Alpha's Mate (18 page)

“He doesn't mean it, Violet.  He is so stressed out right now.  Pack members haven’t attacked each other for generations.  The only thing we’ve ever dealt with is the passing of the Alpha position.  Since it has been passed from father to son for the last three generations, those fights have not been to the death.  But now he has three people dead.  Two rogue males that will have to be killed.  It all falls on his shoulders, because he is the Alpha,” explained Anton

“I know, but sometimes I wonder if he picked the right mate.  How can I help him?  I'm just a human female.  Any of you could knock me aside like a gnat.”

“Just love him.  Love is what he really needs.  Someone to love him, no matter what.”

“I do love him.  Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder.”  Violet said patting his arm as she stepped back.

“Anytime, sister, I am here if you need me.”  Anton assured her, squeezing her on the shoulder.

Violet tried to put away her fears and went back inside to help Yelena.  Vasya was a cute little guy, but his arm was really hurting him.  Yelena was having a hard time getting him to take his medicine.  Violet thought a moment, then picked up one of the cookies and hid the pill inside the chocolate chips.  She caught Yelena's eye and them offered the child the cookie.  Vasya took the bite and swallowed down the pill without realizing it was there.  With a sigh of relief Yelena and Vasya's parents tucked a quilt around him and let him finish eating another cookie.  Before long he was yawning and falling asleep, and Kiryl gently lifted his son and took him to bed.

“Thank you so much for helping,” said Dasha, Vasya's mother.

“Yes, it was a good trick, hiding the pill in the cookie.  His struggles upset me so much; I didn't think to do something else.”  Yelena admitted.

“I was glad I could help.”

Soon Violet, Yelena, and Anton were on their way back to the lodge.  Violet ran her fingers through the needles of the trees and smelled the warm air filled with the scents of the forest.  She really loved the woods.

When she walked inside the lodge she wasn't surprised to see Dmitry was already gone.  She missed her chance to see him.  She could feel the tears coming again and ran upstairs to their room.  She never saw the glass of wildflowers on the table in the kitchen.

As she walked upstairs, she saw the dirty paw prints leading into the bathroom.  So she trudged back down stairs for a rag and soap.  She cried as she cleaned the mess on the floor.  She didn't know what to do to make things better.  Where was Dmitry when she needed him?  She lay on the braided rug and sobbed.

Tonight was the big pack meeting.  When Yelena called her downstairs to go, Violet nearly refused.  But being childish wasn't going to make things better for herself or Dmitry.  She put on a pretty red skirt and white shirt Alena lent to her.  Then she brushed out her hair and left it falling down her back.  She wanted to look pretty for the ceremony tonight.

Dmitry’s pack needed to give him more support, she decided, as she ran the brush through her hair.  He needed to delegate more to his seconds.  Violet was going to have to work on getting him to accept help.  It was part of her job as Alpha female, and she needed to help him because she loved him.  The way he was going he would burn himself out.  She put on the red leather shoes Yelena gave to her.  Dmitry needed time to have a life of his own.  He was their leader, not their slave.  Violet glanced in the mirror, admiring her reflection.  She twirled around, letting the skirt fly out around her legs.  She was ready.  An Alpha female wolf helped decide which job was right for which pack member.  Violet would have to look into how jobs were assigned.  She would fight for Dmitry if she needed too.

Violet walked over with Vikenti, Yelena and Alena.  Fanya gave Illarion permission to walk over with them.  So he ran and skipped down the trail between them, chatting away.  Fanya promised to meet up with them later.

The meeting would be held in the large metal meeting hall.  Members of the pack, who had not yet given their blood oath to the Alpha, would do so tonight.  The pack would acknowledge Violet and Alena as mated females.  Then the handfasting of Sonya and Matfei would be announced.  Sonya was still dealing with her grief, but having Matfei around  seemed to be helping her.  Violet noticed how gentle he was with Sonya.  When Sonya turned eighteen, they would be mated.

Violet was glad to have Illarion to look after.  Holding Illarion's hand helped her to feel calmer.  They walked into the building, and Violet was immediately surprised at how large it was.  There were huge basket sconces on the walls to light after the sun set.  On one wall was a huge stone fireplace big enough to walk into.  Chairs were set up so people could sit during the meeting.  Close to sixty people were standing around in small groups.  Several small boys ran past, yelling at Illarion to join them.  But Violet shook her head “No”, and he didn’t complain.

Violet realized how handsome the members of the pack were.  Mostly men, they were naturally tall and graceful.  They appeared majestic and self-assured.  The women were smaller boned, but lithe and lovely.  As a race, they were beautiful.  Violet reminded herself anyone of them was stronger and faster than she was.  It was a little intimidating and she shivered.

Violet moved through the crowd following Yelena.  She saw one of the elders she knew there, a friendly face here, someone else over there.  But for the ones she knew, there were two she didn't know.  Most of those only looked at her with mild curiosity, but there were a few who looked at her with suspicion.  One small group of men leered at her as she walked past.  For a moment, Violet wondered who they were.  But Illarion was tugging on her hand and she turned around to deal with where he was dragging her.

Yelena led the group up to the area reserved for the elders and Dmitry.  There were two chairs off to one side set up for Alena and Violet to sit in.  Dmitry was speaking quietly with a few of the older men.  He smiled in her direction, but didn’t come over to speak to her.  With a huff of irritation, Violet pulled Illarion onto her lap.  Why couldn’t he at least say hello?

