.s.s.y grew moist, making her c.l.i.t ache.

She turned when she heard loud sniffing and was horrified by the thought that everyone could smell her arousal. Her face got so hot she knew it had to be really red, so she lowered her head and wished she hadnt taken the time to put her hair up in a ponytail. She really wanted to hide behind the long strands right then.

"Stop it!" Tessa snapped. "Cant you see youre making her uncomfortable?"

Nearly all the men in the room turned to face Tessa. If she hadnt been so embarra.s.sed right then, Mari would have burst out laughing. The men were all way bigger than Tessa, but they were bowing to her in deference.

"Sorry, my queen," a few of them said at the same time.

"Geez Louise, would you all stop calling me that," Tessa sort of muttered, but loud enough for even Mari to hear her.

The men chuckled and started leaving. Sara stood with the help of her men. "You will have to make sure you come up to the house after lunch, Mari. We women have to stick together you know." Sara smiled and then followed her men out.

By the time everyone else had left, only Tessa and her son, her mates, as well as Alice, and Ashton remained in the room. Plus her men, of course. Thank the Lord. It was going to take Mari a while to get used to everyone. She didnt even know all their names yet.

"Before Marigold makes up her mind, I would firstly like to welcome you to our pack," Lucien said.

"Thank you."

"We are so happy for you and your mates." Rafe smiled and winked.

"Thanks."

"Dont worry too much about pack hierarchy and protocol," Gabe said. "As long as you are respectful youll have no trouble."

"Thats a relief," Mari muttered.

When the men chuckled, Mari realized theyd heard her.

"What did you say?" Tessa asked.

"She said 'thats a relief," Gabe said.

"Are you a werewolf, too?" Mari blurted out.

"No," Tessa answered. "My senses are more enhanced since I became a mate, but obviously not as good as theirs."

"Its a bit much to take in all at once, isnt it?"

Mari nodded and turned to face Ashton again. "Can I have a day or so to think about your offer?"

"Sure," Ashton said. "Take as long as you need. Ive survived this long alone."

"Thank you."

"Mari, come on into the living room where well be more comfortable and we can let the Neanderthals talk."

"Watch it, mate!" Lucien growled.

Mari became nervous at his hard stare. That was until Tessa replied, "Oh, bite me."

"You can count on that, pjarito."

Mari hurried after Tessa. "What did he say?"

"Little bird."

Mari snorted. "Were not that small, theyre just huge."

They sat down on the sofa, and Tessa put Stefan on a rug on the floor where his toys were. He was such a cute little boy, and Mari smiled at the noises he made as he played with his cars and trucks.

"How old is Stefan?"

"Free," Stefan said and gave her a cheeky grin.

Mari chuckled and couldnt resist getting down on the floor to play with him. Tessa joined them, and they ended up playing with his blocks. She and Tessa built towers only to have Stefan knock them back down with glee.

It wasnt until Stefan started yawning that Mari realized more than an hour had pa.s.sed. She wondered what was keeping her men but didnt want to interrupt them to find out.

Tessa scooped Stefan up into her arms and got to her feet. "Ill just put him down for his nap. Ill be back soon."