The Ebony Alpha Ch. 23

He calmed his thoughts and surveyed the film as it flowed before his eyes. Each frame didn't seem to change and he thought maybe he was wasting his time.

Sighing,he kept going slowly looking at each frame carefully. He came to a picture of Fabio right before the video ended. It looked as if the camera man had put the recorder down on the floor before it was cut off.

There in the corner he saw a woman's foot wearing a purple suede stiletto with a black strap that ended in a small bow.

Then he noticed in another frame, that the window behind Fabio acted like a mirror. It showed that he had an audience in the foreground.

Stephan's excitement grew and he picked up his phone to call Dru. If they could find out who was with him other than the reporter; then maybe they could track him down.

Noticing how late it was; he put up his phone and decided to talk with Dru tomorrow. He saved the file and turned off the computer. He had a mate now and he was sure she was wondering where he was.

Fabio could wait. Alisha was more important to him now. Whistling under his breath, he headed back to his mate anxious to be wrapped in her arms again.

*************

"Hey baby I found this envelope in the mail drop. It's from your Mom." Raphael handed Dru the package and went to the kitchen to cook dinner.

"You know I bet it's a Christmas present. When she sent this she didn't know she was coming down. I'll just wait to open it with our other gifts."

"That makes sense. So are you excited for her visit?" Raphael asked as he put on water to boil for the pasta he was making.

"Of course. You know how much I want her in our lives. But if she is trying to fool us; this time it will be the end. I can't let her come between us baby."

"I am proud of you for at least trying Dru. I know you love her and I will try my best to not get angry if she bates me."

"Well you know what they say; it's hard for an old dog to learn new tricks. But I will keep my hopes up and stay positive."

"That is the most you can do sweetheart. You are lucky to have your mother. I didn't know my parents. Mama Louisa is the closest thing I have to a mother."

"I wish I knew more about my father as well. He just vanished from my life when I was very young. I hardly remember anything about him."

"Do you even know where he is?"

"No, but my mother might. He was sending her financial support for years."

"Did you ever ask her about him? I mean it is only natural that you would want to know about your lineage."

Dru sighed and took a seat on a stool at the island. "I knew it would make her sad. She used to cry all the time after he left. I didn't want to make her start all over again."

Raphael walked over to his mate and pulled her into his arms.

"You don't remember when I first saw you, but I will never forget it. I was struck by your beauty and the sadness in you beautiful eyes. I understand you not wanting to make your mother cry again. I feel the same about you."

Raphael kissed Drusilla's soft lips and tried to make her forget her past. It was the luckiest day of his life when he has followed Remy to her house.

An acrid smell filled the room and he ran back to the stove. He had forgotten about the boiling water, and it had evaporated leaving the pot to burn.

"Damn it!" He shouted as he grabbed the handle, it was just as hot as the pan. He dropped it in the sink and put his hand under the faucet.

That did it. Drusilla laughed loudly forgetting her troubles. Raphael had a knack for making her smile and she would always love him for that.

Her ringing phone interrupted her glee and she took a few seconds to calm down.

"Hello." Dru answered still trying to stop giggling.

"Hey it me dear. I'm on my way. I just got to Beaumont Texas. I'm taking the long way around, but I should be there tomorrow morning."

"Oh Mom! That will be the best Christmas present ever. I can't wait until you get here. Raphael can't wait to see you either." Drusilla smirked at her husband who was putting on more water to boil.

He rolled his eyes at her. If she wanted him to be happy then he would, just for her.

"Hello Carlotta! Drive carefully." He smiled at his mate and she looked at him with so much love; he knew they wouldn't be eating any time soon. He turned off the stove.

"Okay Mom I will see you then. Please be careful like Raphael said. I want you here in one piece."

"Don't worry honey I'll be there and remember I have a big surprise for you."

"Okay Mom I'll remember. But all I want is to see you. Love you bye."

"Goodbye Drusilla. Take care." The phone went dead and Dru smiled at her mate.

"I see you are no longer cooking my mate. Don't you think I might be hungry?"

