Dianthe Rising

by J. B. Miller

  His midnight brows lowered at the concept of his precious car being scratched.

  “Yeah, I get it…you love that car more than most people in the world.”

  With a rub to my hair, he smiled openly for the first time that morning. “Shut up, brat, and finish up. This place isn’t going to clean itself you know.”

  “Seriously, Sean, I honestly think you have these major OCD tendencies, you need help.”

  “It makes me a good cop,” he smirked.

  “Do you mind if we go to church first? I kind of promised God last night if I made it out alive I would go this morning.”

  Sean choked on his tea, “Far be it for me to stand between you and God. Let’s finish breakfast and go.”

  I laughed and finished my breakfast so we could get started. I really did love spending time with my brother.

  Chapter Six

  Kale…

  “What do you got for me, Matt?” I asked my Beta when I walked into my office at the pack house in Bean, Kent.

  My Beta jumped from where he bent over the laptop in what the pups called ‘The Nerd Cave’.

  “Oh, man, do I have some juicy info for you, top dog.” He was vibrating with excess energy.

  “How much caffeine have you had, Matt?”

  “Eh, just a few energy drinks.”

  I ignored the overflowing wastebasket full of empty bottles. “You slept yet?" Ignoring my question and waving me over, my Beta moved so I could see his screen.

  “Those plates you gave me came up with loads of information. Add in the description on the girl and I’ve got a name, address, place of work, everything.”

  I nodded. “Good work. Now give me the details.”

  “Oh yeah, right, sorry I had my geek on." With his arms stretched above his head, Matt rolled his neck cracking several bones in the process. “Oh, man, grab a seat and prepared to be amazed.”

  I sighed at the antics of my second but sat down and looked at the screen.

  “Right, here we go, Kale my man.” Matt grinned.

  I watched as he popped up a Facebook page with my mate’s photo on it.

  “Here we go. Dianthe Mclearey, age twenty as of yesterday, by the way. She works at the University of London as a researcher. Get this…her boss is none other than David Davies. That can’t be a coincidence can it?”

  “Usually, I would say no but she smelled totally human to me. We will look into that one deeper though. Where Davies is concerned, I prefer not to be left guessing.”

  “Her Facebook page says she’s single.” Matt raised an eyebrow. “Want me to hack it and change it for you?”

  I rolled my eye, shook my head, and told him to give me the details we needed.

  “Okay. Here we are with the not so public info, Alpha.”

  “Dianthe goes by Dia, by the way. She has an interesting history. It’s not your everyday two point five kid’s kind of deal. She was a foundling. They found her on the steps of a nunnery in London. It made national news at the time. Liam and Margaret Mclearey adopted her. They are prominent in the Irish Catholic community in London. Liam is the Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, and Mags has always been a stay-at-home mum. She's had her fingers in a lot of charities but is clean as a whistle.

  "Seriously, these are honest to God good people.” Matt continued, “I can’t find any skeletons in any closets. They do have two other natural children though. A girl, Mara, married to Michael O’Neil and they have a couple rug rats running about. She’s a stay-at-home mum, taking after mummy Mags. In addition, hubby Mick is a Solicitor. He works in one of the prestigious London firms.”

  “One of ours?” I queried.

  “Nope, a mundane one,” Matt replied absently.

  “Then there’s the brother. One Sean Patrick Mclearey, he’s part of the CID team for London east and one of the youngest detectives on the force. The bloke started working for the police soon as he was old enough. Excels at everything he does and is extremely devoted to his job. He's known as a hard ass but fair and has a good rapport with his colleagues according to the files.

  "No girlfriend or wife that I can see and no public media pages. He does seem to be close to his family by the photos I’ve looked at on relatives’ pages. I think they all coddle Dia and tend to wrap her in cotton wool.” Matt sniggered as he mumbled, “Wonder how they are going to feel having you as a son-in-law?”

