BK 2 - Chapter 55 - Surprise Visitors
A few days after Theo was born, Cat was walking around the backyard carrying the cub in her arms. When she felt another presence close by, she looked around, and Saira began growling.
*"The vampire that's been watching us is here."* Saira mindlinked Trey, who was in the group home.
Cat tried to find him when he was suddenly standing right in front of her with a smile. She felt no bad energy from him, so she smiled back. They both turned when they heard running footsteps, and the vampire raised his arms like he was surrendering.
"I mean no harm, Trey. I'm here as a courtesy. My name is Thatcher." He looked back toward the young woman and the cub. He could feel Cat's abilities coming off her just by standing a few yards away.
"What do you want, and how do you know my name?" Trey walked over to his mate, putting his arm around her. He and Atlas were ready to shift in an instant if needed.
"I know both your names. I actually know your whole family. You see, I have searched for many centuries for a caladrius. When I finally stumbled upon Caterina's birthright, I had to have her. I intended to wait until she had the cub when her power was the strongest and then take her away so I could drink her blood. However, while waiting, I found my mate at one of the local colleges. Falling in love changed my whole perspective. I reached out to your mother, Trey, and she wanted to help me rid you of Caterina. I'm here to warn you that even though I have told her I changed my mind, I'm afraid she won't back down. She doesn't know that Aiden has mated to a human, but I imagine she may find that upsetting." Thatcher stopped talking as he watched the shock on the couple's faces.
"You're telling me my mother was going to help you take Cat from me? I never thought she would sink to that level." Trey was disappointed. He had always felt he was different from his family, but for them to be willing to kill his mate because she didn't fit into their mold was too much. It was time to face them and put them in their place. If they didn't back down, Atlas could have some lion snacks because as long as they were a threat to his mate and cub, they were not family.
"I wanted you to know so you can be prepared if they try something. I also wanted to let you know that Aiden and his mate have two men following them. One day when I was watching Caterina, I saw them follow them in a blue car with tinted windows. I have seen the men several times follow them here. I don't know who they are, but they don't look like people humans would want to mess with. Werelion's, I'm sure, will have no problem with them. I will continue to be in the area for some time while my mate, who's also a human, ties up loose ends before I change her. Please let me know if you need my help with these unfortunate characters."
"Thank you for the warnings and for not taking me from my mate. Would you like to come inside for some tea?" Cat smiled at him, and he felt a little dizzy. She really was quite powerful. He was going to decline, but her kindness was too much for him to pass up. However, Janel was waiting for him in her car parked on the street. He wasn't used to riding in cars, but he was willing to go at a slower pace for her.
"I would love to, but my mate is waiting in the car." Thatcher stopped hoping Cat would let Janel join them. He knew she would be thrilled to meet werelions.
"Please bring her in as well. We'll be in the guest house." Cat carried the sleeping Theo toward the house, and Thatcher ran off to get Janel. Trey looked back and forth between the two, not understanding what had just happened. One minute the vampire was saying he had planned to kidnap Cat, and the next, she offered him and his mate tea. He followed her in a daze.
"Can you explain why you're drinking tea with that vampire? He was going to kill you." Trey stared at her as she put Theo in his bassinet that was in the kitchen before she began preparing the tea.
"Wouldn't you rather have him as an ally than an enemy? Let's make friends with him and his mate. You never know when having a vampire around may be helpful." Cat kissed his cheek. Trey, Atlas, and Saira were all still on guard, but Cat brushed their weariness off. She felt like Thatcher and his mate would play an essential part in their safety in the near future.
Trey was still staring at her when they heard a knock on the door. Cat went over and opened it with a smile. Thatcher stood proudly with his arm around a pretty blonde with dark brown eyes. She beamed at Cat with excitement.
"Caterina, this is my mate, Janel. This is Caterina and her mate Trey." Thatcher made the introductions happily.
"Please call me Cat. It's nice to meet you, Janel. Come in and make yourself comfortable." She led them past Trey and into the kitchen. They sat around the table while Cat served the tea.
"Your house is beautiful," Janel said shyly. She had so many questions she wanted to ask the young lioness, but she didn't want to seem overbearing. Thatcher had told her that Cat was part caladrius and werelion. She looked at her as she moved around the kitchen in awe.
"Thank you." Cat sat a cup of tea in front of her and patted her on the shoulder. She held back her chuckle, almost feeling the questions rolling off her. She decided to put her at ease.
"Please ask whatever questions you have. I understand that you're human. I thought I was fully human all my life. I only discovered my caladrius side when I became a werelion." Janel looked at her with her mouth open. How had she known she had questions? Cat sat down next to Trey, and he put his arm around her.
"How could you tell I have questions?" Janel asked softly.
"I can feel the emotions of others. When I touched your shoulder, I could tell you had things you wanted to ask." Cat sipped her tea and glanced at Theo, who was sleeping peacefully.
"That's amazing. I have always been interested in mythology because I felt it was real and not a myth. Even in my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be sitting at a table with a vampire and two werelions. I'm sorry, one werelion and a werelion caladrius hybrid. Does it hurt when you change into your lion?" Janel asked, looking between the two across from her. Cat smiled, but Trey seemed like he was on edge.
"It did the first time, but now I can't even feel it."
Janel and Thatcher stayed for over an hour while Cat patiently answered every question she had. Trey warmed up to the couple a little after getting to know them. He decided Thatcher wasn't all bad, and just like everyone else, they were both infatuated with Cat.
Not soon after the couple left, Aiden and Kitty came. Cat took Theo to the nursery to feed and change him while Trey let them in.
"Kitty, Cat's in the nursery. She said to send you up." He wanted to talk to Aiden alone about what he had learned from Thatcher today.
"Why does it smell like a vampire was here?" Aiden wrinkled his nose.
"The vampire watching Cat came by, not to harm her but to warn us." Trey quickly filled in his brother about what Thatcher had said about their mother and about the two men following him and Kitty. Trey assumed they were sent by someone looking for Ricky. If they had been following them for a while, they must have orders not to touch anyone yet. That didn't mean they wouldn't try, though.
"I thought after we killed Ricky, it would be over. I'm going to hate breaking this to Kitty." Aiden's heart hurt, thinking there were still men wanting to get to his mate.
"That's why I wanted to tell you alone first. Also, our wonderful family intends to kill Cat, and if they find out about Kitty, they will most likely feel the same way about her. I think it's time we take a trip to Monterey and introduce our mates to the family. They will no longer be our family if they don't accept Cat and Kitty. That means if they come after them, they're dead." Aiden nodded in agreement. Why did everything have to be so complicated? All he and Trey wanted was to help people and enjoy their mates, but everyone else kept getting in the way.
