First to Fall

by Alexa Whitewolf

  I watch, fascinated, as Finn licks the drops first. Then Tristan does the same, his nostrils flaring. Dom laps his until his palm is clean.

  Finally, it’s Lucas’ turn. He meets my gaze, again with that half-smile. “Once I taste your blood, and the sun rises over that horizon, the ritual will be complete. You’ll have been initiated into this pack. This means we will sense where you are, and be able to speak to you whether in wolf form or human. It also means you will get a few perks—enhancements, if you will, because of your mating with Dom.”

  His face is getting blurry, and I wish he’d finish up already so I can go to a hospital. But still, I ask, “Such as?”

  “Easier healing, better hearing and sight in the dark.” Lucas peers at me, hesitating with his mouth above the knife. “Before I take this last step, I need to ask you: Lucrezia San Marco, do you willfully enter this pack and promise me, your alpha, your loyalty and allegiance, above all others?”

  I sigh, leaning against Dominic. “I do. But not above Dominic.” It’s hard to keep my eyes open, but it’s worth it to observe Lucas’ stunned expression. “Sorry, Lucas, but you’ll always come second to my mate.”

  His rumble of laughter is the last I hear before Lucas licks the knife, silently accepting my condition. At the same moment, the sun rises above the mountain, hitting us all with its light. I lift my arm to shield my eyes, oddly sensitive to it.

  Then the light dims, and I drop my hand. My head feels lighter, and when I blink and glance around, my vision seems sharper. The guys’ faces are more focused, the colors around me a bit more vibrant.

  Lucas is staring at me, the knife still in his hand. I notice the sun is not up yet, but rather poking over the horizon.

  “That’s weird, I thought the sun...”

  “Not quite, iubirea mea.” Dom’s there, my rock in this new world. “The flash of light you saw was the magic of the ritual being complete. That’s how it works with Lucas’ genes, and it’s a variation of the same across cultures.”

  “Hmm.” My speculative gaze falls on our new alpha, and there’s a few questions already forming on the tip of my tongue. Before I can form a full one, I realize something else: my ankle doesn’t hurt anymore.

  I guess the questions can wait.

  Agape, I glance down, only to see the wound healed. I’m still bloody, but it’s dried and crusted, no longer the flowing liquid it was mere seconds ago. When my stunned gaze meets Lucas’, he grins.

  “Told you so, cara.”

  “I... Thank you.”

  He inclines his head, a smile playing on his lips. “Il piacere è tutto mio.”

  Show-off. I guess my new alpha can’t even say my pleasure without trying to turn heads. It’s a good thing mine’s already occupied with another, equally stubborn wolf.

  I hear Finn and Tristan high-five over my head, murmuring to each other, and I feel a slow grin spread over my face. But it’s not the end, as Dom proves merely a heartbeat later.

  “Lucas, one more favor.” He reaches for the knife, wordlessly asking for more.

  Lucas seems to understand the unspoken demand as he flicks a few more drops of blood. Dom drops my hand and walks over to the vrykolakas gathered behind us.

  His gaze oversees the mass of them—fifty or so wolves with glowing yellowish-red eyes and dark furs—and stops on one towards the back.

  “Come here.”

  I shiver at his tone, firm and commanding, and turn to watch what’s happening. Far at the back, a creature moves forward. He’s older than most, with white fur under his chin and chest.

  Yet when he reaches Dom, there is only submission in his posture as he kneels and bows his head. Dom holds out his palm, full of my blood, towards him.

  “This is my Luna’s scent. Taste it, remember it. If ever she calls upon you—any of you—it is your duty to come, no matter how far you find yourselves at that point. Do you understand and acknowledge my command?”

  Heads nod all around, and a few gazes turn to me, taking me in. I must be quite the sight in my ripped jacket and jeans, bloody ankle and mess of a hair. Not that it seems to matter to the vrykolakas, several of whom bow their heads in deference.

  Dom speaks again, drawing all their attention. My gaze roams over his broad back, his tight muscles and ripped abs, and something coils within me, a need deeper than before. I bite it down—at least for now.

