That’s how he found himself surrounded by a ragged pack of wolves and a few bear shifters. When he got his first glimpse of alpha house he wanted to groan in frustration. It was a complete and utter mess.
The outside hadn’t seen fresh paint in the last thirty years. The porch had holes in the wood, clearly almost rotted through with disgusting chairs that looked as if someone had gnawed on the legs. The beautifully spacious yard had garbage collected everywhere as if it was used as a dump. He hesitated to even enter. Was it safe for the pack?
“Why don’t you all stay out here while I take a look inside. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
His newly appointed second in command, and father in law, Hunter placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. “I’ve been inside recently. They can enter safely, alpha, thank you for the concern.” He turned to the crowd, “everyone avoid the third bedroom on the left when you enter the main hall, second floor. Understand?”
There were nods, lowered eyes and shivers of fear from the crowd. Interesting.
“Alpha?” Hunter’s voice was serious as a heart attack, “I thank you for choosing me as your second and I’d like to give you my blood oath now, in front of my friends, pack and family as witness.”
Blake bowed, nodded and asked, “Will you all bear witness? This man pledges his life, honor and allegiance to this pack. This pack is what you live and breathe. You will support me in all decisions and submit only to me.”
What Blake had always witnessed as an onlooker was so much more important and inspiring when he was giving the speech as alpha. He knew the meaning of a blood oath or blood bond and secretly he was anxious about the implications. To be able to know the feelings, intentions and soul of another was profound. Who better than his mate’s father, the one who raised such a wonderful woman. A woman destined to save a failing pack and restore it to what was once a united front. Hell, maybe he’d learn a few things.
Lost in thought Blake almost missed Hunter’s nod as he went to one knee, head bowed, in front of him. Blake could feel every shifter’s eyes on them, anticipating his response.
Pulling his shoulders back he lengthened his fangs and cut one of his fingers creating a small drop of blood. “Come on man, I’m not fixin’ to bite you. We can do it at the same time.”
Seeing Hunter smile as he raised his eyes, lengthening his fangs, nicking his finger. He reached up and offered it to a cringing alpha. “Come now, surely you’re not squeamish, alpha.”
“I’m not pleased about knowing my father in laws feelings, but I’ll do it for the pack. We all have to make sacrifices.”
They both pushed their fingers together merging their blood. Pulling their fingers back they licked the combined blood from their own finger. There was an instant connection.
Blake felt the bone deep love that Hunter had for his children as well as the unfathomable loss of the previous alpha and the security that came with his leadership. What Blake picked up on was the intense focus on fixing the pack for his children and their future. Hell, he felt a string of guilt and shame coming off the old man, feeling like he hadn’t protected his family. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Hunter was loyal to him. He would die protecting this pack; his mate and children his focus.
Feeling Hunter’s emotions caused Blake to yearn for children; would they look like him or Delilah? The need to protect and love was already a part of his daily routine. He hoped his little girls had their mother’s petite frame and fighting spirit while his sons had his calming nature. Although, they’d have to wait until they cleared out all the dead wood from the pack and he could ensure her safety.
Blake was still dreaming of his future children when he felt a hand connect with his head. Without thinking, knowing his mate was near and he needed to protect, he snatched the hand and bent it back at the wrist. He didn’t stop when he heard a surprised shout of pain he threw the body connected to the offending hand to the ground and dug his knee into the person’s chest.
Hearing the satisfying sound of the breath going out of his attackers lungs he looked down to see…
“What the hell Dustin? You can’t mess with the alpha during a blood oath. Didn’t your dad ever teach you that?”
As Dustin’s face turned red Blake realized he probably couldn’t breathe so he stood allowing air to rush into his lungs. Blake allowed him a few moments to collect himself and looked around at the crowd gazing at him with astonishment.
“What?”
It was Hunter who approached him with hands up palms out. “The previous alpha didn’t do blood oaths. He never had a need because there really wasn’t a great threat, until Tidus. It was unfortunate what happened to him and I think, as a pack, we’ve all learned a lesson.” Hunter looked down at his son, “Thank you for sparing his life.”
A confused look entered Blake’s expression. “Sparing him. Heck, I wasn’t gonna kill him. I was trying to protect…forget it.”
Reaching down he grabbed Dustin’s arm and hauled him to his feet, brushing dirt off his back. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry.” Blake turned to the crowd, “when alpha and pack are doing a blood oath there should be no additional physical contact. It’s intense.”
Coughing Dustin responded, “Yeah, I don’t recommend it. Can I go next?”
Blake’s smile was full of respect. “I’d love for you to go next if it’s okay with your parents.”
Hunter and Isabel nodded and Tristan came forward almost hesitantly. “Can I please take a turn with my brother? We both share the twin bond anyway.”
“Yep, let’s bleed boys.”
As Blake completed the blood bond with her whole family, Delilah couldn’t help but feel pride. The trust that was being put into her mate was inspiring. Blake had made his intentions clear regarding the future of this pack and she knew it was only a matter of time that the entire pack gave their oath. They had been crippled by fear these past long years and seeing the hope on their faces made her want to cry.