  I hid a smile as I patted him on the back. “Great work, Matt. It’s more than I hoped for." I went on to ask, “What are Dia’s studies? Do we have anything on her interests?”

  “Yeah, hold on… I saw something earlier about research she was doing for Davies.”

  Matt stopped reading and fell back in his chair laughing his head off.

  “Oh God, you are not going to believe this. She has a specialist degree. It is just too unbelievable to be a coincidence, Alpha. Her studies involve mythical creatures, folklore, and the studies of myth and legend in history. She studies how the stories about us came out and how they pertain to the reality of history. This is great. She is going to love being your mate. You can just be a test subject for her.”

  “Yeah real funny, Matt,” I replied. “How does she have a degree? I thought you said she was twenty?”

  He ducked his head back down and dove back into his research. Several minutes of clicking went by before he exclaimed. “Ahah, a clever little minx your mate is. She tested out of school at the age of fourteen. Her parents had her privately educated. She took early studies with the help of pulling a few strings to get her into the programs, she’s a post-grad.”

  Impressed with my mate, I took a moment to savor the pride of her accomplishments.

  “First things first though," I needed to get back on track. "I have to find a way to meet my mate without panicking her and making her think I’m a stalker. You got any bright ideas, Beta?”

  “Call Davies and ask for an introduction?” Matt asked earnestly.

  “Yes,” I frowned. “Much as I don’t want to have anything to do with the Fae Liaison, I think it might be nice knowing where he plays a part in all this. Get him on the phone and set up an appointment for me, will you?”

  “Will do, boss man. Any particular time or just whenever is next available?”

  “At his earliest convenience. I do not know how long I can keep my wolf settled. I want to go after her now that we know who and where she is.”

  “Yeah, I got it, Alpha. I’ll call right now and see if I can get an appointment with him. I just hope I don’t have to go through all the court shit just to get an interview. Sometimes, it’s easier to have freaking tea with the queen than an official appointment with the Fae Liaison.”

  I rubbed the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes for a moment. Patience was going to be in short supply until I had my mate. “Just do what you have to do, Matt, and let me know when and where.” I rubbed the spot between my eyes and looked out the window. “How did the pups handle this morning?” I asked.

  “Poorly, Alpha,” Matt growled. It wasn’t often my second lost his temper. “They thought they were going to lie about and recover from their night of debauchery.”

  My eyebrow rose when I looked at my second. “Debauchery, did they know what that word meant?" I chuckled as I looked at him. “I didn’t realize you had it in your vocabulary either.”

  “Nope," Matt grinned wickedly with a sardonic twist to his lips. “But when I lit a fire under their arses and beat the shit out of that little dick, Jason, they got the point.” He arched his brow, his tone lightening, “Vocabulary, that’s a big word for the big bad wolf. Have you been studying the word-a-day calendar again?”

  We shared a laugh before Matt became thoughtful once more.

  Sobering, he looked me as close in the eye as he could. “Seriously though, Alpha, they need to be put in their places. We’ve been too easy on them. Their lack of respect is troubling.”

  “Understood," I agreed. “Gather a few of the men and put them into a program
that will whip them into shape, Matthew. I’m tired of them running to their mums when they get nipped at. It’s time to teach them how to be wolves. How old is the youngest one now?”

  “Seventeen,” said Matt. “He should have started his training over a year ago.”

  Damn, where had the time gone? I mused. “I know, it’s my fault and there’s no excuse. I let pack politics get in the way of what was important. However, it is time to take control back. All this backbiting is stopping, as of today. I’m not going to bring my mate into unrest. Grab the Betas and get the word out.” I straightened up and turned from the window before I continued.

  “Your job title, Matthew, for the foreseeable future is "Satan" to the pups. I want them in fighting order within six weeks. You have my permission to do whatever is necessary to get things in order. I’ll work on the outside problems. That includes all the politics with the courts that will be coming our way." I hated the fucking Fae and their fucking politics.

