I certainly liked him. I loved the way he makes my body sing when he touches it. I love the way his eyes seem to devour my body. It’s so physical and I have craved being physical my whole life. I love to touch and be touched. I love to feel and be felt. Lucas seems to be the perfect match for my body. He also tends to suffocate my spirit. He keeps trying to push me behind him and be the big macho man. While I appreciate him trying to protect me, I might enjoy it a bit more if he asked me if I wanted to be protected.
I also feel like my vampire side is a cross for Lucas to bear. I know he wants me bad enough to accept it and even Nikoli if he has to, but I am positive that he wishes none of this was necessary. I am sure when he talks to god he asks why he has to be the one to carry this burden. I can see in his eyes some times when he doesn’t know I am looking. It hurts me to know that with Lucas I feel like he wishes I was something I’m not.
When it comes to Nikoli, I am even more confused. Nikoli is the exact opposite of Lucas. He has never touched me, yet I felt we had in some ways become more intimate than Lucas and I. He is my perfect match mentally and spiritually. He treats me as a true equal. He doesn’t try to fight my battles for me, he tries to teach me how to fight my own battles. It’s like the old adage give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. With Nikoli it would be a lifetime of being accepted for exactly who I am. I don’t need to be anyone but me.
I just wish that my wolf would allow me to explore my feelings for Nikoli more. I’d spent an entire week with him, and only had snippets of time without my wolf barking and howling in my ears. She behaved so badly that at times I wished she would go away. I even hollered at her to leave me alone or I would astral project for weeks at a time and leave her in my empty shell of a body. That shut her up for a while.
Strangely though today she barely made a peep with both Lucas and Nikoli in the room. It was a blessing not to have to hear her whine and carry on all day. Throughout my musings about my feelings mom kept pushing me to explore them even more.
She started to ask embarrassing questions like if Lucas and I had been sexually active yet. I didn’t want to have this kind of conversation with her but found myself answering honestly. I told her that we hadn’t but that I really felt like I wanted to. That in fact we almost had the first day we’d been together just before all hell broke loose but that we hadn’t been alone long enough since then.
Then she moved on to asking me if I’d already danced with Nikoli’s soul. I admitted that I’d had and that it had been the most wonderful experience I’d ever had in my life so far. She told me that from a vampire’s perspective the blending of souls was more intimate than having sex.
She also asked if I thought I would allow Nikoli to drink my blood and complete the blooding if he asked. I found myself blushing but then surprised myself by answering yes. I think I would want to be blooded with him, maybe even a little more than I wanted to mate with Lucas. I couldn’t help but want to experience life through his emotions as much as mine. There was something so visceral about my relationship with Nikoli that I found myself at a loss for words.
I think my answer threw my mom for a loop because she got quiet and then told me she was coming to live at BlueRidge with Lucas, Nikoli and I. She said we were her pack and she couldn’t wait to come home to her ancestral lands.
After a while I had cried myself out and just didn’t want to think or talk about Nikoli or Lucas. I asked my mom to tell me about her and dad. I listened to her the entire time she drove to BlueRidge. Turns out my mom and dad actually took the time to date and get to know each other before bonding. She made it sound so sweet. The dates, letters and the time they spent getting to know each other before taking the mate thing for granted.
I realized that’s what I wanted. I wanted a chance to date Lucas and Nikoli. I wanted the chance to fall in love on my own not have destiny force me to be with someone. I just wondered if destiny would give me that chance. Even more I wondered if Lucas or Nikoli would give me that chance. Mom arrived just before Lucas finished making us dinner. The three of us sat in silence while we ate our meal. When we were finished mom suggested that the three of us go for a run around the property.
The moment we stepped outside mom did something neither Lucas nor I expected. She dropped to the ground into a kneeling position and turned her neck baring her jugular towards Lucas as a sign of respect. Then she motioned towards me to do the same. She looked up and Lucas and said.
“Declare yourself Alpha of the BlueRidge wolf pack. It's time and it will help to keep us all safe together.”
Lucas looked back at the house then at mom and I before saying the ancient words said by all alphas in a voice filled with pride
"I Lucas Madison do hear by claim myself as Alpha of the BlueRidge wolf pack. Any who oppose me say so now and prepare for a death challenge. Otherwise bow now and pledge allegiance to me!”
Mom and I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. It was so formal; then again there was more at work than just the statement. Those formal little words just made the three of us official members of BlueRidge pack. This really was our new home. We all shifted into our wolves and ran the pack territory boundary together.
Chapter 24
(Nikoli POV)
I had no intention of returning to the BlueRidge pack house but found myself moving in that direction anyway. That’s when I’d heard three distinctive howls. Having lived so many years with BlueRidge allowed me to immediately recognize the daughter of my old friends pitch. Marie had obviously come from Northern Star to join her daughter and Lucas.
I thought about turning around and going home, but suddenly I remembered how invigorating it used to be running with the pack. I took off in the direction of the howls. I spotted Lucas’s wolf first. His wolf was traditional grey and white coloring but he was double the size of my Kalli or her mom.
