“Just a quick question, but is this like a cult of some kind?” Everyone froze. Apparently they all had the same question because they all looked at Wyatt waiting for an answer. Caz’s mate had no filter. He was already figuring that out.
Wyatt snorted, then busted out laughing. “Sorry, but I guess it does give that impression. No, we are all family. My family is spread out over the world and I want to get them together, hence the castle. So, to answer your question, Raven, this is my family. I offered them a place to live for free and even employed most of them. I really have enjoyed it and they seem to as well, but not a cult, just my family.”
“This is my sister, Charlie. I hope you don’t mind if she joins us.” They all turned toward the back door as a beautiful woman with blonde hair and black highlights walked toward them. She carried a basket with fruit.
“Hello,” Charlie said. She was terribly shy and didn’t look at any of them long in the face. Still, this was strange. Beautiful and tall. She had to be at least six feet. This was turning out to be the strangest day he had ever had. The woman was stunning but something was off about these people including their host. Was he the mastermind behind the taking of shifters?
Caz looked away from the female and at his mate who was watching him like a hawk. He winked at her trying to calm her. Nothing about the woman attracted him. He only had eyes for Raven.
“Let’s eat, everyone. I have plenty of food,” Wyatt said.
Chapter Thirteen
Raven noticed Charlie continued to glance up at everyone, but she didn’t like the fact the woman continued to look at Caz a little too much. But something was so strange about Wyatt Benjamin and all his family. All twelve thousand of them. Who asked all of their family to live with them in a castle in Georgia of all places? Okay, maybe back in the dark ages, but not today. Unless…
Raven readjusted in her seat and waited until everyone was up and filling their plates. Wyatt was still sitting at the table with his sister. “Mr. Benjamin, I was—”
“Please call me Wyatt.”
“Okay, Wyatt, where is your family from?”
Wyatt shifted in his seat and glanced at his sister who also looked uncomfortable at her question. “Well, we are from Arizona and a lot of my family lived there. Some come from England, Australia, and Europe. But most are from Arizona. They all seem to love the weather here and trees. Have you always lived here in New Hope, Raven?”
This man was good at only giving enough information and changing the subject. “No, I was born in Alaska, but moved here about three years ago. We also love the weather and trees,” Raven said. Yes, she was being a smart butt, and yes, she knew he knew she was. Still she was who she was and it didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest.
He even chuckled when she said it. Caz put his plate down and put his hand on her shoulder. “I can make you a plate if you want.”
“Nah, but thanks.” She got up and went to the table set up with more food than they could eat, but when you have a clan of people living here, she suspected it wouldn’t go to waste.
“How long have you two been together?” Charlie asked, putting food on her plate.
Raven couldn’t stop the growl that escaped her as she stared at the woman. “Not long, why?”
“I’m sorry. You both make a sweet couple. I meant no harm. I like to people watch and he’s very attentive to you. I could tell he likes you a lot. Please forgive my manners. I meant no harm.” Charlie nodded, and walked back to the table.
Raven could tell that Charlie was very timid and her brother watched out for her. She didn’t mean any trouble, that she was sure of. The woman was probably scared of her own shadow. What was wrong with her now? Admit it, Raven, you don’t want anyone looking at your mate. Oh my, your mate.
“I must apologize, but my sister meant no harm,” Wyatt said, standing beside her. “She likes to watch people and you are new to her. She’s very shy. You look like my late wife and they were very close. She misses her as much as I do.”
That’s exactly what she had hoped since he continued to stare at her. And she would use it to get more information. “Oh, I’m not mad. I hope I didn’t scare her. I’m a very direct person and I think I may have been a little too direct. I’m sorry to hear that. How did your wife die if you don’t mind me asking?” Raven asked, staring at him.
She knew Caz was listening and watching her every move. She could feel his eyes all over her. Although the humans might not have heard the growling, everyone else in the area could.
Obviously, Caz wasn’t liking how close Wyatt was to her. This was going to be a problem but what could she say? She didn’t like the fact that Charlie, the cult girl, was way too close to Caz a few minutes ago, but he needed to get used to it if they planned on working together.
“A car wreck. Strange, but you do look like her. Except she had blonde hair and taller. How long have you been together with Caz?”
She just smiled. Not realizing that Caz was now up and standing behind her.
Caz answered, directing her back to the table. “We have only been together for a couple of weeks, but every time I look at her, I realize how lucky I am.”
She didn’t want to cause a scene. Especially when she saw her alpha’s face. Instead of clawing her mate’s eyes out, she let him pull her chair out and sat.
The look on Wyatt’s face was strange. In fact, he looked like he was going to challenge Caz.
“Wyatt, how many sisters do you have?” Jade asked bringing everyone attention back to the table. Including the host. Even Charlie looked panicked until her brother sat.
“Charlie is my only sister. I have two brothers, all younger than me,” Benjamin answered.
“Do they live here too?” Jade asked.
“They will, but they are handling business overseas for my company.” That answer made everyone at the table take notice.
“Oh, I’m sorry what kind of business are you in?” Jade continued to pry. But Calum was looking at Wyatt too. Everyone wanted to hear his answer. She sure did. So much so, that she stopped eating and watched the billionaire.
“I have several businesses. I own about thirty hotels, like Calum. I dabble in the market and computer technology mostly. Security equipment is my passion right now. You can never have too much security and we have to be smarter than everyone else or they will steal what is most precious from you.”
Steal what is most precious from you. It’s him, Caz thought.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Wyatt, but you have an important phone call from your brother,” a man said, walking outside.
“Thank you, Sam. Would you please excuse me, I need to take this. Please, continue to enjoy your food and get as much as you want.” With that being said, they watched as Wyatt got up and went inside.
They couldn’t talk while he was gone because Charlie was still sitting there and now that he mentioned the security equipment, Raven and Caz both nodded at each other in the direction of the hidden cameras. They were also experts in this field and could easily pick them out, but it was the ones that weren’t so obvious that she tried to locate.
Even Lennox leaned back and checked the area out. Calum continued to eat and make small talk with Charlie, but the rest of them were looking for all the hidden security cameras.