79 comments/ 180246 views/ 203 favorites A Long Walk Home Ch. 01 By: JazCullen Once more into my world of Vamps and Weres. I would say this is my last one but I know you'll all just argue with me about it so I will say....this is the last story in this world for a while :-) I do want to try my hand at other things too, maybe a little more romance, possibly dive into fantasy. I'm posting this up unedited so I can get the first chapter up so please forgive any little mistakes that slip through. Fingers crossed my lovely editor will be back soon to help me polish the chapters. Hope you enjoy this new tale. * Dayton Alexander released his hair from the leather thong holding it back and ran long tapered fingers through it. A flash of silver caught his eye and he let out a slow breath as the constant reminder of his pain fell forward into his face when he took his hand away. A inch wide strip of hair at the front was prematurely bleached silver. It had been for over half a century now. It was as if he had gone to some fancy hairstylist and asked them to streak the first inch of his hair silver but leave all remaining tresses their normal dark brown colour. If only that was the reason for what he termed his 'Mark of Sorrow' when he was particularly drunk. The silver made him look older in human terms, into his late thirties but it belied his real age. Dayton was a Were of the wolf variety and was in fact just over two hundred years old. He was born in the same 'litter' as his brother Connor though he was the second to be born and wasn't classed as the oldest of the Alexander clan. A few years after, Cedar and Brody arrived and then after a longish gap for Weres of fifteen years, along came Willow and Aaron. He hadn't seen his siblings in a long time, not since he'd left the pack. Aaron checked in every so often and left a voicemail. Dayton never answered the calls but he did listen to whatever news his brother imparted. There were also the weekly emails sent blindly to an old address. His youngest sibling assumed the account was active despite the lack of response his messages garnered, just as he dialled the same cell number to verbally reach out to him. It was the mark of just what kind of man Aaron had matured into. He was a Beta in the Pack; a guardian and a protector. It was built into him to protect his pack mates and more so his brother. Before his life had turned to shit Dayton had shared a deep affection for Aaron, mirroring Cedar's fondness for the youngest of the Alexander family. Truth be told there was something about Aaron that all the family just adored and couldn't help feeling a little something extra special for him. Dayton had had a bit more interactive contact with the Pack when his best friend and adopted brother, David, had still been alive. It had been easier to send back brief messages to his family through his friend. The Bryant family had welcomed him into their tight knit group when it had become obvious that he and David were inseparable. He had effectively had two families as well as the Pack to draw strength from. Despite all those who loved him and tried to ease his grief, nothing could have kept Dayton with the pack once it had happened. Jared and Aaron had somehow managed to keep him from going Rogue, had held onto him so tightly with all their love and determination. It had worked to some degree. The sheer force of their personalities had battled the ferocious anguish which has threatened to rip all his humanity away until there was nothing left but an insane wolf who would have needed to be put down to protect the innocents he would kill and maim. Sanity had prevailed in the end, but the man Dayton Alexander had once been was destroyed along with his beautiful Faith. Faith. Beautiful, headstrong, vibrant Faith. She had been his world, his reason for existence, his precious mate. And she had left him as only a mate could. She had died, killing him in the process. Cold, emotionless emptiness filled his soul when he once more came back to himself, when the threat of going Rogue had receded. He could look at his family objectively and know that they loved him but he could no longer return that emotion because he had lost all power to feel. The only way to remain sane was to root out every link within himself which tied him by love to another person, and to ruthlessly sever it by crushing the emotion completely dead. His link had lasted longer with David but even that had faded until it was obvious that he couldn't remain with the pack anymore. He'd spoken with Jared, his tone lifeless as he told his Alpha he was leaving. It had been a tense meeting because Aaron had been there too, hurt and anger washing over his brother as he listened. His Alpha had watched him, piercing blue eyes intent for a long time before finally nodding his agreement. Aaron's pain had filled the room, harsh accusing words being hurled until Jared had stepped in and Commanded his Beta to be quiet. The words had stopped but the accusation in his little brother's eyes couldn't be contained. Deep down a part of him had felt a flicker of remorse for the pain he was causing his family. But it wasn't anywhere close to being strong enough to change his mind. It was merely the last remnants of the man Dayton had once been slowly dying inside as his heart turned to ice. Dayton had been visiting Japan, a Gallery showing promoting his work when the first Vampire/Were conflict had happened. He often wondered if he would have returned to the pack to join in its defence if he'd known what was happening. Would he have helped his family? His best friend and his surrogate family too? He couldn't honestly answer that question. Part of him liked to believe that there was some decency still within him somewhere, that he would have been able to put aside his own selfishness and protect those who loved him, but he was honest enough with himself to know that he most probably wouldn't have. Dayton Alexander told himself he was dead inside. That he had been dead for over fifty years. From the very second he'd opened his mouth and teased his beautiful Faith into that ill fated race. Not a day didn't pass that he didn't think 'If only.' If only he hadn't challenged his feisty mate. If only they had stayed in bed that morning instead of deciding to go for a run. He knew there was no point to thinking that way. Nothing could ever change what had happened. It was in the past. But still he wished fervently that things had been different that day. He had challenged Faith and she had taken off in wolf form, her sleek black fur rippling in the light morning breeze as she bounded gracefully through the trees. He was a fraction of a second behind her, ready to pounce to trap his mate and ravish her when she had darted to the side unexpectedly. It had caught him off guard and also Faith. She had lost her footing, gone down awkwardly. Dayton shuddered and tore himself away from the memory even as his mind replayed the resounding crack that had ensued when Faith fell forward. Agony flared through him, calling him a liar, laughing at him. One memory remained that could shatter his heart over and over again and did so on a daily basis. That one memory proved that he wasn't as dead inside as he believed. Fifty years on and Dayton Alexander still felt his mate's death as keenly as he had the day it happened. It was the only thing that slipped through his iron self control, that breached his carefully raised barriers to touch him on an emotional level. Faith. She would forever be the only thing who could reach inside his dead heart and make him feel, even if it was just a never-ending agony he perceived. The voicemail message he'd received from Aaron telling him the Bryant family had been wiped out almost got through to him. They had been good people. He had adored them all. He knew the youngest daughter had survived, knew she would be going through a world of agony at losing David and the rest of her family. For a fraction of a second he had considered going to her even though he had never met the girl before. But not even that tragedy had been strong enough to break through his defences. He had coldly and analytically weighed up the impact of what Ashleigh Bryant's grief would do to him personally and had taken the coward's way out and stayed away. He had hardened his heart further, closed himself off that much more and gone up to his studio instead and pulled out a large canvas. All night long he had painted, slashing dark reds and blues, purples and blacks streaking across the canvas as he worked out the icy coldness he felt deep inside at losing his best friend and all the other pack members who had died that day. The abstract hung in his small gallery through the door from the office he was currently sitting in. It wasn't for sale but it took pride of place so that everyone could see it instantly when they walked in the door. The painting screamed of pain and loss, rage and despair. It summed up what Dayton thought of the world, that it was a cruel, heartless place to live in. Loving people made you weak and vulnerable. It invariably brought you to your knees in mind numbing agony. Logically he knew he loved his family. No matter how hard he tried to deny it, he knew those feelings still lived somewhere within him. But he buried them so deep they didn't have the power to hurt him anymore. No one had that power. Not now Faith was gone and David too. The sound of the Gallery door opening distracted him and he stiffened a second later. Scents washed over him, confusing him deeply. The first scent was that of a wolf and felt vaguely familiar though he couldn't place the Were it belonged to. The other was a vampire, a sweet scent of cherry blossom with a hint of musk assaulting his nostrils. His hackles rose instantly. Why was a wolf and a vampire in his Gallery? ***** Ashleigh took a deep breath as Freya parked the car outside the small Gallery. The sign above the doorway was simple and to the point D A Art. For the hundredth time she wondered if coming here was a good idea. She had agonised over it for so long Nors has finally taken the decision out of her hands and all but ordered her to go and do it. A faint smile curved her lips as she thought of her mate's stubborn expression. He had become so tired of her procrastinating that he'd told her to get it over and done with so they could get some form of normality back into their lives. Then he had ordered Freya to accompany her because he didn't want Liam being without both parents. His fierce protectiveness of their son always brought a rush of deep love to her soul. Nors had taken to fatherhood as if he were born to it despite the fact that he was over two thousand years old and a Vampire to boot. Vampires had never been able to have children up until they had mated with Weres so had no reference points to work from when they had suddenly started to become fathers. But that didn't seem to get in the way of the strong, dominant men who were now part of the Armand-Hanlon pack. Each vampire was totally besotted with their offspring and so fiercely protective of them that it bordered on paranoia. It brought many rolled eyes from their mates as their over protectiveness kicked in and the poor little ones struggled to get any kind of freedom to just be themselves. It also made them love their mates more because they knew no harm would ever come to their children. The only vampire who had an issue with all the changes that had happened lately was the woman sitting at Ashleigh's side, Freya Eriksson. The vampire was scowling darkly and trying hard not to show it. Her sister was struggling painfully hard with everything but she was trying her best to accept it because it made Nors so happy. Ashleigh's relationship with the other woman had built slowly over the last few years but it was strong now, respect and affection growing between them. Freya was even accepting of little Liam and beginning to display the same protective instincts as Nors. She never said anything but Ashleigh knew Liam was adored by his aunt and she would watch over him for eternity. It made her love Freya even more though she was careful not to verbalise her feelings because the vampire wouldn't like it if she did. "Are we just going to sit here?" Freya sighed wearily, fighting down her irritation. She didn't want to be here but she had promised Nors she would take care of his mate when he couldn't. Not that she really minded spending time with Ashleigh that much. The other woman was the closest thing she had to a friend. She accepted her boundaries, didn't try to turn her into something she wasn't. She was the mother of the most adorable little being to have graced her life and she was Nors' mate. All those things made Ashleigh special to Freya though she would never admit that out loud. Admitting it could place Ashleigh in danger. Freya had many enemies in the world. As long as no one knew she cared about the little blonde and her child then they would always be safe from those enemies. Not that she or Nors would allow anything to harm them but Freya hadn't had anyone who was special to her before, not like Nors who could take care of himself. It was all new to her and she reacted as the mated vampires did, she became overprotective. So she kept her feelings for them closely hidden but she knew the woman beside her was aware that she would protect her and her son with her life if need be. She turned to regard Ashleigh her green eyes flashing with a little bit of humour as she took in her pensive expression. "He's hardly going to eat you," she said with a hint of mockery in her tone. "If he tries, I will protect you." Ashleigh burst out laughing at the total conviction in Freya's tone. There was no artifice involved, no grandiose boasting, it was a simple fact. If Dayton Alexander did anything to upset her then Freya would upset him right back, and probably in a more violent manner. "Try not to overreact," she smiled, unclipping her seatbelt and stepping out of the car. She tucked her blonde hair behind her ears in a nervous gesture as she waited for Freya to join her. "Try to remember that he's been through a lot. He most likely will not be pleased to see me and will react accordingly. Let me handle it." Freya rolled her eyes and headed towards the door to the Gallery. "I will be on my best behaviour," she drawled turning her head to look back and make sure the younger woman was following her. "Unless he upsets you," she added with an unrepentant grin on her exquisite face. Ashleigh hurried into the Gallery after her, slightly afraid of just what Freya would do and then realising that the other woman had deliberately goaded her into the Gallery with her words. A faint smile curved her lips. Freya was so like her brother sometimes it was scary. Both woman stopped as the door closed silently behind them, staring at the large abstract painting on the far wall. Ashleigh felt chills run through her as she stared at the raw fury and aching loss within the painting. Tortured was the first thought that came to her mind. The work of art screamed of a tortured soul crying out to the world. Her keen eye caught the signature, D Alex. It was how Dayton signed all his work. The date just beneath the signature registered and she knew immediately that he had been affected by David's death after all, even if he hadn't come to the memorial. Maybe he wouldn't be so adverse to seeing her as she thought he would be. Freya eyed the canvas with an appraising eye. She was actually quite stunned by what she was witnessing but managed to contain her expression behind a tight neutral guard. D Alex? This Dayton Alexander character was 'The' D Alex! She had always had a liking for fine art and had heard about a new artist showing in Japan while she was there. She hadn't attended the opening night of the show but she had managed along at some point. The raw emotion in the abstract work on the walls of the Gallery had fascinated her. She had even bought a couple of pieces which now hung in her new home not far from Nors' house. She frowned slightly as she thought of the other place she had, her special place where she retreated to when she needed perfect solitude. She didn't want to think how many other pieces she had up there, what that would say to anyone if they could see it. Finding out she had wolf art displayed in her home was mildly irritating but she wouldn't take them down. She loved the pain and suffering within the work. Some would view her as cruel to take such pleasure from it but part of her related to it. Sometimes she became so tired of her very existence that she could understand the blatant desire to cease to exist which read within the work of D Alex. The door directly beneath the painting swung open and their eyes dropped down to the man who was suddenly framed in the doorway. Ashleigh's heart thudded hard in her chest as she looked at Dayton Alexander in the flesh for the first time. She had seen him so many times in the numerous family photos she possessed and had always wondered how she would feel when they finally met. She was unprepared for the feeling of kinship which wrapped around her as she stared into a pair of deep blue eyes that contained no emotion at all. The large man before her was tense and alert and not the least welcoming but it didn't stop her wanting to reach out and wrap her arms around him to give him comfort. She contained herself, knowing he would reject any attempt at affection from another Were. She was a stranger to him even though she knew just about everything there was to know about him. And if he was overly aggressive it would just set Freya off and a pissed off Freya was a nightmare to contain. He was huge as most male Were's were, standing at six foot three and blocking out the entire doorway with his wide shoulders. Muscles rippled under his black T-shirt as he gripped the doorframe tightly. He was handsome in the photographs she had but the camera failed to capture just how stunningly gorgeous he was with his hard, chiselled jaw and high sweeping cheekbones. His expression was closed and guarded but it didn't take anything away from his incredible male beauty or the sheer power that exuded from him. It didn't matter how long he had been gone from the pack, his former Beta status was still evident in the way he held himself at the ready, waiting for an attack to come. Ashleigh ran her eyes over his long hair which was loose and lying in luxurious waves around his shoulders. It looked silky soft and invited a woman to touch it, just so she could gnash her teeth in frustration that it was so much more beautiful than hers. The streak of grey was a shock against the rich, warm brown shade. She had heard of that occurring before, usually in humans. Sometimes something so awful happened that the colour literally bleached out of a person's hair overnight. No one had told her it had happened to her brother's best friend. Dayton didn't speak, merely let his eyes linger on the vampire briefly, categorising her as lethally dangerous but not appearing to be hostile at the moment. The three seconds his eyes remained on her told him everything he needed to know about her. She was flawlessly beautiful, her hair a deep brown streaked with alternating strands of gold and red, her eyes a vibrant, piercing shade of green. She was cold, ruthless and no doubt a pitiless killer. She was a typical vampire. And not a threat. The real threat came from the exquisite blonde who stood at her side. She was smaller, her eyes a deep brown, her blonde her framing her face in silky strands. He was instantly on alert, his gaze connecting with the Were and automatically shying away from the compassion he saw in hers. He now understood why her scent seemed familiar. There was only one person who's scent he would recognise even though he had never met her. A Long Walk Home Ch. 01 "Ashleigh Bryant." His voice contained no emotion as he regarded her intently. "You know who I am," she answered softly, surprise clearly in her expression and her voice. He nodded slowly. "You have David's eyes and his familial scent too." Danger flashed across his mind, his barriers ratcheting up as he saw pain flicker across her face briefly at the mention of her brother. This was why the little blonde was the biggest threat to him. Her pain at losing her family would never truly leave her. She could empathise with him and vice versa. She had the power to slip through his barriers if he wasn't careful. A soft growl sounded from the vampire at her side but he ignored the other woman. Despite the growl he sensed no hostile intent though he kept a portion of his senses attuned to her. He would be foolish not to. "Freya." It was a quiet plea, Ashleigh turning to look at her friend. At least he had a name for the vampire now though he didn't turn his head to acknowledge her. That name told him who she was, what she was in the hierarchy of the vampires. His alert status became more prominent. The vampire was more lethal than he had anticipated but it appeared David's sister had her under some form of control. He could feel his wolf starting to stir within him. He was closer to the surface than normal but then he usually was around about this time. The moon was almost full and he would have to meet his agreement with the beast within him. He loathed doing so but it was the price he had to pay to be free of his wolf the rest of the time. Ashleigh had turned back to him and was watching him with a thoughtful expression on her face. He waited for her to speak, to explain why she was here. He had a rough idea. "I've been wanting to come and meet you for a while," she finally said. "Things have been a bit hectic recently though." He cut her off abruptly. "Aaron leaves me messages," he answered tersely. He didn't want to hear it, didn't need to be told what had been happening. He knew all about the matings. He knew Cedar was mated to a vampire and now had two daughters that were hybrids. He knew the Hanlon Pack had split and another Pack had formed in the neighbouring city. He had known that instantly when it had happened because that was the day his link with Jared Hanlon had been severed and a new link had been formed. He'd never met his new Alpha and didn't want to. He was only glad that the man was intelligent enough to stay away from him, to allow him his freedom as Jared had. Another low, warning growl sounded from the vampire as the blonde paled slightly and swallowed hard at his abruptness. He knew what she had been hoping for by coming to him. Surely she must have known that it was a futile gesture? "I can't give you what you need, Ashleigh." He softened his tone because despite everything he didn't want to hurt her unnecessarily. She was David's little sister and just for that she deserved better than what he was giving her at the moment. "Maybe I can give you what you need, Dayton?" There it was, the soft tone and compassion all over her face. The tentative hand of friendship being held out, a silent plea for a connection. For a moment David's face came to mind. He knew his friend would have wanted him to be some kind of comfort to his sister. "I don't need anything," he answered coldly, his voice freezing her to the spot as he rebuffed her. She was obviously a very caring woman. Showing any sign of softness would just mean she would keep coming back. He wanted to get through to her completely that she wasn't required here. He did feel a moment's regret at his hardness when he saw the pain in her eyes at his rejection and heard the soft gasp that escaped her but he didn't soften this time, made himself irresolute. "You've wasted your time coming here." He was suddenly flying backwards so quickly he barely had time to blink. The vampire pinned him to the wall, emerald fury in her eyes as she hissed loudly, her face barely an inch from his. His wolf howled, his hackles rose but he didn't fight back. He met her fury with a gaze that was totally devoid of emotion. "Freya!" Ashleigh yelled, hurrying towards them, her voice full of panic. There had been no sign that she was going to react, the low growls previously being issued were normal for her sister. Her heart was in her throat as she tried to get between them. She was afraid the vampire would hurt him. "One little bite and you're dead," Freya hissed as she stared into hard, blue eyes, ignoring Ashleigh completely so intent was she on the cold, unyielding man in her grasp. Her fangs had already elongated, the urge to nip at his throat making her mouth water. She had tried to do as Ashleigh asked of her but the way the wolf had looked right through her as if she was nothing had set her on edge immediately. She wasn't accustomed to being so thoroughly dismissed as if she didn't exist. She was an Ancient and one of the most deadly predators to walk the planet. People respected her and they feared her too. The way he spoke to Ashleigh was also intolerable. She could feel the distress radiating from her brother's mate even though she tried hard not to show it. Who did this wolf think he was to hurt her sister? "Freya, release him." Ashleigh's tone was firmer, more demanding. "I don't want this." Freya turned to regard her intently, a slow smile creeping across her face. "This is only partially about you, Ash," she drawled softly, meeting the other woman's gaze unflinchingly. Anger and something else she didn't understand was coursing through her body, making her tighten her grip on the powerful, male throat beneath her fingers. His skin felt good against her hand, his muscles hard and unyielding. He was obviously very strong for a wolf and she liked strength in her men. For a brief moment she didn't know whether she wanted to lick him or sink her fangs into the pounding pulse at the side of he neck. Her gaze swung back to the man she had pinned by the throat. "I find myself inexplicably wanting to taste a little wolf blood personally." Her tone was curious as she leaned forward and scented him deeply, smelling the wind, pine trees and something undeniably male. There was not one trace of fear in his scent. His face remained impassive, his eyes devoid of all emotion. She wasn't really going to bite him but she did want to play a little. Only her prey wasn't playing her game. The only person who was actually upset with her was Ashleigh. She hissed at him again, retracting her fangs slowly. "Pity for you, dog. I don't do mercy kills." Her tone was full of disgust as she released him, backing away, her eyes still burning with annoyance but there was something else deep within them; interest. Dayton watched her, his eyes narrowing slightly. Her last words had struck a chord. He hadn't been frightened when the vampire had grabbed him for that exact reason. If she had bitten him then he would be dead in an instant and he wouldn't have to keep waking up every morning. Vampire venom was fatal to a Were, unless the couple involved were mated. Ashleigh frowned as she glanced between them both and then turned back to Dayton. For a moment she had seen disappointment flicker across his face and she knew that some part of him had hoped that Freya would bite him. Her entire being rebelled at the thought of someone wishing to die so much and yet she could understand it too. "I once felt as you do," she said softly, memories running through her mind of the time when she had wanted to lie down and die, her own grief so overpowering that nothing could touch it. And then Nors had been there refusing to let her give in, pulling her reluctantly back to the land of the living with his endless patience and unwavering dedication. Dayton's gaze left the vampire to turn back to Ashleigh. The compassion was still in her eyes as well as a slightly haunted expression which slowly cleared. "Life is worth living, Dayton. The pain does recede and happiness is out there if you're brave enough to reach out and accept it." Her voice remained soft, a small smile of comfort crossing her lips. "Maybe it's not time for you just yet but when it is, my door will always be open to you. I'm sorry we disturbed you. I just wanted you to know that. David would have wanted me to be here for you." For a brief moment his expression softened, a world of agony appearing in his eyes and then it was gone as instantly as it had appeared and the hard mask was back. "Happy ever afters are for fairy stories," he answered bluntly. "Take you pet vampire and leave, Ashleigh. I don't want you here in my Gallery. Tell that to all of them, just in case they decide to emulate you. If they come here I will move on again. I will close down my email account and my cell too. Tell Aaron that." A frown full of unhappiness crossed Ashleigh's face. She had hoped coming to see him would be the start of Dayton slowly coming back to them, that she could somehow reach him where no one else had been able to. She had erred in her judgement. She had only pushed him further away. He was threatening to remove even the loose contact his family still had with him. "They won't come, Dayton. Cedar told me not to, that this was a bad move. But I had to try. Please don't punish your family for my mistake. They don't deserve it." He didn't answer her, his expression inscrutable. She could only hope that her words had gotten through. She took Freya's arm and tugged slightly, urging the vampire to leave with her. She could see anger on the other woman's face and was anxious to get her out of the gallery before she erupted again. Freya resisted her for an instant, a smile on her lips which held no warmth as her gaze bore into the man in front of her. "Pet vampire?" She suddenly laughed, a rich tinkling sound that was so at odds with the cold, hardness of her demeanour. "You shouldn't have said that, little doggie. It isn't wise to give me ideas. I've never owned a pet before. Maybe I might have to see if I can train one up to come to heel when I call?" It was obvious just who she fancied as having for a pet. "Freya, will you stop," Irritation laced Ashleigh's voice, a hint of fear trembling just beneath it. If she had known bringing her would have caused such a headache she would have argued with Nors about leaving her behind. She didn't want Dayton on Freya's radar, which he obviously now was. Dayton was smart enough not to answer the vampire. He knew anything he said would only be construed as a challenge and she would act on it. Instead he kept his expression impassive, let her have the last word. She was a megalomaniac like most vampires. She needed to have the power so he let her have it. To do anything else would be an open invitation and he most definitely didn't want her to come back. The skin on his throat still burned with the heat of her hand wrapped around it. He didn't want her laying hands on him ever again. The vampire slowly relaxed, her expression softening as she turned to look at the little blonde. "You take all the fun out of life, Ashleigh," she sighed with resignation in her voice, but there was a hint of warmth in her tone and in her eyes. She spared one last glance at the wolf and then she followed her sister out of the gallery. Dayton watched them leave, surprised when he felt his lips tug in a slight smile. It was plain to see that Ashleigh was having words with the tall vampire as they climbed back into the car. The other woman actually had a resigned expression on her face, as if this was a normal occurrence. Knowing how deadly Freya Eriksson was, it was almost amusing to see her submit to the verbal telling off she was getting. Then they drove away and his hand automatically went to his throat, to the place where the vampire had touched him. He could still feel the imprint of her grip, could still feel the heat as if it was branded into his skin. It had been so long since a woman had laid hands on him that he'd forgotten what it felt like. There was only one person living he allowed to touch him in human form and he hadn't seen her in over two years. She had earned the right to touch him, she understood his boundaries. No one else had that right but the vampire had done so. He would have killed her if he could have but he knew it was an impossible task. She was Ancient. She could snap him in two without any real force required. His thoughts were in turmoil as he tried to process everything that had happened. Would Ashleigh stay away? Would her visit spell the start of something he didn't want? There was a chance this meeting would be reported back to Rafe Hanlon, that his new Alpha would decide it was time to visit his errant pack member. Was it time to start packing again? A flicker of blackness interrupted his musing and his keen gaze sharpened, looking out the window to the street. The flicker happened again on his peripheral vision and his head swung to the left. The side of his mouth quirked slightly as he connected with the blackness. Talk of the Devil and she was sure to appear. Rayne had lingered outside the Gallery, close enough to hear what was being said but staying out of sight. Masking her scent was child's play, she did it instinctively. Shadowing herself required a bit more skill but nothing too excessive. She did that instinctively too as she eavesdropped on what was occurring inside. She'd considered intervening when the vampire had flown at Dayton but her enhanced senses had told her there was no real intent to harm him. And she didn't want to give her presence away to the other two women. Being invisible was second nature to her, she had been doing it for so long now she couldn't remember when she had first started. She opened the door and slipped inside the Gallery, her gaze quickly running over her friend, ensuring he had come to no harm. He appeared to be okay though she could sense his anger boiling deep within him. She knew why he was so angry. The vampire had touched him. She hadn't only touched him but it was skin on skin contact. Not something the strong male before her found acceptable. Dayton watched her intently, the faint hint of a welcoming smile on his face. Two years was nothing in the life span of a Were and he hadn't really noticed her absence when she was gone. And yet, now she was back he realised that he had missed her. Rayne was a law unto herself. She came and went as she pleased, often without a word of warning. She had fallen into his life almost as soon as he had left the pack. Nothing he'd done had persuaded her to leave him alone, she had just kept coming back until one day he hadn't tried to make her leave. That day had been one of the rare times he had seen the real woman behind the mask she wore for the world. She was almost as tall as he was, coming close to six foot. She had a love affair with the colour black and was dressed accordingly. Tight black jeans rode low on her hips, a short black T-shirt concealing most of her womanly curves though leaving a little of her midriff on show. An emerald and diamond piercing glittered in her naval, matching the strikingly unusual colour of her eyes. Those eyes were haunting, spellbinding in their unusualness. They were deep green but the iris was bordered by a thin circle of silver. Her complexion was pale, her skin satiny soft and completely unblemished. Thick, midnight black hair was secured in a long ponytail high on her head, her exquisite face so breathtakingly beautiful that many a man was quick to trip over when she walked passed them. One look into her eyes was enough to have them looking away and keep walking though. The hint of wildness in her gaze was enough to send a shiver down anyone's spine, no matter what the gender. Those eyes very seldom softened but they invariably did around him. Rayne regarded him as her friend. He was probably the only one she had and the feeling was mutual. She was the only person he let within his barriers because she was the only person he could trust to respect his boundaries. They were the same; damaged beyond repair. He didn't know what nightmares lay in her past but he knew she had them. They were most probably worse than his. The very nature of their pain was what brought them together. They were kindred spirits. Which was how Dayton had known that Ashleigh was a danger to him. He sensed in her the same feeling he had when he had first met Rayne. The same kindred spirit lived within Ashleigh, calling to the part of him that was still susceptible to giving a damn. Which was why he had faced the wrath of the vampire to push the little blonde away. The silence between them stretched for a little longer and then Rayne's lips curled in a little smile, warmth entering her eyes. "I see you need to work on your pick up lines," she drawled softly, her voice a husky sound that filled the Gallery and made it feel less cold. Dayton stiffened, the feel of steely fingers once more wrapping around his neck making his eyes narrow sharply with displeasure. "I see you still have a smart mouth," he countered coolly. "Is that any way to welcome me home?" A sultry laugh bubbled out of her lips, pleasure washing through her. Being with Dayton was the only home she knew. It was a fleeting moment of belonging which never lasted long before her wanderlust took hold again but it was one she sought more often than she cared to examine. "How long were you out there?" he asked moving over to the small desk in the corner that he used for discussing purchases with clients. He sat down in the chair behind it, watching as she walked across the room to perch on the edge of the desk, letting one leg swing nonchalantly. "Nice boots," he added dryly giving the leather and sharp stiletto spiked heel an appreciative glance. Rayne laughed again. "I'm going for the dominatrix look. Have I managed it?" Truth be told everything about the woman sitting on his desk was decidedly lethal. She moved with an unchecked feline grace which screamed to the world that she was dangerous. Her boots were a part of her human arsenal. She would use them as a deadly weapon if need be. Other Weres would take one scent of her, one quick glance and they would know instantly that she was a Werecat. They wouldn't know what kind of cat she was but he did because he had seen her in animal form. Her panther was impressive, midnight black, all honed sleek muscles that could rip prey apart effortlessly. He had watched her do it before. "Sounds like your pack is trying to lure you home," she answered his question when he