by Anita Cox
“Something she still does, though not many people catch it, when we’re at the dinner table and she’s walking around to serve, she’d flick my ear. You know, playfully mean, but it never really hurt. That kind of thing. You know, a gentle reminder that she is my big sister.” He laughed while giving her hand a squeeze. “She used to put extra Brussel sprouts on my plate too, because she knows I hate them.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Well, we have that much in common.” Closing her eyes as she smiled, she leaned back in her seat, reveling in the sunshine coming through the window. It had been a few days since she’d went on her morning run and she missed that brief moment she took each morning…just closing her eyes and absorbing nature.
“Damn this is the longest driveway on the planet,” he complained as she sped down the path.
Straightening in her seat, she took a deep breath. The vulnerability she showed with her mate would have to take a back seat during this important business meeting.
Zoltar and Wendy stood in the parking lot to greet them. Wendy looked good as new and radiant. The bump in her belly was starting to show as her shirt stretched to accommodate her tummy.
“You look fantastic!” Nala embraced Wendy for a brief moment before releasing her. The woman just oozed warmth and affection and it was something Nala really loved about being around her. “Motherhood suits you.”
Zoltar shook her hand, then Colin’s. “Welcome back.”
“It’s about time!” Wendy shrieked noticing the bonding mark on Nala’s neck. “Good for you, little brother!” After wrapping her arms around his shoulders and squeezing, she kissed his cheek five times before releasing him.
“Now,” Wendy wagged her finger at him, “before you even ask, the doctor said the pup is fine. We’re both very healthy and I’m no worse for the wear.”
The feeling of relief from Colin washed over Nala. She felt she could even breathe easier, which told her that her poor mate had been overwhelmed with anxiety he was trying to hide from her.
“That’s really great news.” He looked to Zoltar. “You’re keeping up patrols?”
He gave one firm nod. “I have at least three of my men guarding her at all times. There is round the clock surveillance and nightly patrols. They won’t hit the school again, not without one hellova fight on their hands.”
Colin smacked him on the back. “That makes me feel a little better.”
“We’re going to meet in Grace and Roman’s apartment. This way,” Zoltar said as he held his arm out to guide them.
Wendy looped her arm through Nala’s, who fought the urge to jump. Leaning toward her, Wendy whispered, “I’m very happy for the both of you.”
Unsure how to respond, she smiled and looked over at Colin before turning back to Wendy. “Thank you. So tell me, how’s the nausea? Any better?”
“Oh yes! The Pixies gave me some ginger root to chew. It’s a little spicy but it really does the trick. The doctor says that it should be subsiding any time now.” Lowering her voice to a whisper, she continued, “I’m having weird cravings though. Yesterday, I wanted pumpkin pie and pickled herring. It sounds absolutely revolting, but it’s what I wanted.”
“Yuk.” Nala snickered. “That does sound repulsive.”
“Here we are,” Zoltar said as he stopped in front of a door. He knocked twice.
Roman opened up the door. “Hello. Grace is in the back, cleaning like a maniac.”
Colin opened his arms and the two hugged briefly. “Good to see you. I miss you around Belfast.”
“Not as Alpha dear. No offense. He’s my friend.”
None taken. Colin’s use of their connection made her heart jump. Suddenly, she felt soft, like room temperature butter.
True to Roman’s words, Grace was scrubbing the table like it hadn’t been cleaned in a decade. “Hello, Grace.” Nala stood a little straighter in front of her queen.
“Come, sit.” Grace flagged them over and then took one more swipe with a towel.
She tensed during the small talk, eager to find the answers to her questions. When it was finally time, she filled them in on the events of the previous day. “The problem is, I’m not worried about them. Apologies, Roman, but I really do not trust your sister.”
He held up his hands, “No offense taken. Don’t trust her at all. She’s always been power hungry and offensive to anyone she deems less worthy.”