The bonds were complete for now so Delilah led Blake into alpha house and was able to show him around and introduce him to several members of the pack. He was nice and gentle with everyone even if they were abrupt to him. His patience was endless. At the end of the tour the pack gathered in the family room where the furniture was destroyed but remained semi-functional.
Blake took charge once again. “Who in the pack doesn’t have a job or income of any sort?”
A few of the young males including Dustin and Tristan raised their hands, as well as some older women and men. It appeared most were settled with a job or chore involving the pack.
Gazing at Delilah to take the lead he spoke to her, without speaking. We need to fix our home and need able bodies. I’m trusting you to distribute roles with me. If I get anything wrong, let me know.
Not needing to let the pack know they were communicating she nodded and listened intently as Blake offered jobs to the people who had none. The young men were recruited to clean and rebuild the porch, as well as haul out the disgusting furniture. The older women were asked a few questions before their roles were assigned. Do they cook? Are they health enough for labor? Who likes and is comfortable with raising children?
Delilah reeled back when she heard the last question. What did he need to know that for? She asked him through mind speak but he ignored her.
Getting impatient and beginning to think that Blake thought she would be a poor role model for the children she sat quietly brooding; waiting for her mate to have time for her. It was frustrating but necessary. She didn’t want to seem like a needy mate when he’d just introduced and claimed her pack.
Having assigned a role to Alice, who they called Odd Alice, as cook, Delilah mentioned via mind speak that Odd Alice was a supporter of Tidus. And she wouldn’t feel comfortable eating anything the woman cooked as she was the one who’d poisoned her.
Hearing Blake growl low and dangerously in his throat and seeing his lips pull back to reveal his fangs, the ro
om went silent. Delilah placed her hand on his shoulder, “it’s okay.”
“It absolutely is not. Alice, I’d like your blood oath by the end of the day. If I do not receive it I will ask you to leave the pack tonight.”
Alice reeled back as if slapped, “I don’t understand. I’m so old I couldn’t harm a fly.”
Blake narrowed his eyes, “I doubt that, Alice. You will definitely not be cooking for alpha house. I have stated my request and will not speak of it again until tonight when you make your decision.”
Delilah saw him take in a deep breath and put his grin back on, almost like armor. “So, who can cook?”
A young woman raised her hand timidly and the smell of her fear saturated the room. The smell was offensive to a shifters delicate nose. Delilah knew her from school and had always liked her. She suspected that her parents were a bit harsh with her because she often came to school with bruises. Although, she always had an excuse for how she got them, Delilah was concerned. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity.
Speaking loud and clear Delilah announced, “You realize you’d have to live in alpha house. You’d be tending to all meals and snacks required by the pack. Even shopping for groceries.”
The girl kept her eyes down and nodded.
Being able to pick up on mannerisms Blake quickly appointed her as the cook with an older woman named Beth to teach her to cook and assist her with the new position.
“One request…”
The girl whispered her name and the only reason they heard her was because they had shifter hearing. “Jamie.”
Delilah continued, “One request, Jamie. You are frightened, which I understand, but the food is going to taste really bad if you cannot control your scent. I am your alphas mate and will protect you with my life, just like your alpha, so you can fear not because you will be safe here.”
Jamie’s cheeks reddened, she kept her head bowed and sent a nod toward Delilah. “I will try, alpha.”
“Delilah or Del, after all, we’re going to be living under the same roof.” She walked over to Jamie and lifted her chin with her hand and as their eyes met Delilah smiled. “It will be fine, young one.”
As Blake watched his mate comfort the girl his heart swelled in his chest. He sent his mate all the love and support he could through their bond. He watched as Delilah’s mother cried and her father’s eyes misted, seeing their daughter as the leader she was clearly meant to be. It was a heart warming moment.
Softening his voice so he wouldn’t seem harsh he stated. “Alright, we all have a job to do. Let’s do it. The ones that work for alpha house will live here if that is your wish and you will be compensated for your services. This pack will go back to the way it was intended to be, pack life. If anyone does not agree you are free to leave at any time.”
He stood and several of the pack he’d just met followed him. “Excuse me.”
He turned and found about ten pack members following him. “What’s up?”
They flinched and he was forced to blow out a breath of frustration. “I’m not going to bite you know. I’ll save that for my mate. How can I help you guys?”
A middle aged man with a goatee and a dark brooding gaze spoke up first. “If you truly have the best interest in the pack I’d like to show my support and do the blood bond. I have nothing to hide from you or this pack. I believe that is what the others want too.”
Murmurs of agreement followed.
Blake sent his most reassuring grin and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Let’s do this. Fangs out people.”
One after the other Blake completed each blood oath and gave every pack member the respect and comfort they deserved. He was almost to the last person and he was exhausted. His finger was sore from being pierced by his fang repeatedly and he was having a hard time keeping his smile in place. He was wiping his abraded, bleeding finger to a middle aged woman’s and she had a look of stark terror on her face. He knew he didn’t look that scary. “It’ll be fine ma’am. I won’t hurt you.”
She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath as she shoved her bloody finger into her mouth. “I hope so.”
