Mica didn’t either. Learning that Greg had intercepted her dad’s message didn’t feel right. She knew that it was something her dad would definitely not approve of.
“So what do you know about this Greg.”Victor asked a little more calmly.
“He has been my dad’s Beta for years.”
“Who is his mate, family, anything at all?”
“He has no mate. His parents are dead and his only living family is a brother named Benjamin. He disappeared a while ago though.” Mica said.
Mica decided to leave out that he’d at one time petitioned her father for her. Thank god it had not happened, she thought. But then that was only because her dad saw Jamie Timber as a better choice. Then again, her own choice was questionable as well in allowing Victor to be her mate. Mica had to struggle with her wolf’s reasoning in choosing Victor. He seemed very demanding and bossy. Although there was nothing she could do about it now. As they continued to talk she found herself answering his questions.
Chapter 4
Alaric Dickson gave his second in command a steely glare as they left from the Gathering. He was still unsure if he’d heard Greg's whispered comment correctly. They stepped into the privacy of the lodge Derrick Timber had given him as accommodations while he was here.
"What do you mean, she's gone!” He growled.
"She was taken by the Feral pack two nights ago. All four of the guards were killed along with three others from our pack." Greg told him.
"How the hell did this happen?” He snapped barely containing his rage.
"They had a sniper."
"What are they asking in return for her?" He demanded to know. His balled fists trembled. Alaric was barely containing his rage.
"They're not asking for a ransom." Greg explained
"So why the hell did they take her!” He asked, exasperated with his Beta.
"Well...she was mated." Greg said in a near whisper.
"What! Who?” His voice boomed in the large open combined living room and kitchen area.
"Victor Feral." His beta said.
"To their Alpha! Was it willingly?” Alaric’s hands shook harder at the thought of his child being harmed.
"We believe she was forced into it."
The feeling of horror that washed over him left a void in his chest. Only once in his life had he ever felt like this. That was when Mica’s mother died in childbirth. The feeling quickly became a blinding rage. "You know what to do,” He growled the words out. “I want him dead!"
"What about the laws?" Greg asked.
"To hell with the laws! Victor crossed the line by taking my daughter!" He roared. He took several deep breaths to try and calm himself down Alaric noticed his Beta seemed rather calm giving this news. He’d at one time wished to court Mica.
"Now I need to go explain to Derrick just what is going on before he hears it from someone else. This Alliance will only happen if Mica is mated to Jamie." Alaric said a bit more calmly.
"The meetings will be over in a week, by then Mica will be back home and the Feral pack dealt with." Greg reassured him and he turned and walked out of the room.
The overwhelming feelings of anger, guilt and helplessness ran through him. He struggled to calm himself down in order to call Derrick. This was one of his nightmares come true. He’d left her and someone was able to hurt her. Alaric felt as if he’d failed his daughter by not being there to protect her when she needed him. He inhaled deeply again. He knew his Beta would make sure his daughter was returned back to him and Victor was dealt with.
Greg was a trained navy seal like most of his pack members. Alaric had made sure they had some sort of specialized training. His pack contained maybe twenty males, ten kinfolk female mates and almost twenty three pups of various ages, however, most of those were kinfolk like their mothers. They had only had the one She-wolf, his daughter Mica. Her mother too had been a she-wolf. The pain of that loss still wore heavy on his heart. Mica was all he’d left and now someone had taken her.
Without another moment's hesitation he grabbed the phone to call Jamie's father. Mica as a she-wolf would ensure werewolf offspring were born to Jamie and that secured the linage of Derrick's bloodline. Without a she-wolf there were no guarantees that a child would become a werewolf. That made his daughter priceless. He knew this mating was important to Derrick and his pack. Just as much as the Alliance was to Alaric. The Timber pack was large with nearly twice as many werewolf males but not a single she-wolf. It would be good to have them on their side as tensions were mounting between several of the packs in the area.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Greg walked into his hotel room and tossed his jacket on the bed. He had stopped by the Chinese restaurant on his way and now as he put the bag on the small desk he didn't feel as hungry as he had been. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he fished it out and answered it. "Yeah"
"They agreed to the Alliance, subject to termination if Mica isn't presented to Jamie by the time he arrives back from his stint overseas." Alaric said in a stony tone.
"That's not for another month!" Greg exclaimed.
"No, four months now apparently.”
"But Alaric that’s too long to wait.” He said. He couldn’t believe what he heard.
"Yes I know, but now at least we can try and avoid a full out conflict." Alaric said. He sounded calmer than he’d been earlier. Not so willing anymore to spill the blood of his daughter’s mate and be guilty of breaking the laws.
"What do you want me to do?” He asked.
"Nothing yet. We will set up a meeting with Victor Feral for the return of Mica and go from there.” He explained
"But Alaric he forced her to-"
"Enough! I told you what it was we were doing. Now we are to meet with Derrick first thing in the morning so make sure you’re there early.” He snapped before hanging up.
Greg growled as he tossed his uneaten supper into the garbage. He wanted to kill Victor right now. Alaric was being a pacifist again, unwilling to even defend his daughters honor. The man didn't deserve to be Alpha, he fumed to himself. He went to his laptop and turned it on before he opened his secondary cell phone and made the call.
"Natasha,” He said. “Yeah it's done”
"Well this is earlier than expected. Good and Greg if this doesn't work He will be very upset!” She told him.
"I know what I'm doing. You just keep up your end of the deal!” He told her then hung up the phone.
Greg hacked into Alaric's email again to inspect the communication he needed to intercept. One new email was there. It was only a short missive from a pack farther south. The Valtor's were interested in setting up a meeting with Alaric at his earliest opportunity. It needed to be deleted. No other pack was to get involved until after Greg was Alpha. The one message from Victor Feral he had saved to a thumb drive. It was the hardest thing he’d ever had to sit and watch. Not because Victor forced himself on Mica as Greg had told Alaric, but because Mica had actually accepted the mating of their enemy. He didn’t understand why she’d laid Claim to Victor.
It wouldn't matter soon enough though. When the dust settled he’d be Alpha of the pack and Mica would be his. Everything had been going to plan right up until Victor had taken her. It threw a slight monkey wrench in his plans, but in the end he knew it would actually work to his advantage. His cell phone rang breaking his thoughts and he saw it was Natasha. He answered it. "Yes.”
"Change of plans,” She told him. “He wants the female.”
"That wasn't part of the deal!” He stammered.
"Listen Greg it wasn't a suggestion, it was an order. Now get your act together or you know what will happen!” She said coldly. The woman slammed the phone down, hanging up on him.
Greg stared down at the phone in his hand. This was not what he’d wanted to happen. Part of his reason for dealing with these people was Mica. The other was his brother Benjamin, now he could very well lose both if he messed this up. He needed to make a backup plan. One that
would make sure he actually got what he wanted out of this and didn’t get his baby brother killed in the process.
* * * ~~~ * * *
Frank Valtor stepped into his home and headed for the large kitchen. The squeals of laughter filtering up from the basement playroom told him most of his kids were down there playing. He smiled at the sounds. It was a blessing to have so many healthy, happy children and he was so very proud of them all. As he looked to the kitchen table he saw his wife Ajei sitting there. The newest addition to his family was cradled asleep in her arms. “Hey honey.” She said.
“How is he now?” Frank asked. After the late night with a fussing newborn, he knew she must be tired.
“He’s finally asleep.” She said with a broad smile that made her coal black eyes shine.
“You should go take a nap. I’ll keep an eye on him.” Frank offered as he took his son from her arms.
She laughed lightly and stood. “I’ll make some coffee,” She said. “We need to talk.”
“You need sleep, talking can wait till after you’ve had a nap.” He said. Ajei gave him a hard look that told him it wasn’t his wife who wanted to talk but the Alpha Bitch. He knew better than to argue with her when she was like this.
Just as Frank sat down at the table, the back door flew open and his eldest son rushed in. Nick had a look of mischief on his face as he raced by the table. A moment later Shea burst though the back door. She was soaked from head to toe. Bits and pieces of a broken water balloon were stuck in his eldest daughters long black hair, her eye makeup ran in black streaks down her cheeks. She looked furious. “Nick!” she yelled and the baby cried.
“Shea!” Ajei snapped.
“Oh damn, I’m sorry mom.” Shea said apologetically. She still looked ready to kill her brother.
“Go get dried off. Then you can take your baby brother for a bit!” Ajei said.
“But mom he—”
“I know he hit you with a water balloon. You’re not sugar you won’t melt. Besides you’ll get him back later.”
As Ajei defused the situation, Frank tried to get the baby back to sleep while he waited for Shea to get dried off and changed. When she returned, he handed Ash over to her and watched her take him downstairs to the playroom.
“So what’s so important that it can’t wait?” he asked.
“It’s about the girl.” Ajei said.
“What about her?”
“She’s been mated to another.” Ajei told him. Frank looked at her hard. Sometime after he’d left this morning his wife must have had another vision. That meant his petition to the Dickson pack had been a waste of time.
“So we change our plans then.” He stated.
“Yes, we need to wait though. Her mate will contact you when the time is right. Until then things will have to play out the way they were meant to.” She explained.
He wondered why Ajei had a sour look on her face as she told him all this. Frank knew this Mica was extremely important to the future of their race. But his wife was vague on the details of it. All she’d told him was that their youngest son would have to mate Mica’s first born. Then the tides of change would begin, but even he knew fate was sometimes cruel and there was little one could do to change it. The look on Ajei’s face told him she hadn’t liked whatever it was she’d seen in her latest vision, and he knew better than to ask.
Ajei would only tell him what her spirits guides would allow. That made things a bit unnerving at times. Then again, at other times the spirits were extremely forthcoming with their information. Which had given his pack an advantage others didn’t have. The Shaman’s of the Valtor pack, all female kinfolk, had a reputation as being dangerous to cross. It was true. When one of the women took over their spirit animals; the result was an indestructible killing force. No one he’d ever heard of was able to defend against one of them.
Chapter 5
Mica stood there in the traditional long white gossamer gown. The pretty dress was adorned with small embroider flowers. The cuffs and collar were lined with the small golden threads in an intricate design. Jenni, one of the women from Victor's pack, had prepared her by bathing her in scented water and strung baby's breath in her long loosely braided hair. She’d explained to her what would happen today. She smiled warmly at her as she pulled the loose braid from the packs tribal mark on Mica’s neck.
Jenni had the same tribal marking as she did, which meant she was mated to one of the Feral pack. The taller woman looked as if she was ten years older than herself and had short cropped brown hair and intense green eyes. Her hands moved deftly about Mica, finishing the last little touches of make-up and adding just a dab of perfume to her neck.
The older woman looked at her with a bit of a smile on her face, Jenni sighed. "He’s a good man and a great Alpha. You’re lucky he chose you as his mate.” She said, her words sounding sincere.
"I don't even know anything about him." Mica stammered as her tears filled her eyes.
“That will come in time.”
"Are you ready yet, we are going to be late!" Mike's voice boomed from the other side of the door.
“But what if we don’t like each other, then what?” Mica asked. The thoughts of being mated to a man she didn’t like, left a cold knot in her stomach.
"Mica it's going to be okay." Jenni tried to reassure her.
Mica still wasn’t so sure of that as they left the room. Mike stared at her, his mouth gaping.
"Wow you’re beautiful!” He stammered, it caused her to blush.
"Mike, we need to take her to the Hall now." Jenni said and they escorted her to the old well used minivan.
Mica could tell this pack was one of the ones struggling to survive. Her own familial pack was wealthy and therefore larger than most in this area. The Feral pack she knew had suffered greatly over the years as most of their women gave birth to only kinfolk. They were a dying blood line. On the long drive she felt her inner wolf growing excited. It had chosen Victor and there was no denying that. Maybe it would all be okay, she thought to herself as she watched the tree line on the edge of the road. At least he wasn’t Jamie Timber, she consoled herself. That would have been horrible.