  Lost in thought, I closed my eyes. I was a simple male. Protect the pack and keep everyone alive and happy. That was all I wanted out of life. Un-bloody likely. I needed to see Davies about the delegations coming through the territories for the summer solstice.

  My Beta’s evil chuckle interrupted my thoughts. A wicked smile curved Matt’s lips as he started making plans for the pups.

  “Oh, man,” he breathed. “You have just made my day, Kale. Those little bastards deserve everything coming their way. I’ve not been putting them in their place as I didn’t want it to look like I was challenging your authority. Now—their punk asses are mine.”

  Feeling like a poor excuse for an Alpha, I put my hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, my Beta. I’ve failed you when I should be supporting you.”

  “What? No, Alpha, nothing like that, you’ve been dealing with some heavy shit over the past several years. You took over a broken pack and you had to prove your dominance daily for months. This is just petty issues. I won’t lie to you. It’ll grease the wheels and get the pack running more smoothly. Just give it a few more months and everything will be as it should be. You have brought this pack back from the edge of destruction. Your dad was a crazy SOB and he needed to be taken down.”

  “Thanks, man, I do appreciate the vote of confidence. Let’s get things sorted and bring my mate home. A united pack is a strong pack.”

  A feeling of brotherly comradely overcame us and we looked at each other with unhindered smiles across our faces.

  “It’s good to have you back, Kale. I worried the Alpha position would take over and the bloke I know and love would end up buried underneath all that responsibility.”

  “Nahh,” I replied. “I’m still in here. Sometimes you just need to dig me out from under all this responsibility. Life sucks at times, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know, Alpha. Don’t worry, I have your back.”

  Matt grabbed the phone and got down to business. “It’s time to pull a miracle out of my ass and get your appointment with the Liaison sorted. I’ll call you when I have confirmation, okay?"

  “Yeah, sounds good. I am going to go find some pups to tear into and tenderize for you. I need something to take off the edge.”

  *****

  Twenty minutes later and my temper was the only thing I had found. I couldn’t find the pups anywhere they should have been. I’d run the border, checked the training ring and the gym but still no sign of them. Long strides took me into the main house to grab a drink before I headed out once more. It was on my way to the kitchen when I heard voices coming from the rec room. For fuck's sake, you have to be kidding me. Surely, those little bastards were not that stupid.

  I veered off from the kitchen and stalked to the open door. With arms crossed, I looked at the undisciplined mess before me. Eight pups ranging in age from seventeen to twenty lounged around the room. Several were playing video games and drinking beer while the others shot a game of pool. I stood there stonily while I gathered sourly, that yes—they were indeed that stupid. Their Alpha before them and they hadn't noticed. This ended now.

  My eyes roamed over the room looking for the leader of the idiots. I zeroed in on Jason. He was just lining up a shot at the pool table. Before he could take it, I had his throat in my grasp and his cue flung across the room. With a growl, I slammed him hard onto the top of the table.

  “Alpha…” he sputtered. “I didn’t know you were here…”

  “Obviously,” I growled. “Where are you supposed to be, boy?”

  Eyes flickered around him looking for support. His throat worked to swallow as best he could. “We… Ummm…finished our patrol and thought we would take a break...”

  “Really,” I said softly. “Remember, pup, deceiving your Alpha is an offense punishable by death. It is the same as treason. Tell me again, why are you here?”

  A voice rose up from the couch and my eye glanced to the boy sitting there. “We didn’t think anyone would notice.”

  “No one is crazy enough to attack pack lands," Jason stuttered.

  A snarl tore loose as I pulled Jason up and dangled him by his throat. “Idiots,” I seethed. “The reason no one has attacked us is because your betters have been on the front lines protecting your weak asses. From this moment on, none of you are considered pups. I declare you full-grown wolves with all the responsibility that entails. Get out of my sight before I rip your throats out,” I snarled at them. “You are all a disgrace at this moment. Report to the training field, from now on every morning at dawn you will be training. From sun up to sunset, your lives are in preparation of becoming productive members of this pack. Do you understand,” I roared.

