Chapter fourteen

The interior was beautiful. Ann looked around completely amazed by what she saw. There were three floors that opened to an open space with high a ceiling. Each lined with polished clean wooden banisters and railings. There were a set of carved stairs either side of entrance leading up to the second level. Another set of stairs on the second-floor lead to the third. The ceiling was painted in different dreamlike landscapes. A few of the paintings were covered with a thin a layer of stain glass.

In the center of the high ceiling as a large wooden chandelier covered with green glass vines and small twinkles of clear crystal stones. She felt her neck start to sting as she spent a good while leaning back to study that chandelier

"The clan house has five Levels," Ann heard Maria tell her as she walked father into the entry away turning slowly looking at the large empty space taking in as much as she could. Ann assumed that meant there where two more levels above the beautiful ceiling. "That's a lot of levels." Ann awed only to hear all three of the Were's chuckle at her astonishment.

Mr. Stoneblack took over walking up to her placing a hand on her upper back. Ann tried to fight off the comfort that washed over her body starting from where his hand rest. As well as curb the heat that filled her veins following that wash of peace.

"The first floor is used for events," He explained as Ann kept her head facing away from him. Though he was being civil she could still feel the heat in his eyes every time he looked at her. "This floor holds the entry way as well as two separate ballrooms. A banquette hall as well as a small theater." The younger male held his arm out to guide Ann with the two elders following behind.

Ann took hesitant steps but followed all the same. A little impressed that the largeness of the supposed house was for more than just show. Mr. Stoneblack continued "We also have a game room, art room and recreational room on this floor. The second floor is for business." He continued. In front of one of the stairs was a large breath-taking painting of two full sized wolfs a silver and black one howling to a full moon. Light clouds drifting in the painted night sky. Each shaped in different animals.

Maria pressed a button on the wall causing the picture to move revealing a spacious elevator that the four then piled into. Maria then took over the explaining. "On the second floor there is a conference room a few parlors and sitting rooms as well as a gym and Ulric office."

"Don't forget the library," Ohwell added in causing Ann turn and look at him. "Unless you move it." He followed. Mr. Stonewall shook his head. "No, it is still on the second floor. There is also a small library on the fifth floor."

"What the fifth floor." Ann asked turning for the first time to willing look at the males whose hand was still on her back. The male chuckled already facing his direction. "I suppose that the fifth floor is what you would consider our actual home. It is where The Alpha's family lives. And were personal guest stay such as other family members or bounded no family members. The other levels are mostly for the Clan or guest."

Ann nodded in understanding before turning to Maria asking, "So what are the third and fourth floor used for?"

"Mostly guest rooms," The elder woman answered as the elevator climbed up the floors slowly. "The third floor is used for guest of the clan like the good doctor here. And the fourth floor is used for the clan to stay in. Like the cook or the house keeper. They live outside the clan house but we always have rooms ready for them. In emergency however we have housed some of the clan on the third floor as well as the fourth."

"The whole pack fits in the clan house?" Ann gasped only for all three Weres to laugh at her naivety again. "Heavens no," Maria said shaking her head as the elevator door opened and all four stepped out to the next floor. "The house my look big but It most certainly cannot house over four hundred grown Weres including their children. Not unless we used the first and second floors to house some of the clan as well."

Ann blinked still taking slowly taking in the fact that this clan was that large. Most packs or prides only had hundred or two but the young woman had never heard of a clan with almost four hundred members.

This caused Mr. Stoneblack to laugh Ann assumed at her shock. "Mother, why don't you show the good doctor to his room and I will do my dear nurse to hers."

Ann finally regaining herself looking up and over at him with a hard look. "One I am not a nurse so stop calling me one, and Two how about you show the doc his room and your mother show me to mine?"

Mr. Stone shook his head dismissing the idea, "And be denied the pleasure of seeing your face when you see the room? Not a chance."

"You're not going in the room with me, are you?" Ann asked slightly outraged only to have the males face twist into a smirk filled with dark promise. "Are you that eager to get me alone in a bedroom."

"Down boy," This time it was Maria who scolded the over enthusiastic hound dog before turning to Ann. "I wish to speak with my old friend a little more, I am sure my son can behave himself." Even Ann could not miss the warning that the mother gave her child before turning back to Ann.

"Add if he doesn't you still have your whistle," Her dear mentor reminded her. Being helpful for the first time since they arrived at her own person gilded hell. Mr. Stoneblack groaned from the reminder of Ann's special weapon which brought a smile to her face. Yes, she still had her fail safe if she needed it.

Ann watched as her safe guards started walking away leaving her alone with the last person she'd ever want to be alone with, again. And damn that stupid lair gnat really needed to shut up. Taking a deep sigh to steady herself Ann spoke.

"Alright then," Finally turning to the over muscled male hands on her hips Ann waited for him to lead the way. "Take me to my room then. The soon I have a door and four walls between us the better."

"I agree," Mr. Stoneblack nodded his head completely shocking Ann. "You do?" She questioned not trusting his sudden docile demeanor.

"Of course," He nodded again looking down at her with a look of temptation, "The sooner there is a door and four walls separating us from the world the better." He smiled leaned over her again resting his hand on the wall beside her.

Ann felt her face heat up as she struggled to find the worlds. "Tha- I mean I didn't mean it like that!"

"So, you mean that you want us isolated not just in a room but in our own building?" He asked still hovering over Ann, though she noticed he was still keeping a good foot or two between them. Thank the goddess for that space.

"You said I have my own room?" Ann question at him waiting to call him out as a lair he was, he lied about her having her own room as well as being them being mates. She just needed him to fall into her trap.

"You do," he reassured her confusing Ann even more as his words contradicted themselves. Before she could ask what, he meant there was a ding near them. She then noticed that the two of them where in between two metal doors.

Ann concluded that the he had leaned over her not only to make her uncomfortable, like the ass he was, but also to press a button she could not see at the moment. Calling the other elevator that just opened. For such an old building Ann noticed that a lot of modern upgrades had been done.

Mr. Stoneblack stood back tucking one arm behind his back he stretched out his other arm to invited her go before him. Ann eyed him make sure to put as much doubt as she could into eyes. He then stood up once again with a goofy smirk on his face. "I will behave this time I swear."

Still eyeing him Ann walked into the other elevator Mr. Stoneblack walking in behind her pressing the button for the elevator to continue up. "Can't promise about my imagination and what I say though."

Ann gasped looking over to him as the door closed leaving her alone with him in the small enclosed space.