David's Dilemma

by Sydney Addae

  David walked off, threw up the bubble and sat on a large rock. Exhaustion weighed him down as he watched them move the Alpha’s body to a tent and surround it. He realized whatever cloaked them before had disappeared.

  “Adam, I need to talk to Dad. I think I messed up,” David said.

  “Dad’s helping Abel,” Adam said.

  “I’m here,” his mom said. “What’s going on? Can I see where you are?”

  Shocked to hear his mom’s voice but trying to not to show it, David looked straight ahead at the tents, the full-bloods and the feet of the deceased Alpha. His mom couldn’t link to anyone but Asia and his dad. Was she piggybacking onto his dad, who piggy-backed onto Adam?

  “Who’s that?”

  “Alpha Sage. I won a challenge against him. Those are his litter-mates.”

  “No, the naked woman coming down the steps with the blonde braid across her chest. Look up,” his mom said.

  David looked at the area near the grotto and watched the tall, muscular woman move with military precision toward them. The six brothers noticed her and fell to their knees with their heads bowed. She strode to the tent with the dead Alpha, and then looked at David.

  “Who are you?”

  “Don’t answer her,” his mom said, surprising him. “She’s throwing something at you, I’ve got it.”

  Clean, refreshing energy rushed through his body. “What’s that?” he asked his mom while watching the Queen stare at him.

  “Just two queens battling this out. Put up your shield, she’d going to try and touch you. That’s a no-no,” his mom said.

  Feeling stronger than he had in days, David obeyed.

  “You will kneel in my presence,” the Queen said moving toward him.

  “I kneel only to my Alphas, Jasmine and Silas Knight.”

  She frowned and stared at him. Tingles bounced off his skin. She reached forward as if to touch him. Her fingertips encountered the bubble, surprising her. “What magic is this?” she whispered, pressing her finger into it again and again.

  David didn’t speak. He smelled Cain on her and hoped the big guy was okay.

  “Did you kill my servant?”

  “He challenged me to a fight, I won.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, lifting her breast. “Then you will take his place.” She turned to leave after her decree.

  “No, thank you,” David said almost levitating from his mom’s energy.

  “What did you say?” she growled, glaring at him.

  David hadn’t been paying her much attention. “No, thank you?”

  For several seconds her eyes glowed and then she looked at the others. “Kill him.”

  “What?” his mom yelled. “Oh, hell no.”

  “Mom, it’s okay.”

  “No, son. She wants to touch you, that’s how she controls people, it’s in her scent. I cleaned it from your system because women are immune. It’s toxic. Think corrupt breeder on steroids. This is powerful stuff. Can you sit in the bubble and not fight? Give us some time to work on this?”

  Only a mother would ask an Alpha trained warrior to avoid a fight. But she was his mom, so he obeyed.

  The six men ran toward him. David strengthened the bubble and rolled with it as it was toppled over.

  Tousled, he expanded the enclosure to put more space between him and his attackers. The Queen walked away. As the six threw punches and tried to bite through the bubble with their long canines, she stood in the distance watching. Moments later, they turned and fought each other. David watched as they fought with unparalleled ferocity. It made no sense.

  “She’s doing that,” his mom said. “Whatever she gives them turns them into this. Look into their eyes, see their sorrow and pain. Victims. If we can remove them from her when you leave, we will.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” The battle continued until one remained standing. Bleeding, with ripped flesh in the process of healing, he stepped over his brothers and waved to David.

  “Fight me. I will avenge my Queen’s honor.”

  “No,” his mom said.

  “No,” David said.

  The full-blood yelled as he ran forward. At the last moment, David dashed aside. The full-blood slammed into the jagged rock and fell backward.

  David glanced at the Queen. One second she was far away standing at the top of the steps, the next she stood in front of him with her finger pointed in his face. “You will pay for the disrespect you’ve shown me this day.” She flicked the bubble with her nail. “You can’t keep this up all night, you’ll sleep and when you do, I’ll have you.”

  “He can’t stay up, but his mama can. You won’t have my son, witch,” his mom yelled.

