“One day, you will.” I teased, then pushed his hand away. “We need to retrieve our dead and have our ceremony. Once that is complete, we will have to gather our most precious belongings and prepare to leave.”
“Where are we even going?” Charlene asked.
I shrugged. “Wherever our Alpha takes us.”
“Julie, oh, my poor friend. She loved Connor,” Charlene said, and wiped a tear from her eye.
“I know. Many lost loved ones last night. We don’t have time to properly mourn.”
“Who is Bernard?” Elliot asked again.
“Do not press,” I warned him.
“All right, I won’t press, but can you answer this question?” Elliot asked.
“What?”
“If Julie had been killed too, what would have happened to the rest of the pack with no Alphas?”
I had heard stories of entire packs being decimated or worse. “I believe the dragons would have killed the rest of us. There aren’t many left. Either that, or enslave us. Without an Alpha, we would be at the mercy of the victor. If they had let us leave, we would still be in danger if they wouldn’t allow us to have the bodies of our Alphas so that we may induct another. Other packs or vampires and dragons would have targeted us.” I did feel grateful that Julie had survived. I’d hate to wonder what our fate would have been otherwise.
Elliot pursed his lips and nodded. “I see I have a lot to learn.”
“You do, but for now, get dressed.”
I walked off to get dressed as well. We three traveled back to the battlefield that was still being protected by the dragons. Their King was standing there waiting for us. We stood behind Julie, ready to protect her if need be.
“I’ve come to claim our fallen,” Julie said.
“And waste more time?” the dragon King replied. “You would take these bodies and spend hours burying them. I want you gone, all of Great Britain’s east coast belongs to me.”
“We have until early morning,” Julie protested.
“I am giving you the chance to take more than what you could carry. Load your carriages with as much of your personal belongings as you can. To do that, you will need time as horses cannot travel as fast as wolves. My dragons will handle the burial of your wolves. Have your ceremony and leave,” the Dragon King said. To his right and a few feet away, I saw the dragon who had nearly killed me, Darius, and he had his eyes on me as well.
Graham, the last remaining wolf who had killed my family, stepped closer to Julie. I hated him and had wished a dragon had put an end to his pitiful existence along with Bernard and Elias. It would have saved me the trouble of plotting his death. Because I would have it; his blood would be spilled for the life he stole from me. If I were honest with myself, a part of me was happy that Connor had perished. He was the wolf who had attacked my original pack. Had he not taken over our territory, my mother and father would be alive and I would probably be a Beta Capo by now. What would my life had been like had it not been derailed?
I let the thought fade from my mind. Graham would get his, I was certain. I listened to him give advice to Julie, telling her that we needed to take the dragon King’s offer. We had to leave Great Britain all together. We had to find new territory in the new world. England was old country and all of the land it possessed was already in the possession of other more powerful packs and kingdoms, both vampire and dragon. We could not survive a siege on their land. Therefore, we had to keep our booked passage across the ocean to America.
As much as I didn’t like the idea of having to leave my home, the place of my birth and all things I loved and enjoyed, I knew we didn’t have a choice. If we stayed, we would be killed and I’d rather travel to that barren wasteland with its savages that was America before I let that happen.
Julie squared her shoulders before responding to the King. “I accept your conditions and thank you for your mercy.”
The King gave a curt nod and waved over Darius. “See that they perform their ceremony and leave. Once they are gone, burn the bodies. Let the wind carry their ashes off into the distance. Then, send some dragons to make sure they leave my territory in the time allowed.”
Darius bowed. “I will see it done, my Liege.”
“I know.” With that, the King flew up and away.
The dragons, to their credit, didn’t mock us. They stood back, respectively giving us room to give our love and reverence to our dead. Julie conducted the ceremony and it ended with a communal howl. While during the ceremony, I took into account other wolves who were no longer with our pack. I saw that James was among the dead. Which was sad. We weren’t close, but we were pack brothers and I respected him. I also saw Elias’ body, his chest was ripped open and his heart was lying beside his corpse. Had we still been friends; I would have taken his death hard. As it was, he’d turned his back on me years ago. So, I didn’t care that he’d died along with Bernard. Good. We watched the dragons burn their corpses, which completed the ceremony. We once again had to return to Julie’s mansion for a pack meeting. We were all given instructions to pack our things, as much as we could take, and head east to the docks where we were to board a ship.
I had never been on a ship before, amazing, considering how old I was. But I’d never needed to leave my territory and to have traveled otherwise would have caused problems. I was actually excited about the first-time experience. I instructed Charlene and Elliot to return to our home to pack while I went into the city to take care of my businesses. I had made the prior arrangements I needed to finalize, because if we lost the territory, I had also lost my businesses. No way could I trust that the dragons wouldn’t take it over and no way could I run the businesses from overseas. When a pack lost a territory battle, they lost everything.
I had a manager who helped me run my bordellos, it was to him I sold my deeds for a fair price. He didn’t ask questions as to why I was selling such a profitable business. I hated that I even had to, but I would be able to re-establish myself in America. I was determined to regain all that I had lost. I also closed out my bank accounts, taking my money with me. Other wolves were doing the same, with so little time left to leave with our lives, we had no choice.
