Blood of the Pack

by Jenny Frame

  Kenrick scratched her head. “Sorry about that. When I didn’t get any answer from you yesterday, I was worried there was something wrong.”

  “There was,” Zaria said softly.

  When they walked into the apartment, Zaria had a flashback of Leroux calling her, frightening her. “This was my sanctuary. Dante gave me this safe place, after all these years, and Leroux violated it.”

  Kenrick grasped her shoulders lightly. “She hasn’t. No one will get near you again. I’ll fix this door in the morning, but in the meantime I’m here, and I will always keep you safe, if you let me.”

  Kenrick was right. She was safety, Zaria’s safety. The first wolf to give her that, to care about her thoughts and feelings. The dread inside her, the dread that Ovid put back in her, had to be banished, and Kenrick was the only one who could make it better.

  Zaria pulled Kenrick to her, growled, and kissed her, grazing Kenrick’s lip with her canines. Kenrick, already hot and hungry from the battle, didn’t need any more encouragement. She kissed Zaria back and ran her fingers through her dark hair.

  She felt Zaria ripping her T-shirt, raking her claws down her chest. Her sex burned so hot after the battle that she wanted to claim Zaria, proclaim to every wolf that they belonged to each other.

  Kenrick lifted Zaria and she wrapped her legs around Kenrick’s waist. Kenrick walked them back to the front door and pushed Zaria up against it. She felt Zaria’s claws dig into her neck.

  It felt so good. Kenrick had been dreaming of this since she met Zaria. This was her mate—Zaria was her future.

  She pulled back from the kiss, then grasped Zaria’s hair and pulled it to the side to expose her neck. Kenrick rubbed her scent up and down her neck, then started to kiss it.

  Zaria went stiff and dropped her arms and legs. Kenrick stopped and moved her head back. Zaria looked like a frightened deer, her breathing was shallow, and there were tears welling in her eyes.

  “Zaria, what’s wrong?”

  Zaria stared straight ahead as if she was reliving something in her mind. Kenrick cupped Zaria’s cheeks and looked directly into her eyes.

  “Zari? Look at me. It’s Ricky, concentrate on my eyes.”

  Zaria closed her eyes tightly and when she opened them, she was back. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I can’t—”

  “You don’t have to do anything, lassie. Tell me what I did wrong,” Kenrick said.

  Zaria struggled through her tears to speak. “When I got to the Lupa base and I walked in, Ovid was there, and the first thing she did was grab me, push me against the wall, and try to bite my neck. She was angry that the mate bite she gave me all those years ago was gone.”

  “Is that what she did to you when you were sixteen years old?” Kenrick couldn’t believe an adult wolf could ever behave that way to a child.

  Zaria nodded. “That and more. She could use my body, but the Great Mother chooses your mate, and it wasn’t Ovid. The mate bite healed the very next time I shifted. Today the only reason she stopped was because Leroux interrupted her.”

  Kenrick bowed her head and shook it. “I’m so sorry she did that to you, and I’m sorry for trying to—”

  “I kissed you, Kenrick. I’m sorry, the emotion of today just got to me, but I wasn’t ready,” Zaria said.

  Kenrick took a big step back to give her some space. “I should have known better, after all you’ve been through today. You need to get to bed and get some sleep.”

  “Not in the bedroom,” Zaria said. “Leroux called me there. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  “Do you want me to go?” Kenrick asked.

  Zaria grasped her hand. “No, stay with me.”

  Kenrick settled Zaria on the couch with a blanket, while she sat on the floor beside her and held her hand.

  Zaria fell asleep quickly and Kenrick guarded her and thought of all the ways she’d like to kill Ovid.

  Chapter Fourteen

  One week had passed since Leroux had been killed at last, and it gave the Wolfgang pack extra cause to celebrate the mating ceremony of Ripp and Kyra. Zaria was standing with Vance and Marco watching the ceremony, and sweetly Marco held both her hand and Vance’s.

  Kyra looked beautiful standing at the dais in a flowing green gown, and Ripp was handsome in her green cloak.

