by Niki Trento
While lost in thought, the others have their own discussion. I focus on what they are saying. Just in time, too, Kathleen’s asking me a question. The girls look a little apprehensive, Donovan’s face contours in thought. I glance at each of them, wondering what they really think about all of this.
“I’m sorry, Kathleen...lost in thought. What did you ask?”
“Do you have magic, Barin?”
“No. If I did, the conversation with my father would have happened a lot sooner.”
“I'm going to study these books. Maybe there's an answer here that your dad isn't aware of.” Kathleen gathers up the tomes and her journal.
“Before you do that, I have some questions for all of you. How much of this information do you think is safe to tell the pack? How do you feel the pack will react to it?”
The room goes quiet while each of them thinks. I have always been honest with the pack with the exception of the magnitude of our gifts. Not that I don't trust them, but rather it keeps the peace. Especially considering what Axel can do. I want to share all of this with them, they can handle it. There’s no reason I can fathom that they would feel any less about my leading them.
“Honestly, Barin, I don't know your pack or their loyalties. I don't even know why I was invited to this pow wow instead of say...Axel? With that being said, I think that your pack deserves the utmost honesty from you on this. They all seem like shifters that will have your back no matter what, why would this change anything?”
“I agree, Celeste. Barin has been there for all of us when we were outcasts; alone and scared with nowhere else to go. With the exception of Kane, they are undoubtedly loyal to him.” Kathleen's voice breaks the slightest bit. There’s a darkness in her eyes. One of these days I hope she decides to share her story with me.
“They know that the missing tomes are here. We have all spent days looking through the other books, searching for answers. If you don't tell them everything, and you don't allow them access to these tomes, they will know you are hiding something. That is how and when you will lose their loyalty.”
“You're absolutely right, Donovan. You all are.” I put my arm around Kathleen's shoulders. “Thank you.”
A low rumble from Celeste's chest, her eyes narrow on my contact with Kathleen. I slowly remove my arm and take a step away from my gamma and the rumble subsides. I walk over to Celeste. That reaction gives me a great segway and now's as good a time as any. I take her hands in mine and gaze into her eyes.
She’s still watching Kathleen. Her nails become claws indicating she is angrier than I initially thought.
“Celeste? Look at me.” When she doesn't comply, I add, “please?”
She pulls her glare from Kathleen with visible effort.
“Celeste, the reason I asked you to join in this conversation--” This is actually harder than telling them about my lineage.
“Yes?”
“Donovan is my beta and Kathleen my gamma. My advisors, my most trusted of the pack. And you? You are my alpha mate, my luna.”
Celeste's eyes expand. She takes a step back effectively extracting her hands from my grip.
The wolf inside me whines at her rejection.
“Barin.” Celeste seems to be collecting her thoughts. After what feels like an eternity, she speaks again, her voice soft. “I am not sure if this is the right time...or...or place to have this conversation. You have a pretty serious speech to make to your pack, do you think it wise to add this to the mix? They will already be taking in an overload of information.”
“My father gave me some advice. To tell you, as an equal, about all of this. If you didn't run screaming for the hills then I shouldn't wait to stake my claim. In front of my two highest-ranking shifters as witnesses, I claim you, Celeste. My wolf claimed you that first day when you and I were locked in a staring contest. My heart was quick to follow. If you will have me as yours, I could weather any storm with you at my side.”
Tears slide down her cheeks.
“And the elf problem?”
I fall in love with her even more. Her concern for my pack and this issue taking precedence to the claiming proves her unselfishness.
“I feel that by announcing my claim to you within the same conversation as telling them the truth about me, will show them I am worthy of loyalty. That I am strengthening the pack by bringing you completely into the fold.”
She searches my eyes as if she’s expecting to discover a hidden agenda.
“Celeste, I know the timing is crazy, but I can't lose you.”
“What do you say, Celeste?” Kathleen seems as anxious as I am to know what Celeste’s next move will be.