Over the years I studied the BlueRidge pack I had actually come to admire the beauty of the wolf. Lucas, as much as I hated to admit it is a very beautiful wolf in a classic sort of way. He had the most amazing amber eyes that shone like gold when the moonlight caught them just right. His fur was smooth and thick with atypical grey and taupe coloring with black tipped ears and his left black paw was grey.
I saw Marie next. I would recognize her petite black wolf anywhere. She was solid black with the brightest green eyes. Then I saw my beloved. Her wolf looked nothing like I’d have expected it to. She was she was light brown with a solid black ridge that ran from the tip of her head down her back and ended on her tail. She was medium sized larger than her mother but still much smaller in than Lucas.
Her eyes were a muted brown which also surprised me. In all my years of watching wolves I had never seen such unremarkable wolf eyes. Generally speaking the wolves just enhance the human eye coloring. That would mean Kalli’s should be some shade of blue or purple given her wonderful amethyst eyes.
I expected Lucas to immediately attack once he noticed my presence, instead he shocked me to my core by turning towards me then howling a welcome. Marie ran towards me and rubbed her fur against my legs. Feeling her fur brush up against me brought back many warm wonderful memories. I felt myself becoming very happy that I hadn’t stayed away.
Then my beloved wolf moved closer to Lucas and started rubbing herself against him. I knew this was a customary way of showing me the newcomer that they were a mated pair. Kalli’s wolf was trying to show me in no uncertain terms that Lucas is her mate and I need to back off. I wanted to get upset, but I knew her wolf was in total control and that it had been trying for day to tell me to back off. I couldn’t help myself I actually felt my lips twitch in amusement. Lucas howled again and started to run. I ran besides them and closest to Marie.
We ran the entire border of BlueRidge pack three times over. It was energizing and wonderful. I genuinely enjoyed myself not even Kalli’s wolf marking herself on Lucas could put a damper on it.
(Lucas POV)<
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I could see my new little pack was getting tired of running and I knew it was time to go home. I brought myself to a stop and gazed up at the moon. It was amazing how much had changed in just the past few hours. Today had been one hell of a day and had brought so many changes to my life. More than anyone should have to deal with in any twenty four hour period of time. In a way I found my mate and almost lost her again in the same day. I went from thinking I would have happily ever after, to resigning myself to hell.
I went from having a pack, to having no pack then ended up being alpha to my very own small pack. I went from spending my every moment wanting to behead the vampire to actually allowing him to run with my pack. Like I said one hell of a day! The good news is, I know Kalli’s wolf picks me since she was very aggressively rubbing herself all over me in front of Nikoli. It is the most traditional way for a shewolf to show her choice in mate. I threw back my head and howled my frustration at the moon. Kalli and Marie howled with me then as a pack we headed to our new home.
(Marie’s POV)
I was so pleased to be home in my ancestral land. My wolf was ecstatic that Lucas was our new alpha and soon to be son in law. The moment Lucas made the declaration, she burst from my body and damn near bounced around the entire border. It was so wonderful being home and running BlueRidge territory with my daughter and new alpha.
We yipped and howled as we made our first full trip around the boundary. That’s when I smelled Nikoli. I knew earlier today when my daughter spoke of her vampire beloved that it was most likely the same vampire. It thought it would have been too much of a coincidence to be anyone else.
I had known Nikoli my entire life. He was part of the BlueRidge pack even before I was born. He had established himself just outside of our territory during my grandfather reign. He sat and watched the BlueRidge pack for years before finally befriending my father.
My father had actually allowed Nikoli entrance into territory and our lives. For all intent and purposes he had become a BlueRidge pack member. He lived in our territory, he participated in our runs, he ate at our table and played with our pups. He defended us against intruders and cried when we buried our dead.
I wanted to be angry with him for claiming my daughter as his beloved, but I couldn’t help myself or my wolf from running to him and greeting his as a friend. The truth was, I’d missed Nikoli almost as much as I missed BlueRidge. It felt great to be home and the truth was Nikoli is a big part of being home. It felt fantastic to brush myself against him. My wolf damn nearly purred with satisfaction. Nikoli had been my father’s best friend in life and he’d been like an uncle to me.
We ran the boundaries several more times as a pack, before pausing for a few moments to howl our pleasure at the moon then headed back to pack house.
As was tradition, Lucas shifted back first. He stood there with his back to us in all his naked glory. Kalli and I shifted simultaneously. I turned to watch her face when she spotted Lucas’s naked form. I heard her deep intake of breath and was pleased that she was attacked to her mate.
I didn’t just come to BlueRidge because I wanted to be home, I knew that I needed to get here before Kalli made the mistake of her life with Nikoli. I also knew it was partly my fault that Kalli was confused in the first place. In my fear that she wouldn’t have a mate or worse that they might reject her I had filled her head with love stories about a beloved.
