Billionaire Wolf's MateDate - Serena Meadows Page 0,15

wonderful to finally have you home. We have big plans for you, my dear,” he said when he released her.

Looking into his eyes, she expected to feel something, but all she felt was a coldness that didn’t match the smile on his face. “It’s nice to be here,” she finally managed to stammer through her disappointment.

“Why don’t we all go inside?” Betty said. “You must be worn out from the trip. We’ll have some refreshments, and then you can go to your room and rest a bit. I’ve had one of the best rooms made up for you; we want to make sure you’re comfortable.”

Janice found herself being ushered into the house, noticing even more signs of neglect as they walked through the big entryway and down a wide hallway. Peeling paint, water stains on the ceiling, and ratty wallpaper, not to mention the smell of rot and decay, left her feeling slightly depressed by the time they finally entered what must have been the library at one time.

Floor-to-ceiling bookcases filled all the walls, but they were empty, making the room echo with their footsteps. Betty must have seen the look on her face. “I’m afraid the books had to be sold off a few years ago to pay for the repairs to the roof, but no one ever read them anyway,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

She thought she heard Jacob snort behind them, but when she turned to look back at him, his face was blank. After they were seated around the big fireplace at the end of the room, Betty picked up a bell on the table and rang it aggressively, then sat back in her chair.

“The servants around here are a lazy bunch. I have to keep on them all the time,” Betty explained with a huge sigh. “It’s so trying sometimes.”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the group, and she began to shift nervously in her chair, searching for something to say. Betty picked up the bell and rang it vigorously again, giving Janice a chance to study her for a minute. From her clearly fake long nails to her perfectly styled hair, it was clear that Betty was very conscious of appearances. It was impossible to miss the diamonds and gold that draped and dangled from every part of her body, an embarrassing display that spoke only of someone unaccustomed to wealth.

It was a relief when an old woman finally backed into the room, a clattering tea tray in her hands, and began to slowly make her way across the library. “Corrine, what took you so long? We’ve been waiting for you forever. I told you not to be so slow,” Betty barked, and Janice couldn’t help but feel bad for the woman.

But Jacob jumped to his feet, scowled at Betty, then crossed the room and took the tray from Corrine. “Oh, thank you, Mr. Jacob,” Corrine said, looking down at the floor. “I’m just not a nimble as I used to be.”

Chapter Seven

***Reggie***

Reggie kicked his bedroom door closed with his foot, threw his dinner jacket onto the bed, his fingers reaching for the bowtie that had been choking him all night. Throwing it down next to the jacket, he unbuttoned his shirt, finally able to breathe, and walked over to the window. Looking out at the grounds bathed in moonlight, he could almost appreciate their beauty, but as with everything else, it was stained with the blood of those who’d sacrificed and died for the wealth that had created it.

Dinner had gone pretty much the way he’d expected; a group of his father’s supporters subtly but determinedly putting pressure on him to cooperate. The only bright spot in the night had been the talk of dissension in the clan, of younger shifters demanding change, the same changes he’d wanted all those years ago before he gave up. It hadn’t been easy to sit straight-faced as the discussion went on around him, but he’d managed it, soaking in as much information as he could.

But it had done nothing to solve his problem with Janice, and he knew that was more pressing. Revolution would have to wait until she was safe. His father had said nothing about the marriage contract or his taking a place on the council, but he knew he was just biding his time until the council met and ruled on his petition. Once the council became involved, there would be no fighting their decision, and since his father held all the power, he