  Dante, who was presiding over the ceremony, gave the couple their oathing stone. “The oath you take today is indivisible. Do you both swear in front of your pack to never break the vows you make today, and to keep them till death and beyond, when you enter the Great Eternal Forest?”

  Zaria looked over to Kenrick, who was standing by Ripp with the other dominants. She imagined standing there with Kenrick, but that was only a dream. Kenrick went back to Scotland tomorrow, and she would be left with an aching heart.

  Eden had hinted that she should go with Kenrick, but Kenrick had never asked her, and even if she did, there was no way she could be Kenrick’s Mater, in another country. Zaria had never been brought up in a normal pack, and she had no wolf social skills. Their brief romance, if that’s what it was, was coming to an end.

  Kenrick turned her head and looked straight at her, making Zaria’s heart thud. The week that she had spent recovering from her ordeal with the Lupas had given Zaria time to think about what came next. Dante and Eden had offered her a place here in the Wolfgang pack, but she felt it would be awkward for Flash and Vance to have her hovering over their shoulders. Now that Leroux was dead, maybe it was time to make a fresh start.

  Ripp and Kyra finished taking their oath, and Dante said, “Today we celebrate the love of Ripp and Kyra, but we also give praise to the Great Mother for guiding us and helping us hunt down our enemies. Leroux is no more, and we have avenged the destruction she brought to our pack. We can look forward to a safe, happy future, for our cubs and grandcubs.”

  Dante threw back her head and howled. The rest of the pack joined her.

  * * *

  While Ripp and Kyra went to place their oathing stone by their ancestors’ sacred tree, the guests moved on to the reception. Banks of tables on a large grassy area beside the ceremony site were laden with food and drink. In the middle, boards had been put down for dancing and many already were.

  Zaria sat at a picnic table with Eden, Lena, and baby Chase. “He’s gotten so big already, Lena,” Zaria said.

  Lena rolled her eyes. “It’s not surprising. He never stops eating.”

  Eden laughed. “You might be tired just now, but give it a few months, and you’ll be wanting cub number two.”

  “I’ve already got cub number two—her name is Caden,” Lena joked.

  Eden and Zaria laughed, and then Zaria felt Kenrick walking towards her.

  “Watch out, Zaria,” Lena said. “Your hunky Highlander is on an intercept course.”

  Eden leaned in and said, “Whatever she has to say, give her a chance.”

  Kenrick appeared at Zaria’s side and saluted both Eden and Lena.

  “Zari, will you dance with me?”

  “Sure.”

  Kenrick took her hand and Zaria followed her to the dance floor. The started to sway slowly to the music.

  “How have you been, Zari? I haven’t seen you the last couple of days,” Kenrick said.

  “I’ve been okay. I just wanted time to think, you know?”

  “Aye, I know. Listen, Zari, I go home tomorrow, and I need to know, will you come with me?” Kenrick asked.

  There was the question. Zaria’s heart said yes, but her head said, You’ll never be Mater material.

  Zaria sighed and it broke her heart to refuse but she had to. “I’m sorry, I can’t.”

  “If it’s because of Ovid, then I’d never treat you like—”

  Zaria cut Kenrick off. “I know you wouldn’t, it’s me. I’m a stray wolf, Ricky. I can’t just join your pack and become Mater. I’m not a Mater. I don’t even know what I am. I’ve never had the space to find out. I’ve always been hunted. Now Leroux’s dead, Ovid’s probably dea
d after the beating you gave her, and the Lupas have melted away, so I’m finally free. Do you understand?”

  “I don’t. You’re not a stray and my pack would love you,” Kenrick said with anger in her voice. “I love you, and I’m offering you a future. You know in your heart the Great Mother has destined us to be together. You have to come with me.”

  “I want to make my own decisions for once in my life. I won’t be pushed into something I can’t do. I’m not the mate of an Alpha. I can’t, Ricky.”

  Kenrick looked as if she was gulping down her emotions. “And I’m not Leroux and you’re not Marta. You’re letting your past stop you from having a happy future.”

  “You’ll find the right Mater, Ricky.”

  Kenrick dropped her hands suddenly and took a step back. “I already have. You are my Mater, but you won’t admit it. I love you, Zari.”

