His Second Chance Mate

Chapter Three

Can I have yesterday back, please?

The manor is in complete chaos due to all of the celebration hoop-la. Evidently, everyone important has accepted their invites- something about a blood full moon during the whole week of the festivities, which is supposed to be rare. Mom told me over breakfast that it’s been over twenty years since the last time that has happened. Apparently, it enhances the magic on all the castes- giving everyone a ‘magical high’ during the main ceremony, and basically leading to raunchy s*x-capades.

Sounds super awesome for a virgin, huh?

After that discussion, mom left to head to the market and took about 15 of our staff to help with the loads of food and liquor to accommodate all the guests who will be staying with us. Tink went to tend to the gardens- I found out last night that she was responsible for the beauty of the backyard-, and everyone else was in full clean/organize mode, where every time I stepped into a room, I would be immediately shooed out.

Isla seemed frantic and was still trying to wait on me, as if I needed assistance with putting my shoes on or turning the pages to my book. I found it unfair for her to wait on me while there was so much to do. After the third time she tried calling on me, I decided to help out and get her off my back. Even with the additional twenty staff here, there was still a lot of work to be done. I would have offered to help out Tink in the gardens, but if I was given shears, I’m sure I would have ruined her landscaping within seconds. It took about 15 minutes of arguing with Isla, but I finally got her to concede to let me prep the bedrooms on the west wing.

Little did I know that this particular hallway had over twenty rooms. Ten on each side.

F.M.L.

At least I have two days, right? And mom’s education lessons weren’t until this evening, so I had all day to spare. I decided to throw on some basic workout clothes- spandex shorts and a tank- so I can sweat in comfort (I don’t know how the maids do it in those dresses). I toss my thick hair into a messy bun and skip in the right direction.

The first few sets of rooms were dedicated to the royal parties. Thanks to the gossiping betties who dropped off bedding and cleaning supplies, I found out King Paxton and his Beta were the talk of the town- the most anticipated royals to come, especially since the king was single. They couldn’t stop giggling on how attractive they were, how big they envisioned their d***s, and how they would ‘absolutely die’ if they spoke to them.

Between the first and the 4th drop off of linens, I found out even more about this king. His mate died like 300 years ago and supposedly lost himself, killing ruthlessly to find the murderer. Ever since, he drinks and f***s and doesn’t care about his people. But I guess that made everything okay, since he was ‘hot’. He also apparently has a reputation of entangling with multiple partners during this type of function, and women still flock to him. Must be that great in bed….

I tried asking them more about the Fae King and Queen, entirely over the s*x gossiping, but their conversations always turned back to the Werewolves, leaving me irritated. After they dropped the last load of linens off in the hall, I was thankful for the silence. I still had some juice left on my phone, so I put on my ‘sexy, kick-ass’ playlist and got to work.

I looked inside the ‘royal’ suites, and groaned on how much wood polishing I would have to do. Everything was ornate in design, all with the finest details. The larger than California king beds had a tall dark wood post frames, with carvings of vines and roses. Cherry wood floors with one large ass rug in the center. The walls had a lavish wallpaper from floor to ceiling, framed by intricate crown molding. There was even a large ass fireplace, in which I would have to fully stock wood for. Even if it’s the beginning of summer, the hearth should always be prepared, as mother says.

And the in-suite bathrooms? “Jeez-us,” I say to myself. You could fit four people in the tub comfortably, and even more in the shower. “And I get to be the one to scrub and stock them all- yay for me!” Sarcasm at its best people.

I started with the basic rooms first, not wanting to wear myself out within the first hour. Each of those rooms had only a queen bed and a sitting chair. A jack and jill bathroom joined every two rooms so it didn’t seem so bad. Once I stripped the dust covers off the furniture, I began my task.

For the beds: mattress pad, fitted sheet, flat sheet, comforter, extra comforter, and throw blanket neatly folded at the end of the bed. All eight pillows to be extra fluffed before and after adding two, yes, two pillowcases. Wash the windows. Scrub the base boards. Dust the walls. Sweep and mop the floor. Bathrooms: wipe, scrub, clean, repeat- all until shiny.

Needless to say, by the fifth bedroom, I already had a sheen of sweat and my arms felt like they were going to fall off. It was already approaching night time, but I was determined to get at least all of the basic rooms finished!