  David smiled.

  The Queen’s gaze narrowed as she looked around and then met his gaze. “Do not think to play with me. I will hang your intestines along these walls to dry. I’m more powerful than you can imagine. I’m —”

  “What’s your name?”

  Her brow furrowed. “Queen Nadira.”

  “Why are you here? In the mountains. Inside the mountain?” he corrected.

  “You do not ask me questions.” She sneered at him.

  David shrugged. “Okay.”

  She stared at him a few seconds and looked at the full-bloods on the ground. Taking a deep breath, she blew it over them. Seconds later, they moved, shook their heads and looked up at her.

  “Get up, clean yourselves off and finish your tasks. I will deal with him myself.” She leered at David, turned and walked up toward the grotto. The men cast gazes at him but didn’t speak.

  “Silas has gone about this wrong. You’ll need female energy to fight this one. I’m sure the same is the case for Cain too. Abel was the wrong person to help his brother. Chances are, she pulled energy from both of them. Asia’s strong, but we’re both handicapped. I’m linked to your dad and she’d have to be linked through Hawke. It dilutes our energy.”

  “This is diluted?” David shook his head as chill bumps rippled across his skin. “Mom, if this is diluted I probably couldn’t handle you straight on. I’m vibrating.”

  “Really? I’ll tone it down a bit. For a moment I thought she was going to attack you. I had something for her if she went that way.”

  “Mom... you are awesome.” He smiled.

  “Over the years I’ve learned a few things. Your dad said I couldn’t interfere in a challenge fight. I can only share energy with you to keep you in the battle. What she wants to do to you and Cain’s is ridiculous. My son’s not going to be a slave to anyone.”

  “Thanks for having my back,” he said yawning. That fight took a lot out of him. He needed to rest.

  “We’ll hold the bubble, son,” his mom said. Heat surrounded him as he stretched out on the floor.

  “Just an hour or so. Then I’ll try to find a way out of here.” He explained his dilemma now that the Alpha was dead.

  “Get some rest, clear heads and minds will prevail when you wake.”

  “Who’s watching first?” he covered his mouth as another yawn slipped out.

  “Me. I’m with Renee. We’ve got this shift. Asia and Jackie will take over and then I’ll be back after I rest. Don’t worry, we’ve got you. That old bird’s not gonna win. Not this time.”

  He smiled, believing every word. “Love you.” He closed his eyes.

  CHAPTER SIX

  SARITA ARRIVED AT HER aunt’s home just before noon and sat in the bedroom designated as hers whenever she visited. She stared at the various maps on the wall without really seeing them. Red, yellow and green lines zig-zagged with matching colored pins highlighting various cities she’d visited in her quest to be cured. Halas had been a surprise. Sarita sensed the woman spoke truthfully, but she’d sensed the same from the other specialists.

  Her thoughts refused to settle. Her normally laser focus shattered as her heart lurched in her chest. Itching increased whenever she became distressed or overly excited. She searched for her gloves.

  Where w
as David? How could he be missing? It wasn’t like him to disappear like this. Especially without telling her or his den-mates. Hearing footsteps, she slipped the gloves into her pocket and took a sip from her water bottle.

  Aunt Piamitsu, Pia for short, knocked and stuck her head in the door. “Got a moment?”

  Sarita nodded and sat up as she walked in. Dressed in an oversized coral top and jeans, her pregnant aunt smiled at her. A cream-colored band pulled her hair back, highlighting her cute heart-shaped face.

  “Are you going or staying?” her father’s only sister asked. Gray eyes, similar to Sarita’s gazed down into hers.

  The answer weighed heavy on her chest. The past few months Sarita had gone back and forth in her mind. The risk of contagion weighed heavily on her.

  Renee’s wedding loomed in the distance and Sarita still hadn’t given her parents an answer. Renee was disappointed and took it personally that Sarita hadn’t agreed to be in the wedding, which led to all kinds of questions. Questions she wasn’t ready to answer. Now, with David’s disappearance, she wasn’t sure.