"Oh I know you are hungry Drusilla. I just thought maybe you wanted to start with me." His voice was low and seductive and she walked slowly over to her mate.

"You know me so well my love." She ran her hands over his chest and grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"

Follow me I know just how to get things cooking in the bedroom."

She didn't have to ask him twice, and he eagerly followed his mate anticipating what she was showing him in her mind.

**************

"You listen to me little girl! You are not allowed alone with any man, let alone your mate without a chaperone!" Charles was shouting at his daughter and Aphasia kept quiet waiting for him to calm down.

Ralph had not lied to him as he found him escorting Persia back to the Guest Quarters. Ralph and assured him that it was a chance meeting and he had brought her back at once.

But that wasn't the issue. His very young daughter was now his heir. She had to remain above suspicion in everything she did from now on.

Ralph would rule by her side and they would have to make sure their reputations were pristine.

It seemed that every time he turned around Persia was sneaking off. This would not do for the daughter of an Alpha and she needed to understand that.

"I can make your life easy or very difficult. It is up to you Persia. Ralph does not have to be welcome on my lands until you are eighteen years old!"

"Then I will run away and you will never see me again." Persia did not shout or scream at her overbearing father. She was cool against his wrath and Aphasia trembled with fear.

Her child was and old soul. She would do exactly as she said and they would never see it coming.

"That's enough Charles. It is time for women to talk. I am sure Persia did not mean to upset us and she will do her best to follow the rules as they are set."

Charles stomped out of the room in anger. He needed a fucking drink. He knew just where to find one. He headed to the main house in search of Silas Chambers. They needed to talk.

****************

Charles heard voices coming from behind the closed door of Silas' office. He knocked and was asked to come in.

"Well Charles it is good to see you, I think." Silas looked at his friend and motioned for him to have a seat. Charles plopped down in an overstuffed club chair and put his booted feet on the ottoman before it.

"Damn kids! I wish I didn't have any right now." Charles was growling and the two other men in the room smiled.

"Can I get you a drink Charles? You look like you could use one." Silas rose and poured the growling man a Brandy.

"Here you go my friend. Want to talk about what's troubling you?"

"Charles you have tiny girls; how can they be so much trouble?" Jacques Metairie laughed at the grimace that covered his friends face and Silas joined in as well.

"Laugh it up why don't you. Alisha has just left my protection for yours Silas, and now I can't seem to keep Persia in check."

"What has she done that's so bad Charles? The girl is only a baby, how much trouble can she get into?" Jacques was only joking but the look on Charles' face dried up his mirth.

"She is hard headed and stubborn. She is too grown up for her own good and she won't listen to me. I am her Alpha and her Father, how can she defy me at every turn?"

Silas knew what Charles was talking about. Ralph had told him all that had transpired between him and Persia. It was all innocent, but she was just as Charles said; very stubborn.

"I think she needs a woman's wisdom Charles. I hope you didn't come off all Alpha wolf on her. She knows who you are and she is not frightened of you." Jacques said.

"I know you only want her respect and not her fear, am I right?" Silas asked.

"I threatened not to let her see Ralph until she was of age. She then threatened to run away."

"Well you could always treat her like Rapunzel and lock her in a tower. That will keep her virginity intact until she is eighteen." Jacques couldn't help himself and laughed at the anguished man at his side.

"I will not be threatened by my own child. She must know that I only want the best for her."

"All of us as parents want the best for our children Charles. Especially Fathers for their daughters. They are our princesses, and the last thing we want is for some older male to rob them of their innocence."

Jacques looked at Charles waiting for his words to sink in. The anguished man looked at the man to his side and swallowed hard. He had taken Louisa's virginity and left her to fend for herself.

He could blame his Father all he wanted for deserting her. But if he had been more of a man he would have never let Louisa go.

"Time marches on Charles, but do things really ever change?" Jacques said quietly.

"Daughters defy their Fathers and innocence is lost. I would never wish what happened between you and Louisa on another man, besides what's done is done."

Charles started to speak but Jacques continued on. "You must trust your child Alpha. She is wise beyond her years and I think you have raised her well. Besides; threats never work."

