by Jenny Frame
Ovid growled. You are weak-toothed dogs who let submissives walk all over them.
Kenrick’s wolf stopped pacing. We’ll see how strong toothed you are when you fight a wolf of your own size.
Ovid sneered. You’ll never be able to change that she’s mine. I had her first, and now she wears my mate bite, and she’ll die with it. I ripped yours out.
Kenrick leapt through the air and landed on Ovid’s back. Ovid swiped and missed many times, as if Kenrick was playing with her. Zaria was frightened. Ovid was not as strong or as big as Kenrick, but she was cunning and had nothing to lose.
Kenrick taunted, Come on, big wolf. Swipe me, rip my throat, like you do to the submissives in your life. Come on, hit me.
Ovid was enraged and launched a succession of blows and snaps of her teeth, but Kenrick was so agile and fast, and kept dodging everyone. She jumped over Ovid and landed a deep bite on her flank, making Ovid whine.
Zari is my mate. She’s my mate because she chooses to be, and not out of fear. You will never take her, Kenrick said.
Ovid’s wolf was breathing heavily and struggling with her deep bleeding injury. She made another launch for Kenrick, but Kenrick easily swiped Ovid across the face, causing a horrifically deep gouge.
Zaria could see Ovid trying to stand but failing. Please let this be over.
Kenrick stood over Ovid, growling. Get up. I thought you liked beating up wolves? No, just wolves weaker and smaller, because you are a pathetic mutt. Get up and fight me.
Ovid didn’t move, so Kenrick looked over at Zaria. You see? You never need to be frightened of this mutt ever again.
Zaria saw it in slow motion. Out of nowhere Ovid jumped at Kenrick. Zaria shouted the warning. “Ricky, look!”
Just in time Kenrick dodged. Ovid fell to the ground, and in seconds Kenrick was over her and ripped her throat out, ending it at last.
Kenrick shifted to skin and said to her wolves, “Watch her.”
She then hurried over to Zaria and pulled her bloody naked body into her arms. “You’re safe, lassie. I have you. She can’t hurt you now.”
“Milo’s here,” Zaria said.
Kenrick looked up and said, “I see her. Don’t worry, she’s safe. Rhuri has her.”
“Love you, Ricky.”
Kenrick kissed her head. “I love you, and no one was ever going to take you away from me.”
Zaria felt the blackness begin to envelop her. “She injected me with silver. I’m cold.”
She saw panic in Kenrick’s eyes and she barked, “Callum, run to the hospital. Tell them Zaria has silver poising and I’m bringing her in.”
Yes, Alpha.
Zaria couldn’t stop her eyelids from closing, and the last thing she heard was, “Don’t close your eyes. Stay with me. I need you, lassie.”
Zaria drifted into the blackness. At least I died in my mate’s arms, and Ovid is dead forever.
Chapter Twenty-five
Kenrick checked her appearance in the mirror while Rhuri strapped the last bracer on her arm. She was wearing tartan trousers, a leather belt, leather bracers on her arms, and nothing else. Her chest and feet needed to be bare for the ceremony.
Callum popped his head in the door of her den. “They’re ready for you.”
Kenrick let out a breath.
“Are you ready for this?” Rhuri asked.
Nerves, fear, and responsibility churned inside her, but she wasn’t going to let anyone see that. The only one she ever felt comfortable enough to show her emotions to was Zaria, and she wasn’t here.
“We’ve put it off long enough. It’s time we started afresh. Are you ready, Rhuri? After today you are Second.”
Rhuri, often the joker in the pack, looked at her seriously. “I’m ready and I’ll always be there for you.”
* * *
Elspeth and Donny braided a few strands of Zaria’s hair in the traditional Celtic way.
“Thank you for helping me prepare for this, Elspeth,” Zaria said.
Zaria had only been out of hospital for three weeks. It had taken a lot of care to heal her of the silver poisoning. The doctor had said she could have quite easily died from the amount of silver in her system. But Zaria had fight left in her, and she wasn’t going to let Ovid win.
