by B F Worlds
Dean stopped in front of them. Her head was level with Viktoriya's, making her taller than Rachel. Any thoughts Rachel harbored about them warding off an attack should Dean go mad flew out the window. If she comes after us, we're goners. Unless we can out run her. Who am I kidding? With those legs, she could crawl and catch us. Gods. Only one option left.
Taking a deep breath for courage, Rachel stuck out her hand, deliberately leaving an inch of room between her fingers and Dean's nose. "Easy, kitty. We're not food, right?"
Viktoriya gave her a wide-eyed look that clearly telegraphed Are you insane?
Rachel shrugged back. What was I supposed to do?
She got a sneer in response. Anything but that.
They were both surprised when, instead of taking a bite out of her, Dean ducked under the hand until it was behind her ears and mewled. When Rachel didn't respond quick enough, she stepped closer, bumping her head into the girl's chest while repeating the sound.
She would have fallen over if Viktoriya hadn't reacted, looping their arms together to keep the other girl upright. Dean mewled louder and Rachel finally got the message, digging her nails into the thick fur. It was softer than she imagined and, when she looked closer, she noticed there were darker patches of fur that went across her back, like the stripes on a tiger.
Dean rumbled under the touch, a sound similar to a purr but deeper and not as smooth. "Good kitty. We're going to have to think of another name for you besides blood wolf aren't we? Cause you're not a wolf at all. You're just a big, odd looking, kitty like me."
Viktoriya hesitantly placed her hand on the opposite side of Dean's head and began to scratch. When the odd purring increased in volume, she became more confident. "You're right. She isn't a wolf. But she's not a cat."
"The hell she isn't! Just look at that gorgeous head of hair!" She ruffled Dean's mane and the animal shook its head, playfully nipping at her fingers.
"Yeah but look at her ears! Cats don't have ears like that!"
"You mean her antennae? That's a good argument if you're trying to say she's a robot."
With a snort, Dean pulled away from them, whining. Her eyes fixed on them briefly before turning to the endless open space. Her muscles tensed and she whined again.
Viktoriya's eyes widened. "Crap. I think she's going to run. Didn't she tell us not to let her run wild?"
Rachel laughed out loud. "And how do you expect we stop her? I did not come prepared to hold down an elephant! You got some horse tranquilizers on you? Like, about a hundred?"
Just as she finished speaking Dean howled and took off. Her long legs ate up the distance and in the blink on an eye, she had disappeared.
Both girls whistled appreciatively. "On that note, I think it's time we head home," Rachel suggested.
"Is it alright to just leave her out there?"
"I highly doubt anything with a shred of intelligence is going to bother her. It'll be fine…Probably."
"Probably!?"
CHAPTER 19
Viktoriya was at her locker, swapping out books for her third period, when she felt a arm wrap around her waist and the smell of apples washed over her. She froze and inhaled the scent deeply. "Red, why do you always smell like fruit?"
Rachel rested her head against her back. "Fruit is a delicacy, you know? Changers are practically carnivores. Watching my family inhale baby back ribs at eight o'clock in the morning kind of put me off it."
"Right." Viktoriya spun in her grip so they were face to face. "Where were you earlier? I didn't see you in the halls."
"I had some business to take care of for my mom. Why, you miss me?"
"If I said yes, what would you do?"
"This." She pushed up, aiming for a kiss. Viktoriya ducked her head but paused a breath before contact, her eyes flicking to the sides. Suddenly, she was hyper aware of the fact that there were hundreds of eyes on them, some of them from her pack.
Rachel caught on to her unease but she didn't move, her lips twitching as she tried to keep the frown off her face. "You gonna keep me waiting forever Volkov?" she whispered.
The hurt in her voice was obvious and it snapped Viktoriya out of her funk. Didn't you promise her you wouldn't turn away anymore? She brought their lips together soundly, erasing any doubts between them before she pulled away. "I was pausing for dramatic effect."
"Well quit it. I'm the drama queen in this relationship."