  “My Luna is my everything—my life, my breath. If your paths cross, your duty is to protect her against anything and everything, even if it is one of your own. Clear?” Again, Dom’s new pack nods and the elder vrykolakas nuzzles Dom’s hand. Then his pink tongue darts out, licking the blood off.

  When Dom next speaks, his voice is softer, but still as firm. He places his hand atop the creature’s head. “You will act as my proxy with the pack. I cannot travel with you as my place is here. But I cannot leave you without a leader, either. I took your alpha from you, and replaced him, and I intend to fulfill my duties to the best of my abilities.”

  His gaze roams over them, and he takes a deep breath. This time, all softness is gone from him, and his profile is hard, stony almost. His voice, when he speaks, is cutthroat and almost makes me drop to my knees.

  “Your history with drugs, it is over. Your ripping of hearts, it ends now. Radu continued to lead you all into sin, further and further a path of darkness that I cannot follow. My goal is different. I want salvation for you, and it is salvation I will get. Live free, breathe free, but do not harm humans or wolves. Live free of sin, of further darkness... And stay off this territory that you are no longer invited on. Do this for me, your alpha, and one day our paths will cross again. And when they do, I promise I will take my place as your prince—for good.”

  The vrykolakas are silent when he stops, their rapt gazes unwavering from Dom’s face. And in that moment, with the sun rising as it does, he looks evermore the vengeful voivode—the true heir to Vlad Ţepeş.

  One by one, the creatures throw their heads back and howl, long and heavy. And Dom watches over them, silent, brooding, strong. It lasts a few moments, long enough for the sun to peak off the horizon, and bathe us all in light.

  The noise stops, and the creatures move away. Only the elderly one stands by Dom, communicating something to him. When my mate inclines his head, he leaves as well, disappearing into the bushes.

  Dom remains standing for a long moment, then turns to us. His stride is different when he walks towards me, and his eyes shine with newfound hope when he grabs my hand in his. “Let’s go home.”

  ∞ 19 – Înţelepciune ∞

  “Wisdom cannot be gained without learning.”

  -Democritus-

  LUCREZIA

  We take Dom’s pickup home, while the guys take off in Lucas’ Hummer. I’ve never seen his car before, and it reminds me of Ty and his.

  Dom squeezes my hand as if sensing my wayward thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”

  “So many things...” I chuckle, recalling what happened only hours earlier—what I had agreed to. “But right then, I found it weird Lucas has the same car as Tytus. I never pictured him for a Hummer kind of guy, you know?”

  Dom lifts one shoulder in a careless shrug though his brow draws together. “This Tytus... Did he ever mention what kind of creature he is?”

  “No... But Finn might know. If there’s one thing I can tell you after that trip to New York, is that he’s got loads of mythological information in that head of his.”

  We fall silent, and it’s only a few moments later I realize we’re not heading to my place. We pull over next to a small bungalow, and Dom turns off the engine.

  “This is me.” His grin is contagious, and he steps out the car, then he’s by my door before I can even move.

  He pulls it open and picks me up in his arms, in such a way I have no choice but to wrap my legs around his waist. I try to squirm out of his grip, but Dom walks us over to his house.

  We barely get in and he kicks the door shut wit
h his foot, capturing my mouth with his, unforgiving and demanding. I surrender to his skillful tongue, and before long I’m pressing my body against his, demanding more.

  The need, the hunger I felt back in the clearing is back full on, and I can’t deny my body any longer. Either Dom’s feeling the same, or he catches my impatience, because he makes our clothes practically disappear in his haste, ripping when fabrics won’t move out of the way like he wants.

  Then there’s only me, and him, and bare skin as he slides inside me. One hand toys with my breast, his mouth on my neck kissing, biting, nibbling... I don’t recognize the sounds coming out of me, but before long I’m scratching his back, begging for more.

  And Dom, wonderful lover that he is, gives in to my demands. He goes deeper, picking my ass up with one hand to increase the angle. His kiss swallows my gasp of pleasure, moving down my neck again, his powerful body undulating against me.

  I throw my head back, powerless to his skills, uncaring of who may hear me. All I feel is Dom, all I care about is him moving inside me, hitting that spot, and then I’m close to touching the stars. So, so close...