The mating and Alpha ceremonies had to be postponed, but after a week of being out of the hospital, Zaria insisted the ceremonies go ahead. Kenrick agreed only if they had the ceremonies one week apart, to give Zaria time to recover. She still had her weak moments and needed a lot of rest, but the doctor said that would pass eventually.
Zaria looked down at the gold Celtic wedding band on her finger. It had only been a week, but Zaria couldn’t remember a happier one. She finally had her mate and her pack. The postponement did give Marco a chance to fly over for her ceremony. Flash and Vance had only been too happy to bring him. It would have really made her sister Marta so proud to see him there.
She briefly touched the hematite stone pendent that linked her to her family. I know you’re watching, Marta.
Elspeth kissed her on the cheek. “It’s Mum, remember. You’re our family now, and I’m overjoyed. I’m lucky to have such a brave daughter.”
“Well, I appreciate how you’ve looked after me.” She turned to her new friends, Heather, Donny, Florrie, and Moira. “And I mean all of you. I wouldn’t have gotten back to health so quickly without you all.”
Heather put an arm around her shoulders. “You are pack and a Wulver now.”
Donny kissed her cheek. “And Wulvers always take care of each other.”
“I think that’s your hair all done. What do you think?” Elspeth said.
Zaria was worried when she saw the traditional Mater ceremonial outfit, concerned that her body wouldn’t do the barest of leather strapped bras and short tartan skirt justice. Elspeth had explained that the outfit had to leave you bare as possible, so that the traditional Celtic woad war paint could be easily applied to her during the ceremony. The same would be the case for Kenrick.
Elspeth and the others were wearing similar outfits, but much more modest, and Elspeth, as Mater, wore a tartan shawl thrown over her shoulder and pinned with a Celtic brooch.
Zaria’s darker hair and skin marked her out from most of the pack, but dressed in this traditional outfit, and with her hair braided like this, she felt connected to the Wulver past, to their ancestors. She only hoped they approved.
“Yeah, I think the braids are perfect,” Zaria said.
Elspeth smiled. “Then we are nearly ready, but before we go, all of you gather round.” She waved the women and Donny over and encouraged everyone to hold hands. “Today is a momentous day. Fergus and I will step down as Alpha and Mater and walk into retirement to enjoy our older years together, to look after the pack in different ways, and hopefully to enjoy our grandcubs when they come along.” Elspeth winked at Zaria.
Zaria never thought she would have a mate. So now the prospect of bring cubs into the world, into the safety and security of this pack, was exciting.
Elspeth continued, “We will have a new Alpha and Mater, a new pack Second, and new senior wolves. Heather, Donny, Florrie, Moira, since your mates have taken the place of the older wolves who’ve retired from the elite wolves, you are now the senior submissives of the Wulvers.”
Zaria felt a bond of deep friendship growing with these wolves and knew they would always be there for her.
Elspeth said, “We will always have a stronger bond than anyone else in the pack. It is our responsibility to support Zaria in her new role. This is all new to her, so we need to make sure she always feels she can do her new job safe in the knowledge that we are behind her every step of the way. You also have to be leaders. A change in pack leadership always creates some uncertainty, so you have to show them the confidence you have in Ricky and Zari.”
Heather squeezed Zaria’s hand. “We always will.”
“Let us pledge an oath,” Elspeth said. “Repeat after me. We pledge our f
riendship, service, and loyalty to Zaria Wulver, the new Mater of the Wulver pack.”
They all repeated Elspeth’s words and the sentiment of it made tears well up in Zaria’s eyes. All her friends hugged her in turn. Zaria truly was home.
Chapter Twenty-six
Kenrick stood amongst the trees, on the edge of the forest. A few hundred yards away, the ceremonial stone circle, built by Princess Scota and her people, waited for her. The beat of drums echoed through the forest, along with rhythmic chants and the occasional howl. All the pack was gathered outside the circle, with the higher ranking wolves circling the stones along with the drummers.
Smoke from the ceremonial fires filled the air, the rowan wood being burned crackled, and autumn leaves and twigs lay under her feet, connecting her to the Mother Earth and giving the space an ancient atmosphere.
Kenrick could feel the beat of the drums in her bones. After her mating ceremony, this was the most important day of her life, and she could feel the expectation in the air around her.
She ran her hands over her dreadlocked hair nervously. She had always dreaded this day coming because she didn’t feel good enough. She had failed her brother, so how could she protect her pack? But so much had changed. Kenrick’s visit to Wolfgang County had shown her that she could lead and do it in her own way, but what changed everything was meeting Zaria.
She looked down at the gold Celtic band on her finger. Zaria’s love had given her confidence, someone to protect and love. Now she could offer her pack a Mater, and one who she knew in her heart would be as loving as her mother was to the pack but who would do things in new ways.
After Ovid’s attack. Zaria told her about her experience with Milo and what she thought was the Kelpie helping her in her hour of need, and Kenrick felt in her heart the Great Mother had destined her to find Zaria. She was always sceptical about the Kelpie stories, but Zaria might not be alive today if whatever Milo brought with her hadn’t pushed Ovid from Zaria.
She wished Zaria was beside her, but she was standing on the other side of the stone circle waiting for her part in the ceremony. She heard footsteps and turned to see Hilda, leader of the BaoBhan Sith, the all-female clan of mystical Scottish vampires.
They lived at the very tip of Scotland in the old Debrek castle. No one knew much about the BaoBhan Sith, but they had been great friends to the Wulvers over the centuries, and they shared similar beliefs about the Great Mother Earth. Only last week Hilda had been here to preside over her mating ceremony.
“You are nervous about your destiny, Kenrick?” Hilda asked.
Madam Hilda had a serene energy that calmed others around her.
“Aye, destiny puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders,” Kenrick said.
Hilda knew not to touch a mated werewolf, but she placed her hand inches from Kenrick’s chest, and Kenrick felt a warm, serene energy flow into her. “Princess Scota would be so proud of you and will bless your reign over the Wulvers.”
“Thank you.” Kenrick felt calmer. “Have you spoken to Zaria?”
Hilda smiled. “Yes, she’s fine. Don’t worry.”
Just then the beat of the drums changed, and Hilda said, “It’s time to meet your destiny.”
Kenrick took a deep breath and followed Hilda as she led her to the circle. As she approached the circle she saw her elite wolves standing directly in front of the standing stones forming a guard of honour. Behind them were the drummers, and the rest of the pack stood in a large crowd beyond.
As she walked into the circle, her elite wolves banged their short swords on the round shields they were holding, in time to the drummers’ beat, while chanting her name. If an outsider saw this ceremony, they would think they had stepped back in time to prehistory.
Kenrick’s pater Fergus stood on a small stone platform at the top of the circle with his outgoing Second standing beside him. She followed Hilda up to the platform and Hilda stepped in behind Fergus.
The drums fell silent and Fergus remained silent but gave her a wink. This was her moment to claim. She held out her arms wide and said the words that had been laid down for millennia.
“Alpha you have led the pack with strength and led them to many victories in battle, and as the seasons have passed you have gained wisdom but lost strength along the way. Strength must always lead, and I stand before you as the strongest wolf in the Wulver pack. I claim your leadership as my own and respectfully request that you step aside and allow me to claim my right as your heir.”
Fergus smiled at her and she let out a sigh of relief. She was convinced she was going to forget the words to the traditional claim.
Madam Hilda said, “Wolves of the Wulver pack. Kenrick daughter of Fergus has come before us to claim her right to lead the pack. Do you accept her as your one true Alpha?”
All the wolves shouted Aye! in unison while the elite wolves banged their shields.
* * *
Zaria watched Kenrick from the edge of the forest. They had run through this ceremony a few times over the week, but doing it for real in front of the pack was a different thing altogether.
She felt her hand start to shake when Kenrick gave her claim, then felt Elspeth’s hand slip into hers.
“You’ll be okay. I’m with you,” Elspeth said.
It was only the two of them over on this side, and she was so glad she had the Mater with her. Then it hit her—she was only minutes away from being the Mater herself. It was an awe-inspiring thought. Would she be here in Elspeth’s spot someday, being a support to her own cub’s mate?
