by Delta James
Gareth looked down at her.
“What?” she asked. “I may not have Rowan’s skills on the battlefield, but I know how to handle things on the home front.”
Gareth leaned over and kissed her. “Your assistance and cool head are most appreciated. Tyler, gather the men. I will be down momentarily.”
Tyler left their room, closing the door behind him.
“If you really meant momentarily, I’m assuming you aren’t going to take care of that,” she said, smiling, indicating his erection.
He rumbled at her, kissing her again and tweaking her nipple before slipping his hand between her legs to do the same thing with her clit. “Unfortunately, you would be correct. I’m sor—”
Sloan leaned up from under the covers and kissed him deeply. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You are alpha and I am your mate... the safety of our pack is more important than either of us getting to spend the next few days in bed. We have all the time in the world for that in the years to come.”
“You, my beloved, are not to work yourself too hard. I want you to rest as much as possible. You are liable to be sore...”
“A state I find myself in most often in your company...”
Gareth chuckled. “And probably will for the rest of your life.”
He rolled out of bed and dressed quickly before giving her one last kiss as she started to dress.
“Once you have met with Winifred and have things organized for the household staff, I think it’s important that you be in the dining hall.” He placed a single finger over her lips to stave off her argument. “I will join you as soon as I can and will share everything with you.”
She nodded. “You’re worried.”
“Yes, a large troop with no banners showing and moving toward us does not bode well.”
“Should we send for Alaric?”
“I don’t know that it would do any good. It’s more than a week’s ride back to Calon Onest... it sounds as though that troop is moving faster than that.”
“It sounds to me,” she said, “as though it’s a good thing you sent out those roving patrols. Maybe if I hadn’t run...”
“Shh. There’s no way to know how things might have been different. And had you not, we wouldn’t have known about the dam-builders. I do know that because I found and claimed you, my pack will be stronger with their mistress here to help guide them.”
“I’ll be right behind you,” she said, watching him leave.
Sloan hurried and got dressed. Descending the stairs had an oddly familiar feeling to it as did entering the dining hall. She greeted people with a calm demeanor before joining Winifred in the kitchen. She watched a moment from the doorway at the efficiency and speed with which breakfast preparations were underway.
“Why the hell I thought you needed me in here is beyond me,” said Sloan.
“Mistress, if you would like things done...” started Winifred.
“No, that’s my point. You have everything well in hand and my best move is to stay out of your way and let you run things,” Sloan said, smiling as she pushed up her sleeves, sat down in front of a large pile of potatoes, and began peeling them.
“You needn’t take on such menial tasks.”
“Nonsense. Helping to feed our people is never menial. Look, Winifred, I understand Eloise liked being the pampered princess. That’s not me. I wasn’t born into a great pack. I was a dirt-poor farm girl whose parents’ acreage could barely support them outside a village that was smaller than this house. The village was wiped out by mutants and I became a thief. I got caught at Calon Onest and Rowan took me in. She didn’t have to, but she did. She made me pack and gave me a life. Gareth came along and elevated me to Mistress of Ravenscar, but that doesn’t mean when I’m not meeting his sexual demands I can’t be of service to the rest of the pack.”
Winifred beamed at her. “No, Mistress, it does not. And as they’re already starting to gather, I feel like we’re running behind. We could use the help.”
“Then just do what you need to do. I’ll be peeling potatoes. Anything else that needs doing, you let me know.”
At first the kitchen staff seemed a bit disconcerted by the idea that their mistress had pitched in to help, but quickly accepted her and worked alongside her happily. They had breakfast out in no time. Sloan was bringing in a large platter of bacon when she could feel his presence as he entered.
Gareth entered the room and crossed it, taking the platter from her hands and putting it on the buffet table before turning back to her and giving her backside a swat as he directed her to the head table.
“You really have no understanding of the word rest, do you, mate?” he said gruffly.
“It’s a difficult concept for me when most people rest in their beds. Lord knows you didn’t let me do much of that last night,” she teased.
Sloan was happy to hear their people laugh, immediately realizing that while they loved and respected their alpha, they did not fear him.
“And the lot of you do not need to encourage my naughty mate in her misbehaving ways,” he said, laughing.
“That’s all right, sweetheart... I don’t need their encouragement; I do fine on my own.”
Gareth joined her at the head table, leaning down to kiss and then nuzzle her neck. “You are too alluring by half. Best you take care that I don’t decide I have a greater need to bury my cock in your pussy than I do to eat,” he whispered, causing her to blush.
“Do you know anything more?” she asked quietly.
He shook his head. “No, but I have two of my best scouts out trying to get a good look at them. One of the men who rode with Edwyn to Calon Onest is with them to see if he recognizes anyone. I’m convinced that it isn’t coincidence that we have arrived home earlier than expected and there is a large force headed our way.” He subtly glanced at Mira. “Have you had a chance to speak with her further?”
“You don’t think she has anything to do with this, do you?”
“Directly? No. But if her running caused an issue between two packs, they could be out looking for her. As you know we alphas can be nasty bastards when our mate is reluctant to take her vows. I will speak to her after the morning meal and before I go out to assess our strength and get our men ready for whatever may be coming.”
