“I know it’s a little much. The children love it,” she said about the noise. “Come on, there’s a bench by the refreshment table. You sit while I check with the caterer in the kitchen.”
“You’re leaving me?” Sergei asked, his tone showing his panic.
“Just for a minute, silly. I’ll be right back. Don’t worry, the children won’t bite.”
Sergei looked around him. “Are you sure?” For a moment, he’d caught the scent of lycan, female lycan at that. Was Gwen here? Maybe he could wait outside with the Shadow Walker team guarding them.
Lindy laughed and hurried off. Sergei sat on the end of the bench. The long white tablecloth brushed the side of his leg. Several people passed by herding a group of children toward the tree. Lindy mentioned that Santa Claus would be making an appearance.
Sergei frowned when something tugged on his pant leg. He looked around, no one was close by. Then something nipped his leg. Sergei jerked away from the table. Kneeling, he lifted the cloth to find a young lycan pup hiding underneath. He glanced around to make sure no one watched and then climbed under the table. The pup backed toward the wall. A pretty red dress lay torn on the floor next to a pair of small white patent leather shoes.
“It’s all right, little one,” Sergei whispered to the pup as he sat cross-legged. “Come here and tell me what’s wrong.”
The little pup rushed into his lap and pressed her face into his chest. He petted down her back wondering where the child’s parents were. This was a dangerous situation, a child shifting in public. She whimpered and Sergei gathered her close. He checked her over for injuries. Often when a pup was injured they would shift in response. When he got to her front paw, he found a large thumbtack embedded in one of the pads.
“I’m going to pull this out. It might hurt a little. Are you ready?”
The pup looked at him, her gaze trusting. He nodded. “All right, on three. One, two, three…” He pulled out the tack and then lifted her bleeding paw to his mouth, licking at the wound. Next he pressed on the paw to stop the bleeding. With a blood bond, he could now speak telepathically to the child. She needed to shift and the only way to help her was to use an alpha command.
“There now, all better,” he sent into her mind.
“Julie will be mad. I didn’t mean to,” the child sent back. Sergei was surprised at the strength of the child’s telepathic abilities. She would grow up to be an Alpha.
“Didn’t mean to what, sweetheart?”
“Go wolfie, but it hurt so bad. I could feel it coming, so I hid.”
Sergei smiled and petted the pup’s head. “You did right to hide. No one can see you shift except another lycan. Your mommy told you that, right?” Why wasn’t someone looking for her?
The child nodded and hid her head again. Sergei touched her mind and found a black ball of grief overtaking her. He sent her reassurance and love. This little one was a treasure. His people would’ve kept her safe. He pushed the grief back from her conscious awareness, searching out the reason behind it. He frowned when he saw a memory in her mind of a big man sneering down at her while he told the older girl holding her hand that their parents were dead.
In Siberia, when children were orphaned the Alpha adopted them. What was going on here? “What’s your name, little one?” Sergei asked, all his protective instincts awakened.
“Kylie.”
“Kylie, I want you to shift back into human form. I’ll help you by sending you strength. Do you think you can do that?”
The pup gave a little yip and wagged her tail. Thank goodness nobody was close enough to hear. Sergei lifted Kylie’s face so he could look into her eyes and sent her a wave of reassurance and strength. Then with an Alpha voice he commanded her. “SHIFT, Kylie.”
White lights began to coalesce around her and in a moment a naked little girl with blond ringlets sat on his lap. She looked up at him and started sobbing, her little fists clinging to his shirt. He guessed her age to be around four years old. “Sh, sh, sh, little one. It’s all right. I’ve got you. My name is Sergei and I’m not letting anything happen to you. You’re safe,” he whispered to her. He needed to quiet her before someone found them. It wouldn’t look right for a man to be hiding under the table with a naked child.
She buried her head in his shirt, wiping her tears. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head, holding her close. Grief swamped the child and she needed to be held. Suddenly the tablecloth lifted. They both tensed and the child quieted. Lindy’s face peered in at them.
“What’s going on here?” She climbed under the table to join them, picking up the clothes and shoes.
