Chapter Ten

 

Rushing to defend her mate, Dani quickly jumped in front of Wolfe as Angus came barreling towards him like a raging bull. Slapping the lock tight on her magic, the dragoness held out her hands while shaking her head and hurrying to explain. “It wasn’t Wolfe. It was me.”

The older Guardsman stopped short, doubt joining the fury already etched in his regal face, unfortunately Daire picked up the fight, screaming, “How many other fucking secrets do you have, Dani? I feel like I don’t even know you.”

He might as well have stabbed her in the heart, it sure as hell would’ve hurt less than his angry words and furious expression. Taking a hesitant step towards him, tears filled Dani’s eyes as the man she’d known as a brother for nearly a hundred years flinched away from her touch and took a quick step back.

Jumping to her defense, Wolfe stepped up beside her and growled at Daire, “I think you need to check your tone.”

“And I think you need to butt the fuck out,” the Alpha challenged, trying to get right in her mate’s face who stood at least six inches taller. “This is family business, dragon,” the Alpha spit the last word.

Grabbing his brother by the arm, Darragh pulled Daire back as he motioned towards Wolfe with a nod of his head. “I’m thinking that mating mark has a mate somewhere on Dani’s neck.” He held tighter to his snarling brother. “Stop and take a whiff. Our girl is right and truly mated.”

Darragh barely held Daire back as the Alpha jumped towards the couple, roaring at Wolfe, “I will gut you, you fucking overgrown lizard.”

Grey grabbed Daire’s other arm as Angus stepped between the out-of-control Alpha and Wolfe. “Calm down, mac tiré. This isn’t doing you or your sister any good.”

“She lied. She’s a dirty, fucking liar!” Daire bellowed, jerking away from Grey and Darragh, spinning on his heels and running towards the forest, changing from man to wolf as he disappeared into the trees.

Holding back the tears, Dani stood, paralyzed by the pain of the rejection she felt from the one person in all the world she’d never imagined would turn his back on her. Wolfe’s strong arm wrapped around her waist as he turned her towards him and pulled her to his chest. No sooner had her forehead touched his body than her emotions got the best of her. Tears ran down her cheeks while her wonderful mate whispered words of condolence and love.

Another warm hand touched her shoulder at the same time that Darragh consoled, “Give him time, Dani. You know you’re his favorite person ever. That old hothead just needs to run it off.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m sure you had your reasons for not telling us, and when you’re ready, you’ll share them.”

While she appreciated her adopted brother’s sentiment, Dani could still hear doubt and recrimination in his tone. Turning in Wolfe’s arms, the dragoness wiped away her tears and was just about to speak when Becky ran to her side and looking at Darragh, scoffed, “Well, he can stay gone for all I care.” The she-wolf grabbed Dani’s hand. “What he said was wrong and uncalled for. He’s not an Alpha to me, not anymore.”

“Now, Becky,” Dani reasoned. “Daire has a right to be upset.” She squeezed her friend’s fingers. “I did keep one hell of a secret for a really long time.” The dragoness leaned her back against Wolfe’s chest, gladly accepting all the love and support he was pouring through their mating bond. 

Looking at the faces staring back at her, both wolf and dragon alike, some friends and some acquaintances she hoped would soon be friends - all people she respected - Dani took a deep breath and began to explain. “As you all know, my name is Dannika DoChara. About a century ago I came to live with Joshua and Jennifer MacTavish because I had been orphaned. What you don’t know,” she snorted sarcastically, “Or didn’t know until a little bit ago, is that I am dragon.”

Dani turned her head and looked up at Wolfe then back to their friends and family, “I am actually the last of the Crystal Clan, daughter of Dacia and Shamus, known as Morning Star. I was sent to live with the Blue Ridge Wolves when our Clan was attacked and massacred. Joshua and Jennifer raised me as their own daughter, but the terms set forth by my parents were very clear – no one except Mr. and Mrs. MacTavish, not even their children, could know who or what I was.” She paused for a second before adding, “Just as my mother had done when she sent me to this Pack, on his dying bed Joshua also made me swear not to tell anyone until I had found my mate and we were bonded.”

Taking a deep breath, afraid she might not be able to go on, Dani was thrilled to see Angus nod and the first real smile she’d seen since meeting him cross his face.

Waiting as the Enforcer closed the distance between them, Dani held her breath as the red dragon bowed his head and then after raising it assured, “I knew your parents. Fought beside them both. I apologize for not recognizing you immediately. You have my loyalty and my support, Morning Star. I now understand and am here to assist in any way you have need of me.”

