“Mother, that was cherry pie, and it was still Godric’s fault,” Aldric assured.
“Oh, this I have to hear.” Helena leaned a bit closer to him and laughed as both his mother and father recounted a tale of two pups, a room full of visiting relatives, and the unfortunate events that led up to pizza being delivered for Thanksgiving dinner. All the while, the fully cooked and dressed turkey sat twenty feet up in an old maple tree.
Helena was laughing so hard by the end she was gasping for air. She was surrounded by the people she loved and the people she hoped would become part of her new pack and love her eventually. Aldric had draped one muscled arm over the back of Helena’s chair and the group continued to chat for almost another hour.
Cassandra came over to Helena and crawled right up onto her lap. “Princess, if I’m a lady, do I have responsibilities? I can’t be a real lady if I don’t.”
Helena cuddled Cassandra closer. She felt connected to the little pigtailed spitfire who reminded Helena of a younger version of herself. They were going to have a lot of fun together. Helena loved children and wanted a large family of her own. Suddenly, she wondered if Aldric wanted the same. She turned to find him watching her, his gaze softened. She would have to ask sooner rather than later about that one.
Helena reached over to the small bowl of sugar cubes. Cassandra and the others waited patiently while she placed five cubes in a row slightly apart from one another before she began her explanation in terms a seven-year-old would understand.
“You indeed have great responsibilities, Lady Cassandra. You see this sugar cube in the middle? Imagine this is you. You were born into a powerful family. These other four are your mother, father, Aldric, and Godric—the foundation of your pack. Just like my own family, we are the same, little flower. People in my kingdom depend on me and people in your pack depend on you.”
“But I’m only seven. I can’t do anything like my brothers.” The confused expression on the little girl’s face was adorable.
“Yes, you’re seven years old, but you’re wrong to think you cannot begin to take on your duties,” Helena responded.
“Duties?” Cassandra asked.
“Yes, Lady Cassandra. You must see to the care of your people, your pack.” Helena began to stack more sugar cubes on top of the original five, making a pyramid. “You begin by offering your aid, love, and kindness to others. You watch over them, make sure the other children are happy, healthy, and well cared for, and if you ever have any concerns or suggestions, you bring them to your family just as I do with my uncle and aunt. You hold your people up so that they themselves can grow and flourish. It’s a great responsibility to care for others, and without you—” Helena paused and pushed the middle cube, signifying Cassandra, out from under the others, causing the tower to crumble “—someone needing your help could be missed and fall. Your job is as important as mine, little flower, remember that.”
“I will, I promise.” Cassandra nodded her head so quickly her pigtails bounced through the air, making several people around the table smile. “But Princess, I thought the most important people were at the top, like you or the king.”
“Oh, little flower, the most important people are on the top. Your pack, the people that need you.” Everyone at the table had grown quiet and Helena glanced around nervously. Had she overstepped her bounds? After all, she wasn’t a relative, yet.
“Do you wish to get ready for our sparring match?” Aldric rubbed his hand up and down Helena’s arm, causing goose bumps to break out. He slid his hand away from her trembling body and leaned back. His muscles flexed and his fingers twitched. She sensed his inner battle between moving forward and the staying to near to watch family, attendants, and guards.
“Yes, that would be wonderful. Then afterward I wanted to show you Fulton’s Grove of fruit trees, and then we could bring a late lunch to have by the lake. I’ll go change. Did you bring your riding clothes for later, Cassandra?” Helena asked the little ball of energy in her lap.
“Mommy, did we bring them?”
“No, my dear, I’m sorry. I didn’t expect you to have a chance to ride. Your father and I have been invited on a tour around the palace. You could come with us,” Hilda offered by way of a compromise.
Cassandra groaned and slid from Helena’s lap. Helena didn’t think much of that idea either. Touring the palace with the king and queen and making countless introductions to other people attending court today, or going horseback riding? Really, is there even a question?