  She released a long breath. “I think I’m going.” She shared the absence of David for the past three days with her aunt.

  “Honey, I’m sorry. I know how you feel about him, don’t give up, there’s probably a good reason he’s not responding.” Her aunt cupped her cheeks and smiled.

  Sarita would never be a touchy-feely person outside of her immediate family but understood other people needed to extend comfort in that manner.

  “That’s not it.” She shook her head. “I can’t get through to him. It’s like I’m blocked or something. Something’s wrong.” She couldn’t imagine or accept him deliberately avoiding her. He wasn’t that way. No matter how much they disagreed with her choices, he wasn’t petty enough to block her like this.

  “Blocked? That is strange.”

  Sarita nodded. Halas implied the High Priestess would get in touch with her but didn’t say when or where. But she couldn’t wait around, finding David was more important. She tugged on her ear and closed her eyes, searching for him. “He’s in northern Canada,” she murmured.

  “Why? What’s up there?” her aunt asked.

  “He’s doing work for his father.” Sarita hadn’t told anyone about La Patron’s expansion plans. She figured they’d all find out when everything happened.

  “We’ll be leaving next week, we’d love for you to come with us if you’re not going to the wedding.” Sarita heard the hope in her Aunt’s voice. She hated disappointing people, but it always seemed to happen. Even if she wasn’t going to the wedding, she wouldn’t head to the French Rivera with dark lines all over her body.

  If she didn’t hear from David or Jackie soon, she’d be flying to Canada to find him. “Thanks, Aunt Pia. I’m pretty sure I’ll be at the wedding. Mom and Dad are expecting me. Plus I haven’t seen Kayden and Wyatt in years. Mom says they’re big like dad and the best fighters at the school.”

  Aunt Pia laughed. “Of course, a mother would believe that.”

  “No. They’ve won tournaments. Mom says they’ve got lots of trophies and she’s running out of places to put them.” Sarita missed her younger brothers and couldn’t wait to see them again. They talked once or twice a month on video messaging but that wasn’t the same as being with them.

  “They’re handsome boys. I heard Niall asked Hawke to allow them to spend some time with him when they visit Alpha Barticus later this month. Do you think Hawke will let them see his ancestral home? See where we were born and grew up?”

  Sarita met her aunt’s inquisitive gaze and hoped she answered her correctly. Her father rarely discussed his past, and when he did it was never flattering. His memories were so different from his den mates it was hard to believe they shared the same mam and sire. Pia had been sent away to live with a relative when her brothers, Alpha Lorenzo and later, Alpha Jireh defended their Pack against Alpha challenges. Both were killed, leaving the family shattered. Pia remained in a remote area and led a sheltered life. Niall had gone to college, while Hawke had been sold into slavery. The three, Hawke, Niall and Pia were all left of the once great, and powerful Alpha Hiram’s den.

  “Probably. Mom wants them to know both parts of their history. Dad will most likely go along with it. He’ll send security or either come himself.” Sarita shrugged. With her dad, she’d learned not to second guess him. He hadn’t pushed when she wanted to remain abroad, even though she knew he missed her and wanted her close. Later she learned he’d contacted her aunt and uncle to make sure they kept an eye on her in addition to Alpha Barticus, her mom’s dad.

  Pia released a long breath and shook her head. “Our family, den, needs to move forward. I want my pups to know their uncles, have relationships with their cousins. Be friends.” She ran her hand through her short, thick auburn curls and looked at her rounded stomach. “This one’s the start of a new generation, and I want things done right.” She patted and then rubbed her distended belly, something she did often.

  “I’m sure things will work out,” Sarita said absently, her thoughts returning to David’s disappearance.

  “Your mind is elsewhere. I’ll leave you to it.” Her aunt backed out, leaving Sarita alone with her thoughts. Standing she moved closer to the map and shook her head. It was no use. As long as David was missing, she couldn’t focus.

  “Jackie?”

  “Sarita?” Jackie said a few seconds later.

  “Have you found David?”

