Vorba dulce mult aduce.
Good words cost nothing and are worth much.
“I will not hide,” Vasile said calmly after hearing the news Nicu had returned with. He was done hiding. He looked at the faces of the group of males that had gathered with him in the meeting hall. More had been added to their numbers, and there were well over thirty wolves willing to fight alongside him.
Alin stepped into the room looking grim. “Well, it is too late to attempt to conceal ourselves regardless; Serghei is here.”
Vasile nodded. “Then let us not keep him waiting.” He walked through the men who parted for him making a way toward the door.
“You are either brave or an even bigger fool than I had first thought to show your face here,” Vasile said as he stepped outside. Dawn was breaking through the darkness of night and the sky was quickly becoming lighter.
“No more a fool than you, Vasile,” Serghei practically spit his name. “Emilian is not the only wolf who wants you dead.”
“I do not fear death, not anymore,” he said with a confidence that had Serghei taking a step back.
“If I could I would fight you right here, right now,” the young wolf snarled.
“What’s stopping—” Vasile was interrupted by another small group of wolves. They walked out of the forest and headed straight up to Vasile and Serghei. “You will get your chance, Serghei,” the leader of the group told him and then looked at the rest of the wolves present. His eyes did not linger long on Vasile and they did not meet his face. “Emilian has commanded us to spread the word. There will be a dominance challenge at the castle. Any male may enter, including you two. The winner will be the undisputed Alpha of the Eastern Romanian Pack. Starting tomorrow at noon, the challenge will begin. The format will be ‘king of the mountain.’ Three matches will begin simultaneously. The first six wolves to step forward will be paired up and will fight. The winner of each challenge will then have to accept the next wolf who wishes to fight, and so it will continue until only three remain, then two, and then one. There will be no breaks, not even for sleep. It is not only a challenge of skill but of endurance as well.”
“I don’t like this. Emilian would never willingly compromise his position. He has something up his sleeve,” Vasile said.
The wolf smirked. “Afraid you cannot compete?”
“Where is the honor in winning a fight by trickery?” he challenged.
“The honor is simply in winning, not in the manner it took to get there.”
Vasile shook his head. A small laugh of disgust rumbling from his chest. “Alright, if that is how Emilian is going to do this, so be it. I am sure he wants to know if I will be there. You can assure him my face will be the last thing he sees on this earth.”
“You have to get through all of us, including me,” Serghei spoke up.
Vasile glanced at the wolf who had hurt his mate. “You are no more than an irritating fly, and all it will take to stop your buzzing is a single swat. If you expect me to fear you, then you are delusional.” He walked away, giving the group his back, making it perfectly clear that he did not consider any of them a threat.
Alina melted into the arms that wrapped around her from behind. Vasile’s large chest pressed firmly against her back. He pressed his lips to her hair, and his chest rumbled contentedly as he breathed her in.
“How are you?” he asked as she stared into the water of the river. He had led her to her spot after dealing with the males, and as they walked he explained what was going to happen. She did not like it, but she had to accept it. Her mate was a dominant and an Alpha and fighting would always be a part of his life.
“I am surviving,” she said honestly.
“Do you feel well enough to take a short walk?”
Her interest peaked at the hopefulness in his voice. Alina turned her head and looked up at him. “I will go anywhere with you.”
His full lips stretched into a breathtaking smile, and she wished with every cell in her body that he would kiss her. But he did not. He released her and then took her hand, leading her along the river following it deeper into the trees.
They walked in silence; the sounds of the world around them were the only sounds. At least fifteen minutes later the trees parted, and they walked out into a clearing where a small barn had been built. She looked over at Vasile curiously but he simply smiled and continued forward. Once they reached the doors he stopped and turned to her.
“While we were apart, there was not a second that I did not think of you. I longed for the day when we would be bound to one another for eternity. In that time I thought a lot about our bonding ceremony, our Blood Rites, and the things I wanted to say and give you. I came across this beautiful creature during my exile, and I immediately knew she was meant for you. This is my gift to you, to show you that I can provide for you. I will protect you and I will strive to bring joy to your life.” He opened the door before she could respond and standing there just on the other side was a beautiful sable mare with a dark chocolate mane and tail. She was so beautiful and without a doubt cost a fortune. She had never owned a horse; they had never been able to afford one. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she reached up and stroked the animals soft nose to which the horse responded by stepping closer to Alina and lowering her head.
“She is magnificent, Vasile,” she said still looking at the horse. “Thank you, I will treasure her.”
