The Vampire, The Witch and the Werewolf: The Wolfe Pack

by Louisa Bacio

  “Son?”

  The werewolf who would most naturally be their leader by birth stood his full height. His lean muscular build was different than Nathaniel’s, and his hair was light like Silver’s, compared to the dark hair of the leader of the Wolfe Pack. That was primarily where the differences ended, though. They both had the same facial structure: jaw line, brow, and defined cheekbones.

  “Hello, Father,” Trevor said, holding his shoulders back.

  Most family members who had not seen each other for a long time would have a joyful, cheerful reunion with plenty of hugs and touching. Since this separation had been mostly self-imposed, first by Nathaniel and later by Trevor, they stood apart, assessing each other. As if neither one wanted to give in the game, and neither wanted to make the first move.

  Silver stepped in, sweeping Lowell off the floor and holding him up to his grandfather. “Father, this is your grandson, Lowell. Low, this is your granddaddy. What do you think of that?”

  The little boy cocked his head to the side, checking out the stranger in front of him. He glanced back at his dad, who indicated it was all right.

  “Hi, granddaddy,” he said, holding out his hand to shake. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  “And it’s very nice to meet you,” Nate clasped the boy’s hand. “What nice manners you have. Where did you learn how to do that?”

  “The whole way here, my daddy said I was going to meet Grandpa, and I had to be polite. That’s you, right?”

  So for acting like he didn’t care, Trevor had done a bit of coaching on the trip out. Silver transferred her precious load to Nathaniel, and the supreme leader of their Pack swung the boy around, then held him tight in a hug. Light tears shone in his eyes.

  “Thank you, Trevor, for blessing me with a visit, and for allowing me to get to know my grandson. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

  “I’ve got a fairly good idea,” he said, “because I know how much he means to me. I’m reminded of it every day, and several times a day.”

  Introductions done, Silver gestured for Viktor to approach their family gathering. “Trevor, this is Viktor, my mate.”

  Trevor shook his hand in a firm grip. “So you’re the one who stole my sister’s heart, and has convinced her to stay out in the boonies.”

  “I didn’t coerce her into anything. She decided to remain part of the pack of her own free will,” Viktor said.

  “I’m only partially serious,” Trevor explained. “If Silver didn’t want to do something, I don’t think anyone would be able to convince her otherwise. Well, unless someone had some Voodoo love powder, but I’ll leave her to tell you that story privately.”

  Silver punched her brother in the arm.

  “Oww! What did I do?”

  “There will be no sharing of embarrassing stories over the next few days, got me?” Silver said.

  “Totally,” Trevor said, “unless the guys are going out for a bachelor party. Although, who knows what type of party you can all get going in the woods?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The clearing where Viktor had first brought her to had been cleared into a stunning oasis of color and scent. The sun shone bright, adding warmth to the special day. Within the small glen, a visitor might feel like they were anywhere and nowhere, a haven to share their love for each other. Viktor had built a small gazebo, painted it white, draped blue flowers over the top of the trellis, and wrapped the sides in fresh ivy.

  Family members straightened chairs along the aisle, and Dominick fretted next to him.

  “I can’t believe you’re doing this. Dude, for the longest time, we were the two forever bachelors. I thought we’d grow old and die together. Now, you’re leaving me all alone.”

  “You never know what’s going to happen,” Viktor said. “Sometimes a new person comes into your life, and changes it all up.”

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Dom go stock still, as if a ghost had jumped him, and he gazed down the aisle. Jana looked positively radiant in her light blue gown, and her hair hanging in long curls. Viktor thought his best friend would probably like to get his hands on one of those curlicues.

  “And sometimes, you see someone old in a whole new light.”

  “What?” Dom said, his mouth hanging open.

  Viktor took his hand and lightly pressed his best friend’s jaw back into place. “Nothing. I think it’s about time to begin.”

  When Jana reached halfway down the aisle, Lowell started, holding their rings on a white pillow. They both reached the front of the ceremony area, and the wedding march began. Pearl played the flute, while his band mate Lucas strummed on the guitar.

  Silver stood at the end of the path, resplendent in her fitted white gown. On one side she clasped the arm of her father, and Trevor on the other side. She’d been unsure who to ask to walk her down the aisle, and obviously she made up her mind. Both looked mighty proud to be there.

  The attendees all got to their feet and watched her pass. The music tapered off, and Viktor shook the hand of the tribe’s leader, then Silver’s brother. The moment he took Silver’s hands in his, everything else faded away. Her eyes glimmered with excitement. On the right side of her face, three diamond sparkles and a drawn silver moon graced her fair skin. As always, she wore her necklace that read, “Silver.”

  “You look beautiful,” he said. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said.

  Nathaniel took the platform next to them. As leader, he would be performing the marriage ceremony.

  “Welcome to all members of the Pack,” he begun. “We are here for the most joyous occasion this fine day. The joining of my daughter Silver to Viktor, who has proven himself true to the Pack many times over.”