  Kenrick walked away and left her standing there alone. She really loves me.

  “Aunt Zari?” Marco appeared at her side. “Can I dance with you?”

  Zaria did her best to smile even though her heart was aching. “That would be nice.” Marco danced her around the floor beautifully. “I think you’ve been practicing dancing, Marco.”

  He gave her a bright smile. “I have, we all have.”

  Zaria looked around the dance floor and saw Dion dancing with Tia and Nix trying to dance with Meghan but constantly standing on her toes. It was so sweet. What a happy, comfortable life Marco would have here, the complete opposite of her childhood.

  “Your mom would be proud of you, you know?”

  “Thanks, I try my best. I’m not confident like Dion and Nix, but Ricky has really helped me.”

  Zaria was surprised. “Ricky has?”

  “Yeah, right from when she came here, she talked to me and helped me understand stuff better. All the cubs love Ricky. Look, she gave us these bands.”

  Zaria saw the same type of leather band as Kenrick wore on her wrist. She looked around and couldn’t see Kenrick anywhere. She had hurt her by turning her down.

  Why did you have to be so perfect, Highlander?

  * * *

  That night Kenrick drove to Zaria’s apartment. It was probably in vain, but Eden told her to fight for her, to fight for the woman she thought was destined to be her Mater. She knocked on Zaria’s door and a few seconds later heard the lock come off, then open. Zaria stood there looking pensive and stressed.

  “Hi—um, can I talk to you?”

  Zaria leaned her head against the door, clearly weary from all the emotional upheaval that she had been going through. Kenrick wanted to take her into her arms and make everything feel better, but she was part of the emotional upheaval, so that wouldn’t be the best idea.

  “Is there anything else to talk about? My head hurts from talking and everyone giving their opinion on my future. Eden, Lena, Kyra, Vance, all telling me what I should do.”

  This was Kenrick’s one last shot, so she had to make it good and not seem like she was forcing Zaria into something.

  “Just five minutes. Please? I leave at six tomorrow, so it’s my last chance to talk to you.” The truth of that sentence made Kenrick feel sick. Tomorrow morning she had to turn her back on the love of her life, her mate, her one true Mater. How would she ever find the strength? But Kenrick was sure she saw pain in Zaria’s eyes. Her words clearly had an effect on Zaria too.

  “Okay, sure.” Zaria opened the door and Kenrick followed her in.

  Zaria stood by the sofa and said wearily, “What do you want to say?”

  Okay this was it. Her one shot at convincing her mate they had a future.

  She took a deep breath. “The last time I talked to you I was wrong.”

  “The last time we argued,” Zaria corrected her.

  “I know, I know. I was—” Kenrick pinched the bridge of her nose. “I was panicking at the thought of losing you. I’m not perfect. I am a dominant, and it’s written in every cell of my body to look after the ones I care about, but I understand that it can come across as controlling sometimes.”

  Zari sighed. “I know you mean well, Ricky, but I vowed I’d never let any wolf make my life choices.”

  Kenrick took a step towards Zaria and put her hand on her heart. “I don’t want to make them for you. I want to offer you choices. They are freely offered and it’s your decision if you take them or not.”

  “Ricky—”

  “Please, let me just say my piece and get it all out.”

  Zaria nodded.

  “You’ve lived your life here in the States, and it’s a huge decision to go to the other side of the world with me. A new country, a new pack, new wolves to meet, and on top of that being with me as an Alpha and all that means. I don’t want you to think of it like that, like your future is set in stone if you come with me.”

  “What do you mean?” Zaria said.

  Kenrick took out the plane ticket she had printed before she left Dante’s den. “I booked this ticket for you to use if you want it. It’s an opened-ended return ticket. You can come and meet my pack for a week, two weeks, a month, or whatever, and come back to America any time you want.”

  “I don’t even have a passport,” Zaria said.

  “You have now. Dante was able to pull a few strings with her contacts.” Kenrick placed the ticket on the coffee table. “It’s all in your hands. You can stay here and live as you have been all these years, stay in Wolfgang County with Marco, or come with me and return whenever you want. I’m giving you choices. Which one you choose is up to you.”

