Second Chance Mate to the Shadowmoon Mafia Boss

Chapter 6: An Unusual Predicament

Vivian

We sat in the driveway for what seemed like an hour.

“When can we get out?” I leaned forward to address the driver. “Once I get the signal.” I’d heard that about ten times already. Groaning, I tried to door. It was locked with the child locks. Seriously? “I’m sure they are just finalizing arrangements for us. I don’t think Finn expected to bring home one, let alone two women today.” Marian sighed; her eyes pressed to the window. The moment she saw the mansion I saw her eyes light up. I had to admit, it was a nice place. The grounds seemed endless. On the way in I caught sight of gardens, a pond with a stream, and plenty of forest to explore. Having all this open space might not be such a bad thing. Finally, the car doors unlocked and I jumped out, my feet hitting cobblestones. Finn was already heading inside the mansion. I hurried after him, ready to demand answers. “Not so fast, Vivian.” Luce grabbed my arm and pulled me to a sharp halt. “What? I can’t even talk to him? He’s the one that dragged me all the way here.” I pointed at Finn’s back as it disappeared inside the mansion. “Orders from the top. I’ve got to get the two of you settled in. He’ll send for you when the time is right.” “Send for me?” I pulled away from her and crossed my arms. Luce smirked and shrugged one shoulder. “It’s been a long day. The two of you probably want to get settled in an unpacked, right?” I glanced at Marian. She nodded. “Fine.” “Good. Come with me. Security will get your bags.” She headed down a footpath away from the mansion. “Um… we’re not staying in the mansion?” “Nope. Finn wants the two of you set up in your own cottage. You’ll have more privacy and more space.” “And be further away,” I muttered under my breath. Luce chuckled. “Trust me, you’ll love the cottage. It is adorable. It has its own garden and easy access to the forest. You and Marian will be very comfortable and well-guarded.” “Those two seem antithetical.” Luce glanced at me over her shoulder. “Are you not used to being guarded?” “I don’t understand why we need to be hidden away in some cottage and under constant guard. Am I a prisoner here?” “You’re not a prisoner, Vivian. However, your protection is our top priority.” “Oh really? Then why won’t Finn even look at me or talk to me? He clearly doesn’t care about our matebond or want anything to do with me.” “He’ll speak to you when the time is right.” Luce turned her back to me. A clear sign she was done answering questions. I glanced at Marian. She shrugged and kept looking around at the grounds. I took a hint from her and did the same. The cottage at the end of the footpath was, as Luce assured, adorable. It was a two-story bungalow with elegant, Victorian, white trim dripping down around the covered, wrap-around porch. There was a hanging porch swing and some porch chairs and the front yard was landscaped into a gorgeous garden. Only a lamp post and a porch light illuminated the cottage and garden in the darkness but I could already tell the garden was a mecca for birds and butterflies. There was even a marble bird bath nestled back in one of the corners. Fireflies dipped and glowed through the garden. “This is absolutely adorable,” Marian admitted running up to the front door. “You can’t deny that, Vivian.” “No… I can’t…” Luce gave me a triumphant smirk. “Security will drop your bags off shortly after they’ve been searched.” “Searched!?” I whipped around to face her, my eyes wide. “It is standard for anyone coming onto the property with luggage. Don’t worry, they only confiscate things that are deemed weapons.” I groaned and rolled my eyes to the starry sky. I hoped Finn wasn’t the one doing the searching. In anticipation of finding my mate, I’d brought along a few silky, lacey undergarments. I didn’t want him or his guards to think I was some kind of hussy. It wouldn’t do me any favors in this situation. “Take some time to get settled in. This will be your home from now on.” I winced as Marian opened the cottage door. It didn’t feel like home, more like a prison cell. A very comfortable, adorable prison cell. Did that make it any better? “Luce?” I called out to her as she turned to leave. She paused. “Why did he bring me here if he doesn’t want me here?” “You’ll have to ask him that.” Without another word, she left. I stared after her until the darkness swallowed her whole. This sucked. I saw it as nothing more than Finn’s attempt to control me and keep me prisoner. The cottage away from the mansion, constant surveillance, and refusing contact with him. Classic Alpha behavior. He didn’t want me but he wasn’t going to let anyone else have me, either. The only way I saw getting out of this was to reject