by Delta James
Declan shook his head. “Who knew?”
Oliver smiled. “You’ll do fine as an alpha. There are plenty of us to back you that want to see you succeed. We can introduce you at the next Council meeting.”
“I think we’re better off if just our inner circle knows you and I have a gentleman’s agreement and we keep the Ruling Council out of it. With the problem being as widespread as it is, they have got to have some kind of pull with the Ruling Council or Councils.”
Oliver nodded. “That was our thought as well.”
“Then keeping us off their radar only works in our favor.”
“I told the others I thought you’d see it that way. I’m glad you’re going to be with us, Declan. Now it’s probably best if we go find our ladies. I’m going to apologize up front for whatever mischief Roz gets your Ava in.”
Declan laughed. “I will accept your apology if you will accept mine for the same reason.”
Both men stood, shook hands, and headed out of the study.
* * *
“What’s that all about?” asked Ava as Oliver and Declan left the room.
“Big goings-on. You know about the two-pronged raid? The hope had been it would put an end to the raiding and turning of women without their consent. Unfortunately, it seems to have merely revealed how deep the problem has gone.”
“Shortly before I left, Ioan had decreed that none of the women were allowed off the estate without his or Colum’s permission and then only with an escort.”
“Why don’t you and I go for a walk on your beach? Bess, would you like to come with us?” asked Roz.
“No, thank you, Roz. Mistress?” Bess said to Ava.
“Mistress? Me?” said Ava, suddenly feeling the weight of being mated to a pack leader settle itself over her like a shroud.
“Good luck with that,” quipped Roz. “I haven’t been able to get her to call me by my name and I’m probably the least mistress-y wolf you’ll ever meet.”
Ava turned to Bess, taking both her hands in hers. “Please, Bess. I just need to be Ava with you. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. If I’m not going to fail Declan and those who join our pack I’m going to need you.”
Bess smiled. “You will always have me, Ava. Don’t you worry about failing Declan. You will be a wonderful mistress to our pack. You two go on down to the beach and have a nice walk. I’ll let the men know where you are.”
Roz and Ava left the warmth of the kitchen and headed down to the beach. There was a strong wind but the air was crisp and clean.
“What am I going to do?” asked Ava. “I don’t have the first clue how to be mistress of a pack. Good lord, how delusional was I to think I could lead at Calon Onest?”
“You? At least you are shifter-born and were raised in a well-organized and successful pack. Me? One minute I’m this Jersey girl turned high iron welder and the next I’m a wolf shifter. Then along comes the Council, the bastards, and breaks up Bae Diogel and I’m suddenly to be mate to the alpha of one of the oldest, largest packs in the world.”
“Weren’t you scared to death?”
“Absolutely. Mainly of embarrassing or failing Oliver. But he never once let me get away with that feeling. He would try to reassure me and if that didn’t work, over his knee I’d go for an attitude adjustment.”
Ava shook her head. “I hate that.”
“Me too, but again, at least you were raised with it. Not only do I dislike pain, I hate how submissive and how horny it makes me. And then I get all wrapped up in I am woman, hear me roar.” Roz laughed. “Oliver just keeps beating my ass until I remember that he could have chosen anyone... and he chose me. Declan loves you, Ava. The rest is just trappings of a lifestyle we show to the world. At least you get to mold your pack and you have Bess.”
“She is a wonder, isn’t she?” said Ava.
“She is. Far more than I realized. I’m going to be sorry to see her as part of your pack and not mine.”
“She’d never leave Declan.”
“No, she made that clear enough. But are you really okay with being forced to take Declan to mate? If not, Skylar and I will get you out of here.”
Ava was astonished. “You’d do that for me?”
Roz nodded. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Oliver with all of my heart and soul. But I’m still not on board with the whole being forced or coerced or seduced or whatever they want to call it. So if you don’t want to be here, Sky and I will get you out.”
Ava hugged Roz. “That may be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“The structure of Bae Diogel had its flaws. We went too far too fast, but most of us remember that as a wonderful time in our lives and think we’re all the better as mates because of it. I honestly hope that some time, somewhere another group of strong female shifters tries to break the mold.”
“Are any of the Bae Diogel shifters unhappy?”
“No. Oliver loves reminding me that we’re all stupidly happy and with absolutely the right mates. We owe Dylan for that. He, and a small group of other alphas so inclined, knew that the Council would never leave us be once they found out about us. And they were truly worried for our safety after that raid by those Serbian mutts. So they stepped up and took over disbanding us as they like to call it.”
“All the unmated girls at Calon Onest followed the story. You guys were folk heroes to us. To live free like that...”
“As I said, it too had its problems. The ‘no men allowed at the manor’ amongst them.”
“But to choose your own path... to do what you will ...”
“And always hiding in the shadows. Unable to take a piece of the pie and be recognized. There are still lone she-wolves out there. Some of our kind that refuse to yield that would rather be alone than be subdued... those are the ones I admire. I lived on my own for a couple of years. It wasn’t easy and you sleep with one eye open.”
“Would you go back if you could?” Ava asked softly.
