Authors: Caryn Moya Block
Dmitry, don't do something foolish.
“It's not my passing you need to worry about, Igorek, bring her.”
Igorek pushed Violet in the back with the gun. “Come on, sweetheart, I have plans for you before you die.” Not having any choice, she stood and walked towards Lenka, as Igorek pushed her forward with the gun barrel.
“You will not leave this building alive. Lenka. I suggest you reconsider.” said Dmitry the sound of death in his voice. One hair, if they hurt one hair on Violet’s head he would destroy them.
Kolya, Sergei, Grigori, whatever happens, you must kill them before they get outside.
Violet could tell the situation was about to go critical. A wave of anger was growing within her. How dare these goon's threaten her and in so doing threaten Dmitry. No one seemed to be moving to save him. The whole pack sat there and expected Dmitry to fix everything.
Well, that was going to change. If no one else was going to act, then she would. Violet let the anger wash over her. Then she reached for Dmitry through the mating bond, pulling on his strength to help her. Then through him, she reached the pack. She pulled on the telepathic bond and let power and strength flow into her. Everyone froze.
“STOP!“ she roared.
Violet turned, pulled the gun from the now frozen Igorek. Then she punched him in the face. Gasping she brought her bruised fist to her mouth. “Damn that hurt,” she said, shaking her hand. But she wasn’t done yet. She stomped over to the frozen Lenka and pulled the gun from his hand. Next she kicked him in the groin, and used the gun to hit him in the face. Both men went down hard without moving.
Violet stood there panting. Where was her back up? She looked around. Everyone in the building was frozen. “Shit, did I do that?” She didn’t mean to freeze everyone. Feeling sick and light headed, she could feel her shields crumbling. The thoughts of the pack members came rushing in, like a tidal wave, they hit her. She started to sway, her eye sight fading to black.
Before she hit the ground, Dmitry was diving to catch her. Sergei and Grigori each crouched over one of the men on the ground. Kolya ran up to Dmitry.
“What the hell happened?” Kolya asked as Dmitry scooped Violet into his arms.
“My mate decided to take care of things herself. The guns, Kolya.”
“How did she do that? We were frozen.”
“I have no idea, Kolya. I think she connected with the blood oath tie connecting the pack. I did not know she possessed the ability to freeze someone. But I would suggest you don't mess with my mate. Close the meeting. Take those two out and execute them. They have shown themselves to be without honor. They have attacked and killed members of the pack. As Alpha, I judge them. The sentence is death. If you can't do the job, hold them and I will do it myself. But for now, I am taking my mate home.”
“Have no fear, Dmitry. It will be my pleasure to exterminate these vermin.”
Dmitry carried Violet carefully to the house. His mother rushed ahead and met him at the door to let him in. She went to the sink and wet a cloth with cold water, while Dmitry sank into a chair. He held Violet gently in his arms. Yelena brought over the towel and patted Violet's face. Dmitry buried his face in her hair. He shuddered with emotion. He almost lost her tonight. He was willing to follow her into death, rather than live without her. She fought for him, for both of them. He was so proud of her. So thankful to have her. And if she didn't wake up soon, he was going to shake her.
“Dmitry, you will crush her.” Yelena complained.
Dmitry immediately gentled his grasp. “Violet, wake up, my love, my life.”
Violet, wake up, come back to me.
Dmitry sent to her as he leaned down to kiss her.
Dmitry?
Yes, love, wake up for me.
Sent Dmitry as he placed kisses on her nose and eyes.
He sighed in relief when Violet's eyelids fluttered, and she finally opened her eyes. “My God, mate. I thought I'd lost you. Don't ever scare me like that again.” Dmitry yelled. Then he was kissing her. Putting everything he was feeling into his kisses.
When he could think again, Dmitry heard laughter. He looked up to see his family and friends surrounded him. Dmitry flushed when he realized they heard him shouting at his mate. He looked down and saw she was smiling shyly up at him, her eyes filled with love. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her gently on the nose.
“I love you, Violet Anderson,” he whispered to her.
Later that night, Dmitry made sure to show Violet exactly how much. As they lay wrapped in each other’s arms, Dmitry felt he owed Violet an apology.
“I know I haven't been very attentive this last week. I hope you can forgive me. I shouldn't have let the pack problems come between us. I should have included you in what was happening. I shouldn’t have closed down the mating bond. I need you. I need your help.”
“I know you were under a lot of stress.”
“I hope you also know how very much I appreciate having you in my life. Merge your mind with me. I would die for you, mate.” assured Dmitry.
“I don't want you to die for me. I want you to live for me. To have a life with me. To demand time for yourself and our family. The pack needs to be more self-sufficient, you shouldn't be needed for every little thing.”
“Now with the blood oath is in place, and Lenka and Igorek taken care of, things should settle down. We need to get your pictures for National Geographic, like I promised. Then we start the paperwork for our marriage ceremony. The laws in Russia are different than America. There is a lot of paperwork involved.” Dmitry wanted to make sure there was no way Violet could escape him. Pack law stated she was already considered his wife, but he wanted everyone to know she was his. He would always remember almost losing her. Never again would he close down the mating bond. They were a team.