“THEY’RE HERE, THEY’RE HERE!!!!” Collecting another set of linens, I look at the start of the hall, hearing Tink screaming at the top of her lungs. She rounds the corner, then makes a straight beeline for me. Complete panic is on her face as she rushes to me, grabbing my arms and slightly shaking me. “OHMYGODDESS LIN! They’re f*****g here!!!”

I grab her arms in return and give her a stiff shake. “Calm the hell down!! Who’s here?!”

She’s gasping for breath, because I’m sure she almost ran a half marathon shouting around the manor. I start to smirk and she glares at me while getting her breath. “f*****g… wheeze… King… wheeze…. Constantinos….Paxton.”

My smirk drops and my eyes try to escape my head. “WHAT?!!!?” s**t! Why in the hell are they early? “Is mom here? Does she know?”

Still taking her air in, she shakes her head and I feel my face pale. I grab Tink’s arm and we speed walk down the hall. “Find Isla, tell her to use whatever communication magic she can to tell mom. I have to start on the royal suites so they have somewhere to stay. How many in his party?”

“At least thirteen. s**t Lin, we are soooo not prepared to host the f*****g king of the werewolves tonight!”

“You’re telling me!? I don’t even know much about them!” I haven’t interacted with werewolves since before I was ten, so how in the hell am I supposed to know how to host them without mom? I give Tink a quick hug as we come to the top of the stairs. “Have them put their horses in the stable and ask if they want a tour. If they don’t, let them rest in the billiard room or dining. It has the most seating.”

“You’re crazy if you think I’m going to tell the freaking king what he can and can no do!” she whisper yells.

I give her a hard look, and she winces just the same. I’m too tired to deal with this right now. “Then suggest it to Isla,” I say through clenched teeth.

“Okay okay…. my bad. Once I tell her, I’ll come back and help with the rooms, okay?”

“Fine. See you in a bit. Hurry!” We both sprint in opposite directions. I mad dash through the first suite- wiping down all the wooden surfaces, trying to pay attention to the details, but not having the time to make it perfect. I quickly put the bedding on and fluff out the pillows. As soon as I run into the bathroom, everything goes black. My heartrate stops and all I can hear is my breathing. I pull out my phone for the flashlight and make my way towards the window. Once it opens up to fresh air, it’s still too hard to see, thanks to the sun that had already officially set. “What happened to the power?!” I scream out into the nothingness.

“A short circuit from the new lights from outside fried the whole damn place,” an aggravated voice yells back from the distance.

Just f*****g great. Out of all the things to go wrong….

I slowly walk to the hall. At least I got the bedding on in one of the rooms... They really can’t fault us for not trying. Plus they are way to freakin’ early, so they can’t expect too much….. right? After about ten minutes of nothing happening, I get a thought in my head: If I can’t finish my tasks, and mom’s away, and people are running around trying to fix this problem, this is probably the only time I’ll be able to look at the grimoires again during this week. Who knows when I’ll get another chance?

Luckily, there’s enough light from the moon in the night sky to seep through the windows for me to not use my flashlight. I quickly tuck my phone in my bra, and hastily go through the hallways. I carefully go down the stairs, hearing off into the distance people cursing and arguing about generators.

I creep around the corner to the hall of the library and approach the door. I look both ways, checking to see if anyone is around, open the door, and close it, releasing a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

I quickly take out my phone and switch the light on. This is one of the rare times I wish I could use my magic to light the candles in the room, but I wouldn’t dare risk giving myself away. It’s not the right time to be caught by anyone. I take soft steps towards the ladder- thankfully it hasn’t moved since yesterday. Being in the dark with a shallow light source makes this feel ten times more harder, and it feels like there’s eyes on me, as if at any minute, someone is going to grab me and demand answers on why I’m touching my ancestor’s books. My heartbeat increases as I climb the ladder.

I finally reach the shelf I was last on, and began reading through the spines as best as I can- this phone light is not ideal at all. Holding onto the ladder, my phone, and trying to pick out books while squinting in the dark is not how I wanted to spend my evening, so I better find something good.

Also being somewhat sweaty and tired, it makes for a cranky time. “Out of all the damn days for something to go wrong, it had to be one where that stupid king just hhhhaaaadd to come early,” I mumble out. “And 13 people?! Are you f*****g kidding me? No note or anything? Freaking rude!” I continue to read through the books, getting more frustrated that I can’t find what I want.

“Do you always talk to yourself?”

I squeal out as I drop my phone and hold tight to the ladder, scared to fall off. s**t! Who the hell is that! My phone flipped upside down on the light source on the ground. There are no windows. Just complete darkness.

