“Papa…”
“Don’t think about it, Tristan. I’m not living on a machine. Wolves don’t live on machines.”
“But—”
Thibaud held his palm up. “Don’t make me waste my breath, grandson. Why did you come tonight?”
Tristan swallowed his objections and sat back in his chair. “The meeting with Devin Caedmon didn’t go well.”
There was complete silence. All Tristan heard was deep breathing. One-way conversations had become the custom for them, but his papa was listening and saving his breath to deliver words Tristan had come to honor and live by. Thibaud Arnou Jr. had been the one who kept Tristan’s Spirit optimistic in light of the recent attacks.
“There’s no changing the way he sees the results of the Great Fallout. I’ve come to realize there can never be one Alpha again. We’ve branched into so many different groups that setting up one governing body would be virtually impossible.”
Tristan linked and unlinked his fingers over and over again. “You always taught me to strive for more. Land. Money. Power. Why do I have this urge to settle? Of course I want our people to flourish. There can be no Alpha, no King without the people to govern.”
He looked to Papa, who had his eyes closed and remained still on the bed.
“We’re fighting to stay alive, but with our forces split, we stand no chance against Priestess Shanhah. She wants to humanize us, and with Other behind her, she’ll do just that. When it comes to humans, we’re outnumbered. We’ve always been outnumbered. Our existence in the wrong hands would threaten everything we’ve build. That bitch mocked us once before. Don’t you remember when she sent the messenger after she had Damon pushed off that cliff?”
Thibaud Jr. grunted but said nothing.
“Shanhah thought I’d go in and clean up shop when the Caedmon Pack was at its weakest with no Alpha in sight. I thought about it.” Tristan rocked slowly in his chair. “I pondered it for days. Then I heard Devin had returned to claim the title, and I thought about it some more. I was a contender then, but my decisions led me to let nature take its course. You told me to follow my judgment. I did and…” He sighed. “Shouldn’t I have fought for the title then, Papa?”
Silence.
“Papa?”
Thibaud Jr. lifted a finger and twirled it in a slow circular motion. “Keep talking.”
“That Shanhah bitch wanted me to descend like a vulture. She knew exactly what she was doing. Trying to kill off the contenders one by one. She was trying to play me, and she knew Devin and I were enemies. Getting rid of one of us would’ve saved her a lot of energy.” Tristan crushed his fingers into his palms. “It had to have been her who sent that woman to murder Roman. That treacherous witch! I bet she knew all along those Caedmon men were bastards.”
Thibaud Jr. cleared his throat. “It’s the oldest maneuver in the book. Playing two opposing sides against each other. This Shanhah is the true vulture.”
Tristan had told his grandfather that Roman De’Santo was actually the legitimate heir, the first born son, and the one who should have risen to Alpha instead of Daniel. Like him, Papa was shocked, but as the news settled in, they grasped the severity of the situation.
“I still have Ruby McCoy in solitary confinement. I hate to do this to her, but how do I know she’s not on their side. She claims she blacked out for some time at the nightclub. It’s been days since they stripped her, and she has virtually nothing left of her wolf side. She’s nothing more than a weak human.”
“You should let her go. No reason holding her if she doesn’t want to be here. She’s paid the price already. More than once. She lost her Belt and her Spirit. And now she’s lost her freedom and her Pack. Nothing else can be done.”
Tristan picked lint off the bed sheets. “I wonder if having a meeting would’ve solved anything if Devin and I didn’t have that argument.”
“There’s always tomorrow. Call again.”
“Papa, he brought it up…”
“Who? Brought what up?”
Tristan swallowed and looked at his hands. “I’m a murderer, Papa.”
Thibaud Jr. sighed deeply. “Put that behind you.”
“How can I put it behind me?” Tristan raised his voice. “I killed the man who gave me life. I killed your only son.”
“I forgave you long ago, Tristan. What does this have to do with the survival of our people?”
“It’s the reason why so many lost faith in the Arnou Pack. We lost half of our Pack when that information was released about our family by one of the members of our last Council. It’s the reason why I got rid of the Council in our Pack. We had traitor among us and no one wanted to come forward.”
“You killed my son in self-defense and tried to save your mother.”
“Well, I didn’t save my mother. I knew about the abuse for many, many years…” Tristan bit his lip. “Why I snapped that night, I don’t know. I saw him beating her and just…I tried to save her.” His breath rushed out of him but his pain did not. “To this day, I’m certain he beat her harder because I interfered. He killed her.”
“Tristan…” Papa reached for his hand.
“I exploded. I grabbed the sword from the case.” Tristan squeezed his eyelids shut. “There was so much blood. He was alive but hyperventilating from the blood he lost.” He looked at his open palms. “I ended his life with my bear hands. I took no mercy on him. All I saw was my mother dead in a corner, her eyes open, her face and body battered.”
“I’m sorry. So sorry. Greed killed your father’s reason. I tried countless times to help him.”
“Are we no better than Caedmons, Papa? They allowed bastards to rise against their own rules and blatantly hid the fact from their people until recently. We fight our fathers, our flesh and blood for the position before we can reign.”