"Volkov!"
They both looked up to see Kyle swaggering toward them, two wolves flanking him. He was smiling but the look in his eyes was pure rage. "What happened to your rogue, Volkov? You get tired of her already? I don't blame you, but you could have come to me instead of whiskers over there."
Rachel scowled, but Viktoriya gave her a soft squeeze, silently telling her not to rise to his insults. "Technically, the alpha encourages us to build amicable relations with our neighbors. And if you insult my mate again, I'll kick your teeth in."
Kyle stiffened but his smile stayed in place. "No shit? So, you got two girls? Damn, can I be you right now?" He laughed and his cronies joined him, making what should be a happy sound come off threatening. "Better yet, just slide over and make room for a fourth. I bet you could use a hand. From what I hear, tabby cat right there is a handful."
"She is, not that you'll ever know. You and your boys are far too busy jerking each other off to find a girl who'd give you a second glance."
Loud, raucous laughter answered her reply, along with a series of catcalls. Viktoriya looked up and saw they had drawn a fairly large crowd, who shouted their different opinions back and forth.
"That's right girl! Tell him!"
"Are you insane? He's so hawt!"
"Screw him! If you want a guy, pick me!"
Kyle noticed the attention they were getting and sighed. Viktoriya grinned. As obnoxious as he was, even Kyle wouldn't risk a scene in front of so many eyes and cameras. "Come on guys," he said, turning his back on the girls. "We're going to be late for our class. Catch you later Vikky."
The one minute, hurry up bell rung, and the crowd groaned. Students broke apart, scurrying to reach their classes before the doors shut and the girls were forgotten for the moment.
"Whew!" Rachel grinned up at her. "That was awesome!"
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah! I mean, you always act so timid around him. I wasn't expecting you to pop off like that."
"Kyle is the alpha's favorite. Franklin has no sons of his own and I think he's grooming Kyle to take over for him. Getting on his bad side is a pain I try to avoid but I already said, no more turning away. That means if he comes after you, Freewood or not, he's done." She pulled Rachel into a tight hug. "I promised."
"Vikky..."
They pulled back and stared at each others' eyes. Viktoriya felt the mate bond responding. More than that, she felt an actual moment happening between them, a magic of the human kind. She could feel them coming closer together and it made something in her belly flutter. It's terrible timing but..."Bell's about to ring. We better get moving."
"Yeah." Rachel started walking backwards without looking away. "We're meeting up later right?"
"Of course we are. You promised me a hunt."
"Pick you up at five?"
"Right."
Rachel grinned ad sprinted around the corner. Viktoriya let out a happy sigh and headed to her own classroom. The mate bond wasn't at all what she expected. Before, when it was only half done, it was like she was a kid staring inside a candy store. She desperately wanted to go in, but knowing that it was bad for her gave her the will to refuse her desires.
The real thing was like a swift current. You could ride it or you could fight it, but fighting took a lot more effort and there was a good chance you'd end up being swept away anyhow. It made her feel free and reckless. Reckless enough to try hunting down the scariest creature she had ever lay eyes on.
-
Kyle knocked twice, not bothering to wait for an answer before he stepped inside. Fr
anklin was at his usual place behind his desk, his eyes focused on his computer screen. The alpha looked paler than normal, almost sickly. He clacked away at the keyboard with such intensity that Kyle was hesitant to interrupt him, even though Franklin had demanded he make an appearance. Hedging his bets, the young man remained silent; his head bowed, hands folded behind his back.
It was fifteen minutes later when Franklin looked up and noticed his presence. "Kyle, thank you for coming. You must have been waiting there for a while, judging by the look on your face."
"It was nothing," Kyle said immediately. "You wanted to see me?"
"I did. I wanted to ask how your assignment was going."
The younger man couldn't keep the grimace off his face. "I don't think I can manage it sir."
Franklin closed his eyes and pinched his nose. "Repeat that. Did you say you don't think you can do it?"
"I know this isn't what you want to hear but it becomes more and more impossible everyday."
