Alpha's Mate (16 page)

“Anton, open the windows and pull down those drapes.  Violet, start sweeping this room, Alena, come with me, let's see what else we can find,” directed Yelena.

Violet immediately started sweeping the dust towards the front door and wondered if a vacuum might work better.  There didn’t seem to be any electricity in the house.  But a large fireplace dominated the outside wall.  At least they would be warm in the winter.  Anton went to each window and pulled down the drapes and then opened the windows.  Luckily a nice breeze blew in to refresh the air as she swept.

“Geez, no wonder Kolya always stays at the lodge.”  said Anton.

“In his defense, it is an awfully large place for one person.  He was probably lonely.”

“And we were in Moscow for a whole month.  When he got home, Dmitry told him to stay at the lodge because of Lenka and Igorek.  So, of course, the house is a little dirty.”

“A LITTLE dirty?” asked Violet

They both looked at each other and started laughing.  Violet wondered if Kolya knew how to clean house.  But not to worry, with Alena in his life, he would learn.

Violet went from room to room and swept each floor, while Anton opened each window and pulled down each drape.

Alena and Yelena worked in the kitchen and bathrooms, scrubbing tile and washing dishes.  As they cleaned, Alena started a list of things she would need to start housekeeping, with the number one item, a set of pots and pans.

Violet decided she would use the computer at the lodge to order the couple a set for their new life together.  It would be her gift to them.  Feeling pain in her shoulder, Violet rubbed at it.  She must be tired from all the cleaning.

When lunch time came around, Yelena called for a halt.  Violet looked around.  Most of the rooms were clean of dust and debris.  Things were looking good.  Yelena made them sandwiches and they all sat on the newly washed kitchen floor to eat.

Violet kept getting these little twinges of pain in her shoulder.  But she dismissed it, thinking she was tired.  She wondered what Dmitry was doing for lunch.  She couldn’t feel his thoughts through the mating bond.  He seemed to be up in the mountains.

“Write down table and chairs, on the list.”  said Yelena

“You'll need a new couch and chair for the front room.”  added Anton.  ”But you might find something in the pack storage facility.”

“The mattress in the big bedroom looks good and there is a nice dresser in there, too.”  said Violet.

“So you see, Alena?  With a little work, you can move in with Kolya.  The other bedrooms can wait until you have little ones to fill them,” said Yelena

“Or for storage, you have all the furniture in your room at home to bring over too.”  added Anton.

“Did I hear someone say little ones?” asked Vikenti at the door.

Everyone looked up in surprise as Vikenti reached behind him and lifted a pine cradle with little heart cutouts into the room.

“For my daughter’s first child,” he said gruffly.

“Oh, Daddy, it is beautiful!”  exclaimed Alena

Soon all three women were looking at the cradle and cooing over the little details Vikenti carved into it.  Violet noticed he looked a little overwhelmed, but his eyes twinkled in enjoyment.

“I will make one for your first child also, Violet.”  Vikenti assured her.

“Or possibly two, Dad.  You know how twins run in the family.”  reminded Anton.

“Yes, very possible, you are right.  I will start two new cribs in the fall.”

When the family finished their lunch, it was back to work again.  Yelena asked Violet to help her measure and write down how big each window was, as well as how big the bed was in the master bedroom.  Vikenti and Anton moved the old couch and chair out to a garbage pile.  Alena went room to room, writing anything down she could think of she might want or need for her new house.

Finally they finished all they could do at the house.  Everyone walked back to the lodge, where they spit up.  Vikenti and Anton went with Alena to see if they could find furniture and rugs at the pack storage facility, near the large meeting hall.  Violet followed Yelena into the lodge and up to the attic to find material for curtains and other linens.  Once Yelena decided on what materials she wanted, Violet helped her carry it all downstairs and into a small sewing room near the back of the house.

“Do you sew, Violet?” asked Yelena

“I learned in high school, like most girls in America.  But I haven't touched a sewing machine in years.”

“Luckily, curtains are all straight stitching.  When we are done, you will be a pro.”

Violet spent the next three hours cutting and pinning and sewing.  When Yelena called a halt, to prepare dinner, Violet was feeling a little cross-eyed.  She gladly ran upstairs to shower before dinner.  As she climbed into the shower she realized she didn't see or hear from Dmitry all day.  She could still feel him through their mating bond, but no real emotion was coming through.  Knowing how important it was to stay in touch with each other, Violet sent a wave of love to pour through the bond to Dmitry.  She missed him so much.  She felt his surprise when his mind flooded with the feeling.  But then he closed the bond down further.  Feeling rebuffed, Violet finished her shower and slowly got dressed.  When would Dmitry return to the man who wooed her so successfully?

Dmitry knew the moment Violet awoke.  He felt her pleasure of the day slide away to loneliness and confusion.  It was his fault.  He should have left her a note, such a little thing to do, to make her feel loved.  But he didn’t do it.  His only thought this morning was finding Lenka.  Violet would be safe at the lodge with his family guarding her, while he led the search.  The death of Sonya’s parents would be avenged.