  “Luz. Look at me. I want to see those beautiful eyes, draga mea.”

  With a huge effort, I raise my head, meeting his darkened gaze. His jaw clenches, his every muscle tense with restraint. I lift a boneless hand, cupping his cheek, and brushing my lips against his. “I won’t break. Let go, Dom.”

  He bites his lip, his hesitation clear, and I shift my hips against his. Control shatters his expression and he drives deeper inside me, staking his claim in the most primal way there is.

  And I love every second of it.

  Dominic

  Luz is shaking me awake, but I’m having a hard time stirring from sleep after the marathon we just ran together. “You’re a demanding little minx.”

  Her laugh shakes the bed—where we ended up for round three, four and then I lost count—but the jostling doesn’t stop. “Dom, wake up.”

  I blink, noticing it’s still dark outside. But there’s a light coming from my backyard, and that alone dissipates the remnants of sleep as I sit up in bed.

  “Your backyard’s glowing.” Luz’s laughing expression calms my pounding heart, but I’m still wary as I pull on a pair of sweatpants and head out.

  Near my tool shed, Ileana is busy sauntering about, her head thrown back and staring at the moon. I groan, running a hand over my face. “Godmother, you have the worst timing.”

  Twinkling eyes turn to me, and she smiles. “Te felicit, dragul meu.”

  I lean against the house wall, crossing my arms over my chest. “And what exactly are you congratulating me for?”

  “You took charge of the vrykolakas, and became their alpha. I could not be more proud.”

  “But I wasn’t able to give them salvation. They are still walking about undead. I... maybe I should have gone with them.”

  Ileana’s eyes shine brighter. “You did what you had to, and it was the right choice. But make no mistake, your time with the vrykolakas has not ended.” She steps closer, her gaze falling on my bedroom window. “And to think, amid all that, you found your mate. If only the others would do the same...”

  I frown, picking up on something in her tone. “Ileana... I don’t think Lucas would welcome your interference.”

  She laughs, waving me off, and her expression grows serious. “There is more happening in this little town of yours, things you have not yet seen. I cannot in all due conscience leave you here alone, my godson.”

  “So you’ll stay?”

  Ileana nods, her hair bouncing about her shoulders. “For a time.”

  “What about Făt Frumos?” I doubt her husband—or consort, if you go by certain tales—would take kindly to being left alone. When I point out as much to my godmother, she has on a secret little smile.

  “He has someone to watch over, and it is not as if we will not see each other.” Another laugh, another twirl. “Fate has funny ways of bringing people together when you least expect it, don’t you think?”

  Before I can answer, she disappears, and I shuffle back inside the house. Luz is sprawled over the bed by the time I get in, but she scoots to make room for me. “Everything all right?”

  I nod, kissing her bare shoulder and pulling her close. “It will be.”

  Lucrezia

  The next day, after a quick breakfast, we head over to the shop. I see Lucas, Finn and Tristan already gathered in the garage, and head over to my usual spot. Dom tugs on my hand, shaking his head.

  “You’re with me, today.” Bemused, I follow him in the garage where we greet everyone.

  Once we’re there, Lucas nods and shifts so he’s facing us all. “Today, we’re closing up shop. We need to go up in the woods and clean up after the fight.” He meets my gaze, grimacing. “This’ll be disgusting as hell, Lucrezia, I won’t lie. But if we leave those bodies out there and humans fall upon them, there’s no telling what will happen.”

  “You mean because of bacteria?”

  Tristan laughs at what I deem a perfectly good question, and I glare at him until he shuts up. But it’s Finn who explains further. “Partly, yes. But also because any hunter that falls on those wolves will realize they’re not regular ones. It might start a witching expedition, and we try to avoid those at all costs.”

  Dom’s hand tightens around mine, and I glance up at him. “Ileana told me last night there’s more in this town we’re not aware of.”

  “Then it’s a good thing Luz is now been initiated into the pack. Whoever they are, they would have to be stupid to attempt anything—on any of us.” Lucas seems sure of this, his gaze steady on Dom’s.