“Giselle, could you please?” Helena knew her staff was more than capable of finding what they needed.
“On it, Princess. Hilda, may I have Cassandra’s size please?” Giselle began scrolling through the pages of contacts she had saved in her tablet.
“She’s size seven-eight, but respectfully, Princess, you don’t have to go to so much trouble,” Hilda answered as Cassandra jumped up and down beside Aldric, who simply smiled indulgently.
Helena had never wanted to a kiss a man more than in that moment. Aldric’s knowing grin told her he knew she wouldn’t be taking no for an answer and he approved. He could have easily commanded his family to stay back and not monopolize her time, but he seemed to love his family as much as Helena loved hers. She only hoped, if she became part of his family, they would love her as well.
“No trouble at all. I have a pony who would love to meet Cassandra. Her name’s Matilda.” Helena looked up as Giselle’s tablet beeped and she nodded. “Now, if I may have your permission to steal your daughter away for a few hours, we’ll be on our way to prepare for our day. Giselle will stay with Cassandra while Aldric and I spar. Trust me, she will have more fun with Giselle than wandering the palace, and I assure you Matilda is a gentle unicorn. With my ability to speak with the horses, they will know to have care with her.”
“So cool,” Cassandra gushed before Aldric stood with her protectively in his arms.
Gods, Helena wondered what he would look like holding their own children. He glanced down at her jewel and smiled. She knew she had control, but she also knew he could see through that and prayed to any gods listening that she wasn’t glowing the color she truly felt in that moment.
Several cups clanked as they were dropped to the table, and Tofa actually spilled coffee down the front of his shirt.
“Unicorn?” Karl asked what undoubtedly the others were thinking.
“Yes, a gift Helena’s godmother, the White Witch Ceva, thought appropriate for the princess’s twenty-first birthday. Let the young ones go have their fun, my friends. I have another alpha I would like you to meet, Karl. He’s been having concerns over the drop in his crops yields over the past five years, and since your production remains high, perhaps you could offer aid in some way.”
King Leonidas waved a noncommittal hand in the air to indicate at some point today he would make introductions, which thrilled Helena. Her Uncle was taking to Aldric’s family, including them and introducing them to court as her future in-laws. Now she only had to make it through the sparring, the ride, and then get Aldric to agree to be hers. Easy, right?
“And that’s my cue. Hilda and I will be just fine, dear.” Queen Alexandra spoke quickly as she patted her mate’s hand. Helena knew her aunt was looking for a way out of another round of crop discussions. “I thought she and I would perhaps tour the gardens and I could make introductions to her fellow ladies at court.”
“Well, that’s settled.” Helena kissed Aldric on his cheek but her wolf quickly took over and rubbed his neck with her cheek, scenting him. His growl of approval filled the arboretum. Gods, he made her blood catch fire.
Quickly, so he wouldn’t see the true colors in her jewel, she rounded the table to kiss her uncle, aunt, Karl, and Hilda on their cheeks, then collected Cassandra into her arms, and began walking briskly toward the inner doors and her chambers with a flurry of attendants and warriors in tow.
“We’ll meet in our private training room in thirty minutes,” she said over he
r shoulder.
Helena was bouncing with joy when she heard Aldric’s deep laugh as she and her new little friend climbed the stairs before anyone could change their minds.
This was going to be a marvelous day.
Chapter Four
Aldric stood barefoot in the middle of a well-equipped dojo dressed in track pants and a tank top, which intentionally revealed more long scars. Even though he doubted seeing them would make Helena change her mind, he had to know before their relationship went any further, because he was already damn close to falling for her.
The dojo’s back wall held a healthy number of weapons and training gear. Some of the weapons were made of wood and had a thin layer of foam surrounding the ends—clearly training weapons. Aldric had no idea how far to take this sparring session or how much power he should use, he never wanted to hurt Helena in any way, ever. He’d noticed she was taller than almost all the other omegas in attendance last night, and he was thankful given his size and strength.
