Damon
Chapter 32
Spending the day with Tulok showing me the ropes was exactly what I needed. He was patient and took the time to answer every single question I asked. I set my pride aside and asked some dumb ones. This was far too important to chance interpretation or guess on anything. I wanted to take full advantage of the time he gave me.
“There is no such thing as a dumb question, Damon,” he reminded me.
“I know, sir. I just feel like some of these are basic questions and I should probably know the answers to. Most I do even, but I just want to be absolutely sure.”
He considered that and nodded. “That will make you a fine Alpha, son. You already have all the tools inside. Just listen to your heart,” he said, placing his hand over my chest for emphasis.
“Thank you, sir. That really means a lot to me.”
“Now, unless you have anything further, I say we head back to our mates and see what’s for lunch.”
I readily agreed. I was starving.
Tulok was a great man. It was easy to see just in the short time I knew him. I had gotten to observe his interactions with his people. They looked up to him; they respected him; but more importantly they genuinely seemed to care about him. He wasn’t some overbearing dictator. He was their friend and confidante. Yes, he gave guidance and direction and was a great leader, but that wasn’t what made him a great Alpha.
I kept reminding myself through the day that these are my people now too. I had met a few of them yesterday when Karis had shown me around. The notes I’d mentally taken on each came back to me quickly and I was able to have meaningful conversations with them, surprising myself and impressing Tulok.
“You’re a natural at this, son,” he had told me.
The way he kept calling me son made me feel proud and accepted in a way I never had before. In my entire life I had never been called son by anyone. Even knowing that Tulok had a habit of calling all the young men in his Pack, son, didn’t change how it made me feel. Never in my life had I felt so right, like I belonged somewhere. It was like coming home at last and I hadn’t even realized I was away.
When we got back to the Alpha house, it smelled of home cooking and made my stomach rumble. We washed up and went to join our women in the kitchen.
“How did it go?” Amka asked.
“I couldn’t be prouder. Your granddaughter chose my heir well,” he said as I was overwhelmed with pride.
I looked around the room. “Where’s Karis?”
Amka scrunched up her face and shook her head. “That child left shortly behind you and hasn’t been seen since. She was heading over to see her friend, Stacey, and deliver a basket for me, but then never came home. Who knows where she’s gotten off to.”
My wolf went on alert in an unsettling way. I tried to reason with him, but it was no use. As hungry as I was, I knew I wouldn’t have a moment’s peace now until I knew she was okay. It wasn’t rational thinking, I knew. This was her home and there were a lot of people wanting to catch up with her. She probably got sidetracked by them or was still just talking to her friend, but not knowing for sure would only drive my wolf nuts.
“Can you tell me where Stacey lives? I’ll start there,” I said.
Amka laughed. “She’ll turn up soon enough. Sit and eat first.”
I looked at the food, and then to Tulok for help. He smiled back at me.
“Amka, you forget, the boy is still mating. He won’t be able to sit still for even a moment now that you’ve told him she should have returned and hasn’t. Do you forget how protective a young male can be over his mate, especially with an incomplete bond?”
She giggled and blushed and I was absolutely certain I didn’t want to hear the story replaying through her mind. She gave me instructions and an address, and I left with my wolf’s insistence and my stomach’s protest.
It didn’t take long to walk over to the house she’d directed me. It was a cute small white cottage with red shutters and a big front porch. I knocked on the door and a petite woman came to greet me. She looked apprehensive and I could only imagine it was because she wasn’t used to seeing a strange wolf at her front door. I had already learned that everyone knew everyone around there.
“Hello?” she asked, using the door as a shield. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so. Are you Stacey?”
Her eyes went wide and she nodded, clearly surprised I knew her name.
“I’m Damon. Damon Rossi. Amka said Karis came by to deliver a basket to you. She hasn’t returned, and I was wondering if you knew where she might be.”
Stacey immediately relaxed. “You’re Karis’s mate?” she asked.
I was surprised to hear that as it was clear no announcement had been made.
“I am,” I confirmed.
“Please come in. It’s so nice to meet you.”
I followed her inside. I could tell Karis had been there, but I also knew with certainty she wasn’t there anymore.
“Beau,” she yelled. “Come out here, I want you to meet someone.”
A large man around my age came out. He had a good four inches on me and was significantly wider too. He wasn’t the kind of guy anyone wanted to mess with.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hey, what’s up?” he replied.