I’m not one to be scared of the dark, but I was definitely doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing. My heart is going a million miles per hour as I try to figure out the best way out of this and not seem like such a thief. I turn my head, looking out into the dark nothingness. “Wh-who’s there?”

A dark chuckle that vibrates through my entire body has me turning my head more sharply. “Don’t be scared little lamb. I’m not going to hurt you…. Just figured if you were talking to yourself, you might want to know what company was in your presence.”

The timbre of his voice, for whatever reason, eases my trembling and I find myself wanting him to say more. I slowly begin to descend the ladder one foot at a time. “Are you part of the arrival group that I just insulted?” I say with a wince.

“Indeed.” There was a quiet growl to the end of his word, and I can’t tell whether or not I’m turned on from it, or scared shitless. I finally reach the floor and bend over to search for my phone. I hear a louder, deeper, growling noise and I try not to quiver from the intensity of it. I’ve never interacted adult werewolves before, especially male ones with voices like his. I quickly find my phone and hold it out to see if I can see him. “I would appreciate you not trying to blind me with your light….”

“Oh, s**t… sorry,” I mumble, fumbling with the device in my hands to turn it off. Once I do, I look up and around, almost pouting to myself. “I can’t see though.”

Everything is quiet and I dart my eyes around to see, well… anything. “Let’s play a game then, shall we?” he finally says.

“A game?” I can feel my chest expand as I take in short breaths.

“Mmm. A game of trust… Turn to your left and walk five paces.” I raise an eyebrow, but take a step. I look up as I hear a soft chuckle and I freeze. “Your other left…” My face begins to flood with embarrassment as I was, indeed, stepping to my right. I open and close my mouth to say something, anything smart sounding, but I can’t think! He quietly chuckles again, and something about his voices… “Try again. Turn left, and then walk forward five paces.” I follow the prompt.

“Good, now, turn towards my voice, another left, and walk seven paces…. Slowly now… Good. If you reach out with your right hand and bend slightly, you’ll be able to touch the end of the couch in front of me. Have a seat…. if you wish.”

I smile as I slowly descend on the couch, sitting awkwardly, but slowly getting comfortable. “That was embarrassing,” I mumble as I stare forward, even though I can’t see anything, but I’m sure I’m looking directly at him. “What’s your name?” I’m met with silence. It’s awkward, and after a few beats, I puff out some air that blows a curly strand off my face. “ooookkkayy…. Well, thanks anyways…” Guess he doesn’t want to talk. Well, you insulted his party… and you do have an issues knowing the difference between your right and your left… probably thinks you can’t even hold a conversation… I shake my head to myself and take down my messy bun to fluff out my hair, massaging my sore scalp in the process, then put it right back up. I breathe out another huff, looking around in the darkness, wondering what I---

“Connor.”

My head snaps to his direction. “huh?”

“My name… is Connor,” he offers in a friendly voice.

A smile forms on my face. “Thanks for helping me to a seat, Connor. I’m Lin.” He lets out a quiet ‘hmm’ in acknowledgment, but doesn’t say anything further. “Not much of a talker, are you?”

“Not really, no.”

“Well… what are you doing in the library instead of with your king?”

“What were you doing in here, is a better question?”

Well s**t, I walked into that one. “I asked you first,” I lamely argue. I almost want to laugh. Being in the dark is giving me the sense of false bravery. He doesn’t know who I am, and can’t judge me about my appearance and/or lack there of magic. I don’t even have my contacts in, so I’m sure there would be hesitation if the lights were on.

“Touché” I can almost sense a smile out of him when he says that, and I smile back. “Since our host’s power went out and isn’t here, we all kind of scattered about to find relaxation. I’ve been to this library once, and I find it…. calming. Plus, no one was around.”

“Until I came along and ruined your time of solace,” I state with a slight frown. His voice was calming, yet held a tone of authority that my body responded to. It was strange and unyielding.

“Not at all. It was rather entertaining watching you.” Holy hell, I blush again. It wasn’t even provocative, and yet, the way he said it rose goosebumps on my arms. How is that possible? I couldn’t even get a flutter from the human boys that kissed me! “Why don’t you elaborate on your self discussion from before. You called the king stupid. That’s quite an accusation.”

I clear my throat, partly from embarrassment. “I just…. find that he’s overrated. I’ve heard a lot about him today… everyone here seems to swoon about having him about. The women want to have s*x him despite his misgivings, and that doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.” I can’t keep the irritation out of my tone and I scrunch my eyes closed, knowing I don’t sound like the proper lady my mother would want me to be.

