Surrogate for My Brother-in-law - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

My mind raced, and my heart pounded so hard I was surprised Leo didn't hear it.
I kept my voice calm and steady, though. Eva was always confident. So I had to pretend to be confident, too.
“I wasn't sure whether I should knock,” I said. “I didn't want to presume.”
“You're my wife,” Leo protested.
“Well, yes,” I agreed, “but we don't really know each other, do we?”
“I guess we don't,” Leo said. His face fell as if what I said saddened him.
Then he perked up and the shadow of a grin touched his lips. “We can fix that. Come on in. We have time to get to know each other now.”
He opened the door and stepped aside with a gallant bow. This teasing, happy Alpha was nothing like the stern, angry one I'd faced earlier. Which one was the real Leo?
Leo held out his arm and I tucked my hand into the crook of his elbow. It felt weird being respected like that. Most wolves didn't touch me except to smack me around or shove me out of their way.
“I could show you my rooms? I mean, they're your rooms, your family's guest rooms. But still. I didn't show you before and it wasn't very polite.”
I smiled up at him as he spoke. Was he nervous? He sounded nervous. How weird was that?
“I'd love a tour,” I said.
“All right, then,” Leo grinned. “Well, this here is the sitting room. You'll see I have a couch and a coffee table and a love seat. Why are they called that, anyway? Love seats.”
“I think it's because two people can sit in one, and it's small so they have to sit close,” I said, “Like lovers.” I paused. “Oh, they used to be called gossip chairs, too. I read that somewhere.”
“Gossip chairs.” Leo laughed and I wished I could wrap the sound around me like a blanket. “I like that.”
I tried to remember that old book on home decoration I'd read once. Just so I could say something else that might make Leo laugh.
“They started out as extra wide seats, for the big dresses women wore way back when. Well, human women,” I shrugged, like I never cared anything about humans because most wolves didn't. “The big dresses went away but the big chairs stayed.”
Leo nodded. “That's interesting. Are you a student of human history?”
“Not really,” I said. “I just like to read, when there's not something more interesting to do.”
That was a dangerous statement. I loved to read. Eva, though, barely picked up a book if she wasn't forced to.
“I like to read,” Leo said. “Mostly when it's raining or storming outside. My favorites are mystery novels.”
I looked around the sitting area. “This would be a nice place to curl up and read.”
“Yeah, it would,” Leo agreed. “I'll get us some books later.” He turned slightly. “The bathroom's through that door. Would you like to see it?”
“Sure,” I agreed.
I knew what the guest bathroom looked like because I cleaned them all. But I hadn't seen it since Leo moved in. Had he changed something?
The bathroom was like I remembered. All black and bronze tile, with a massive tub shower combo behind glass panels and a nice, wide black granite counter that was a huge pain to keep clean and smudge free. The toilet was tucked into a slightly smaller room, for privacy since a couple was meant to share the room.
The counter was neat, unlike Eva's bathroom sink which overflowed with cosmetics and skin care products. I spotted soap, shaving supplies, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Most everything was in those little travel sizes people carried on long trips. That made sense because before the wedding Leo and his pack had been moving all over the place, hunting the King of the Rogues.
“Okay, I admit it's a little boring,” Leo said, closing the bathroom. He turned me towards the other door. “Here's the bedroom. You, well, you already saw it.”
I certainly had. I stepped inside and looked around. Now that my mind wasn't clouded with the aphrodisiac and Leo's scent, I could get a better look.
It was just like every other guest room in the pack's manor. There was a bed, big enough for several wolves to sleep on. It had a deep burgundy comforter over black sheets. The colors were chosen to acknowledge Leo's pack colors. Our pack colors were green and gold. Eva kept dressing in our colors, even though properly she should have started wearing Leo's.
Besides the bed, which drew most of my attention, there was a well worn footlocker that must be Leo's because I had never seen it before, and a large oak wardrobe. Otherwise the room was empty. Leo hadn't had time to fill it with any personal possessions.
