When Michael reached his brother in the study, he found him on his mobile phone. "I'll wait for you," he said, ending the call. When he turned back, he added, "That was Natalie. I asked her to come here."
"Why?"
Natalie was Christopher's ex-girlfriend. They had been together for a few years, a rather impetuous relationship—mainly due to her sanguine character—which Christopher had finally ended shortly after Evelyn's death.
"I want to ask her to go to Oldgrove. I hope you can get us some information."
"Don't you think that's too dangerous an assignment?"
"Raeg and the others haven't been able to gather much information, and time passes without us having a chance to prepare for what might happen. She will be protected; I won't send her alone."
Michael nodded. "Did you talk to our mother about this?"
Christopher shook his head. "She wouldn't approve."
His brother raised an eyebrow. "And anyway, she'll just have to investigate. That's what she wants too, isn't it?"
"You don't need to justify yourself to me, Chris. You know I'm on your side."
The brother lowered his head. "I don't like having to act like this."
"I understand that, but we can't just let things take their course as she would like either. We cannot afford to lose control of our territory. It would soon become a magnet for those seeking power. We certainly don't want a fight for pack leadership."
"No."
"Rest assured, Chris, you are acting for the good of the pack," she told him, squeezing his shoulder.
---
Natalie arrived at Barclay House late in the evening. She had found it hard to wait for the train to arrive at her destination: she was looking forward to seeing Christopher again. Tall, with dark hair falling in soft waves over her black leather jacket, her body wrapped in dark clothes that emphasized her figure, her heels clacked on the marble floor of the house. The butler led her into Christopher's study, where he greeted her with a smile.
"Natalie!" he said. "Always beautiful."
"You too never disappoint, Christopher."
"Have a seat."
She sat in one of the leather armchairs, crossing her long legs wrapped in black stockings. Christopher prepared two Macallans and handed one to his guest, then took a seat in the other armchair. He sipped his whisky while observing the woman. Her beauty was wild, her dark eyes vivid, and her lips provocative.
"I have a very important mission for you, if you will accept it," he said.
"Tell me about it."
"Strange things are happening in Oldgrove. Men have been turned, strays have come to town, and my brother was almost killed. We need to understand what's going on. I need you to move into town and gather information. You will have five wolves with you."
Natalie nodded. "I'm in. But in the city, I want to be able to move on my own."
"That's not wise."
"I won't achieve anything with five bodyguards following me."
Christopher reflected on her words. 'But you will only have to find information. Nothing more. You will keep me informed of your every move and contact.'
She nodded and smiled at him. "Don't worry: I have no intention of putting my life in danger."
But what she said was not true. She would do anything for that wolf-man. She still loved him, even though he had been sharing his life with Sabrina for five years now. She had not been able to forget him. Their story had been very brief but intense, very passionate. It was her wild and impetuous soul that had driven Christopher away. Yet every time they saw each other again, she read desire and attraction in his eyes. That was why she had not yet given up hope that he would return to her, that he would tire of the icy lawyeress now at his side.
"How come Eleanor asked you to call me?"
The pack leader actually did not have much sympathy for her, something she had not failed to point out during Natalie's relationship with her son.
"My mother knows nothing about this." At her questioning look, he continued, "She just wants to know who attacked Michael, to do justice. I also want to understand what's going on in the city."
"Good. Tell me everything you know."
Natalie listened silently, then asked, "Are you going to claim the role of pack leader?"
"No. But I'm not going to let the pack lose control of the territory either."
Natalie nodded. "I will leave in the morning."
"I have had a room prepared for you if you wish to stay over."
"I gladly accept."