"DAMN IT!" The alpha slammed his fists down on his desk hard enough that the wood splintered. Kyle jumped from the sound, but quickly pulled himself together. If he showed fear, Franklin would only reprimand him with more strength. His uncle was already pulling himself together, locking his frustration behind a blank mask. "How hard can it be to woo one girl?"
"She's found her mates. Before, she was at least willing to entertain me as a stepping stone to commander, but now she doesn't want anything to do with me."
"Mates?"
"You haven't heard? In addition to the rogue, apparently, she's also mated to one of the cats. Rachel Salvatore."
"Rosa Salvatore's daughter? The gods have cursed me." His hand moved from the bridge of his nose to his temple, where he rubbed small circles. "Listen to me Kyle. I plan to unite all the wolves of North America into one pack. Do you know what that means?"
He knew what it meant. He'd had the plan drilled into him thousands of times as he was growing up. "It means you'd have to move to a more centralized location to rule over your expanded territory more effectively."
Franklin nodded. "Exactly. I won't just be alpha. I'll be the alpha of alphas. That means that someone is going to have to take my position here. Normally, I would put Dugen in charge but I would rather have him with me while I'm navigating unfamiliar land. That leaves my second choice; you, my nephew, who I have been grooming since you were a boy. What does being a leader mean to you Kyle?"
"Making decisions that lead to the most favorable outcome."
"Yes. Now, you can lead without Viktoriya Volkov following you. You can lead with her following you. But the most favorable outcome is to lead with her beside you. The Guards love that girl and they barely know you. She will never be commander, I won't accept that, but she's their princess. If she says they should follow you, they will lay down their lives. That kind of loyalty can't be bought! Do you understand what I'm saying boy? You need her!"
"I understand Uncle."
"Do you? I don't think you do. Because, if you understood, you wouldn't be sitting here whining to me about what's impossible." Franklin stood, glowering down at the younger man. "Or maybe the fault is mine. Maybe I chose the wrong man for the job. Maybe you're not worthy."
Kyle growled, his nails lengthening into claws. "I will be alpha!" he roared.
Franklin nodded. "If that's what you really want, then stop complaining and start thinking. What's standing in your way? A tabby cat and a submissive rogue. We aren't humans. We don't win our power through sappy words or flowery promises."
"We win it with strength," Kyle finished.
"If you understand that, then get the hell out of my office and get to work."
Kyle snapped him a crisp salute before turning on his heel and marching out of the room. Inside, he was lit by a raging fire, fueled by determination and humiliation. He was a Freewood. His family had ruled this part of the country since the Americas were colonized. He'd be damned if he was cheated out of his family legacy because of some stupid females.
-
Viktoriya waved down Dugen, jumping into the passenger side of the black SUV before it came to a complete stop. The commander looked at her with amusement. "You're excited about something."
"Yes. I have a...date tonight."
"Ah. Would that be with Dean or the Salvatore girl?"
She felt a blush come over her face. "You heard about that already?"
"Finding a mate is a big deal. Finding two is a very big deal."
"It’s with Rachel. Well, technically, it will be the three of us…semantics."
Dugen nodded and pulled into traffic. "I always did like Rosa. Good woman. Franklin despises the pride because they are unpredictable, but I find them refreshing. At the very least, it will do well to have them as allies."
Viktoriya turned to him, surprised. "Really?"
"There's no reason why wolves and felines can't get along. I fought beside a lion changer once. Never seen any being that could match one in sheer power. Stuck his claws into a rogue's chest and ripped him in half. Yes, I think Franklin is making a big mistake isolating the pack from them. You know, that might be the why the three of you were chosen to be mates. A wolf, a cat, and a rogue, the three factions of changers most at war with each other. Maybe its a sign that peace can be found."
She digested his words in silence. Clearly, her mates hadn't been chosen for reproduction, like every other pair. Were they meant to bring peace? Were they brought together to fulfill some great destiny?
She'd thought her mate bond with Rachel was a mistake when she first realized it. When Dean entered the picture, she continued to think it was unnatural, but she accepted it was hers, for better or for worse. She hadn't even contemplated that what they had was meant to be a hope for her pack. The idea erased a burden over her heart she never realized she was carrying. "Do you really believe that?"
"Aye. Wouldn't say something I didn't mean. The packs nowadays are stuck in the idealism that the wolves are meant to rule or some other such bull. Changers all lived side by side before, no matter if you were; wolf, cat, sea creature, or rodent. That was how the gods made it. I see you girls and I'm reminded of that."
Viktoriya ducked her head, feeling her eyes burn with the sting of tears she wouldn’t let fall. "Thank you Commander. I…didn't know how much I needed to hear that."
"Don't thank me. Franklin won't be moved on the subject and neither will his followers. And I'm not a hundred percent supportive of it either. Ever since you got involved with those girls of yours, I don't see you at training anymore."
She laughed. "I apologize. I've had my hands full."
"I'm getting older Vikky. With all the mess Franklin's planning, I'm a little unsure about the pack's future. It would take loads off my mind if I knew I had a Volkov standing beside me."
"I will always stand with you."
"...Then my mind is at ease."
CHAPTER 20
Viktoriya had just slipped on her tennis shoes when she heard the car horn. She opened the door and, sure enough, Rachel's car was parked at the curb, the girl restlessly tapping the steering wheel. Viktoriya jogged over and ducked into the passenger seat. "You really are impatient, you know? You just got here."
Rachel pulled off, smiling. "It's one of my flaws. Will you love me anyway?"
"Always."
"Aw. What's got you feeling all warm and fuzzy today?"
"I had a good talk with Dugen. It…put a few things in perspective."
"You want to talk about it?"
She leaned over and laid her head on Rachel's shoulder. "He was letting me know that I had a few allies in the pack. You know he knows your mother? He sounded like he likes her."
"Hopefully he doesn't know her that well. Seriously, ugh. Speaking of my mother, she wants to meet the two of you. Actually, the entire pride wants to meet you. They keep bugging me about it so we're going to have to do something about it soon."
Viktoriya winced. "Am I going to be safe?"
"Didn't I say that I'm the drama queen? Relax. Mama's totally fine with you. You'll be safe…Probably."
"Probably!?"
-
"It was right around here."
Rachel let out a sigh of relief as she came to a stop. She didn't know how much more her poor car could take. The small sedan liked paved roads. Driving over the hilly area outside the city made it jump in a way that made its owner nervous. "Remind me to get a jeep…with really mean looking tires."
Viktoriya ignored her and got out of the car. She fell forward, catching herself with her hands right before she hit the ground, and sniffed at the dirt. "Whew. I wasn't entirely sure her smell would linger but the trail is there. Heck, it actually jumps out at me. Should be easy to follow it."
"Good to know we didn't waste a trip. So? We doing this on two or fours?"
Viktoriya crawled around in a large circle for several minutes before popping to her feet and walking over to Rachel. She held out her hand, which was clutching a long brown hair. "Fours. And this is why she's so easy to track. She sheds!"
Rachel laughed. "I guess we're going to have to kick her off the couch."
"Oh no, the image." They snickered together, but Viktoriya calmed them both down. "No, no, we're getting distracted. Come on or we'll be out here until morning."
"True." Rachel opened the back door, shrugged out of her shirt, and tossed it inside. She was kicking off her shoes when she noticed Viktoriya was still standing in the same place, shuffling her feet. "You changing?"
The dark haired girl jumped, a blush coming over her face. "I was, um, going to go after you."
"Why?"
The reply was mumbled so low, Rachel barely caught it. "I don't like changing in public."
"What was that?"
"I said, I don't like changing in public!" Viktoriya yelled.
"How exactly did that happen? I'm pretty sure there is nothing under those clothes you need to be ashamed about showing."
She shrugged. "It's not that. I've just…always liked my privacy."
"...That's weird."