It gave her a warm glow inside, knowing any cub of hers would be brought up in this safe, supportive environment, so unlike her own childhood. She listened to the drums’ and shields’ beat and heard the wolves call out Kenrick’s name. Zaria admired the way the Wulvers kept their traditions and history alive. She was sure it gave the pack a secure feeling of continuity stretching back in time and forward into a bright future.
The drums stopped and she heard Fergus saying to Kenrick, “Do you have a mate to stand beside you as Mater?”
Kenrick replied in a strong, proud voice, “Aye, Zaria of the Wulver pack.”
Zaria’s heart started to thud in her chest and her mouth went dry. This is it.
“Zaria of the Wulver pack, come forward,” Fergus called.
Elspeth squeezed her hand and said, “It’s time.”
She took a breath and followed behind Elspeth. The throng of the crowd around the standing stones made way for them. They walked into the circle and the crowd closed again. Zaria was so nervous that she clenched her hands into fists so they wouldn’t shake.
Zaria stopped beside Kenrick, and Elspeth continued on and stood on the stone platform beside Fergus.
Kenrick took her hand and whispered, “I love you, lassie.”
Kenrick’s words started to calm her heart.
Fergus turned to Hilda and said, “Kenrick has consented.”
Hilda walked down from the platform and stood in front of them, and Milo walked out from the crowd to be Hilda’s helper. Milo had been delighted to be chosen by Zaria for this role. They had grown extremely close. Milo was special, she had a bright future, and Zaria wanted to help her any way she could.
“Kenrick, Zaria, kneel,” Hilda said.
Hilda was an impressive sight in her long green dress. She was a beautiful woman and Zaria had a hard time believing that she was centuries old. Zaria hadn’t mixed with Vampires before.
“Kenrick, when I took part in your birthing ceremony, I had a vision that your life would be an extraordinary one. A life filled with honour, family, and protecting your pack against all foes. It is my honour to perform this ceremony for you,” Hilda said.
Hilda turned to Milo and nodded. She lifted the bunch of rowan wood she held, then held her other hand over it and whispered an incantation. The ends of the wood ignited in flame, and Milo looked so pleased with herself when she handed it to her mentor. Hilda appeared so proud of her.
“Thank you, little wolf,” Hilda said.
She waved the bunch of burning twigs around both Kenrick and Zaria whilst she said, “May our Goddess, the Great Mother, give you the strength to lead and protect your pack.”
Hilda looked to the other side where Heather, Donny, Florrie, and Moira stood, holding bowls of blue woad paint, and nodded.
They came forward, the drums began to beat again, and they started to paint Celtic symbols over Kenrick’s and Zaria’s torsos, arms, and face. Zaria truly felt she had travelled back in time a thousand years. While they painted the intricate symbols, Hilda chanted blessings in ancient Gaelic.
Once the painting was finished, Hilda stepped back, and Fergus asked Milo to bring forth a wooden bowl with the sacred whisky from the first cask made on their territory.
Hilda held it aloft and said, “Kenrick Wulver, do you swear to protect your pack with your life and keep the Great Mother’s traditions on our land?”
“Aye, I swear,” Kenrick replied in a loud voice.
Zaria gulped when Fergus turned to her. “Zaria Wulver do you swear to care and protect your pack as a mother wolf would do her cubs?”
“Yes, I swear,” Zaria said in a croaky voice. Fergus gave her a wink and went back to Kenrick.
He dipped his finger into the whisky and drew the Wulver pack symbol on her forehead. “Kenrick, you are the embodiment of Princess Scota, who was the first Alpha of our kind, the woman who founded our pack and our lands, and who herself anointed her first successor in this very stone circle, before founding the Irish, English, and Welsh packs.” Fergus then handed the bowl to Kenrick to take a sip. “In Princess Scota’s words, when you drink this whisky, you are embodying the blood of your pack and all your sister packs. Always remember they share your blood, your history, and be ready to stand beside them if they are ever in need.”
Kenrick passed the whisky to Zaria. Since she was intolerant to whisky, she could only touch her lips to it and hand it back. Even the little on her lips started a pleasant burn that travelled through her body, and suddenly she felt more confident.