They finished dessert. There was a sudden stir by the curtained archway.
“I believe Durant has arrived. Your grand’ père is with him,” Louise said, standing. “Insist on a pack meeting immediately, Josephine. You must make your claim tonight.”
Louise rose and walked to her mate. She kissed him on the cheek. Valerii looked at Anton, one eyebrow quirked in question. Anton nodded to Valerii. Whatever happened tonight, Valerii knew Anton would guard his back and protect Josephine if necessary.
The curtain opened, and a young man walked in, followed by an older gentleman and two other lycans, both bristling and looking for a fight. From seeing Josephine’s memories, Valerii knew that the young man was Durant. The older man was Josephine’s grandfather, and the other two were Durant’s twin cousins, Duval and Darcel.
“Josephine, you’ve returned at last,” Durant said, a bemused look on his face as the group hurried over to the table. “Thank God. I searched for you.”
Valerii assessed the young man. His build seemed strong, but young. His muscles were not as developed as an older man’s. He felt Josephine’s affection for her friend and pushed it aside. Durant was fair, his hazel eyes warm as he looked at Josephine. Too warm in Valerii’s opinion. He was certain he could subdue the young lycan in a fair fight. No one would take Josephine away from him.
“Come with me, Joey. I have much to tell you.” Durant pulled Josephine from her chair by her arm.
Joey? Valerii felt his wolf rise to the surface, and a low growl escaped his throat.
“Stop it, Durant,” Josephine said, her eyes flashing as she pulled her arm from his grasp. “You’re being rude to my friends. You must call the pack together. I will make my claim tonight.”
“She is the heir. Making her claim is her right. You must do as she asks, Durant,” Josephine’s grandfather said.
Durant looked at his cousins and jerked his head toward the doorway. Valerii assumed they would be spreading the news and calling the pack together.
“Grand’ père.” Josephine gave the old man a kiss.
“Josephine, it is good to see you, ma petite fille.”
“Who are you?” Durant asked, staring first at Valerii and then at Anton and Laurel.
Valerii stood, as did Anton. Valerii knew his eyes would be glowing with displeasure over Durant’s behavior. He tamped down his temper.
“I am Valerii Belikov. I bring you greetings from Grigori Solovyov, the English Alpha.” Valerii wanted nothing more than to thrash this young pup for his insolent manners.
“I am Anton Volkov, and this is my mate, Laurel. We, too, offer greetings from my brother, the Siberian Alpha,” Anton said formally, giving a slight bow.
“You may tell your Alphas I thank them. What brings you to Paris?”
“My mate is doing research into our breeding problems,” Anton said. “There is a conference at the Hilton La Defense.”
“The breeding problems...So we are not the only pack to suffer small birth rates and more male than female children.” Durant rubbed his chin.
“Indeed, you are not. Tell me, do you know of other packs? We learned of your existence from Josephine,” Anton said.
“I believe there is a group in America. One of my pack decided to emigrate and wrote to us of a pack in Montana.”
“That is good to know. Do they also have breeding problems?” Laurel asked.
“I do not know, Madame. I can give you my pack member’s new address. Perhaps, if you contact him, he will be able to tell you.”
“Thank you. Any help you can give will be appreciated,” Laurel said.
Durant looked over at Valerii and frowned. Valerii knew Durant noticed his protective posture toward Josephine. He stared into Durant’s eyes in challenge. The young lycan was a fool if he thought Valerii would bow down to him.
“If you will follow me, the pack meeting room is downstairs in the basement,” Durant said, gesturing to a staircase near the back of the building.
Josephine allowed her grandfather to escort her. Valerii stayed close behind, followed by Durant, who led Anton and Laurel. Valerii’s stomach clenched. He could barely stop himself from throwing Josephine over his shoulder and carrying her out of there. The deep knowledge that she needed to do this kept him still. His wolf rode him hard, and he could feel fur running under his skin.
Try to remain calm, my friend, Anton sent into Valerii’s mind.
