by Flynn, Donna
“Right now it seems like the best course of action. I mean, we know Kirk is honorable and his pack’s loyalty to him is not in question, so it couldn’t hurt to have their help,” Lucan said.
“Besides, Rich knows we trust Kirk’s pack and with Lucan and Nina being Bond Mates they would be the obvious choice for us to bring in for help, so it won’t raise his suspicions,” Cade added. “It is a solid plan.
Kirk stood and shook hands with her brothers before turning to Alec and shaking his hand too. “It takes a great man to put aside their differences for the good of his mate. I hope one day I can do the same if my mate is in trouble.”
“You would, and if that day ever comes you can count on me for help,” Alec told him sincerely.
Kirk turned to Mercy and smiled, but made no attempt to touch her. “See you at school.”
“Thank you, Kirk.”
“Don’t thank me, your mate asked for my help. I hope you can appreciate just how hard that must have been for him.”
Mercy reached for Alec’s hand and squeezed it tight. “I can.”
*****
Knowing someone had betrayed her and told the Elders about her existence weighed heavily upon Mercy for the rest of the week. She should have felt at ease with Alec’s pack and now Kirk’s watching over her, but instead she was uneasy and was constantly on guard. On top of everything else going on in her life, it was finals week and that meant hours of review at school and a ton of extra studying at home until late into the night. By the time Friday came she was so tired and stressed. All she wanted was to go home where she knew she was safe and could get some rest.
“Tired, Angel?” Alec asked when she laid her head on his shoulder as they sat on the porch swing after school.
“Exhausted,” she answered, snuggling up against him and closing her eyes.
Alec knew it had been a tough week for her, he had sensed her panic every time Rich was near and her fear made him tense. He hated the uncertainty that surrounded his longtime friend, but there was nothing to be done about it until they knew one way or the other if he was the traitor. So far, they had found nothing to suggest Rich had been the one going to the council, except for Mason’s word and they didn’t know him well enough to trust him either.
Mason had been oddly silent since talking to Alec. He was always there, just out of the way, watching and waiting, but doing nothing suspicious. Lucan had taken a late night trip to the airfield and found records that indicated a male and female had indeed taken a flight out from there the night of the prom, which confirmed Mason’s findings, but didn’t clear him in any way. Despite his long friendship with Rich, his instincts told him Mason was telling the truth. The lone wolf had nothing to gain by going to the Elders with information about Mercy and he genuinely seemed to care for her, but he wasn’t going to just blindly trust anyone. Not anymore, he had learned that lesson the hard way just a few months before when one of his childhood friends fooled him and tried to kill Mercy.
Alec looked down, realized Mercy had fallen asleep and he smiled, running his fingers through her long silky tresses. Her hair was soft and smelled of vanilla and evergreen, a scent distinctly her own. He settled back against the swing, happy to stay there until she woke again. Soon, he thought, soon he would never have to leave her side. Once they were bonded, if she wanted a nap, he could curl up in the big bed he had bought just last weekend for their bedroom back home and stay by her side, without worrying about her brothers wanting to kill him. Within a few short weeks, she would be his forever, and that was worth all of the back-stabbing and rank fighting in the world to him.
Lucan walked out onto the porch and smiled sadly when he saw his sister curled up in Alec’s lap sound asleep as he rocked the porch swing steadily. “She has always loved to be rocked to sleep,” he said taking a seat across from them. “When I first brought her home she would curl up every night on my lap and lay there as I stroked her hair and sang to her until her eyes would close and she would fall fast asleep.”
“I remember,” Alec said. Even back then, he had been unable to stay away from her. He been there many nights with her brothers as they tucked her into bed and read her stories from the many books she had collected. Back then he was more like a friend, a confidante, and all he had wanted was to see to her happiness, but even then, he had known that their destiny would lead them to the moment that was close at hand.
Lucan sighed. “She has been up every night this week, those dreams are terrorizing her.”
Alec knew: he had been outside the house, felt her fear, but had allowed her brothers to handle her, since he was watching for any sign of the pair that had managed to infiltrate the prom.
“This can’t go on, we need to end it and soon,” Lucan told him.
“Do you think I don’t know that, Luc,” Alec said a little more sharply than he had intended. “I had pictured a much different scenario than this. I feel like I am robbing her of her life by bonding so soon with her. But another part of me is glad to finally claim her for my own. She is everything to me. I can’t let them take her away. I won’t let anyone have what is mine!”
Lucan knew well how he felt, his heart went out to him, and he found himself trying to console him despite the fact he was unhappy about their rushed bonding. “I know I have given you a hard time, but I know you will be good mate for my sister.”
“Thank you, Lucan. I appreciate that.”
Lucan smiled wanly as he stared at his sister. “She is my life, and her happiness is the only thing I care about. Screw the council and their outdated laws. I want her to have the life she was meant to live, with the mate fate has destined for her.”
“I swear, even if I have to fight every damn wolf in the territory for her, she will be mine,” Alec vowed.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Lucan said.
Alec nodded, but he had a feeling deep in the pit of his belly that it just might.
*****
Mercy woke sometime later, nestled against Alec, who was watching her intently as she opened her eyes. The night air had grown cooler, but between their body heat and the blanket he had covered her with she was toasty warm. “Hey,” she said, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “What time is it?”
“Close to eight.” He couldn’t believe how incredibly gorgeous she was even after a long nap and couldn’t stop staring at her.
“Oh my God, I missed dinner.” She rushed to get up, but Alec wrapped her in his arms and held her on his lap, keeping her from getting away.
“Lucan put our dinner in the oven, and is working in his office. Cade is on his way to spend the night at Hailey’s and we are all alone out here, together in the quiet, with no one watching over us.” He brushed his lips against the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine and she laid back against him, resting the back of her head on his shoulder as his hand moved over her stomach just under her shirt his warm fingers stroking her flesh. “I love you, Angel. I can’t wait until I can make you mine in every way possible.”
“Oh, Alec,” she murmured her fingers tightening on his thigh as he nibbled at her neck, his hand sliding higher stopping just below her bra.
“Soon my love, nothing will bar me from touching you, tasting you, and possessing you body and soul.” His finger traced just under the edge of the bra. He moaned softly, tormented by how badly he wanted to forget the promise he made to her brothers.
Mercy turned to look into Alec’s now amber eyes, saw the passion he had for her there, and smiled wickedly. “You know, if Lucan is busy we can always take a walk in the woods.”
Alec growled and pulled his hand from under her shirt, shifting her on his lap so he had easier access to her lips snarling as his mouth crashed down onto hers, his tongue sliding between her petal-soft lips to sweep her mouth.
Mercy met each stroke of his tongue, her hands moving over his hard firm stomach before moving lower, sliding her fingers down the waistband of his jeans.
“No,”
Alec managed to growl, his voice husky and desire filled as she fumbled with the button. “Please don’t,” he pleaded, his breathing heavy as he struggled to control his need to carry her off and finish what they had started. “I won’t be able to stop,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
“I don’t want you to,” Mercy said, burying her face in his neck, nipping his flesh playfully as she worked the button of his jeans with her fingers. His body trembled under her and he growled low and deep as her hand moved to the zipper of his jeans. “Take me to the woods, Alec, where we can be alone,” she whispered against his ear.
“No!” Alec growled standing abruptly.
Mercy landed on her rear end as he dumped her off his lap and took off for the forest, shifting as he went to run off the passion she had stirred in him.
Lucan was at the door instantly, looking to her flushed face with disapproval. “Get inside,” he said angrily.
“Luc, don’t,” she told him, unable to deal with his indignation when she was well aware of what she had done. She hadn’t mean to push Alec, didn’t realize that her actions would create such turmoil for him. To his credit, her brother said nothing as they walked into the house. He directed her to the kitchen and silently got her dinner for her. When she had eaten her fill, he took her plate to the sink, sat back down across from her, and she knew he was done being silent.
“I have a good idea what happened tonight and I don’t want to go into it, but I hope you now understand why it is not a good idea to push him on this. Alec is your mate. Nature ensured you are a temptation he cannot easily deny. He has only so much control and tonight you crossed a line.”
Shame filled her and tears welled in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to push him. I am just so tired of waiting.”
“He is trying to keep a promise he made to us long ago and I admire his resolve given the fact you are constantly tempting him, but tonight you went too far.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his own. “We are not human, and when we are pushed to far it can lead to some bad results. You should be thankful he cares about you enough too have the strength to leave.”
“I know,” she said laying her head on the table. “I’m just afraid of losing him, I feel like something bad is going to happen and I know I will regret not being his completely when it does.”
Lucan got up and came to her side, pulling her into his arms. “It’s going to be alright, we won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I don’t know if any of you can stop what is coming, Luc. I’m so scared that I won’t get to live the rest of my life with Alec as my mate.”
“There is no way, no matter what happens, that Alec would let another have you.” He kissed the top of her head. “If the Elders show up after you’re bonded, what can they do? He will, by our laws, be your Bond Mate and they will not be able to separate you.”
“I guess,” she murmured against his chest.
“I know,” Lucan, told her. “Now go and get some rest. Alec won’t be back tonight and I know you have had a long week.”
“Thanks, Luc,” she said, hugging him once again before turning away to go to her room.
“No problem. No matter what, I will always be here for you.” She turned back and smiled at him as she had done thousands of times, and his heart shuddered.
“I know, but I’m not sure I have ever thanked you for all you have done for me.”
“Your happiness is my thanks,” he told her.
“Good night Luc, I love you,” she said before walking out.
“I love you too,” he said, closing his eyes against the tears that gathered. “More than you will ever know.”
*****
Alec stood at the edge of the forest long after he shifted back to his human form watching Mercy’s shadow moving around her bedroom. She came to the window easily sensing his presence and he stepped back into the woods so she wouldn’t see him. He wasn’t ready to face her so soon after nearly losing control and knew it was better to stay where he was. His phone vibrated at his hip and he looked down on the screen with a sigh, placing it to his ear. “Mercy,” he said breathlessly.
“I just wanted to say I’m sorry.”
“No, I am sorry. I should have better control,” he said.
“Don’t, Alec,” she sighed. “I pushed you, and I should have known better. I promise I won’t do it again.”
“I love you, Angel.”
“I love you too. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, goodnight.”
“Good night,” she said, hanging up her phone.
Soon after her lights went out and he spent the rest of the night keeping watch over her house as she slept, wondering how he was going to make it through the next few weeks when all he wanted to was to claim her and make her his in every sense of the word.
Chapter Six
Mercy woke Saturday morning, eager to see Alec and apologize again for her careless actions the night before. She heard his voice in the kitchen as she walked down the stairs and couldn’t help smiling. He was the best part of her life and she couldn’t wait for graduation so they could be together forever without all of the melodrama they were currently experiencing. As she turned the corner her gaze immediately found his. He strode quickly across the room and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“Angel, it’s over, let’s move on.” He kissed her briefly, then lead her to the table where Lucan sat with his cup of coffee while Nina cooked breakfast at the stove.
“Good morning Nina, Luc,” Mercy said, taking a seat.
“Morning,” Nina said cheerfully.
“Feeling better today?” Lucan asked.
Mercy’s cheeks heated. “Much better, thanks.” She grabbed the orange juice container and poured a large glass for herself, taking a long sip before facing Alec, feeling oddly nervous. He rubbed her fingers, a sign he too was uneasy about the night before and she reached over placing her hand on top his. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said with a thin smile. The night before he had almost lost what little control he possessed when around her and he had yet to forgive himself for it. He had known if he didn’t come and see her, she would worry and blame herself, which he could not allow, so he came despite his reservations.
“Okay, I think I have everything,” Nina said coming to the table, setting down a large platter filled with bacon and sausage for the guys and herself, and bowl of assorted fruit and a container of yogurt for Mercy, who she knew wasn’t that big on meat products.
Everyone had just settled at the table and were helping themselves to their breakfast when a light spring breeze wafted through the screen door bringing the scent of another werewolf along with it. Alec bolted up from his chair, grabbing Mercy and shoving her out of the kitchen.
Lucan issued a low growl, pushing Nina behind him as he stared at the door, ready to pounce.
“Alec, what the heck,” Mercy roared, but his hand clamping down over her mouth prevented her from saying anything more.
“Say nothing,” he whispered, backing against the wall out of sight of the kitchen, but close enough to hear what was happening so he could aid her brother if it were needed.
With Mercy out of sight and his mate a good distance away, Lucan moved to the door. He tore it open to find an unfamiliar male standing there holding an envelope in his hand, wearing a thin smile.
“The Elder’s send their regards,” the man said, handing the envelope to Lucan before turning and walking down the porch stairs, getting into a black BMW, starting the engine, and driving away without even looking back.
Lucan closed the screen door and turned back to where Nina stood wringing her hands, staring at the letter anxiously. With a snarl, he tossed the offending article on the table and looked to where Alec and Mercy were reentering the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Mercy asked, looking shaken.
“The Elders” Lucan said, his angry gaze meeting Alec’s.
&nbs
p; Alec strode to the table and grabbed the letter, tearing it open and scanning the contents. A low rumble of displeasure came from him as he finished reading. Mercy moved to his side and he pulled her into his arms, handing the letter to her brother before hugging her so close she gasped for air.
“Alec, what is going on?” Mercy asked breathlessly. Alec loosened his hold as Lucan handed her the vellum paper. She carefully read the beautiful handwritten script that announced the arrival of the Elders who wished to meet her the day after her graduation. “No,” she squeaked, tossing the letter on the table and burying her head against Alec’s chest.
“It’s going to be alright,” he murmured, meeting Lucan’s stunned gaze over her head.
“I can’t believe this!” she whined. “We planned everything and now they are ruining it.”
“Shh,” Alec said softly, his own body shaking badly. “We will figure this all out.”
Mercy looked up, her eyes meeting his and shook her head. “I already have. I want you, and I will tell them that. They can’t tell me what to do with my own life.”
Alec knew they could. Their word was law; every werewolf lived by it or was considered an outcast from their society. “Angel, just relax,” Alec said with more calm than he actually felt. “We need to get Cade back here and call my father,” he said to Lucan.
Lucan nodded and pulled his cell out, immediately dialing those who were in the loop and requesting their presence at the house.
“They had to have known we were planning to bond before my birthday. Why else would they be coming so soon?” Mercy bit her lip to keep from crying out her frustrations.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but we will handle it, don’t panic.” Alec held her tight, trying to be confident for her, but inside he was scared to death. If the Elders proceeded with their plans there was always a chance he could lose her and that was not something he could not fathom.