She didn't have long to wait for the meeting to start.  There was a small open area in front of where Dmitry and the elders sat in a half circle.  Yelena and Vikenti sat directly behind him.  Dmitry looked at her thoughtfully.  But, he turned his attention back to the pack, as the other members sat down in front of the dais.  Kolya came up to stand behind Alena, placing his hand on her shoulder.

Dmitry called the meeting to order and the noise died away.  Violet watched in fascination as five men came forward to give their blood oath to their Alpha.  As a group they pledged themselves to support and uphold Dmitry as Alpha.  Then each man extended a claw and punctured his palm.  They dripped a small amount of blood into a stone basin.  When the last man added his blood to the container, Dmitry stood and pledged himself to the service of the pack.  As a final binding, he picked up the container and drank the blood of the men.  For a moment Violet could see lines of light coming out of Dmitry to each of the men.  Then the light was gone.  Dmitry returned to his seat.

Next, Dmitry called Matfei and Sonya forward.  Sonya dressed up in a colorful red and blue skirt.  They each wore a wreath of flowers in their hair.  Dmitry presided over their pledge to each other.  Then they exchanged small golden bracelets.  When they finished Matfei kissed Sonya gently, and the pack applauded.

Finally, Dmitry called for the introduction of new mates.  Both Alena and Violet were asked to stand.  The pack as a whole was called to witness the golden mating cords.  Then one of the Elders came forward to give a blessing on the new couples.  When it was over, Violet wondered what she was so concerned about.  Alena sat back down and Violet followed her lead.  She reached for Dmitry through their mating bond and felt his pleasure at the formal acceptance of his mate.  But he didn't give it much thought as he went to the next order of business, disputes between the people.

Violet watched as Dmitry deftly got to the underlying problems and administered swift justice.  Illarion became bored very quickly, wiggling and squirming, while she tried to hold him on her lap.  When his mother came to claim him, Violet couldn’t help but be glad.  He was wearing her out.

Without the child to watch, Violet found it hard to stay focused.  She propped her chin on her hand, and waited for the meeting to be over.  She listened patiently, but squabbles over missing pigs were not very interesting.  She tried to hide a yawn behind her hand.

Dmitry seemed to be wrapping it up, when Violet felt a cold metal barrel pressed into her back.  She stiffened and heard someone whisper.

“Don't move bitch.”

Dmitry called for concerns of the people, when he felt Violet's rush of fear.

He turned and saw Igorek standing behind her.  Igorek was tall and muscular, but he lacked the intelligence to be an Alpha.  His brown hair was hanging in his eyes and he brushed at it with his free hand.  The other hand held a gun against Violet’s back.  Dmitry sniffed the air but couldn’t catch Igorek’s scent.  He must be wearing hunters spray.  It was pure luck he wasn’t caught sneaking in one of the side entrances.

Violet’s eyes were huge as she looked at him.  Dmitry took one step towards her, when a voice rang out.

“I have a concern!”

Dmitry watched as Lenka came through the crowd and stood before him, a gun in his hand.  An audible gasp rang through the pack.  Women and children were pushed to the back as the members of the guard surged forward.  Lenka was a thin man with dark blond hair.  His clothes looked soiled and torn.  His dark eyes glared with maniacal hatred.  He waved the gun around to get everyone’s attention before pointing it at Dmitry’s chest.

“What is the meaning of this, Lenka?  How dare you bring a weapon into this meeting?”  Dmitry demanded.

“Just making sure I get my say.”

“All pack members are free to speak in our meetings.  That is the law.  It is also our law no weapons are to be brought to our meetings.  As your Alpha, I order you to put down your gun.”

Violet?

The goon behind me has a gun in my back.
Violet sent to him.

“Well that's just it, I don't think you should be our Alpha anymore.”  Lenka taunted.

“Are you issuing a challenge?  If so, the weapon is still against our laws.”  Dmitry clenched his fists.  He could feel his claws starting to rip through.

Hold on, lyubov moya.
 How was he going to save his mate?  Lenka was insane.

“No, I'm not challenging you for the Alpha position, I'm going to take it.”

“How do you expect to do that, Lenka?  You know the pack will only follow the strongest leader.  If you kill me, they wouldn't follow you.”

“Oh I'm not going to kill you.  We'll have to see who they follow after you're gone.”

“You are not making sense, Lenka.  If you aren't going to kill me, then how are you going to take the Alpha position?”

Kolya, can you take Igorek?  He has a gun.  Grigori, Sergei, move into position to take these two out, but wait for my signal.

“
That's easy, Dmitry.  I'm going to kill your mate, and watch you die from grief.”

Dmitry felt his blood go cold.  “You touch one hair on my mate, and I will tear you apart, Lenka” He needed to remain calm.  He must get Violet out of danger.  If he shifted it might cause Lenka to panic and shoot her.

Kolya?

I'm not sure I can get to him before he pulls the trigger.

“
You shouldn't have brought a human into our pack, Dmitry.  You betrayed us by doing so.”  Lenka continued.

“You are a coward, Lenka, using first a gun, and then a woman, to fight your battles.  If you want to challenge me, than I accept.  But right now, you are a man without honor.  No one will follow you or bemoan your passing.”

Violet, I love you.
 He couldn’t live without her.  This was his greatest failure.  She didn’t know how much he loved her.