“She referred to them as lower Lycans. I don’t know what that means, but the connotation makes me very uncomfortable. My biggest fear is that I sent Richard and Trina to bowels of hell.” She took a deep breath. “This isn’t a challenge the Alphas before me have faced. Couple that with the fact none of us have heard from FOSE, I don’t know how to proceed. We’re not just a pack of Lycans anymore. But we are a pack and I need to know what the best thing is for my pack. So I’m seeking your guidance.” She folded her hands in her lap and lifted her chin. Admitting her need for help was a difficult pill to swallow. Alphas are prideful. It is one of their qualities. But pride and humility had to dance in harmony for an Alpha to be successful, to have a healthy and protected pack.
“FOSE has had their hands full with the Separatists issue. Very little has been done to regulate integration. There are no clear cut rules for us yet.” Roman looked to Grace. “I think she should put the whole pack first without concern for those who cannot adapt. What do you think?”
She closed her eyes for a moment. Nala noticed Roman did the same. She looked to Colin, pulling together her brows. Nap time?
Grace opened her eyes, the violet in them glowing. “The memories of our elders are vast. It takes concentration sometimes.”
She cringed, having forgotten that her King and Queen could read her mind. She took a deep breath and held it in as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
They opened their eyes. “Proceed as you have. If any Lycans dare threaten the cohabitation with other species, they are to be excommunicated. It sends a solid message that we are moving forward as a cohesive society. There’s a risk of creating animosity, or even more separatists. But we cannot allow threats to hold us back.” Grace took a deep breath. “You’ve done the right thing. Hopefully Richard and Trina will come to see the error in their judgement.”
Roman cleared his throat. “We will look into the Scottsboro pack. Like you, Nala, I do not trust my sister or her husband. The Chicago pack prescribes to the hostile takeover method of expanding their packs’ territory. She’ll not be content with her mate as Beta for long. Make no mistake, their pack is greedy and money hungry. Scottsboro is very humble in comparison to Chicago. They’ve been far from nature for entirely too long.”
Grace patted Roman’s hand. “It’s okay. I’ll say it.” She turned her attention to Nala. “Should she challenge you again, show no mercy. Do not hold back for fear of my mate’s feelings. No quarter.”
“Are we maintaining an Alpha challenge as a no quarter competition?” Colin’s voice cracked a bit toward the end.
Grace stood. “There’s no reason it has to be,” she paused and looked to Nala, “but it’s unlikely someone will accept if you concede. There are many that are unhappy with a female as Alpha, Nala. You have to know this. You will be challenged and they will want to fight to the death to be certain all other females know their place.”
Her stomach flopped. She already knew this to be true, it was no surprise. Hearing from the queen was a different matter entirely.
“And if she were with child?” Colin’s voice was raspy, as if he choked on his words.
“The Beta may take her place,” Roman interjected, “the same as when an elderly Alpha is challenged.”
That didn’t bode well. Nala’s choices were to risk her life and the life of her would-be pup or her brother-in-law. How could she have put Colin in this position? Avoiding her mate’s gaze, she looked to Wendy, the life growing inside of her. She wanted to same but that desire was selfish.
“Rest assured, we will be bringing this issue b
efore FOSE. They need to get the new laws and repercussions in order so we all know how to proceed. This far, most of this has fallen on Grace and while my queen is smart and resourceful, she hasn’t all of the answers.” Roman winked at Grace.
“That’s what you think!” The playful tone in Grace’s voice had calmed Nala to some extent, but she had more questions than answers. More dread. More fear. More concern for Colin.
The meeting took on a casual tone as Zoltar began pouring wine. Grace had prepared plates of fruit, cheese, crackers, and sausage ahead of time. Wendy sipped at iced tea, shooting smiles at Colin whenever he glanced her way.
Nala cleared her throat. “I was wondering if my new sister-in-law would be up for a walk?”
Wendy grinned as she placed her tea on the table. “Are you kidding me? I’m surrounded by unbelievable amounts of testosterone every day. I’d love some girl time.”
“Not alone!” Zoltar’s jaw flexed and he gripped the armrests of his chair.
