Sharkbait Down Under

My growing celebrity made it impossible to get on a plane without being noticed. People recognized me in the security lines, the first-class lounge, the departure gate, and onboard the aircraft. I was an ambassador for Bodyglove at a time every human interaction could end up on the Internet, so I smiled and posed for pictures with them all. Leo thought it was best to stay away from us so he wouldn’t appear in any photos and ruin the surprise for the other Alphas. Adrienne ran interference for me while Nicholas and Colleen watched my back. When it was too much, my Aunt would move me along, apologetically telling them that I was still recovering from my ordeal.

It wasn’t all bad. When the flight crew realized I’d be on board, the co-pilot asked me if I’d like to board early. They invited me to the cockpit to watch them go through their pre-flight checks, knowing from the gossip magazines that I was interested in aviation. I enthusiastically agreed to this, spending a good twenty minutes in the jumpseat behind the crew’s seating. I had to leave before they locked the cockpit, but I learned a ton. The Captain’s daughter was a big fan, so I took some pictures with him and promised to send her some souvenirs.

Once the flight departed, I slept most of the way, waking only long enough to eat and drink some juice. When we passed through the tunnel to the terminal, the temperature reminded me that I was in the Northern Hemisphere. My lightweight Bodyglove dress was not in season. “I need clothes,” I sent to Adrienne.

“I’ve got it covered,” she told me. We made it through Customs and waited for Leo and Nicholas to get our luggage before leaving the security area. The press was waiting for us, and I didn’t want to talk. Colleen and Adrienne put me between them, and we pushed our way through, diving into the waiting limo.

“There are clothes in these bags for you two,” the young female vampire in the back with us said. “Adrienne called ahead and asked me to get them for you.”

“Thank you, Melanie. I’m freezing,” I said. I stripped off the summer dress and heels, replacing them with jeans, Uggs, and a thick L.L. Bean plaid shirt. At the bottom of the bag were driving gloves, a knit hat, and a North Face ski jacket. Nicholas was wearing jeans, tennis shoes, and a matching shirt and jacket. “Where are we headed, and can we get some barbecue on the way?”

Adrienne snorted while Melanie asked the driver to roll down the window and hand back the cooler. “Four-meat meal for eight, heavy on the ribs and sauce,” she told us. “My Master left specific instructions on how to make sure you stayed happy.”

“Emily knows me well,” I said as I started filling a plate. “I’ve missed you so,” I said as I gazed in wonder at the slab of ribs. I ate until I couldn’t eat another bite, and then Melanie said there was pecan pie. “Definitely the start of a great friendship,” I said with a smile.

“I’d like that,” Melanie said. “Our Coven is so much better now, and we have you to thank for that.”

We stayed in guest rooms in the Boston Coven headquarters building, out of sight of the press. “We go shopping at eleven; I’ve arranged a private room at Macy’s,” Melanie said as she left our room.

When the door closed, Nicholas and I were finally alone. I started tearing my clothes off, needing to feel my mate’s skin on mine. He pulled his clothes off, then pulled me into his arms. It felt so good to be with him again, kissing and touching each other. He finally pulled back, looking down at me with a worried face. I was still bleeding from the miscarriage. “We can’t,” he said softly. “Your body needs to heal.”

“My mouth doesn’t,” I said. I walked over to the bed, flopping down on my back and moving until my head was leaning back over the edge. “Bring that monster over here, my love.”

“Whatever you say, my beloved Alpha,” he said. He was hard as a rock, and the position allowed me to take him deep. He started playing with my hard nipples and my clit as I blew him, which is another reason why I love this position. His need was too great to hold out, and my tongue and throat weren’t going to let him. It took less than two minutes before he let out a yell and started pulsing his cum straight down my throat, setting off my orgasm.

I kept him deep until he stopped, then backed off and licked him clean. The sex had worn me out, and he could see how tired I was. He picked me up and carried me into the bathroom, cleaning me in the shower before bringing me back to bed. I slept deeply, my head on his shoulder, my body clinging to his until our alarm went off at ten.

Breakfast was waiting on a tray outside our room, and we ate at the small table and watched the news over pancakes and bacon. There was a short segment showing my return to the United States and my press conference outside the hospital. The station cut to an interview with the FBI Special-Agent-In-Charge of the Human Trafficking Task Force. “It’s so sad. I could have been one of those lost girls.”

“As far as anyone knows, you are one of those girls. You’re just one of the few lucky ones.”

As we took the limo to the department store, I thought of what I might be able to do to help. Shopping was highly efficient, with two clerks and a manager bringing whatever we needed. The staff even had a gourmet lunch brought in. By three, we were on our way to the airfield, each of us with a suitcase full of new clothes.

I sweet-talked the copilot out of his seat, of course. Getting my pilot’s license was on my to-do list, and Nicholas wanted to learn as well. A private plane would be great for managing a Pack with members all across the south of Australia. “You can be my co-pilot,” I teased him over the link.

“And you can be the naughty stewardess,” he answered back.

“Sexist!”

“Not my fault you’re so damn sexy,” he answered back.

The pilot let me do everything except land, and I was in a great mood as we entered the rental car Adrienne had waiting for us. I did another backseat change, donning a long-sleeved black dress with a skirt below the knees and a black dress coat. We arrived at the entrance to the Keene Valley Pack, and Adrienne rolled down the driver-side window as we stopped. “Miesville and Southern Cross Pack Alphas here for the funeral,” she told the guard.

His eyes got big as he saw Leo. “I’ll have to ask my Alpha about this,” he said. A minute later, he waved us through.

“That’s a good sign, right?”

Leo looked back at me. “That they didn’t shoot me on sight? Sure.”

We pulled in front of the Pack House entrance, and an Omega took the keys from Adrienne to park it for us. We entered the building, where the dignitaries and Pack gathered before the funeral.

Conversation ceased, and loud growls started to echo through the room. “LEO!”

It was Lance Carver, and he was marching towards us with his Betas in tow. Everyone in the room stopped, knowing I had killed his father, yet shocked to find out that I was still alive. As Lance got close, Leo opened his arms, and the two men embraced. “I’m so sorry about your father.”

“He died a warrior’s death,” Lance said as he stepped back. “We should tell the story before the others rip you apart.”

He led our group to the stairway, where we could address everyone from the landing. Leo laid everything out; the vampire plot to start a war between the Packs, the abductions, and his decision to attack Alpha Stan and Chairman Carver to make it appear as if it was working. “We believed the vampires had a source in the werewolf world, and we were right. They were working with former Alpha heir Timothy Lords.”

“Nutless went after Vicki again,” an Alpha said from the back. “Is it POSSIBLE to be that stupid?”

Nervous laughter followed this. “Yes,” I said. “I am offering a million-dollar reward for the capture of Timothy Lords and his wife Traci.”

Leo continued the story, explaining how the Vampire, Werewolf, and Mermaid leadership had cooperated to bring down the Mexico City Coven and Master Vespucci. “My niece forged friendships that helped save us from extinction, and I don’t say that lightly,” Leo said. “Chairman Carver heard what was happening and agreed to help. He led an attack team in the raid that freed six of our people and died fighting. We cannot let his sacrifice and the deaths of six other wolves be in vain.”

“Tonight, we honor my father and his legacy,” Lance said.

The funeral was well-attended, and I shed tears for the man I’d battled in court or council several times. He was rigid in his beliefs, but he loved his people.

We boarded our plane again at midnight, heading for Red Wing and two more funerals in Minnesota.