Roz turned to look out at the sea. She seemed to give Ava’s question a great deal of thought before turning to answer her. “No. I wouldn’t. I love Oliver deeply and he has made everything in my life sweeter, easier, and just better. But those of us at Bae Diogel got lucky. If it weren’t for Dylan, Oliver, and the like, things would have gone badly. The Council’s first idea was to basically auction us off in a kind of lottery. As I said, the bastards.”
“How bad is the problem with the diminishing number of born female shifters? At Calon Onest we only get the skimpiest of details...”
Roz smiled. “Ah, yes, the let’s not worry the girls with this sordid business. We men will take care of it. Such bullshit. If it weren’t for Skylar, Maddie, and Catherine, they may never have found out how widespread this whole thing is and that it probably has tentacles in the various Ruling Councils. Sky and I probably knew more than most going in because Dylan and Oliver tend to share more. But certainly with Catherine and Maddie taking off with Sky to go after those guys and Anna setting up our own network piggybacked off of the main system we can monitor what’s going on.”
“I take it that’s not information you’re sharing with the men?”
“Oh, they get the same information; we’re just making sure that we get the unfiltered version as well. Those of us with coastal land are making sure our women know how to fight and to defend ourselves if need be. We can help you with that. We’d never considered having a presence at Calon Onest with you gone.”
“Me?”
Roz nodded, grinning at her. “Maddie had said she thought you could be useful.”
“She did? I was just awful to her.”
“I know. But she blames Griffin. With you gone, we didn’t feel there was anyone else there who’d be willing to risk it. Because trust me, the boys will not be happy if they ever find out. I will have to tell Sky that we woefully underestimated Bethan. Sky thought she was kind of a holier-than-thou type—always the model of the perfect mate.”
“I’ve known
her my whole life and never knew how amazing Bethan was. Did you see her dress down Oliver?”
Roz laughed. “I did. I have never seen him put in his place. I’m in awe of the woman. If she ever gives lessons, I’m going to be her first and best student but she might prove to be a useful ally.”
“That was pretty impressive. I couldn’t believe she defied Ioan that way. I always thought she was such a goody two-shoes and never gave him a moment’s concern. Guess I got that wrong too.” Ava shook her head. “So many things I got wrong...”
“Stop that. It won’t do a damn bit of good, and I suspect it will piss Declan off. I’ve found that alphas, like ours, don’t much care for their mate putting herself down. You look to Bethan as an example. I looked to Skylar. I thought, there’s no freaking way I can do this and to a pack as old and regarded as the one in the Hamptons?” Roz shook her head before continuing. “At least you get to start from scratch. The only pack member you have is Bess and she adores you. I came into a well-established dynasty. Scared the crap out of me. Until Oliver told me that if people and wolves didn’t like my style, we’d just not invite them to things. And our pack was so happy he’d finally found his fated mate and settled down, they made me feel welcome from the get-go.”
“Logically I know you’re right, but emotionally... and let’s not forget that I bit Declan and turned him without any kind of consent.”
“Okay, that one you really need to let go. You gave him a longer, healthier life. Hell, you gave him the ability to knot you. Oliver and I argue all the time about which one of us enjoys that more.”
Ava found that it was next to impossible to resist Roz’s positive take on all that had happened.
“And I do get to start from scratch. I think about that now and can’t imagine anyone ever being mistress of Calon Onest other than Bethan,” Ava admitted.
“She was nothing short of spectacular.”
Ava giggled. “I swear my eyes have been opened. I always thought she was so meek and well behaved...”
Roz laughed. “Who knew? I’m predicting great things for your pack. You come from the pack that spawned both Skylar and Bethan—two of the most bad-ass mistresses I’ve ever met... and trust me, I know a bunch.”
“So what do you think they’re talking about?”
“Oh, I rather imagine they’re doing that ‘let’s not worry the ladies’ bullshit. Oliver drives me nuts when he does that. And don’t let them kid you. Catherine, Maddie, and Skylar were the ones responsible for ferreting out the extent of the problem.”
“How so? We only heard that there was a rogue pack or two turning females.”
“That was what alerted them in the first place, but it’s far more reaching than that. They actually set up a breeding farm and were selling off women—some to be bred by their new packs and some bred and ready to deliver. It was awful. Maddie said Griffin was deeply affected by it and he was in Special Ops.”
“What are they doing about it?”
“The Ruling Council refuses to believe it isn’t confined to those who have already been taken care of. So an inner council of sorts has formed including Calon Onest, DeMedici, New Orleans, Bae Diogel, the Hamptons, and now, I suspect, you. In addition, Catherine’s younger sister is missing and believed to be unaccounted for.”
“Are they looking for her?”
“Of course, but Catherine isn’t inclined to sit on the sidelines and wait. There may come a time she looks to those of us who were the original Bae Diogel and some other female shifters for help.”
“Count me in.”
Roz grinned. “I kind of thought you might say that. You know the boys will be pissed to the extreme. I understand where they’re coming from... that all of this could threaten our very existence and is bigger than one girl. But to Catherine, that’s her sister. I can tell you if someone had snatched my sister, Liza? No power on earth, including Oliver, could stop me.”