“Why don’t you let me speak to her?”
“I am her alpha...”
“Not necessarily by her choice... and growling at her isn’t going to help. If she ran, she had to be afraid... more so than just reluctant. I can speak to her as one reluctant mate to another.”
“We will try it your way. But if she will not talk to you willingly, she will talk to me.”
“Not necessarily...”
“This is not Calon Onest, my beloved. She-wolves do not disregard the rules or orders from their alpha. When they do, they are provided with the structure and support needed to make them feel safe enough to do so.”
“The structure and support? Are you kidding me? I don’t know how to tell you this, but when you spank me, I’m not feeling safe and protected. All I’m feeling is how much it hurts.”
“Then you would be better off behaving yourself and not doing things that will get you put over my knee.”
They finished their breakfast and Gareth agreed that Sloan should speak with Mira.
“If she tells you anything significant, have someone come and find me. If not, it will keep until I return for supper. If she refuses to tell you anything, you can assure her that she will tell me when I return.”
Gareth kissed her and then left with Tyler and his captain-at-arms to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
Sloan sought Mira.
“He thinks I’m the cause of this, doesn’t he?” she asked Sloan.
“He doesn’t know. Do you think you are?”
Mira shook her head. “I don’t know, Mistress, truly.”
“Why don’t you tell me what happened? All of it, Mira; we can’t protect you unless we know what we’
re up against.”
“I don’t want to be mated to...”
“To whom? Keep in mind that Gareth’s first mate was a political alliance. Neither of them were happy in their pairing and she died in childbirth... something that Gareth blames himself for.”
“I should leave here...”
Sloan put her hand on her arm. “It would do you no good. Gareth has made you pack, and I can tell you for a fact, he takes that kind of thing seriously. You run, he’ll chase you down and punish you for having done so. But he will not see you mated against your will unless the wolf wishing to claim you can convince him he is your fated mate.”
“How can you say that? Not only did he claim you against your will, but he turned you without your consent!”
“It is because of that I know my mate’s heart. He knew we were fated. I was the last thing he wanted in a mate and yet he would not give me up. He bent me to his will and kept me close until I admitted I had known he was right all along. Gareth is a man of strong passions and honor. It wouldn’t matter who wanted to take you to mate. If it wasn’t what you wanted, unless Gareth could be convinced that you were denying a fated pairing, he wouldn’t allow you to be taken. But a force rides for Ravenscar and we are better prepared, all of us, if we know why.”
“My alpha is one of the acolytes of Edwyn of Chepstow. He has a long-standing feud with the pack in York. I was to be given to Simon of York.”
Sloan saw her shudder. “And that does not please you?”
“He is cruel, Mistress. I have seen him. He pleasures himself however and whenever he likes. Before he accepted the match, he had me stripped and presented to him.”
It was Sloan’s turn to shudder. “Why would your parents or your alpha allow that?”
“He told them he wanted to be sure that my appearance caused his staff to rise. He had me examined by their physician to ensure I could bear children and that I was still a maid. He pawed and pinched me to see how I responded. When I began to cry, he seemed to be happy about that. He spoke crudely to me and told me all the things he planned to do to me. He made me watch while he and his brother used some of our women. It was horrible and when I told my alpha and my parents, they reminded me that we, and Edwyn, needed the alliance with York. So I ran away.”
Sloan growled low, hugging Mira as she cried. “No one will ever treat you that way again,” she vowed. “You are Ravenscar pack now and our alpha does not kowtow to anyone.”
“He won’t give me up?”
Sloan grinned at her. “Not if he ever wants to breach me with his knot again. And I assure you there is nothing in this life he wants more.”
Mira returned her smile. “But I don’t want to bring trouble to your doorstep.”
“Our doorstep,” Sloan corrected. “And if Edwyn is behind this, you are merely a pawn. He will try to strike at Ravenscar and Calon Onest in any way he can. Do not concern yourself. We will speak to Gareth when he returns. He may have questions, but do not fear Sir Growls-A-Lot. I will keep you safe from him.”
She felt his presence behind them and then heard and felt his low rumble.
“But who will keep you safe from me?” he teased.
“I need no protection from you, Gareth of Ravenscar. You are my beloved and fated mate and I have been told ours is a pairing that will be celebrated for a thousand years and that we will watch our grandchildren play in the surf.”
Sloan was drawn into his embrace as he kissed her.
“Whoever told you that is a wise man.” He turned to Mira. “My mate is correct, Mira. You have nothing to fear. Your pack, this pack, will keep you safe. Can you run and see if you can help Winifred? I have need of my mate’s attention.”
Mira grinned. “Yes, Alpha. And thank you.”
She turned and ran toward the kitchen.
“Already my mate shows her greatness as mistress. You instinctively know how to comfort our people.”
“Did you hear what they did to her?” Sloan whispered.
“I did. Your assessment...”
There was a knock on the door as Mira returned and interrupted. “Alpha? I’m sorry, but I just thought of something...”
“What is it?” he asked gently.