I am trying. I fear I have waited too long to claim Josephine.
You must give her to her pack. But she will always belong to you. I know you can do this, Valerii.
Then, you know more than I do, my friend.
The basement smelled of damp stone. A small dais with chairs stood at one end. More chairs were set up against the walls. Several lycans followed the group downstairs to set chairs up for the pack members.
Durant passed by the group and motioned them to follow him to the dais. “I hope you will join me, here, as my honored guests and guests of the pack.” Durant pointed to a group of chairs.
“You are too kind,” Laurel said.
They all followed him up on the dais. When Josephine chose a seat, Durant stopped her, his hand on her elbow. “Not there, Joey. You will sit at my left side, as is proper for the Alpha female.”
Valerii took a step forward in protest, his canines lengthening. Anton stopped him with a hand to the shoulder. Josephine looked back at Valerii with worry in her eyes
Please, Valerii, bear with me a while longer. Let me make my claim, and then you can make yours. I know I am pushing you, please.
I do not know if I have the strength to do this, lyubov moya. If your friend touches you one more time, I may kill him.
At least, you know he is just my friend. I have faith in you, mate. Behave. Valerii felt her amusement behind her thoughts. She really did have faith in him. She also liked teasing him.
Beware, milaya moya. I will make you behave or I will tie you to my bed.
Promise or threat? Josephine asked, laughing in her mind.
You decide.
***
Valerii wasn’t kidding about Durant touching her. Josephine could feel Valerii’s wolf rising to the surface. His scent deepened and flowed over her. Her wolf wanted to roll in the smell until she was covered from head to toe.
Anton had tried to warn her about the mating heat. Now that the block in her mind was gone, she found that just one thought of Valerii caused her body to respond. What must Valerii be going through? Why did he have to be so handsome, so sexy, and so masterful?
I am reading your mind, lyubov moya. It would be safer for both of us if you didn’t think about me so much.
Well, now you are just being arrogant, Josephine sent into his thoughts, feeling his male amusement at her ponderings. She knew lyubov moya meant “my love,” and her heart swelled at the endearment.
I am not the one thinking I am handsome and sexy. You are.
Well, I lied.
I don’t believe that is so, lyubov moya. But if you need to say so, then you must.
Pack members started to come into the room and sit down in small groups. Josephine searched each face, testing her memory. When the last pack member sat, the four elders took the chairs directly behind the Alphas. Duval and Darcel took up positions on each side of the dais. Josephine looked around the room in confusion. Only twenty chairs were filled. Where was the rest of her pack? Five years ago the number had been almost double. What had happened that now there were so few?
Chapter Eight
Josephine found her breath stuck in her chest. Would anyone challenge her for the position of Alpha female?
Durant stood to address the pack. “As you can see, Josephine Chevalier, daughter and heir to Anne Chevalier, has returned to us, her family. Since she is now of age, she has the right to claim her place as Alpha female.”
Josephine rose. Steeling herself, she faced the crowd. “I am the child of Anne Chevalier. I claim the Alpha female’s position by righ
t of blood and arms if I must. Are there any who wish to challenge me?”
Josephine scanned the faces of the people seated before her. Some were happy, and some looked thoughtful.
One middle-aged man raised his hand. “I’m sure the pack is glad to have our heir to the great Claire Lecuyer among us. I would like to know, why she left us.”
Josephine frowned in confusion. Surely, they knew her father had been tortured and killed.
“You can ask your questions of Josephine after her claim is made. The challenge has been offered. Are there any who will answer?” Durant asked the pack.
“We have no females to answer,” someone said, near the back.
“Then, come forward and swear your loyalty to your new Alpha female,” Durant said.
One by one, lycans rose and came forward. Josephine greeted them individually, taking their hands as they swore fealty to her. Some of her favorites smiled and hugged her in welcome, while others were more standoffish. What would she have to do to reestablish the camaraderie she used to have with her pack?