One of the patrols found evidence of Lenka and Igorek hiding out in a cave.  When the report came, Dmitry went to investigate immediately.  The caves ran along the highest mountain ridge on pack property.  It probably was a volcano a millennium ago, the molten lava flow forming the caves.  It would make a good place to hide.

Dmitry found Sergei and Andrei waiting for him at the entrance to the first level.  They would have to be careful.  It was easy to get lost in this place.

“We found their scent trail leading up here.  But the trail is old, at least a day or two.” Sergei reported.

Dmitry felt his teeth clench.  Another dead end?  When would they find them?

“Any idea what they were doing up here?” asked Dmitry.

“Mining.  There are several veins of gold running through these caves.”  Andrei pointed out.  Dmitry knew about the gold and on a deeper level of the caves, there were also diamonds.

“So on top of their other crimes, they are stealing from the pack.”  Dmitry made it a statement, not a question.  The pack incorporated when Russia opened to commerce.  All members of the pack jointly owned the land, mineral rights, oil rights and businesses, with each family given a certain number of shares.  If a family died out without an heir, the shares were returned to the pack’s general account.

“Show me what you’ve found.”  Dmitry sighed, and ran his hand through his hair.  He followed Andrei into the main cave.  It was very dark inside, but Lycanthropes could see clearly in the dark.  He sniffed the air and found the scent of the traitors leading away from the entrance.  Sergei was right, the scent trail was at least a day old.

“Sergei, guard the entrance.  Andrei, come with me.”  Dmitry wanted to see where they were mining.  Why were they stealing gold from the pack?  Their family accounts should have given them enough to live on easily.  Of course Lenka’s uncle was the head of his family.  Perhaps Jacob wouldn’t give Lenka the money he wanted.

“Over this way, Alpha,” Andrei gestured.

Andrei led the way down a tunnel and to the left.  They were headed deep into the mountain with the tunnel becoming narrower the farther they went.  Something didn’t seem right.  Dmitry could feel the hair on his neck beginning to stand up.  He could have sworn the gold ran in the tunnels to the right.

“Are you sure this is right, Andrei?” asked Dmitry.

Andrei turned to answer when Dmitry saw the trip wire across the tunnel.  Before Dmitry could stop him, Andrei triggered the wire, and there was an explosion.  Pieces of the ceiling started to come down over their heads.  Dmitry pushed Andrei out of the way of a boulder.  It glanced against his shoulder with bruising force.  Finding a ledge along the side, Dmitry pushed Andrei underneath, and joined him as dust and rock flew into the air.  Coughing and eyes watering, they covered their faces to get away from the dust.

Before the dust cleared Dmitry could hear Sergei calling their names.  Unable to call out, Dmitry reached for his mind using telepathy. 
We are fine.  How badly is the tunnel blocked?

We’ll have to dig you out, but the right side doesn’t seem too bad.  One or two big boulders and we’ll have you out.

Call for help then.  This was a trap, and we walked right into it.
 Dmitry sent to Sergei.  Wiping dust from his eyes and nose, Dmitry looked around.  The dust was starting to settle covering everything in a fine layer.  Andrei was coughing beside him.

“Use your shirt as a filter.  Try not to breathe it in.”  ordered Dmitry.

Andrei nodded his head in understanding.  Dmitry spit dust out of his mouth and settled down to wait.  His shoulder hurt badly and he made sure to close off the link to Violet.  She already suffered through his getting shot.  She didn’t need to suffer through his bruised shoulder.  Once a little room was cleared, he would shapeshift and heal it.

Not wanting to take the chance of breathing in the dust, Dmitry reached for Andrei’s mind with his telepathy. 
Andrei are you alright?  Did you get any injuries?

Just, the injury to my pride.  I am sorry, Alpha.  You saved my life when you pushed me out of the way of the boulder.  Thank you.  Illarion almost became an orphan today.  I should have paid better attention.  I thought since the scent trail was old, there was no danger. 
Andrei apologized.

Exactly what they wanted you to think.  It was a trap, Andrei.  I am as remiss as you.

Rest now, once help comes we will try digging on this side as well.

Dmitry? 
came Kolya’s voice into his mind a short time later. 
What trouble are you in now?

Very funny, now get me out of here.

Already working on it.  You’re hurt, I can feel your pain.

It is nothing.  Once I shift, it will heal.  Get me out of this hole.

Feeling a little claustrophobic are we?  You never did handle closed in spaces well.

Nikolai!

Yes, Alpha.

Dmitry smiled.  Kolya could always do that for him.  He shifted slightly and hissed as the pain in his shoulder increased.  He could hear the men pulling the dirt and boulders away.  He reached out his hand to Andrei. 
The pack is here.  Can you shift around to the right?

I will try.  Let me see what I can do.
answered Andrei.

Andrei turned around facing the tunnel and scooted forward slightly. 
There isn’t much room.  A large boulder blocks the way.  I have no way to move it.

We will have to wait for our brethren to rescue us.  I am afraid they will never let us hear the end of this.

This was my fault.  I have endangered the life of the Alpha.  I will await the pack’s judgment.  Your mate will be displeased, and I am ashamed to have caused her pain.