didn't comment further. He frowned deeply, an angry black scowl crossing his face. "They will fail." Rayne couldn't help but smile at the total vehemence in his voice. She had walked with him a long time, longer than she had ever spent in anyone else's company. Her gut instinct told her that his time was coming. He may not be ready to face it yet but one day soon the beautiful man before her would find some peace within his tortured soul. It gave her a little hope deep inside. If Dayton Alexander could find some peace then maybe she could too. Maybe her endless centuries of solitude would end. "So, how long can I expect to see you around this time?" he finally asked. It was a game with them whenever she turned up. He would try hard not to ask the question and she would try not to tell him her plans. Sometimes she won but usually it was he who did. The fact he was asking her so soon was a testament to how rattled he was about his female visitors, even if he wasn't willing to admit it yet. Rayne reached out, caught a lock of silver hair in her fingers and let it trickle slowly through before she traced her knuckles gently against the side of his face. She met his gaze as she touched him, smiling gently as he allowed the light contact with barely a flinch. "For as long as you need," she breathed softly. A Long Walk Home Ch. 01 Something told her that he would need her in the coming weeks. She didn't have any real foresight, not as a skill set like her other abilities. But sometimes she just knew when she was needed at a given point in time. She had felt it just before she had met Dayton for the first time all those decades ago and she felt it now. She knew she was in the right place at the right time. The question was, why was she needed here? To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 02 OMG you guys blow me away all the time! The comments on chapter 1 were fantastic and often hilarious and the poetry...please don't make that a new trend. I mean seriously...don't LOL!!! Okay a second helping for this week thanks to my Tweeters' appealing to my better side in the most inventive ways possible. I'll never forget that photographic evidence T LMAO!!! This is unedited and I hope I proofed it vigilantly enough! Enjoy! * The large brown wolf prowled silently through the dense forest. It was restless, sensing that soon it would be sublimated by its human half, and it wasn't happy at the prospect. The animal detested being caged. It was the only word to describe what its human did to it. It was forced into submission, snarling ineffectively as it fought for a freedom it knew would only be granted on one night of every lunar month. Last night had been that night. The moon had been at its fullest and the man who controlled the beast surrendered as he always did. The wolf had been free to run, free to hunt prey in all its savage glory until the tantalising scents of the bitches called to it. The beast understood the pact its human had agree with the Lochlyn Alpha. At full moon, the lone wolf was allowed to run with the Pack despite not being a member. It was permitted to rut with any single bitches who were amenable to its lust. The wolf growled low in its throat, satisfaction rolling through its big body. It had sated its lust with three different bitches. Its human had curled up in a tight ball deep inside as it had mated ecstatically with the females. The man always detached from these engagements, always pretended they were not occurring. Which suited the wolf just fine. This was its reward for staying subjugated to the whims of man for the rest of the time. It was their private agreement carved out so many decades ago. Stopping in the heart of the forest the wolf stared at the new sun as it shone through the trees. Usually its other half had taken over dominance by now. This morning the man hid further within its body, hiding from the wolf memories of the last succulent bitch it had rode mercilessly less than an hour before. It was only the fact the animal understood so painfully well why its human half hid that it didn't rise up and take complete dominance, shedding the last of its humanity completely and going Rogue. The wolf missed her too. It could still remember her scent, could still remember the sleek, glossy black fur when she was in animal form. Memories of running with its mate always surfaced on the night of the full moon. The animal grieved for its other half just as much as its human did but the wolf was more pragmatic. Their beautiful mate was dead and had been for a very long time. They lived and they had to go on, it was as simple as that to the wolf. The man shut down, pretending he was living when he was really dead inside. The wolf did the only thing it could for its other half. It lived and loved with abandon for one night every month, keeping the man sane even though he would never thank him for it. Scents suddenly carried on the wind and the huge wolf turned its head slowly, large blue eyes shining with interest. The scents piqued its interest immensely. It had never scented anything so unique before. There was wolf carrying on the wind, but it was a different kind of wolf. Very stealthily, the animal move off towards the intoxicating scents. ***** "Daddy's going to be very angry!" Stopping with a deep sigh, the little girl turned slowly to face her baby brother. He was almost a full year younger than her almost five years and yet she felt as if she was so much older than him sometimes. She wanted to be cross with him but she couldn't find it in her heart to be mean. She adored her brother so much but she did wish he could be a little braver sometimes. They never got to have any real fun in the compound. He should be enjoying this new adventure, not being scared of Daddy finding out. He was blinking nervously at her, his light brown hair falling in his eyes wildly as it always did and she couldn't help smiling. "Daddy will never know, Kallum. We'll only be gone for a minute and they're all still sleeping," she reassured him with all the poise of her tender years. "It's okay for you, Lily. All you have to do is smile and Daddy always stops being angry with you. He frowns at me and tells me off." Kallum Romanov was very sensitive to his father's displeasure. He always felt bad if he was angry with him. His sister just seemed to let it all roll off her back and he envious of her confidence. He wished he was as brave as Lily. "Don't you want to try shifting?" Lily tempted, devilment in her chocolate brown eyes. She knew it was something her brother was desperate to be able to do. Mummy said they wouldn't know until they were at least fifteen whether or not they would be able to shift into wolf form. Lily wasn't prepared to wait that long to find out. She wanted to know now! That was all it took to ease her brother's concerns. He wanted to be a wolf like Rafe, big, strong and a powerful Alpha. He literally hummed with excitement, starting to peel off his pyjama top as she finished speaking. "Not here, Kallum! We're too close to the compound. Just a little bit further." Reluctantly he followed his adored big sister deeper into the forest. She was very smart, was Lily. If she said they had to go further from the compound then she was probably right. The siblings walked for a few minutes more before Lily decided they were far enough away that no one would sense them shifting. She was certain they would be able to do so. They had to because they couldn't grow fangs like Daddy so that meant they had to be able to shift into wolves like Mummy. "Lily, do you smell that?" Kallum whispered, a hint of fear creeping into his tone as his eyes darted around the little clearing she'd led them to. The moment he mentioned a smell she could scent it too. It was a wolf but not one that she recognised. "Get behind me, Kal," she breathed softly, moving to push her brother back as she looked towards the trees just as a large brown wolf entered the clearing. All Lily's bravado left her in an instant as she stared at the giant animal looking down at them. It was a monster of the kind nightmares were made of. She opened her mouth to start screaming as loudly as possible when the wolf stopped moving and sat down, cocking its head to the side as it sniffed the air delicately. A long thick strand of pure silver fur fell over one of its eyes and it looked so funny that Lily giggled instinctively, her fear forgotten. "You look funny," she laughed at the wolf, moving forward hesitantly and then with more confidence. "Lily," Kallum wailed softly, fear shivering through him as his sister reached up towards the huge beast. He blinked when the wolf lowered its head slowly until she could touch the lock of silver fur. "Kal, it's really soft," Lily laughed, delight in her voice. "It's okay. It's a nice wolf." A little more hesitantly he joined his wild sister, his eyes wide with apprehension. "Daddy's really not going to like this," he whispered. "We're not allowed to go near wolves we don't know." She ignored him, smiling into the face of the wolf. "Are you going to shift?" she asked curiously. "Kallum and I want to know if we can shift to wolf form but nobody will tell us how to. Will you?" The wolf remained silent, watching the children intently, trying to work out just what they were. It scented vampire about them but it also scented wolf. It was confused and tried to draw out its human side to talk to them but the man was still wrapped within its body, ignoring it completely. "Can you not shift to human form?" The sound of the little girl's voice inside its head shook the wolf to its very core. No one had spoken to it mentally in over fifty years. The child shouldn't have been able to. The only good thing about this strangeness was it captured its human's attention and the man responded. Dayton Alexander coiled within the animal, pressing his essence forward until he balanced precariously with his wolf. He looked down at the children before him, retaining his wolf form but conscious that the child had addressed him mentally. It should have been impossible. Only his mate could talk with him in that manner, or a member of his pack in animal form. The scents of the children washed over him and he stiffened slightly. He knew them for what they were. For a brief instant he wondered if the girl was Cedar's and then he scented Loretta on her. "What pack do you belong to?" He couldn't stop himself asking, though he already knew the answer. "The Armand-Hanlon Pack," Lily answered gravely, trying not to smile at the sound of the wolf in her head. He had a very nice voice, deep and silky sounding. Dayton closed his eyes, trying to block out the information she had given him. He had wandered too close to his Pack without realising it. He hadn't been thinking very straight since Ashleigh had turned up at his Gallery. He knew to stay as far away from this area as possible. Yet, his Beta instincts were kicking in. The children were alone in the forest. It was dangerous for them. Long dead emotions were starting to rear up, a need to protect the vulnerable members of his pack screaming at him. He didn't know what to do. Most of him wanted to turn and run but the other part refused to let him move. The issue was taken out of his hands an instant later. A loud hiss suddenly rent the air and Dayton tensed automatically, scenting vampires just as two of them dropped out of the trees. One had long flowing blond hair, the other wild light brown locks running down his back. In a instant the children were gone from in front of him, secured in the arms of the two vampires. "Daddy, no!" Lily shouted, afraid for her new friend when she saw the expression on her father's face. He was furious but it wasn't at her and Kallum. He was angry with the wolf and he sometimes forgot to be human when he got that angry. Andrei Romanov quivered as he tried to abstain from attacking the wolf. The need to rip the animal to pieces was unbearable but he was aware his babies would see any violence he committed and that held him back as nothing else could. "Alexei, take the children back to the compound." He passed Lily into his brother's waiting arms, his cold eyes never once leaving the wolf. "Daddy!" Lily shrieked desperately trying to wriggle free from her uncle. "Don't hurt him, Daddy! Please!" "What the hell is going on?" an irate female voice demanded loudly. Loretta Simpson strode purposefully into the clearing, clad in hastily thrown on sweatpants and tank top. Her long brown hair was tangled, a deep scowl marring her pretty face. She was angry and perplexed, seeing her mate, his brother and her children all in the clearing. One moment Loretta had been tucked up in bed with Andrei and the next he was snarling viciously and streaking from their bed, fear and a killing rage running through their mate bond. She'd followed as fast as she could, sleep still clouding her brain slightly. "What are the kids doing out of bed?" Bewildered she stared at her children before turning to see what had Andrei so close to killing. Her entire body went rigid with shock, her eyes filling with unshed tears in an instant. "Andrei, back away, baby," she said in a low tone, sending instant reassurance through their bond. "The children are fine, they're safe." "He touched them," the growl erupting from Andrei's throat was feral, fury laced with hatred. Loretta eased herself around her mate's body capturing his gaze even as he hissed at her furiously for getting between him and the dangerous wolf in their territory. "He's a friend, Andrei. A very old friend. He would never do anything to hurt any child let alone a child of mine." That got his attention and he relaxed slightly, surprise warring with the fury deep within him. His heart had almost stopped when he'd sensed Kallum's mental shout of fear. Finding his children gone had lodged fear so deep within him for a second he had actually frozen on the spot before he had called mentally for his brother. Tracking Lily and Kallum to the clearing and finding them with the wolf had been the last straw to his fragile sanity. He would have killed the wolf on the spot if the children hadn't been present. Now it was sounding as if it was fortuitous that he hadn't. Sensing her mate was now calm enough, Loretta turned to face the wolf who was staring at her with deep blue eyes that were so familiar even though she hadn't seem them in such a long time. She couldn't believe he was here, so close to the compound. She couldn't believe neither Aaron or Cedar were there to see him. With him rebuffing Ashleigh's visit so strongly, finding him close to home was staggering. "Don't go," she said softly, seeing the instant the wolf made the decision to leave. "Please, Dayton." Alexei stiffened slightly, his eyes intent as the wolf hesitated at Loretta's words. He knew that name well. Cedar has spoken of her lost brother on many occasions, a deep sadness invading her soul when she talked of him. When she learned he had been so close and she had missed seeing him, she would be devastated and that sparked a vicious anger inside the vampire. Dayton shifted, staying crouched low to the ground, aware his nakedness may cause the vampires to react aggressively but trusting that Loretta would be able to contain them. She had handled the most dangerous one already quite adroitly. He had known her all her life and knew what her capabilities were. "Loretta." It sounded strange to say her name after such a long time. Despite recently meeting Ashleigh, Loretta was the first old pack member he had spoken to in five decades. "It was not my intention to harm the little ones. I was in the area and scented them. I was curious as to why children would be out alone." A slow smile curved over her lips even as she sighed wearily. "My children have a tendency to do things they know they shouldn't be doing. It's good to see you again, Dayton. We've missed you greatly." He regarded her intently, his eyes devoid of all emotion. "They are curious and also very talented," he finally answered, ignoring the personal remark completely. "Your daughter asked me to teach her how to shift." Loretta's eyebrows raised in surprise and she turned around to look at her errant children who were being remarkably silent in their uncle's arms considering the trouble they had just caused. "She asked my wolf mentally," Dayton added causing her to gasp with shock, her head whipping around. "Your wolf heard her?" she whispered. He nodded. "And she heard me." He shifted to wolf form when he finished speaking. It had been an effort to talk to his former friend, not because he disliked her. He had only survived for as long as he had by keeping himself closed off from the past. Talking to Loretta had created the tiniest of cracks in his armour which he needed to repair. Too much had happened to assault his defences recently. He didn't regret talking to her. She had needed to know about her daughter's abilities. He retained enough of his previous Beta instincts to feel a need to protect the vulnerable members of a pack. He had done what he had to. Now it was time to leave. "Dayton, wait. Cedar and Aaron are here. They'd love to see you." He hesitated again, hearing a low growl come from the blond vampire. He turned to meet cold, brown eyes that glinted with barely concealed fury. He could scent his sister on the vampire, knew that this man was her mate. He could also understand his fury. A long time ago he too had had the same instincts to protect his own mate from any harm, no matter what direction it came from. He turned away again and streaked out of the clearing, disappearing into the trees. Dayton ran as hard and fast as he could before he was tempted to listen to Loretta, before he agreed to enter the Pack compound. Something deep within him told him he would never be the same again if he did. He was miles away in barely a handful of minutes, a sweet scent rushing over him a moment before the sleek, black panther fell in beside him, matching his pace effortlessly. As always Rayne sensed when he was close to losing control. He hadn't seen her since she had turned up at the Gallery after Ashleigh's visit but somehow she had known that he was in need. They ran silently through the trees, Dayton working on his inner barriers methodically until he reached the spot where he had left his clothes. He shifted instantly, unashamed of his nakedness before Rayne. She watched him in panther form as he pulled on his jeans and boots before she too shifted. He had known instantly the first time he had watched Rayne shift that she was more than what she appeared be. The simple fact that she was fully dressed after her shift was a strong indicator of that. Clothes disintegrated when a Were shifted, which was why they usually tried to undress first so they had something to change back into when they returned to human form. Rayne's clothes didn't disintegrate, or if they did, she had some way of forming new ones when she returned to human form. He didn't know what she fully was because she only ever allowed him to scent what she wanted. He found that he didn't care either. She was no threat to him and he trusted her. She accepted him for who and what he was and he returned that trust. Now he watched her give a long lazy stretch, her midnight black hair loose and flowing down her back. Today she was dressed in a tight red tank top which bared her midriff, a pair of black jeans and black spiked ankle boots which laced with hooks and eyes. The sun glinted off her navel piercing as she stretched. A black leather jacket graced her slender shoulders. "Interesting Pack," she said softly, moving to sit on an upturned boulder as she watched him pull on his T-shirt. "Those vamps are pretty hot, all those rippling muscles and sexy growls." She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a hair tie. She quickly secured her hair back in a loose ponytail as she continued to watch him dress. It was her way of letting him know that she had been around the whole time, using her hidden ability which she called shadowing. She was able to mask herself from everyone's line of sight, no matter what the species. Add to that her ability to mask her scent and she became truly invisible. Dayton stiffened at her words, shooting her a dark look. "They're mated. One of them to my sister. I suggest you don't try and play with them." His comment brought a short, husky laugh from her lips. "I wasn't planning to, Day. But there's no harm in window shopping. Is there? That female vamp from the other day was pretty stunning to look at." He blinked slowly, an image of Freya's face coming to his mind unbidden. She had been flawlessly beautiful. Logically he could admit that even though she left him completely cold as a man. All women had done so since Faith had died. He knew denying his sexual appetites was dangerous so he had come to his agreement with his wolf. The animal was allowed to rut on the night of the full moon. It could do it as often and with as many bitches as it wanted. The trade off was it became dormant the rest of the time. His human half was left alone in his solitude. Before the vampire had lain hands on him, the only other woman to touch his human skin since Faith had died was the woman sitting before him now. Nothing was allowed to sully his memories of being with his mate. Freya Eriksson had done so and he hated her for it. His lips twisted in a bitter smile. "Only a fool gets sucked into the shallowness of beauty." A Long Walk Home Ch. 02 Rayne's laughter increased in volume, her stunning eyes sparkling as she regarded him with amusement. "Is that your way of telling me you like my personality?" Dayton snorted loudly and rolled his eyes. "Fuck off, Rayne." There was no heat in his words but she stood anyway knowing he needed space. "As you command," she said softly. She took a moment to run her fingers lightly along his jaw. He stiffened slightly but held still for her touch. Her heart twisted in her chest as she met his shuttered gaze. Dayton Alexander may shun all personal contact and yet he craved it deep within his soul. He could hide it from the rest of the world but she could see deep inside him. Which was why she pushed him with her little touches. For decades the barriers he had erected had been all that had kept him sane. But times were changing. The man that he had once been was aching to break free. It was evident in how easy it was for others to break his rigid control. First the two women in his Gallery and now the adorable little children in the forest. It would be a hard, painful time for him but she had hope that he was strong enough to ride the emotional storm which was about to hit him like an avalanche. "Dinner tonight?" She stepped back and turned to scale a low tree branch, perching nonchalantly on it, her feet swinging in the air. Dayton tied back his hair quickly with a leather thong before he nodded once. "You're buying," he answered. He regarded her for a long moment and then frowned slightly. "What are you up to, Rayne?" Silvery laughter greeted him and she swung herself effortlessly onto the next branch above her. "I think I might hang around a while and see this Pack in action. So many lost, damaged souls in one place. It's fascinating, Day. Almost all of them have suffered personal loss or heartache and yet they come together as a group and they are so much stronger for it." His frown deepened until he was scowling quite darkly at her. He wasn't stupid, he could see what she was trying to do. "I'm not interested." His words were curt, his expression turning hard. "Then go paint something," was her answer as she climbed higher. "Just because you're not interested doesn't mean I can't be." She disappeared completely then, using her shadowing abilities to vanish from his senses. Irritated he glared at the spot he had last seen her, knowing she could be anywhere by now. Then he turned and walked the last distance to where he had left his Jeep. He was irritated because he knew Rayne was playing with him. Cats liked to play, liked to taunt and tease. If she thought he was going to fall for it she was wrong. He might be a little off balance because of the last few days but his need to be alone was still the most dominant part of him. He didn't need the Pack and more importantly he didn't want it either. ***** Loretta was still kind of stunned at seeing Dayton so she was mostly silent as Andrei sat their children down at the kitchen table and began to have a serious word with them. Her gaze ran over them and she had to stifle down the smile that threatened to cross her face. Her babies were the most precious things in her world. They were so unalike personality wise but their shared gene pool was obvious. Lily's hair was long and slightly darker than her brother's, more closer to her own rich brown colour. Kallum was a miniature little version of his father, his brown hair light like Andrei's, though he was more sensitive personality wise. It was her daughter who had her father's rebellious wildness and she was usually the one who instigated any of the trouble the Pack children got into. "Liliana Rose, I am very disappointed in you," Andrei said sternly, a deep frown marring his face as he pinned his daughter with a steely gaze. He was fighting a smile too as he watched her little chin tilt exactly the same way her mother's did when she didn't like something she was hearing. His fear had mostly dissipated now he had his children safely home where they belonged and he ached to give them both a big relieved hug but knew they had to understand first that actions had consequences. "Why is it all my fault?" his daughter asked stubbornly, her lips pouting in the way that she knew tugged at her father's heart and usually made him forgive her a lot quicker than normal. "Because you're the oldest and you know fine well that Kallum will do anything you ask of him," was his blunt response as he struggled not to cave into the little witch before him. She was way too precocious for her age. He knew he was mostly to blame for it because he gave into her so easily. Her little face crumpled under the weight of his displeasure and she looked down at her clasped hands. It took everything in his power not to drop to his knees before her and pull her into his arms. "What if that wolf hadn't been an old friend of your mother's?" he asked quietly, his voice a little more gentle though still stern. "You could have been hurt, Lily. Kallum could have been hurt. You wouldn't want to be responsible for that, would you?" Big brown eyes filled with tears and her lower lip trembled as she looked at him and then her little brother. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I didn't think." Loretta could feel the heartbreak rushing through their mate bond and stepped forward, placing her hand unobtrusively on Andrei's back and rubbing gently. She knew how much he hated seeing either of their children cry. It was worse with Lily though because in the back of both of their minds was always the memory of how they had almost lost her before she was even born. For the space of a few hours they had both believed their child had died when Loretta had been forced to shift into wolf form during early pregnancy, something which usually aborted the child. That memory led to them being a little less strict than they should be when dealing with their little wild child, something they both admitted to. "You need to start thinking from now on," she said quietly, taking over as her mate struggled with his emotions behind a mask of neutrality. "You're old enough to know better, both of you. I suggest you go up to your rooms and think on your actions for at least an hour. Then we can discuss it again." Head bowed, Lily slipped down from her chair not meeting her parents' eyes. She could feel their disapproval and it hurt a lot. Kallum had sat silently the entire time, his eyes wide with misery, shooting sad glances at his father. "I'm sorry, Kal," Lily whispered, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "It's not your fault, it's mine. I'll make it up to you." The adults stood tensely watching as she helped her brother down from the chair and led him out the kitchen and upstairs as ordered. Andrei twisted the instant they were away and wrapped his arms around his mate, burying his head in the side of her neck and shuddering deeply. "Sweet Jesus, Loretta, those two are killing me slowly." It was an anguished whisper, his voice low so the retreating duo wouldn't hear him. She knew the feeling but still managed a little laugh as she stroked his hair gently. "That's what children do, baby," she sighed softly. "They rip your heart out and hand it back to you with sweet little smiles over and over again." Her tone was full of love, her touch soothing him until he regained some semblance of self control. He finally raised his head and gave her a tortured look. "How are you supposed to teach them anything when they look at you with those big brown eyes filled with tears? I take on the entire vampire nation every day and yet one hint of hurt in my children's eyes and I'm brought to my knees." Love shone through their bond, Loretta's beautiful face radiant as she touched his cheek gently. "They're your babies, Andrei. They'll always have that power over you. The trick is not to let them see it and you're managing that beautifully." He leaned down and kissed her gently, his arms tightening as his soft touch turned more demanding. Her heady cinnamon scent washed over him and desire quickly sprang to life as it always did when she was in his arms. His kiss turned deeper, his body hardening against her soft curves as he plundered her mouth almost desperately. She was breathing heavily as she pulled back, her eyes flashing brightly, her lips looking deliciously ravished. "We have to talk about what Dayton told us," she said breathlessly, fighting the urge to surrender in his arms and spend part of the next hour loving her beautiful vampire the way she wanted to. The mention of the wolf intruded on Andrei's more romantic notions and he frowned deeply. "I came close to killing him," he admitted darkly. "If the children hadn't been there." He never lied to her. He knew she had probably already worked it out for herself but he felt he had to tell her the truth. "If they hadn't been there in the first place then the need to kill Dayton wouldn't have surfaced," she answered dryly, pointing out the obvious which he had clearly missed. He was trying so hard not to kill anyone. It was difficult because it was second nature for him to destroy anything or anyone who got in his way. The last time he'd taken a life he'd almost lost his sanity in the process. He could still remember what it had felt like to dismember Roberto slowly for the harm he had done to his mate. Since then he hadn't taken even one life. He had been tempted on numerous occasions and he'd used violence to achieve his ends, but he had stopped short of actually killing. Loretta's faith in him that he could be a better person was what kept him grounded, what helped him to fight the urge to destroy. But his children's safety blew that all away. He would kill anyone and everyone who tried to harm them or his mate. Nothing would be able to hold him back if so much of a hair was touched on any of their heads. He smiled in acceptance, knowing that she wouldn't fault him for protecting his family or the Pack. Every one of them would do the same, including his wonderful mate. Killing to protect those you loved wasn't a bad thing though he supposed he should have tried to determine if Dayton's intentions were hostile before he wanted to shred the wolf into pieces. That was the hard part to adapt to. Loretta leaned into his wide chest, giving him time to rationalise his thoughts now the killing rage had been blunted. She was so proud of all he had managed to achieve in the last five years. She knew he still doubted himself sometimes but she never did. "Andrei, our children can speak mentally to wolves," she sighed quietly. She knew it was only Lily who had done so today but most probably that meant Kallum could too, and the others. The mated vampires' children were a complete unknown to everyone. The first of their kind to survive a Were/Vampire mating, nothing was known of just what they were likely to turn out to be. So far there had been no sign of any vampiric abilities. The children didn't need blood to survive like their fathers though they did prefer their meat to be 'blue'. Apart from that they ate everything else humans and Weres did. Their scents were a combination of both Vampire and Were, they grew at the same rate as normal Were children despite the fact that their gestation rate was two months rather than the standard nine. Up until now, they had displayed no signs of being either vampire or Were, though most Weres didn't shift for the first time until puberty or just afterwards. They hadn't expected to learn anything more until round about that time. This ability for them to be able to speak to wolves not of their own pack was unheard of. The fact that they could converse with a wolf while still in human form made it even more of an anomaly. Weres could only communicated mentally with their pack mates when they were wolves. The Alpha could speak to pack member in either form but for their human halves to be able to communicate in this manner only occurred between the mated pairs. From the little knowledge Loretta had just gained, her children appeared to be able to talk to anyone mentally and that was worrying. Lily was way too adventurous in nature. Now she could do this with one wolf there was no telling what she would do. "Do you think it's only wolves?" Andrei finally asked, stroking her back lightly to try and ease the tension he could feel gathering within her. "I'm scared it's everyone," she admitted, a slight tremor of fear running through her. "What if there's no distance limitation either, Andrei? What if Lily reaches out and connects with someone who wants to hurt her? We would never know." He tensed too, his eyes blazing at the thought of his wayward daughter getting herself into that kind of trouble. Loretta's fears could be justified but until they tested out these new abilities they couldn't go borrowing trouble that might not even exist. He leaned down kissing her gently. "We'll call a pack meeting, discuss this with Rafe and the others. This affects all the children and pack safety. Until then we'll just keep a closer eye on them." He soothed his mate gently, kissing her deeply as he took his own comfort from the quiet strength she gave him back. ***** Rayne walked confidently through the Pack, hidden securely by her abilities. There was still a hint of newness to the place though it was apparent the compound had been around for a few years at least. It was smaller than any other Were compound she had walked through before but there was room for development. In the centre was the large community hall which was so favoured by Weres, where they could come together and eat, have meetings and just socialise. Surrounding it were smaller, individual homes that could house reasonably sized families. All the buildings were made from wood from the forest, from the trees levelled to create the space for the compound. Weres were in tune with nature, the animal side of them instinctively at home in the wilderness. The largest house was set back and a little apart from the others. It was three storeys high and quite imposing to look at. She knew this was the Alpha's home though it was larger than most others she had seen. Knowing the nature of this Pack she had a feeling that the Alphas didn't reside in that house alone. Possibly some of the Betas lived there too, or it was used for activities other than just a home. The medical centre was close to community hall and she knew that it would be state of the art inside. It had to be because Weres couldn't go to a normal hospital. Their secret would be revealed with the first blood test taken and that couldn't be allowed to happen under any circumstances. Rayne smiled slowly as she watched the early morning hustle and bustle going on around her as the inhabitants of the compound slowly came to life, waking up to a new day with sleepy laughter filling the air. The Pack had a good feeling to it, a homely feel which called out to her. She wasn't here for that reason though despite what she had told Dayton. She had a very specific destination in mind and she scented the air deeply before her smile grew and she headed towards the largish wooden house to the left. It had two storeys and was designed to house a growing family, a feeling of permanence about the place. There was a large oak tree at the side of the house and she jumped up nimbly, easily scaling the thick branches as she followed the tantalising scent that she had smelled earlier in the forest. There has been a lot of people around at the time but she knew the scent which attracted her came from the two little ones. She had recognised it instantly and been rooted to the spot as she'd listened to Dayton talk with the female Were. In all her time walking the planet, she had never before come across the sweet fragrance that drew her almost like a drug. It called to her loudly, sang a siren's song to her very soul. She had to investigate the children, she couldn't resist the urge. Rayne was almost at the upper window when she was suddenly seized from behind in a powerful grip. For an instant she was completely stunned. She was using her shadowing abilities. No one should have been able to see her! But somehow someone was aware of her presence and she was flying silently through the air away from the house and the compound, entrenched in a band of steel wrapped around her body. It happened so quickly it could only be a vampire who was speeding her through the trees. A spark of fear ignited in her soul. Only one who was millennia older than she was would have the power to find her when she was shadowed. She had never come across a vampire that old before. She shifted into her panther form and clawed at the masculine arms holding her so tightly. A furious hiss sounded in her ear and the arms tightened around her, threatening to break some ribs if she didn't retract her claws. In answer she locked her strong jaws around one of the arms and bit deep. Another hiss sounded but the arms did not release her. Instead they tightened further and the panther let out an agonised mewl as ribs cracked loudly. Rayne released her bite to cry out, agony searing her damaged left side. A muffled roar escaped her before she suddenly shifted again, unable to hang onto her animal as the arms around her kept squeezing tighter. It was a human scream that escaped her this time, long and full of pain and then she was falling from a great height, no trees close enough to latch onto as she plummeted through the air. The pain in her side was nothing compared to how bad it was going to feel when she hit the ground which was quickly rushing up to meet her. The fucking vampire had picked the most inopportune moment to release her was her last thought before the pain in her side caused her eyes to roll back in her head and everything went black. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 03 The furious male vampire watched the cat fall, lavender eyes intent as the woman screamed loudly as she crashed towards the ground. He knew she couldn't rotate her body to use her feline reflexes to try and cushion her fall. He'd heard her ribs snapping as he'd fought to get her to release him. Every painful snap resounded in his head and he hissed loudly in fury. He had hurt her! It had been instinctual, his need to protect himself from her unexpected attack sparking instantly and he'd reacted without considering just how fragile the panther in his arms was. He had lost his reason for a brief moment and he was furious with himself for it. He was better than that, had more self control. He should have handled the situation differently. Now he watched the woman fall and he had to force himself to wait. It went against every male instinct within him. He was a protector, he was The Guardian but he knew if he went to her too soon and she struggled again, then he may cause her more damage and he didn't want to do that. He tracked her intently until he saw her eyes roll back in her head, then he swooped down and caught her a scant foot from the forest floor. Cradling her unconscious body in his arms he took his first proper look at her and found himself sucking in a deep breath. She was exquisite. It was the only way to describe the vision he held in his arms. Long inky black hair flowed across his arm and pooled towards the forest floor. It had been bound when he first noticed her though he hadn't been paying her appearance too much attention at the time, too concerned that she creeping towards Lily's room. Now he stared at the luxurious, thick locks and he didn't think he'd ever seen a more glorious sight. His gaze slid from her hair to her beautiful face and he traced each feature slowly. Her eyes were closed but he knew they were remarkable. His keen vampiric sight had picked up the deep green colour, a thin layer of silver ringing her iris. They were the most unusual eyes he had seen before, they hinted of mystery and of a million untold stories. High, delicates bones graced her flawless cheeks and her luscious, full lips were parted slightly making him suddenly want to lean forward to find out what they tasted of. The unexpected impulse made him blink in surprise and then he mentally cursed himself for allowing his lust to rise even slightly. He lowered the woman very gently to the moss covered ground, checking her heartbeat as he laid her down. It was strong. She wasn't in any life threatening danger. He heaved a sigh of relief that he hadn't hurt her too badly. He could heal the damage he'd done easily enough before she woke. The bite mark and gouges on his arms were already healed, the pain inflicted a distant memory as he stared down at her trying not to register her womanly shape though it was a hard task as her chest moved up and down in a skin tight red tank top that didn't cover her midriff. The sun glinted off the jewel in her navel, and the sun kissed skin of her bare stomach which was as flawless as her face. He felt his body start to stir again and his cursed loudly and looked away. It was intolerable for him to react this way. As he stared into the quiet forest a sudden thought occurred to him and his gaze swung back to her, this time devoid of any desire but as intent as before. She should be naked. She had shifted to animal form and then back to human but she was fully dressed. He had walked the planet for over six thousand years and never once had he come across a Were who could retain their clothing during a shift. He was immediately alert, stiffening as he leaned down and inhaled deeply of the woman's scent. Every time he thought he had caught it, the scent shifted to something else. His spine stiffened further. The skill she was displaying even while unconscious was a very old skill indeed, one that only three other people living could do and that was because they were the oldest vampires to walk the planet. His disquiet grew as he tried to fathom out just what this woman was. She exhibited a skill of vampire origin and yet she was clearly a Were. He had seen her shift into cat form, there was no disputing that fact. So how could she mask her scent? His frown deepening, he knelt down beside her and lightly traced her left side, feeling along the rib cage for the damage he'd caused. He found none. Gard hissed loudly at the discovery. It was impossible that her Were healing abilities would have worked so quickly on her injuries. He had been prepared to feed her some of his Ancient blood to heal her before she woke but it was obviously not going to be required. Something nagged in the back of his mind but whatever it was he couldn't quite grasp it. The woman before him was a complete enigma. He couldn't pin down just what she was and that frustrated him no end. The unknown was always a threat, and sometimes threats had to be neutralised. Permanently. He eyed her objectively trying to work out her threat level. At the moment she appeared harmless but he'd felt just how dangerous she could be when riled. He sensed she wasn't about to come around any time soon so he sat back against a tree beside her and contemplated the forest before him as he mulled over what had happened. Anakatrine...Annie, he amended, had asked him to give her time before he revealed himself to her family and friends. That had been five years ago, barely a fraction of time for him though it had chafed to wait when he wanted nothing more than to be by her side. He had been alone for three thousand years and he didn't want to remain so. Finding his sister again had been everything, what he had been searching for endlessly. He had tried to stay away completely but found he couldn't do so, coming back frequently to watch over her even though he knew she had Caleb now to do that. Still, he tracked his sister, followed her as she visited the Were compound, watched her interact with her Were brother. The love that shone so iridescently between her and the Armand-Hanlon Alpha ripped at his gut. He knew it was irrational, that he should be thanking the huge brown haired man who had taken care of his Anakatrine during this incarnation but he still felt the clawing talons of jealousy deep within him. The other man had had precious years with his sister that he'd never had. It hurt. None of the Weres had ever been aware of his presence. He always used his shadowing abilities when he walked in the compound but she knew he was there and that was all that mattered to him. She could look right through the deception and see him. So could Caleb when he was present. Golden brown eyes always turned hard with anger when he followed the other vampire couple. It often brought a smile to his face that he could rattle the other man so easily. Caleb took it as a sign that Gard didn't trust him to protect his mate. It was nothing of the sort but he didn't disabuse the other man. To do so would be to admit to him that he was vulnerable in his need to be with Anakatrine. He had already shown that vulnerability once five years ago and he was still angry with himself for doing so. The male posturing between himself and Callain had always been a bone of contention. Gard smiled as he remembered the past, some of the fights they'd had when vying for the right to protect Anakatrine. It was the one thing designed to bring her wrath down on both of them and yet they had continued to do so despite that. He always had to yield though because Callain was his King and the mate of his Queen. Maybe that was why this time around he very seldom thought of Caleb as Callain. He struggled to separate his sister from her new incarnation. He still thought of her as Anakatrine despite her admonishment to address her as Annie. But with Caleb it was easier to disassociate himself from the past, probably because he had Sired Caleb all those millennia ago. He'd had no idea at the time he was Siring Callain. Anakatrine had not been reincarnated for another two thousand years so Callain had remained hidden, dormant until the time was right for him to emerge to protect his mate and their people. This time around everything was different and Gard felt that change like a blow to his heart. His sister didn't need him as she had in the past. He had to admit that to himself so he could work through the conflicted emotions that brought him. Despite knowing that she didn't need him he found himself unable to give up his role of Guardian. It was ingrained deep within him but it was twisting in a new direction as he slowly let go of the past. He found himself returning to the Pack even when his sister was absent, watching them as they built their compound. He felt a particular attachment to the young hybrid children being born. They were enchanting, something new, something that had been destined for so long but cruelly snuffed out in its infancy. His thoughts went to wander in a direction he didn't want them to and he quickly stifled them down and glanced back down at the woman at his side. She was still out, still flawlessly perfect as she lay on the dark green moss. Seeing her scale the tree towards Lily's room had brought a deep protective rage to the surface. He'd had no idea of what her intent was and he hadn't stopped to ask. Liliana Rose was his favourite of all the little ones. She reminded him so much of Anakatrine when she was little, headstrong, curious to a fault, a natural born leader. She would be glorious when she grew up. He pitied the poor man who would be called on to mate with her for she would lead him a merry dance. His lips twitched at the thought, his gaze still on the face of the woman at his side. This one appeared to be just as much of a handful from what he'd witnessed so far. The burning question was would she live long enough to find her mate? Nothing and no one could be allowed to harm the children. He had failed once before in that respect and he had vowed then that he would never again fail to protect a helpless child. He reached out and touched a strand of hair, letting it fall through his fingers slowly. Would he be able to neutralise the threat of this woman if that's what she turned out to be? He could take her life in so many ways it was quite shocking. Would he be able to do it though? It wasn't a question he usually asked himself when he was called on to do what was required but he found himself asking it now as he stared into her exquisite face. He was perturbed to realise he didn't have a ready answer. Rayne came back to consciousness and tensed immediately. She expected to feel the agonising pain of having connected with the hard forest floor but instead there was nothing, which surprised the hell out of her. Her healing abilities were far advanced of any other Were but even still, she should have been in considerable pain. Slowly opening her eyes she looked up to find a pair of lavender ones staring intently into hers. They belonged to a large male vampire, the sheer size of the man looming over her overpowering. It took a lot to intimidate her but this male was certainly managing to achieve that and he hadn't even opened his mouth yet. She stared up at the excruciatingly beautiful male face and bit back a little sigh as her cat purred quietly within her. Why did vampires always have to take a woman's breath away? They were the coldest, most arrogant, unfeeling beings to walk the planet and yet they were the most stunning individuals, truly glorious in their appearance. She didn't think she'd ever seen an ugly vampire before and the enormous man above her wasn't a disappointment. His face was shaped in hard angles and planes with a sculpted brow and perfect cheekbones. His lips were drawn tight and he had a dark scowl on his face but he was still the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. His thick auburn hair was secured in a long single plait which had fallen over his shoulder and rested against his chest. That chest was so wide and powerfully built that she had the urge to reach up and touch it just to see if it was real. She didn't make any sudden moves though. He would most likely kill her instantly if she did. She had no doubt this was the vampire she had fought with. The one who had broken her ribs so easily and then thrown her from the top of a tall oak tree. He wouldn't hesitate to finish the job and end her life if the mood took him. She was oddly surprised to find that she didn't feel any fear towards him. She should. It was highly likely she was looking at the face of her executioner. A long moment passed when neither of them spoke and then the dark expression on the vampire's face smoothed out. "Leopard or jaguar?" His voice was a low deep rumble, a touch of curiosity in the question. Rayne bit the inside of her lip and considered her answer as her cat purred louder at the sound of his voice. Her animal was clearly intrigued by the vampire which was surprising as her cat didn't usually pay much attention to men around her. But something about the vampire had its attention. Maybe it was his question? He was obviously knowledgeable about wildcats. He knew the black panther was not in fact a panther but a member of either the leopard or jaguar family. That would stroke her cat's ego, that this male was asking an intelligent question about its origins. She considered her options and then went for the truth as she knew it. "Leopard," she answered quietly. The truth was she didn't really know which cat family she belonged to. Her research pointed more towards the leopard family so that was the one she assumed she belonged to. But she could be wrong, she could be a jaguar. Never having been in a pride let alone raised by one, it was all guesswork on her part. His lavender eyes narrowed slightly, almost as if he detected the slight uncertainty in her voice. She waited for his next question but he continued watching her silently as if trying to come to some decision. "You dropped me." She said it just to break the silence and see what his reaction would be. She injected a little bit of accusation in her tone though she wasn't angry about it. They'd been fighting and he had used a successful tactic against her. She thought she saw a slight narrowing of his unusual eyes but then his luscious lips curled into a slow, easy smile and she had to fight to breathe normally as she watched his face transform into something so divine it was almost angelic in appearance. "You bit me and clawed my arms to ribbons," he countered, his eyes boring into her as if he was trying to read her mind. If that was one of his skills then he'd be in for some major disappointment. Her mind was impenetrable. "You broke my ribs!" She pushed herself up onto her elbows, the movement bringing her face a handful of inches from his as he didn't back away. "And you're still stroking my hair," she added with a faint smile curving her lips. Gard's fingers stilled in the silky tresses in his hand. He had been so intent on her eyes from the moment she'd opened them that he hadn't even noticed that he'd been stroking her hair continuously. He blinked slowly and then forced himself to move away from her. It was an effort to do so. For some strange reason he liked being close to her, liked the way she matched wits with him and didn't appear the least afraid of him. It was foolish of her not to be but he admired the steel within her. She was beautiful with a lush, womanly softness about her, but she was also a very deadly predator. The combination of softness and hardness appealed to him on a very base level and he was reacting to her as a man would to a woman. It was an interesting turn of events. He watched as she sat up and put a little more distance between them though she didn't attempt to run for which he was glad. He was disinclined to hurt her any further which would most probably happen if she took off without him satisfying himself she wasn't a threat. He sifted through his emotions, trying to make up his mind what to do with the cat. He was astounded to find that he actually liked her despite her rather suspicious actions back in the compound. "Why were you climbing towards the child's window?" He had hoped to catch her off guard, glean some information from her expression if she chose not to answer him. Instead her expression remained calm, the faint smile still tugging at lips that kept drawing his gaze like a magnet. "How old are you?" She countered softly, moving a little closer to him, her movements very feline with a hint of sensuality. "You have to be very old to see through my abilities. No one else has ever been able to breach them before." Her head tilted to the side as she waited expectantly. Gard almost laughed in delight, a little shiver running down his spine as he watched the amazingly exotic creature before him. She was very good at deflecting his question but he had no intention of letting her leave until he knew the answer to it. Her survival depended on it, surely she was intelligent enough to know that? "Much older than you, cat," he answered very quietly a second before he moved so fast she didn't even see him coming. She was flat on her back with his large body straddling hers before she could blink. He had her hands secured above her head in one of his, his gaze narrowed on her face. "And way too old to fall for the old seductress routine," he added as his expression hardened. "Answer my question." Rayne fought to drag air through her lungs as the heat of the vampire practically overwhelmed her. Lord, did he move fast! His tone was cold and hard, mirroring the expression on his face. It was obvious that playtime was over. The problem was she couldn't answer his question because she had no idea why the scent of the children had called to her but she had the distinct feeling that he wouldn't believe her if she told him that. He leaned down slowly and inhaled against the skin of her neck and it was hard not to shiver a little as his breath whispered over her skin. "Answer the question, Kitty. You have five seconds to do so. If you refuse I'm going to indulge in your very intoxicating blood until my venom races through your system and stops your heart." He meant it. Rayne had no doubt that the vampire would bite her if she didn't say something, anything. And then he would know what she didn't want anyone finding out. Heart thumping wildly she tried to twist from his grasp but he was too strong for her. "I don't know why," she ground out, meeting his cold gaze unflinchingly. "Something about their scent appealed to my cat. It was curious. They're different from normal Weres." It was the truth but she didn't know if it was enough for him. "And what was your cat going to do?" he demanded, his tone still cold and very deadly. "Nothing!" she bit back, anger in her eyes as she realised the stupid male actually thought she had intended to do harm. "Children are to be protected. Weres don't harm cubs or kittens, ever! I know that's a concept vampires can't understand but it's ingrained in all Weres." Gard believed her. Her fury was honest and quite simply breathtaking. If her hands were free he had no doubt that he would be having to fight her off as she went for his throat. She was squirming beneath him and he found himself enjoying the sensation of her softness pressing against his hardness. His body was starting to react to her womanly curves. He found he couldn't help playing with her a little longer. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, the fury dying out of them as she searched his face carefully. "Well, I do have a dinner date tonight," she finally said. "He might be a little upset if I stand him up." A Long Walk Home Ch. 03 Her answer was so unexpected he burst out laughing. He hadn't laughed in such a long time, not since he had last been with Anakatrine millennia ago before everything had gone to hell and his world had turned black. When he stopped laughing he looked down at her and fought down a rising emotion deep within him at the thought of her having a date with another man. "I suspect he might actually thank me for doing him a favour," he responded dryly before he released her and stood up. "He must be a very brave man to take on a hellcat like you." He turned away from the strange woman who was engaging him on so many levels he'd never experienced before. She was still an enigma to him but he didn't judge her to be a threat to the Pack and most importantly, the children. "Curb your cat's curiosity, Kitty," he called over his shoulder. "The compound is off limits to you unless you're invited in." Rayne watched the vampire leave, rising with a feline grace which was inbuilt. Her cat was purring happily inside her, letting her know that it liked the man who was disappearing into the trees. She wasn't quite sure what she thought of him herself. He was very arrogant but then he was a vampire. And he liked to play rough too. But he did have a very quick wit and was sexy as sin itself. The vampire screamed danger in big neon red lights but instead of that frightening her off it only piqued her interest a little more. So, he thought he could just order her away from the compound? She didn't do orders very well, never had and wasn't about to start now. Turning away, she shifted to her panther and streaked off through the trees. She was well aware that she had probably just dodged about twenty bullets and had managed to walk away in one piece. Going up against the red haired vampire probably wouldn't be a good move but then she didn't always do the most sensible things in life. ***** Dayton was sitting in his office at the Gallery when the door opened. He heard it distinctly and knew it could only be one person because he'd locked it half an hour ago. Only Rayne had a key to let herself in. He pursed his lips and ran his hand through his long hair as he remembered they had a dinner date. It had been a long day, one that had tested him greatly and he would have preferred to be alone but knew she wouldn't allow it. Aaron had sent an email which he'd expected as Loretta would have told them she'd seen him. His little brother hadn't made any accusations though. None of his family ever did. The email was friendly, expressed regret that they hadn't had the opportunity to talk with him when he was so close to the compound but that the family were happy to hear he was looking well. The understanding his family gave him was worse than any accusations they could throw at him. It had become harder to stay detached as the years passed when they constantly gave him love and support which he didn't want. If they had been angry at him then it would be easier to hold himself aloof. Seeing Loretta today had shook him more than he cared to think about. Rayne appeared in the doorway to the office and for a moment he could only stare at her in complete shock. Gone was her customary attire of black and in its place was a shimmering dress in teal green with thousands of diamante sparkles through it. It was long and formal, as was the artfully arranged hair piled on top of her head. Her long, slender neck was graced with a diamante collar and she had matching strappy sandals on her feet. "You didn't say this was a dress up affair," he finally commented when he could finally speak. He had always been aware that she was stunningly beautiful but he'd never looked at her as a woman before. She was just Rayne to him. Now he perused her objectively and he could see the sensuality that cloaked her like a glove. She laughed softly and gave him a twirl. "You like?" she grinned mischievously. "I don't dress up enough. Today I had the urge. Don't worry, you don't have to. We're not doing anything fancy for dinner." Rayne was feeling very buoyed from her meeting with the vampire. Her cat was closer to the surface, her playful spirit coming out and dictating her current behaviour. Cats were very mischievous and hers wasn't any different from the other wildcats. She gave Dayton a wide smile and cocked her head to the side. "Come." Dayton watched her head away from the doorway and sighed softly. He'd only ever seen her in this mood a couple of times before and it had always turned out to be an interesting experience. When in a playful mood, anything could happen with Rayne. He wondered what had set her off this time. Rising he headed out of the office and stopped in surprise. All the lights were out save for the wall lighting that framed his artwork. The effect was pretty spectacular as colours shimmered around the room. In the middle of the floor was a large picnic basket sitting on an enormous fluffy white rug. Rayne was kneeling on the rug and pulling various containers from the basket. "I take it we're eating in?" he remarked dryly though his lips did curve slightly as he walked forward to join her. Dinner with Rayne was always an unknown. She had a thing for picnics when she was the one buying. Once, about a decade ago, she had taken him to a hastily constructed tree house in the middle of the forest and served him truffles, champagne and caviar from her picnic basket. The crudeness of the setting against the luxury of the ingredients had actually stimulated his senses and he'd found he'd enjoyed the experience immensely. But that had been her goal. He wasn't oblivious to what she was up to most of the time. She had forced her way into his life and decided that she was going to heal him. If she came at him head on he would have been intractable and she knew it. So she worked subtly and in unusual directions to tease him back into life. Sometimes she even managed it for a brief period of time before the melancholy set back in. Nothing deterred her though. Sighing again, Dayton knelt of the rug and accepted the glass of champagne she handed him. He stretched out on his side and relaxed, taking a sip from his glass as he watched her intently. "So, what's brought the cat out today?" Silvery green eyes flashed with amusement as she met his gaze. "I met a man," she laughed softly. "A very bad tempered, mean old vampire to be precise. He broke my ribs and then tossed me from a tree." He automatically tensed, overcome with a wild fury which surprised him in its intensity. He knew Rayne could look after herself but after meeting the children this morning his old Beta instincts to protect were still hovering too close to the surface. He could see that she was perfectly fine but he was still enraged that someone had hurt her. His emotional reaction to the cat was becoming harder to deal with. She had woven a way through his defences over the decades despite his attempts to keep her out. She was the only one who had managed to do so and he often wondered what it was about her that was so special. What was it about Rayne which dented his carefully constructed armour? "I told you to keep away from Alexei and Andrei." Was his cool response though his deep blue eyes were flashing dangerously, giving away his fury. More silvery laughter as she placed a plate of cheese and fruit before him with a mouth watering spicy pastry to accompany it. "It wasn't one of those vamps, Day. I don't know who this one was but he was pretty spectacular. Long red hair, deep lavender eyes and the most incredible body I've ever seen. My cat was very impressed with his strength and ruthlessness. For a moment I thought he was going to kill me but then he appeared to change his mind and let me go." A loud rumbling growl escaped Dayton as she calmly told him she had come a hairsbreadth away from death in such a matter of fact tone. She actually sounded impressed that the vampire had tried to kill her. Rayne smiled at the raw fury she saw in his eyes. He was reacting just how she wanted him to, just how she had hoped he would. The chinks in his armour were growing wider, her objective being to keep those cracks open long enough for his emotions to bleed through. Suppressing them for so long had only hurt him. It was time he started living again. And he was her link into the Pack that she had been summarily banished from. She had no intention of staying away from the children. She had to be close to them, scent them, touch them, learn what it was about them that called to her so. There was so much she didn't know about herself and she had a feeling those little ones would give her the answers she had been seeking her entire life. Leaning forward she traced her fingers lightly along his clenched jaw, soothing down the rage with her soft touch. Her actions were twofold. She wanted to help him deal with the unexpected emotions he was feeling and she wanted to completely infuriate the vampire standing outside watching them. "Eat," she smiled gently. "The pastries are delicious." She stroked his jaw lightly again and then sat back and concentrated on her food feeling the cold hatred directed at her back from the woman outside. ***** Freya had found she couldn't get the wolf out of her mind all day long. She coldly analysed what it was about him that irritated her so much as she sat in Nors' home and watched her two year old nephew play with building blocks on the sitting room carpet. Unlike the Romanov twins, her brother and his mate spent more time at their own house than they did the compound. She knew they did it for her. She was uncomfortable around the wolves and their compound. Accepting Ashleigh and now baby Liam into her family had been a challenge but one she had been able to overcome with time. They were now just as precious to her as her brother. But accepting the other wolves was a much harder task. She couldn't shake off two thousand years of enmity towards them so easily. She wouldn't do anything to hurt them unless they hurt her or her family, but that didn't mean she wanted to spend every waking moment in their Compound the way the other mated vampires did. She tolerated them because she had to. It was all she was capable of. Which was why her interest in the male wolf from the other day was irritating her. She'd been trying to fathom out what it was about him that had set her off, made her want to sink her fangs into his neck and taste his blood, killing him into the bargain. Maybe it was the way he had looked right through her, as if she didn't exist? Freya was a vain woman and she knew it. She was aware how she turned male heads of all species. Never had a man looked at her as if she was asexual and that grated on her nerves because that was what the wolf had done. And by doing so it was almost as if he had silently challenged her. His distain angered her, brought out her feral side. And her protective side. He had wounded Ashleigh with his rejection and that added to her annoyance with him. "Look, Aunt Freya," Liam cried with delight, pointing at the rickety tower block of bricks he'd just built. The sound of his sweet voice soothed some of her inner rage and her expression lightened from the dark scowl she was wearing and a small smile crossed her face. "Very good, Liam," she responded gently, moving from the sofa to sit on the floor beside him. "That's eight bricks high. You're improving daily with your skills." The words weren't particularly designed for a child his age, the praise difficult for her to enunciate, and yet it drew the widest smile from the adorable child beside her. Liam Eriksson had his father's dark auburn hair but his mother's chocolate brown eyes. His baby features were starting to change into that of a grown up little boy and he had Ashleigh's gentle spirit as opposed to his father's more volatile temper. He loved his mother and father as only a child could, enthusiastically and unconditionally but he particularly adored his aunt with her multi coloured hair and cold eyes. No matter how much she smiled he never saw any sparkle in the deep green of her eyes and that made him feel sad. He may be only two years old but Liam saw things with a maturity far beyond his years. He looked at his pretty aunt and he knew that deep down inside she hurt badly. He could sense most people's feelings if he wanted to though he didn't make a habit of doing it in case they realised he was doing so. He didn't want mummy and daddy worrying that something was wrong with him. He knew they did that, that all the Pack were concerned for him and the other children because they didn't know what they would grow into. Which was just plain silly in his opinion because he knew they were all going to be just fine. But grown ups were funny that way sometimes because they loved their children so much. Aunt Freya was the only grown up that he had trouble blocking so he didn't try anymore. Despite her cold eyes her mental voice almost screamed out to him. Today she was very angry so he tried to distract her with his block building. Sometimes it worked and other times it didn't. Today it appeared to be working a little. "Hug, Aunt Freya," he demanded, his arms reaching up towards her. Enchanted with the little being in front of her, Freya gathered him carefully into her arms and let him bury his face in the side of her neck as he played with her hair. She felt a tenderness for the boy on a level she was not used to dealing with. Usually she would try and fight these emotions but it was impossible with Liam. "Ash, get a camera! Freya's being all warm and fuzzy. We need to capture this moment," Nors Eriksson yelled over his shoulder as he entered the sitting room to see his sister cradling his son so tenderly. His voice was full of amusement though his eyes were shining with love as he looked down at them. He was an Ancient vampire and one of the largest of their kind. Standing close to six and a half feet tall, his shoulders appeared just as wide. He was loosening his hair as he talked, still dressed in a dark grey Armani business suit having just returned from work. His mate entered the room behind him, rolling her eyes as she saw Freya's annoyance at his teasing. "Leave her alone," she reprimanded though she was smiling. Liam always seemed to reach her sister where no one else could. Their relationship was building into something very special and she was delighted to watch it grow. "She's ruining her reputation of being a cold hearted bitch," he continued teasing as he picked up his mate and kissed her soundly despite their audience. "Daddy!" Liam giggled, hugging his aunt a tad tighter as she stiffened at the teasing before he let go and ran towards his parents to be included in their family moment. Nors reached down with one arm to scoop his son up and kissed the top of his head as they hugged tightly. Freya watched the family unit with narrowed eyes. They included her in everything but that still didn't mean she didn't feel like an outsider in moments like this. The bond between the Eriksson family was so close knit that sometimes nothing could intrude on it. She felt her irritation rising as she watched them as she stood up. "I need to go," she said shortly, drawing a frown from Ashleigh as Nors set her down. "Stay, Freya," she said softly. "I was just going to bath Liam and put him to bed. You know he loves it when you stay for his bedtime story." "I have plans," Freya answered looking away from the little boy with the big eyes who appeared to be begging her to stay even though he hadn't opened his mouth. "Maybe tomorrow." She was moving out of the room before they could attempt to convince her otherwise. She appreciated the way they included her in their lives but it was their family, not hers. She was just a sister, an aunt, a sister. She was part of them and yet she wasn't. She had no idea where she was going when she left Nors' house. At first she had thought she was heading to her own home but instead she veered off into the night until she found herself inexplicably standing across the road from a small Gallery in the heart of town. Why had she felt the need to come to the wolf's place? Was it because she knew it would irritate him enormously? Usually when she was feeling this way she found someone to torment to the point of madness. Sometimes she found a particularly aggressive male vampire and led him a merry dance as the idiot tried to bed her. Sometimes she even gave in and let the male win the encounter though she could have bested him. Tonight she stared into the window of a closed art gallery watching intently for a wolf with eyes that where almost as dead as her own. Freya watched the female Were arrive and let herself into the Gallery. She tried to scent the other woman but found she couldn't do so which immediately set her hackles up. She could discern the Were was a wildcat but that was about all. There was something odd about this Were but she couldn't put her finger on it. The woman was glorious. Her beauty rivalled even her own and she found her anger ratcheting up a notch as she watched. Was the wolf bedding the cat? She didn't know if interspecies mating was possible or why it bothered her so much that the man, who was just following the woman out of the office, might be sleeping with the cat. From her first meeting with him it appeared that a night in his bed would be a frigidly cold affair, that was if a woman could convince him to let her into it. The anger inside her built steadily as they lounged together on the thick white rug, the woman tenderly touching his strong jaw as his eyes sparkled with an emotion she couldn't quite read from the distance she was at despite her enhanced sight. She didn't know who the woman was but she could see that Dayton Alexander responded to her on an emotional level. His eyes were not dead when he looked at her. Hatred for the woman burned deeply within her. It was an irrational emotion considering she didn't even know her but she couldn't shake it. The cat had her hands on the man who had failed to acknowledge her as a woman and that was unacceptable to Freya Eriksson. Dayton Alexander was hers to play with and she wouldn't think twice about taking any competition out of the arena. Permanently. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 04 Thanks so much for all the comments, votes and the speculations. Can't tell you the enjoyment I get out of reading the comments :-) Okay this chapter is a lot more polished than the first three thanks to a very nice man called Peter who asked me if I needed a helping hand for the odd chapter. So many thanks for your time Peter. It's greatly appreciated. Any errors on posting up are my own as I tend to tinker with my edits :-) Quick kiss to the Guild and my Tweeters because they rock! Enjoy! * Dayton tidied up the remains of dinner as Rayne disappeared out of the gallery He didn't even bother objecting to her sudden departure. He was used to it. She might like her little picnic dinners but once she was sated she tended to vanish, leaving him with the debris. Over the years he had donated quite a few picnic hamper sets to various goodwill stores. He stiffened suddenly and put the full hamper on the desk in the corner. As he turned to face the gallery door it opened, and the cause of his sudden tension framed the doorway. He had caught the sweet scent of cherry blossom and knew instantly who it belonged to. As he stared at the vampire in his doorway he couldn't help wondering how someone so cold could have such a sweet scent. It just didn't match the woman before him. What the hell was she doing back in his gallery? Freya stared at the wolf, her cold gaze flicking quickly over the man who had been on her mind most of the day. She honestly couldn't work out what it was about him that irritated her so much. The simple fact that he was a dog should have been enough to relegate him to the ranks of those beneath her notice, but it didn't. She tried to eye him objectively, taking his species out of the equation. He was very tall, standing at six foot three inches. She liked tall men because she was almost six feet tall herself. The need to look down at a man automatically rendered him inferior in her mind. He had a wild, untamed look about him which reminded her of a vampire in its feral state -- a state she relished. So that, she guessed, was a point in his favour. He did lack the inherent beauty of her kind but that wasn't exactly a negative; his male beauty was that of a wolf, rugged, wild and very, very hard. His wide shoulders and thickly muscled arms and thighs spoke of barely restrained power. He moved with the predatory grace of an animal; dangerous, deadly and merciless -- all the things she admired in a male and so very seldom found in the one package. But it was his eyes that drew her the most. They were cold, dark blue pools of nothing. No emotion lurked there, no life at all. He carried the coldness of a vampire in his soul. He would have been better suited to her way of life than the one he found himself part of. And yet the art work on the wall surrounding them called him a liar. It screamed of emotion, though the feelings it portrayed were the darker ones. Pain, suffering, agony, they all lived in the dark colours, the vivid reds intersecting the muddy browns and deep blacks. Looking at Dayton's art was like looking into the window of his soul. And hers. Maybe that was why she wasn't able to stop thinking about him. Maybe it was because he painted her soul with such precision, such attention to detail, that she just couldn't stay away. Maybe it was because she recognised that they were two of a kind. "I'm closed." His words brought a slight curve to her lips as she stepped into the room properly and closed the door behind her. "I'm not here to buy," she answered coolly though she did start wandering around the room as if she were browsing each piece with the intent to buy. Dayton wondered if it was wise to turn his back on the vampire. He had no idea what she wanted. She didn't appear to be in any hurry to leave, either. He was under no illusions: if she wanted to play with him she could do so quite easily. He was a strong wolf but no match for a vampire of Ancient status. A newborn Youngling he might stand a chance against, but not Freya Eriksson. Still, she wasn't into mercy kills so he didn't think she was here to take his life. Not that he would have minded if she had been. His wolf growled loudly at the thought and he was surprised to find that the human part of himself actually objected too. Whereas before he wouldn't have cared one way or another if he was about to die, today, for some reason, he found a little spark of fight deep within himself. A small part of him actually gave a damn! It was quite astounding. "What do you want, Freya?" he ground out, turning his back on her to retrieve the picnic basket. He headed towards the back office leaving her to her own devices. He could scent her following him and he wanted to growl his annoyance because under the sweetness of cherry blossom he could smell another scent, a very womanly scent. One that spoke of the beginnings of female arousal. There was no denying that Freya was exquisitely beautiful. He knew that a night in her bed would be an experience of a lifetime; after all, she'd had centuries to perfect her sexual prowess. But there was just one major sticking point: she left him completely cold. He had no desire to touch her skin, to taste her sweetness or to slide into her delicious body. It was nothing personal. He just didn't desire any woman. The only one he wanted was Faith and she was dead. Freya ran her eyes slowly down Dayton's back as she tried to keep her expression carefully neutral. Something strange had happened when he said her name for the first time. A slight shiver had whispered down her spine. Did he know who she was or was he simply just observant and had remembered Ashleigh saying her name? Whichever it was she just knew that she liked hearing it from his lips. She wondered idly what it would sound like whispered in her ear as he claimed her body. Her footsteps almost faltered at the errant thought and the first stirrings of sexual attraction fluttering in her stomach. This was why she was here? She wanted to bed a dog? It was a preposterous thought no matter what pretty package the wolf wore. She would have to temper her pleasure to avoid hurting him and that would leave her unsatisfied. She didn't do gentleness; she gave complete rein to her passion. That would surely kill the wolf if she were to go there. A slow smile curved her lips as she followed him into the office. She could always play with him just a little, just enough to get him to react to her as a woman. Maybe that would wipe from her psyche the insult he had paid her by looking right through her; then she could go back to her own life, free from such a distraction. "I asked you what you wanted," he reminded her, dropping the hamper onto his desk and turning to look at her with cold, flat eyes. Her smile widened as she slowly approached him until there were barely a handful of inches between them. "You," she answered very softly, reaching a finger up to trace his clenched jaw in a light caress. He stiffened instantly and backed away from her, a low growl coming from his lips. "Don't touch me." It was uttered in such a harsh, deadly tone that her eyebrows rose in surprise, though the smile didn't leave her lips. "You didn't have any objections to your cat touching you," she remarked coldly, as her anger was reignited by the memory of the other woman touching him. She knew there was something unusual in her reaction but was too engrossed in her current game to examine it. "Such a pretty kitty cat," she mused softly, her gaze boring into his for any sign of reaction. "They say cats have nine lives," she laughed softly. "Obviously, whoever came up with that little saying wasn't aware that vampires walk the world. I've found they truly only have one." Dayton caught the implied threat in her tone and his fury ignited like a hot furnace. The moment she touched him, rage began riding him hard. When she threatened Rayne the rage soared and his control snapped. He was moving without even thinking about it, wrapping his big hand around her throat and pressing her hard against the wall. "Go near her and I will kill you," he ground out through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing as they bored into her. "Come near me again and I will kill you." Freya laughed loudly, letting him have the upper hand, delighting in his show of male dominance even though they both knew the only reason he had her pinned was because she allowed it. His empty threats of death were precisely that. She could kill him a thousand times over before he even got close to hurting her. She felt her lust flare deep within her as he tried to cut off her laughter by crushing her throat. This wolf was just utterly divine and she had to have a taste of him, just a little, tiny taste. She could control her natural instincts enough--she was almost certain of that. With the speed only an Ancient was capable of, she reversed their positions in less that a heartbeat, pinning the furious male to the wall with one hand around his throat. His own hand still gripped hers tightly but she liked that so she allowed him to do so. Very carefully she elongated a talon and brought it to his neck. He froze instantly, his hand dropping away from her. "Naughty doggie," she sighed softly, leaning forward to inhale his scent deeply. He smelled of the forest, rich and earthy and oh so masculine. Her fangs threatened to come out and she wondered just how much control she really had over her feral side at the moment. Even as she wondered she shifted her grip on his neck and ran a talon ever so lightly against the side. He kicked out at her as she opened up his flesh but she pressed her body hard against his, ignoring his struggles as the scent of his blood filled the room and her mouth watered at the heavenly fragrance. His hands went to her hair and he pulled hard to stop her from leaning forward but it was a futile gesture. One taste: that was all she wanted. Freya leaned forward and ran her tongue slowly along the long thin cut in his neck. A deep moan escaped her lips as his succulent essence exploded in her mouth causing her fangs to drop instinctively. He tasted so good, so thick, so rich and heady that it took everything in her not to bite down on his flesh and drink deeply. Instead she sipped slowly, allowing the wound to heal as she licked at him. It had been a mere sip, but it sparked another hunger deep within her as she pulled her head back and licked her lips slowly. Her gaze focused on his lips, lust spiralling through her body. He had other delicious attributes she wanted to taste and she knew he wouldn't give those up any more freely than he had just given up his blood. Dayton's heart was pounding wildly, loud growls coming from his chest as he struggled against the vampire. If he hadn't been fighting so hard he probably would have been amazed that he was actually fighting at all for his life. But he was. When Freya cut his neck and he realised she intended to drink from him, the need to survive suddenly kicked in and he reacted instinctively. Despite everything he had long believed he realised that he wasn't ready to die. And he sure as hell wasn't going to spend his last moments being a meal to a fucking bitch of a vampire. He could feel his blood flowing down his neck; could see the feral gleam in Freya's eyes. She was going to bite him and when she did her venom would kill him instantly. He thought of Faith... then he thought of his family, to whom he hadn't spoken for so long. They would be devastated. His heart twisted painfully and a deep well of pain rose up inside of him. He would never have the chance to return home, to talk with Cedar and Aaron, his parents, Connor, Willow and Brody. Their last memories of him would be of how he had rejected them. Freya's tongue licked his neck and he froze instantly. Holding his breath he waited for the inevitable, for her fangs to sink deep and take his life. They didn't though; instead the rasp of her tongue lapping slowly against his skin provoked a fury such as he'd never experienced in all his life. She had no right to take what he didn't give freely. She had no right to breathe against his skin, to cause a shiver of something he didn't want to examine to run through his body. His eyes were full of hate as he stared down at the vampire and watched her lick his blood from her lips as if it was the sweetest thing she had ever tasted. "Get your hands off of me," he bit out furiously. "I'm not finished playing yet, Dayton," she laughed softly running her talon slowly against his neck once more, though being careful not to cut him once more. She didn't trust herself to stay in control a second time if she tasted him again. "You taste delicious. Maybe I want some more?" She arched a perfect eyebrow at him, cold hard amusement dancing across her exquisite face and he hated her a little bit more. She was playing with him just because she could. She had no morals, no decency; she was a vampire in every sense of the word. "You disgust me," he finally said, cold fury holding him still as rigidly as she was. Freya smiled slowly. "Seeing as I'm damned in your eyes anyway," she laughed again. He had no chance to try and move away as her mouth covered his. His entire body went rigid with shock when she kissed him. His soul screamed his denial; the wall around his heart came tumbling down and every emotion he'd ever contained rose up and overwhelmed him. Her lips were so soft against his, gentle even as she teased and coaxed at him for a response he refused to give her. He wanted to weep as she did the one thing that was guaranteed to cause him the deepest agony. She took away the memory of what it felt like to have Faith's lips against his. She not only took it away but she replaced it with the memory of what her own lips felt like brushing against him. He couldn't stand it, couldn't bear the touch of her softness against him as his entire body suddenly started to register her as woman. "Don't." It was a whispered plea, wrenched out of the very heart of him against his will but it hung in the air between them as the vampire froze in place. The word whispered through Freya's lust but it wasn't the word that halted her, it was the emotion within it. The lust receded slowly and she pulled back to look into a pair of blue eyes that was suddenly mirrors of untold anguish, waves of agony dancing across them. She looked into those eyes and something broke inside her. She had seen eyes with that expression before, so very long ago. Slowly she released him and took a step back, all the while unable to look away from the pain in his expression. She had wanted to see some emotion in his eyes but now she'd achieved it she wanted it to go away. She wanted his cold, hard mask to come back because his gaze was dredging up memories she didn't want to have to explore again. She didn't want to remember looking at herself in the mirror on the day she had been turned to this life of a vampire. She didn't want to see her own agony reflected back at her the way he was now doing. "Damn you to hell," she hissed, raw pain in her voice as she turned and vanished from the gallery, running so fast that she was miles away in a matter of seconds. Dayton could only lean against the wall, trying to control the tremors that were wracking through his body hard. Freya had just broken him as no one else had been able to do and he was reeling from the emotions coursing through him. The agony of losing Faith was there; it always was, but now there was fresh pain, a new anguish that threatened to overwhelm him completely. In his need to protect himself he had hurt everyone he loved. He could only imagine the pain he had put his family through and yet they had never condemned him for it. They had kept loving him, kept hoping for him to come home to them. And he had stayed away because he was too much of a coward to deal with life without Faith. His pain was tempered by his fury at the vampire. She had managed to break down his barriers and he hated her for it. She had made him feel again. She had touched him, sullied his memories of Faith and he knew he would hate her until his dying day for taking those precious memories from him. He was smart enough to know that she wasn't the only reason his barriers had crumbled. He knew Rayne had played a large part in it too, that Aaron's communications also played a role in it, that seeing the pack that morning had further weakened his shields. But it had been the vampire's kiss that had forced him to beg and that he just couldn't tolerate. He was just a toy to her, a plaything for her to use and then discard when she became bored. Something he had said had gotten through to her. Her words sounded once more in his head and he heard the inflection of pain in them. The memory of her eyes came back to him and he focused on it; then he realised that her eyes had been a mirror of his own, full of anguish. Dayton pushed away from the wall, his face hardening into a tight mask as he realised that something in Freya's past had hurt her as badly as Faith's death had hurt him. He was glad. He fervently hoped that her vampiric memory replayed that hurt daily and caused her pain beyond bearing. It was a fitting punishment for what she had just done to him. He had never truly hated anyone in his life before but he did now. He hated a beautiful, feral vampire called Freya Eriksson and he wished her the damnation of hell for the rest of her long life. ***** "I need you to come with me," Dayton announced, closing up the gallery and locking the door behind him. Rayne blinked slowly, sensing that he was holding himself very tightly under control. He was so tense he was almost ready to snap, something she wasn't used to seeing in him. She wondered whether to ask and then opted not to. He would talk when he was ready. Leaning against the side of his Jeep she watched him intently as he turned to face her. "Where are we going?" Dayton stared at Rayne for a long moment as he worked through the chaotic thoughts in his head. He absentmindedly took in her appearance, some of the tension leaving his big body as his lips curled slightly. Her lithe form was encased in her customary black pants and boots with matching leather jacket but she'd brought a splash of colour with the jade green basque she was wearing. Her long black hair was loose today and shimmered down her back in silky waves. He was amazed to find that he was actually admiring her lush curves, was actually viewing her as the sensual woman she was. He knew whose fault that was and it only served to increase the cold rage which had been the dominant emotion he'd been feeling since Freya left the night before. "There was a threat to your life last night," he finally answered, moving to unlock the Jeep so they could both climb in. He started the engine before he turned to look at her. Typically she was smiling softly. That was so like Rayne. He'd just told her there was a threat to her life and she found it amusing. She had no sense of self preservation sometimes. A pissed-off Ancient wasn't something to smile about; even he knew that. He had spent most of the night lying awake, trying to decide what to do about Freya Eriksson. He knew she would be back. She was a cold-hearted bitch and she wouldn't give up her new toy until she was good and ready. That left him with few choices. He could go to Ashleigh and her mate; they could maybe talk to Freya, but there was a chance he would see her there and he wasn't ready for that. He knew he needed some kind of protection from the Ancient. He was too isolated as he currently was, and Rayne's safety was in jeopardy too because she was isolated with him. His Beta instincts had finally kicked in and he'd realised that the only route to safety was to go pack again. A Long Walk Home Ch. 04 It brought him some feelings of trepidation at the thought of once again joining with his people but when, last night, he'd admitted to himself the hurt he had been doing to his family, a part of him had suddenly wanted to see them, to be with them. Aaron and Cedar were part of the Armand-Hanlon Pack. He could see his siblings if he went back, or rather, asked for permission to take his place in this new pack. He had never met the Alpha but knew of him through Aaron, and he appeared to be a good Alpha. He wasn't Jared, wasn't someone he had known his entire life, but maybe that was a good thing. Maybe having an Alpha who had never known Faith would make this easier. "Day, are you okay?" Rayne asked quietly, a hint of concern in her voice and he took a deep breath slowly and then checked his mirrors. He pulled out into the light morning traffic. "We have an Ancient vampire who has decided we're her entertainment," he answered just as quietly. "We're too isolated on our own. We need pack protection. We're going to my Alpha to ask if we can have that protection." Rayne let out a long whistle, her heart starting to kick up a quick beat. She had no idea what had happened after she'd left the gallery the night before. She'd considered hanging around to make sure Dayton was okay but had decided that this was one battle he had to fight on his own. Whatever had happened he was going back to his people. Finally he was reaching out to the pack for help. She hadn't expected it to happen so fast. She had expected it to be a gradual thing but clearly something had occurred the night before which had shattered Dayton's defences in a way she'd never been able to. She felt a moment's guilt for having left him to fend for himself. "This Ancient, did she hurt you?" she asked carefully. If Freya had hurt him she wasn't going to be very pleased with her. He looked okay; pissed off big time, but healthy enough. A low growl emanated from his throat as he deftly turned the Jeep off the road and headed onto a dirt-packed forest road. "Yes." It was the only answer he gave her and he appeared reluctant even to do that. She considered pressing him further but they were almost at the compound now and she was suddenly distracted by the wonderful scents that had teased so mercilessly when she had last been there. She couldn't help looking into the trees to see if she could catch a glimpse of her vampire. He had warned her away from the pack unless invited. She was sure that this would be classed as an invitation but she was hoping she might see him again while she was here. ***** Rafe Hanlon slid himself carefully into his mate's body, growling softly as her wet heat wrapped around him and welcomed him home. Lacey's cry of pleasure was sweet music to his ears as he took her gently from behind, satisfying the burning need within them both as he moved inside her with long, sure strokes. He never got tired of loving his exquisite mate, of joining with her like this. It was less frequent these days because of her very pregnant condition. He tried to temper his need for her but she was a determined woman when she wanted something. This morning she had most definitely decided she'd wanted him. He'd come awake to her wet mouth surrounding his hard shaft, her tongue licking firmly up and down him. He'd have had to be a saint to resist her and he'd never once claimed to be a saint. Now they made slow, languorous love together, his hands stroking her heated flesh as he took her with a gentleness that belied his huge stature. "God, I love you, Lacey," he groaned as he felt her passion start to peak and knew she would be flying soon. He was so close himself, so ready to lose himself to the sweet bliss only she could give him. He stroked into her a few times more, sending her tumbling into her pleasure and shuddering wildly as he joined her. Cradling her tightly to his chest he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her neck gently, luxuriating in the afterglow of their lovemaking. He chuckled lightly and shook his head in mock exasperation. "You need to stop doing that, baby," he said ruefully, his hand stroking over her very swollen stomach. "I'm pregnant, Rafe, not sick," she snorted with amusement, turning awkwardly in his arms so she could face him on her side. "Mallen says there's nothing wrong with making love. It's not going to hurt the babies in any way." He rolled his eyes and smiled. There was no arguing with his woman when she had her mind set on something. His hand stroked her stomach again and he marvelled at the life growing within her. They had waited so long before starting a family, until Lacey had finished her teaching qualification. Soon they would know the joy of being parents for the first time. It had been hard on both of them watching all the new lives being born to the pack while they waited but it had been the right thing to do. Lacey had needed her independence; she had needed something that was just for her and nobody else. It was almost as if it was the last thing she needed to do to put away the horror she had been through at the hands of Richard Graves, when he had stripped her of everything she was as a person and turned her into a toy to be fought over. Rafe didn't regret waiting. He would have waited forever for Lacey to be finally free of Graves and ready to fulfil the destiny that was hers, to be his mate, his love, the mother of his children and the strong Alpha Bitch of the Armand-Hanlon pack. "You're perfect," he sighed softly, touching her cheek tenderly as she laughed at his compliment though a fierce love shone in her eyes. "You're biased," she retorted, though she did lean in for a kiss, her laughter increasing as her stomach got in the way. "Shower," he chuckled, sliding out of bed and heading into the en-suite to start the water running. He knew she would go back to sleep the moment his back was turned so he showered alone and quickly towelled himself dry. He smiled lovingly when he re-entered the bedroom to find her fast asleep, her long silvery blonde hair fanning the dark pillows. She truly was perfection in his eyes, the one woman he could never be without. Covering her naked body with a sheet, he grabbed a pair of loose sweatpants and pulled a tight vest top over his powerfully built chest. Rafe was a big man, the largest Were in a hundred miles. He stood almost six and a half feet tall with a wide, muscled chest and thick arms and legs. His long dark brown hair was wet and unkempt; he ran his fingers through it in an attempt to tame it in lieu of a comb. His eyes almost matched the colour of his hair and he had the rugged, handsome face of a movie star. He exuded power in every lithe movement, his position as Alpha of the Armand-Hanlon Pack undeniable. The sound of an approaching vehicle caught his attention and he strode to the window. He tensed immediately at the sight of an unknown Jeep entering the main compound and strode quickly from the bedroom. "Mallen, inside," he barked at the pack doctor who was just running up to the third floor which housed the Alpha's private quarters. "No one gets in that room under any circumstances." The sandy haired Were was nodding instantly, slipping into the bedroom to guard his Alpha's mate. Rafe met two of his Betas on the way downstairs. "Protect Lacey," he ordered quietly, his steps never faltering as Sam and Harley flew past him silently on their way to the third floor. He was at his front door by the time the Jeep stopped. The driver's door opened and a tall man exited the vehicle. Surprise hit him like a sledgehammer as he saw who was standing beside the vehicle. He read cold hard fury in the other man's gaze as he quickly studied him. His long brown hair was unbound, the inch long streak of silver glinting in the warm summer sunshine. He knew who he was, and felt his fury through the fragile bond of Alpha and pack member. Rafe had almost resigned himself to the fact that Dayton Alexander would eventually snap the fragile bond between them, that he would never come to accept it and would one day become truly alone, a Were with no pack, with no Alpha to guide him when he needed it. He had respected the other man's need to be alone, figuring he would come to him if he ever felt the need. It would appear that he now did. He sensed Aaron come up beside him, heard the sharp intake of breath from his number two and best friend. He could only imagine what must be going through his friend's mind right now as he looked on his brother for the first time in more than fifty years. Another startled gasp reached his ears and he turned his head to see Cedar standing frozen in the middle of the compound. There was no sign of Alexei; he must have stayed with the children while the pack investigated the newcomers. "Dayton?" she whispered, her eyes suddenly filling with tears as she stared at the brother she'd assumed she would never see again. Loretta had told her that they had talked briefly; that her brother was still hurting badly and there was no sign of him coming back to the pack. Seeing him there in front of her was more than she could stand. She took a step forward. "I need to speak with you, Alpha," Dayton finally said, his words cold and hard, stopping Cedar in her tracks. She choked down a cry of disappointment, desperate to go to him but knowing he wasn't ready for that. His body language screamed to keep away, his voice a whip crack across her skin. Dayton was here but he didn't want to be. He might never want to truly be pack again. "Aaron, take Cedar inside before her distress causes Alexei to react," Rafe said quietly, his eyes remaining fixed on the man before him. "You know what he gets like when he thinks someone is deliberately hurting her." He chose his words carefully to soothe the pain he could feel in his friend too. Stepping down from the porch he walked towards the Jeep. He glanced at the cat sitting quietly in the passenger seat, making no move to get out. "Can she be trusted?" he asked as he glanced at the stunning woman who appeared to be no threat. "My mate is due to give birth soon. My wolf is a bit irrational at the moment." Dayton nodded, understanding what the Alpha was telling him. If Rayne proved a threat in any way he would kill her to protect his children and the pack young. It was a warning and a promise all rolled into one. The pack would be protected at all costs. "I wouldn't have brought her if she couldn't be trusted," he answered firmly. "Rayne will harm no one, Alpha." Rafe considered for a long moment, searching the other man's face intently and then he finally relaxed. The moment he did so the rest of the waiting Pack did too. "Come," he ordered, turning and heading back to his home. He heard the Jeep door open and inhaled deeply to scent the wildcat. He stiffened and turned his head slightly to look back at the woman. She met his gaze unflinchingly, waiting to see how he would react at being unable to scent her. After a brief pause he turned away and continued into the house. They followed him inside into a huge library-come-study off to the right. It was full of plush leather sofas and chairs, a large desk sitting in the far corner facing out to the room. It was obvious that this was a comfortable meeting room for a large number of people. Rafe didn't sit behind the desk; instead he chose his favourite armchair beside the open fireplace. He watched as his two visitors chose to sit together on the sofa closest to him. Watching them intently he wondered if they were sleeping together. He could sense that they possessed a close bond, which was quite astounding given the way Dayton Alexander shunned all closeness with anyone. But then he realised that he couldn't sense any sexual tension between them; friendship appeared to be what brought them together. "For the sake of your friend I'll introduce myself," he finally said when the silence stretched on and nobody spoke. He looked at the woman and gave her a brief smile. "I'm Rafe Hanlon, Alpha of the Armand-Hanlon Pack." "Rayne." He quirked an enquiring eyebrow at her and her lips curled slightly, a hint of amusement dancing across her pretty face. "Just Rayne," she said softly. "You already know I'm not a wolf. I'm a black panther." He nodded and turned to look at Dayton who was watching their interaction with interest. Their eyes met and a long moment passed between them before Rafe sighed softly. "I'm surprised to see you here, Dayton," he remarked. He was pleased the wolf had come to him but he was curious to know why. "Loretta didn't think you were anywhere close to returning to the pack when she met you." "I wasn't," Dayton answered carefully. "I don't know if I will ever be truly ready to return to the pack." He didn't see any point in lying to his Alpha. He was here only because he had been left with no choice in the matter. Rafe sighed again and tapped his fingers against his lips as he digested the other man's words. He was grateful for his honesty but his presence would pose issues he didn't want to have to deal with at the moment. Not with Lacey being so close to giving birth. "That is problematic," he finally admitted. "Cedar's mate does not react well to any hurt caused to her. You're lucky he was detained with the children just now or I would have had to restrain him from ripping your throat out. Your presence here is going to cause ructions within the pack if you're unable to integrate with your family." A dark scowl crossed Dayton's face and he felt a stab of guilt run through him. He had known his cold reaction would hurt his sister. He knew it had hurt Aaron too though his brother was better able at hiding it. He didn't want to hurt them but it was hard to throw off fifty years of solitude to let them back in. He knew he now wanted to but he didn't know how to. "It's not my intention to hurt Cedar or Aaron," he ground out, some of his cold fury igniting into something a bit darker. "Nevertheless, you are and that is all Alexei will see," Rafe sighed. "He is a vampire struggling to live the life of a Were. He gains some understanding of us through the wolf gene within him but his vampiric nature is the more dominant one. If you wish to be here then you have to find a way to soften your heart towards your family." For the first time in a such a long time Dayton turned to an Alpha, turned to the strength and wisdom that oozed from the powerful man sitting across from him. "I don't know how to," he admitted, his voice raw with pain. "I want to but I don't know if I can unbend enough." Soft silvery laughter came from his side and his head swivelled around to look at the cat sitting patiently beside him. Rayne smiled a beatific smile at him, her fingers lightly caressing his jaw to soothe his pain. "Silly," she laughed softly. "Of course you can, Day. You did it with me and I'm a stranger. It will be easier to do the same with your family. You just need to stop fighting them, my friend. Let them love you as they so obviously do." Rafe watched them together and decided instantly that he liked the wildcat. There was something very strange about her but her love for his wounded pack member was undeniable. He was certain she was the only thing that had kept Dayton sane in his time alone and he felt a huge rush of gratitude towards her for that. "Rayne's correct, Dayton," he said quietly. "It's not as difficult as you think it will be. The fact you are here means you want it enough to try. I'm sure you have more reasons than that to be here though. I can sense your fury deep within you. What help can the pack give you?" Dayton's moment of vulnerability passed and his eyes hardened instantly, coldness once more seeping into their deep blue depths. An exquisitely beautiful face came to mind and with it came the burning hatred she engendered within him. "I need the pack's protection against a vampire," he ground out through clenched teeth. "She has threatened Rayne's life and she has threatened me too. You are friends with the Ancients. You can tell them to order her to back off and leave us alone, Alpha." Rafe stiffened instantly, rage beginning to bubble up inside him as his wolf growled loudly. Vampires again! Twice before the Hanlon Pack had survived a war against vampires. They had lost much but in some ways gained even more with the precious life that now lived among them. He couldn't believe they would have to go up against vampires again. The last five years had brought a new understanding between the species, the Weres forming their own Council to meet with the Vampire Council to discuss issues and relations between them. Caleb was certain they had put their old enmity to bed as both sides came together. His brother monitored everything scrupulously to ensure that harmony was maintained. Now there was a vampire out to shatter the new peace among them? It was intolerable. "Who is this vampire?" he asked, his voice barely concealing his rage as his eyes turned hard. "Freya Eriksson," Dayton answered, practically spitting out her name, his hate for her echoing around the room. Rafe let out a long, tortured groan. "Fuck!" he ground out, hearing the last name he wanted to hear. She was a law unto herself and loosely aligned to the Pack through her connection with Nors and Ashleigh. He had no idea what she was up to but he did know that there were going to be serious repercussions if Nors and the other Ancients couldn't rein her in. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 05 Many thanks to Peter once again for spending his valuable free time editing this chapter for me. I appreciate it so much :-) To the Guild & my Tweeters too for their endless support. To everyone who commented on the last chapter, real life was hectic and I never got the time to reply as I wanted to. But your comments made a stressful week so much more enjoyable and I really can't thank you enough for all your support. Enjoy! * Dayton and Rayne made their way out of the library, leaving the Alpha alone to contact whoever he needed to speak to. Rafe had given them free passage within the compound and had offered them the use of the guest rooms on the first floor of the main house. Dayton didn't particularly want to stay, but until the issue with Freya was sorted out he knew she would keep coming back to the gallery. Rayne, surprisingly, had seemed overjoyed at Rafe's offer. This set him musing quietly to himself: his friend appeared to be anxious to spend time in the compound and he doubted it had anything to do with Freya. Trivial matters such as death threats just didn't faze her. Before he could ask her what was going on, the sound of children's laughter caught his attention and he turned to look up the main stairwell. Three little ones came haring down from the second floor, squealing with laughter as they ran. In the lead was a small boy of around five, his hair a shock of deep chocolate brown, his light blue eyes glowing with glee as he ran. Behind him another boy and a girl chased after him. They were both blond, around the same age; the girl's eyes were a deep green and her sibling's a light blue like his brother's. It was obvious that they were from the same litter. "DJ! Thorne! Rowan! Get back here right now!" an exasperated feminine voice called from upstairs. The woman's tone sounded stern but there was a trace of laughter lurking in it as the three little rascals made their bid for freedom. Dayton couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips and the cold fury within him began to melt in the face of the children's antics. His Beta instincts kicked in automatically and he collected the first child into his arms as he reached the bottom of the stairs. His sudden appearance surprised the children so much that they all froze in place, the cub in his arms staring wide eyed at him. "You really should listen to your mother, little one," said Dayton in a firm tone, but with a hint of gentleness to it as he didn't want to frighten the boy. The child's reaction stunned him: his face suddenly split into a huge grin and he threw his arms around Dayton's neck and held on tightly. Dayton couldn't help stiffening slightly at the open display of affection before he willed his body to relax and accept the child's embrace. More of his fury melted away as he gently held the child against his chest, inhaling in the manner of his wolf to ingrain the boy's scent deep within himself. "You three are in so much trouble..." As she appeared at the head of the last set of stairs, Jennifer Swift stopped in shock, staring wide eyed at the scene before her. She instantly recognised the man standing in the main hallway: Dayton Alexander. There were photographs of all the Alexanders in her home; including the lost brother Aaron missed so much. Behind him stood a Werecat whom she quickly judged to be no threat; otherwise she wouldn't have been allowed to enter the house. Jen's gaze was drawn instead to Dayton, and to the way he was holding her son so carefully. Did Aaron know his brother was here? It was a silly thought and she knew it; of course he would know, though where he was she had no idea. How should she react to Dayton's presence? She knew his story, understood why he had closed himself off from the pack. And yet here he was, holding DJ with such care, and there was more than a hint of warmth in his eyes as he looked at her son. "Let the children bring him home to us, honey," she heard Aaron's soft words in her head. He must have sensed her confusion and realised why. "I need to stay with Cedar at the moment. Alexei is close to losing it and she needs my help to get through to him. Don't push Day: he'll react better to the children than to us. Let them charm him as they do everyone else and take it from there. You can do this, Jen." His words held such confidence, such faith in her that she felt her worries melt away. So she blew him a mental kiss, sent him a shaft of love through their mate bond, and waited to see what would happen next. Dayton watched the beautiful woman carefully, trying to judge if she was about to freak out at him for touching one of her children. Although pack mothers were notoriously protective of their young she didn't appear to be about to go for his throat, so he relaxed and allowed himself a moment to study her. She had long black hair, a shade lighter than Rayne's, and lovely green eyes. She was beautiful, if somewhat on the small side for his taste, standing only about five foot four. Regardless, she was a very attractive woman and her mate was clearly a very lucky man. Dayton was rather startled to find that he'd just appraised her as a woman. He had spent so long never really seeing women that it was disconcerting to suddenly start viewing a member of the opposite sex in that manner. "Have you come home now, Uncle Dayton?" the cub in his arms suddenly asked, raising his head to look into his eyes and Dayton struggled to keep the shock from his expression as he stared back at him. The instant the boy spoke he knew whose children they were. Another cursory glance at the other two and he saw Aaron stamped all over their features. He was looking at his niece and nephews; something twisted deep within him--a fierce, overwhelming need to protect these little angels. "I'm certainly here for a visit, at least," he finally answered, not wanting to promise anything he couldn't deliver. He could only assume that the children recognised him from photographs in the family album. His answer didn't appear to upset the boy in his arms, who just grinned even wider than before. "I'm DJ," he laughed. "That means Dayton Junior but everyone just calls me DJ because it's shorter." He wiggled to be put down and then ran up the few steps to his siblings. "This is Thorne and this is Rowan," he announced solemnly, showing his uncle that he was the oldest of the triplets, and therefore the leader, as he tapped first his brother and then his sister on the shoulder. It was all Dayton could do not to laugh at his performance. It was so cute, so pompously arrogant, for one so young. He knew at once that DJ would grow up to be a strong Beta. He was already exhibiting the signs of leadership. Dayton Junior. He felt his heart twist again, guilt rushing through him in a strong wave. Aaron had named his oldest son after him. His brother had mentioned he had three children but had never given any real information about them, just that he had two boys and a girl. He'd known why Aaron had held back. His brother had hoped curiosity would be the key to making Dayton respond to one of his emails. It hadn't, so now he felt that he was discovering them for the very first time. "Pleased to meet you," he said quietly, swallowing against a lump in his throat as three angelic faces smiled up at him. He could see Aaron in every face as well as the stunning woman standing watching the proceedings. He turned his gaze from the children and looked back at her. "You must be Jennifer." She smiled warmly at him, walking down the stairs. "Jen," she corrected, her tone echoing the warmth of her smile. "I'm so happy to finally meet you, Dayton. Sorry these little rascals waylaid you. I was in the middle of making their breakfast when they decided that playing outside was more important than eating." She shot a reproving look at her children but they just grinned impishly at her. "It's fine," he answered a small smile curving his lips. "This is Rayne," he added, nodding at his friend. Jen greeted her with an equally warm smile. "Would you like to join us for breakfast? Maybe these three will behave if we have company." Her tone suggested she was doubtful of that happening. Dayton hesitated slightly, unsure if he could cope with any more sensory overload. Rayne took the decision out of his hands. "We'd be delighted to, Jen." Dayton shot her an irritated glare but she just smiled at him and turned to the children, who were watching her suspiciously. "You're not a wolf," Thorne said solemnly, a frown marring his expression. "You're not a cat," she responded lightly, giving him a wink. His eyes widened for a moment before curiosity got the better of him and he was suddenly smiling. "Can you shift? Can we see the cat?" Just like that the three children were accepting her into their pack, imploring her to shift so they could see her cat form. "Maybe later, if Rayne can be bothered indulging you lot," Jen interrupted, shooing them upstairs. "Breakfast! Now!" Laughing, she followed her children back upstairs, Dayton and Rayne a few steps behind her. Aaron arrived just as they were finishing eating. He bent down to give Jen a long, lingering kiss which turned a little heated until she pushed at his chest and laughed softly. "You're worse than the kids." "Guilty as charged," he grinned unrepentantly as he dropped three quick kisses on the tops of three expectant heads. His blue gaze turned to his visitors and he nodded at Rayne. "I'm Aaron." "Rayne," she smiled back. "You have a lovely family, Aaron." He beamed proudly, his gorgeous face radiant. "Don't I know it." He turned his gaze to his brother and his smile faded slightly as their eyes met. He searched Dayton's face intently for a long moment, and then relaxed. "Good to see you, Day. I'd maybe leave it a while before you try and catch up with Cedar. We mostly got Alexei settled down but he's still a bit irate. Vampires!" He rolled his eyes in mock sufferance. Dayton blinked at his youngest brother slowly, amazed at the way Aaron just accepted him sitting at his dinner table with his family, no hint of reproach on his face at all. He had just vanished from his family's life for over five decades. Were none of them going to call him on it? He knew his family understood, Aaron more than most because he had been instrumental in preventing him from turning Rogue when Faith had died. Even so, he had expected some anger, some hurled accusations, and their absence was setting him on edge. Aaron could see the confusion in Dayton's eyes and grabbed himself a cup of coffee. "Day and I are going to have a chat," he told Jen. "You okay entertaining Rayne for a bit?" "I think Rayne's old enough to entertain herself, Aaron, though I wouldn't mind the company," his mate snorted with a laugh. Dayton spared a quick glance at his friend, who was talking with the children. She looked up and, with a smile, shooed him away. Grabbing his own cup of coffee he followed his brother out of the kitchen/dining room and down the hall to a second, smaller library. "You have the whole second floor?" he asked curiously as he sat down on the brown leather sofa closest to the window. His brother sat down beside him and gazed outside briefly before settling his gaze back on him. "Jen and Lacey were best friends, practically sisters, before they became wolves," he explained. "They'd been through tough times together and with Jen expecting triplets, Lacey wanted her close when the Alpha's home was built." "Explains why it's three storeys," Dayton remarked. Aaron laughed softly. "Yeah, now that Lacey is due to give birth, the extra space is needed. I'm trying to talk Jen into having some more but she just utters three names and that kind of puts a dampener on the idea." His tone was full of amusement, his deep love for his family shining through. "You did good, Aaron." It was hard to compliment his brother on his choice of mate, and his beautiful children, not to mention his high rank within the pack. If Faith had lived then he would have had a family like this, known the joy of being a father. Instead he'd only known heartache. "Only had one black spot in my life, but that looks like it might be fading now," his brother replied quietly, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the man before him. Dayton shifted uncomfortably, looking away at the undisguised question in Aaron's eyes. "I don't know how long I'll be here, Aaron. It's...difficult." Aaron sighed deeply, looking down at the coffee cup in his hands. "It doesn't have to be, Day. You know deep down that Faith would never have wanted this life for you. She would have been heartbroken that you gave up on life." "Don't!" It was a tortured sound. Dayton rose and moved away from his brother as if putting some distance between them could make his words less powerful. This was why he had stayed away; this was why he had distanced himself from his family in every way possible. He'd known that they would want him to see sense, to convince him of what Faith would have wanted. They didn't understand because they couldn't. They hadn't lost their mates. Aaron couldn't work out whether to push or to let it be for the moment. Dayton's arrival was in itself a big step; push him too hard, too soon, and he would disappear again. "So, what's the story with the wildcat?" At Aaron's change of tactic his brother turned to stare at him intently for a moment before returning to the sofa. "Your guess is as good as mine," he admitted, though his lips did curl in a slight smile as he spoke of Rayne. "She turned up one day not long after I left the pack. Nothing I said or did would make her go away. Eventually I stopped trying. She comes and goes as she sees fit. Sometimes it's a few years between visits but she always turns up." Aaron could hear honest affection in Dayton's voice and it piqued his curiosity further. "Stunning looking woman," he remarked casually. Dayton's head whipped up and his gaze clashed with his. "It's nothing sexual!" His tone was defensive, a trace of anger in it. He locked gazes with his brother for another long moment; then he relaxed again and a genuine smile crossed his face. "Better not let Jen hear you admiring Rayne. I get the impression your mate would not be very pleased about that." A loud laugh escaped Aaron at the thought of just how much verbal abuse he'd take from Jen if she caught him admiring another woman. But his laughter was prompted by more than just that thought. For a brief moment he had seen the real Dayton: the brother he had been before Faith's death. "I dare say she wouldn't be," he agreed, smiling widely. "I talked to Rafe before coming up. He tells me Freya Eriksson has set her sights on you. I was obviously doing it all wrong before I met Jen: I should have played hard to get. That appears to be the way to get beautiful women throwing themselves at your feet." Cold, hard fury swept through Dayton at the mention of the vampire's name. His jaw clenched hard and he had to fight to control the sudden, unexpected, eruption of anger. "It's not a laughing matter, Aaron." His brother was instantly on the alert, his protective instincts kicking in. Something about Freya's behaviour had caused an intense reaction, and not a very healthy one either. His hackles rose immediately. "What did she do to you?" Dayton met his brother's gaze. Gone was the amiable, likable Aaron and in his place was the strong, feral Beta who would destroy anything or anyone who tried to harm his family or his pack. He knew in that instant that his brother would stand at his side if he had to go up against the Ancient, even knowing that Freya would most likely kill them both. Aaron's angry reaction calmed him down a little. It forced him to pause and wonder just why he was experiencing such an extreme reaction to Freya's game. Her behaviour had been outrageous; there was no getting away from that. But had she actually hurt him? The cut on his neck had been nothing. He'd suffered much worse growing up and in protecting the pack in his role as Beta. He hadn't even registered any pain from the cut because his anger had been so intense. No; the pain she had inflicted hadn't been physical, it had been emotional. She had drunk his blood without his consent. She had put her hands on him for the second time without permission. She had kissed him--stolen his last memory of Faith's lips touching his. His fury was boundless because he was struggling to hide the truth from himself, the awful truth that was his ultimate betrayal of Faith. Before he had begged the vampire to stop, for a split second that had felt as if it lasted for eternity, he'd taken pleasure from the feel of Freya's soft lips against his. He'd wanted to kiss her back, had needed to let go of the sudden roaring hunger which had erupted deep inside him. That was what fuelled his rage and hatred of the vampire: she had made him want her, even if the need had lasted only a brief moment. "She kissed me, Aaron," he finally admitted, disgust in his voice. "I didn't want her to but she did it anyway. The worst part of it was I liked it." Aaron had always been the one who could get him to talk, to admit the thoughts and feelings he wanted to conceal. It was as though the last fifty years hadn't happened as he sat with Aaron and told him things he probably wouldn't have admitted to anyone else. But it hurt to admit his betrayal; it wounded him so deeply it was like a festering sore inside. Aaron knew what a blow this was to Dayton. He cursed Freya for pushing him, for forcing him to face something he just wasn't ready for. Indeed his brother might never be ready for another woman to enter his life. It wasn't even as though Freya gave a damn about Dayton. She was being sadistic, amusing herself because she was bored. He was going to have serious words with Nors about this. If Nors didn't get his sister in line there was going to be trouble. "Leave Freya to us," he told his brother, his expression determined. "She'll be told in no uncertain terms to find her amusement elsewhere. Just don't do anything stupid like letting your anger cloud your judgement. Make no mistake, she's wilder than most vampires. She has a completely different way of looking at things and doesn't care about consequences. You've come to the pack for help. Let us help you." Dayton stared at him, confusion on his face as he admired the man his brother had grown into. "Why don't you hate me, Aaron? Why isn't anyone in the family angry at me?" Compassion crossed Aaron's face--together with a muted expression of grief. "Because we loved her too, Day," he said quietly. "We miss Faith each and every day the same way you do, only we know our sense of loss pales into insignificance in comparison with the depths of your feelings." His quiet statement broke Dayton further, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked down to hide them. He felt Aaron move, felt his arms come around him in a fierce hug and for the first time in over five decades Dayton Alexander let go, and began to weep. He tried to hold back the tears, tried to stifle the sobs that began to wrack his body painfully but he couldn't hold back the agony that welled up from deep within. "Jen, take the kids and Rayne outside somewhere," Aaron conveyed through their mental bond, holding his brother tightly as he wept. He didn't want Dayton to be ashamed of his tears or worry that others had heard him cry. He rocked Dayton tightly in his embrace. "Let it out, Day," he whispered. "Let it all out. You're safe here. Lean on me. I won't let you go." Jen's sudden desire to go visit the community centre appeared strange to Rayne. As the other woman began shepherding her children down the stairs, Rayne opened up her senses completely, utilising another skill that she kept closely hidden. She reached out towards the room into which Aaron and Dayton had disappeared a while ago and let their emotions come to her. A Long Walk Home Ch. 05 The raw anguish emanating from Dayton was enough to drive her to her knees. Her eyes filled with tears and she took two involuntary steps towards the room before Jen's voice intruded by calling her name. She was desperate to go to her friend, to try and ease his pain, but he was with his family now. Aaron was with him and this was what Dayton needed. He would never be able to let go of Faith if he didn't allow his emotions free rein. Swallowing back her tears, Rayne turned and forced herself downstairs after Jen and the children. Aaron would help Dayton; she knew he would. But it was hard to walk away; she was so used to being there for him when he needed her. ***** "Alexei, please!" Cedar sighed deeply as she watched her furious mate pace up and down the sitting room floor, muttering under his breath, his long blond hair swirling in agitation at each turn. She had left the children with Loretta and Andrei while she tried to soothe her mate. Her acute distress at Dayton's rejection had set Alexei off in one of his protective furies. Aaron had helped as much as he could but she was starting to think that she'd have to ask Rafe to step in as Alpha. She didn't want to do that because she knew how much Alexei hated being 'handled', as he called it. "Don't ask me to do what you know I can't, Cedar." He stopped to tower over her, his brown eyes full of molten fire, as she sat on the sofa with her hands clasped together. "You're incapable of acting like a civilised person?" she enquired dryly, refusing to be intimidated by him. He should have known by now that she didn't crumble very easily under his displeasure. No, he had much more chance of getting around her with honey than he did with a stick. One deliciously wicked smile, one heated lust-filled glance and she was ready to do anything he wanted. Yelling at her didn't achieve anything except make her yell right back at him. "The problem with you Alexanders is that you let everyone get away with far too much," he said coldly, ignoring her question. "When Andrei is being an ass I kick his, until he stops. Problem solved. "But not you, Cedar. When your brothers rip your heart out you thank them for the abuse and let them get away with it. Well, not any more! I will not stand for any further abuse done to you. And if you don't like that, then tough shit. I don't care." Cedar swallowed down her instant angry retort and fought the sudden need to start crying. If she broke down, Alexei would probably explode completely. The last time she'd seen him this angry was when she had tried to hurt herself to force the issue of their mating. Anger wasn't the solution to this problem; it would only inflame the situation. Memories of that day so long ago gave her a new angle of approach. "How would you feel if I died, Alexei?" Her question was so unexpected that he took a step back, denial ripping through him at the thought of anything dreadful happening to her. He growled loudly, clenching his jaw tightly. "That will never happen." The words erupted in a hoarse voice. She pressed her advantage, seeing him off balance. "What if it did, Alexei? What if the unimaginable did happen and I died? How would you feel?" His expression turned into a dark scowl, denial clearly flashing in his eyes as he shook his head. "That has nothing to do with this," he bit out. His wolf was going insane inside his head, his feral vampire nature reacting to any possible danger to his mate. "Answer me, Alexei. Answer the bloody question! How would you feel?" Her voice rose as she stood up and moved the two steps that took her toe to toe with him. "It would kill me!" he roared back at her, fury and pain rendering his voice so guttural she could barely understand him. She knew she was hurting him but needed him to feel that hurt, to understand it as something so hard and painful it was tangible. "That's how Dayton feels," she whispered with tears in her eyes. "He's felt that way for every day of the last fifty three years, ten months and twelve days since Faith died." She watched his eyes widen with shock and she nodded her head slowly. "Yes, I know to the day when she died, love. My entire family does because that's the day we lost our sister, our daughter, and our brother. We feel Dayton's pain just as he does but what we feel is not even a tenth of his anguish." The tears slipped over her cheeks and ran down in a silent river. Alexei cursed loudly and reached for her but she put her hand up to stop him. She knew he hated to see her cry, but she needed to finish this while she still could. "It hurts that he won't let us in," she whispered, swallowing hard. "It hurts that we can't help him when we know he needs us so badly. But I'd shed a million tears for him if it would somehow bring Faith back. And I would shed two million more if that's what it took to bring my brother home to where he belongs. Here. With his family. So, please don't hate him, Alexei. Don't hurt him because of me. He's been hurt so badly already, in the worst way possible." Alexei crushed his woman tightly to his chest, shame running through him as she wept because of him. He was so intent on others hurting her than he failed to realise that he was doing the exact thing that was infuriating him about her brother. "I'm sorry, Cedar," he breathed softly, stroking her back soothingly as he placed little kisses across her wet cheeks. "Forgive me, sweetheart. I didn't understand." She sobbed a little more, holding her mate tightly while her erratic emotions ran their course. She knew the danger point had passed, that she'd gotten through his fury, that he was once more in control of himself. He was trying hard to fit into a world that he sometimes struggled so much to understand. He didn't always get it right, but he did work hard to learn from his mistakes. "Please don't ever talk about dying again," Alexei ground out, framing her face in his big hands, a look of anguish in his eyes at the very thought of it. "I know why you did it--so I could understand the depth of your brother's pain--but please don't ever mention it again, Cedar. It rips me apart inside." She kissed him gently, running her hands through his silky hair as he took over the kiss and stole her breath away with the sheer desperation of his mouth against hers. "I'm sorry I had to resort to those tactics," she breathed against his lips once he let her up for air. "I needed you to understand, Alexei, and it was the only way." Alexei rested his forehead against hers and sighed deeply. "Maybe I need to spend some extra time with Aaron, do more training or something," he admitted quietly. "I shouldn't have lost it like that. I shouldn't have put you in that position in the first place." "You're doing fine, love," she reassured him, a small smile tugging at her lips as she freed her hands from his hair to wipe at her cheeks, a task which he took over with his lips, kissing away the last of her emotional outburst. "Not good enough if I made you cry," he growled softly, his displeasure evident in his voice. "I'm sure it won't be the last time," she laughed giving him another kiss to ease his guilt. "Couples fight all the time, love. It's normal. They also kiss and make up afterwards." She gave him her best sultry smile, a shriek of laughter escaping her as he walked her backwards the two steps it took to have her pinned beneath him on the sofa. "We did the kissing bit," he mused quietly, desire dancing across his gorgeous face as he leaned down and gave her a hard searing kiss that had her body responding instantly to his. "How long are the kids away for?" he murmured against the side of her neck as he nipped lightly at her fragile skin. "We could maybe work on the making up part right now?" Cedar laughed at his hopeful tone as he pressed his raging erection between her legs, rubbing against her intimately as she felt the first brush of his fangs against her throat. A low moan escaped her as his mouth travelled up to her racing pulse and he sank his fangs deep into her skin. Her moan turned into a cry of pleasure as his venom rushed through her body, igniting fire wherever it touched. He suckled hard against her, drinking down her sweet blood and groaning in ecstasy as he did. Alexei hadn't fed for over a week. He tried to limit the occasions on which his woman nourished him with her precious life's fluid. If he did it too often it tired her out. And with two young children and a job as a pack Beta, being tired wasn't an option for his Cedar. He drank deeply, his head spinning as her sweetness infused him with strength--and a deep need to be buried inside her body. He released her neck, licking her wound closed as he searched once more for her mouth to indulge another of his favourite tastes. A knock on the door had him growling in irritation. "Ignore it! Whoever it is will go away." "Alexei!" Cedar giggled, trying to squirm out from under him. But he held her pinned easily, refusing to let her get up. The knock sounded again and Alexei cursed loudly as he rose from the sofa to go to the front door. He wrenched it open with the intent of scaring the shit out of whoever had just interrupted his precious time with his mate, but stopped short when he saw who their visitor was. His keen gaze took in the slight redness that still ringed Dayton Alexander's eyes and he knew instantly that Aaron's meeting with his brother had been emotionally harrowing. He stared mutely at the man whose head he had been determined to rip from his shoulders just a few minutes ago, and felt a ripple of compassion course through him. Now he understood how difficult coming to the compound had been for the wolf who had lost his mate so long ago. "Who is it, Alexei?" Cedar asked, running her hands through her tangled blonde curls as she came to the doorway. Her hand stilled in its movement, a small gasp escaping her as she stared at her brother in shock. She hadn't expected him to come looking for her, not after his earlier reaction. "Hello, Cedar," Dayton said quietly, his deep blue eyes intent on her face searching for any sign of how she might be feeling at him coming to her home. She moved instinctively, throwing herself into his arms and clinging on for dear life. "Oh, Dayton," she whispered, tears once more making her voice husky. For a moment he just stood there, stiff and unsure of what to do; then his arms came around his sister and he was suddenly crushing her so tightly, drinking in her sweet scent, allowing himself the soothing touch that was part of being a wolf. "I suppose you'd better come in," Alexei sighed, with a slightly dry note to his voice. "That's if my mate will release you long enough to let you move." Cedar groaned and stepped back, pulling Dayton by his hands into her home, laughing and crying at the same time before she was hugging her brother again so tightly. "I'm Alexei," her mate said rolling his eyes in mock exasperation. "I'll put the coffee on." Dayton was amazed the vampire wasn't trying to kill him. From everything he'd heard about Alexei Romanov, this was one badass vampire with a very overprotective streak when it came to his family. Aaron had warned him to be prepared for a negative reaction. Cedar's powers of persuasion must have been top notch to restrain her mate. "Cedar, can you let go now? I promise you I'm not going anywhere for the moment. Rafe has offered me a bed at his place for a little while and I'm going to take him up on the offer." She stepped back, wiping at her cheeks as she did so. "You promise? I mean, it's okay if you need to go, Day. I understand if you do. It would just be nice if you could stay a little while, meet my children and..." The smile he gave her was so warm her voice faltered and she couldn't speak. He almost looked like the old Dayton, the man he had been so very long ago before his heart was shattered. "You deserve a better brother than I've ever been to you, Cedar," he said quietly. "One who doesn't break your heart. And yet you love him unconditionally despite that." "I don't want a better brother," she whispered more tears gathering in her eyes. "I just want you, Day. No one else." Her heartfelt declaration didn't rip his heart to pieces as he'd expected. Instead he felt a rush of warmth; his pain eased a little, and then he was wrapping his arms around his sister once more. He swallowed hard, tried to speak and then had to swallow again. "I'm so sorry," he managed to get out. "I didn't mean to hurt you, to hurt the family." "We know that, silly." Her reply was instant, her hold on him tightening as he shuddered and fought for control. "We've always known that, Day. Just as we'll always be here for you when you're ready." Something mended deep inside him. It was just a little something, but it was a start. Swallowing back fresh tears, Dayton luxuriated in his generous sister's love and forgiveness. He took a deep breath and spoke words he'd thought he would never hear himself utter again but was unable to hold back: "I love you," he whispered softly. "I love you too, Day, so very much. Welcome home, brother." To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 06 Many thanks once more to Peter for editing this chapter. I tinkered with it a bit before posting up so any errors are mine :-) Enjoy! * Nors was so angry that he still doubted the wisdom of going to his sister's house. The call from Rafe had incensed him so much that he'd already spent a while trying to calm down before tackling her about her latest stunt. Freya had always been wild, had always had the power to push his buttons, but she'd been as good as gold the last few years; he had foolishly believed that she had been getting better, calming down. But this stunt against the pack was simply intolerable. He didn't knock on her front door when he arrived; he just opened it and entered. He stopped in shock as his eyes took in the total destruction that had once been her immaculate sitting room. Walking forward slowly he ran stunned eyes over the broken furniture and deep gouges in the walls. The room was completely destroyed with the exception of the piece of artwork that hung over the fireplace. His rage warred with a sudden feeling of trepidation. What the fuck had happened here? Had someone attacked his sister? Was she all right? "What do you see when you look at it, Nors?" Freya's soft voice suddenly came from the room and he realised that she was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall to his left, behind the door. "A fucking mess?" he guessed, his mind still in shock at the destruction. "I meant the painting," she sighed softly. "What do you see when you look at the painting?" Finally realising that his sister was in no danger and the destruction of the room was her doing, Nors felt the shock leave him and his anger return in all its blazing glory. "I didn't come here to discuss art, Freya. I came here because I received a call from Rafe Hanlon. You know who he is, don't you? My fucking Alpha!" He heard her move and his shock returned when he saw her rumpled clothes and wild hair, her beautiful face an empty mask of absolute nothingness. Freya was very fastidious about her appearance. To see her so dishevelled was unprecedented. "I see me," she breathed softly, walking over the ruined furniture to stand before the painting and gaze up at it. "It's so full of pain, such utter despair in every brush stroke. It screams out to the world that it is broken." His disquiet grew, warring with his anger, but the anger won. "I don't have a clue what you're talking about, Freya," he finally told her, distrust in his voice. "You think this will divert me somehow?" He waved his hand around the ruined room. "Well, it's not going to, sister. You attacked a member of the Armand-Hanlon pack. Not only is he a pack member but he's also the only remaining person that Ashleigh calls family. You KNOW she cares about Dayton Alexander. You know he's her last link to her family. What possessed you, Freya? What the fuck was going through your selfish little mind?" Freya sighed softly and turned to face her brother. She had never seen him so angry before, not even when she had been so wild that The Council had been ready to terminate her. It was interesting to watch how loyalties shifted when someone mated and had a child. Her brother was the only person she'd ever opened up to and even then she did so sparingly. She wanted him to understand, to really hear her but the expression on his face told her he wasn't in a listening mood. She considered trying again and then decided it was a pointless waste of time. She supposed it was only to be expected: when you fucked up so often, that was all anyone ever saw. "I didn't hurt him," she finally answered, her tone dull and lifeless. "I don't know what all the fuss is about. It was just a kiss, not even a very good one, at that." She closed her eyes so they couldn't call her a liar. It hadn't been a good kiss; it had been a fucking fantastic kiss, one she could still taste on her lips as though she had been branded. Just as she saw an anguished pair of blue eyes every time she closed hers. They haunted her relentlessly, accused her, hated her. Nors flew at her, grabbing her by the throat and shaking her hard. She didn't fight him, simply let him do what he wanted. "You took without consent," he was hissing furiously. "You threatened another Were's life. You know the punishment for that, Freya. You were there in the Council chambers that day. It's only because Rafe hasn't made this an official complaint that it wasn't Caleb opening your door just now. If this becomes official then he will take your head and there is nothing I can do about it!" He had stopped shaking her, releasing her with a groan of disgust as she just looked at him with the same irritatingly blank expression. "Would you even try, Nors?" Curiosity laced her tone. "I mean, wouldn't it be easier if I was dead? Then you'd have your perfect peaceful life with your perfect mate and perfect child. No more worry about what little sister is getting up to, what trouble she may be causing." He shot her a disgusted look although it took him a moment to hide the flash of pain in his eyes. "Self pity doesn't suit you," he ground out. "You love yourself too much to want to die, Freya. It's just everyone else you don't give a fuck about." He turned and walked away, unable to look at her any longer. "Stay the fuck away from the pack. And that goes for Dayton and his friend Rayne, too. They are under our protection." He stopped and turned as he reached the doorway. "Oh, and stay away from the house too. You're no longer welcome in my home. Stay away from Ashleigh and Liam. If you come near us I swear I'll kill you myself and find that peace you were just talking about." He turned and left the house, tears in his eyes as he walked away from her. He couldn't believe she'd done this to him, to his family. He'd thought she was integrating well but it had all been a sham. She would never change, she would always be the same heartless creature. He just didn't have the energy to deal with her anymore. Freya watched him leave a sad smile on her face. Nors' words hurt even though she knew he didn't mean them. He would forgive her. He always did. He could no more leave her to drown in her own misery than he could leave