“This is my mate, Beau. Honey, this is Damon Rossi, Karis’s mate.”
He faltered, taken by surprise. “Karis? Karis is home?”
I nodded getting an uneasy feeling in my gut.
“Did Seth come by to fix the sink today, babe?”
“Yes, but he got flustered seeing Karis. He dropped his toolbox and acted as awkward as he always does around her and left.”
“Shit, so he knows she’s in town?”
“Why?” I asked. “You’re concerned. Why? Who is Seth?”
Beau sighed. “Seth’s my baby brother. He’s not quite right in the head, as my mama puts it. He’s always been harmless, but he’s been acting even weirder than usual since his wolf finally surfaced. It’s a mangy looking thing too, clearly not right in the head either.”
“You don’t think he’d do anything to her do you?”
My wolf was roaring in my head, and I started to pace. “Why? Why would you ask that?”
“Oh, everyone knows Seth has always had a thing for Karis,” Stacey said.
“It’s more than a thing. He’s completely obsessed with her. Told me he was going to make her his mate and claim his right as Alpha next time she was home. He’s never done anything to harm anyone before. I’m sure he was just talking shit,” he said.
Something in his voice didn’t sound so sure. “Stacey, where did Karis say she was going when she left here? And how long ago was that?”
My body was filling up with the warm tub water feeling inside. It was pulsating with power I was trying to control. If I didn’t find her soon, I wasn’t sure what I would do.
Stacey must have sensed it too, because she blanched and swallowed hard. “She left over an hour ago and was heading back to the Alpha house to help Amka with lunch.”
My body shook, but I forced myself to stay calm. “I didn’t pass her on the way and she never made it back. Is there anywhere else you can think of she might have gone?”
“I don’t know,” Stacey said honestly. “Maybe her rock?”
“Okay, yeah, I’ll check there.”
“You know the place? I could go with you and show you?”
Beau put a protective arm around his mate, stopping her. “Stacey’s been under the weather lately, that’s probably not a good idea for her,” he said.
I liked the man. He was open and honest, no pretense what-so-ever, and he clearly loved his mate. I knew that feeling all too well.
“I know her rock,” I assured Stacey.
Beau still looked uneasy. “Hey, would it be okay if I went with you? I don’t want Stacey out or worried about this, and I know she’ll worry until Karis is found. I’m sure she’s just tied up talking to someone or something, but I have an hour if you want some help finding her.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
The relief on Stacey’s face told me that was why he was really offering, but at the moment I didn’t care. Stacey seemed like a good friend. I wondered why Karis had never mentioned her to me before.
We left the house, heading straight for the river. I sniffed the air as we left and knew she hadn’t gone in that direction, but I needed to rule it out anyway.
“You and Karis have bonded?” Beau asked.
“Not yet,” I told him.
“Shit, you’re still mating? No wonder your wolf is going wild. I’m sorry. Stace and I had a very short mating period, but it was enough to know the hell that shit puts you through.”
I laughed. I couldn’t have put it more eloquently myself. “It’s enough to drive a sane man crazy.”
When we got to the rock, there was no sign of Karis. I was certain she hadn’t been there. Where the hell are you?
“Look, I really don’t want to think my brother has anything to do with this, but we can at least rule that out quickly. He lives not far from here.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”
“No problem. Come on.”
It was only a five-minute walk to the cabin at the edge of the woods. Everything about it screamed loan wolf. The yard wasn’t maintained. One of the shutters swung on its hinge with a squeak. Beau shook his head in disgust, but walked up and knocked on the door.
“Seth, open up,” he yelled. Nothing. He banged again. “Seth.”
“I don’t think he’s here,” I observed aloud.
Beau stepped back and bent over, lifting the welcome mat and retrieving a key. He opened the door and we walked in. There was stench in the air, but still no sign of his brother. I walked around looking in the rooms just to be sure. As I entered his bedroom, I growled angrily. Fur started sprouting on my arms and I gulped in deep breaths trying desperately to regain control.
His bedroom walls were covered in pictures of Karis. They were everywhere from the time she was a little girl. There was even one of her in pigtails trailing behind a young Kyle Westin. She had been just as cute as he’d described. I was guessing the one of her in dreads getting into Tulok’s truck that was loaded down with her things, was taken as she headed off to college. The guy was completely obsessed with her.
