3 "I Believe Ihave You to Thank for My Mysterious Upgrade

Chapter 3

He glared at her and nodded, but didn't answer.

"Honey, it's really important. Please, could you maybe write it down if you don't want to talk?"

Reluctantly, he pulled a pad of paper and a pen out of his backpack. "Dokter Andersen" he scrawled, then thrust the paper at Carly and turned back to his game.

Sighing, she relayed the doctor's name.

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver. I don't know what I would do without you," she said before signing off.

Turning back to Blake, she said "I'm so sorry. It's just I would forget if I didn't call. Or more likely I would worry about it incessantly." She paused a moment, before rolling her eyes and groaning, "Oh, what in the name of all that is good and sacred now?"

Her name had just been paged, requesting her presence by the gate agent.

"I'll watch your children," Blake offered. Reading the wariness in her eyes, he continued, "I give my word, your children will take no harm from me. You'll be within sight and shouting distance. It'll be easier not to have to drag them along." He said softly, with a slight smile.

Carly didn't want to trust him. She had serious misgivings about anyone as handsome as he, but his offer was too tempting.

To deal with whatever the airline was going to throw at her without Caleb's incessant screams? It was almost too good to be true. Strangely, she wanted to trust the man, almost as if it were a compulsion.

Most unlike her. She narrowed her eyes and inspected him briefly before nodding.

"Step over the line, make the children even vaguely uncomfortable in any way, and I will kill you," her voice ringing with the utter conviction of her words.

Blake returned the nod solemnly knowing her words to be true. "You have my word," he responded softly.

The whole situation was suddenly overwhelming and utterly ridiculous. Grabbing her purse, she moved to the gate counter, hoping it wasn't some new disaster.

Blake positioned himself between the children and Jack, as the other man sauntered over, a smug look on his face.

"Something still isn't right about this whole situation," Blake sent mentally to Jack, not wanting to speak it out loud in front of the children. "These kids aren't hers.

She knows nothing about babies, and the older one isn't talking at all, even when directly questioned. Like he's under some kind of compulsion to keep quiet."

Jack could hear the worry in Blake's mental tone, and did his best to reassure his Alpha. "You know better than anyone about noncustodial parents and court ordered guardians." He sent back.

Blake's eyes followed Carly, who was staring disbelievingly at the gate agent, eyes narrowed. "If she is my mate, my wolf is staying mum on the topic.

Maybe my wolf just sensed that she needed someone. Or didn't want to be trapped in a metal death tube with an obnoxiously loud infant."

This time, Jack only replied with a snort. If Blake wanted to pretend, who was he to argue? Everyone knew that a wolf reacted differently to a mate of human origin, and not as intensely as a mate found among other werewolves.

The wolf knew his mate, but would allow his human side to court and claim the mate.

The connection was there, but would grow gradually and not instantaneously. He'd figure it out, eventually.

Switching back to normal speech, Jack pulled out his phone and started casually discussing mundane elements of the business.

"We're now fully booked through Labor Day weekend, and things taper off for a bit until hunting season starts in earnest.

But we've had to turn many people away. We should consider hiring extra employees next summer and offer more tours."

Blake considered this, briefly. "Have Meredith look into numbers, figure out if it'll be profitable.

Look at the types of activities that are attracting people over capacity, and what we could easily add. Make sure she considers new equipment as well, this time."

"I'm sure she'll love the reminder of the one and only mistake she's made in the dozen years she's been working for you," Jack replied, rolling his eyes and grinning.

"Your meeting with Thorson has been rescheduled for tomorrow morning. And the manager of The Lodge has requested your input on certain sensitive matters."

They continued with inane business matters, until Carly rejoined them. Blake smoothly made introductions, as Carly eyed this newest threat to her sanity.

Jack, as he had been introduced, was shorter and leaner than Blake, but gave off the same sort of overwhelming presence. His hair was a shade or two lighter, but cut in a similar style.

Carly almost instantly distrusted him, though, as his eyes seemed to twinkle with mischief. She had seen that look too many times to ignore it.

His tanned skin was lined, as if he spent a lot of time in the sun. He had the look of a serious athlete, maybe a runner, she decided.

"I believe I have you to thank for my my mysterious upgrade?" She asked, unsure how she felt about everything. She felt volatile emotions course through her and was torn between thanking him and slapping him.

Blake cut in, not entirely liking the way she was eyeballing Jack. "You just looked like you could use a hand. And maybe something of a treat," he said with a soft smile.

"I like helping people, it's kind of my thing. You, your family, it's not hard to see that you're hurting. Just say 'thank you' and enjoy this small luxury."

She smiled to herself. This was not how she was expecting the trip to go. But how could she turn down first class accommodations?

"Then thank you for taking pity on us, I'm sure I will enjoy this little treat." She said rather flippantly.

Carly smiled to take the sting out of the words, but it didn't reach her eyes. Blake saw the renewed wariness and wondered again why he was bothering.

The other werewolf clearly read all the emotional subtexts in the little exchange, and it became increasingly obvious to Jack that these two were destined to be together.

He knew his Alpha was a goner, even if he didn't realize it yet. Carly had some fight in her; he had seen a spark enliven the little human with the exchange of words.

Despite the misgivings he could feel from the other two, Carly would be perfect for Blake and a wonderful addition to the pack. Quietly excusing himself, he wandered back over to Tristan and Ryan.

Soon announcements were made and boarding began. Despite her protests, Blake helped Carly manage the children and their belongings.

Jack had been able to get Carly and the children across the aisle from where he and Blake would sit. Tristan and Ryan were a bit put out, as it was their seats the woman and children were taking.

Sitting in coach would not be enjoyable, but Jack had offered compensation for the inconvenience when they returned home.