  His certainty is enough to calm my mate, at least until Tristan opens his big mouth. “What about the guy Luz was with?”

  I scowl. “Tytus doesn’t pose a threat, he’s harmless.”

  All eyes turn to Finn for confirmation, and it’s the first time I see him struggle with something. He won’t quite meet Lucas’ gaze, nor mine for that matter. After a long, tense moment, he nods. “I agree with Luz’s assessment on this one.”

  “Yet you won’t tell us what he is?”

  Finn shrugs, moving to grab jugs of gas and flares. “I would if I knew it.”

  Something tells me Finn is not being a hundred percent truthful, but I bite my tongue. Lucas calls us back to order and instructs us how to proceed. It’s a good thing it’s supposed to snow again tonight, which will cover the currently bloody snow. As for the carcasses, well, Lucas’ instructions are pretty clear.

  I team up with Dom, Finn with Tristan, and we head out in three cars—Lucas takes his Hummer. By the time we get to the mountain, it’s mid-morning and the air itself feels stifled with the stench of death.

  Dom sees me wrinkle my nose and laughs. “Imagine what this feels like to us.”

  When you put it that way...

  We put on rubber gloves and I push past my disgust, bending down and helping Dom with the carcasses. On Lucas’ orders, we pile them up in front of the cave the vrykolakas were hiding in. He thinks because of the wind's direction, it’ll be easier to have a bonfire of charred meat and not attract any of the locals.

  Our paths intersect with Finn, Tristan and Lucas as we work, but for the most part it’s done in silence. Once we’ve picked up the carcasses from up the hill, Dom and I leave the remaining ones to the guys and head into the cave.

  I know Radu’s body will be in there, but I don’t expect seeing it quite like that. In wolf form, he has the same white stripe Dom has, but it’s under his belly. It’s now matted with dry blood, and he has cuts and lacerations everywhere on his body.

  His jaw is hanging open, eyes staring lifeless ahead. But most telling of all is the jugular, ripped apart by powerful canines. I glance at Dom out of the corner of my eyes, knowing this was his work, and am surprised to see him staring at me rather than Radu.

  “Scared yet?”

  “Of you?” He nods, and there’s a wariness
in his eyes I don’t like seeing. So I move closer until I can wrap my arms around his neck, tugging him closer. “I knew what I was getting into, Dom, and though this is the first I see of your handiwork, it won’t be the last if we're being real.” A muscle ticks in his jaw, and I move one hand to trace it. “Our worlds are different, but I understand what governs yours: survival of the fittest. So no, I’m not scared of you, or anything here. I love you, Dominic Konstantin, and will go wherever you go. The only thing I fear in this new world is losing you.”

  Dom buries his head in my neck, inhaling my scent and kissing my skin. Then he moves up to my mouth, drawing kiss after kiss from my lips for long moments, as if to put salve on his wounds.

  When he lets me go, his blue eyes are shining. “I love you, Lucrezia San Marco. And I swear you will never lose me.”

  We turn to Radu and pick up his body, moving him out of the cave and throwing him on top of the others. Finn brings the jugs of gasoline nearby and pours them over the bodies while Tristan lights up two flares.

  We move up the hill, far enough from the flames, and at Lucas’ nod Tristan throws the flares on the bodies. Flames blaze from nothing, consuming rotting flesh and charring everything in their path. The wind, as Lucas predicted, carries the smell downhill, away from our town—and our already sensitive noses.

  Dominic

  Luz falls asleep in my arms after the bonfire, and I relax against the tree. Finn looks at us with a half-smile, but Tristan’s gaze is lost in the flames. I know the recent fight spiked more of his nightmares, but how to help him evades me.

  Lucas’s thoughts seem to be running along the same path, as he’s watching Tristan with a frown. After a beat, he speaks. “I think we’re all on the same wavelength here, but just to make sure. If any of you see vrykolakas running free in town, going forward, you report it to Dom or me. They’re Dom’s pack, so it will be his decision how he deals with them. But we will have no vigilante murders, you hear me?”

  Heads nod all around, and I shift so Luz leans easier on my chest. “We hear you. What about Jared? Finn, what was your take on it?”