“Oh for heaven’s sake, Z, it’s broad daylight and the whole herd is out today. Nala’s a warrior. She’s not going to let one hair on my head succumb to damage.” She shook her head. “Honestly, it’s like having a nursemaid on my heel twenty-four-seven.” She walked over to him and kissed his forehead. “I love you.”
Shaking his head, he looked up at her. “I don’t have to like it.”
Laughing, she patted his shoulder. “Nope. You don’t. But I’m going.”
When Nala stood, she faced Zoltar. “There are three royals here, and I’m bonded with the other Lycan in the room. You all have a connection with us. If anything should even smell something wrong, I’ll call for help. Okay?”
Wendy grabbed her forearm. “Oh come on. He won’t even let me pee in peace anymore. He’ll have to be okay with it.” She blew a kiss over her shoulder as they left the apartment.
“So,” Nala started as they made their way out of the school, “I take it he’s been a bit overprotective since the attack?”
“That’s an understatement. I wasn’t kidding about using the bathroom in private. He checks on me every ten seconds.”
She imagined Colin acting the same, fussing over her every move until their pup was born…if they ever had any.
Once outside, they both looked around. Nala was scanning the area for any sign of threat.
“Come on,” Wendy pulled at her arm, “there are beautiful trails in the forest.”
Her arm felt warm where Wendy connected with her. The only other Lycan to exude such warmth for her was her mate. She wondered if it weren’t something in their blood or if it was a familial connection now that Nala was a member of their family. Whatever it was, it seemed to turn her insides to mush and her shoulders relaxed from their usual tense position.
“Are you going to start talking or am I supposed to make small talk until you get the courage to ask what you want to ask?” Wendy snickered as she looped her arm through Nala’s. “I know it wasn’t a leisurely stroll you wanted, though I do appreciate it.”
Had she been that transparent? “Well, uh,” she cleared her throat as she searched for the right words. The trees covered the path like a lush green canopy. The forest was so full of life, so full of energy. It gave her the burst she needed to let her guard do. “It’s not all subterfuge. I do want to know you more intimately now that I’m so connected to your brother, but I do have questions and…I don’t know where to turn. My mother has been gone since I was young. My life before coming to Belfast, was all about survival. Now that I’m thinking about family, I’m a little lost.” That wasn’t so hard.
Wendy gripped her arm a little tighter and patted her forearm with her free hand. “Anything worth having comes with risk. We risk ourselves when we fall in love. We risk loss. Becoming a mother means you might lose your child. Some children don’t even survive birth. It’s just a fact of life. None of us have any guarantees, sweetheart.”
She chewed her lip as she contemplated Wendy’s words. “How do you cope with it? How do you cope with your relationship and your pregnancy making you a target?”
Wendy snickered. “Lots of sex.”
“Wendy!”
Continuing to laugh, she rolled her eyes. “Honestly. I am one hundred percent in love. After years of wishing for it, then accepting I’d probably always be alone, love finally happened. If I have to fight to the death to keep it—then so be it.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach. “But…Colin has already lost a mate and a child. I don’t want to put him through that loss again. It could destroy him.” Her bottom lip quivered at the thought. “I can’t do that to him. Not again.”
Wendy stopped in her tracks and pulled hard on Nala’s arm, spinning her around. She put her finger in Nala’s face.
Nala felt her eyes widen, shocked at the authoritative stance of a woman who was usually so sweet and tender.
“Listen here, Nala Baker! You have one life to live. Just one! You’re now bonded to my brother. He is in love with you and you clearly are in love with him or you wouldn’t give two shits about his well-being. But that means you cannot rob him of his chance at fatherhood. You married. You mated. You bonded. It is done. Whatever fate has in store is out of your hands. You can’t control everything. At some point, you have to let go. It was a freak accident that took his first wife and child. A freak accident! No one was out to kill her. There was no malice. It was just her time—as excruciating a thought as that may be.”