That had been a mistake. I never thought for a moment that she could actually have one. It was made even more difficult because it was Nikoli. Now, I was going to have to take an active role in getting this sorted out. It was my intention of speaking with Nikoli about their situation. I knew he was the most reasonable person in the world and I knew I could convince him that he needed to allow Lucas and Kalli to bond and have a normal relationship.
He will have to understand that Kalli is first and for most a wolf and as a wolf she will mate for life. Her wolf has already chosen. Like all wolves Kalli needs to take the next step and bond with her mate. Mating and bonding with your wolves other half is the most natural thing in the world. Being Nikoli’s beloved is unnatural and unhealthy for Kalli and her wolf Nikoli has to understand this.
I heard Nikoli move around to my left side and could feel his gaze on Kalli’s naked form. I intentionally turned myself towards him and completely blocked his view of my daughter. Then I placed my hand on his arm and said
“Uncle Nikoli, it is so wonderful to see you again. Please come inside and allow me to get some clothes on so that we can catch up with each other.”
I watched him look over at a still naked Lucas and Kalli before he lowered his eyes to me and said
“My dearest Marie it is wonderful to see you as well. You are such a lovely sight for these old eyes. I would love to come in and spend time catching up with you.”
(Lidia’s POV)
I knew Logan was still somewhere close by. I could smell his stench from the bed I was lying in. It was driving me nuts that he was alive and so damn close by. It was his fault that I was falling apart. He used me and forced me to do his will. I needed kill him to make sure that he never hurt anyone again.
I tried again to shift into my wolf, but for some reason I still couldn’t reach her. She was with me, but just deep enough that I couldn’t get her to come out. I tossed myself off the bed and headed into the bathroom. The tile floor was cold against my bare feet. I splashed some cold water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror.
I was the vision of insanity. My eyes had dark rings around them. My cheeks were red and chapped from my tears. My lips were bloody and raw because I had been chewing on them. My hair was a matte of knots. I put my hands in the sink and started to wash them. Then I noticed a cool breeze blow against the back of my neck.
I craned my head around looking for the source of the fresh air and notice an open sky window. I turned my nose up and took in large amounts of fresh air. I felt my wolf stir with each breath I took. I left the bathroom and moved to the door that led to the hallway way. I turned the knob expecting to find it locked.
The door clicked opened easily and didn’t make a sound. I looked to my right and left, then inhaled to see if I could scent the vampire. It looked and smelled like the coast was clear so I stepped out into the hallway. I slowly made my way down the stairs pausing often to make sure I couldn’t hear or smell anything.
Finally I took the last step and started moving towards where I thought the front door was. I was trying to move as silently as I possibly could. I crept along at a ridiculously slow pace. I could feel my wolf moving closer to the surface and urging me to move faster.
I moved forward with a bust of speed and accidentally bumped into a small table and watched helplessly as a vase dropped noisily dropped to the floor and shattered in all directions. I froze in place and held my breath as I expected the vampire to charge into the room and force me back to my prison.
I stood there for probably dang near an hour and waited but nothing happened. No vampire, no movement and no sounds. Finally I gathered my hatred of Logan around me like a safety blanked and started to move towards the front door again.
The door was wide open. I looked and realized it was actually just a door jamb; no real door was attached. The second I stepped through I realized I was standing under the full moon; I felt my wolf claw at me from the inside out. She erupted from me in a violent burst of energy. Then she put her nose to the ground to seek out the foul scent of Logan.
Chapter 25
(Ryan’s POV)
I had spent the last several hours getting to know my mate and her family. I learned that her mother Anna and Aunt Alice were the daughters of the last true alpha of Rockledge. They told me the tragic story of how my father had killed their father and taken both of them as prisoners of war. I watched as both Anna and Alice’s faces reflected the identical emotions of pain and horror.
I felt my mate cringe as she too listened to her mother talk about the past. Ana alluded to the fa
ct that my father had raped them both, and had even gone so far as to try to kill their mates. I also heard how Alice had been pregnant, but lost the child during their escape.
They talked about the early years of living without an alpha deep in the mountains and the difficulty they had just trying to find food and shelter. How they had eventually found a real wolf pack and assimilated into their pack to survive. How they had stayed in wolf form day and night for months on end in order to get by.
Then they told me something that shocked me to my core. They talked about my father’s true mate Sally. Sally was the daughter of the Northern Star Omega. My dad had known she was his mate from a very young age. They had even once been very close before my father became alpha. He had even bedded her several times, but always managed not to mark her and bond with her.
Then, when he became alpha my father publicly rejected Sally, but continued to see her in secrecy. Turns out he was so power hungry that he refused to claim her as his own true mate because he saw her father’s position as pack omega as a weakness.
Sally eventually got with pup and thought that when she told my father he would finally accept and bond with her. She couldn’t have anticipated his reaction. My dad went ballistic and threaten hers and the pups life if she told anyone that they’d been sexually active together. Sally had been hurt beyond words, fearing for herself and her pup she took off on her own to live in the mountains with her unborn child.
Mated & Blooded, A Blood Ties Novel, Book 1 Page 11