“Holy shit! I swear to you, I had no idea it had gotten this bad,” Beau said.
“I have to find her, now,” I said more aggressively than I meant.
“Yeah, come on. I know another place we can check. He had this sort of fort in the woods as a kid. I’ve seen him near there a lot lately. It’s worth a shot.”
I nodded and followed him as I fumbled with my phone to call Tulok. I couldn’t be trusted if this guy had her or had put her in danger in any way.
“Hello?”
“Tulok. Did Karis return?”
“No, she hasn’t. Is everything okay?”
“I hope so. Do you know a kid named Seth? About her age,” I added.
“Of course. Why?”
Something in his tone told me he was instantly alarmed at my mentioning the guy’s name. That wasn’t a good sign.
“I’m leaving his house now with his brother, Beau. His bedroom is covered in pictures of Karis.”
“I’ve always known the boy was infatuated with her, but. . .”
“This is more than infatuation, Tulok. He’s entirely obsessed with her. Tell me he is not a danger. She wasn’t at Stacey’s, or her special place. I haven’t picked up her scent anywhere as we’ve been walking around looking for her. My wolf is. . .” I couldn’t finish the statement.
“Where are you headed? I’m on my way,” he said, and I could sense he knew exactly what I was trying to say and couldn’t find the words.
How could I possibly admit to him that I was on the verge of losing control?
I passed the phone to Beau. He explained the situation more calmly than I could and they laughed about mating males. He assured Tulok he would help find her. I knew they both thought she was somewhere safe, but after seeing that room, I was convinced he had her, and it made my vision red, lusting for his blood. My wolf roared in my head and only spurred my own paranoia.
Beau was a good match for me. His calm, easy-going nature kept me from completely losing control, but I really just wanted to tell him to shut the hell up and walk faster.
We crossed paths with Tulok in the woods. There was still no sign of Karis.
“I know the place is around here somewhere,” Beau told us.
Tulok stared at me like he was trying to decide if I were the problem. “We’ll find her, son,” he finally said.
We walked around the woods in silence. It didn’t take long for me to pick up her scent.
“Shit, she’s been here recently,” I swore. I had genuinely hoped we wouldn’t find her there.
Tulok and Beau shared a look. Now that I had her scent, I didn’t even need to channel my wolf further to follow her trail. I led the way and soon we came to a small clearing. There was an odd lean-to sort of building there. It had a door and couldn’t have been big enough to house more than a card table and four chairs. It was small, like something a child would play in, and it smelled strongly of my mate.
“This is it,” Beau said. “Seth. You here?” he yelled.
The door opened and a lanky man with mouse brown hair strolled out. He looked nothing like Beau and I would never have guessed they could be brothers. His eyes were shifty, looking around quickly in all directions. Then he smiled, too calmly.
I grasped my hands together to steady them as they shook violently. “Where is she?” I asked between gritted teeth.
He studied me for a moment, then dismissed me and looked past to Tulok.
“Tulok!” he exclaimed. “It is truly an honor that you would visit us. Of course, we’ll be spending plenty of time together now that Karis is back where she belongs. I’m sure you’ll agree.”
“Where is my granddaughter, Seth? I wish to see her.”
“Sorry, she’s still a bit tied up at the moment and isn’t taking guests right now, but I’ll be sure to tell her you stopped by. She’s still adjusting to it all, but she’ll be fine.”
“Adjusting to what, Seth? What have you done?”
“Our mating of course. I told you Beau. She’s my true mate and I will be Alpha one day.” Then he looked at me and licked his lip with an evil grin.
I closed my eyes, ready to give myself over to my wolf and end this guy. He was threatening my mate. The overwhelming desire to kill him was there, but I could smell Karis everywhere, and my need to protect her from this asshole was even stronger. I focused hard. I could feel her emotions as strongly as if they were my own. She was pissed. I scented the air noting there was no sign of blood. I knew I wasn’t too late.
I truly believed my powers came from Karis. If he had forced a bond on her then those powers would be gone. I didn’t know how rational that thought was, but I held onto it. Besides, I was prepared to call his bluff. An eerie calm washed over me.
“You’re saying you’ve mated Karis?” I said with no emotion showing in my voice. I could hear her muffled cries behind him, but I pushed that aside. I was certain he hadn’t.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. And who are you?”
I grinned. “I’m Damon Rossi and I hereby challenge you, right here, right now for Karis Begay.”
