Chapter 5

Prince Xander-

I have a strange foreboding, my gut telling me not to go outside. I have never been afraid of a simple girl, and I am not about to be afraid now.

Cautiously, I walk outside, staring in disbelief. I look around at the guards and ask, "Why is there a cow outside here?"

"Your highness the young girl and her friends state it is a gift for you and leave a note hanging on the front of the cow. They also leave a bucket under the cow should you want fresh milk they stated."

I walk over and take the letter off the cow, named ironically Claire. The letter states the cow is ready for our date. The cow even brings me fresh milk. The letter jests I could charm the panties off Claire the cow, oh wait it states, she doesn't have any panties, looks like you were successful your highness. The letter ends with "have fun on your date your highness.”

I chuckle to myself; the guards look fearful I might lose my temper. I surprise them and myself; I am not angry. This clearly is disrespect, but I find this funny.

I turn around, looking at the guards, and they still look in shock at my lack of anger. "Have someone who knows how to milk a cow to come here. I want that milk bucket to be filled and dropped off at Clair's office at the security firm we hired. Oh, and have them return the cow to her as well." I walk off and then I realize I need to communicate with her. Her brothers make certain her name isn't in any werewolf directory.

"Before I forget have the person whoever delivers the cow, have that person come to my office and get a burner phone to give Ms. Clair.”

Walking back into the castle, I think "Game is on Clair!”

Clair –

I am deep in thought trying to find the IP addresses responsible for the data breach. I am so close to figuring this out.

I hear a knock on the door; it is 7:00 p.m. I think who could be here at my office at this time of night as I stare at the door contemplating on if I should answer the door or not. I hear the knock louder this time. I push back my chair and open the door.

I curse, "That son of a dog. #@#@#!" There in front of me is Claire, the cow and fresh milk. The man hands me a cell phone and turns his back and leaves. I keep calling out for him to come back and take the cow, but he acts like I don't exist." I stand standing in the same spot staring at the elevator the man just leave in. Not taking in they give me a burner phone and that it is ringing.

I bring myself out of my stupor only to ask myself what is vibrating in my hand? Lifting my hand, I see a burner phone, of course he did. I take a deep breath to calm myself before answering the phone.

"What??" I ask rudely.

My wolf is jumping again at the sound of Xander's voice.

"Claire, thank you for your unique gift. I want to return the generosity. I mean who wouldn't want a fresh glass of milk."

Clair –

I am so angry I stay silent as Xander speaks.

"Clair? I can hear you breathing. Listen, Clair, tomorrow I am sending over 25 applicants to interview for the many butlers positions we have open on the night of the ball. I need you to interview them."

Clair –

I cannot believe the audacity of this man! "I am your security adviser, NOT your HR dept!"

I can hear Catherine in the back of my head, "Can we keep him, I want him, I want him."

I reply 'Listen! You horn dog! He is not our type!" Catherine purrs, "He is my type!"

I hear Xander chuckle a small chuckle, "because of the many packs that will attend, I need the security ran for each employee, and you are the security we are hiring."

I growl and state I will be in the office bright and early.

Xander –

"Oh, Clair,. I want you to remember in tit for tat, I always win."

Clair –

I hang up the phone tired of listening to Xander's cockiness. I take the phone and throw it out the 7th story window. "SPLAT" the phone broke into a gazillion pieces.

I go home to my one-bedroom apartment to relax from the day, falling into a deep sleep.

The next morning, I shower and get dressed for the day, if I only knew what I would walk into, I would not have left the warmth of my comforters.

Stopping at the nearby coffee shop, I get my usual Hot Chai Tea Latte large. The cashier knows me by name now, and funny thing she has my drink waiting for me when I walk in. I am still tired from being up late last night as Becky, her brother and I, return Claire the Cow to the Miller farm.

Walking into my office, I take a seat, only to have all my brothers come storming into my office. I am barely awake, and I am glaring at them.

Camden –

"Clair! What happened here last night? Dufus pointing at my brother I call Beavis. Stepped in a massive pile of manure, do you know anything about that?"

My brother Cameron walks in, "Does anyone know what is going on in the interview room?"

Dread fills my eyes; I now barely remember the prince stating I would have people interviewing for the butler position. I jump up and run to the interview room and there is a room full of penguins. I am going to kill him, In the interview room sits a swimming pool full of ice water for the penguins.

Looking in I notice a letter, "Hey princess have these butlers interviewed right away! I realize you probably broke the last burner phone, so look at the box. I open a box with a phone in it. As it rings I answer it, I don't let butt hole speak. "You @@@!!!!, I will interview the penguins and have them ready for the party. Game on! Xander!”

My six brothers are standing behind me, some with their mouths open and others shaking their head. Of course, my oldest brother Cameron, with a stern voice calls me into his office. He tells me to sit in his Alpha voice command. My brother stares out the window, not looking at me. I can see he is trying to calm himself down. I had sat down on a chair in front of the desk, knowing not to say a word or breathe. I stare at my hands in my lap and fidget with them. I have never seen my brother so mad.

My brother sighs and turns around, heading back over to his desk. "Clair.”

I think here it comes, if I was a little girl they would ground me for life.

I don't say a word, I just let my brother speak.

"Clair, you need to grow up! We hadn't let you live outside the pack unsupervised because you are always getting into trouble. It is usually always a revenge scheme. I am thinking about pulling you back to the pack house.”

Clair –

Now I am angry, "You know what? I am not going back, I am an adult although sometimes I may not seem like it. That Arce of a Prince was telling his friends he wanted to get in my panties." I throw my hands up, pacing around the room. "You don't understand what it is like being a woman and men sleazily always suggesting sex with you.

So, I sent a cow named Claire to him, making him think he had a date with me. It deserves him right talking about females that way, much less about me. He deserved it, but unfortunately he took this as a game. That is how I ended up with penguins.”

Cameron –

"Alpha's can be competitive that is for sure. However, he is the future King of Alpha's that can get you in trouble tangling with him.”

Clair –

"Cameron, how can I grow up if I can't try to fail and learn from my decisions? You guys need to back off. I can only grow up if you guys let me. Right now, I am your little sister, and you see me as five-years old. I can't grow up. You guys aren’t letting me. As far as being competitive, you guys forgot I am an Alpha too, that is why I am a pain in the arse female." I laugh.

Cameron looks deep in thought, "Clair, I have never seen it your way. Thank you for sharing that. Let me think about it, but first go get rid of those penguins, and STAY away from the prince.”

I laugh, "You know what is funny, Cameron, I have never seen the prince, and he has never seen me. Yet we are at war.”

Cameron sighs afraid to talk about the mate subject, but he must do it. "Clair, one more thing before you leave. If your mate is at the ball, he has every right to claim you and take you with him. It is the law of the packs. We cannot stop it, Clair. You are going to have to come to terms that you are some Alpha's mate and accept it.”

Clair –

My stomach feels like I am going to throw up, why I think to myself do I not have the freedom for my own choices in life? I turn away, trying not to cry, and head to the penguins and call a zoo to come and pick them up.

I had to get out of there right now. I run to the forest nearby and I keep running; I am not turning back. Shifting into my wolf not thinking at all, I am just running far away.