  Whining and cowering, they all lowered their heads. “Yes, Alpha,” they whispered. My enraged glare turned back to Jason and I bared my fangs.

  “Submit or die wolf.” Quickly he turned his head as best he could with his neck in my grip. His neck lay bared to me in submission while he lowered his eyes and moaned in fear.

  Anger fuelled me when I leaned forward. The bite was hard enough to break the skin at his shoulder. Purposely I tore it slightly so it was not a clean bite.

  “Disobey me again and it will be your last act of defiance.” I threw the young wolf from me in disgust. Off balance, he fell into several of his pack mates. “Let it be known, any who disobey me will face me in challenge. I am tired of the incompetence of this pack and it changes today. Leave me,” I said coldly.

  With a few whimpers and the scent of fear lingering in the air like a rancid stench, the boys fled without another word.

  Wearily I sat down and lowered my head into my palms. Is this what it has come to? Where the youngest had no respect for their leaders or Alpha? As much as I hated to do it, I had to take control in a brutal fashion. If they didn't respect me when I used consideration and care, they could respect me out of fear, for now at least. I hoped that the respect for me as their Alpha would come.

  A soft hand landed on my shoulder and I looked up into worn eyes that had seen too many of life’s hardships.

  “Son, what you did, needed to be done. It does not make you your father.”

  Reaching up, I covered her hand with my own, “Thank you, Mother,” my voice cracked slightly. “I can’t be like him. I won’t be like him.”

  Mum smiled down at me when she wrapped her arms around me. It reminded me of the times she had held me in secret when I was a pup.

  “Oh, my darling boy,” she whispered against my ear. “You could never be like him. You are a much better male than he was. Your pack will follow you with love and respect. You just need to be strong and lead them to that path to begin with. They can’t follow what they have never known.”

  She pushed a strand of hair behind my ear and resolve hardened her eyes. “You never wanted the power of Alpha. You took it to save the pack. That’s what makes you strong. You are a good leader, not because you want the power but because you do not.” She leaned away from me before she took my face in her hands. She was so tiny com
pared to me, but I respected her more than any other wolf I had ever known.

  “Now,” she said. "Go get that mate of yours and bring her home. I want grand children to spoil.” She smiled gently and kissed my nose.

  Laughing, I picked her up and twirled her around. The happiest I had been in a very long time. “Yes, mum, I think I will.”

  If only I had known it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought it would be.

  Chapter Seven

  Dia…

  The phone began to ring while I was trying to unlock the front door. I dropped my bag and made a dash for it. No one called my landline. Out of breath, I reached it just before it would have gone to the answering service.

  “Hello?”

  “Dia, hello, this is David Davies. I tried to reach you earlier but I had no luck getting you on your mobile. I hope that this isn’t an inconvenient time?”

  “Oh no, no, Mr. Davies. I just walked in the door. Sorry it took me so long. I lost my mobile, a man mugged me last night and I’ve not had a chance to replace it.”

  “Dear Lord, my girl, are you all right? Were you injured?” he exclaimed.

  My eyebrows arched into my hairline. I believe this was the first time I had ever heard Mr. Davies raise his voice.

  “Nahhh, it’s just a few cuts and scrapes,” I replied. “My brother, Sean, filed the police report and helped me get everything cancelled today, so I’m good. I’m just going to need to run out during my lunch break tomorrow and pick up a new phone.”

  “I’m so glad to hear that you are alright, child.” The concern was thick in Mr. Davies’s voice. I did have the best boss.

  “Yes, well,” he continued, “I was calling to let you know that in light of all the hard work you have put in these past few weeks and with it being your birthday, Happy Belated Birthday by the way. I wanted to give you tomorrow off as a small present from me. You can have a long weekend, and come back in on Monday. I have several meetings in the morning, and I will be unavailable. So there is no reason to drag you in.” Even over the phone, Mr. Davies sounded flustered and I had never heard him as anything but calm and collected.