“Why does it bother you so?”

I open and snap my mouth shut. I don’t even know why it bothers me so. I don’t know the guy and I’ve never made judgements on people before, but the words just start vomiting out before I can stop them. “I just… find it difficult to believe how others can excuse his behaviors because of his mates’ passing, and still treat him as if he were a s*x god. I mean, she died, what 2… 300 years ago? That shouldn’t be an excuse on how he treated his people back then. What happened was unfortunate, but if he couldn’t be a fit ruler, he should have been dethroned so someone, that could actually help, step in. They didn’t mention anything about the present circumstances other than the fact that he’s a glorified man w***e… which, I’m sure, makes his dead mate proud of him.”

The dead silence I’m met with puts me on edge, and the words finally connect to my brain on what the f**k I just said. I squirm in my seat as more heat blooms over my body, but it’s not just my own. I can feel the anger radiating off of him.

Suddenly, the candles begin to flicker on as I hear the electricity gear up in the rest of the house. I have to squint and blink my eyes to adjust the room and the man I’ve been talking to. And holy- f*****g- potatoes. The gorgeous being standing before me looks like every GQ model I’ve ever paid attention to, all blended into one, except way more gruff. His dark brown eyes seem like bottomless pits as they pierce through me, causing all the air to be sucked out of my lungs.

And he’s f*****g livid…

“What the f**k would know!” he snarls out. His face begins to morph, increasing the fear I’ve already felt. I stand up to apologize, but in an instant, he’s in front of me, grabbing my wrist painfully. “Who the f**k are you to say such bullshit!?” His hand squeezes tighter, and I’m scared it’s about to snap.

I start to panic. “LET ME GO!!” I scream as I start slapping his hard as steel arm to let go. It only seems to make him angrier. He swiftly lets go, and before I can take a breath, he backhands my face, causing my body to slam into the floor. The wind knocks out of me as my body registers the pain, and tears start falling down my face while I try to intake air.

“How dare a servant put her hands on me!” he roars. He grabs and yanks on my sore, already swelling wrist again, hauling my body up, and I yelp from the sudden jerk of movement. My body can’t even register to scream as he begins to drag me out of the room. The shock from being hit for the first time in my life starts to wear off the harder he yanks me. I’m practically dragging my feet, trying to keep up so he doesn’t tear my arm out of socket.

As soon as we get to the foyer of the house, the doors open and I see my mother rushing in with the staff. Her eyes grow large as he throws my body towards her feet. I cry out, landing on the wrist he bruised, and all I can think is how cruel this man is.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!!!!?” The power shifts as the winds rustle loudly outside and the lights start exploding from down the halls. I look up and my mom’s eyes have turned white, ready to use her power against him. Tink breaks through the crowd and rushes to my side, attempting to help me up.

“This servant dared to insult me! She needs to learn her place! I want her locked up in the dungeon until I can find a better punishment for her!” the man bellows, echoing off the walls, making him sound much larger, and my body shivers from fear.

“SHE IS MY DAUGHTER!” Mom’s voice sounds as if there are five of her all talking at the same time. I knew she was powerful, but I’ve never witnessed a full display of her power before.

But he doesn’t seem to fear her. “Then she needs to hold her tongue! She is a DISGRACE to the Carroway name!” I flinch with his insult, and I don’t dare look at him. Tears sting my eyes and I know what I must look like to the crowd of staff surrounding us.

Absolutely pathetic.

My mother looks down at me then to my wrist that’s already starting to turn purple. Her eyes go back to normal as she glares at the man. “She knows nothing of this world. She’s human and has been in the human realm since childhood! Since you are two damn days early, I haven’t been able to prepare her!” She quickly rushes to my side and helps Tink lift me up so I can stand somewhat on my own two feet. The aftershocks are hitting my body hard, and I lean on Tink for support as all my muscles begin to shake.

I know my face is red from where he hit me, and stained with tears, but I finally get the courage to look at him in the eyes. Even with his anger stricken face, I could tell he was analyzing me, and more so, my eyes. His gaze is intense, pulling the air out of me yet again. But as soon as I felt the judgment, I glanced down, breaking the contact. I don’t need his pity.

My mother steps in between us two, arms crossed, still glaring at him. “Lincoln, meet Constatinos Paxton, King of the Werewolves,” she says with a snarl.

Well, f**k a duck….