him. “Vivian, come check this out…” Marian called from inside the cottage. I followed her in and immediately realized the cottage had been lived in before. The furniture was used and some personal items, like throw blankets and books, were scattered around. It was clean and well kept but I just felt like someone else had spent a lot of time there. Marian was already upstairs, scoping out the bedrooms. She called down to tell me there were two bedrooms, one with a private bathroom. Graciously, she allowed me to take the master bedroom. The first floor was an open floor plan with a kitchen, a round dining table, and a living room all connected. There was a bookshelf behind the burgundy couch with some framed photos on it. I went to the shelf and picked up a picture. Finn had a stunningly handsome smile on his face. His hair was windswept and gorgeous. In his arms, he held a petite, blond woman with rosy cheeks and a lovely smile. She leaned against his strong body and it was obvious that the two of them cared about each other a lot. The woman looked out of the picture, straight at me, but Finn’s restless, grey-green eyes were focused only on her. I set the picture back down and shook my head. It was so strange to see him smiling and lighthearted like that. I never would have guessed he could let loose like that. When our bags were dropped off, I hauled them upstairs and gave Marian hers. She was already rearranging things in the bedroom she’d picked for herself. I took my luggage to the master bedroom and started unpacking. When I brought my clothes to the dresser, I found the drawers were already full. I pulled some of the clothing out and discovered it was a woman’s clothing. Frowning, I checked the closet too. Several dresses and stiletto heels sat in the closet. Was this where Finn’s former lover or mistress lived? Why wouldn’t he get rid of her things? She wasn’t around anymore or he wouldn’t have let us stay here. I tossed my clothes back in my suitcase and flopped down on the bed. This was like a nightmare. “Vivian, how goes it?” I lifted my head to see Marian in the doorway. “Check the closet.” Marian frowned and did as I suggested. She gave a weird laugh and turned around. “Wait, are those…?” I pulled a picture off the bedside table and tossed it to her. Another photo of Finn and this mysterious other woman completely wrapped up in each other. “Whoa.” Marian sighed and sat on the end of the bed. “This is… messed up. Why would he put you, his mate, here in this love shack?” “Probably to remind me that I’m nothing more than an inconvenience and I hold no place in his life.” “Wow. That’s harsh. I thought… well, I thought being mated to the Shadowmoon boss would be a good thing. I mean, Finn’s father had a wife that he doted on and Dad would have done anything for Mom.” “Apparently, Finn can’t be bothered.” I sat up and curled my legs to my chest. “I think I should reject him.” Marian’s eyes flew wide. She gaped at me. “You’re serious?” “Why not? I could reject him and maybe I’d get a second chance mate. Or I could find someone else that actually wants me.” “Well, if you think that’s best. I’ll support you if that’s what you decide.” Marian shrugged slightly. I sighed and flopped back on the bed. “I don’t know. Maybe this is some misunderstanding and after a good night’s sleep, he’ll actually talk to me about what’s going on.” “That’s probably a stretch. He’s basically exiled you.” Marian scoffed and shook her head. I turned on my side and looked at her. She seemed like she really wanted me to reject Finn. Did he give off that bad of an impression? She’d made excuses for him at the ball, almost like she was trying to convince me to give him a chance. Now, she was doing the opposite and we’d only been here an hour. Maybe she was upset she didn’t find her own mate. “Look, Marian, I’m sorry you didn’t find your mate at the Solstice Ball.” Marian shrugged. “It’s fine. There’s always next year, right?” “Yeah. Besides, it could be worse. Not finding your mate is better than finding him and realizing he doesn’t want you.” I hadn’t said it aloud yet but there it was, the truth. Everything I felt at the party, the irritation and annoyance, I knew now that it was a reaction to my mate being there. That’s why my wolf was all gushy. If I found out Finn was my mate before he cornered me in the gardens, I might have had hope that it was a good thing. That first impression told me everything I needed to know. He didn’t want me, and admitting that to myself, and to Marian felt like a knife in the heart. “This doesn’t have to be the end, Viv. You said it yourself, you can reject him and find someone that does care.” Marian’s eyes twinkled slightly and I saw the ghost of a smile across her lips. Was she happy about all this?