As Blake placed his finger in his mouth he, once again, felt a bone deep connection with his pack member. He also felt something else; fear, loss, loneliness and pain. His eyes opened abruptly and he looked at the face of the crying woman in front of him. She wasn’t just crying she was openly sobbing.
He clutched her close, hugging her and petting her hair and motioned for Delilah to come over. “Everyone else, I’m sorry but we have to continue another time. Later today is fine.”
Blake picked the woman up noting her boney light body was wracked with chills. “Delilah.”
Walking out if the room he made note of the fact he could feel his mate racing after him.
Chapter 10
Having no idea what the big fuss was, Delilah was shocked when she felt wave after wave of anger coming off her mate. She was talking to the twins on how best to remove the furniture when her mates concern slammed into her closely followed by anger.
Taking off after him she yelled to the boys. “Just clear all this shit out. It needs to be replaced.”
She found Blake in their room holding Dee, the florist, to his chest and rocking her back and forth trying to comfort her. Her growl was instinctual and couldn’t be held back even if she tried.
Dee looked up at her with wet lashes and quickly pulled away, averting her eyes. She felt like a jerk for scaring the woman but, hey, instincts are instincts. Dee was lucky she didn’t rip her throat out for touching her mate.
Understanding how un-alpha that was, Delilah walked directly to her mate and kissed him long and loudly before pulling back and whipping the back of her hand over her mouth and announcing. “I apologize. I can’t control it and I don’t know if I would if I could.”
Dee and Blake simply stared at her in shock a few moments before she continued. “Well…”
Chuckling, Blake took his life in his own hands. He must not know how close to the edge she still was. The scent of Dee’s tears and scent was all over his shirt. Every moment was an exercise in patience.
Dee is the one that spoke first. “Alpha Blake performed the blood oath with me and must have seen my son.”
Reeling Delilah stated, “You have a child? I never knew. How old is he?”
Sniffling. “Four.”
“Well, where is he. How come I’ve never met him?”
Blake took over when Dee began to sob again, unable to control the emotions she’d been suppressing for so long. “She carried him in secret and delivered in the woods by herself. Her parents are from another pack and they agreed to raise him for her. He lives with them in Petaluma.”
Delilah sat quite hard on the ground in front of Dee and pulled her into a hug. “I’m so sorry, I never knew. We can help you get him back.”
Her mate’s grave tone interrupted her soothing Dee. “It’s not that simple, Del.”
Brushing hair back from Dee’s face she questioned. “Why not? She has a child and she obviously wants him back. Bring him back.”
Dee wailed and wept for several minutes before Delilah figured it out on her own. “It’s his child. Tidus is the father of your baby boy, isn’t he?”
She was only able to nod.
Blake and Delilah shut the door on a now calm and sleeping Dee. They spoke to her about her son and his temperament as well as her thoughts. Did she want to move to California? Did she want to bring him to Alaska? They quickly found out the reason she stayed in Alaska was she suspected Tidus would have followed her and found out about the child. No one ever scented her pregnancy because of her being around the flowers constantly and that was able to mask her scent, just enough. She also always wore an oversized apron which concealed her baby bump.
In the end Blake and Delilah welcomed her son to their pack if she wanted him to return. In fact, they offered to fly her parents along with the child here if that’s what she wan
ted. No one ever had to know Tidus was the father. They left her to sleep and think.
Walking down the stairs Blake was met with an empty family room. Well, it smelled a lot better at least. Entering the living room Blake saw a group of people waiting for the blood bond. He was still exhausted but knew this was a part of his duty. Care for the pack, heal them any way he could.
Kissing his mate on the cheek he announced. “Blood blonds, served here. Take a number and we’ll bleed together.”
He heard Delilah’s chuckle before he felt a light tap on his bottom. “Later alpha.”
He turned and smiled as she sashayed away. “Cheeky mate. You’ll pay for that tonight.”
“I’m counting on it.”
After what seemed like forever, two hours later, Blake was done with the pack members that wanted the blood bond. Surprisingly, over half the pack was already committed to him and Delilah as alpha pair.
Dragging his body into the kitchen he noticed all the pack members cleaning. Unfortunately, the fridge stood open and room temperature. No cold beer for him after a hard day’s work. The cabinets were all bare and there were loads of trash bags full and tossed to the side. He picked one up and followed Tristan to the garbage to dispose of the nasty food. The kitchen still smelled a bit rank but he imagined it was a lot worse before the pack set to cleaning. Now it smelled like pine scented garbage.
Chuckling to himself he sucked in a sharp breath when the door opened and the cold wind blew at his prickling skin. “Damn, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this weather.”
Tristan obviously didn’t know he was following because he stopped abruptly, dropped the garbage and spun around putting his hands up.
“I told you kid, I don’t hold you responsible for defending yourself. Stop worrying I’m gonna get you. I’m your family now. Chill.”
Sending soothing power to Tristan he was surprised when he asked. “How do you do that? Make me relax. It kinda creeps me out. Like you’re a spider, lulling me to your web just to wrap me up and suck out my insides.”
Pack Law (Fated Mate) Page 7