“I am glad that you are pleased. What will you call her?” he asked.
Alina smiled. “Cosmina, because she is a beauty.”
He took her hand then, drawing her attention from Cosmina. “I have something else for you.”
She looked down and saw that he held his signet ring, the one that identified him as royalty and as the member of a long line of Alphas.
“It is yours because you belong by my side. You are the woman who will bear the next child to carry on this lineage. To me, you are more than royal, you are my Luna. Your sway over me is complete and absolute. No other will come before you. You have captured me, heart, body, mind and spirit; I am yours.” He took her hand and slipped it onto her ring finger and somehow it fit her perfectly. He felt her curiosity and smiled. “I had a cantankerous fae work some magic on it so it would fit,” he explained.
Alina held her hand up to examine the ring more closely. Her eyes narrowed as she took in its every detail. It had an oval-shaped face and on that face was a grid of four diamonds. In each diamond there was a symbol. The top left was a crown; the top right was a wolf; the bottom left, a sword; and the bottom right, a full moon.
Vasile placed a hand on her waist pulling her closer as she continued to look at the beautiful gift. “The crown represents the royal lineage, the wolf of course is in honor of the gift the Great Luna bestowed upon us, the sword is to testify that as the Alpha family we are the sword of justice keeping the discipline among the pack, and the moon is to acknowledge the importance of the females in the pack. You, Luna of mine, like the moon, can change the tide. The peace and light you bring to me as Alpha can alter how I might respond to a situation. In short, you make me better.” His breath was whisper soft on her face when he spoke again. “Look at me, Mina.”
She did and then shivered at the glowing eyes staring back at her. His mood had shifted from gentle and loving to passionate and needy. Alina felt his desire rushing into her through the bond and she gasped at the force behind it. His hand reached up and cupped her face. It was surprisingly gentle considering the intensity of his emotions.
“I cannot wait any longer,” he murmured.
“For what?” Her voice came out as a breathy moan.
“To taste your lips.”
He lowered his head and Alina’s heart sped up as she realized he was finally, finally, going to kiss her. She fought the urge to grab his head and crush their mouths together. It was a battle she was going to lose if he did not hurry. He stopped just short of their lips touching. She could feel his warm, sweet breath flowing out of his lungs, and she breathed him in, wanting any part of him she could have. He hovered there, his body pressed to hers, his hand spread across her back holding her tight while the other stroked her cheek lovingly with his thumb. Alina wanted to growl for him to do it already. She could not take it any longer.
“Please, Vasile.”
“What, Mina, what do you need?” His deep, rich voice caressed every nerve in her body and the touch of his body was almost too much.
“You, I need you. Please kiss me.”
A smiled stretched wide across his face as he lowered his head, finally capturing her mouth with his. “I told you one day you would beg for me,” he whispered as he coaxed her lips apart and at last stroked his tongue along her own, tasting, savoring.
Alina was too drunk on desire to be irritated with his arrogance. As long as he did not stop kissing her, he was safe from her wrath. She let her hands run up his stomach to his firm chest and up around his neck pulling him tighter to her. The groan that rose up from his lungs said he approved of the bold move. His hand that had been on her face was now on her back as both powerful arms embraced her. He nipped at her lips playfully as he reached up behind her and removed the clip from her hair. It cascaded down her shoulders and back and Vasile immediately plunged his fingers into the dark tresses.
His mouth left hers as he trailed soft kisses across her cheek and down her neck. Her head fell back giving him unimpeded access. She gasped as his tongue darted out and then his teeth latched onto her flesh just enough to cause her to want to beg him again, only this time for his bite. His lips began to travel lower, pushing aside the collar of her blouse. But suddenly he stilled. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, breathless from their passion. Vasile did not move; his mouth was still pressed to her skin just below her collar bone but he was no longer kissing or biting.
“Is something wrong?” she whispered.
He let out a shuddering breath as his hands dropped to her hips and gripped them tightly. “If we do not stop now, the blouse is going to go, then the skirt, and so on and so forth. My wolf was beginning to take over. He is tired of waiting. He was attempting to seduce you into bed.”
Alina let out a slow breath as she attempted to gather her wits. Things had definitely started to get out of control. When Vasile pulled back from her, his eyes were on her chest not her face, and they were hungry. She looked down and saw that two of the buttons on her blouse had come undone in his exuberance. She blushed and quickly buttoned them earning a growl from her mate.