Well, almost as anxious.
“I need time to think.” Celeste leaves the room.
I follow her with my mind's eye to her bedroom. She grabs her camera and heads outside.
A hand drops on my shoulder, forcing me to look away from the door Celeste escaped through. I turn my head towards Donovan, defeat evident in my eyes.
Growing up, watching couples claim each other, it always seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Impulsive, definite. Is she against the idea of being my mate?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Celeste
Armed with my camera I set out at a brisk walk going deeper into the woods of Barin's territory. What was he thinking? He doesn't know what the elves want with him; if they mean to kill him, torture him. How can he think of claiming me right now? At least he is giving me a choice! When he first informed me that I was his alpha mate, all I could think of was the control freak alpha in Europe. He told me I was his mate, too, though he lacked the emotion that Barin had.
I can feel every part of me wanting to become one with Barin. My wolf is tearing me to shreds to get back to Barin's side. He is strong, sexy, a great leader, compassionate. His pack treats him like a brother more than a leader, however the respect they have for him is true. I just don't know if this is the best time to worry about our personal futures when the whole pack’s future is, at the moment, unknown.
Of course, Barin knows his pack and can foretell how they will react much better than I can. Maybe he is right that us mutually marking our claim will bring strength in this time of need. Uniting our two packs, if war comes, will be beneficial all the way around. An alpha is stronger when he is mated, especially if his mate is a naturally born alpha herself.
I turn my focus to the woods around me, pulling my camera to my eye. Up until now, the subject of my photography has been architecture, so adding some nature shots will cushion my portfolio nicely. I have a large zoom lens equipped. Other animals can smell the wolf in me, there'd be no way I could physically get too close.
Using my shifter hearing, I’m able to pinpoint a field mouse nest nearly hidden in the branches of a nearby bush. There is at least one baby chirping for its mama there. “Come on, mama, your babies want you,” I whisper.
I hear the tiniest rustle to the right of the nest. Zooming in I’m able to see mama leaping from one branch to another. I start snapping pictures. Just before she makes it to her nest I whisper, “Okay, mama...pose for me.”
To my surprise, she stops and looks right at me. *Snap snap* Mama's nose is twitching like crazy, I plead for her to be still. Her nose quits moving. After snapping a couple more frames, I let my camera dangle from my neck. All of that was a coincidence, right? There's no way she heard me, or at the very least understood me. It doesn't make logical sense.
A few minutes go by and I watch the woods around me. I decide it is just pure coincidence that the mama mouse did what I had asked. Either that or I am losing my damn mind out here. Tilting my nose to the sky, I take a deep sniff trying to find more critters. Nothing.
Walking back towards Barin's house, I take some pictures of some mushrooms and other flora. I pick my way in between, over and even under the trees. Stopping every so often to take another picture. Thank the goddess for digital cameras!
I come upon a clearing where a fa
wn is grazing. Freezing mid-step, I slowly lower my foot while raising my camera. I barely breathe the words: “look up”.
The fawn lifts its head and looks right at me.
Don't be scared. Stay right there.
The young deer tilts its head in confusion. I almost forget to take the picture as I watch it seemingly react to my silent thoughts. I have to test this out, coincidence or not?
Come closer. Two simple words muttered silently in my head. I almost screech when the fawn takes tentative steps towards me.
Stop.
The fawn freezes.
“I'm crazy. I'm hallucinating. There's no way you heard me.” I pace with the fawn watching my every move. “Leave. Me. Alone!” Like the crack of a whip, the fawn leaps away. Then everything goes dark.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Barin
“Barin, she will be back. That was a lot of information and emotion you tossed in her lap. Give her time to find her feelings with it all.” Donovan squeezes my shoulder before dropping his hand.
“I was certain she would have accepted my claim easily. You heard her growl when I put my arm around Kathleen, and that wasn't the first time it’s happened either.”
