After Marcy left the study, others agreed to meet in about one hour before dispersing.
James didn't have much to do, so he decided to head to his room.
Dawn and George went to their room, Caden stayed behind with Talia and Damon, and Maya lingered in the hallway on the second floor while checking something on her phone.
James didn't expect to see Petra, Erik, and Zack in the lounge area at the bottom of the stairs on the main floor of the packhouse.
"You are still here?", James asked. They were supposed to go to Darkbourne and wait for him there.
Zack spread his arms. "As you can see. We got delayed, and then thought of just hanging out here until you are done, so we can all go together."
James was glad that his friends were waiting for him, but… "I will be at least one more hour."
James couldn't leave until Marcy made her public announcement, and after that, Alpha Edward will probably call him for an explanation, and James will need to pretend that he was training with George and had no idea what Marcy was up to, and he was blindsided just like everyone else. He can do that. James was feigning ignorance for years, so it will come naturally.
"That's not a long time.", Erik said. "How about we play something on PlayStation while we wait?"
James was about to agree, when Mindy's voice drifted from the side hallway, "Did you pack a change of clothes?"
James turned to see Mindy and Cornelia appearing and he forgot what he was about to say. Cornelia was wearing a cream-colored summer dress that exposed her arms and her legs knee-down, and James really wanted to put his hands on that belt that circled her waist. She was a vision of beauty.
"A change of clothes?", Cornelia asked.
To James' disappointment, Cornelia didn't pay attention to him as she passed only a few steps away, toward the main door of the packhouse.
"Yes. In your plan for today is a visit to the aquarium. They have a show with dolphins where they splash around and the audience gets wet.", Mindy explained and laughed when she saw Cornelia's confused expression. "Don't worry. It's fun. Maya told me that Theo and Mike are reliable, and they won't gape when your wet clothes stick to you, but I'm not sure about the rest of the people who will be there. So… can I assume you don't have spares ready?"
Cornelia looked at her dress helplessly. She didn't really have many clothes, only what Maya gave her yesterday.
Mindy waved her hand like it was not important. "Don't worry about it. I will lend you some of mine. But since we are here, let me introduce you to your two handsome escorts for today."
James couldn't stop looking at Cornelia who was beyond beautiful in that dress. But… did Mindy say how Cornelia will get wet to the point of needing to change clothes? And what was that about handsome escorts?
His eyes widened when he saw two warriors who were standing at the main door and they shook hands with Cornelia, each of them held Cornelia's hand for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Both guys were tall and muscular, which was not unusual for warriors. They looked to be in their late twenties, and James didn't like that they smiled at Cornelia. As escorts or security, they should be professional. Was there a need to be that friendly?
"I apologize for coming here without being ready to go. If you can give us a minute, I just want to make sure Cornelia has a change of clothes.", Mindy said and tugged Cornelia to move upstairs. "Come so you can pick something you like."
James pressed his lips into a line. Zack and Erik were chattering about the game they wanted to play on the PlayStation, but James was completely focused on Cornelia who walked by two steps away from him, without sparing him a glance. Did Cornelia forget that last night she approached him with a story about how they were mates, and then she removed her top? The shape of her breasts was still vivid in James' mind. But then he said how he doesn't feel it and she left. Did he lose her forever? His chest tightened.
"It could have been worse…", a non-enthusiastic voice from one of the warriors got James' attention. It was the one who introduced himself as Theo.
James didn't want to eavesdrop, but he couldn't help it.
Mike snorted. "Last week we were stuck with patrol on the North side, and this is so much better than those barren rocks. We get to spend a day in the human city with a beautiful woman, all expenses paid, and the fact that Cornelia is unmated is a bonus."
James frowned at this. Why would those two care if Cornelia was mated?
"What if she wants us to be stuck in a museum? Or some other boring place?", Theo asked grumpily.
"Did you forget Maya's instructions? She said that Cornelia is new and it's up to us to show her fun. I feared that she is underage or too old, but like this, it's perfect."
Theo slapped Mike's chest with the back of his palm. "You are right! Why didn't I think of that? Forget about the aquarium. Let's take her to some real grown-up fun. Skydiving? Ziplining? Bungee-jumping? Chicks love the thrill. When her legs get too shaky, we will have a nice meal to calm down with a few cocktails and we can end the day in the Shifters."
Mike nodded in agreement. "How about a bet to make this interesting?"
Theo was interested. "A bet?"
Mike confirmed. "She is of age, and free for the picking. The rules are the same. The one who doesn't score a night with Cornelia pays the tab in Shifters."
Theo's lips lifted into a knowing grin. "You think you are her type? She was obviously more into me."
Mike chuckled. "You will see when those fine legs hug my waist, and you are stuck with the bill."
"Me, stuck with the bill?", Theo asked mockingly. "What if she is like the last one, and wants to have a go with both of us…?"
James didn't hear the rest as his ears were buzzing.
He heard similar talks many times before and he knew that those were normal occurrences. After all, werewolves are promiscuous with both males and females having needs, and giving in to their urges, but the idea of Cornelia being the subject of such talks was making him nauseated.
And then Cornelia passed by James again with Mindy and he looked helplessly as two women stood between Mike and Theo and then Cornelia walked with the guys, leaving Mindy behind to wave from the door.
Cornelia now had a small backpack, obviously with a change of clothes, but James couldn't focus on anything other than the fact that Cornelia was about to leave with two men, both set on seducing her.
Cornelia was not smiling at them, but she didn't push them away either. James panicked. What if they succeed? What if they force her? She was so small and fragile compared to those two bulky guys!
Without thinking, James found himself at the door, next to Mindy.
"Where are they going?", James asked without removing his gaze from Cornelia who was about to sit in the back of a car with Mike holding the door for her. Mike and Theo had friendly smiles on, but James knew how those were masks of predators stalking their prey, and their prey was Cornelia!
"To the human city.", Mindy responded. "It's up to Theo and Mike to decide where exactly because Cornelia is new to the area." Mindy shot a side-glance at James. "They are good guys. She will be fine."
'Good guys!? How can she be fine!?', James raged when Mike closed the door and he and Theo exchanged smug smiles before moving to get into the front of the car themselves.
Graphic images of Cornelia with Mike and Theo flashed in James' mind, and he saw red.