“Kylie had a little accident. She’s a lycan and shifted,” Sergei sent to her.
“I know, Kylie. I didn’t know she was a lycan.” Lindy poured into his mind like a fresh breeze. “Her parents were killed last summer in a suspicious car accident. Her older sister, Julie is trying to raise her, though Julie turned nineteen last week. We were talking about it in the kitchen just now.”
“This is my mate, Lindy,” Sergei sent to the child bringing her into their link. “Let’s get you dressed so we can go back and join the party.”
The little girl nodded. When Lindy reached for her, she refused to let go of Sergei. So, he was the one to dress her, the rip hidden in the fullness of the skirt. Once her last shoe was buckled, Lindy held up the tablecloth and they all exited from beneath.
A young woman, wearing an apron, ran over with a look of relief on her face. “Kylie, there you are. I was so worried.” She reached for the child, but Kylie turned her face into Sergei’s shirt. The girl, who could only be Kylie’s sister, bit her lip and dropped her arms. Her shoulders slumped and she blinked rapidly.
“Julie, this is my mate, Sergei,” Lindy introduced them.
Julie’s nostrils flared and she looked at Sergei in surprise. He nodded. She was slim and looked under fed, her long blond hair tied up in a ponytail on her head. Sergei wanted to growl. Where were her protectors?
“Nice to meet you. I can see Kylie likes you. Thank you for helping her. I was busy in the kitchen. Kylie was supposed to be sitting by the tree with the other children.”
Sergei scanned the children. Several were lycan. “It’s not a good idea to leave pups on their own, you never know when they’ll get into trouble.” He smiled trying to take the sting out of his reprimand.
Julie lowered her eyes and nodded. “I know, you’re right. I’ve been trying my best.”
“Of course you have,” Lindy said, glaring at Sergei and putting her arm around the girl’s shoulders. Sergei reached out with his mind to Julie, his link with Kylie connecting him to her sister.
“Forgive me, Julie. I see the grief you feel. Let me help you. Where is your pack? Why are you here alone?”
The girl looked at him in surprise. “Our Alpha is old and he can’t be everywhere at once. He checks up on us from time to time.” Time to time? Sergei didn’t like the sound of that. “He’s up for Challenge in a couple weeks. I’m afraid we’re going to lose him too.”
Challenge? Of course the Alpha was always expected to meet a challenger, but this sounded different. How were packs run here in America?
A commotion at the door caught their attention. A large man entered the building followed by two others. Sergei recognized the man from Kylie’s memory. As if sensing danger, Kylie whined and pressed closer to his chest.
Julie frowned and then stiffened. “That’s Chuck, our pack’s Beta. He’s a bully and a cheat. Everyone is afraid to challenge him and the Alpha is too old. The other two follow him around and think they’re special because the Beta likes them,” she whispered.
“Chuck Jenson, he’s the one Gwen knew in school. He always picked on those younger or weaker,” Lindy said.
Sergei looked from Lindy to the man making his way across the room. He was big, with a huge belly hanging over his pants. His hair hung in greasy ribbons and his face was rough with whiskers. It was easy to hear him cu
ssing at the children and their parents who dared to step in his way. People glared at him, but that didn’t stop him from pushing a little boy from his path. Lindy started forward. Sergei stopped her, his hand on her arm. “This is a dangerous situation. I am here without the Alpha’s permission and that man is looking for a fight. If something happens, get into Shadow and take Julie and Kylie with you.”
Lindy nodded her understanding. She took Julie’s hand weaving their fingers together.
“Go to your sister, Kylie. I have to deal with this man.” Sergei handed the child to Julie.
“He’s a bad man,” Kylie whispered in his mind. “Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t let him hurt you, Kylie. If you need me, all you have to do is call for me and I will come running.”
The child nodded and put her fist in her mouth. Julie rocked the child on her hip. It had been so long since Sergei knew of another lycan pack. Lycan law stated that an outsider must be brought before the Alpha. After meeting Kylie, Sergei wanted to meet the man in charge of this pack.