Not sure what to do next, she smiled as Wolfe’s voice floated through her mind, “Nod and say thank you. Angus doesn’t acquiesce to many…actually, from what I’ve been told this would be a first.” Her mate chuckled, “He likes you, take it and run.”

“That’s right, I like her,” Angus teased. “You? Well, the jury is still out…and please for the love of all that is holy, please learn to shield at least the conversations with your mate.”

Barking with laughter, Wolfe retorted, “Yeah, whatever you say, old guy.”

“Hey, now, them’s fightin’ words,” Olivia piped up, walking to stand beside her mate and smiling at Dani. “I’m so glad y’all finally stopped fightin’. I thought you were gonna start a forest fire with all that sexual tension.”

“I’m thinkin’ they still have lost of sparks,” Ellie laughed as she joined the conversation with her silent, brooding mate behind her. “Congratulations you two. Do we get to throw a Mating Party for y’all?”

Clearing his throat, Darragh pushed through the crowd and with a smile that finally reached his eyes, looked up at Wolfe. “Just take care of her, cause if you don’t, I will scale you like a fish and feed you to the pups.”

“Darragh!” Dani chastised.

“No, Dannika,” Wolfe chuckled. “It’s his right.” Then to her brother, her dragon said, “I would give my life for her, of that you can be sure.” Before holding out his hand and nodding as Darragh gave it a shake along with a nod and a “See that you do.”

Looking down at Dani, her brother smiled and placed his hand on her arm. “I love you, Sis and so does Daire. Like I said, give him some time. You know what a control freak he is. Between the treaty, your big reveal and,” Darragh shook his head, “Whatever burr decided to crawl up his ass lately, he just needs to be alone.”

“You have to know this is not how I planned to tell y’all what was going on. It just happened. Wolfe and I…well…” Dani felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment as everyone tried to hide their knowing smiles and hold back their chuckles, even Wolfe’s chest vibrated against her back. “Oh, dang it! Y’all know what I’m trying to say. I wanted to sit down and tell you. Be civilized. Explain it all, so that you knew I had no choice but to keep the confidences that had been entrusted to me.”

Ellie burst out laughing, “I don’t know about you dragons, but wolves never do anything in a civilized manner.”

“Amen to that.” Olivia high-fived her friend as their mates looked on shaking their head and smirking.

Laughing along, Darragh agreed, “Ain’t that the truth.” He winked at Dani, “And I think somewhere in there you knew there was a chance this was how it was gonna go down.”

Holding up his hand as Dani opened her mouth to speak, the wolf quickly went on, “But that is neither here nor there. You are my sister. Nothing, and I mean nothing, changes that.” He held open his arms, “Give me a hug.” As they embraced, he added, “Since I am the acting Alpha, I would really love if we could at least have your Mating Party, before you leave.”

As Ellie and Olivia both gave a ‘hell yeah’, Dani stepped back from her brother, turned towards her mate and more embarrassed than she’d ever been, admitted, “I never thought about that.” She closed the distance between them and thread her fingers through his. “Where are we gonna live? Here or…” she paused then threw her free hand in the air. “Hell, I don’t even know where you live. I never asked. There wasn’t time.”

Smiling a smile that set her heart racing and made her body tingle, Wolfe moved closer, leaned down and assured her in a low, rumbling voice, “Wherever you are. That’s where I’ll be. Like I told you, we’re in this together…forever.”

His lips had almost touched hers when a loud, “Oh my Goddess, I’m gonna barf,” came from the group behind them.

Still looking into her eyes, Wolfe growled, “Shut up, Grey,’ at precisely the same moment as Angus, Olivia, Ellie and Darragh did the same. As the group erupted with laughter, Dani’s mate kissed her with a slow building passion that made the dragoness wish they were alone.

All too soon, he pulled away but kept her close and over her head announced, “Alright you motley crew. We’ve lost five days and an Alpha, I’m thinking we need to get back to the Lodge and get a plan of some kind worked up.” His hand slowly ran up and down Dani’s spine as he added, “You can bet that damned Shapeshifter and her band of rogues have been busy.”

Stepping back, Wolfe let his hand slip from her shoulder and grabbed her hand as they started to follow their friends who were already heading for the woods. Dani smiled, loving how close she already felt to her dragon.

Walking past Grey, who had stopped to wait, she and Wolfe burst out laughing in unison as the Guardsman rolled his eyes and teased, “Alright but if you two can’t stop with the kissy face and doe eyes, I’m gonna have to separate you.”

And once again, everyone in attendance yelled, “Shut up, Grey.”