“We have no proof, Damon,” Tulok warned me. To Seth he said. “Show me my granddaughter. If you’re claim is verified I will approve his request.”
“She’s mine,” Seth said adamantly. “I told you she’s not up for company right now. I will accept his challenge and defend my rightful place as your heir.”
“Seth, he’s going to kill you,” Beau said.
Seth laughed. “He cannot kill me, Beau. You’ve always underestimated me, yet here I am and I’ve got the girl.”
I growled something fierce and primitive that shouldn’t have come out in my human form. It didn’t faze Seth one bit.
“Seth, listen to me. I don’t want to see you die. Give this up now, while you still can. Remember what mama said? Use your brain. Come back to reality.”
“This is reality,” Seth yelled before striking out at his brother.
Beau easily deflected him. My wolf eagerly watched his every move, waiting for his moment to strike. Knowing he was going to get this kill helped me control him. I needed to be patient. I’d issued a challenge, Tulok was blocking it, and I had to respect that and wait for his okay. I was restless and needed to move, but I refrained and stood perfectly still as I sized up my competition.
“He’s never going to listen. He lives in his own world and it’s getting worse. He’s never going to stop coming after Karis. He’s my brother, but if someone were after my mate like this I’d rip him to shreds without hesitation or restraint. Damon issued a challenge, formally and respectfully, far better than Seth deserves right now. It’s the way of the Pack. I don’t want to see my brother die, but I have to believe in our ways and the rights to defend our mates,” Beau told Tulok.
I listened, but never took my eyes off Seth.
“Very well, but this will be done right, in the arena,” Tulok said.
I nodded, but I wasn’t going anywhere as long as Karis was still here.
“No!” Seth yelled, banging his hands against his own head. “This ends here and now. I’m ready to defend my mate, just as Beau said.”
Beau groaned and shook his head. I knew that hadn’t been what he meant. He was right. There was something not right in his brother’s head. I struggled with the realization that I would kill him. He needed help, but not at the risk of my mate. I stood my ground firmly.
“Seth, these things have rules you must follow,” Tulok said patiently.
Seth walked in circles, continuing to beat his head. His agitation was too high. He couldn’t hold his human form much longer.
“She is mine, and no one will take her from me, not even you!” he yelled, shifting on the spot. His clothes flew off him in shreds and he ran head first for Tulok.
I didn’t hesitate, I shifted and jumped into his path, knocking him off course. Tulok released his Alpha powers to try to subdue him, as I took a protective stance in front of my Alpha. I hadn’t given allegiance to Tulok yet, but my wolf did for me in that moment.
The powers had no effect on Seth.
“Dammit Seth, stop this,” Beau begged him, but it was too late. Seth had made an attack on the Alpha. He wouldn’t be allowed to live whether I killed him or not.
He made another advance, trying to get around me. He was still going after Tulok despite him being in his skin. It was the ultimate betrayal of a shifter. We didn’t kill in our skin, humans, or other shifters in their skin.
I remained calm and laser focused as he danced around half crazy making jarring strikes at the Alpha. I chanced a quick glance back to Tulok, seeking permission to fight him. He nodded with a sad look on his face. I knew this kill would subdue my wolf, but it would bring me no pleasure.
I waited for him to strike again. When he did, I went straight for his throat, sinking my teeth in and holding on as his body thrashed and finally settled. I had wanted to dance with him. I had wanted to torture him for the way he was treating Karis, but the swift, final move was the most humane way to end him. With Beau watching on, I knew it was what I had to do.
As I felt the life drain fully from him and I was certain he was dead, I shifted back and stood to face Tulok, wiping the blood from my mouth. I wasn’t proud of what I’d done, but I’d done what was necessary.
“You showed great restraint over your wolf today Damon. Tell me, why did you go for the quick kill?”
“He threatened my mate, and he threatened my Alpha,” I said clearly watching the emotions in the old man’s eyes. “I weighed the options and there was no other possible ending. Besides,” I said, turning to address Beau. “He was your brother. I tried to make it as quick and painless as possible.”
Beau wiped tears from his eyes. He walked up and offered his hand. We grasped each other by the forearm and hugged. “Thank you. Karis chose wisely for our people. You will make a great Alpha someday, Damon.”
I nodded, feeling overwhelmed. My wolf was still on edge because we didn’t have Karis back yet, but I turned to Tulok and bared my neck to him. He smiled proudly.