“You said we needed to stop,” she reminded him.
“I meant I had to stop making love to you with my mouth. I did not say I had to stop admiring your incredible form.”
“You are shameless,” she scolded as she pushed out of his embrace.
“I will not deny that, my love, and I have a feeling that once we are bonded you will begin to see just how truly shameless your mate is.” Vasile laughed as her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened.
She had missed his flirting, but she had also forgotten how incredibly tempting he was.
“Do you like your gifts,” he asked as he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Alina felt warmth spread through her as she smiled at him. “Very much.”
“Good, now unless you want everyone to know that I have thoroughly defiled you, you might want to straighten up a little.”
She rolled her eyes at him as she straightened her skirt and blouse and then quickly braided her hair. Her lips felt swollen from the passion of his kiss but there was nothing to be done about that. “As good as it is going to get,” she declared as she looked up at him. He was grinning like a fool.
“Everyone is going to know what we were doing regardless of how put together I am if you do not wipe that ridiculous grin off your face.”
He shrugged. “Then I suppose they will have to know because the grin stays.” He closed up the barn assuring her that Cosmina would be fine, as he had a pack member looking after her.
Reluctantly she let him lead her away, but only because he promised that as soon as he had destroyed his enemy and they were back in the castle, he would have Cosmina a stall of her own built right on the grounds. Then Alina could go to her any time she wanted.
The night was filled with tension as the pack members in the village gathered in the meeting hall to eat together. Alina found a measure of peace amidst the horror of all that had happened and would happen as once again they were united. Maybe not everyone, but it was a start.
Before they all went their separate ways to retire for the night, Vasile addressed them.
“Tonight as you lie in your beds send up a prayer to the Great Luna that she would grant us strength, unity, and victory and that she would be on our side because we have honor and have not let our selfish desires rule our actions. Give thanks as well, for all that we have, for every member of our pack, for your mates or future mates. And then as you close your eyes and let sleep take over, rest in the assurance that our creator has heard our united plea, that She loves us, and will protect us.”
As Vasile held Alina in his arms once again in the tiny bed, he did as he had told his pack, he sent up his prayer to his Creator. When his mate shifted restlessly beside him he looked down at her and blew gently on her face allowing his scent to fill her senses. She calmed and pressed closer against him. His mind wandered to earlier that day when he had finally kissed her. Nothing could have prepared him for just how completely extraordinary it would be. Her lips were soft as silk, her taste sweeter than the best ambrosia, and her response to him had nearly been the breaking point. His wolf had been demanding they complete the bond. He did not care that there was not a plush bed or soft candle lights. All he wanted, all he would ever need, was his mate, no frills necessary. But thankfully the human half was able to reason with the wolf as to why it would not be wise to strip themselves, as well as their mate, bare in a field, especially not for their first experience together.
He had decided to give her his bonding gifts before the challenges because he wanted her to know how much he adored her. He had not planned on kissing her, but they were alone. She was finally of age, and he could not stop himself. A smile played at his lips as he remembered her outrage at his flirting. Little did she know he was being completely serious, because to him there was nothing more beautiful than her―every luscious inch of her. He finally began to drift off to sleep, unwilling to think about the fights to come. He thought instead about just how much his lovely mate would blush when he could finally look his fill without any barriers between them.
Dawn came much too soon. Alina, like everyone else, seemed to be lost in thought as she dressed and got ready for the trek to the castle. She wished that she could somehow leap forward in time so they could simply skip all the fighting and killing and finally have a united pack again. And yet she knew not only from her father’s words but also through experience that it was when you were in the valley, with all of life’s difficulties raining down on you, that you experienced change and growth. The mountain top was wonderful, but if the only place she lived was on the mountain top, then how would she ever learn to love through pain, or laugh through heartache, or endure so that she could help someone else who might one day experience what she had? They needed the hard times in order to truly appreciate the good times but also to be refined into something better than they were before.
“We must go.” Vasile’s voice drew her from her thoughts. She turned and saw that he had his hand outstretched to her. She took it without hesitation and let him pull her to his side. They walked silently, joining the other pack members in the somber caravan as they headed towards what was sure to be a blood bath.
“You are quiet this morning,” Vasile said through their bond as he caressed the hand he held with his thumb.
“I do not want to see him and yet I want to rip his heart from his chest.” She did not want to feel that way about Serghei. He had been a friend for so long, but then he had gone and betrayed her, violated her, and murdered her parents. She was a merciful person, but she had to draw the line somewhere.
