Fated Legacy Complete Collection

Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

B eing with friends was a boon to Kat’s feelings of discontentment and disorientation. However, at times she felt as though a thin veil that only she could see separated her from her companions and the world in general. Once they had all changed clothes, put on their make-up, and ensured their hair was perfect, they made their way back down to the restaurant just as the doors were opened to invited guests.

Both Galveston and New Orleans pack members had been invited. Given how many people wanted to attend, Travis had opted to make the soft opening mostly wolves, with the exception of Skylar’s squad members. The place was jammed. Not really a surprise, as Travis and Riley’s restaurants were always incredibly successful. The following week was to be the big gala opening with important VIP guests, critics, and the like. Tonight was a shakedown cruise for the staff to ensure everything was working the way it should and to allow Travis and his crew to work out any issues that showed up.

Kat found herself separating from the friends she had known most of her life. With her back up against a wall, she watched as people greeted and introduced one another, and tried the appetizers that were being passed amongst the guests.

“Off by yourself? That’s not like you,” said Skylar’s mother, Darby, who had come to stand next to Kat.

“Just can’t seem to shake off this jet lag,” Kat answered with a smile.

“Why don’t you come out to Rivière Du Loup and relax for a few days? Skylar said you were heading to California tonight with Linc and Grace, but you’re welcome to stay with us.”

“I’d love to, but I told Stephanie I’d come out and help her. She’s offered me a job and I’m really excited to talk to her about it. Besides, I think it will be easier if I adjust my sleep cycle once instead of twice.”

Darby smiled and placed her hand on her arm. “I understand. I am sensitive to jet lag too, but the pirate just sails through it all.”

Kat smiled at Darby’s nickname for her mate. “Can I ask you something personal?”

“Of course, sweetheart. Is there something the matter?”

“No. I just wonder about those of you from Bae Diogel. You were perfectly happy back then, weren’t you?”

“Nothing is ever perfect. We were happy but living as we did had certain disadvantages.”

“But you didn’t want to be mated to Jean-Michel.”

Darby’s gaze swept the entire restaurant, passing over the four of her children who were present and coming to rest on her mate. “And look at all I would have missed had I not heeded his call. I think I can speak for all of us, including your mother, when I say, it wasn’t what I thought I wanted or would have chosen for myself, but I would have been denied all that I have now, and all that I hold dear. And that, my darling girl, would have been very sad indeed.”

Kat watched as her friends and the people she had known most of her life mingled and laughed. Part of her wanted to hang back in the shadows and hide; the other compelled her to wander among those gathered, making small talk. Dinner was announced and she was glad of how normal it felt to sit down with people and enjoy a wonderful meal.

A tall alpha wolf was approaching her. At first she couldn’t make out his features, but as he drew closer, she could see it was Lincoln Steele—Damian’s younger brother and business partner. He was also mate to Grace Steele, who was the executive chef for both the Steele brothers’ hotel and Torch Light.

“Kat? Stephanie said you’re going to fly back with Grace and me. The pilot says we could run into some pretty nasty weather if we stay much longer. Any chance you’re ready to go?”

Kat tried hard not to let the relief show on her face. “My luggage is upstairs, so yes, I’m ready anytime.”

“Good girl. Grace is congratulating Travis and saying her goodbyes. I’ll give you a few minutes to do the same. If your stuff is in the loft, I’ll get Travis or Skylar to unlock the elevator and by the time you two get done, I’ll have your luggage downstairs and the car out front.”

“Thanks, Mr. Steele.”

Linc smiled. It changed the entire countenance of his face. “Kat, if we’re going to be pack, and you’re going to play in my club, you’d best get used to calling me Linc.”

“I told Stephanie I was going to spend a few days in San Francisco, would that be okay?”

“She told me, and we’ve got a room reserved in your name. We live in the penthouse at the top of the building so we can take you with us from the airport.”

“Thanks.”

Linc turned and headed toward Skylar, who glanced her way and then accompanied him to the elevator.

Kat quickly made her rounds, hugging her friends and promising she’d try to make Mariah’s exhibition in London. She met Skylar as she headed out. Her stomach rolled and she fought down the urge to be sick. Something was wrong with her. The feeling of disorientation and nausea she’d felt in Tuscany were, she was pretty sure, associated with Jed being her fated mate. But that had subsided the further away she got from the sexy alpha wolf. So why was she feeling them again?

“Are you sure you can’t stay? I can get Papa to fly you to California later…”

“No, they need me, and I want to spend a couple of days in San Francisco.”

“No, you want to play at Torch Light, and I don’t blame you.” Skylar hugged her close. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Don’t worry about me,” Kat said as she gave her a second brief hug.

She could swear that she heard Skylar’s pulse as her heart pushed her blood through her system. It was all Kat could do not to push her away. As with the security guard at the park and with the rabbit, she could almost see the throbbing in Sky’s carotid artery.

“I have to go. I love you. I told Travis but tell him again—this is brilliant.”

She headed out into the night. Linc had just helped Grace into the town car and was holding the door open for her.

“Your luggage is in the back. Anything else you need?” he asked.

“No, I’m good. Thank you.”

They drove to the small private airport outside the city. After getting her bags stowed away, Kat and Grace went up the stairs into the private jet, followed by Linc, who closed the door and let the pilot know they were ready for takeoff. The plane taxied down the runway and took off, heading for San Francisco where it would drop its passengers and continue on to Luna de Lobo in Sonoma.