A smile formed on Jacques face and he rose from his seat. "I am sorry that I have to leave Silas. I have a meeting that I must attend and it can't wait."

"I wish you could stay Jacques the twins will be named tomorrow." Silas bemoaned.

"Don't worry my friends; Desiree is staying. She would never leave Louisa right now." Bowing slightly the wise man left the room.

Silas peered at Charles through narrowed eyes and sighed. He decided to let the man vent and then he would tell him what he thought they should do.

"Have you had time to speak with your son Silas?"

"I have." He replied.

"So what is he planning to do? Will he follow us back to France to be near Persia?"

"He was thinking along those lines, but I advised him against it. Your daughter may be only eleven years old but she already looks sixteen."

"This I know. It frightens me every time I look at her."

"Well how do you think my son feels? She is almost as tall as your oldest daughter and when she hits puberty it will be very difficult for my son to resist her."

"But if he refuses to go to France, she will think I made him stay behind. She will hate the ground I walk on."

Silas laughed and Charles frowned at his companion and continued to speak.

"I guess I should be used to that since Alisha was the same way."

"Give me some time to think on this Charles. I am sure we can come to a suitable compromise."

"Okay Silas. I guess I'll go back now. Thanks for the drink and advice. I feel much better now."

"Charles you make me so glad that all I have are sons. Thanks for making me appreciate them even more."

The two men laughed and said good night. Charles made his way back to his suite and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Aphasia was alone.

"How did your little talk go, my love?" He asked hesitantly.

"Not well Charles. You made her indignant and it was hard to get her to listen to me. Even Alisha had no luck."

"Shit I was hoping for better news. I spoke to Silas and he promised to speak with Ralph again. I'm afraid he advised him to remain here."

"But Persia will think it was our idea!" Aphasia cried. She was tired of all this drama.

"I told him as much. We'll just have to have a little faith that he and Ralph will come up with a solution."

"I have little faith in men trying to solve a woman's problem. But what choice do I have? It's really out of our hands now."

Charles walked over to his mate and held out his arms to her. She snuggled close and held him tight around his waist.

"I promise it will get better baby." Charles whispered into her hair. He scented her deeply and it soothed his soul.

He'd never thought that his own children would present such problems for him. He had definitely been a pain in his father's ass. So why should he expect anything different?

"Let's get some rest my love. I know that sleep will not come easy for us this night."

***************

Persia was wide awake and confused at her feelings. She didn't mean to upset her parents, but they were being unreasonable.

Oh she knew that she was too young to make her own decisions, but her wolf was pushing her to fight.

"He was their mate!" Her wolf had declared. "We should not be separated."

But her wolf didn't tell her that her parents would go off the deep end. It was really all Alisha's fault, Persia surmised. If her sister hadn't gone into heat none of this would be happening.

Her handsome mate would never have run away and abandoned her, and her wolf wouldn't be so insecure.

But it was always about Alisha and now that she was mated Persia's parents needed to put her needs first.

"Persia are you asleep?" Alisha stood at her sister's door and whispered.

"I thought you and Stephan would be doing what mates do right now."

"I convinced him that you needed me more tonight and he said he would go find some work to do."

"You didn't have to do that Alisha. I know you want to be with your mate. That's the way it is with all mated couples."

"You are right, but it is not the end of the world if we take a break from each other every now and then."

"Well Mon and Dad want me to take a seven year break from my mate, and I think that it's just not fair."

"Okay Persia, say that I agree with you, what do you imagine you and Ralph will do until you come of age?"

"I suppose I will finish school and he will train to be a part of our pack."

"But what if Father is not his Alpha? Would you have him learn about the Dupac way of life and then leave if Luna places you with someone else?"

"I didn't think about that. I guess he could train to be Daddy's second."

"Not if he isn't pack. You are causing a lot of fuss about things that you have obviously not thought out. Why are you doing this?"

"My wolf doesn't want to be separated from Ralph. She is afraid that we will not mate if he is not with us."

"Why would your wolf feel like that Persia? Did Ralph do something to make you doubt his intentions?"