  He went on to thank the Divine One for bringing his son and daughter back into his family, and for Dominick and Pearl, the strength needed to get through the hardships they’d recently underwent.

  “And for my grandson Lowell …”

  At the mention of his name, the young boy’s eyes grew wide.

  “I am thankful for the blessing of meeting you, and look forward to seeing you grow into a fine, upstanding man. Summers at the Wolfe Pack, son?”

  In the audience, Trevor smiled and raised one shoulder.

  “Silver and Viktor, please turn toward each other and take each other’s hands. Now for the cleansing ritual of the fire.”

  A prickling sensation teased the back of Silver’s head. She focused on Viktor, keeping her eyes on him, but a desire to turn and look out over the audience pulled at her attention. She scanned the faces, wondering who or what was causing the distraction, and Viktor followed her gaze. He squeezed her hands, and mouthed, “Are you okay?”

  She attempted to give a reassuring smile, but didn’t think she succeeded. Movement broke out among the side bushes, and a screaming woman covered in mud and debris rushed toward the couple.

  “You ruined my life, and now I’ll destroy you.”

  Sheba.

  Viktor pushed Silver behind him, and almost as one, more than half the Pack built a physical barrier between the crazed figure and the mating couple. The other half circled behind her to close off her escape route.

  The woman appeared as if she hadn’t left to join her family all those weeks ago, and instead lived alone off the land. She still wore the same clothes as when she’d been banished, and they were in tatters, her hair standing on end.

  “Let me go. You don’t understand,” she screamed. “I’m meant to be leader, not her.”

  She’d fully lost her mind.

  Nathaniel stepped through the crowd. “Sheba, how long I tried to make things right by you, and for you. It was never enough. I gave you a chance at some life, and your freedom, but now I see you’ll forever be a threat.” He sighed, as if a great weight of
responsibility settling on his chest. He looked at Silver and Viktor, and returned back to her.

  A crackle of energy surged through the air, and Nathaniel held out his hands toward Sheba. He muttered a curse Silver couldn’t hear, and the other woman’s body twisted, morphing into a wolf form.

  Silver gasped. Did her father forcefully turn her into a wolf?

  “Guards, please put her in the cellar. We can decide what to do with her, and if she’s going to behave after the festivities are over.”

  “It’s one of his powers as pack leader,” Jana whispered. “He can take away a werewolf’s humanity, and she can’t change back. It doesn’t happen often.”

  Commotion over, Nathaniel returned to the platform, his gait slower. “Now for that cleansing ceremony I was talking about.” He raised his voice. “I think we can all do with getting rid of something from the past.”

  Several members of the audience laughed at his reference. Silver continued to think about Jana’s choice of words: “One of his powers.” What were the others?

  “Light the bonfire!”

  Quiet.

  “Did nobody bring something to light the bonfire?” Nathaniel asked, and looked toward Viktor.

  Silver didn’t know the first thing about the mating ritual, so she wouldn’t even have thought of bringing matches or a lighter. From the front row, Lowell approached the pile of wood. He closed his eyes, and held his palms outward, facing the pit. The wood erupted into flames, fire shooting up into the sky.

  “Is that good, Granddaddy?” he asked.

  Taken aback, her father stuttered, “Yes, my boy. Yes.”

  As her nephew returned to his seat, Silver met the eyes of her brother. Surprise showed there, too. Seems like someone was taking after his mother already. The little fire starter.

  Everyone in the tribe was supposed to bring something from their past that was to represent a time, act, or event they wanted to leave behind. One by one, everyone walked up and tossed their item into the flames. Finally, it was their turn.

  Silver went down the stairs, and took the item Trevor had stashed for her: her backpack. The one she had packed when she left her adoptive parents’ house to go live with Trev and his family, and the very same one used to come here. To her, it represented living light and on the go. With the backpack, she could at any moment pick up and go.

  Now she’d found her roots. She might visit elsewhere, but she wouldn’t be running any time soon. She tossed her offering into the fire, and let go of her past. On the short journey to Viktor, she took in his strength. He’d make a fine wolf-mate.

  Holding hands, he leaned in to seal the ceremony with a kiss.

  “I love you Silver, today and forever,” he said, and once again he took her breath away.

  THE END

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  About the Author

  Louisa Bacio is the author of six erotic novels, including the paranormal series The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf, and numerous steamy short stories.

  Bacio enjoys soaking up the sun in Southern California, and spending time with her family. In addition to writing and editing, Bacio teaches college courses in English, journalism, film studies and popular culture.

  Drop in for a visit at http://www.louisabacio.com

  Copyright Information

  A Ravenous Romance© Original Publication

  www.ravenousromance.com

  Copyright © 2012 by Louisa Bacio

  Ravenous Romance

  100 Cummings Center

  Suite 123A

  Beverly, MA

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-60777-537-9

  This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental..