by Lisa Oliver
“I’d do anything for my beloved.” Ven rose gracefully, picking up the plates from breakfast. Con wasn’t comforted by his mate’s words though. There was a tinge of threat in Ven’s voice and while Con knew his mate would never threaten him, his worry for his pack members increased.
/~/~/~/~/
“He’s mad going in there on his own,” Mosh observed drily as Con strode up the pack house steps without looking back.
“You’re not wrong there.” Ven caught the edge of his lip with his fang. “I can’t go though. I promised I’d let him do this on his own, and I can’t break his trust in me on the first day as mates. However.” He raised an eyebrow at Mosh who nodded.
“The pack is new to the area. It reflects badly on you if your beloved is not protected, especially if one of those mongrels gets handy with their claws or teeth. No one in the pack house is going to suspect extra security. I’d suggest Luke and his team surround the house, out of sight, within hearing distance? They’re less than two minutes away.”
“Well, if your actions are part of your job, adhering to my protocols, I’m hardly going to get shitty about that and Con can’t either.” Ven smirked. “See that it’s done. With luck, Con will inform his pack what’s going on, they will all take the news calmly and congratulate my beloved on his excellent match, all promising to be on their best behavior tonight at dinner.”
Ven and Mosh exchanged glances. Yep, Ven didn’t think that was going to happen either. But a promise was a promise. “Take us back to the hotel,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “I’m in the mood to sort out a few problems. Who have we got on our shit list I can take care of before my beloved gets back?” He cracked his knuckles and ran his thumb over his claws that had emerged.
Chapter Nine
Con knew things were going to go badly. He’d barely closed the front door behind him, when Megan stood up, hands on hips, her eyes hard, the rest of their small pack standing around her. “Where the hell have you been? You’ve been out all night.”
“As the alpha in this pack, I don’t answer to you or anyone else,” Con said firmly, using his rarely used alpha tone. “Sit down, all of you.” Con was grateful Mosh had thought to bring him and Ven new clothes when he arrived to pick them up. His mating scar was covered by his new shirt, although the whole pack would pick up his change in scent soon enough. “I’m glad you’re all here. There’s going to be some changes and you all need to hear about them.”
“Changes?” Jonny asked as he helped Megan take her seat. The living room was small, and contained two large couches, with Megan taking center stage on the one closest to the door. “Con, you’ve not said anything to me about changes you were thinking of making. As your advisor…”
“You were Donny’s advisor,” Con cut in rudely. “As I still haven’t worked out why you weren’t by my brother’s side the night he was killed, I’d shut up if I were you.”
Con didn’t miss the worried look between Jonny and Megan, nor the gasp coming from Roseanne. Fuck. I didn’t want to be right, but it sure looks like I was. But before he could say anything, Anthony spoke up. “Alpha, I don’t want to speak out of turn, but does there have to be even more changes around here now? Jonny told us what the bloodsucker said, about how we all have to have jobs if we stay here. I’m not trained to do anything but work in a kitchen.”
“Which is something you can continue to do here and I’m sure the Prince will understand.” Con kept his growling to a minimum although the bloodsucker comment stung. This will be harder than I thought.
“Anthony’s got a right to be concerned, just as you should be,” Megan said, still clearly annoyed at Con using his alpha voice on her. “We have three omegas in our pack and none of them would be safe working among the vermin who rule this town. They’d be used up, sucked up, and spat out before they could say tough shit. As alpha mate, I demand you show some care and consideration for our weaker members and do something about it.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing this last six weeks?” Con showed his teeth. “I’ve done nothing but listen to you all whine and complain, when all I’ve done is try and keep you safe. This town has a lot of great opportunities for us to start a new life. But you’re all determined to hang onto the old ways. And for the last damn time, Megan, you are not alpha mate!”
“This pack has to have an alpha mate, alpha. It’s in the laws set down by our elders,” Piper said quietly. Only eighteen she was the youngest member of the pack to survive. A shy girl, who was still getting used to her female attributes, she rarely spoke up at pack meetings. “We didn’t say anything before, because… well, we’ve all been grieving, but by our pack laws you need a mate to stand by your side. I’m too young and Roseanne’s not much older than me. Megan’s carrying the next heir to this pack and she cares about all of us. She’d be your best choice.”
“Excuse me? I don’t think I heard you right.” But Anthony, Roseanne, and Morty were all nodding. Only Jonny looked annoyed, or at least he did until Con noticed Megan pinching his leg.
“Sir, we took a vote while you were out last night,” Morty said eagerly. “After Megan and Jonny told us what happened yesterday and how Brian got carted away to be killed, we all knew none of us would be safe here. Those vampires have always had it out for wolves, so Megan says. So we decided the inner circle could be the same, you’d petition the council to get Brian back, because he’d been provoked by those damn bloodsuckers, and you’d take Megan as the alpha mate thereby ensuring the continuity of the Donel line because she’s already pregnant with Donny’s pups. We’d have to move of course, but we’ll be happy to pack up house again as none of us wanted to be here in the first place.” He beamed as though looking for applause.
“A vote. I see.” Con did see and his realization had nothing to do with the smug look on Megan’s face. I’m sorry Donny, I did try. Forcibly relaxing his clenched fist, he showed his fangs. “Seeing as you’ve got it all worked out, it’s clear you’ve got no need for an alpha at all. I’ll just go upstairs and get my things, and I’ll let the Prince know you’ll all be leaving when? Is two days long enough for you to get your shit out of here? I know twenty-four hours is customary, but I’m sure the Prince will allow forty-eight if I explain your situation.”
There was a stunned silence and then pandemonium broke out as everyone tried speaking at once. At least Megan lost her smug expression. Putting his thumb and forefinger in his mouth, Con whistled loudly. “Enough. Jonny you speak.”
“Alpha, we can’t not have an alpha. The council would mark us as rogues if we don’t have a leader. You can’t leave us.”
“Then you take the job, or if you’re so keen on listening to what the former alpha mate has to say, make her the alpha.”
“I’m beta-born and so’s Megan.” Jonny looked at the others, but he wasn’t getting much support. They were all still stunned from the looks on their faces.
“Uh huh. I know.” Con nodded. “Beta, beta, beta, omega, omega, omega.” He ticked them all off, pointing to them as he went around the chairs. Then he pointed at himself. “Alpha. The only alpha in this room, but as Megan took great pains to tell me yesterday, clearly a totally useless one in this pack’s eyes. I will not support, enable, or protect a bunch of wolves that don’t respect me. So, disband. Go live among the humans. So long as you don’t cause any issues, you can still make good lives for yourselves and the council won’t bother you if you’re not passing yourselves off as an established pack.”
“You can’t do that,” Megan cried, jumping to her feet. “Donny trusted you to look after us. He left the pack to you.”
“Did he?” Con had had enough of the pointless conversation. The ache in his gut intensified and he knew Ven was still upset with him. All he wanted was to grab some clothes and head back to the hotel. “I wouldn’t know what Donny wanted because Donny’s will mysteriously disappeared, along with all of his private papers before I arrived at the pack house. It’s clear you guys ha
ve been organizing yourselves for years and we all know why that is. I don’t know of any other pack that has a voting system. I don’t know any other pack alpha that would run his pack as a democracy. I know I for one, useless alpha or not, won’t allow my pack members to dictate where I live or who I will fucking take as a mate!”
Shit. He’d been throwing his alpha power around again. Everyone cowered and even Megan cringed although she was probably more used to it than most. Donny had a habit of doing the same thing when he didn’t get his own way. Con inhaled sharply, letting the breath slowly trickle from his lungs, pulling his power back in.
Megan recovered first. “Alpha, Con,” she said sweetly, her hands outstretched as she came closer. “Maybe we’ve all been a bit hasty. The whole pack has been on edge and worried since we came here. You have to understand this is all new for all of us. We were just talking, like pack members do, worried about you while you were out all night.”
Con raised an eyebrow – he knew exactly what they’d been worrying about and it wasn’t him.
“It’s just, this town isn’t for us. We need pack lands of our own where we can run free and not have to worry about working for vampires who’ve never cared for us. I mean, how silly is it, expecting us to work among humans, other shifters, and bloodsuckers? We’re wolves, proud of who we are and the traditions that unite us. We can’t stay here. Surely you can see that?”
Con’s skin recoiled under his shirt as Megan laid her hands on his chest, but he refused to flinch. “I know you didn’t want to be a pack alpha,” she whispered, although why she bothered, Con didn’t know. Everyone’s ears were sharp enough to hear a whisper from the next room. “Make me alpha mate, apply to the council to get us out of here, and you can go back to the life you had before all this terrible tragedy went down.”
“Leaving you in charge of the pack, I suppose.” Con stepped back, brushing Megan’s hands away. “I have to wonder how much of Donny’s drugs you inhaled while you were still with him. Doesn’t your nose work anymore even that close to me? Can’t you scent it? I’m already mated. That’s who I met and stayed with last night.”
“NO!” Con caught Megan’s hand as she went to slap him. “You can’t be. You wouldn’t. If you’d already claimed someone, then where is she? You didn’t bring her back here so you must be lying.” She wrenched her hand from Con’s grasp, her face a mask of fury.
“Wolves, remember.” Con tapped his nose. “You could scent a lie if your nose wasn’t so clogged up with all the perfume you’re wearing. How your wolf half can stand it, I don’t know, but I bet I know why you wear it.”
He leaned forward and patted her belly. One of the pups kicked against where his hand was, and Con felt a pang for what might have been. But he was already committed to his Prince, and even if he wasn’t, raising Megan’s babies as his own was never going to be an option.
“Whose pups are you carrying, Megan? Brian’s? Jonny’s? Or did Bartholomew Jones actually have his way with you after all? Or maybe it was some random guy none of us know about. I wouldn’t have a clue, and it’s unlikely you’d tell me. But one thing I do know for a fact, is they are not Donny’s pups. I got it from a very reliable source last night that the drugs he smoked and sniffed and shoved through his veins rendered him impotent and infertile years ago. He might be able to get it up on the odd occasion he was lucid, but he didn’t have any swimmers in his junk. So, who do the pups belong to?”
“They’re Donny’s,” Megan screamed. “How could you suggest such a thing. He was my mate…”
“Bond mate,” Con said quickly, “and we all know bond mates don’t have to stay true to each other, not in that way. I don’t know what games you’re playing, or why Donny had to lose his life along with so many other innocent people, but I do know I’m not going to be a part of any of your plans for one second longer. I’ll get in touch with the council, yes, and I’ll tell them to find homes in other packs for those here that want them. But I will not be used as a pawn by you or anyone and I’m not leaving this town. If I have to, as the last remaining true Donel, I’ll dissolve this pack.”
“Alpha, don’t be hasty,” Jonny said hurriedly as Morty led a now sobbing Megan to a nearby chair. “I would never mess with the alpha mate. Donny loved her. Look, you have a new mate now, you said so yourself. Bring her here and I promise we’ll welcome her and make her feel at home. And all the other stuff about moving. Well, if your mate has family here, then maybe they can join the pack too and we can all move on somewhere else once they’ve adjusted. What happened was a terrible tragedy, but there’s no reason the Donel pack can’t be as big and as powerful as it used to be in your father’s time.”
“My father was a tyrant as was his father before him and his father’s father before that. And as for my mate ever wanting to leave here – I don’t see why he’d want to. You see,” Con added, seeing Jonny’s eyes widen. “My true mate, the one who I claimed, and who claimed me last night is Prince Venedict Semyonov.” He tugged the collar of his shirt aside to show off his mating mark. “The next person I hear calling my mate and his people bloodsuckers, or vermin is going to find my claws ripping holes in their neck. Are we clear?”
“I knew it,” Megan spat from her chair where she did a great job of looking angry and grief stricken all at the same time. But the words out of her mouth were pure venom. “You’re a traitor. A traitor to your family, and to all wolves everywhere. You’re a degenerate, a pervert, and you should’ve been killed at birth.”