Wendy’s face was red and moisture glistened in her eye. “It was horrible. I’m not going to lie. But if you get pregnant, Jake can handle a challenge. He’s good Lycan stock—quick on his feet—stronger than most. If you get pregnant, you allow him to step in. That’s how this works.” She put her palm on her forehead and stepped back. “I’m sorry, that was entirely too emotional. It must be the hormones. But I’m serious.” She stepped in, forcefully wrapping her arms around Nala. “You must understand that this is his choice too. Don’t take that from him.”
Her shoulders relaxed as she wrapped her arms around Wendy, hugging her back. “Thank you.”
“It must be exhausting worrying about everyone and everything all of the time. I have other royalty here, and those that I am so familiar with. But you’re not alone. My brother’s blood now runs through your veins. That means you are my sister. Nothing can take that away—not even death.”
Death was the devil dancing in the corner.
Chapter Eight
Back home in Belfast, Nala stood in the bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. Wendy had given her a lot to think about. Had she spent so much time trying to protect her mate from loss that she was robbing him of life?
“Yes,” she heard Colin’s soft voice behind her. “You’re protecting me to death.”
Staring at his reflection in the mirror, she noticed the smirk…Colin’s typical half smile with lines forming around his eyes. It churned her heart into a puddle of primordial soup.
“What’s wrong? Did you forget about our connection so quickly?” He stepped toward her.
She turned to face him, biting her lip. “Actually, I’m not really noticing it much. I thought it would be stronger than this.”
“It is. You’re coming through loud and clear. I’ve been sort of guarded so as not to overwhelm you. Keeping my mind distracted…you know, so you could focus.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, gently easing her toward him. “I’m wondering if my mate wouldn’t join me for a drink by the fire.”
Expecting a kiss, she was delighted when he pulled her in a tight embrace…into a hug she so didn’t know she so desperately needed. Her shoulders eased down as his warmth enveloped her.
“You’re not alone anymore, Nala. There are no burdens that are only yours. Please, allow me to be here for you. Allow yourself a moment to relax. You have a whole pack here, and a mate. We are here for you. I am here for you.”
Walls that had been firmly cemented in prior years started to crack as something stung her
eyes. She felt her shoulders shudder and her chest heave as a light sob escaped her lips. “I’m sorry,” she whispered in his ear. “I don’t remember the last time I—” Her chest felt as if it had splayed open for the world to see.
“Do not apologize to me. If anyone understands…I do.” His voice was low, near a whisper, yet it cracked at the end, a hint of emotion spilling over. “I am honored to be your mate. You can cry on my shoulder any time. In this space, you are not an Alpha. In this space, you are my wife.”
I could stay here forever. His strong arms, warm and loving, wrapped around her made her feel safe and secure.
“And you will.” He pulled away from her to look her in the eye. “About that drink?”
Nodding, she grabbed a tissue to clear her eyes. “I really do love you, Colin.”
“And I love you, Nala. I hope by now you can feel it.” He stroked her hair and smiled.
After clearing the lump out of her throat, she splashed cold water on her face and blotted it dry with a towel. “Drinks it is.”
Once sitting together by the bonfire with wine in hand, he wrapped his arm around her waist. A few other Lycan couples sat around the fire conversing in their private twosomes. “So, my sister is going to birth a Centaur baby.”
“Does that bother you?” She studied his face, illuminated by the fire.
“It’s just weird. I mean…Wendy is true mother material and I want a family for her. I just can’t wrap my head around my sister’s status as a Centaur Queen. How in the heck could I?” After a big gulp of wine, he continued. “This is the same woman who flicks me in the ear.”
She held in a giggle as long as she could before letting it go. “Colin! She’s a Queen, not your Queen. It’s okay that to you Wendy is just your sister, and Zoltar your brother-in-law. It isn’t like you have to kiss a ring or anything.”
His words were near a whisper as his expression fell blank. “She’s having a baby.” His emotions were a confused mixture of elation, envy, and sadness. He wanted a child and should have already had one had nature not taken it away from him. Her heart ached at her mate’s turmoil.