“So, yeah, that's my rooms,” Leo said. He rubbed the back of his neck. Was he nervous?
“They're very nice,” I said, feeling a little silly. This was my pack's manor. Why was I complimenting it?
“I guess we could talk about something else,” Leo said. “Did you have any questions for me?”
Did I? My mind scrambled for a topic. Something better than bathroom décor and the names of furniture.
“Your parents weren't at the wedding,” I said, feeling like an idiot. “Is your home territory really far away?”
“Didn't anyone tell you? I don't have a territory anymore.” Leo turned away slightly. “And my parents weren't at the wedding because they're dead.”
“I am so sorry.” I covered my mouth with my hands and seriously contemplated running for it. How could I have been so insensitive?
Leo shrugged and tugged my hands down. “No, no, it makes sense to ask. You didn't know.”
I shook my head. No one told me anything. Why would they?
“Here, sit with me.” Leo guided me to the bed.
I worked to steer my mind away from the last time I'd been in that bed.
Leo sat next to me, leaving a respectful distance between us. I folded my hands in my lap. Leo rolled his shoulders and leaned back a little.
“So. I guess you don't know anything about me. Where to start?”
“Anywhere,” I said.
“Okay. Well, I suppose the whole thing started with the Rogues.”
I nodded. Everything came down to them. Leo's injuries, my mother's coma, everything.
“When the King of the Rogues first started gathering Rogues to his banner, my pack was one of the first ones attacked,” Leo said. “We were a small pack, with a minor territory on the border with the humans.”
His pack lived near the human lands?
“My parents died defending the pack against one of the first major attacks. My brother Zane and I were left alone with a shattered pack. We lost the territory. There weren't enough of us to hold it, not with our strongest fighters dead or critically hurt.”
“Oh. That's awful,” I said, reaching out and resting my hand on his arm.
“It was rough for a while. But some of our allies sheltered us. Our fighters recovered, I trained hard, and we found a few others who'd been hurt by the rogues. I put together a team of warriors, not a true pack. That's why we haven't tried to take our territory back.” Leo leaned back. “I think I might give our old lands to our allies, and work out something with your father.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“I'm not sure. I just know I need to build my pack back up properly. With a mate and an heir.” Leo grinned over at me. “With you and our child.”
“That sounds nice,” I said.
Leo shook himself and grinned. “Well! It's your turn. Tell me something about yourself, Eva.”
I didn't know what to do. Should I pretend to be Eva? What might she tell him?
I had no idea. We were technically sisters, but really we were strangers. I had to say something, though.
What could I say? I couldn't talk about my life.
“I, um, I guess, I want a family, too,” I said honestly. “I want to be as good a mother as mine is.”
“Your mother?” Leo sounded curious.
“Yeah. She's the greatest woman I know. She's taken care of me my whole life. She loves me deeply, and I love her. I want to make her proud. I'd do anything for her.”
Leo stared at me for a moment and I wondered if I'd said too much, or said something wrong.
Then, suddenly, he grabbed me in a tight hug. I buried my face in his shoulder and held on. It had been so long since anyone had hugged me.
“Your mother must be a wonderful woman, to raise someone like you,” Leo murmured into my hair. “I know she's proud of you.”
I swallowed hard and leaned into the hug. It just felt so nice to be held. To be cared for.
“You're so different from before, Eva,” Leo said.
His words hit me like a splash of ice water to the face. Eva, he thought I was Eva. All these caring words and gentle touches were for her, not me.
“I... I have to act different. In front of everyone else,” I explained. It wasn't far from the truth. “I can't be too soft. They'd think I was weak.”
Leo blinked and tilted his head. “Your own pack?” he asked.
Before he could ask anymore questions, I leaned forward and caught his mouth in a kiss. I meant to distract him, but I ended up melting into his embrace again.