Godric, Lothar and a few of his warriors milled around the room admiring the array of weapons, and the remainder of Aldric’s warriors were with Helena.
“So, do we even know how much force you’re to use against your hopefully intended omega?” Godric asked, not even bothering to hide the smile on his face.
“No, but I’m not going to use anything to hurt her.”
“I don’t get the impression the princess would want you to hold back.” Lothar said, joining the group carrying a rather impressive long sword with a jewel-encrusted pommel and leather-wrapped grip.
“I won’t hurt her.” Aldric growled.
“I didn’t tell you to hurt her and I’m sure Helena wouldn’t want you to, but I believe she wants an honest show of skill. If you hold back she’ll be insulted.”
“And what brought on this insight into the princess’s mind?” Aldric snarled.
Lothar rubbed his jaw before answering. “You do remember I have an older sister, right?”
Aldric and Godric nodded their heads. They knew Lothar’s sister, and no further explanation was required. Lothar’s sister not only had the skill to take down any man stupid enough to take her on, she had the temper to match.
“I need to be careful with Helena. She’s so small compared to me.” Aldric was convinced any show of force would bring Helena harm and nothing anyone could say would change his mind. He would never do anything to hurt the princess.
Aldric heard the footsteps long before the thick oak door was pushed open by Marcus and General Jensgar. Both scanned the room before allowing their princess to enter. Behind her followed Amalia and more warriors.
Helena wore black leggings and a tank top, both molded to her soft, alluring curves, testing Aldric’s resolve not to run his hands all over her. Gods, she was so beautiful it made his heart hurt. He couldn’t believe she would choose him, but by all that was holy, he would do everything in his power to keep her happy.
Her eyes brightened when she caught sight of him, making him stand straighter and momentarily forget about the additional scars on display. But he couldn’t help but remember his lacerated body, and he wouldn’t back down. He needed her to see, for her to understand to whom she would attach herself for their long lives.
She wasted little time crossing the room. Lothar and Godric stepped away as she moved right into Aldric’s embrace and snuggled into his chest. Warmth suffused him and wrapped them in a cocoon of their own.
Gods, she really doesn’t fear me. My scars don’t disgust her.
“Hello, little one.” He held her tighter and his voice cracked slightly.
“Hello, Aldric.” Helena rubbed her face back and forth across his chest and purred when she spoke. “You look absolutely edible.”
He was so shocked he could only stare at the princess as her cheeks turned red, but she still had that adorable grin on her face. “Pardon?”
“Well you are,” she said before moving away toward General Jensgar, who held a roll of tape and began wrapping her hands. “So how do you want to do this?”
“Truly, I’m a bit unsure. I don’t want to hurt you.” At that, General Jensgar smiled and shook his head. After he finished with the princess, the general moved to Aldric to wrap his hands.
“I want to see your ability. I don’t want you to hold back because you fear hurting me. I’m a werewolf, after all.”
Lothar stopped wrapping Aldric’s hands to stare him straight in the eye. He knew what his head of warriors was thinking, but still couldn’t bring himself to use that much power against Helena. All too soon, both the princess and Aldric were facing each other from either side of the mat, and everyone else had stepped back against the wall.
“Show me what you’ve got, Alpha.” She smiled before placing her mouth guard in and taking her stance, crouching low, right foot in front, left foot facing left, arms up and ready.
Shit, why did I agree to this?
Aldric put in his mouth guard and crouched low, taking a few desperate seconds to think up ways of not using too much of his strength without her knowing.
“Ready.” General Jensgar yelled and waited until both nodded yes. “Start.”
She leapt off the ground and struck Aldric across his collarbone with her fist, distracting him enough to allow her to wrap around his back and place him in a chokehold. He was impressed. She was fast. He knew he had to slam her to the mat on her back to break the hold, so as gently as possible while twisting her arm away from his neck, he turned himself and pinned Helena in a side control.