“Do you think we’ll attract pack members?”
“I think so. Some of the packs are becoming really large and unwieldy. There are others that have men who would like to be, and have what it takes to be, ranking members of a pack. Maine is gorgeous and wide open. I think you’ll be surprised at how quickly you find yourself needing to turn some of those out buildings into housing for your people.”
“That’s what scares me, Roz. Declan is a good man. But being a wolf and an alpha is new to him...”
“No, he was always alpha. Just the wolf part is new. And he has an alpha born-shifter for a mate—one who hails from a great and noble pack. Besides Oliver likes him a lot and really respects how quickly he got on board with no longer being human... certainly better and faster than I did.”
“They did seem to hit it off. Is that a good thing for me?”
“Not if you want to continue doing whatever the hell you want. I have a sneaky suspicion your mate will have little to no tolerance for that. And keep in mind, he will expect you to lead the women of your pack.”
“Oh, Christ, Roz, I can barely lead myself... hell, I’ve proven I can’t even do that. He really would be so much better off with someone better.”
“Better than what?” came Declan’s deep, masculine growl.
Both women whirled around to be confronted by their mates.
“Rozalyn, it’s time for us to go.”
“Declan, she was just talking to a friend,” said Roz, trying to defend her.
Ava watched as the power of Oliver’s growl and his alpha wave staggered Roz. “Enough, Rozalyn. We are leaving either with you on my arm or over my shoulder. Choose.”
“I suppose on your arm as I fear over your shoulder would turn into face down over your knee.”
“That would be a good supposition on your part, Rozalyn.”
Oliver reached out his hand to his mate and she took it, growling quietly at him as he tucked it into his arm. Ava was surprised as the alpha of the Hamptons merely chuckled at his beloved mate and kissed the top of her head while offering her a seductive rumbling from deep within his chest.
“Declan, we’ll be in touch. It really will be good to have you aboard. I will leave you in the most capable care of your mate. She is spirited to be sure, but a prize well worth winning.” He turned back to Roz. “Come, sweetheart, we have our own pack to attend to.”
Chapter Twenty
Ava realized she were seeing many things for the first time. Granted she hadn’t known Oliver and Roz before, but nevertheless she knew who they were. Certainly, Roz had quickly become a trusted friend.
“You don’t think he’ll get after her for defending me to you, do you?”
“I think you would be better off being more concerned with answering my question.”
“What question?” she asked.
“The one I asked you earlier... better than what?”
“Someone who knows how to lead a pack, what to do, how to manage all of this...”
“So, you think there’s someone better to lead our pack than me?”
Ava was astonished by his questions. “Of course not, Declan. I think you’re going to be an amazing alpha. I think Roz is right that you’ll have your choice of men to add to the pack, and then will help them find the right mates...”
“So, you question my ability to find the right mate for myself?”
“No. I think you could have any female you want. You’re strong, handsome, wealthy, sexy, great in the sack...”
“So, you think being a shifter-born alpha female, you’re too good for me?”
“No. Of course not. You’re twisting everything I say. You’re the one who deserves better. I’m the one who should just tuck tail and go back to Calon Onest and see if I can’t stay out of trouble and be of help to someone.”
“Ah, so we’re back to you running away. I thought we’d dispensed with that bullshit when I marked and knotted you for the first of many times when we were in seclusion.”
“You aren’t listening to me,” she cried in frustration.
“You should talk to Halsey. Ask him. Halsey knows what kind of mate it takes to lead a great pack.”
“Interesting that you should say that. He told me that his Rozalyn doubted her ability to be the mistress of a great pack such as his. And that he found the best way to deal with her when she was afraid...”
“I’m not afraid. I love you. I want the best for you.”
“And I’m telling you that you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you. You will learn to trust me and the decisions I make for us. Until you do, every time you question your abilities, each time I hear you doubt your worth or my love for you, I’ll blister your backside and you can stand in the corner with your bottom plugged until you remember that.”
“Declan, why won’t you listen to me?” she wailed.
His angry demeanor faded in an instant. “I hear you, Ava. Your childhood wasn’t easy—far tougher than Ioan and Bethan ever guessed. No one at Calon Onest heard the hurt, the sense of not belonging, the feeling of not being good enough. But I hear you, mate. I hear you and I will teach you that what you taught yourself was wrong. You are intelligent, strong, talented, capable, beautiful, and sexy. And you are an alpha and shifter-born. I cannot do this without you. I won’t. There’s a fight coming, Ava, and only a small group stands in the way of a veritable apocalypse for our kind. I’m needed and I need you beside me.”
He reached out and dragged her into his embrace. His mouth descended swiftly and took command of a searing kiss. He rumbled low in his throat and Ava responded in the only way she could. All her anger and doubt faded into nothing as she molded herself to his body while silent tears trickled down her cheeks. Declan lessened the assault on her senses as his mouth began to seduce instead of demand.
He lifted his head and saw the tears and grinned. “Cease your crying, mate, lest I give you something to cry about.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
He dried her tears with his thumbs and kissed her lightly on her lips.
“I mean if you have a need to shed tears, I’ll give you a reason... say spanking your lovely behind?”