“He will not live much longer, my love. I will not allow it.”
“I do not think he will challenge you at the beginning. He will wait until you have been fighting for some time, thinking that he will have a better chance if you are tired.”
Vasile looked down at her and smiled. “Perhaps, I should make you the leader of my warriors. You think like a warrior.”
“Will you be alright?” Alina did not want to ask this question out loud. She would never question her mate’s abilities in front of pack members; it would make him appear weak. “With no sleep, no rest, how long can anyone go on like that, Vasile? I have no doubt in your ability to destroy every male out there, but to have to do it one after the other with no time to give your body a chance to heal will be difficult, and even you are not invisible.”
“I have fought in battles that lasted days. It is not easy, but when there is so much at stake you would be surprised what you become capable of.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her wrist softly. “Have faith in me; I will not fail.”
“I do, but I am your mate and it is my right to worry about you.” A smile twitched on his lips at her biting tone. “Why is that funny?” she huffed.
“It is not that I think it is funny, Mina. I happen to find you incredibly attractive when you growl at me.”
She rolled her eyes and inwardly groaned. “At a time like this, that is what you are thinking about?”
“Beloved, you will come to learn that there is not a time when a mated male is not thinking about his female like that.”
“Perhaps, we should go over the details again,” she suddenly said out loud. This brought a bark of laughter from her mate that had everyone turning to look at them. Alina ignored him and addressed Ion. “You and Nicu will be with me, right?”
Ion nodded. “We will not leave your side.”
“The other males will fall under the command of Alin while I am fighting,” Vasile added. “I want all of the fights being watched and I want a set of eyes on Emilian and Serghei at all times.”
Alina looked up at him, then something struck her. “Why have I not seen Sisily?” She had thought nothing of it two days ago, but now she was surprised that Sisily had not checked on her even once.
“I sent her and her parents to Anghel. They are embarrassed and ashamed by their son’s actions, and I did not want them to feel like they were under scrutiny. When things settle they will come back.”
Alina understood why he had done it, and she even understood why he had not mentioned it. He had been trying hard to avoid any topic that might bring up Serghei. She could not decide if it was more for her benefit because he did not want her to think on it, or for his because he would not be able to control himself if he dwelled on it.
“Both.” He answered her thoughts.
Her brow rose as she looked up at him. “Do I get no privacy?”
A wolfish smile spread across his face. “I will make sure you have plenty of privacy, Mina, just not from me.”
She decided then was not the time to argue about it. They had a lifetime and then some to deal with their differences. It was only a short time later that she began to hear the rumble of voices intermingled with snarls and growls. They were less than a mile from the castle and Alina suddenly felt very sick. Vasile drew their group to a halt and looked at each of them.
“There are dominants who have no control over their wolves. Four years under the leadership of a wolf who was not able to make them submit has allowed their wolves to run wild. They will try to bait you into a fight. Do not let them.” He pushed his power over them, commanding their wolves’ submission and obedience and every pack member present bared their neck to him.
“Vasile,” Sevren, one of the younger males, addressed him. “It is an honor to call you Alpha and an honor to support you as you fight. We thank you, because we know you are fighting for us.”
Alina’s heart swelled as all of the wolves nodded and spoke up their agreement. Whether they knew it or not, her mate had needed to hear that. She would have to remember to thank the young wolf for being brave enough to speak up. They started off again with Vasile and Alina at the front of the group. Nicu, Alin, and Ion followed closely behind and then the rest behind them.
She held tight to Vasile’s hand as they entered the castle grounds and took in the chaos that surrounded them. Alina had known that the dominants were out of control, but she had not realized that it had gotten this bad. There were wolves who could not even hold their human form completely. Their hands were paws, and their faces were partially phased. Some had tails; some had all their human form but were covered in their wolf fur. Testosterone was thick in the air along with the smell of rage, envy, and even fear. She looked up at Vasile to see his reaction and was not surprised to see anger, but beneath that there was sorrow. The majority of these males had been his pack mates. They had sworn fealty to him, trusting him to help them keep their beast in check.
“So many will have to die today, all because Emilian did not care that he could not make them submit. He left them to their own devices and abandoned them to the beast that, without their mate or an Alpha, will destroy them and all those around them.” Vasile’s voice had taken on the calm, collected tone that many had mistaken for passivity. Those who made that mistake had paid the price for their foolishness. Those who knew him as Alpha understood that when Vasile was calm, blood would spill, and no mercy would be given.