“You’ve the power to change it all.”
“I can’t change anything if I allow another Pack to overshadow mine. Twenty percent of my people left last year. They became lone wolves, becoming prey to smaller Packs and deadly forces like Shanhah Osborne.”
“Think outside of the box, Tristan. The changes must start within and at the top before they can roll down and out.” Thibaud Jr. took several short breaths, indicating he was tired. “Think of it like a chess game. You must play your pieces wisely.”
“What you suggest would be monumental. A game changer for all. Nonetheless, I might have messed up any chances of peace between the Packs.”
“Take a chance, make another chance,” Papa muttered.
“How?”
“Open your heart.”
“But—”
Papa lifted his finger. “No more.”
Chapter Seventeen
“I can get used to this,” Naomi said, folding her hands behind her head and looking up at the dome ceiling of the huge bedroom.
Blake closed the bathroom door behind him and moved toward the bed. His skin was still wet from the shower. “I remember you telling me once before that you didn’t want maids.”
Naomi giggled. “I meant this bed.” She brought her knees up and slid her toes under the silk sheets. “But I might change my mind about the maids. Devin’s staff is very nice.”
He sat down on the bed with the towel still wrapped around his waist and smiled. “I think we should get started on creating our own floor plan. Devin asked me this morning when I would officially move into the village. All the other Council members live here or nearby.”
“It’s so peaceful.” Naomi sighed. “No foolish fights breaking out. No sharing showers. I can sleep in late without hearing my roommate’s alarm going off.”
“I love seeing you happy like this.” He took her feet in his hands and massaged them. “You always have cold feet though” He grinned at her teasingly.
“And you always warm them up,” she replied, enjoyed his big hands caressing her. “Mmmm, feels good.”
Blake’s massage therapy moved to more than just her feet. His finger
s traced up her legs and kneaded the inside of her thighs until they felt like jello. Before she knew it, his breath was hot against her. He pulled her nightgown up to her hips.
“My hands are tired,” he said. “Let’s see what I can do with my mouth.”
He kissed her sensitive areas, coaxing her legs open until she was bared to him. His tongue sliced between her nether lips and dipped into her greedy canal. He lapped up her essence, thrusting his tongue in a deep slow motion inside her. Muscles contracted involuntarily around his tongue as he played with her. Her juices slipped from her into his mouth and down her center. He greedily devoured what he could handle and then zoned in on her swollen clit. Pushing her thighs higher for better access, he circled her bundle of nerves with determination.
“Your fucking mouth feels good,” Naomi moaned.
Her pussy was slick with her arousal and an unrelenting ache burned through her like a wildfire. He slid his lips along her sensitive folds, moaning and growling into her flesh as he enjoyed her to his hunger’s content. Capturing her clit, he tugged and sucked until she was pushing against his mouth. Her orgasm rushed through her tenfold and a cry erupted from her mouth. She was still shuddering in relief when he turned her over and brought her on her hands and knees.
Blake parted her legs even wider and slid his fingers between her enflamed lips. His mouth replaced his hands once again and he pleasure her from behind. Fingers slid through her soaking pussy and then up to her anus where he pushed inside her.
“Oh, Blake…”
“That’s right. Open for me.” He drug his mouth along her pussy and up to her forbidden zone.
Naomi lowered her top half on the bed, crushing her breasts into the mattress. Her submissive position caused a growl of possession to tear through Blake’s throat. His thick cock replaced his teasing tongue and he pushed into her anus. She tugged on a handful of sheets and bit into the bundle to keep from screaming. Pleasure-pain scorched her, rendering her motionless. Blake soothed her, rocking his pelvis gently until her juices coated his entire shaft.
After she was acclimated to his size and ready for his complete entry, she rose and placed her palms on the headboard. She turned slightly and gave two commands. “Harder. Faster.”
Those two commands triggered an even stronger urge within Blake to please her. He grabbed her hips and obliged every request she made that night.
Every single moment that night was spent enraptured in passion.
***
“There is nothing in here about the history of Spirit stripping.” Devin pounded his fist on the conference table. A stack of books fell over and slid down the center of the table like domino pieces.
Blake felt the Alpha’s frustration. Everyone at the conference table wanted to find out more about the Osbornes, a force they didn’t expected to be involved in all of this. Naomi uncrossed her legs beside him and sat up in her chair. They were all on edge. They’d thumbed through every single book in the library looking for written accounts of stripping a Caedmon’s Wolf Spirit and leaving him a man without powers.
“Would past Alphas and Elders want something like that to be a part of the collection?” Naomi asked.
“Probably not.” Devin folded his arms across his chest as he sat back in his chair. “Still, it’s hard to believe there is nothing at all.”
“So, do you think the knowledge is hidden for a reason?” Dawson asked “Or is this some type of witchcraft not meant to be Caedmon knowledge anyway?”
“I talked to my father, Anthony Klein.” Arianna spoke from the other side of the table. “He says there’s been talk on the west coast about Others being offered the chance to strip. There is a minority within the Other clan who want to be more human than anything; thus, stripping would be the only chance they had to live a normal human life.”