Kat relaxed back into the deep, comfortable seat. “Whenever I fly on a private jet after a commercial flight, I always ask myself why I did that.”

Grace laughed. “I know what you mean. Linc said a jet was one of the first things they sprang for when Luna de Lobo became successful.”

“Well shit, even first class has lousy leg room if you’re over six feet. Besides, the food and booze are better,” said Linc.

Grace shook her head. “You just ate.”

Linc stood up and then leaned over to nuzzle Grace’s neck. “You know what a ravenous beast I am,” he rumbled before heading toward the galley. “Can I bring you ladies anything?”

Both Grace and Kat declined, and Grace watched her mate stride to the back of the plane.

Shaking her head, she said, “More than a quarter of a century and he can still make me tremble.”

Kat smiled. “Does it ever bother you that you weren’t wolf-born?”

“No, and now I’ve been wolf almost as long as I was human. Being with Linc, living the life we chose… I wouldn’t change a thing about any of it. Sometimes I doubt that humans have the capacity to be as happy and devoted to one another as we are, but maybe I just had the wrong kinds of relationships.”

“I don’t know. My mother feels the same way.”

“Or maybe it’s because she and I were both able to land two celebrated whip masters,” she said with a small shiver.

Kat laughed. “My mother says that too.”

“Speaking of which, Stephanie made you an appointment with Maggie so you’re all set. I’m going to keep Linc away so you can get to know folks on your own, and not be worried about the big, bad alpha wolf.”

“I don’t want you to stay away just on my account.”

“Don’t worry about it. I can make it up to him. We converted one of the guest rooms in our penthouse to a private playroom a number of years ago. One of the advantages of not having children. And anyway, it’s so much more fun to be the aunt and uncle who spoil the others rotten.”

Grace Steele was good company and always knew how to put people at ease. When Linc returned, Kat looked out the window for a while before reclining her seat to take a nap.

She could hear the rabbit’s heartbeat as it burst from underneath the bush. She could feel its terror as it realized it was being pursued by a hungry wolf.

A ravenous, unquenchable need drove her to chase it down. There was no thought, only pure instinct that compelled her to act. Her ears were filled with the sound of blood pumping through her veins as her paws pounded along the hard packed ground, quickly overtaking the rabbit.

But the rabbit’s life force didn’t quench her thirst. She wanted more…

She woke with a start, and it took a moment for her to realize where she was. The dream had been disturbing.

“Good, you’re awake. We’re on approach for landing,” said Grace.

Kat tried to clear her mind of the disturbing images and focus on the preparations for the next leg of her travels.

Once they landed, Kat’s luggage was unloaded for her. Linc whisked them into the city, pulling into the parking lot of Lobo Bahía. It was one of the few five-star hotels in the city. Smaller than most, it was renowned for its customer service and the fabulous revolving restaurant where Grace was the executive chef.

Linc and Grace walked Kat to her room and opened the door for her. Linc brought her bags in.

“I know you said you’d only be here tonight and tomorrow night, but don’t feel rushed. There’s a lot to see and do in San Francisco,” said Grace. “That said, Stephanie is so excited about the possibility of you joining us at the winery.”

“I’m excited too and really appreciate the opportunity. I can’t wait to take a run on the beach and up into the vineyard.”

“Here’s your keycard. Luna de Lobo has all the comforts you need and is safe. The city is beautiful, but if you’re going to take a run, you’ll need to let me know. I don’t want you out at the Presidio at night by yourself. Both humans and shifters have been known to look for victims there,” said Linc in voice that let Kat know he was used to being obeyed.

Grace put her hand on her mate’s arm. “Don’t growl at her. Kat, we can go for a run if you like. If you prefer the daylight, there are several places outside the city we can visit.”

“Daylight or not, I need to know if either one or both of you is going to take a run. Kat, I have no desire to call your father or Marco to let them know something has happened to you. What?” he said as he noticed Kat smiling and shaking her head.

“I was just thinking that alpha wolves are the same the world over—always worrying about others,” she said.

He smiled at her benignly. “Part and parcel of who we are. If you don’t need anything else, I’d like to get Gracie up to bed.”

“That’s another part of being an alpha male wolf,” said Grace, laughing. “When you’re ready in the morning, come up to the restaurant. Good night, Kat.”

“Good night,” she said, locking the night latch when her friends had left.

She walked over to the wall of windows that offered her a spectacular view of San Francisco Bay. She took a moment to send a message to her mother that she had arrived in California and would be headed to Luna de Lobo in a day or two. If alpha wolves were the same everywhere in the world, so too were mothers.

Kat got ready for bed and slipped between the luxurious sheets on the incredibly comfortable bed. Once she knew what the living arrangements were like at Luna de Lobo, perhaps she’d ask Grace what brand they used here in the hotel.

The first rays of sunlight awakened her, as she hadn’t closed the curtains before going to bed. Drawing on her robe, she made herself a cup of coffee and went to sit by the windows with her feet propped up, enjoying the view. Kat hoped that the bright sun and beauty of the city below and the bay beyond would banish the dark and disturbing dreams of the night before. She had no specific memory of what she’d dreamt—all that was left was a residual feeling of dread and dismay. There had been a hypnotic thumping throughout the visions that now echoed in the pounding of her head and blood. There had been lots of blood and terror.

What the hell is happening to me?