“Damn, kids,” Chuck swore reaching where they stood. “Let’s go, Julie. Take your brat out to the truck.”
“Santa hasn’t come, yet. Kylie hasn’t gotten her present.” Julie looked from Chuck to Lindy, her gaze pleading.
“Don’t have time to come back and get you, little girl. I’ve got a date tonight.”
“I can drive Julie home after the party,” Lindy offered.
“Well, if it isn’t Lindy Quiet Thunder. You back to stay this time, girl? I’ll forget my date if you give me a kiss.” Lindy scowled at the man.
“Let me introduce my fiancé, Sergei Sokolov from Siberia.”
“Fiancé, huh?” Chuck’s nostrils flared and he growled. Several gasps were heard around them.
“You’re drawing a lot of attention, friend,” Sergei said in warning.
“You don’t belong here!” Chuck’s eyes started to flash. Sergei stiffened. The pack Beta wouldn’t shift amongst all these humans, would he?
“I’d be happy to speak to your Alpha. I’m newly arrived and had no idea I entered your territory.” Sergei tried to appease him.
“Take him to Henry,” one of the other men muttered. “Let the old man deal with him, for now.”
Chuck turned and glared at the man, then he rubbed his chin. “Come on, then. Lindy can take you home, Julie. I’ll stop by later and check on you.”
“I don’t want you alone with that man,” Lindy protested telepathically.
“I’ll be all right. There are too many witnesses tonight. Stay safe for me, lyubov moya, and keep Kylie and her sister close. Stay near to the men guarding you from inside Shadow.”
“I’ll make sure the girls get home safely.” Lindy leaned up and kissed him.
“Come on, trespasser,” one of the men said grabbing Sergei’s arm. “We don’t like no illegal immigrants in our territory.”
Sergei allowed the men to take him outside. A brand new dodge pick-up truck stood waiting by the door. Chuck climbed into the driver’s seat, while the man holding Sergei’s arm yanked him toward the passenger side. Sergei growled softly, letting his wolf spirit come into his eyes. The man gulped and dropped his hand. Sergei nodded and climbed inside. The other man jumped into the back.
“Just what we need. An unwanted wolf in town,” Chuck grumbled.
Sergei decided not to answer.
Chapter Eight
Sergei wasn’t surprised when the truck headed out of the little four block area that was considered the town of Greeney. A soft dusting of snow fell turning the ground white. It seemed Chuck didn’t encourage conversation since not one word had been spoken since they left the Christmas party.
After about twenty minutes, they turned into a driveway. The name “Argent Ranch” was burned into a wooden board attached to the metal poles of the gate. Sergei frowned when he saw the fence around the entrance was in poor condition and needed mending as well as painting.
One of the men jumped down from the back of the truck and undid the locking mechanism. Sergei didn’t know their names, so he thought of him as Cowboy, because of his cowboy boots. The other lycan, who grabbed Sergei’s arm, he thought of as Horse Face, since the man boasted a long face and kept sniffing the air making his nostrils enlarge. Horse Face hadn’t touched him since they got into the truck.
They drove down a dirt road filled with potholes. The truck bounced when Chuck was unable to avoid them. Horse Face grunted and swore when his head hit the window extra hard. Sergei took in his surrounding with mounting concern. Everything looked run down. They occasionally passed small houses along the way. The snow couldn’t hide the fact they needed painting. Finally, they entered a circular driveway in front of a two-story farm house. Cars were lined along the sides of the drive. White lights lined the porch trying to add some holiday cheerfulness to the dreary scene of chipped paint and broken porch railings.
“This is the Alpha’s house?” Sergei couldn’t keep quiet any longer. Was the pack in such trouble that they couldn’t afford to repair the buildings?
“Yeah, where else did you think we were going?” Horse Face said with a sneer. “Looks like the elder council is meeting with the Alpha. Guess you’ll have to explain to all of them what you’re doing here.”