  “Yes. He fell down a cave in the Torngat Mountains. He’s trapped.”

  Sarita’s heart clenched. Jackie talked to David and he hadn’t reached out or responded to her? That hurt. Curious about his condition, Sarita pressed for more information and learned the three only found David through their litter-mate connection. No one, not even La Patron had been able to reach him otherwise. That bit of knowledge eased the pain of rejection in her gut.

  “Does anyone have the exact location where he fell?” Sarita tried locating him again. Nothing. Whatever happened to David, he would need her help.

  “Daddy probably does. Are you going to Canada?” Jackie sounded hesitant. Not that Sarita blamed her. In the past few years, Sarita hadn’t been a good friend. Once the vines appeared on her skin and she learned they were contagious, she had disappeared without explanation and only remained in contact with David and her family.

  “Yes. I need to help find him.” She didn’t add she may be the only person who could, worse she had no idea why she believed that.

  “Contact Hawke or Asia, ask them to get the information. Daddy doesn’t want any of us to go. But I think Adam’s leaving for Canada tonight to help search. If he goes, Quinn and I’ll be going too. You won’t be alone.”

  Sarita didn’t fear being alone, but she didn’t share that either. No one other than David fully understood what was going on with her and her need to find a cure for this disease.

  “Thanks, I’ll contact Daddy when I’m at the airport.” Sarita started packing.

  Jackie chuckled. “He won’t be able to stop you by then. Glad you haven’t changed. Hopefully, I’ll see you there.” She paused. “Are you coming to the wedding?”

  “Yes, I’ll be there. Renee’s my sister, I couldn’t miss her big day.” Sarita made up her mind to attend the wedding. She’d wear a high-necked dress or heavy makeup on the lines. She prayed everything would be alright.

  “Great, just so you know, we ordered your dress. You’re in the wedding.”

  Touched, tears filled Sarita’s eyes before she joined Jackie’s laughter. It felt good. She hadn’t really given her old life much thought since the day she learned of her disease. Maybe that had been a mistake, one of many. Perhaps she should’ve returned to the compound for guidance. Fear kept her from the people she loved. Everyone except David. He refused to accept her answers and pressed until she shared everything.

  That day, David wept with her and became her confidant during those difficult times. He’d been so
upset when he learned she tried to cut the lines out of her skin, he had threatened to hunt her down and bring her home if she didn’t stop. She never told him how she’d used bleach, and even fire to get rid of the vines with no success. Thinking of those days hurt. In addition to loving him, she owed him for her sanity.

  Sarita made a flight reservation rather than contacting her grandfather, Alpha Barticus, to use his private jet to Canada. He’d have too many questions and she didn’t have answers she wanted to share. So far, Kim helped her keep her condition a secret by vetting the specialists before telling Sarita about them. Otherwise, her grandparents would insist she stay with them, possibly infecting their entire home.

  The flight left in five hours.

  What about Halas’ prediction? Would the Priestess find her when she returned from Canada? She prayed to be healed before Renee’s wedding. The idea of being clean of the disease filled her with hope for a future.

  David believed they were mates. Over the years she had grown to trust his judgment, so it was possible. No matter what, he owned her heart, which was why going to find him was the only thing she could do.

  She packed her supplies, laptop, research notes and years of work into a dark brown leather case for storage. Staring at it, she took a deep breath. Everything else had to wait.

  She just prayed that it would.

  SARITA PAID HER CAB fare and stepped out at the airport, grabbed the handle of her carry-on luggage and hefted her large bag onto her shoulder. Heart heavy and missing David, she moved through the throng without paying attention to anyone. Her thoughts were centered on Canada, and how to find David in the Torngat Mountains. The largely unexplored place seemed primitive and massive. She’d hire a guide to take her to the area where he fell. In closer proximity, she believed she could pick up his trail. In her heart, she believed she could find David anywhere on the planet.

  When she bumped into someone, she muttered an apology without looking. The next time she bumped into someone she glanced up as she apologized and paid more attention to where she walked. The third time she was bumped, no one was close enough to have made contact.