BirthStone (23 page)

Tyrese watched the big man on the monitor.
“
He has not moved from his post and has been steady. He wanted
to fight…he needs to run. We all do
.” Silas had restricted all
of them from running in the forest, and the gym track just wasn’t
the same. Although they all understood his reasoning, it had been
too long since he felt the ground beneath his paws or pulled down
prey. His wolf needed to be free and become one with the earth.

“
Yes, when you come in tonight, the six
of you should run.”

“
Six?”

“
The two of you, Rone, Rose, Cameron, and
Lilly. I want you calm for the christening tomorrow. Be careful
that Renee, Mark, and Victoria don't catch sight of you. Maybe
after dinner you can run.”

“
Dinner?”

“
Yes. My mate expects all of you here for
dinner tonight and tomorrow night. I do not want her
disappointed.”

“
You don’t want to be at the table alone
with them is what you mean
,” Tyrese said, chuckling.

“
Exactly
.”

Chapter 19

Silas walked into the silent dining area.
Mark and Jacques were alone in the room, staring at each other.
Silas had to give it to Mark for standing up to a much larger
Jacques, even though in the end it wouldn’t matter. Jacques had
waited centuries for his mate and would never back off now. Mark
seemed just as determined to stand his ground.

“The minister has arrived. Jasmine and her
mother are meeting him now to show him where to refresh himself.”
Silas filled his plate with steak and eggs from the side buffet
before turning toward the table. Neither man spoke.

He placed his plate on the table and glanced
at Mark, who made no pretense of eating, and then at Jacques, who
leaned back in his chair glaring at Mark.

“Victoria told me,” Mark said in a smug
tone. “We will prepare for the christening after she returns.”

Silas heard the low rumble in Jacques
throat. Where were the twins, he wondered. Renee walked into the
dining room. She stopped, looked at Jacques and Mark.

“Morning, everyone.” The twinkle in her eyes
warned Silas her addition to breakfast would liven things up a
bit.

“Morning, Renee,” Silas said, watching
Jacques.

“Hello, dear Renee,” Jacques said, smiling
at the woman.

Mark frowned.

Silas wondered if Jacques had found a
champion in Jasmine’s sister.

“Morning, Renee,” Mark said as she sat
across the table from Silas and winked at him.

“Where’s everybody?” she asked before taking
a sip of her grapefruit juice.

“Jasmine and Victoria are meeting with the
minister, he arrived a short while ago. They will show him the
small cathedral where the christening of my Jacqueline will take
place,” Jacques said with smug satisfaction.

“And my Renee,” she said, smiling at
Jacques. “It’s a hoot having the kids named after us isn’t it?”

“Hoot?” Jacques laughed.

Frowning, Silas sputtered.

Mark smiled.

“An honor for sure,” Jacques said in a
somber tone. “Such beautiful babies, healthy and strong. It is an
honor to stand for them, one I pledge my life to uphold.”

“Thank you,” Silas said as he received the
tribute from his oldest friend.

“They are beautiful, kinda big for their
ages though.” She gazed at Silas.

He shrugged. “I’m big.”

Her brows furrowed as she looked him over
with a doubtful expression. “Mandy didn’t believe me when I said
they were crawling and scooting. She said they were too young to be
doing that.”

Silas had no idea what Jasmine planned to
tell her sister, so he shrugged and remained silent.

“I brought gratitude stones for each of my
nieces and nephews,” Renee said in between bites. “I chose each one
based on the characteristics Jas told me.” She looked at Silas.
“It’s hard to believe each one is so different. Renee’s an artist.
She showed me her coloring pages and already she’s mixing colors
and making beautiful abstracts.”

Silas laughed. Only a doting relative would
call the coloring over previous colors on paper, abstract art. “She
is talented.”

“My Jacqueline is a strategist. She sees
patterns and creates from the obscure. It is a great gift to have.
You have been blessed.”

Silas glanced at Jacques and realized the
man was serious. Jackie worked puzzles and was pretty good at it.
But so did the others. Granted they didn’t work on them all day
like she did, but he had attributed it to her liking the texture
and feel of the pieces.

“Adam…now that one right there. You’re going
to have to watch him. He’s going to be a ladies’ man straight up.
Jasmine will rein him in some. She did that with the twins. Kept
them out of trouble when trouble in a skirt came looking for them.”
Chuckling, she shook her head. “He reminds me of Rone. Charming,
but slick.” Staring at Silas, she pointed her fork. “My sister can
and will handle them all, but she shouldn’t have to. Adam is going
to be the break wild child in that bunch and he will need a firm
hand.”

“Adam is … playful,” Silas said, agreeing
with her assessment.

“David has alpha male written all over him,
which is creepy in a way because he’s so young,” Renee said. “I
mean that’s not a bad thing, but he’s so serious. And the way he
watches everything and everybody…” She gazed at Jacques, who
shrugged.

“Oh come on, don’t tell me you haven’t
noticed. He’s younger than Adam, but he has this look he gives his
brother.” She made a face Silas thought mimicked his son perfectly.
“And Adam backs up. It’s like they listen to him or something. It’s
cool, just weird.”

“My son is not weird,” Silas said with a
grin to soften the impact. No need to alienate his mate’s sister.
“He is smart to watch his surroundings and people in them. Children
can sense a person’s true nature, and danger as well. I think all
of my…children are special and wise.”

Renee clapped as she laughed. “Spoken like a
proud papa.”

Silas nodded. “I am.”

“Well, David wouldn’t have anything to do
with me yesterday, but the others did. I hope to win his trust in
time,” Jacques said.

Mark snorted before taking a sip from his
cup.

Renee glanced in Mark’s direction. “You’re
not the only one, Jacques. He wouldn’t let Mark hold him
either.”

Mark looked up with a smirk. “I don’t think
Adam is the only ladies man, Renee. David only allowed the women to
hold him.” He glanced at Silas. “Other than you of course.”

Silas hadn’t thought about it but Mark was
right. David made allowances for the twins, but had little to do
with Cameron or Hank, the head of security. He would talk to
Jasmine about that.

“Smart boy,” Renee smirked.

Jacques laughed.

Mark’s smile appeared forced. “Not everyone
hates men you know. Victoria and I have gone to the homes of my
lesbian friends for meals and we all have a great time. Just
because you prefer women does not mean you have to dog men.”

“Uh… yeah it does.” She held her hand up,
cutting Mark off, before pointing her finger at him. “Not because
some of you guys aren’t cool. I like and respect a few guys. But
for the most part, I dislike you guys on general principle. Most
men haven’t got a clue how to treat a woman, let alone respect her.
You give women what you think they need and usually that falls way
short of what’s actually necessary. And then you fall back on
fragile egos, guilting her into taking watered down affection that
masquerades as a relationship.

“Most men are still little boys stomping
their feet in a pseudo temper tantrum trying to get their way. They
need to grow the hell up and recognize women bring just as much to
the proverbial table. Sperm alone has no creative ability; likewise
an unfertilized egg is a life of sterility. It takes two working in
tandem with each other in appreciation and respect of who they are
at the core to make a decent relationship. Everything else makes it
better. Most men have no idea who their woman is at her core level
and that…” She tapped the table with her finger. “That’s the reason
I dislike men. They want fast food style relationships instead of
using a crock pot to allow the flavors of individuality time to
develop.”

No one spoke.

“I believe Jasmine said you taught at a
college,” Jacques said into the quiet. “Your students are well
served by your brilliance. You have given me pause. I heard
everything you said and as I examine my past actions, fear you are
correct. I will remember your wise words in the future.”

“Suck up,” Mark whispered.

Silas heard and could tell by Jacques'
reddening face that he had as well. “That was an interesting point
of view, Renee.” Silas spoke to ease the rising tension in the
room. “Does Jasmine believe the same as you?”

Renee’s cheeks pinkened. “Some. She is
utterly heterosexual.” She glanced at Jacques. “Like mom.”

Silas' brow rose as she sidestepped his
question regarding how women see men. He would discuss it with his
mate later.

“Why did you look at him when you said
that?” Mark asked in an angry tone.

Renee glanced at him with a bored
expression. “What do you mean? I was making conversation.”

“Silas, you may not be aware of this, but
your friend here has been making inappropriate remarks and
attempting to get my fiancé alone. We are invited guests in your
home and I would appreciate it if you would ask him to stop
pursuing my future wife.”

Silas heard the growl low in Jacques throat
and whipped out a command through the link. “
Cease.
” The
sound stopped.

“You are right, my fiancé invited her family
to the christening of our children and I apologize if you feel
uncomfortable for any reason. I will have a talk with Jacques. I
promised my lady nothing would interfere with this day. I want her
happy.” He glanced at Jacques, who got the message. But just in
case he did not, Silas sent a more direct one through their
link.

“
Do not make me ban you from the
compound. I will not have anyone mess up this day for my family and
that includes my mate’s mother. Can you back off?”

Jacques was silent.

“
I will only ask once again. Can you back
off?”
Giving Jacques a choice was a boon and they both knew
it.

“
Yes, Sir. It is killing me seeing her
with him. My wolf goes wild at her scent and to smell him on her…it
is hard not to kill him
.”

“Thank you, Silas. Victoria was becoming
upset at his pursuit.” Mark stood. “I’m going to the room to wait
for Victoria. I’ll see you all at the christening.” He turned and
left.

“I don’t like him,” Jacques said after a
moment or two.

“Why?” Renee asked, gazing at the man. “I
mean I get that you like mom and all, but she really likes this
guy. So other than being jealous that he’s with the woman you want,
why don’t you like him?”

Jacques shook his head. “I don’t know. I
just don’t.”

Silas watched Jacques struggle to bring his
wolf under control. He wondered how he would have handled meeting
Jasmine when she had been married to Davian. A streak of anger
sliced through him. His wolf growled low in his belly at the
thought of his mate with anyone else. No doubt he would have
recognized her as his mate and his animal instincts would have
taken over. She would have had him arrested or worst. It would not
have been pretty.

“I understand,” he said, meeting Jacques'
sad gaze. The wolf wants what the wolf needs. His friend had to be
patient. Human relationships were fragile things, easily broken.
Silas would work behind the scenes to expedite that conclusion.

Renee stood. “I do too. Good luck with mom.
She needs a steady mature man on her arm. I think you fit the
bill.” She winked at Jacques. “I’m going to call Mandy and then get
ready for the christening, I’ll see you guys there.” She waved as
she left the room.

Silas stood as well. “I know you think I
don’t understand what you’re going through, I do. Remember, Jasmine
is still married. Her husband is below ground with his mate.
Fortunately for us all, he is mated or things would be really bad.
I cannot allow myself to think about it without a red mist of
anger. So I do understand. It will happen. I promise you that one
day you and Victoria will be mated, but she cannot think you are
mentally deficient. She needs to see you as a man worthy of her
love. Back up but don’t disappear. Remain busy but always be
available. Be charming but not a suck-up.” He chuckled at the glare
Jacques sent him. “Some of the stuff you said sounded like you were
trying to get on Renee’s good side, which was unnecessary by the
way. I picked up that you were her favorite as soon as she came
into the room.”