I met up with Charlene and Elliot, and together with two carriages full of our most precious belongings, we began to travel toward the dock where a ship was waiting to take us to a new world and new territory. It was early morning by the time we made it to the docks, way past the time the dragons had given us, and they were there, watching to make sure we were vacating their territory. They didn’t take to the skies, instead, they traveled along our caravan on horseback. At least, they didn’t attack us.
The ship was huge, with massive masts and sails. It looked like a man of war ship, and I wondered if it had cannons on it. “I suppose you will help with the navigation?” I asked Elliot, since he was a seasoned sailor.
He laughed as he climbed off the carriage. “If I’m asked, I will. Who would be the captain?”
I shrugged. “Graham probably, or Royce,” I said, naming the two older wolves still alive. “Gregory is also a seasoned sailor who was a former soldier. I recruited him myself.” Our pack really took a hit when you looked at how many wolves were a century or older and still alive. Most were younger than I was or around my age. This war would go down as a failure in our history, and I wondered how long would it take for us to recoup?
“Deacon, what if we come upon challenges in America. The wolf packs there will not take kindly to us landing upon their shores,” Charlene said.
I removed a chest from the carriage and shrugged. “We have no choice, darling. We have to put faith in our Alpha that negotiations were made.”
“How, Sir?” Elliot asked.
I noticed how he was trying to get used to calling me “Sir” to show respect for my title as Capo. I hadn’t much enforced it because so little time had passed between him being turned and where we were at this point. But the fact that he was showing such initiative was a good sig
n.
“Julie should have sent off letters to pack ambassadors and to those of vampires and dragons, asking for safe passage. If they believe we are no threat, then we should be able to travel unmolested,” I said. At least, that was how I’d been told such matters worked. “Take this onto the ship,” I commanded Elliot.
I loaded my belongings onto the ship, along with the rest of my pack. While on board, I took a look around, marveling at the sheer beauty of the design. Such things humans created, and it was a wonder something so heavy would float on water. I entered my cabin. Seeing as I was a Capo, I had one of the officer’s cabins, which was nicer than where the rest of the pack would be staying. The bed was big enough for Charlene and I to sleep comfortably. We also had a dining area and living area seating. Our chests were stacked up in one corner of the room and I sat down to rest after such a trying day.
Charlene joined me, sitting on the sofa beside me, and rested her head on my shoulder. “I’m afraid,” she said.
“Of our future?” I asked as I turned and kissed the top of her head.
She nodded. “We do not know what we will face in America.”
I put my arm around her. “No matter what, I will make sure no harm comes to you, my darling. We will survive.” I wasn’t sure if I was making a promise to my wife that I could keep, but I would try. Elliot wasn’t with us, as he had to find his own lodging deeper in the ship’s decks. Good thing was, we had plenty of food to last on this voyage. I decided to take one last look at my mother country before our ship set sail. I stood on the deck, my hands gripping the wood railing as wolves hurried around me, pulling up anchors and lowering sails. It was expected to take three weeks for us to reach America’s shores. I watched as the lights of the city faded the farther out to sea our ship traveled. The dock grew smaller and smaller, and it was a realization I had to accept. I might never see England again.
~*~
I was miserable as the ship rode the waves of an unforgiving and unrelenting ocean. Oh my God, I had never felt so sick in my entire life. My stomach rolled with each up and down motion of the ship, and I’d purged into the basin Charlene held under my face. Elliot came over and placed a cold cloth on my forehead as I lay back against the pillow, sweating and moaning. I didn’t think I had anything else to vomit, nor did I have an appetite.
Charlene handed the basin to Elliot to empty and she stroked my sweat-soaked hair with all the love a wife could have for her husband. “My poor darling, such a delicate constitution.” Though the words seemed sincere on the surface, her expression told a different story. A part of her was enjoying my sickness and she was teasing me a bit. I was too sick at the moment to care much, though.
For fuck’s sake, the nausea was constant and had been going on for days. I didn’t know how much more I could take. I only wanted to sleep through the entire voyage, but Charlene insisted I eat to keep up my strength. Broth was all I had been given, that and bread, which was all I could tolerate. No sooner after I ate it, did it return.
Elliot returned with the empty basin I’d be filling again. “Sea sickness is common, Sir. You shouldn’t feel ashamed,” he said.
“What makes… you…” Before I could finish my sentence, I had to vomit again. This time, Elliot held the basin for me. I couldn’t help it, I was ashamed I had shown such weakness and he had noticed. I was also jealous of the fact that he and Charlene seemed to be unaffected by the undulation of the ship. Why did I have to have such a sensitive stomach?
Once I was done, I fell back onto the pillow, shivering and disgusted. “I loathe this,” I finally admitted.
Elliot laughed. “I’m sure you just want to die. We’ll be in America in another week or two.”
I groaned, because he was right. I kind of did just want to die if only to have some relief from the horrible feeling that wracked my body. But he annoyed me by how he was so cavalier about how long the voyage would take. Another week or two? Was he taking the piss?