Persia didn't answer her. It was embarrassing to tell your sister that your mate wanted to claim her when she was in heat.

The silence between them drug on until Alisha gasped loudly. She had seen in Persia's thoughts and her heart went out to her little sister.

"Persia your wolf is acting irrationally. How many times has someone told you that what happened to Ralph was only natural?"

"Lots of times, and I understand. It's my wolf that doesn't want to let him out of her sight!"

Alisha laughed quietly and took a seat beside Persia.

"Daddy is the law in your life Persia. He and Mother only want what's best for you. I think that you need to meet Ralph's wolf so that you guys can assure one another of your commitment."

"How did you get so smart in a week?" Persia asked her sibling.

"Believe it or not I always listened to the other pack mates at home. Our wolves are very possessive and they need to be assured continuously that our mates love no other."

"So if my wolf and Ralph's meet I can get the assurance that I need." Persia smiled and hugged Alisha tightly.

"First thing in the morning you need to apologize to Mom and Dad. They are really worried about you." Alisha told her little sister.

"You need to make sure the two of you have a chaperone and Mother and Father will be okay with it. But the apology must come first."

"I will also tell them what we discussed and maybe they will understand how I feel." Persia promised.

"I'm sure they will. Why don't we get some sleep? Move over and make some room in your bed. Stephan won't be back until morning."

"Why would he work all night Alisha?" Persia yawned and her eyes closed slowly.

"Because he is close to a solution to something he is working on, and the sooner he finishes the sooner he can concentrate on me."

"Wow you sound so grown up Alisha, I can't wait until I'm of age and just as smart as you are."

"Well tonight you should go to sleep and dream, because that's the only place it will happen."

A pillow hit Alisha in the face and the fight was on. Persia laughed and couldn't help but feel better. They were just sisters again with no problems and no mates to come between them.

She couldn't wait until tomorrow and sleep fell heavily upon her, no dreams just peace.

************************

The slamming echo of a door startled Stephan and woke him from his sleep. He had studied the photograph so intensely that he finally passed out from exhaustion.

That shoe was the clearest thing he could see, but the reflections in the glass behind Fabio, were giving him headaches.

If he could just find out who they were, he may have his first lead in this case. He looked at his left wrist where his bracelet used to be and grimaced.

Director Metairie hadn't contacted him and he wanted to at least prove to him that he was still loyal.

The Director had told his agents that if nothing happened on the case soon, he would begin calling in favors from outside of the agency.

Weres were very territorial about taking care of their own problems, and Stephan wanted to keep it within the ASI.

"Good morning Stephan." Drusilla walked into the archive library and took a seat next to her friend.

"Looks like you've been here all night. You must have really worn Alisha out for her to let you out of her sight so soon."

"Very funny Dru, but the truth of the matter is Alisha needed to be a big sister last night. So I hid out here."

"Well what are you looking at? Maybe I can help."

"Sure. Take a look at this frame and tell me if you know who makes shoes like those."

Stephan pointed at the very feminine pointed toe shoe at the bottom of the frame. The purple and black ribboned pump almost took her breath away.

Those shoes were one of a kind. Her mother had them made especially for herself. No one wore ribbons on their shoes anymore but her Mother had insisted that they include them on her pair.

Drusilla swallowed hard and shook her head. "I don't know Stephan. Maybe it's sold everywhere."

"Well I put the shoe in a product recognition program and it didn't recognize the make. I need a fashion-ista to take a look."

"Well maybe that will help. Anything else you want to show me?" She asked trying to hide her nerves.

"Glad you asked. Look behind Fabio in this frame. The reflections of the people watching him are in the glass. Does anyone look familiar to you?"

Of course they did. Her mother's long black hair draped over her shoulders and her small frame was standing sideways so that her face was not seen.

Drusilla knew her mother and there was no doubt Carlotta was one of the people in the room.

Her mother was due to arrive at the Chambers Pack lands in less than an hour. She had to talk to her before Stephan showed this picture to someone else.

She wouldn't do anything to hamper his investigation, but she needed time. If her mother was being held hostage, that would explain a lot.

But she was free and on her way there now. This was going to be difficult.