“But what about sending a few of the men out to look for mates like me? We might look on line and see if there is a chat room for people who have psychic abilities. How do you afford a private plane? Because I think we should put funds into the school and start thinking about future education needs for the children of the pack. How does the council work? There are a lot of things I still don't know about the pack. The pack needs to be brought into the future,” urged Violet.
Dmitry ruffled her hair affectionately. “I am sure,
lyubov moya
, with you at my side, we can do anything.”
Chapter Fourteen
Dmitry smiled with satisfaction at his new bride. Finally, on this autumn day Violet was his, according to the authority of the state of Russia. Last month Violet accompanied him back to Moscow to visit the consulate and the ministry of foreign affairs. They worked to get all the paperwork legally prepared to have the civil ceremony the Russian government required. Then they waited the required 30 days. Finally, this morning, the day arrived.
Violet wore a gown of cream satin Yelena helped her design and sew. Alena gave her a blue sapphire necklace to wear for something borrowed and something blue. For something old, Yelena pulled the floral wreath out of storage she wore when she was handfasted to Vikenti.
With her long dark hair flowing down her back and her soft brown eyes alight with love, Dmitry thought Violet looked like the most beautiful woman on Earth.
Maggie and Ellen flew in for the event. They were now sitting in the Hotel National dining room, with Ivan, waiting to be served their dinner. Dmitry arranged for a semi-private space, and they were seated at a large table in an alcove. The noise and confusion of the main dining area was only slightly dimmed. Grigori, acting as their escort, kept scowling at all the people. Dmitry felt the need to laugh at his friend’s ferocious stare, but covered it with a cough. He kept his hand on Violet and smiled graciously at their friends. When all he wanted to do was pick Violet up and carry her to their room. He wanted to unwrap Violet like the treasure she was.
The pack unanimously accepted Violet as the Alpha’s Mate. She was already organizing the women into groups. Knowing she could freeze them in place may have helped decide the tough ones. But everyone agreed her little trick was the perfect protection for a small human woman living with a pack of wolves.
Dmitry still marveled at how well she accepted his wolf spirit. After insisting he shift several times back and forth, she grabbed his neck and kissed him on his wet wolf nose. He shifted and kissed her right back.
Kolya, Alena, Fanya and Andrei agreed to shift and pose for Violet's pictures. Little Illarion couldn’t wait to get in on the act. National Geographic bought all of them, and was waiting to see what she would do next. Violet told her agent she was taking a leave of absence, to get married, and start work on her next project, a baby.
Winter was fast approaching and Violet made her friends bring her every conceivable item of clothing she would need, to survive a Siberian winter. Four suitcases waited upstairs to be transferred to the airport, and more shipments were on the way. Dmitry was looking forward to taking all those layers off her.
In the winter, with the sun only giving around five hours of daylight, the lodge would depend on wood heat and gas lamps. There weren’t enough hours to keep the solar cells charged. But Dmitry thought cuddling under the covers might help jump start Violet's next project. He could hardly wait.
Finally, the meal was finished and goodbyes exchanged. Dmitry couldn’t believe how impatient he was to have Violet to himself. Both of her friends promised to come for a visit next summer, to see how their friend was faring. They would be flying back to America in the morning. Dmitry, with his mate at his side, would be flying back home, to Siberia. He wanted to get Violet settled before the really bad snows hit.
As they moved into the lobby, he watched as Violet said her goodbyes, holding her gently around the waist. Waves of sorrow washed over her. The mating bond was wide open. They often shared each other’s feelings.
Are you well, lyubov moya?
Dmitry sent drawing her close.
Yes, just missing them already, I guess.
She sent as she waved goodbye.
Do you have any regrets?
Not a single one, I love you, Dmitry Volkov.
And I you, Violet Volkov.
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Take me to bed, Dimka.
Sweeping her into his arms, he smiled down at her. “I thought you would never ask.”
Epilogue: 9 months later
Dmitry was frantic, but hid his fear deep. He would do anything to ease the struggle his wife was having, bringing his children into the world. His family gathered together in the lodge for the birth. While, most of the pack gathered outside to wait.
It was time. He wiped the sweat from her brow. Then he held her as Violet gave a mighty push. The midwife lifted the crying baby up for her parents to see. The baby wiggled and kicked as it cried. It’s black hair wet and plastered to its head.
“It's a girl.” she said.
The midwife handed the baby to Yelena, to clean up, as Violet pushed again. Dmitry could feel her exhaustion, and sent her his love and strength, through the mating bond. At least the pain subsided when the midwife gave her permission to push. He tried to shoulder as much of the pain as possible, knowing it wasn’t enough. How did women do this every day?
“Push,
lyubov moya
, you can do this, Violet.”
“I'm so tired Dmitry.” He knew she was. She had been in labor for close to 24 hours. He walked with her. Rubbed her back. Wiped her tears and reassured her fears.