“I’m still the only alpha in the room.” Con pulled on his dignity, praying none of his hurt bled through the bond he had with his mate. The other pack members were looking at him as though he’d suddenly developed purple spots and horns and while he didn’t truly know them, being shunned by them wasn’t easy to take. “My mate is expecting all those pack members who have decided to stay in Rockville to be at his hotel for dinner tonight at six o’clock for a meet and greet. If you decide not to attend, then I will consider this pack disbanded and advise the council accordingly. Now if you’ll excuse me, my mate is planning a public celebration of our mating and wants me to be there to help him with the details.”
“You’re a traitor. A disgrace to your brother’s memory. He’d turn in his grave if he knew what you’ve done.” Megan screamed again as Con turned around. “Don’t just sit there, attack him.”
“Don’t even think about it!” Con roared as he turned back, his eyes flashing with his wolf, and fur running up and down his arms. Jonny and Morty were half out of their seats, but the others were like statues, their faces frozen with fear. “You thought I was some patsy who’d play your stupid games but I’m one Donel you can’t manipulate or twist around your little finger. If you don’t like what’s going on here, then get the fuck out of Rockville.”
Ignoring the whimpering and sounds of tears, Con ran up the stairs to his room. Packing a bag swiftly – hell, he hadn’t even had time to unpack properly, he was back downstairs with his bag within five minutes. Ignoring the others still huddled in the living room, he headed straight for the door, not surprised to see Luke standing on the other side of it.
“So much for letting me handle things for myself,” he snarled, although he was secretly relieved. He’d left his car at the hotel and didn’t fancy the walk.
“Mosh’s orders, sir,” Luke said, taking his bag with a wide grin. “A new coven policy dictates the Prince’s consort must be protected at all times, because if something were to happen to his precious body, the Prince is likely to throw a huge tantrum and level half the town. You wouldn’t want all that carnage on your conscience, would you?”
“Thank you for not interfering.” Con should have known his Prince would do something like that. After all, he’d have done the same thing if the positions were reversed. It was really difficult not looking back at the pack house as they drove away, but Con managed it. Now all he had to do was get his head straightened out before he met up with his mate again. That
town leveling comment was a real concern and despite how badly Con was hurt by his pack’s attitude, he’d rather the ungrateful members left town under their own steam, than in a body bag.
Chapter Ten
Ven had been seething for what felt like hours. Luke’s message that Con was on his way to the hotel with a packed bag helped, but not by much. He watched as Con came in, dropping his bag on the floor and closing the door. Turning back towards the desk, Con opened his arms and Ven zipped across the room to take up the offer and hold his beloved close. His anger and anxiety slowly leached from his skin.
“I sure hope vampires have that innate need to have their beloveds move in with them instantly, only I believe I could be homeless,” Con whispered against his hair.
“I take it your pack meeting didn’t go well?” Ven led them over to the new couch he’d installed that morning. The last one still stunk of Joseph and Ven was determined nothing would upset his new beloved if he could do something about it.
Con slumped, Ven went with him, keeping his arm wrapped around his beloved’s waist. He knew most of what’d happened back at the pack house. Luke had super good hearing and had relayed all he could hear back to Ven as it was happening. But Ven hoped his beloved would trust him enough to fill in the details.
“It was a nightmare.” Con rested his nose against Ven’s neck and inhaled deeply. “The ignorance and bigotry in that pack astounds me. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I knew they adhered to the old ways, but when I told them about you…” A tremor ran through Con’s body and Ven tightened his embrace.
“Did they threaten you?” Again, Ven knew the answer, but it would say a lot about Con if he owned up to it.
“For all of two seconds.” Con shook his head. “I took care of it with no bloodshed. I mean, I can understand their reactions to a certain point. I have no doubt Megan ran the pack when Donny was incapacitated and I’m sure she did a good job. But let’s just say when she found out I wasn’t going to go along with her plans for her and the pack, she wasn’t impressed.”