Sergei couldn’t help but hear the glee in his tone. Frowning again, Sergei followed Chuck and the other men onto the porch. Chuck didn’t knock, but instead walked right in like he owned the place. A group of seven people of various ages sat around a man with long silver hair. The man Sergei assumed was the Alpha sat next to a bedraggled Christmas tree decorated with paper chains and pinecones. Everyone stopped talking as they entered. Several of the older people glared at Chuck.
“What’s so important that you’re interrupting our meeting?” the Alpha asked.
“Found this trespasser at the kids’ community Christmas party when I picked up Julie. Says he’s mated to Lindy Quiet Thunder.”
“He’s mated to someone, since the mating bond is plain to see,” the Alpha said, disdain ringing in his tone. “If you picked up Julie, where is she?”
“She said Santa hadn’t come. So I told her to get a ride with Lindy.” Sergei didn’t miss the whine in Chuck’s voice.
“All right, you can go, Chuck. Have a seat, Mr.…”
“Sokolov,” Sergei inserted.
“Mr. Sokolov,” the Alpha emphasized. Sergei winced. “We’ll be with you shortly.” The group went back to speaking about mating and challenges. Sergei didn’t understand what they were discussing.
Horse Face pulled out a wooden chair and motioned Sergei to take a seat. Chuck started grumbling under his breath and left the room. His two men followed after him. The door slamming indicated the men left the building.
As soon as the men were gone, the group stopped speaking, staring at Sergei. He looked around the room. There were two older couples sitting next to each other. A young woman fed a baby in her arms. A young male lycan stood against the wall his arms crossed and his gaze watchful. A teenager sat in a chair wringing his hands.
“Thank Asena, Ladies and Gents, she’s looking out for us. Where you from, Mr. Sokolov?” the Alpha asked. The old man studied him and Sergei understood why he was the pack Alpha. The man read him like a favorite book. The hairs on Sergei’s neck rose and his wolf surged forward expecting a challenge.
“Siberia, Russia, and please call me Sergei. I’m sorry about trespassing. I only arrived with my mate recently and truthfully didn’t know lycans existed in America.”
The Alpha laughed. “Oh, we exist all right. There isn’t a town in America that doesn’t have some kind of shifter or magic folk living there. When America was founded, we made our way here with the human colonists and found to our surprise that lycans existed in the native tribes we encountered. Instead of killing our enemies, we went back to pack law, challenging the Alpha until only the strongest ruled. Then when a new country was born, we too adopted a more democratic way of be
ing. We’ve integrated ourselves in the communities we live in. There are even magical people in our government. We exist all right.”
“Forgive me for saying this, I saw the state of the pack buildings and when I met Julie, she was thin and undernourished. If you are existing, it doesn’t seem to be in a good state.”
“Boy isn’t afraid to speak up,” one of the older gray-haired men said chuckling.
“Well, we’ve got a few problems here in this pack, but you might be able to help us with them,” the Alpha said. “I’m Henry Argent, by the way. Pack Alpha for another week at least. The man who brought you here is my Beta, Chuck. He’s new to the job. Took over when Julie’s parents were killed. He’s a bully of the worst sort and wants to be Alpha. I hate to admit it, but I’m not sure I can beat him in a fight. No one in the pack can beat him.
“I’m getting old and I want to know my pack is in good hands. Someone who will look out for the people and find who is stealing our money. The fact that you noticed Julie’s condition as well as the property’s makes me think you might be the one. Plus, if Lindy Quiet Thunder is your mate, and you’re still alive, that tells me you’re a good man. Possibly a worthy leader. Otherwise, Lindy’s father and foster brothers would’ve done away with you right away.”
“That’s for sure,” another gray-haired man spoke up. “No one gets near Isanti’s daughters without the fear of god in them. That old Indian will scalp you in your sleep if you hurt his girls.”
Sergei chuckled. He could imagine Isanti would take out anyone messing with his girls. So why was Chuck still alive? If Sergei didn’t miss his guess, Chuck had done more than bully Gwen. Maybe Isanti didn’t know. “What exactly do you want me to do?” Sergei asked.
“Why, kill me in the Alpha’s challenge, of course.”
“What? I don’t want to kill you,” Sergei said his heart suddenly racing.
Shadow Mate Page 8