Finally, all pack members had returned to their seats, and Durant came forward. A hush fell over the crowd as he knelt in front of her, swearing to protect her and follow her leadership. When he rose, he kissed her hand and held it to his chest. “I am glad you are finally home, cherie. You know that our parents hoped we would mate. I look forward to making you mine... ”
Josephine looked at Durant. Didn’t he see the mating bond leading to Valerii? Maybe he hadn’t looked for it.
“Remove your hands.” Valerii stalked forward. “This woman is my mate. By pack law and in front of her family, I claim her as my own. Josephine Chevalier, I take everything you are into my keeping and give everything I am into yours.” Valerii took Josie’s face into his hands and held her gently so he could look into her eyes.
“It doesn’t exactly work that way, here in Paris, stranger,” Durant said, his look deadly.
Valerii turned to look at Durant after brushing Josie’s cheek with his fingers. “What do you mean? The heartmate bond is sacred. The bonded cannot be separated.” No one would take Josie from him. Certainly not this pup.
“Josephine must choose. Josephine, you know our parents hoped we would mate. Will you link yourself to this man, a stranger to our pack?”
Josephine looked around the room. These people were her friends and family. But Valerii was her heart. “I, Josephine Chevalier, do take Valerii Belikov as my mate. I give everything I am into his keeping and take everything he is into mine.”
“Bravo, bravo. A mating deserves a celebration, no?” came a woman’s voice from the dais.
Josie turned and smiled. “Mémère... ”
“No, I will not allow this. I am the Alpha of this pack. I am the one who held it together after the death of my father. Josephine will not mate with this male. Duval, Darcel take him out.”
“Durant, don’t,” Josephine said. “You gave me your fealty.” If you are still my friend, do not do this.
“Then, I challenge you and your leadership as Alpha male of this pack,” Valerii said.
***
Valerii looked around the room; they were surrounded. He would fight all of them to keep Josie at his side. He pushed her behind him, keeping a hand on her arm. She pressed her face into his back and sighed.
“This is against pack law,” Louise said, coming up to stand next to the couple. “Your heir has returned and made her claim. You swore to follow her leadership. She has chosen her mate. The mating bond glows between them.”
“Get out of the way, Louise, before you get hurt.” Duval pushed his way forward and grabbed the older woman by the arm.
Valerii took a step forward. There was something dangerous about Duval. A violence that lay hidden from view. No one should be grabbing an Elder.
“ENOUGH! You will stop.”
Power blasted through the room. Everyone froze as a gigantic white wolf walked up next to Josephine and Valerii. A golden medallion hung around her neck. Asena, Goddess and mother of their race had appeared.
All eyes followed the wolf’s progress as pack members realized they were frozen in place.
“You have been led astray, my children, by one who should have protected you. Now, when I send a leader worthy of following, this is how you respond? The mating bond is in place for all to see. Do you deny it? Be careful of your answers, for I am out of patience with you. You have corrupted my laws, mating without a bond. Selling my female children to humans for money. This will stop. Long has your pack been in existence, but with one wave of my hand I can end you. You will kneel before your Alphas and know that I have chosen them to lead you. You will each give a blood oath or you will leave and never return.”
The blood oath was the ultimate show of trust in Alphas. Suddenly, everyone in the room was free of paralysis. Louise pulled her arm from Duval and walked over to a table by the wall. She picked up a small wooden bowl and a sharp dagger before returning and handing the bowl to Valerii. With a swift jerk of the dagger she cut her hand and let the blood drip into the bowl. “I, Louise Bontecou, swear my allegiance to these Alphas, to support them and follow where they might lead, until death takes me, or I am released from my vow.”
Valerii drank half the liquid before giving the bowl to Josephine. A blood oath would allow them to speak to each member of the pack telepathically and in extreme instances to control them.
Louise was followed by her mate, Josephine’s grandfather. One by one, the pack members came forward. Each bowed to Asena, the mother of their race, and then each gave a pledge. Finally, the only ones left were Durant, Duval, and Darcel.
“Your family has held the place of Beta for generations. Will you take up this task?” Valerii asked, trying to smooth things over. “I will need your support and advice. It will take time for me to get to know each pack member and his or her situation.”
Durant looked at Josephine, then at Asena before bowing his head, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “This family is unworthy of such an honor,” he said, his hands fisted at his sides.
The crowd gasped, and Duval and Darcel turned to stare at their cousin, a look of shock on their faces. Durant looked at each person in the room before he continued.
“I found my father’s diary. He betrayed Josephine and her family to a group of radicals. His plan was to kill her parents, then marry her to me, thus claiming the pack funds. The doctor double-crossed him and refused to return her. He shielded their whereabouts from all of us. I know we all mourned when we felt our Alphas slip into the next world. Then, Josephine escaped. You were wise to hide yourself, Josephine. Only that stopped my father’s plan.”
“Did you know of this, Durant? You were my friend,” Josephine said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I swear to you, I did not. It was only after my father was killed and my mother died that I found out the truth. By then, I could not undo what my father had wrought. I tried to fix as much as I could. You have to believe me.”
“Your father was sick, Durant,” Louise said. “He had a gambling addiction. When he couldn’t get control of the pack funds, he tried to get money in other ways. Still, it was not enough to appease the man who loaned him money. Bijou’s human husband killed your father.”
“Grand mere, you knew? All this time you knew Durant’s father was guilty of my parent’s deaths?” Josephine asked.
“Oui, ma petite fille. I knew something was not right. When I found out you were safe in England, I began to look for evidence. If Thomas Lebrosse had not killed Landry, I would have.”
“Mamere, you wouldn’t.”
“He killed my only child, your mother. Oui, Josephine, I would have. Durant, you are not to blame for your father’s sins. We need you. Our numbers are so small. Please stay with us,” Louise said.
Durant looked at his cousins. Both of them nodded their heads, their looks thoughtful.
“Very well,” Durant said, reaching for the dagger. Instead of slicing his ha
nd, he twisted his wrist and plunged the dagger into his chest.
“No!” Josephine jumped off the dais, Valerii right behind her.
Duval and Darcel caught their cousin and laid him on the floor. They all gasped in shock as a golden cord slammed into his chest and led away into the night.
“Get out of the way. I’m a healer.” Laurel appeared from where Asena had stood. She swayed on her feet, and Anton swept an arm around her to steady her.
“I wish Asena would give me some kind of warning before taking over like that,” Laurel said, smiling up at her mate. “Let me see him. Anton. When I nod, remove the blade from his chest.”
Josephine sat down and cradled Durant’s head in her lap. “Why, why did you try to end your life?”
“I’m so ashamed, Joey. I thought I could go on pretending I didn’t know what my father was. I can’t,” Durant said.
“Shh, don’t talk like that,” Josephine said, brushing hair off his forehead. “Asena has given you a reason to live. Your mate is out there waiting for you to find her.”
Valerii kneeled down beside Josephine and took Durant’s hand, before bringing it up to his mouth to lick the blood off Durant’s fingers to establish a mental connection. He swept into Durant’s mind. The young man was innocent of any wrongdoing. But guilt had eaten away at his soul. Protecting the pack had become his mission. His father’s failure to do so caused this extreme reaction that and his shame.
“I accept you as my Beta, Durant. You must stop punishing yourself for your father’s actions. You were a child, unable to stop him, even if you had known. Now that I know you have a mate waiting for you, I won’t be so upset that my mate is cradling your head in her lap.”
Durant gave a weak laugh. “Thank you, my Alpha. You honor me even when you should deny me. I appreciate knowing you aren’t going to thrash me when I lie in this condition.”
“Only if you give up and continue in this fashion. Each couple is needed for our race to survive. I order you to heal.”
“Is he always this bossy?” Durant asked Josephine.
A Siberian Werewolf in Paris Page 9