The trip didn’t take quite as long as she thought. As they drove through the small community, she saw the small homes, a few old cars and rough roads. Like most of the werewolf packs, they didn’t exist in the outside world. Not having credentials, or civic addresses. Most made their living under the table as the saying went. Her pack, was above board, they all had records within the government and even their large community was documented as an authentic town. The outside world just didn’t know that an actual pack of werewolves lived there.
As they pulled in front of a small hall, Mica saw that the parking lot was packed. She got out of the van and felt the excitement growing in her. Her wolf was eager for this final part of her and Victor’s mating. Mica looked the crowd over as she walked into the little meeting hall. None of these people were familiar to her other than Jenni, Mike and the tall ruggedly handsome man in the center of the room. Victor looked up and when she entered. His eyes went wide. To her it was as if he saw her for the first time. Mica also felt taken aback by her mate. He looked breathtaking in his all white gossamer pants and loose flowing shirt which was embroidered with golden intricate designs around the neck and cuffs.
A hush fell over the Feral pack as all of them watched Mike escort her to the center of the room. She stood before his brother Victor. Traditionally it would have been her father to walk her to her mate. But seeing as this was a bit unorthodox, Mike was doing that part. This was the official ceremony of their Mating, their union bond by blood before his pack. Mica stiffened as an Elder woman walked into the center with a bone knife.
She’d seen many Mating rituals done and knew what to expect. The elder woman took Victor's right hand first. She chanted out the words of union and cut his palm just enough to make it bleed a little. She then took Mica's left hand and repeated the chant. As the an
cient bone knife sliced into her skin, she forced herself not to hiss out in pain. When the elder woman finished, she clasped their palms together. The mixing of her blood with his to signify the bond the two of them would forever share as Mates.
Mica looked up into Victor’s deep brooding eyes and felt her heart race in her chest. What had she done? She didn't even know this man. Yet just last night she claimed him and now she was willingly performing the mating ritual with him. She figured she’d gone insane. Victor's lips descended onto hers in a public display of affection and she returned the kiss instinctively. A rush of icy delight ran down her spine at his lips tender caress on hers and as her eyelids fluttered. She saw his desire already starting to show on his face.
As they kissed, a roar of howls and human cheering resounded within the hall. Victor smiled at her warmly as he swept her up into his arms. "Tonight we feast!” He yelled as he scooped her up into his arms. He carried her to the long, low table surrounded with floor cushions at the back where a huge feast of traditional fare was set out in a banquet style.
"I want to make a toast." Mike stated as Victor placed her down in a pile of cushions and snuggled up beside her.
"To our new Alpha Bitch. And of course my brother. May your home be filled with pups!” He said with a smile. He raised his glass of beer into the air as did everyone else.
The night flew by in a dizzy whirl of festivities, with eating, drinking and dancing. Speeches were made as were jokes at Victor expense and gifts were bestowed to her in a sign of acceptance. The presents were all of some small item that the gift givers had personally owned. It was the highest honor an Alpha Bitch could be bestowed. Each one of the pack came and kissed her on her chin in a sign of submission to their alpha female. As the very last one came up to her, she noticed Victor stiffen beside her.
The man was handsome, although older than Victor. With his slightly greying temples that looked rather alluring in contrast to his black hair and deeply tanned skin. He was dressed in expensive clothing and wearing a large gold ring on his right hand. He gave off an air of self importance. Unlike everyone else here, this man was definitely not struggling to make ends meet. He bore a very strong resemblance to Victor and Mike, having the same facial structure, hair and eye color. But where Victor and Mike were werewolves, this man was kinfolk. Mike, who had been flirting with a pretty girl at the other end of the table had also stiffened at this man's approach.
The Lycan Wars- Revised Edition Page 3