  Zaria rubbed her forehead. “Why are you doing this, Ricky? You’re making this so hard.”

  Kenrick took Zaria’s hands. She didn’t want to say it was because they were meant to be. That would scare Zaria, she guessed. “Because I love you, because I want you to have a better life than you’ve had up till now, because I want to see what this bond we have for each other can become, and because I care enough to let you go—if that’s what you want. But just know that you don’t have to be alone any more.”

  “Ricky, I don’t know what to say.”

  Kenrick cupped her face and smiled. “I don’t want you to say anything, lassie. Just think about it overnight. I’ll be leaving for the airport at six. If you want to join me, come to the Alpha’s house. If you’re not there, then I’ll have my answer.”

  Before Zaria could respond, Kenrick leaned in and kissed her. She then leaned her forehead against Zaria’s and said, “No matter what, no matter how far apart we are in the world, you’ll always be my true mate. I’ll never care about anyone like I do about you.”

  One more kiss and Kenrick walked out of Zaria’s apartment and didn’t look back. Her heart and her wolf were screaming to go back and be with Zaria, no matter the cost, but she had to give her this choice, and she had an obligation to her pack. She was the Wulver Alpha, and her destiny was to lead.

  * * *

  Next morning, Kenrick brought her bags downstairs. She hadn’t slept a wink, knowing she was most likely leaving without the love of her life. Eden and Dante waited for her at the bottom of the stairs. She had said her goodbyes to the cubs the night before. It was too early for them to be up.

  “I’ve got the truck ready,” Dante said.

  “Is she…?”

  Dante shook her head. “Sorry, Ricky.”

  Kenrick gulped down her emotions and nodded. Dante took her bags and went out to the truck. Eden took her hands.

  “Don’t give up hope, Ricky. I know she loves you, but she’s fighting a lifetime of fear. Maybe with a few weeks’ separation she’ll come to you.”

  “She’s not coming. I can’t live hoping that Zari will change her mind. Will you make sure she’s looked after, whether she stays here or leaves Wolfgang County?”

  “Of course I will, Ricky,” Eden said.

  It killed her to think of Zaria alone, outside the protection of Wolfgang County, with Ovid still on the loose.

  “Oh.” Kenrick took out
an envelope from her back pocket. “I went to the bank yesterday and opened an account for her. The details are in here, if you could give it to her. I’ll always keep it topped up with money. She’ll probably refuse, but I can’t think of my mate out there with nothing, no food, no shelter—I should be providing that.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll give it to her.”

  “No matter what she says, my wolf thinks of her as my mate, and I need to do something to help her,” Kenrick said sadly.

  “I know. You better go or you’ll miss your flight. Safe journey, Ricky,” Eden said.

  “Thanks for having me.”

  Kenrick trudged to the truck. Each heavy footstep felt like a stamp on her heart. She got in and Dante said, “You want to wait five more minutes?”

  Kenrick shook her head and said gloomily, “No, there’s no point in dragging it out. She’s not coming.”

  Dante nodded and started the engine, and as she pulled away, Eden came running from the house, waving her hands.

  “Wait, Dante.”

  Kenrick got out of the truck and saw the best sight of her life coming running up the road—Zaria with her rucksack over her shoulders.

  Kenrick’s heart started to thud with excitement. Could it be? Could it be true that Zaria wanted to come with her?

  Zaria got to the truck and dropped her rucksack. She was breathing heavily. “I didn’t think I’d make it. Is your offer still open?”

  Kenrick could hardly believe this was happening. Zaria wanted to come to Wulver Forest with her. She pulled Zaria into the biggest hug and said, “Thank the Great Mother. I didn’t think you’d come. Aye, the offer is always open for you, lassie, and you can come back whenever you want. You know that?”

  Zaria smiled. “I know. Show me your beautiful forest.”

  Kenrick kissed her on the lips. “Let’s go, lassie.”

  Eden had joined them by this time and hugged them both. “Good luck, you two. Keep in touch.”

  “We will, and tell Marco I’ll call him soon,” Zaria said.