“Go and tend to your mate,” he said.
“Thank God,” I muttered under my breath and ran the short distance to the building I knew he had kept her in.
Inside I found Karis tied tightly to the wall, bound by her feet and hands, as well as around the waist to ensure she could not move. A rag was stuffed in her mouth to silence her and tears streamed down her cheeks.
I hesitated only a moment, before springing into action. “It’s okay, amore mio. I’m here. He can’t hurt you anymore,” I whispered softly as I worked on her bindings.
The second she was free, she threw her arms around me and my wolf immediately settled. She was far from okay emotionally, but a quick check told me she had no physical pains.
“Is he dead?” she asked.
“Yes amore. He is. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from him sooner, but I couldn’t let him live.”
“Thank you,” she said as her lips crushed mine.
Fire blazed inside of me as I sought to deepen the kiss. She pulled back and gave me a smile that righted my world.
“Get me the hell out of this place.”
Later on, as she recounted her story, I learned that he had hit her over the head and knocked her out. When she came to, she was already tied up and gagged. He had taken great care with the ropes, lining her wrists and ankles with felt to keep them from digging into her skin. In some warped way I think Seth really had cared for Karis.
Beau carried his brother away and buried him in an unmarked grave deep in the woods. I felt bad for the guy and even my part in Seth’s death. Tulok assured me that remorse at the loss of life only showed compassion that was necessary for a great Alpha.
It had truly been the longest day of my life. I wasn’t ready to reflect on all that had happened—I just needed time alone with my mate. We had been surrounded by others since we left the little shack in the woods behind. It was nice in its own way, but not what I needed most.
My wolf was very anxious with new people around, though I understood that as the story took flight everyone wanted a turn to see for themselves that she was okay. There was also open curiosity and questions regarding my role in the situation. When Karis let it slip that I was her mate, even though most had already suspected, scrutiny immediately turned to me.
I knew with certainty that I was ready to except life by her side. I imagined it would always be crazy and adventurous, never dull, but better than any life I could ever imagine.
Almost losing her only solidified in me what needed to be done.
As night fell, the people began to disperse, finally. At first opportunity, I grabbed Karis’s hand and pulled her outside. She followed without question. We walked hand-in-hand heading for the river. I knew the path now, even in the dark.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You promised me a light show,” I reminded her.
She giggled happily at my side. “I did, didn’t I? But where are we going?”
“To your special rock. Where else should we watch it from?”
“All you have to do is look up, Damon.”
I shook my head. “Not till we get there.”
It wasn’t far. When we finally arrived, she climbed up on the rock and turned to sit, so her legs were dangling before me. I stepped between them bringing us eye-to-eye.
She smiled. “You’re not going to see the Northern Lights by staring at me, Damon,” she tried to scorn.
“I’ll get to that in a minute. First, tell me how you’re really doing.”
She sighed. “I’m okay. Really. He never touched me, at least that I’m aware of. I mean aside from tying me up, but I was out cold for that. I was pissed, but you were already there when I came to and I never doubted for a second that you would save me. I knew I was safe, because you were there.”
I smiled, loving her confidence in me. It gave me strength to bare my soul to her and press forward. “Karis, I love you, and I love this place, despite what happened here today. I’m stronger when we’re together and I don’t ever want to chance something like this happening again. I know you’ve been waiting for me. I know a part of you is still waiting for me to say it’s all too much and bolt in the other direction.” She blushed, but we both knew it was true. “I’m not going anywhere Karis. I’ve already given my allegiance to Tulok. I’m an Alaskan wolf now too, and I’m ready to take my place at your side.”
“What exactly are you saying, Damon?”
I was never really one for fancy words. I was more of a doer than a talker, so I smiled, showing her my canines elongated and ready.
She gasped, and her eyes went wide. “You’re sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything. I’d bet on you every day of my life. On us,” I told her.
With happy tears in her eyes, she pulled her hair to the side and bared her neck for me. I didn’t hesitate as I sunk my teeth into her. She moaned and quickly followed. I felt the pinch and then a sort of frenzy took over.
After making love to my bonded mate for the first time, I rolled to my back and pulled her close to my chest. I looked up to the sky, mesmerized by the colors dancing across. It was as unique and amazing as my gorgeous mate.
I smiled, not thinking of the lights, but her, and the life we had before us.
“Beautiful,” I told her.