“I don't think it is ever that simple. As wolves, yes, but as humans? Not so much.”
“What do you think, Kathleen?” I look to my gamma for some women's intuition.
“She will be back, I don't doubt that in the least. However, she may need some time and a little wooing.”
“Ok. I will give her space and a little wooing. In the meantime, we need to gather the pack for a meeting. I won't mention my intentions with Celeste.” With that, we leave my office to wrangle everyone into the same room.
To tell the pack that Celeste seemed so against the mating bond is admitting a failure. That she doesn’t find me worthy enough to be her mate. A less than loyal shifter could, and probably would use that as an advantage to a perceived weakness. It is common knowledge that a denied mate claim can easily throw one into a fuck it kind of mentality. Not a good thing for an alpha with a pack to run.
**
It didn't take any time at all to gather the pack, all of them lounging in the living room listening to my parents tell childhood stories about me. I walk in to hear the one when my father claims he knew I was going to be an alpha.
“There he was, standing as tall as a two-year-old could, looking up at my brother, the alpha of our pack. Both of them staring with crazy determination at the other. You have to understand, Barin was as much a son to my brother as he is to me. My brother, Bruce, hadn't had pups of his own yet and Barin was his first nephew. So, when Barin got it in his head to “out-stare” his uncle, Bruce didn't take it as a challenge or a threat, especially from a two-year-old.
“I tried calling Barin, telling him to lower his eyes, but he just scrunched his face up and kept at it. Eventually, he got tired or hungry, or both and just turned away. It was that moment I knew he would make a fine alpha one day.”
“Thank you for that, Dad.” I shake his hand then look around the room. Every face turns to me with pride. I take a deep breath and begin the meeting. “I hope my dad didn't bore you too badly with his stories.” A lot of heads shake, and every one of them smiles. “Now, it's time for some serious stories. This affects all of you in one way or another and answers many of the questions we have been obsessing over.”
After telling them the story my father shared with me this morning, I scan each and every face of my pack members. Where just minutes before were smiles and pride in their alpha, now furrowed brows and partial frowns stare back at me. Like Celeste, they have to mull over all of this to see how they feel individually.
I open the floor for questions and discussion.
“You know me, boss, I ain't goin’ anywhere. If the elves want you, they will be going through me first!” Axel's loyalty knows no bounds and I couldn't be more grateful for him. If it weren’t for Donovan and Kathleen, Axel would most definitely be my beta. I bow to him, but before I can stand up, I clutch my chest and drop to my knees.
“Barin?! What's wrong?” My mother kneels at my side, stroking the hair from my face. Her tone filled with concern for her only child.
“Celeste.” I seek her out with my mind's eye, hoping she isn't out of my range. Praying to the Goddess that she’s ok. It takes too long to find her. I hear the voice of Donovan barking orders.
“Split up. Two by two. One shift, the other carries a first aid kit.”
Axel. Clearing.
“Boss says she's in the clearing. Pandi, come with me.” I climb to my feet, I have to go to Celeste. “Boss, I'll shift and get to her. I’ve got her back, always.”
Hurry! She's defenseless! Axel nods just before shifting. He and Pandora are out the door before I can take a deep breath. It isn't uncommon for an alpha to feel something when one of his pack was hurt. However, that usually only happened after the shifter had been bound to the alpha. Celeste isn't bound to me, how am I feeling her distress? And so strongly?
I can see Axel stop at Celeste's side, Pandora just a step behind. The pain in my chest subsides as soon as I know she’s ok. The wolf takes over, pushing his way out. Only one thought on his mind: Must. Get. To. My. Mate. My shift is quicker than ever. Running and chanting that mantra in my head.
Donovan and my father aren't far behind me. The rest of the pack follow on foot instead of paw.
I reach the clearing in record time. One by one the pack arrive; surrounding Celeste and scouting the area. Looking for traces of any threat that could have caused Celeste to be knocked out. I nuzzle her face with my nose, letting her know I’m here.