He heard her grunt and immediately froze, giving her the opportunity to sweep his knee out from under him with her foot while twisting out of his reach. She gave him a confused look before running to the back wall and grabbing a Jo, a wooden staff you held like a baseball bat and used to strike or hook an opponent. Like the other training equipment, this one was covered in a thin layer of foam.
Reluctantly, he grabbed another Jo from the wall and circled her on the mat. Her face was flushed and her mouth was open, drawing deep breaths while she shifted her staff from side to side.
Great, now I have a weapon in my hands.
She thrust forward, slicing her Jo through the air and striking his staff, almost dislodging it from his hands and leaving her left side open to attack, but he couldn’t bring himself to take the shot.
Helena let out a deep growl. She ripped out her mouth guard. Her canine teeth dropped, baring them at Aldric. “That’s it. I purposely left myself open and you didn’t even attack, like I knew you wouldn’t.” He could hear another growl travel up from deep inside her. “You’re not even trying.”
General Jensgar marched forward but froze at Helena’s command: “Stop.” The general bowed and resumed his place against the wall.
“Why? Do you not trust me, or do you not trust yourself?”
“I just can’t risk hurting you.”
Aldric watched the play of emotion race across her face as the spark of anger slipped into disbelief and ended in sadness. “So it’s me you don’t trust to be able to protect myself. I thought you—” She turned and began walking toward the door as if to leave. Aldric panicked and let out a growl of his own, then bent over and picked up Helena’s Jo and tossed it to her.
“You want a fight, little one, then let’s have it.” She turned in time to catch her staff, a tentative smile curving her lips. Her eyes glowed and her canines hadn’t receded as she crouched low. Her wolf remained on the surface to fight alongside the princess.
“This time show me what you really can do, Alpha.” She demanded, ending the sentence with a small growl. He couldn’t suppress his answering growl just before she sprang from the ground, striking him across his chest.
He responded with jab to her midsection, causing her to be flung several feet away. He only had a moment to worry that he’d hurt her before she jumped to her feet, swept her Jo under his knee, and took him to the ground in one smooth motion. He flipped backward and stood quickly and the two b
egan exchanging strikes. The jarring whack of wood hitting wood filled the room even though the walls were padded. Their strikes moved so quickly they were almost impossible for Aldric to track. He began backing Helena toward the far wall away from the spectators, his wolf demanding the others stay away.
He hadn’t felt this alive in too many years to count, and she was right there with him. Her beautiful green eyes glowed, the tips of her canines peeked out from just under her top lip, and beads of sweat dripped down the side of her flushed face.
He’d never wanted a woman more.
In one well-timed move, Aldric slid his hand down, leaving a few inches protruding from the backend of his staff and hooked Helena’s staff, twisting it free of her hands. He pushed her backward with his body, pinning her up against the wall. He dropped his Jo, grabbed both of her hands, held them above her head and pressed his hard body against her soft curves. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Marcus step forward as if to come to her aid, but stopped immediately when General Jensgar placed his hand on Marcus’s shoulder.
Helena growled, jutting her chin forward in defiance. She was beauty, strength, and honor, and she would be his. After today there was no other option.
Aldric lowered his head and nuzzled the side of her neck before scenting both sides of her face with his jaw. She was marked as his and he intended to keep it that way, even if he had to rescent her every morning until she chose him.
She tilted her head, submitting her throat to him, and his wolf growled in approval but a loud cough from behind him broke the sexual haze between them.
“Alpha Aldric, I’ll have to ask you to step away from the Princess.” Amalia’s tone and the formally stated words brought him back from the sharp edge of his arousal. Slowly he released Helena’s hands and stepped a few feet back.
The princess hadn’t stopped smiling nor had she taken her eyes off him. If the red glowing from her omega’s jewel was any indication, she was anything but offended by his actions.
“Perhaps we should get ready for our ride, Princess?” Amalia asked, her eyes still staring straight at the ground and her cheeks a bright shade of red.
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