“When they were making me watch them, Lord Edwyn joined them and they spoke of the power of the rivers... I didn’t understand it and I’m afraid I was so traumatized...”
Gareth went across to her and hugged her. “Of course you were, little wolf. You should never have been subjected to any of that.”
“I was told I had no choice, but that if I tried to escape, no pack would have me as they would feel I had been ruined by what they did...”
Gareth interrupted her. “Another thing they lied about. All I heard was the story of a brave she-wolf who had the courage to save herself. No one here will have anything other than respect and admiration that you did so. And the information you overheard may well prove to be the lynchpin for all that is happening. You have been of great service to your pack today.”
Sloan’s heart almost broke seeing the weight Gareth’s words lifted from Mira’s shoulders. He kissed Mira’s forehead and sent her back toward the kitchen.
“You’re a very nice alpha when you aren’t being a nasty bastard,” Sloan said.
“High praise from you, mate. But I was serious. Now the dam-builders make sense.”
“How?”
“Think, Sloan. Who better to harness the power of the rivers? Edwyn brings them in, forges alliances from Chepstow up into York? He acquires land all along the rivers and establishes himself diagonally from Calon Onest to York to Ravenscar. He basically has divided Britannia in half. He has the perfect scapegoat when the dam-builders are found out, eradicates them and sets himself up as lord protector and head of the Ruling Council.”
“That sonofabitch,” spat Sloan.
“Quite literally,” quipped Gareth. “But now that we know his game, I may just have a way to put a serious dent in his plans. I’ll get word to Alaric.”
“You said he couldn’t get here in time.”
“Not here, he can’t, but he can get those mutants. Beavers aren’t known for their bravery; facing down Alaric’s army will see them out of Britannia and Edwyn without his ability to control the rivers. And he needs to know that Edwyn hasn’t finished with his plans for Calon Onest.”
“Calon Onest is more than a week’s ride and you can’t spare the men... but they need to know. If Edwyn isn’t with the group headed for us, he could be doubling back to Calon Onest.”
He nodded. “You’re right. We’ll stand and fight the force that comes toward us, but then get a message to Alaric. Hopefully he’ll have people out on patrol to alert him if Edwyn tries to move against him again.” He shook his head. “My brother and I have talked of training falcons to fly between us. I think with him in Wales and us in northern England, we’d best make that a reality—sooner rather than later. But that is for another day. Let’s go join our people before I take you to our bed to have my wicked way with you.”
She laughed. “Only if I don’t have mine with you first.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sloan lay awake listening to the rhythmic sound of Gareth’s breathing. She knew he was right to look to the safety of their pack first, but also felt compelled to get a warning to Calon Onest. Not wanting to weaken the force at Ravenscar, Sloan determined that if Calon Onest was to be warned, she would need to carry the message herself. Quietly, she removed herself from Gareth’s warm embrace. She soothed his rumbling as he recognized her loss even as he slept.
She dressed quietly, putting on everything she needed save her boots. Grasping them in her hands, she slipped from their room, descended the main staircase, and started to leave the house via the kitchen. As she did so, she passed the laundry, where she spied a pair of breeches she thought would fit and would make her ride easier. Sloan smiled as she substituted the riding habit for breeches, a shirt, and a warm woolen tunic. Gareth would not be happy with
her choice of clothing, but she figured this would most likely be the least objectionable action she took on this day.
“Milady?” she heard Tyler ask just as she opened the outer door.
Turning, Sloan pasted her brightest smile on her face. “Good morning, Tyler. What are you doing up in the middle of the night?”
“Waiting for you. I didn’t think you’d let Calon Onest go without warning nor did I think you’d further weaken our forces by sending someone else.”
Sloan nonchalantly felt behind her to find something to use as a weapon against him.
“Here now,” he grumbled. “If I meant to stop you, I’d have raised the alarm already.”
She grinned; he had a point. “Then what did you have in mind?”
“You are much like your mate. Once either of you have made up your mind, there is little anyone can do to stop you. It’s best to simply throw in behind you and help.”
Sloan nodded.
“I have your horse ready to go. And some clothing I think more suitable to your journey. I’m assuming you left Gareth a note. I suggest instead of riding for Rowan, you make your way to Dundalk in Eire. Ruari and part of our forces are there. It is also closer and puts you less in a direct line of fire with Edwyn.”
“How will that help Calon Onest if Edwyn marches on them as well?” asked Sloan.
“Ruari can send word to Alaric from Dundalk.”
“Gareth will be none too happy with you...”
“Then let’s not tell him. I figure you are never going to be a particularly obedient mate, so I can serve him best by helping to keep you as safe as possible. But never doubt my loyalty to him or that I don’t support his right or need to discipline you.”
“I can live with that.”
They made their way to the stables where Tyler helped her with her horse and directions to Dundalk.
“You’ve got about two days between here and the western coast and then about half a day at sea.”
“Will that get them here in time?”
Tyler nodded. “It should. Gareth was reluctant to add to any trouble that Ruari may have taking leadership of his own pack. But I know Ruari; his loyalty to Gareth is second to none.”