Celeste. I'm here, wake up. Axel? Cole? Is she hurt?
Boss? She wasn't attacked. Axel had a small smile on his lips, his relief was obvious. Pretty sure she fainted.
My shoulders sag just a hair at Axel's news. I tilt my head wondering what could have made her faint.
Cole lightly probes her scalp with his fingers before moving down her neck. He’s obviously checking for swelling or breaks.
My mind's eye spreads as far as it can go, revealing nothing more than my pack and a scared fawn. I know Axel won't dig too far into Celeste's mind, only enough to know there isn't anything life-threatening about this. We will have to wait until she wakes to tell us.
“Not a scratch on her, Barin. When she is awake, I will check to see if she is concussed, but I doubt it.” Cole stands, brushing pine needles and dirt from his jeans.
Celeste blinks a couple of times before opening her eyes. When she sweeps the area around her and sees all of us, she blushes.
Pandora helps her sit up, brushing off her back and pulling debris from Celeste's white hair. Her face flushes, embarrassed for the briefest of moments before she smiles in gratitude.
“Celeste? Do you remember what happened?” Cole squats in front of her, checking her eyes with his ever-present penlight.
“Yes. I...umm...fainted. Oh! My camera!” She twists around looking for her camera among the dirt and pine needles.
Axel dangles it from the strap in front of her. “Love your priorities, doll.” He laughs as she snatches the camera and checks it over.
Celeste shoots him a look which only makes him laugh louder.
Donovan offers Celeste his hand and helps her up. He tells everyone to head back to the house and curls her arm through his.
A short-lived growl tumbles from my lips, causing Donovan to shake his head with a smirk.
Seriously, Barin? Donovan utters in my mind.
Pandora brushes the rest of the debris from Celeste's legs then takes a post at Celeste's vacant side. With everyone ensured that there was nothing to find or hunt, they break away from the clearing.
My father urges Pandora to follow the others and takes her position.
“Sweet girl, what really happened?” my father asks.
Axel glances at Donovan with a questioning quirk to his eyebrow.
Donovan smiles and nods
. My father was known for being nosy, or as he called it, inquisitive. He has no qualms with being upfront and bold.
“Well--” Celeste’s eyes plead with me. Help?
I nudge my father's leg. When he looks down I shake my head.
“Sorry, dear. My mouth tends to overstep my manners. Let us get you home and cleaned up.”
Thank you. Celeste silently thanks me for coming to her rescue, in response I bow my head to her with a wag of my tail. Whatever happened in the woods was obviously embarrassing enough that she doesn't want an audience for the retelling. I’m not a hundred percent sure she even wants to tell me.
Donovan and Axel keep up an unrelated conversation with my father while we walk. Something mundane that I don’t pay attention to. My focus solely on Celeste who moves with her head down, possibly still embarrassed. Whether it’s the attention or the fainting I have no idea. While Celeste is a friendly and sweet shifter, she doesn't seem to like having the masses focus on her.
Dear heart, are you sure you are okay?
Physically, yes. Barin, something weird happened to me in the woods.
How so?
I'm not sure I know how to explain it. I'm not sure it even happened.
Take your time. Take a shower and rest a bit. Maybe it will be clear to you after you've calmed down.
You're right. I could have imagined it. I know you are concerned and want answers…
I'm more patient than my father. Don't worry about it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Donovan
Celeste is in the shower. I sit in Barin's office watching him pace, running his hands through his hair. He always has incredible patience, I wonder where it is now. Barin is a calm and collected alpha. More apt to go with the flow instead of demanding solutions right out of the gate. Yet, here he is, practically chomping at the bit. In all the years I've known him, I have never seen him as frantic as I did today.
“Donovan, tell me she isn't leaving us.” And there it is. The missing piece to the puzzle. He is crazed for the first time in his life over a girl. Albeit not just any girl, but his true mate.