A knock on my cabin door redirected everyone’s attention and Charlene went to answer it. She opened the door and I saw Sanese on the other side. Ahhh, Sanese… yes, she was a pleasant and welcomed sight. I’d had my eyes on her for a while and she knew it. I sat up a little bit on the pillows.
“Why are you here?” Charlene asked her with a tone that didn’t bother to conceal her agitation.
“I’m here to see about Deacon,” Sanese said.
“He’s being cared for,” Charlene shot back.
“Not by me,” Sanese said.
I smiled, because watching the two women who had my fancy banter was entertaining to say the least.
“He doesn’t need you,” Charlene snapped.
“Ah, but he does. I have something that will help him,” Sanese stated.
“Let her come in, my love,” I said.
Charlene huffed, but opened the door wider to allow for Sanese to enter. She sauntered over to me and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Oh, you poor, handsome man. I hate to see you so ill,” she said, and her sincere words were just that… sincere. No mockery hidden in the tone. “No smile for me so I may see your pretty dimples?”
I groaned as my stomach rolled again with the motion of the ship. “I’m… afraid I’m not in… the mood, my dear.”
“Ahhh, my sweet Deacon.” She stroked my hair lightly, and her touch was comforting.
My goodness, she was beautiful. Her long, chestnut hair flowed in luscious waves down her back and her round, hazel eyes looked at me with both lust and affection. Like Charlene, she had curves in all the right places. Her chest wasn’t as ample as Charlene’s, but a man like me enjoyed and needed variety. Had I not been so sick, I would have wanted to fuck her, but my cock was flaccid.
“These waves… are unmerciful,” I managed to say.
Sanese nodded. “This might settle you for a bit,” she said, pulling out a vial of green liquid.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Beta Capo Royce gave it to me when I told him you were ill. He retrieved this for me to give you. He said it will settle your stomach and make you sleep.”
I snatched the vial from her hand, uncorked it, and downed the contents as quickly as I could. I didn’t care if it had side effects, nothing could make me feel worse than I was already feeling. I gave the vial to Sanese and closed my eyes as whatever was inside of the vial was working quickly. My stomach was starting to calm and I felt exhaustion fall over me, forcing my eyes to close.
I suffered sea sickness for the entire month-long voyage. A week or two, my arse. At least the potion Royce was giving to some of us afflicted made it tolerable. That, and having both Sanese and Charlene taking care of me was also soothing. I was the first to set foot on land once our ship finally docked in New York. If I didn’t ever see a ship in my life again, I could die a happy man. It took us a few days at the docks for our Alpha to make arrangements for travel. More carriages had to be purchased for our belongings. The vampires who controlled the city had received a letter from Julie requesting a Passage of Territory, which they granted.
From what I understood, it was customary for other groups to give safe passage when one group had to relocate or travel. As long as no Declaration of Challenge was issued, travel normally went smoothly. We spent a week in hotels at the docks until arrangements to travel through other territories had been made. We also had to give up our ship to the vampire King as payment for him allowing us to stay in his territory until we could move on. Personally, I was glad to say goodbye to that ship forever. More letters were sent off to other packs, queendoms, and kingdoms, asking for safe passage as we traveled.
As long as we didn’t stay in one territory or place longer than a day, we were allowed to travel safely. weeks of travel took place before we finally reached a territory where we were welcomed. It was located in the Midwest, in a place called Wisconsin. It was close to one of the great lakes, Michigan, and a river. Illinois was the other state next to it, and we avoided traveling through that territ
ory by boarding yet another ship to take us across the lake. The duration of the journey wasn’t as long as the trip from England to America, but I still suffered the sickness.
I would have much rather preferred to take my chances with the vampires and dragons who owned those territories. They had just established them and it was rare indeed to see that two groups could make such an alliance. It was unheard of, which was why our Alpha opted not to test those waters. The territory we had been invited to was barren. Miles and miles of forest, no buildings had been created. There were some humans who’d built log cabins in the rural areas, but nothing like my beautiful London with its theaters, restaurants, museums, and taverns. America lacked culture and I hated it here already.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A Treaty of Alliance
Gaining our new territory in the New World didn’t come without a cost. The territory we’d settled in was also a state shared by four other wolf packs. It was through their good graces that we’d been allowed to stay, but it also meant our Alpha would have to sign and agree to a Treaty of Alliance. They allowed us a week’s time to rest from our travels before demanding our Alpha meet with the others. Because Julie only had four powerful wolves left, she asked us to accompany her. Which was wise, you wouldn’t want to attend such a meeting without protection.
The five of us were inside the carriage heading to the meeting place. The location being special as it connected all the territories together and was neutral ground. I didn’t care to be in such close proximity to Graham, but I knew how to conceal my emotions good enough that he would not sense my true feelings. Royce sat on the other side of Julie, and Graham was always to her right. I sat opposite them with Hector next to me. Graham and Julie had grown closer since Connor’s death, and I could smell that they had been intimate last night. I supposed it was only a matter of time. Royce, on the other hand, didn’t take their relationship as easily as I did. He had expressed to me just last week that he thought it was in poor taste for Julie to move on so soon after his father’s passing.
Deacon Page 16