She was seated on Jayson’s lap because there were only so many chairs in the Council room. Devin called anyone with information about the matter. They’d gotten an abundance of phone and in person tips flooding Devin’s estate. Hours later, those closest to Devin piled into the library, anxious to find anything written or some physical evidence.
“Don’t forget I know of one account involving Spirit stripping,” Naomi offered. “Her name is Ruby McCoy. She was in my Elite group. Tristan held her in solitary confinement afterward. It was more because she lost her badge. At the time none of us knew she’d been stripped.”
Devin nodded. “Tristan confirmed this at our meeting.”
“That’s it!” Dawson slapped a palm on the table top. “Elisa said something strange to me when I tried to convince her to come out of that cave.”
“What was it?” Devin’s demand rushed from him.
“She said there’s written knowledge and then there’s inherited knowledge.” Dawson stood and began pacing the room. “Roman gifted her with all his knowledge. Elisa had to have accepted it somehow. None of us want to relive that night, but Roman’s Wolf Spirit left him before he passed. I remember seeing the spiritual presence around Elisa during the exchange. She was powerful enough to temporarily bind his spirit to hers to keep him alive, then she was powerful enough—”
“To strip him.” Devin shot up out of his chair. “Fuck!”
“What are you saying?” Arianna stood, nearly knocking her mate backward. “Elisa would never harm a fly. You won’t hurt her.”
“No, Arianna…” Devin shook his head. “You’re right. Roman taught her how to do this and requested it be done. He passed that way because it was what he wanted. Elisa couldn’t inherit the knowledge any other way. It takes decades for an Elder to become proficient in his or her craft, and Elisa was nowhere near ready at the time of his death. So, she stripped his Spirit to inherit his knowledge.”
The room was dead silent. Every heartbeat could be heard as discovery made their heads spin.
“Does anyone know where Elisa is?” Arianna asked.
“Dawson is trying to talk her out of the cave. We need her to pull information from our captive.”
Dawson shook his head. “I’ll return tonight after the meeting, but she won’t let me in the cave with her.”
Nick responded in the negative as well. “I hope she comes around. What if we send Selene out to talk with her? Selene’s really good at that.”
Devin rubbed his chin. “We might have to do just that.”
There was a knock on the Council room door. “Alpha.”
Nick, being the closest to the door, got up to answer it. “What the fu—”
The door swung wide open. Tristan Arnou stepped inside and it looked as if he’d been through hell and back.
“You know, Devin,” Arnou gave a snarl and bard crooked teeth, “the least you could do is return the favor. I offered you an escort across my property lines, but there damn sure wasn’t one waiting for me before I crossed yours.”
Several growls erupted across the Council table as everyone moved to guard Devin Caedmon.
“How many of my men did you kill trying to get in my territory?” Devin demanded.
“None.” Arnou wiped the back of his hand across his lip to remove the grime. “Of course, some might need immediate attention. You may want to send medical backup near the city market.” He came further into the conference room, showing no fear, and dumped a sack on the conference table.
In that instant Arnou fixed his eyes on Blake and Naomi. Blake held Naomi to him possessively and snarled.
Arnou chuckled. “I suspected for years Ms. Valentine wasn’t abiding by my rules. I’m not a chick sprung fresh from its egg.”
Naomi gasped.
“Naomi is my mate and she won’t be returning to your prison anytime soon,” Blake said.
“She pledged to me willingly and technically she’s still considered by property.”
“Bullshit,” Naomi snapped. “I’m not a piece of meat or property. I choose where I lay and it will no longer be in your Compound.”
Tristan clucked his tongue. “How will you ta
me such a wild spirit like that? It’s no wonder you’re still unmated. Your bitch is in heat but she refuses to succumb.”
Tensions flared high in the room and even Naomi’s gentle pull on his harm could not stop his growing anger. Blake growled and jumped up from his seat. Tristan’s eyes grew wide and his lips trembled against his canines.
“Stop it!” Devin pounded his fist on the table. “This is my fucking board room. We’re talking business here. Cease this conversation. Tristan, I’ve granted Naomi temporary sanction with your Pack. Now give me a good reason for interrupting my board meeting.”
He pulled out a book, slammed it on the table, and then uttered some words in an old Serbian language. “Spirit Thievery. Documented past accounts in the Arnou Pack.”
“Are you sure?” Devin asked.
Tristan nodded. “William Caedmon’s journal had accounts of bonding as you’re certainly aware since you and your Council consumed his powers and knowledge. Rodolphus’ journal,” he pointed to the book, “contains accounts of stripping. The journals and the knowledge have been kept under lock and key for quite some time. We’re forbidden to read the past journals of our Elders, but like you, I felt a need to. I won’t let my Pack die out.”
Devin sank to his chair and exhaled. “So someone else has this knowledge of stripping and binding?”
Tristan pressed both of his palms on the table, staring straight at the Alpha. “The only other group who has knowledge of both accounts is Other-kind. And I do believe someone from the Other clan is aiding Shanhah. I’ve already told you which family I suspect to be behind it all.”
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