Ashleigh or Liam. His guilt rode him too hard to do that. He deserved better, he always had. He just wasn't the kind of man to walk away from what he considered his responsibilities. She turned to stare back at the haunting painting. The melancholy within the brushstrokes pierced her soul like nothing else could. The wolf had lived this life for half a century. She had lived it for eternity and now she was weary of it. Her brother was right. It was a minor miracle that Caleb Cullen hadn't come looking for her. If that happened then Nors would lose his close friendship with the other Ancient as well as his sister. He would never be able to forgive Caleb for being the one to take her life even if she did deserve it. She could do one last thing for her brother. He would hate her forever but he would finally get the peace he deserved. "Forgive me, Nors." Freya turned and headed into her pristine kitchen. She stared at the shiny white cupboards and stainless steel appliances with a blank expression. Then she smiled softly. "Now, where shall I start?" she whispered, walking to the nearest wall unit and reaching up to rip it down. ***** Liam wouldn't stop crying and it was driving Ashleigh insane with worry. Every time she asked him what was wrong he just pointed at his heart and said it hurt. She could detect nothing wrong with him physically but as she started to panic, she tried calling Nors anyway. It wasn't like Liam to cry like this; he very seldom cried. The sound of the front door opening made her sigh with relief. Nors was instantly at her side, his weary expression turning to one of concern. "What's wrong with him?" he asked urgently, touching his son's forehead but not finding a fever. Ashleigh bit her lip and shook her head. "I don't know. He just keeps saying it hurts and pointing at his chest. I can't find anything wrong with him though." "Liam, tell Daddy what's wrong," Nors coaxed gently, cradling his face in his hands gently. "Hurts here, Daddy," Liam sniffed his hand over his heart. "Always hurts here but not this bad." Big brown eyes implored him. "Help her, Daddy. You have to help her." Nors and Ashleigh shared puzzled looks and then turned back to their son. "Help who, Liam?" Ashleigh asked gently. "Who does Daddy need to help?" Big tears rolled down his face as he looked up at his parents. "Aunt Freya," he sobbed. "She hurts so bad, Mummy." Nors stiffened at his words, still raw from his most recent encounter with his sister. He had no idea what Liam was talking about though his son's distress was ripping his heart out. "How do you know Aunt Freya is hurting, sweetheart?" Ashleigh coaxed, seeing a hard expression on Nors' face at the mention of his sister and wondering if they'd had another fight. Liam knew that he'd have to tell them now. He was scared they'd be angry with him for keeping it secret but it was the only way to save his aunt. "I can feel her inside," he whispered. "I can feel everyone inside but I don't because it's too much feeling. I can't stop feeling Aunt Freya though. She hurts all the time." His tear-stained face was anxious as looked at his parents. "That's why I give her all those cuddles, so she will feel a little better. It mostly works but not all the time." Ashleigh released her breath staring at her son in awe. "You can sense other people's emotions?" she asked, barely able to comprehend what her child was telling her. He nodded slowly. "Right now you feel worried about me and a bit scared too because I've told you my secret. Daddy feels very angry inside but he feels bad, too. He's hurting." Stunned, Ashleigh turned to Nors, waiting for him to repudiate what his son had just said. She held her breath because she couldn't deny that Liam's words were an accurate reflection of her emotions. "He's right," Nors choked out, staring at his child in amazement. His son was telling them he could read emotions. It was staggering. He stroked Liam's head gently, giving him a reassuring smile, letting him know that they weren't angry that he'd kept this secret. "What you said about Aunt Freya," he said quietly. "Are you telling us that every single time you see her she is hurting inside, even when she's smiling and talking to us?" The wrecked sitting room in her house was coming to mind as he waited for Liam to answer. He nodded solemnly at his father. "It's different today though. Aunt Freya isn't here but I can feel her anyway. This is the worst badness I can feel from her. This one makes me cry it hurts so much. I don't usually cry when I feel it." Nors closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to come to terms with his son's strange gift. If what he was telling them was true and he had no reason to doubt him because he knew exactly what Nors was feeling right now... He couldn't get the wrecked room out of his mind, Freya's blank expression, her words about the painting. A deep fear began to pulse inside him and he opened his eyes again. "You're not crying now, Liam," he said with a faint tremor in his voice. Ashleigh gave him a worried frown, knowing something was happening but not aware of what it was. "That's because Aunt Freya's not hurting any more," his son answered, a sleepy yawn coming from his mouth as he cuddled into his mother. Sensing emotions always made him feel sleepy. "Nors?" Ashleigh's voice held a tremor of fear in it, her eyes wide as she looked at him. She didn't know what was going on but she could feel his fear running through their mate bond. "Take Liam to the compound," he ground out, fear overwhelming him as he hurried from the house. He raced through the night towards his sister's house only ten minutes away. How long had he been gone? Less than half an hour? More? "Freya!" He crashed through the front door almost taking it from its hinges. Silence greeted him. Nors flew through the house, moving at supernatural speed to check each room, finding each the same as the last: completely destroyed. He couldn't find a trace of his sister, finally giving up as he went back downstairs and stood looking at the sitting room. The painting was missing from its place on the wall, lying shattered on top of the rest of the furniture. What had she said to him about it? That the painting was her, full of pain and despair. Broken. Nors bit his lip hard, fought to stop the tears running down his face as he realised that he hadn't listened to Freya. She had tried to tell him and he was too angry to hear her. He hadn't meant what he'd said to her. He'd been angry, lashing out. She must have known he didn't mean it. He had always been there for her. Why hadn't she believed he would be here for her this time? His perfect mate, his perfect son. Her words crashed inside his head and his tears fell a little harder. Freya didn't believe there was room for her in his life any more. She hadn't adapted to the changes. She had tried her hardest, but it had been too much for her and he hadn't even noticed the signs. His two year-old son had more insight into his sister's psyche. "I'm sorry, Freya," he whispered into the empty house. "Be safe, wherever you are." It was late by the time Nors reached the compound. He'd gone home first to gather some clothes. He had a feeling they would be staying the night and if he was honest with himself he needed to be close to the pack right now. Ashleigh met him at the Alpha's house, worry etched all over her face. "Where's Liam?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her and took comfort in the feel of her body pressing against his. "Mallen checked him over and gave him a clean bill of health. He's with the other children upstairs at Aaron's," she answered quietly. "Dayton's here with his friend Rayne. I know what Freya did." He stiffened as he heard the pain in her voice, knew she was fighting with two conflicting loyalties. Dayton had been her brother's closest friend, a part of her family before she was born. Freya was his sister, a part of her future and the happiness she had found after losing everything. Choosing between them would be agony for her. She raised her head from her chest and looked up at him. "Is she okay, Nors?" she asked in a small voice. "Liam said she was hurting all the time. I can't believe I didn't see it, didn't know that she needed help." Wolves were pack animals, they loved communally, were there for all of the pack when they were in pain. It hurt to know that she hadn't been there for a member of her family when she'd needed her. "I don't know," he breathed softly stroking her cheek gently and wondering how he could love this amazing woman any more than he already did. He could see her concern for his sister in her eyes. She genuinely cared about what happened to Freya. "Come on, let's go in. I need to tell Rafe what's happened." Ashleigh pulled him over to the library and they entered together. Nors stiffened when he realised that the Romanovs were there with their mates as well as Aaron, Jen and Rafe. His gaze went immediately to his Alpha. "Relax, Nors: the twins are here as pack, not Council members," Rafe said quietly. "This is not an official complaint." Nors searched his gaze for a moment and then turned to look at the Romanovs. Andrei shot him a grin and Alexei rolled his eyes. "Your sister is safe, Nors," Alexei said. "She'll get to keep her head a little longer, though how she's managed to keep it this long is beyond me. She makes Andrei look like a choir boy." His brother reached over Loretta to thump him hard on his shoulder. "I resent that," he growled laughingly. "Fucking choir boy!" Some of his tension left Nors as he watched the twins banter together. Everyone in the room with the exception of Aaron and Jen had been in the Council Chambers the night Caleb Cullen and the other Ancients had taken apart the Council and forced the current alliance between Vampire and Were. They had all heard his words that night. Caleb would personally kill any vampire who threatened a Were or even thought of harming one. No excuses; no chance to state their case; nothing. It would be instant and completely final. Freya's actions could constitute a threat to a Were. Ashleigh led him over to one of the sofas and he sat down beside Aaron, pulling his mate into the vee between his legs so he could wrap his arms tightly around her. He needed her strength at the moment. He had painful things he needed to talk about, private things he hadn't shared even with her. He had to make the pack understand. The twins settled back with their mates and Rafe turned his gaze to Nors. "We're here to discuss several matters but the first one is Freya," he said with a slight frown on his face. "Have you spoken to her, Nors?" "She won't be a problem," he answered tersely. "Not our problem any more. She's gone." Ashleigh twisted her head to look at him, a startled gasp coming from her. "Where? She just left without telling us?" All eyes were on him and he sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a long moment before slowly opening them. "I was angry when Rafe called me and told me what happened. I was more than angry; I was livid. I went to her house and we had words. I didn't notice at the time that she was acting strangely. More strangely than she normally does. When I went back tonight she was gone, the house completely destroyed. She took every room apart with her bare hands." Ashleigh shivered in his arms and twisted around so she was in his lap and holding onto him tightly. She could feel his pain through their bond, feel his self disgust, and she worked to soothe him as her own heart twisted painfully at the news. Alexei and Andrei were instantly alert, sitting forward on the sofa they shared with their mates. Gone was the earlier banter; in its place was cold hardness, alert eyes searching the other Ancient's keenly. "Has she crossed over?" Andrei asked, his voice hard as his agile mind immediately began working through various scenarios of what they might need to do to contain a rabid vampire. Nors shook his head. "She's not a danger to anyone else. She would have stayed if she was. She's only a danger to herself right now." His grip on Ashleigh tightened as she whimpered a little in fear at his words. "Explain, for us non-vampires," Rafe ordered, his concern ratcheting up a notch at the expressions on the vampires' faces. "You all remember Graves," Alexei said somewhat drolly, eyeing up Rafe as he did so. As if they would ever forget the vampire who had almost destroyed the Hanlon pack to get to Lacey because he considered her his. "He was one step away from becoming totally feral, from crossing over completely. Actually Demetri was almost at that stage that night, too. Crossing over is when a vampire loses all humanity, like when a Were goes rogue. There is no reasoning with him. He turns into a killing machine and must be put down instantly." "Nors?" Rafe asked. "She has not crossed over," he insisted, rage starting to build up inside him as his fear for his sister grew: if they went to the Council with this and convinced them that she had, then her life was over. Every vampire on the planet would be looking for her. She wouldn't be safe anywhere. Rafe knew this was torture for Nors but he had to press the issue. He had to know just how far gone Freya Eriksson was. "You sound so certain, Nors. How can you be? Your sister has always walked a very fine line between right and wrong. Didn't your own Council consider executing her?" The furious glare he got from the other man didn't faze him. He held it as a long slow hiss escaped Nors' lips and Ashleigh's arms tightened a bit more around the huge vampire until he calmed slightly. A Long Walk Home Ch. 06 "I know my sister," Nors finally said quietly. "She wouldn't have left if she'd crossed over. Her first thought would have been to take out those she felt had wronged her. She would have come after me and Ash first, then the pack to get to Dayton and Rayne. The fact that she left means she's still fighting to retain her humanity." "Why, Nors?" Ashleigh asked, tears running down her face. "Why now? What's pushed her over the edge like this? I just don't understand." He looked down at his mate, carefully wiping at her tears. He found he couldn't speak to the entire room but he could talk to his Ashleigh. "We had different mothers," he said quietly. "I was almost fourteen when Freya came along. She was the most darling little thing you could ever imagine. I fell in love with her instantly, was completely besotted with her. She was still a child when I was made into a vampire. I was furious that I had to let her go. I just couldn't stay away. I waited until she had grown up and I went back for her. I told her what I was; I explained about the life I led. I asked her to join me." He swallowed hard as the memories came back as though they had happened only yesterday. "She agreed to be Sired and I, in my arrogance, did it. I had no idea what I was doing, what I was consigning her to. My Sire had been Ancient, a strong mentor to lead me through the bloodlust that was a craving beyond torture when I was first Sired. I thought I was strong enough to mentor Freya. I was wrong. The first time she drank blood she killed. It wasn't just one human either, she killed an entire family. I managed to spirit the children away but she went through the rest of them, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters living in the same house as they did back in those times." He sucked in a deep breath, his expression haunted as the room sat silently listening to his tale. He kept his gaze locked with Ashleigh's because he couldn't go on without her strength. "She screamed, Ash. She screamed such a scream of utter heartbreak when she came back to herself. She stood looking at herself in a mirror, completely drenched in blood and she screamed as I've never heard anyone scream before. She broke that first day. She died inside and she's never truly recovered since. I should have killed her then, should have ended her suffering, but I couldn't do it. Not to my Freya. Instead I tried my hardest to teach her, to help her through the transition until she could control herself." The entire room remained silent with the exception of Ashleigh's soft weeping as she listened to the heartbreak, guilt and self loathing thick in his tone. She could feel his agony through their bond, knew he hated himself for what he'd done to his sister. "I was able to contain her most of the time though she ran to excess in the first five centuries until she came to the Council's attention. Then I had to do something drastic to try and reach her. It worked. She calmed down, seemed to come to terms with what she was. I thought she had crossed another line when she accepted you and Liam into her life. Again, I was wrong." Nors' eyes turned to his Alpha who was watching him with such compassion it was hard to meet his gaze. "That's why I know she hasn't crossed over, Rafe," he whispered. "Because she doesn't want to be what she is. She never has. She would arrange her own death before she ever again became what she was that day." He swallowed hard, glancing back at Ashleigh though he was still talking to his Alpha. "She may already be out there looking for a way to die right now. I told her she was no longer welcome in my home, to stay away from Ashleigh and Liam. I've taken away the only thing that was keeping her anchored. She may feel that she doesn't have anything left to come home to." The silence was deafening. Then Rafe spoke, looking at the Romanovs with a hard gaze. "This is pack," he said quietly, letting a little of his Command tone come forward. "Make no mistake about that. If I have to command you two to keep silent I will. Freya is pack because of her connection with Nors and Ashleigh. We take care of our own. Until such time as we learn otherwise, Freya is no danger to anyone." The twins looked at each for a long moment and then slowly nodded. They knew the bond between siblings, the need to protect each other against the world. They had been doing it for centuries. They could understand Nors' need to protect his sister until there was no other option available to him. "As long as she poses no threat," Andrei finally answered, his tone firm. "If she crosses over then this is Council business, Rafe. We can't have a rabid vampire on the loose any more than you can have a Rogue running around." It was with a heavy heart that Rafe nodded his agreement. He knew it would destroy Nors if the vampires had to take action against his sister but he also knew that sometimes the hardest decisions had to be made to protect the Pack. He watched the big vampire carefully for any sign of disagreement. "We have to consider all options, Nors; you know that," he said quietly. "We'll do our best for Freya but you must realise that our best may not be enough." Nors swallowed hard against the lump of pain wedged firmly in his throat. He wanted to argue with them, to reassure them that this option would never become necessary, but he knew he couldn't because he just didn't know for certain that his sister would be able to recover from whatever had set her off. "I understand," he breathed softly, holding Ashleigh tightly as he uttered the words that implied his agreement to ending his sister's life should it become necessary. There was another lengthy silence as everyone digested this bleak prospect. Freya might not be a favourite among the other Weres but Ashleigh and Nors loved her and their pain was evident. "You're sure Liam was accurately sensing Freya's emotions?" Rafe finally asked, judging it time to move on to another reason for their meeting: to talk about the hybrid children. "He told me how I was feeling, and Nors," Ashleigh answered, wiping at her cheeks and working to control her emotions. "We're positive he can sense emotions, although we have no idea how." "Lily can talk to wolves when in human form," Loretta announced, a slight frown on her face. "She talked to Dayton when he was in his wolf form." They all looked at each other, wondering what other powers the children might possess. They had been expecting some kind of abilities to show themselves but not this soon, not when the children were still so young. They were beginning to reveal abilities the Weres had no knowledge of; they didn't know how to counteract them or how to teach the children to use them safely. "Neither Dara or Cassia have displayed any signs of unusual abilities," Cedar sighed, referring to her daughters. "That doesn't necessarily mean they don't have any, though. If Liam could keep his a secret--and he's only two--there's no telling what our girls are keeping quiet about." She couldn't keep the concern out of her voice and Alexei hugged her tightly to his chest, dropping a kiss on her forehead. "The only way to know for sure is to sit the children down and talk to them," he said practically. "Until we know exactly what they can or can't do we can't form a plan of action. Caleb and Annie probably need to know about this new turn of events." Rafe agreed. "We'll talk to the little ones first and get a more complete picture before we call them in for their opinion. Aaron, will you organise a safe environment to talk to the children?" His second in command smiled. "Right here is the best place. They all love being in your house; running rampant through here is the highlight of their day. They may be young but they're full of confidence. You lot are probably a lot more concerned about this than they are. To them it's normal." His words relaxed the group a little as they realised they were most probably true. Their children did possess a strong streak of self-confidence. They knew they were safe at the compound. "That's settled then," Rafe agreed. "Which leaves us with the last item: Dayton and Rayne. I'm going to recommend they stay at the compound a bit longer despite Freya having left." His gaze turned to Alexei and he raised an enquiring eyebrow. "I take it you don't have any issues with that?" A smile quirked the vampire's lip as he hugged his mate a little closer. "No problem at all. Dayton and I are going to get on just fine." His Alpha continued to size him up, looking for any hint of deception. Only a short while ago Alexei had been ready to rip Dayton's throat out. His sudden turnaround bordered on the miraculous. "I can control myself," Alexei snorted, a tinge of annoyance creeping into his tone and causing Cedar to laugh softly. "Keep telling yourself that, love, and just maybe we'll believe you," she teased lightly to break his sudden tension. He mock-growled at her and then kissed her hard, promising payback for her teasing when he got her alone. "Keep an eye on the wildcat," Rafe continued as he smiled slightly at the couple's easy banter. "I'm sure she's harmless but there's something odd about her. I don't mean posting guards or anything; I've given her free passage in the compound. Just be aware of anything out of the ordinary where she's concerned." Parents were suddenly alert, wondering what it was about Rayne that had their Alpha preaching caution. Most of them hadn't met the cat yet, though they had seen her about the compound during the day. "Rayne won't cause any harm," Jen said quietly, speaking for the first time. "Don't ask me how I know because I can't tell you. I've spent time with her and she's amazing with the children. She adores Dayton too. It strikes me that anyone with that capacity to care isn't a threat, even if she is a little different." "I didn't sense anything hostile about her either," Aaron backed his mate up. "I was comfortable enough to leave her alone with Jen and the kids. My wolf wouldn't have allowed that if she posed any kind of threat." "I'm not saying she's a threat," Rafe answered. "She's an unknown, and it's always wise to be vigilant when we don't have enough information about someone. That's all I'm saying." The others nodded their agreement as the meeting broke up and everyone started filing out. Nors headed upstairs to collect his son as Ashleigh made her way to the first floor room they used whenever they stayed overnight at the compound. She shook her head when she noticed he had forgotten to pack a nightshirt for her although he'd remembered to pack his own silk pyjamas. She changed into the pyjama top and climbed into the huge bed, her thoughts on Freya. Where was she? Her sister was out there somewhere, alone, hurting in a way that she understood because she had once hurt that badly herself. She wanted to be able to help but until Freya came home there was nothing she could do. Nors entered the room and gave her a little smile, lowering their sleeping son carefully onto the bed beside her. He changed into his pyjama bottoms and climbed in, positioning his mate until she was in his arms, their son draped across his chest. This was what he needed so badly at the moment, his family safe around him. "She's stronger than you think, Nors," Ashleigh whispered. "She'll come home and she'll be just fine." "God, I hope so, Ash," he breathed, his voice full of anguish. "I hope one day she'll be able to forgive me for what I've done, that she'll find peace and acceptance." "She loves you. She will always forgive you. You just need to forgive yourself, love." He lay awake long after Ashleigh fell asleep, listening to his family's deep breathing, his thoughts on his beautiful sister. He would forgive himself only when Freya found peace. Until that day, he would always hate himself for what he had done to her, what he had made her. ***** Dayton was reading a book, unable to sleep in the unfamiliar surroundings. He rested against the headboard, curious as to what had been going on in the Alpha's house. He had seen the vampires arrive with their mates, heard the soft murmur of indistinct voices behind the library door. It was clear some kind of meeting was taking place and he suspected it had something to do with him and Rayne. He wasn't surprised when his bedroom door opened silently and Rayne slipped inside with her customary smile. She was still dressed, despite the late hour. He didn't find that too surprising, either. Nothing about this woman surprised him any more. "Can't sleep?" she asked, crossing the room with feline grace and crawling onto the end of the bed to sit cross-legged, her green eyes intent on his. "It's been an emotional day," he answered, not even bothering to try to lie to her. It was as pointless as trying to stop breathing. She would just keep at him until he told her everything she wanted to know. For the thousandth time he wondered why he was incapable to getting rid of her...not that he wanted to, but he had always marvelled at her ability to reach him when no one else could. "You have a wonderful family, Day. This pack is truly amazing, so intriguing in their make-up." He smiled slightly and had to concede her point. The pack was indeed an amazing place to be. Despite the emotional maelstrom he'd been forced to weather, he felt a sense of belonging--something that had been missing from his life for so many years. He watched his friend carefully and then, at long last, voiced the question that had plagued him for decades. "Who are you, Rayne?" He watched her eyes narrow slightly as she pondered his question; then her lips curled in a sad smile. "I don't know," she admitted honestly. "I'm different, have abilities that no Were should ever have. I know that much. As to who or what I am, I couldn't tell you. I'm just me." She sounded so alone, so wistful, that he reached out and pulled at her hand until she moved and settled herself against him on top of the covers. Her head rested against his chest and his lips brushed the top of her head gently. "You don't have to be alone, Rayne," he said softly. "It doesn't matter to me what you are. I'll always be here for you just as you've always been there for me." He pushed down the ironic amusement that bubbled up inside him. He'd gone from pushing everyone away to opening up his heart to his family and Rayne in the blink of an eye. He was under no illusion that he was healed: he knew there was a long road to travel before the pain would ease enough to make life anything more than tolerable. But he was on the right track and a lot of it was down to his friend. If he could repay even a fraction of the help she had given him then he would try his hardest. He felt relaxed with her at his side, so relaxed that his eyelids began to droop. His last waking thought wasn't of Rayne, though. Instead a pair of green eyes taunted him, the feel of soft lips pressing against his filled his senses. Denial fought within him as Freya Eriksson's beautiful face swam in front of his closed eyes; his wolf stirred restlessly as he slipped into sleep. The moment Dayton gave in to his exhaustion, Rayne smiled against his chest and pressed her lips tenderly to him. She opened herself to his emotions, sensing confusion, anger, denial and also the little tendrils of love. Finally, he was starting to mend. It had been a slow road but he was on it now, no longer fighting it, even if he was only taking his first baby steps. Satisfied, she rose carefully from the bed and walked to the large window, looking out into the dark forest. Was her vampire out there somewhere? Did he lurk around the compound, constantly watching over this eclectic mix of inhabitants? Smiling, she shook her head and returned to the room she had been allocated for her stay. She was in two minds as to whether to go hunting or to rest. She didn't need as much sleep as normal Weres but allowing others' emotions into her soul always tired her. She stiffened at a faint sound behind her, then slowly turned to look up into the face of the glorious male she had met a few days earlier. He was resting his back against the closed door, arms folded, as his lavender eyes travelled slowly over her before coming back to her face. He was dressed completely in black, the only splash of colour his auburn hair, which was loose and falling in silky waves over his body. He looked so delicious she felt herself tremble slightly. Her hands were at the lace bodice of her basque and they hovered there unmoving as she watched him warily. "Don't let me to stop you," he chuckled lightly, his deep voice full of amusement and something else she couldn't quite place. "Come to drop me from another tree?" she countered, a slight smile curving her lips as she saw his gaze drop to her hands again as if he were patiently waiting to see what lay beneath her top. "They've given you a room to sleep in, so you're here by invitation." Another light laugh escaped him as he pushed off the door and walked towards her. "I was serious," he murmured his gazed fixed on her hands once more. "Don't let me stop you." His words sent a shiver down her spine as she watched him slowly stalk towards her. He really was the most beautiful male she had ever encountered. His sensual lips promised pleasures untold and she couldn't deny the physical attraction she felt for him. It was obvious the attraction was mutual. There was something about this vampire that made her stop thinking coherently. He made her feel vulnerable in a way no one else ever had. He took her breath away and made her want to surrender to the hot coil of desire sweeping through her body. A tumble in bed with this stunning vampire would be a pleasurable experience indeed. Smiling, she threw good sense out the window. Her hands moved of their own accord, pulling the laces free to reveal her full breasts to his suddenly hungry gaze. Her breath caught at the sheer need that danced across his face as his eyes raked her body intently. "Exquisite," he breathed softly as the basque dropped to the floor and his hands touched her waist almost reverently. She shivered as he slid them slowly upwards until his thumbs lazily brushed her taut peaks as he gently cupped her flesh. A soft moan escaped her as his thumbs brushed over her nipples again, heat spreading through her body like wildfire to pool between her legs. Rayne knew she had to be out of her mind letting him touch her but she didn't stop him. His hands on her naked body felt too damned good. Gard smiled, inhaling deeply and scenting the hot, heady scent of a woman in heat. It made his mouth water and he had to struggle to keep his touch gentle against the lush flesh filling his palms. "So responsive," he breathed softly. "Your scent is intoxicating, Kitty. You make me want to rip your jeans off and bury my mouth hard between you legs and lick you all up." Rayne whimpered and then her cat purred so loudly deep within her that she was sure the sound was going to explode from her mouth. Sweet Jesus, her vampire was potent . It was on the tip of her tongue to say 'Yes, please.' Just the thought of his sexy mouth licking at her was almost enough to send her crashing into a violent climax. "You sound like a cat." Was what she finally said as she struggled to contain the lust boiling through her veins. "You make me feel like a cat," he chuckled softly, all the while brushing her aching nipples with the rough pads of his thumbs. "I've never wanted to lick someone all over before. I would quite happily make an exception for you." "Should I be honoured?" she quipped, her back arching into the amazing hands that were driving her insane with need. "You can answer that when I'm done licking you, Kitty," he laughed softly, bending his head as he raised her slightly off the floor to bring her breasts level with his mouth. His tongue snaked out and he licked at one swollen nipple. He barely grazed it, just enough to send a shudder through her body and force a moan to escape her lips. A Long Walk Home Ch. 06 He flicked his tongue again, mercilessly toying with the hard peak, the scent of her arousal becoming stronger and stronger as he teased her. He had no idea what he was doing. He had only come to talk to her, having watched with interest most of the day as she'd walked through the compound. But the moment he was alone with her his lust had spiralled and the need to taste her was a compulsion such as he'd never experienced before. He hadn't expected her to allow him to touch her soft flesh but she had, and he was going to take advantage of it for as long as she permitted him to. He placed little kisses across her chest and licked at her other nipple, delighting in her moans and in the feel of the hard tip pressing against his tongue. He could indulge himself like this all night long it felt so good. But he was conscious he was in the middle of the pack and time was of the essence. In two long strides he had the exquisite creature in his arms and was laying her down on the bed. Then he did what he'd threatened to do: he used his talons to shred her jeans and boots, leaving her lusciously naked before him. He looked into her flushed face and smiled a wicked smile. "Hope you have more clothes here." Rayne rolled her eyes as she fought to catch her breath. "I'm sure I can borrow some," she said breathily. "Now about that licking?" With the wolves nearby his laugh was necessarily muted, but it was full of delight. He loved a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask for it. If his cat wanted to be licked then he was more than happy to oblige her. "Spread your legs for me, Kitty," he ordered softly. "Show me how much you want my mouth on you." She obeyed him instantly, offering herself with disgraceful alacrity but she was so desperate to feel him give her that most intimate of kisses that she just didn't care. She opened herself completely to him, watching his eyes almost glow as he slowly ran his big hands teasingly up the inside of her thighs until he parted her silky folds with his thumbs. "There is nothing more beautiful than a woman's body glistening wetly for her lover," he said reverently, stroking a thick finger slowly up and down her wetness as he admired the vision before him. Rayne purred loudly, her body arching into his caress as he stroked over and over again, flicking her clit every now and then and sending molten heat cascading through her. When he slipped two thick fingers into her body she had to grab a pillow and crush it to her face to prevent her loud cries from bringing the entire pack down on them. Surely the discovery of a strange vampire in the compound would not go down well. He pulled the pillow out of her grasp and tossed it to the floor, all the while driving his fingers into her tightness, teasing her insides with light scrapes of his fingernails as he pleasured her. "I want to see you," he said firmly. She squirmed on the bed biting her lip hard to halt her moans. "The noise," she managed to get out as he pushed hard and fast into her body, relentlessly pushing her higher towards her climax. "Let me worry about that," he laughed huskily, his thumb coming to join his play, flicking at her clit mercilessly until she was mindless with need, desperate for her release. "That's it, Kitty. Take your pleasure," he whispered against her lips, pressing down hard on her clit as he captured her muffled scream with his mouth. Her body convulsed as sweet bliss cascaded through her. He didn't stop thrusting his fingers into her, his mouth slanting hard and demanding over hers as he rode her body hard until he'd wrung every ounce of pleasure from her. When she finally lay sated his mouth left hers and he slowly kissed down her body until he was between her legs. "Licking time," he breathed against her heated flesh, his tongue lapping leisurely against her as he began to feast on her sweet release. Rayne grabbed the corner of one of the sheets and stuffed it in her mouth as the beautiful male between her legs began his slow torture of her already heated flesh. His tongue rasped everywhere, sliding deep inside to taste her intimately. He really had missed his calling. He should have been a cat the way he could exercise his tongue. She was writhing again in no time, moaning in bliss as he suckled her clit hard and then beat it with his tongue. The more he pleasured her, the more her juices flowed and the longer he stayed buried between her legs, drinking her all up. It was almost a relief to climax again, her body shuddering hard, her hands clamped against her mouth to stop herself from waking the entire house. She came down slowly, aware that he was still licking at her, cleaning her in a way that only a cat knew how to do properly. Trembling, she allowed him to do so, her heartbeat slowly calming down as her breathing began to settle into a more even rhythm. Finally he kissed his way back up her body as she lay there, unable to move after two of the best orgasms she'd ever experienced. "Licking is most definitely fun," he whispered against her lips before he gave her a hot, searing kiss and then rose from the bed. She flushed slightly to see him still fully clothed while she was sprawled naked across the bed. He stood over her for a long moment and then he licked his lips and flashed her a wicked smile. "I look forward to doing that again." He turned and moved towards the window, forcing her to raise herself up onto her elbows to keep sight of him. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice husky with passion. "Away from you before I decide to take you," he laughed softly. "Believe me: when I fuck you there will be nothing you can do to halt your screams of ecstasy, Kitty. This is definitely not the place for that to happen. But it will," he promised, the almost-glow appearing in the lavender depths of his eyes as he looked over his shoulder at her. Then he vanished, using his shadowing abilities to slip out of the window and into the dark forest beyond. Rayne let out a long, slow breath and then lay back, soft laughter bubbling from her throat. Fuck, he had to be the sexiest, most delicious male she had ever encountered. Her cat thought so too, egging her on to climb out the window and follow him to someplace where he could fuck her until she screamed in ecstasy. If he was as skilled with his body as he was with his mouth and hands then she knew she was in for the best sex in all her long life. Her cat prowled, pushed at her subconscious, willed her to listen to the beast within. Surprised at its forcefulness Rayne gave herself over to her cat, enough to hear what she was trying to tell her. "Fuck me!" Rayne whispered, stunned shock rippling through her body. She didn't even know his name, but her cat knew that the wonderful male who had just pleasured them so exquisitely was her mate. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 07 Many thanks to mikothebaby for editing this chapter for me. An extra set of eyes are priceless and hopefully I haven't made any new errors as I tinkered with chapter before posting up. Enjoy * Dayton was surprised to see Ashleigh talking with Rafe in the main hallway as he headed downstairs following the heavenly scent of breakfast. Cedar had mentioned that she didn't stay at the compound though she visited often. He wondered if it had something to do with Freya and the meeting that had occurred the night before. The little blonde looked up as he approached, emotion swirling in her big brown eyes as she watched him while biting her bottom lip. He couldn't quite work out what it was but he had a feeling it wasn't good. The urge to protect her hit him like a sledgehammer. His Beta instincts were kicking in almost continuously since he'd met the children in the forest. It was disconcerting but not something he could easily push away. He had been born to be a Beta, it was in his blood. Rafe bent his head and said something to her before she nodded and he headed off into the dining room leaving them alone. "Ashleigh." She gave him a sad smile. "Dayton," she greeted him quietly, her tone subdued. She appeared to be trying to think of what to say, finally taking a deep breath. "Will you walk with me before breakfast?" He considered it for a moment and then nodded his head, following her out of the Alpha's house. She obviously wanted to talk in private. He just wasn't sure if he was ready to listen to what she had to say. But she was David's sister and his friend would have wanted him to be there for her if something was troubling her. Which it was very plain to see something was. They walked a little way into the forest until they came to a trickling stream with some large flat rocks close to the edge. Ashleigh climbed onto the rocks and sat down. Dayton joined her and waited for her to speak. "This is my fault," she finally said in a quiet voice, staring down into the running water. "If I hadn't come to the gallery then Freya would never have known about you. I'm sorry." She had a point but he didn't hold the other woman's actions against her. Taking a deep breath, he let the early morning sunshine dance across his face, warming him up a little inside. "You're not responsible for her actions," he sighed. "We're only responsible for the decisions we make, Ashleigh. We can't control other people." "But we can help them when they need it," she whispered, pain in her voice. "If we know they need our help. I wanted to help you, Dayton. I wanted you to come home so I could do something for David even though he's no longer here. Instead I made things a hundred times worse." There was such misery in her voice that he had to alleviate it somehow. "You did get me back into the pack," he commented a little dryly. "Probably not how you intended to do it but you achieved something no one else ever managed to do." He wanted to take away her guilt. He could see it eating her up inside. She had a good soul and he knew she must have been through hell losing her family. He had heard the vampires kidnapped her too, years ago. He could only imagine what they had done to her but she was strong because she had survived it. She turned to look at him and her eyes held such pain in them that he wanted to touch her, comfort her, but he held himself still. "I brought you home but I lost Freya by doing so," she said. "I broke my mate's heart because I couldn't leave well alone. All he's ever done is love me and all I ever do is bring him pain and suffering. He's been very unlucky with the women he's chosen to love, first Freya and now me. We're no good for him and yet he loves us unconditionally." Dayton knew the mate bond, knew that no man would ever regret loving this tender hearted woman at his side. He reached for her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her hesitantly to his side. It felt strange touching someone, reaching out to another person who needed his comfort, but it felt right too. "I'm sure your mate doesn't feel anything but joy having you in his life, Ashleigh," he said soothingly. He asked the question he didn't want to ask but knew he needed the answer to. "You said you've lost Freya?" Ashleigh pulled away from him, rising to her feet and staring into the thick wooded forest surrounding them. Rafe had said it was okay to tell Dayton what had happened. Taking a deep breath she looked down at the wounded man sitting on the rock. "She's gone, Dayton. We don't know where or if we'll ever see her again. Nors was angry with her about what happened. We didn't know how fragile she was because she hid it so well. Nors...he's almost certain that Freya has gone to seek a way to end her life." A muffled sob escaped her and she looked away from him again. "I know what she did was wrong," she whispered. "I know she hurt you but she was trying so hard. She wanted to belong so badly but she just didn't know how to. I don't know why she fixated on you or what it was about you that pushed her over the edge but something did. And now she's gone and Nors' heart is breaking and I don't know how to fix it." A frown crossed his face at her words. Part of him felt a moment's satisfaction that the vampire was hurting so much but another part of him couldn't bear to see and hear Ashleigh's pain. She loved Freya Eriksson and it hurt her that she had lost her. How anyone could love the cold-hearted vampire he had no idea, but she must have had some good qualities if the little blonde and her mate did. "Maybe she'll come back," he finally said picking up a loose pebble and throwing it into the trickling water. "If she stays away from me I won't make an issue out of what happened. Not for her sake but for yours, Ashleigh. You've lost so much already. I don't want to be responsible for you losing anyone else." Ashleigh wiped at her face jumping down from the rock to stand before him. "I don't think she's ever coming back," she admitted. "I can't tell Nors that because it would break his heart even more. He needs to believe that she will, that when she does everything will be just fine." She gave him another sad smile and then tentatively reached out and touched the side of his face. He let her, knowing she needed the comfort of touch at that moment. "One day I'd like to talk about David with you, about my family. I hope we can do that. Not now, when your own pain is still so raw, but maybe one day soon." He saw such yearning in her eyes, the need to connect with someone who knew her family and had been part of them. He felt his own pain and sadness at losing such a wonderful family build up inside him, but he pushed it down and placed his hand over hers on his cheek. "I'd like that," he smiled gently. "Welcome home, Dayton," she said softly, the sad smile still gracing her face as she turned and headed back to the house. He stayed on the rock, digesting what she'd told him. Freya Eriksson was gone. There was no need for him and Rayne to remain at the compound. The threat was no more. He should have felt glad about that but he didn't. Ashleigh's pain ripped at him. He found it strange that she could affect him when he didn't even know her, and yet she did. She was the last surviving member of a family who had taken him into their hearts and welcomed him as their own. His need to protect her was overwhelming him on all levels. Dayton felt as if he was on the verge of an emotional meltdown. It was all too much, too soon. Everyone was reaching out to him, offering love and support. He didn't deserve it, not after he'd hurt his family so much. Just as Freya was hurting her family right now. The thought made him snort out a harsh laugh. If Ashleigh's words were true then he had more in common with the missing vampire than he'd known. They were both outsiders looking in, both hurting because of their past, neither of them feeling that they deserved the unwavering love and support of their friends and family. He hated having anything in common with the woman who had taken Faith from him. He didn't want to acknowledge any kind of empathy with her, have any kind of understanding of what she may be going through right now. He wanted her to burn in hell for the rest of her very long life. 'Nors...he's almost certain that Freya has gone to seek a way to end her life.' Ashleigh's words echoed in his head and his wolf let out a vicious snarl catching him completely off guard. He subjugated the animal ruthlessly so was unused to it surfacing outwith their agreement. Something about the vampire irritated the beast within him. Something about Ashleigh's declaration infuriated the man. "You don't get the luxury of eternal rest, Freya Eriksson," he whispered into the quiet morning air. "Not after taking Faith from me." The words made him feel better, an idea taking shape in his mind as he whispered his oath to the forest. The bitch of a vampire deserved to suffer for her actions and he would find a way to make it happen. And to hell with the consequences. **** Rayne sensed an inner resolve in Dayton as they sat at the large dining table eating breakfast with the Alpha and his heavily pregnant mate Lacey. Nors and Ashleigh were sitting a little further down the table. She knew the other couple had a child, a hybrid little boy with a scent that teased her and begged her to come to him. The boy was absent from the table and she knew it was because his parents didn't quiet trust them. It didn't offend her, she would do the same if she had young and was concerned about them. It was probably just as well the child wasn't there because it meant she could focus more fully on the growing hardness she sensed deep inside Dayton. The other emotions were still there but something was starting so supersede them, something very worrying. On the outside he looked calm but on the inside she could feel a growing hate which had the power to take over and destroy her friend completely. She knew he'd spoken to Ashleigh before breakfast. She had considered following them and listening in but decided against it. If they had sought privacy then they had the right to it. She wondered if they'd spoken about Freya Eriksson. From the moment she'd watched the vampire enter Dayton's Gallery with the wolf she had known that the moment had been fated. She had never sensed a soul more damaged than Dayton's until she'd reached out and taken the emotional makeup of the two women. Freya's pain had been enough to make her knees tremble violently. How the vampire walked around with such a serene expression she'd had no idea. Something told her in that moment that the vampire was the key to unlocking her friend's pain. He connected automatically with others who suffered whether he knew it or not. He had sensed her own loneliness, her own need for belonging and that was why he had never been able to successfully keep her out. She knew he still wondered about that even after all these years. Freya and Dayton had been meant to meet. She felt it deep within her bones. Their mutual anguish was a commonality they couldn't deny, even as they denied each other. She had no idea what path it would take them down but she knew it was necessary for both their souls. Freya had done something to him to force him to come home to the pack. It was a start but only a beginning. Her friend still had a wealth of pain and soul searching to go through. She imagined the vampire did too. Rayne watched Dayton fuel his hate of the vampire with every passing moment. She wanted to intervene but she knew she couldn't. Only when a wolf and a vampire looked deep inside each other's souls and see the anguish within, would they ever heal. It would be a painful lesson for both of them. "Oh crap!" Lacey suddenly said putting down her fork and turning slightly to look at her mate. "Can you help me back upstairs, baby?" Rafe was instantly on his feet, concern on his face. "Lace?" "I'm fine, I just need to lie down," she said soothingly. "Though if you could get Mallen that would be a help. You'd think these little horrors would have at least let me finish my breakfast." Ashleigh jumped up suddenly a wide smile crossing her face. "Nors, run and get Mallen," she gasped hurrying around to help her Alpha to stand. She shot a reproving look at Rafe. "Don't just stand there. The babies are coming." Rafe stared at her blankly for a moment and then his eyes went to Lacey's and his expression turned to one of wonder. "The babies are coming?" he echoed quickly supporting his mate around her back. Lacey blew out a long breath and laughed shakily. "Either that or their having a game of tag in my belly." She let out a low groan that had Dayton at her other side. "Let me, Ash," he said firmly adding his support to his Alpha Bitch while Rafe got over the shock of his imminent fatherhood. His Alpha gave him a grateful smile a moment later before he swept his mate up into his strong arms. He kissed her gently, his face glowing with excitement. "Guess there goes the peace and quiet," he murmured softly. Lacey let out another shaky laugh even as she stifled down a groan of pain as another contraction swept through her. "Seems so," she whispered against his lips her pale green eyes full of love as she looked up at her mate. Dayton followed them upstairs automatically. It wasn't as if his Alpha needed his help carrying his mate but it was instinctual to protect his back while his attention was otherwise engaged. They met Aaron on his way out of his rooms. A wide smile crossed the Beta's face as he accurately took in the scene. "About time too, gorgeous," he smiled at Lacey. "Jen!" His mate came out and was immediately at her friend's side climbing the stairs to the third floor with them. "Watch the kids, honey," she called over her shoulder. Lacey had been with her throughout her own birthing and she was going to be there for her too, if Rafe let her. She didn't think he would object and the smile he quickly shot her appeared to bear that out. In no time Rafe was lowering his mate carefully onto the middle of their bed covering her with a sheet as he sat down beside her. Jen moved to the other side of her and smiled as she brushed Lacey's silvery blonde hair back. "You're going to be an amazing mother," she smiled softly. "If I do half as good a job as you're doing, Jen, then I'll be happy," Lacey answered quietly and then groaned again. "Dayton, can you let Aaron know to cancel the meeting we had scheduled for eleven? He'll know what it's about," Rafe said. "If you can also round up someone to help look after the kids too, so he can sort out any Pack issues that need to be taken care of in the next few hours, that would be helpful." "Will do," the other man answered immediately. "Is there anything I can do to help which is Pack related?" "Ask Aaron. He knows what needs to be done." Dayton was halfway down to the second floor before he realised that he was acting like a Beta. It came as naturally as breathing to him even after five decades. His head shot up as he heard a slightly more tortured sound emanate from the room above. He sensed Rayne approaching and turned to look at her. "How exciting," she smiled. "I love newborn babies. They're so warm and soft, just made to be cuddled." She looked genuinely excited at the prospect of being there for the birth that Dayton had to smile back at her. There was something intrinsically magical about new life coming into a pack, especially when it was the Alpha couple being blessed. It also gave him an idea. He knocked on Aaron's door and ducked his head inside. "Rafe asked me to find someone to sit with the children so you could take over running the pack," he announced grabbing Rayne's hand and pulling her inside with him. "I thought Rayne could do so until you found someone else?" His brother grinned broadly and gestured towards the living area. "That would be a great help, if you wouldn't mind, Rayne?" She blinked at him slowly, slightly startled by her sudden 'volunteering' to babysit and then she scented the sweet scent that tantalised her so much and she smiled. "I'd be glad to help," she answered softly, already heading towards the enjoining room which appeared to be set up as some kind of playroom. "Can I help in anyway?" Dayton asked his brother. Aaron clapped him on the shoulders already making his way outside, totally relaxed about leaving the children in Rayne's care. "I was scheduled to take some of the younger ones out on a training run this morning. If you could do that it will free me up to see what Rafe had planned that may need taken care of." A training run meant letting his wolf out outwith their agreement and for a moment Dayton balked at the idea. But he knew how important it was for the Pack young to learn to embrace their wolves and how to read the forest. It was crucial in their development. He nodded his agreement as he headed downstairs with Aaron. "Rafe also said to cancel the meeting at eleven. Said you'd know what he was talking about?" Aaron's glance shifted up the stairs for a moment and then he smiled. "Yeah, I'll get onto that. And arrange a reprieve for Rayne as quickly as I can. Thanks, Day. I'll get organised quickly and find someone to relieve you of the young ones as soon as I can. Really appreciate your help. I guess old Beta instincts really die hard." With that he disappeared into the library leaving his brother staring after him with a confused expression on his face. "I guess they do," he finally murmured before he headed outside to go round up his charges. ***** Rayne stood in the doorway of the playroom and watched the little ones play in blissful happiness. Aaron's three mixed easily with the hybrid children, hovering almost protectively over the younger ones despite their own young age. It was so obvious they would be strong wolves, no wonder their parents were so proud of them. Her eyes fell on a little red haired boy jumping up and down on a child's trampoline, closely ringed by Aaron's three in case he fell off. Clearly he belonged to Ashleigh and Nors as he looked so much like his father it was uncanny. Two young blonde girls with a mass of long curls sat puzzling out a jigsaw with the brown haired girl from the forest. They all appeared to be of around a similar age though it was clear that the two blondes were not twins, unless they were fraternal. The boy from the forest was lying on his stomach beside them, colouring in what she first thought was a pre-drawn book but then realised was his own drawings. Even from this distance she could see that he was already very talented. As one, all eyes suddenly turned from what they were doing to look directly at her and she felt her heart stutter as she looked into the eyes of the hybrid children. A feeling of such belonging washed over her that she felt tears spring to her eyes and run unchecked down her face. "Why are you crying, Rayne?" Rowan asked curiously running across the room to take her hand. "There's no need to be sad. Come and play with us." The little red haired boy climbed off the trampoline and followed his friend, his arms reaching up to her. She didn't hesitate to pick up the beautiful child, feeling his arms snake around her neck trustingly. "She's not sad, Rowan," he said with a little laugh. "They're happy tears." Rayne had no idea how he could tell the difference but he was right. The joy she felt in her heart was indescribable, simply overwhelming as she hugged his fragile body against her as the rest of the children rose and came over to her. "I'm Liliana and this is my brother Kallum," the dark haired girl pointed to the boy beside her. "Our parents are Loretta and Andrei. That's Dara and that's Cassia," she pointed next at the two little blonde girls. "Their parents are Aunt Cedar and Uncle Alexei. You know DJ, Thorne and Rowan already because they told us. Oh, and that's Liam you're holding. His parents are Aunt Ashleigh and Uncle Nors." A Long Walk Home Ch. 07 Rayne swallowed hard to stem her tears and smiled tremulously at the faces surrounding her. "I'm Rayne and I've waited a lifetime to meet you," she whispered. The words came from deep within her soul and she knew them to be true. These children... she'd walked the world a thousand times over looking for them. "Well, now you've found us," Lily smiled happily. "Welcome home, Rayne. Do you want to play now?" Laughter bubbled up, deep, wonderful, joyous laughter that came from her soul. "I would love to play," she laughed setting down Liam and entering the room fully. ***** Lacey sighed with relief and looked down at the two adorable little boys lying between her and Rafe in the now calm bedroom. She knew she'd been lucky that the birthing had been relatively quick, only four hours from start to finish. Jen's had lasted three times that long and her friend had been exhausted at the end of it. She felt tired but not so tired that she couldn't gaze in wonder at the new life she had brought into the world. "They're so perfect, Rafe," she whispered tearfully, awe in her tone as she reached forward to gently stroke one little head with it's silvery blond hair and then the other with a cap of thick dark brown waves already. "Just like their mother," Rafe breathed leaning forward slightly to catch his mate's lips in a tender, loving kiss. His eyes were brimming with unshed tears, happiness carved into his handsome feature. "You were so amazing, honey. I'm so proud of you and our beautiful boys." "Our sons," she laughed softly. It sounded unreal and yet her babies were lying there, sleeping soundly despite the awful racket they'd made when they were born. They certainly had a pair of lungs on them, that was for sure. She smiled happily at her mate, touching his cheek gently. He was born to be a father. He had raised his sister from an infant and she'd turned out to be an amazing woman. She knew her sons were blessed having this wonderful man as their father. They would grow big and strong under his expert guidance. "We never discussed names," she mused dropping her gaze back to her babies. "Any ideas?" "Why don't you name them, baby?" Rafe smiled gently touching his sons reverently, being careful not to wake them as they'd just dropped off. He couldn't believe how utterly perfect they were or how the genes had split so perfectly. One looked so like Lacey and the other like him. "How about Ben, for this little one?" Lacey said quietly, resting her hand against her dark haired son. "It would be a good strong name for one of our sons. One he could grow into and be as strong and brave as the man who helped save my life." Rafe choked out a little sound as a tear slid down his cheek (-) as he remembered his friend who had died protecting his mate. He shot his mate a smile and nodded his agreement because he couldn't speak with all the emotion running through him at the moment. "And this little darling, well he's got Aaron Junior stamped all over him," Lacey laughed softly. Rafe groaned and rolled his eyes, wiping at his cheek as he did so. "You know you're just going to give Aaron a big head if you name a son after him," he teased lightly though he was overjoyed with her choices. "How can I not honour the two men who helped make our babies possible," she smiled though there was a hint of sadness in her voice as she remembered seeing Aaron lying in a pool of blood on a cold hard road so very long ago. Despite his Were healing abilities, he'd almost died protecting her and the memory still brought pain and fear with it. "I couldn't have picked two more perfect names for our sons, Lace," Rafe whispered his voice thick with emotion. "Just as I couldn't have picked two better friends to protect my heart for me." The kiss he gave her was so full of love it brought tears to her own eyes and she laughed softly as she pushed him away to wipe them clear. "This is supposed to be a happy occasion not the two of us blubbering like babies." Rafe laughed loudly. "It is a happy occasion, baby, just a very emotional one too." A knock on the door sounded and Aaron and Jen slipped quietly inside. "Is it okay?" Jen asked. Rafe waved them in and they came and sat on the bottom of the bed Aaron's arms automatically circling Jen's waist and pulling her back against his chest. "How does it feel to be a daddy," he teased lightly, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Perfect!" they all said at the same time and then burst out laughing at the chagrined expression on the Alpha's face. "I'm going to have to find a new word to use," Rafe grumbled good naturedly shaking his head in mock exasperation. "Have you named them yet?" Jen asked excitedly leaning forward to touch two tiny feet very gently. "Yeah, what did you saddle your poor offspring with?" Aaron chuckled, remembering the teasing his friend had given him at the names Jen had picked for theirs. He was still trying to live Thorne down though his mate had been adamant about it so he'd let her have her way. It suited his son and he wouldn't change it for the world now. "Ben and Aaron," Rafe answered quietly and his friend's laughter suddenly cut off as he went completely still against his mate. Aaron stared at Rafe and then turned to Lacey, his expression so completely blank that for a moment they couldn't read him at all. "You don't object, do you?" Lacey asked a slight tremor in her voice. She adored the Beta and would never dream of doing anything that would ever hurt him. She'd expected him be happy to have their son named after him, not this sudden freezing up she was witnessing. "He doesn't object," Jen answered softly reaching up to touch her mate's cheek tenderly. "He's trying very hard not to cry, aren't you, baby?" Aaron blinked and swallowed hard, placing a hand over hers as he swallowed again audibly. "You two did that deliberately," he finally managed to get out, his voice husky with emotion. "Bloody payback for all my teasing, isn't it?" Rafe leaned forward and thumped him playfully on the arm. "What goes around comes around," he laughed lightly. Eyes still a bit moist, Aaron sported his usual cocky grin, his eyes sparkling with warmth now that he was in better control of his emotions. "Thanks," he smiled. "It means a lot." He couldn't say anymore so he shut up and just let the warmth of their gesture fill him with joy. That his best friends had honoured him this way meant the world to him. He knew it would have meant the world to Ben too if he had still be with them. He made a silent promise to his absent friend that he would take care of his namesake with the same protectiveness as he would his own. He crawled forward and dropped a kiss on Lacey's lips receiving a quiet growl from her mate. He ignored him and grinned at her. "You did good, gorgeous." Rafe growled again and he laughed turning to his friend. "You want a kiss too?" he teased. "Aaron, behave!" Jen laughed pulling her mate back before he seriously started to annoy Rafe. She heard their Alpha muttering something about names easily being changed but there was no heat in the words. Feeling his work was done Aaron scooped his mate up from the bed and headed towards the door. "Everything's fine so you don't need to worry about any pack business," he tossed over his shoulder. "I've rescheduled the meeting with the kids for tomorrow morning. Is that okay?" "Tomorrow's fine," Rafe answered knowing Pack life didn't stop just because he'd become a father. "Have you called Annie and Millie?" Aaron asked from the doorway setting Jen back down on her feet. "Annie's in Shanghai at the moment," Rafe sighed softly. "She's going to be pissed she missed the birth but I'll give her a call shortly. I dare say she'll be home directly. I called Jared an hour ago. He said he and Millie would come over tomorrow to give us a little time to get used to the idea of being parents." He settled down on the bed as the other couple headed back to their rooms leaving him alone once more with his family. He saw Lacey's eyelashes flutter tiredly and he stroked the side of her face tenderly. "Sleep baby. I'll watch over them while you do." Smiling sleepily she closed her eyes and rested against the pillow. "I love you, Rafe." "I love you too, Lace," he whispered softly. "Sleep. You deserve it." He lay beside his sleeping family, a feeling of completion coming over him as he gazed down at them. This was what perfection looked like, his beautiful mate and his equally beautiful sons. ***** Aaron had scheduled the meeting with the children early knowing Rafe would be up anyway with his sons. It was fortuitous that he had because it meant his friend would be able to discuss any discoveries with the Alpha of the Hanlon Pack when he arrived to meet the babies later on in the day. He'd chosen the playroom in his own home as the meeting place as all the children were comfortable there. It was important that the kids felt safe while they talked to them and tried to find out what abilities they were keeping hidden from the adults of the Pack. And it was big enough to hold all the parents. The only one absent was Lacey. Weres healed more quickly from giving birth due to their natures but she hadn't wanted to be apart from her sons so had opted to stay upstairs with them. Rafe had made the decision to exclude Aaron's three from the meeting until they knew exactly what was going on so they were currently over at the community hall being looked after by the rest of Pack. Five little faces looked up expectantly at the adults who were all sitting cross legged on the floor around them. Cedar and Alexei hovered close to their girls, Andrei and Loretta beside Lily and Kal. Liam, being the youngest and the one they knew was susceptible to sensing emotions, was resting against his father's chest, Ashleigh just a little distance apart from them. "Is this like a proper meeting?" Kal suddenly asked looking directly at Rafe. "Like an Alpha and Beta meeting?" He couldn't keep the excitement out of his voice, his brown eyes hopeful. Rafe smiled gently. He was aware of how much Kal wanted to grow up to be a Beta, that his dream was he would one day be an Alpha. He had no idea how Andrei felt about that but he admired the drive in the little boy asking the question. "Yes, it is Kal," he answered carefully. "And when an Alpha has a meeting with his Betas he expects to hear the truth at all times. It's very important that an Alpha trusts his Betas explicitly." He let his words sink into all the children and smiled when they nodded instantly. "Now I know all of you are special and sometimes special people can do special things. Sometimes they're so special that you might think it's best to keep them a secret so you don't worry your mummies and daddies. Like Liam did when he didn't tell Aunt Ashleigh and Uncle Nors that he could feel what other people are feeling." "I'm sorry," Liam whispered, his little face puckering slightly as Nors cuddled him a little closer. "I'm not angry, Liam," Rafe soothed the child instinctively. "You can feel that, can't you?" He sent a shaft of love directly to the child and soon he was smiling widely and nodding. Rafe turned his gaze back to other children. "I'm not angry with anyone and nobody will be if you've been keeping a secret too. We need to know if you can do anything special like Liam can, so we can best look after you." All the children sat quietly for a moment, looking at their Alpha with such focus that he actually felt a little unnerved by their stillness. "Can Rayne come to the meeting too?" Kallum suddenly asked, startling all the adults who looked at each other quizzically. Aaron shrugged his shoulders in confusion at the request. "She took care of the kids yesterday morning," he volunteered. "Maybe they'll feel more comfortable with her here?" It appeared the children were loath to speak at the moment without her. Rafe frowned, not wanting a stranger to be involved in something that was so integral to the pack. The hybrid children were their richest assets and their biggest Achilles heel. They were so precious to the pack that anything happening to them would most likely spark a killing frenzy of unimaginable proportions. "Please," Liam whispered quietly his eyes huge as he implored his Alpha. Something in the child's gaze convinced him and he nodded. Ashleigh jumped up and raced out of the room returning a couple of minutes later with a thoroughly confused looking wildcat. Rayne looked around the room and the slightly suspicious expressions on the adults' faces. She had no idea why she had been called to the room or what was going on. She saw five expectant faces beaming up at her and she smiled back instinctively, crouching down on the floor beside Rafe. "Hi, " she smiled feeling the same connection to the children she had the day before, only this time she didn't cry because she was expecting it. "Can we play the game we played yesterday, Rayne?" Dara asked, her bright blue eyes shining with excitement. "Our parents don't know that game and they want to." Rayne felt her heart thud hard in her chest. She now knew why she was here. The pack was aware of the children's growing abilities and wanted to know what they were. She could feel the adults stiffen, the tension ratcheting up in the room. She knew she was on dangerous ground, that one wrong move could lead to the children's parents trying to rip her throat out. They would have a good chance of doing it too. She sat down carefully, crossing her legs and ensuring she was within easy reach of the Alpha. She hoped to convey her trust in him so he wouldn't view her as a threat. Heart thumping wildly she gave the children her brightest smile. "Well, I don't think much will have changed since yesterday," she said softly. "But if you would prefer to do it this way then, why not?" She took at deep breath and tried to mask her apprehension. Her secrets, her very life could be in the balance but she couldn't refuse the children. "Hands up everyone who can sense other peoples' feelings?" Five little hands shot up and she slowly raised hers too. "Hands up everyone who can talk to others with their thoughts," she asked next. Again five hands shot up and she matched them with barely a pause. The silence from the adults was practically deafening, though the children didn't appear to notice. "Hands up anyone who can shift into an animal," she asked next. Two little hands shot up and Cedar uttered a strangled sound as she stared at her daughters in shock. She barely noticed Rayne raising her own hand or the disgruntled expressions on Lily and Kal's faces. "Hands up anyone who can mask their scent." Four hands shot up and Liam let out a disgusted sigh. "I want to be able to do that," he grumbled as Rayne raised her hand to join the others. "In time, little one," she said gently, giving him a wide smile. "Okay, now it's your turn," she said to the others. She'd done the same yesterday and none of the children had announced any abilities other than what they had gone through already. But she decided to play out the 'game' as she had done the day before. Lily smiled and stood up brushing down her skirt. "Hands up if you can make yourself invisible," she said with a wide smile. Startled gasps filled the room as Lily raised her hand high but none of the others did. Her smile of pleasure quickly began to melt as she noticed the looks of horror on her parents' faces and all the other adults. Her bottom lip trembled and she felt tears begin to well up. She didn't want to play this game anymore. Rayne stared at the child in shock. It was far too early for her to be able to do master this ability. It had taken her centuries to do so and the little angel before her was only five years old. It was too much power in one so young. The tears suddenly rolling down her face was testament to that. Her heart broke as the little girl wilted before her and she found herself slowly raising her own hand, giving away her greatest secret in the face of a child's misery. "It's okay, Lily," she whispered softly. "I can do it too. You're not alone, honey." The low rumbling growl to her left sent chills down her spine as the friendly Alpha she had met before suddenly turned into a cold, ruthless killing machine, his dark brown eyes fixated firmly on her. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 08 Once again my thanks to mikothebaby for editing this chapter for me. I think I've managed not to mess this one up with my tinkering afterwards :-) Thanks for all the fabulous comments as always. You guys rock! As do my Guild members and my Tweeters :-) Enjoy! * Rayne felt all eyes on her and there was nothing friendly in any of them. She knew if she moved even a fraction of an inch the adults would descend on her instantly. She could have shadowed herself but the room wasn't big enough to hide in. They would know her start position and with so many of them they would quickly be able to triangulate her position even if they couldn't see her. Liam started to cry loudly and the other children did too. He wriggled against Nors, his crying becoming louder as his father held him easily to prevent him getting away. "No!" he sobbed. "Don't hurt, Rayne." Lily ran to her father and threw herself into his arms. His fangs were out and he was in that very angry place where he sometimes forgot who he was. She hugged his neck tightly. "Please, Daddy. Don't let them hurt her," she begged. Andrei stared at his daughter his arms automatically coming around her as she pleaded with him with tear filled eyes. His instinctive need to protect soothed a little, giving him time to notice the rest of the children's distress. They were all crying hard, he knew it was because they could sense the rage running through all the adults in the room. A rage that was directed towards the interloper in their midst. Ashleigh suddenly cried out as Liam vanished in Nors' grasp. Her mate hadn't released the child but he was suddenly completely invisible to everyone. "Enough," Rafe said quietly, his Command tone settling on everyone in the room with the exception of Rayne as she wasn't a pack member. The sound of the children crying still filled the room but the adults had begun to settle down, lessening the tension a bit. Nors was holding his son gently but firmly. It was disconcerting to be able to feel him but not see him. Ashleigh was staring wide eyed at the spot she knew her son was, concern on her face. Rafe was unsure of what to do. He sensed no aggression from the woman at his side and yet she had sat there admitting to abilities that no Were should have. That, on top of the staggering revelations of the children, had his thoughts in turmoil. The children obviously sensed something in Rayne that they could relate to otherwise they wouldn't be so upset. And Liam was suddenly invisible. That sent a shudder right through him after Lily admitting she could do it too. If all of them could, then how the hell did they protect them when they couldn't see them? "Liam, please make yourself visible again," he said firmly. The boy was so young he wasn't sure how much his Command tone would work on him. Children needed to mature a little before the full weight of their Alpha's Command took root within them. The boy remained invisible and that kept the tension level up in the room. He didn't know what to do to force the child to obey him. He didn't want to do anything that would have a negative impact on Liam's confidence but the longer he stayed invisible to the naked eye the more fraught the situation became. He turned his head to look at Rayne and saw she was watching Nors intently. "Can you convince him?" he asked reluctantly. Rayne took a deep breath and turned to look at the Alpha. She could hear the reluctance in his tone but his need to protect his pack was more important than his pride at the moment. He was a good Alpha, even if maybe he didn't feel like it at the moment. She turned back to Liam, smiling gently as her eyes met his. Unlike the others she could see him perfectly well because she was so much more powerful than he was at shadowing. "Liam, you're too young to be shadowing, little one," she said in a soft voice. "How would you feel if you couldn't see your mummy and daddy?" His big brown eyes locked with hers and he stopped struggling against his father. "Scared," he whispered inside her head. She continued to smile gently at him, keeping her voice soft. "How do you think your parents are feeling right now?" She could feel him reaching out with his senses; his little face puckering as he felt the fear rippling through not only his parents but also the other adults in the room. He was suddenly visible again, his little arms reaching out for Ashleigh as she gave a startled cry and pulled her son into her arms. "I'm sorry, mummy," he cried burying his face in the side of her neck and clinging on for dear life. "Shhhh it's okay, baby," Ashleigh soothed stroking his head gently, her eyes fixed on Nors as he stared at their son with a look of terror in his gaze. The silence in the room was deafening, broken by Rayne. "We didn't finish the game," she said quietly, ignoring the adults completely. Rafe shifted slightly beside her but he kept quiet, waiting to see what would happen. "Don't want to play any more," Lily hiccupped, still holding her father tightly. Kallum stood up and walked over to his sister, stroking her head gently. "It's important, Lily," he said solemnly. It was so unusual for him to take the more dominant role that Loretta could only gape at him in surprise. Usually he followed Lily around. "What special thing is it okay to do?" Rayne asked softly. "Talk to each other," Cassia sniffed, smiling at her sister as she did so. They talked to each other all the time in their thoughts. "Shift into wolves only if we're safe at home," Dara smiled back, her pleasure evident that this was something only she and her sister could do so far. Kallum looked at Rayne. "But we shouldn't mask our scents until we're grown up," he said quietly. He looked at his sister and then at Liam. "And we shouldn't make ourselves invisible because then we'll get lost and nobody will be able to find us." He added in the new ability to the game. "That's right," Rayne smiled. "You wouldn't want to get lost now, would you?" Five heads shook in the negative and Rayne fell silent again, waiting to see how the parents would react. Rafe's anxiety ratcheted down a notch but he was still tense. Nothing the wildcat had done or said appeared harmful to the children but she was still an unknown. The fact the kids appeared to listen to her was something in her favour. They were all calming down in her presence and they obviously felt a connection with her. "I need your solemn word that no one will make themselves invisible," he said firmly but gently to the children. His eyes connected to Kallum's. "Like a Beta would give his promise to his Alpha." The little boy puffed up with pride a wide grin on his face. "We promise," he said instantly, meeting the other children's eyes with an intense stare. "Don't we?" One by one, the other children promised and there was a discernable lessening of the tension in the room. Rafe had to accept their word. There was nothing else he could do about it. He actually felt a bit helpless with the whole situation and he didn't like it one bit. "We're going to talk in the other room," he told them. "I hope I can trust you to play quietly in here while we do." "Don't be angry with Rayne," Liam begged. "She's our friend." Rafe's lips tightened slightly but he nodded his head, acknowledging the boy's words as the adults rose and made their way out of the room. Rayne wondered what would happen once they were alone. The emotional makeup of the assembled parents was less than friendly. She could understand it because they were frightened for their young. Understanding was one thing but having her throat ripped out was another. Her keen gaze was taking in any possible escape routes as Loretta closed the door on the children. "What are you?" Rafe asked in a low, hostile voice as soon as the door closed. She stared at him for a long moment and then she made a decision she didn't think she ever would. She decided to trust in the furious man before her. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "All I know is someone named me Rayne and I am a wildcat of either the leopard or jaguar variety. I'm not even sure which as both can breed a black panther and that's what my cat is when I shift. I've been alive for over three thousand years and in all that time I've never met another being like me. Until I came here." They stared at her in surprise some of the animosity slipping away in the stunned silence but only for a moment. "That's impossible," Cedar finally said. "No Were can live that long." Rayne smiled. "No Were can mask its scent, turn invisible and outrun a vampire and yet I can. I also heal from wounds that would kill any other Were. Until I scented the children I thought I was unique. Now I see that I'm not. I believe that I may be just like them, a Vampire/Were hybrid." "Impossible!" Andrei growled his eyes cold as ice. "The first hybrid child was killed over three thousand years ago by The Council. There are no records of any others being born until now." The wildcat's eyes widened in shock, staring at the vampire who wouldn't think twice at ripping her throat out. She had been guessing at her parentage but his words appeared to indicate that there could be some truth in it. "A child was born?" she whispered, hope in her voice. "And died," Alexei bit out, his own eyes as hard as his brother's. "You shouldn't fall for this, Rafe. This could just be a clever ploy by The Council or some disaffected Were group to breach pack security. It's highly coincidental that a mature version of our children just suddenly appears at the right time when they start displaying their abilities." Rafe nodded his head slowly, acknowledging the wisdom of Alexei's words. It was highly coincidental Rayne suddenly showing up out of the blue, he couldn't deny it. "We should talk to Dayton," Aaron said quietly. "He was the one who brought her into the pack." His tone was angry, his body stiff with tension. He had let this woman care for his children. He had trusted her with the most precious people in his life. His wolf snorted inside him, reminding him that his mate and children were perfectly fine, not a hair harmed on their heads. It didn't dent his anger. He didn't like being played. "Day, I need you," Rayne said mentally, surprising his friend. She'd never spoken to him mentally before and she felt the question in his link with her even before he answered. "What the fuck? Rayne? How the...?" A weary sigh. "Never mind! Where are you?" "At Aaron's."She cut off her communication as Rafe was agreeing with Aaron and about to send someone to go look for his brother. "He's on his way," she said quietly and almost sighed out loud as she became the subject of more hostile looks. "What, you don't talk mentally to your mates or friends?" Her tone was disparaging, her patience starting to wear a bit thin. While she could understand their position it was starting to get on her nerves. She had just discovered information about herself that she'd never dreamed of ever learning. She needed time to digest it, discover what it meant for her. Dayton ran up the stairs to the second floor wondering what trouble Rayne had gotten herself into this time. Her sudden ability to communicate with him mentally had thrown him for a loop. He was smart enough to realise that she'd most probably had the ability the whole time he'd known her. She was a cat and liked to hide things until it became necessary to reveal them. One look at the faces of his pack and he knew things were dire as he stepped into the room. Rayne, being her usual self, was facing off with them with a serene expression on her face but he could see irritation dancing in her eyes and he fought down a groan. "What have you done now?" he asked in a weary voice coming to stand beside her, making it more than clear that no matter what his friend had done he would stand at her side. Even if it meant going against his brother who he could see was furious. "How long have we known each other, Day?" She countered, not taking her eyes off Alexei as she spoke. "Too bloody long," he answered wearily though he looked at his Alpha's tense body language and knew the situation was fraught with danger. "I've known Rayne for over fifty years." Alexei shifted slightly and Rayne smiled a slow smile. "That kind of dents your theory a little, doesn't it?" she all but smirked. "What the fuck is going on?" Dayton demanded turning to look at his friend. He could see her cat starting to surface and knew she was getting ready to play. It most definitely was not the time or the place judging from the temperature in the room. "They think I'm here to hurt their children," she answered with disgust dripping from her tone. "They think I'm some kind of spy sent to gain their trust to hurt the pack." Astonishment crossed his features and his head swung back to meet Rafe's hard gaze. "Rayne is a lot of things but a spy or someone who would hurt a child is most definitely not one of them," he said quietly. "I would never have brought her to the compound if I had any doubts about that." He was asking his Alpha to trust his judgement, even though he barely knew them. It was Aaron who relaxed first. He trusted Dayton implicitly, knew his brother would do nothing that could even remotely cause any harm to his children or the pack. "She's claiming to be a Vampire/Were hybrid," he told his brother, disbelief about that still in his voice. Dayton's eyebrows rose in surprise and he turned back to Rayne to meet her steady gaze. "So that's what you are," he breathed softly. She gave him a slightly tremulous smile, a spark in her eyes as she looked at him. "I think so," she admitted quietly. "I'm not sure until I learn the history of the first Vamp/Were mating but the timing is right, Day." She couldn't keep the hope out of her voice or the uncertainty out of her eyes. "It explains a lot," he smiled at her, reaching out to touch her cheek gently, feeling the need to soothe her deep within him. "All your non Were abilities, the advanced speed and healing properties you have. That's why you didn't mind staying at the compound. It was because of the children." It was all slotting into place. Rayne hated her location being known to anyone. Hell, half the time he didn't know where she stayed when she was in town. But she had agreed immediately to remain in the compound. He'd been surprised at her instant capitulation at the time. "The day you met Loretta in the forest, the scent of the children drew me," she whispered. "It was like finally finding what I didn't even know I'd been searching for all these centuries. I had to see them, talk to them and find out if they were like me. I don't mean them any harm. They are way too precious for anyone to ever hurt them." Tears welled up in her eyes, hope shining in their depths. "They call to my very soul, Day. It feels like I'm coming home, that I don't have to walk the world endlessly alone anymore." Her voice choked off, large tears rolling down her face and Dayton was automatically pulling her into his arms, his heart wrenching at the vulnerability she very seldom let him see. The fact she allowed herself to be so vulnerable in front of others was a testament to how strong her emotions were at the moment. "I told you last night you'll never be alone," he whispered gruffly kissing her head gently. "Not as long as I live. I'll help you find out the truth even if the pack won't." He voice hardened as he said the last, meeting Rafe's gaze with a hard look. He was letting his Alpha know in no uncertain terms where his allegiance lay in the matter. Rafe met his gaze levelly and then slowly relaxed. His instincts told him that the wildcat was genuine, his fear for the children starting to slowly calm. Whether or not Rayne truly was the first hybrid child born over three thousand years ago was a moot point. She wasn't a danger and it was clear that despite her confident exterior she was just as hurt and vulnerable inside as most of his pack members had been when joining him. The instant he thought that he felt a shifting deep within him and couldn't contain the startled gasp that escaped his lips. His eyes widened as Rayne's head shot up and her tear filled green eyes met his startled ones. "What was that?" she whispered hoarsely, confusion crossing her face at the strange feeling coursing through her and reaching out towards the huge man before her. He suddenly began to smile, a slightly sheepish smile that made him look very endearing and not half as scary as he had before. "That, little wildcat, is called an Alpha bond," he answered, his smile widening as his wolf accepted her completely. "Welcome to the pack, Rayne." ***** Rayne walked through the forest her thoughts in turmoil. The moment Rafe had welcomed her to the pack a handful of hours ago all the wolves had relaxed instantly, though the vampires had still looked at her with some suspicion in their eyes until their mates had rolled their eyes in exasperation. As soon as Loretta had calmed Andrei down the other two vampires had relaxed too and just like that, she was accepted into a wolf pack as if she was meant to be there. She was confused on so many levels her agile mind couldn't work through them all, so she had gone for a walk to try and clear her head. Was she a hybrid child, the first ever born? It certainly answered a lot of her questions and the children were displaying the same abilities she had. Until she could get some definitive proof though, she didn't want to believe it wholeheartedly, in case it turned out to be wrong. The sudden trust of the Pack was also something she wasn't used to. She had walked alone for so long that it was hard to let others in even though she craved to do so. Only Dayton had been able to slip under her guard and that had surprised her at the time though she had felt a measure of peace having one friend that she knew she could rely on. The bond between her and Rafe terrified her. She could feel it even now as she walked further and further away from the compound. It tied her cat to the big man at such a primal level it scared the life out of her. It bound her here to this spot even though she was in no rush to leave now she'd discovered the children. Just knowing that if she did want to leave she would never be able to escape the Alpha bond was enough to give her chills. She was a cat and she detested being caged in anyway. "Such a dark scowl for one so exquisite," a disembodied voice said loudly and she looked up towards the sound, her heart thumping hard in her chest as her eyes locked on the male sitting high in the talk oak tree she was standing underneath. For a second all she could do was drink in the sight of the beautiful male who had licked her so wickedly the other night. His beauty took her breath away, the hard angles of his face like carved granite, the deep lavender of his eyes intent as they flickered hungrily over her. He screamed sensuality, a hot wicked brand of sexuality that promised pleasures untold as he stretched lazily along a thick branch, his booted feet crossed as were his arms across his wide chest. He was dressed head to toe in black as usual, his thick auburn hair lying loose across his shoulders. He looked as natural in the tree as he did on the forest floor and she couldn't help smiling. The vampire was more cat that some of the leopards and jaguars she'd come across in her travels. She didn't even pause to consider the wisdom of climbing up to him. Her cat wanted to play and it liked playing with this male very much. She jumped agilely, catching a branch and slowly wending her way up towards the vampire whose name she didn't even know. A Long Walk Home Ch. 08 Memories of their last meeting crossed her mind and she flushed at the thoughts. She'd never allowed a total stranger to pleasure her before but then, her cat recognised him even if he was reticent at introducing himself. He moved when she was half way towards him, so blindingly fast that even to her enhanced sight he was a blur. The speed at which he moved spoke of an age that far surpassed hers and she once more wondered how old he was and just who was he. When he was once more leaning against the trunk of the tree in his previous position, she was astounded to see that he'd removed all the branches between them, effectively cutting off her climb because the next closest branch was beyond her reach, even with her agile skills. Frustrated, she frowned, wondering what game he was up to. "Not nice to damage a tree so unnecessarily," she scolded gently, her love of the forest kicking in. If she thought he would be chagrined at her mild reproof she was wrong. His lips curled in a slow, sensual smile. "I want to see how desperate you are to reach me, Kitty," he drawled softly, his gaze intent as he watched her consider her options. Rayne let out a slow breath, her cat purring at the tantalising male who knew how to play with a cat in all the right ways. A cat never liked being balked when it was hunting its prey and her cat had tagged the vampire as most definitely hers. She pondered her options carefully. She could shift to her panther. She would most probably be able to make the jump then. Or she could reveal another secret, one that she hadn't ever shown anyone before though she knew she would need to tell her new Alpha at some point. Her smile turned wicked and she carefully performed the slightest of shifts deep within herself. Her cat roared at being allowed to come out to play even just a little bit. Her claws broke through her skin, the only part of her that shifted into cat form. She saw the vampire's eyes widen almost imperceptively as she dug her claws into the bark of the tree and climbed effortlessly until she reached the branch he was sitting on. Rayne straddled the branch directly facing him conscious of the fact that she looked like a miniature version of him, with her own black jeans, black tank top and black ankle boots. The only difference between them, apart from the obvious gender difference, was the colours of their hair and eyes. She sat before him waiting for him to speak as his eyes bored into her intently. "Interesting," he finally said, the rich, deep timber of his voice sending a shiver down her spine. He picked up her right hand in his left one, pressing their palms together between them. Her claws were still unsheathed resting lightly against his thick fingers. In a slow caress he slid his hand down a little until his fingertips were aligned with hers, then he elongated his razor sharp talons until they rested against her claws. The entire time his eyes never left hers, taking in every flicker of emotion that crossed her face, listening to her heart speed up, the ragged sound of her breathing. "Exquisite and so very, very intriguing," Gard murmured softly, his own heart racing at the touch of her delicate, yet deadly hand against his. "You fascinate me as no woman has ever done before." He said it almost as if he were talking to himself rather than to her, his gaze dropping to their joined hands. He shifted slightly, his fingers slotting in between hers, his talons resting on the back of her hand. He heard her breath catch at the touch and curled his talons, scraping lightly against her fragile skin. The tantalising scent of her blood filled the air as three light grazes marred her hand, tiny little droplets of blood pooling in the shallow cuts. His eyes met hers again and he saw no sign of fear, no sign of pain from the light scores he'd given her. Instead he saw something very intriguing, concern. Rayne sat stock still, her heart skipping wildly as she looked at him. She wasn't concerned about the scratches, she liked to scratch too while at play. What did concern her was she would start healing instantly and he would notice that. Were healing abilities were not as instantaneous as vampires. He would know something was wrong the instant she healed. While the pack now knew her secrets she had the distinct impression that this male would not react very well to them. Her tension was replaced by a completely different kind when he raised her hand to his mouth and his tongue snaked out to flick against it, laving the scratches gently. Her heart somersaulted as he effectively solved her problem while at the same time sent a liquid heat coursing through her body to settle firmly between her thighs. This male was oh so dangerous it was almost frightening. Gard knew he was tempting fate, knew it was so incredibly reckless to taste her and yet he couldn't stop himself from doing so. All his senses craved the intoxicating cat perched on the branch with him. Her sweet blood filled his mouth as he healed her scratches, her flavour hot and heavy causing his blood to boil and his cock to become so hard he thought it would burst. He had no idea why she tempted him, why everything about her teased him mercilessly. He'd had to fight to stay away from her room since their last meeting. Her feminine essence had stayed with him for hours after he'd indulged his first taste of her. Her sweet moans had filled his dreams, her wet heat overwhelming him until he woke up hard and heavy, aching to sink himself into her delectable body. He licked his lips, a slow sensual smile curving them as he watched her pulse beat wildly at the side of her neck. "Are you ready to scream now, little cat?" he asked huskily. Oh God, he was as tempting as sin. Rayne could barely catch her breath at the sheer eroticism of his tongue lapping up her blood as if she was the tastiest morsel he'd ever experienced. The hard, sexual promise of his words had her all but quivering as she remembered the heated expression on his face when he'd left her the other night. Her claws curled, raking the back of his hand hard, fiercer and more feral than he had done to her. "And bring the pack down on us?" she asked, her tone as husky as his as she bent her head and ran her tongue over the cuts she'd caused on his hand. The instant he filled her mouth, fire washed through her, heady, intoxicating bliss consuming her in a hard, fast burn. He tasted wonderful, a heavenly blend of hot male sexuality and sweet, sweet blood trickling down her throat. Rayne had always been concerned about her liking for the taste of blood. She didn't indulge it often, believing it made her abnormal somehow. Now she was closer to learning her true heritage she could understand it a bit better. She didn't need blood to live but she did find it the most heavenly experience in the right setting. Her vampire growled a truly feral sound and she found herself sitting astride him, the heavy heat of his erection pressing against her moist centre so deliciously that she couldn't help but squirm against the thick muscle she craved to have deep inside her. Another loud growl and then a hand closed over the nape out her neck hard and her head was tilted back to look into lavender eyes which were glowing brightly. So she hadn't imagined it before. His eyes really did glow when he was in the grip of intense emotions. "Keep moving like that and you'll have to suffer the indignity of your pack finding you on all fours with my cock slamming deep and hard within you," he warned softly, his words sending more fire shuddering through her body. Her cat purred in pure unadulterated sexual pleasure, luxuriating in the way this vampire controlled it, teased it, promise it bliss like never before. The female part of her liked it too. She was used to being stronger than most men. It was hard finding a man who could satisfy both parts of her nature. She knew she had found just such a man in the beautiful vampire who held her rigid against his hard body. Rayne wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning in to scent the side of his throat, amazed that he'd dropped his cloaking abilities and allowed her to scent what he truly was. Rich, dark chocolate came to mind, the hint of a summer breeze rustling across it. It was a strange scent, extremely sensual, a mix of the elements as well as the more earthy delights of food. It suited him perfectly. She released her own masking abilities, allowed him to scent her while praying he didn't scan too deeply. If he scented she was part vampire she wasn't sure how he would react. His breath whispered across the side of her neck and then he stiffened, his talons piercing the side of her neck and drawing blood. Gard was lost in the scent of wildflowers and sunshine, orange blossoms and sun-kissed skin. She was so intoxicating it was all he could do not to sink his fangs into the side of her neck and drink deeply of her sweet, hot blood. It was an exercise in restraint keeping his fangs at bay. No one had ever tempted him so badly before. His lips were a hairsbreadth away from her soft skin when he sensed something that shouldn't be there. His hand tightened reactively and he scented her blood a second before she froze in his arms. He released his grip marginally, retracting his talons as he pulled his head back to look into her face. "Explain." It was an order, there was no getting away from that fact, or the hard expression on his face as his eyes blazed down at her. It took a moment for Rayne to realise what was causing his sudden tension and she couldn't stop the surprise that crossed her face as she met his gaze unflinchingly. "It's an Alpha bond," she answered, watching his expression mirror hers with his own surprise. The hardness in his eyes softened and he released her, leaning back against the tree trunk as she dropped her hands from around his neck and stroked them slowly over the silk of his black shirt. The glow receded from his eyes though the naked desire remained. "For a moment I thought you'd been foolish enough to mate with a wolf," he drawled softly, his expression making it perfectly clear that he wouldn't have been happy with that scenario. "Wolves don't know how to play," she quipped lightly, rising gracefully to pad lightly along the branch to its narrowest point. "Just as well because I don't share my toys," he said softly, his voice full of possessiveness, his eyes boring into her back. Rayne laughed softly, looking over her shoulder at him and smiling. "But you do play with them?" she asked mischievously as she stepped off the branch and plummeted downwards. Gard moved so fast he blurred, leaping from the branch only to find his cat perched on one lower down. She looked up at him again and gave another sultry laugh as he joined her on the same branch. "Are you ever going to tell me your name?" she asked curiously, tilting her head to the side. He reached out and pulled her hair loose from the high ponytail she had it in, letting his fingers glide through the midnight inkiness that reminded him of warm silk. "Gard," he answered, distracted by the sheen of black in his hand. "Gard," she echoed her lush lips curving in another smile. He found he liked the sound of his name on her lips. He could imagine how it would sound as she whispered it in his ear as he pleasured her. "And you're Rayne," he finally said, reluctantly releasing her hair and meeting her eyes with a twinkle in his. "I think I prefer Kitty though. It's so you." She swiped playfully at him and he dropped down to the forest floor waiting for her to join him which she did after a brief moment. "Do cats mark their territory?" he asked curiously his eyes on the forest, his senses reaching out to ensure no one was close to them. Rayne thought of her claw raking his hands, the way his talons had raked hers. Should she tell the truth or should she maybe not answer? "Yes," she finally answered deciding to go with the truth. Her cat had already claimed him even if they hadn't done the physical act of mating. It was only a matter of time before she permanently marked him as hers. Lavender eyes swung around to look at her; they were glowing softly, a smile curving his oh so sensual mouth. "Good," he breathed softly reaching to pull her towards him so he could kiss her hard and fast, his tongue invading her mouth and toying erotically with hers. She arched against him, moaning deeply as she returned his kiss with one equally as passionate, equally as devastating. She wanted to purr, to rub herself all over him until he was drowning in her scent, and she in his. She actually mewled with disappointment when he pulled back, slowly releasing her. "Don't want the pack finding you in that uncompromising position now, do you?" he teased lightly though his eyes were deadly serious. For a brief moment she didn't care and then she pulled herself together and returned his smile. "Might not be a good first impression seeing as I've just joined them," she conceded. Gard devoured her with his gaze, this tantalising woman with secrets in her eyes and a body made for sin. He ached for her, was tempted to scoop her up and take her back to his house where he could keep her in his bed for weeks on end, taking her in every position imaginable until he could sate his lust for her. He had a feeling he could spend years being buried deep inside her before he came close to sating himself with her body. But Anakatrine wouldn't be pleased with him if he toyed with a member of her pack, if he revealed himself before she was ready to talk to her Were brother. It was only that fact which stopped him from indulging in his needs. He had to talk to his sister before he took what was his and the cat watching him was most definitely his, of that he was certain. "Best you run home now, Kitty," he sighed softly, regret in his eyes as he ran his knuckles down the side of her face gently. "We can play another day," he promised when he saw disappointment cross her exquisite features. "You keep making promises," she responded, a hint of irritation in the depths of her green eyes. "I only hope you can live up to them, Gard." Delight rushed through him as she scratched at him revealing her sexual frustration. He knew he would pay for it later but he couldn't resist a tiny indulgence. He had her jeans and panties down in a blink of an eye, kneeling before her to gaze up at her startled expression. "Let me lick it better," he breathed huskily, his mouth kissing her so intimately, just the way he knew she liked it. Rayne cried out, holding onto his shoulders tightly as he used his tongue against her body ruthlessly. There was no teasing, no light touches, just a man who knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to take it. She was trembling in an instant; soft moans escaping her as his tongue licked boldly and firmly against her heated flesh. He didn't tease her to completion; instead he sent her racing there on a freight train. The climax that overwhelmed her was hard, vicious, totally spectacular and still he didn't stop, his mouth moving over every inch of her aching flesh. Low growls rumbled through his chest as she writhed in his gasp, her knees so weak it was only his hands keeping her upright. He was ruthless as he pushed her to a second climax, her body trembling hard as she peaked again and bliss flooded her very soul. "No more," she begged as he continued to lick at her, continued to scrape his teeth gently against her most tender flesh. For a moment she thought he was going to continue, and then he placed a gentle kiss on the swell of her stomach, his tongue teasing the emerald and diamond piercing in her navel before he rose, righting her clothes as he did so. His eyes were almost violet in colour, glowing darkly as he kissed her hard, his erection a brand against her stomach. He finally released her and took two steps back. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the only indication that he was fighting for control. "You're going to need more stamina than that when I take you, Kitty," he said huskily, need making his voice sound scratchy. Heart pounding, Rayne took a few deep breaths and fought the need to bend over to try and catch her breath. The man was simply way too potent to be real. "Thanks for the warning," she finally managed to pant out, watching pleasure dance across his face at her reply. "That wasn't a warning, Rayne," he whispered laughingly, turning and heading into the trees. "What was it then?" she called after him, knowing he was still close enough to hear her. "A promise," whispered in her ear right behind her and she spun around to hear sexy male laughter receding but no sign of the infuriating vampire in sight. Laughter bubbled up; full of pure delight. Yes, he really did know how to play and she was looking forward eagerly to their next game. Turning, she headed back to the compound. Gard had distracted her from her earlier musing. Now it was time to work out just what all the recent changes in her life really meant for her. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 09 Many thanks once again to mikothebaby for her time given to edit for me. It is much appreciated as always. Thanks also to the Guild and my Tweeters :-) Enjoy * Rayne sensed new scents the instant she re-entered the Alpha's house. They were coming from the third floor so she assumed the Hanlon Alphas had arrived to welcome the new babies. She was aware of the power players in this part of the world. She always made sure she knew just who everyone was if she was going to stick around any one place for a while. The Hanlon and Armand-Hanlon packs was very closely interwoven. Her research had told her that Rafe was an adopted brother to Jared Hanlon and he had also practically raised Jared's mate Millie when they were still human, classing her as his sister. He did have a biological sister who he had raised from and young age and viewed more as his daughter than his sibling. Rhianna Armand was now a vampire and mated to the most power Ancient to walk the planet, Caleb Cullen. She was surprised the vampires hadn't appeared yet to greet the new additions to their family. Practically skipping into her room, Rayne headed for the shower and stripped quickly. She tried to push Gard out of her mind as she washed quickly, erasing his scent from her body as thoroughly as she could. That was one of the downsides to unmasking their scent. Others would be able to pick it up on their skin. It struck her that she should probably mention to Rafe that Gard was always lurking around in the forest, watching the Pack. Now she was part of the wolves she felt a pressure on her to do so. But she held back, knowing that he wasn't a danger to anyone. He had, after all, almost killed her because he had considered her to be a threat to the pack, which clearly marked his intentions as non hostile to the wolves. Still, it was strange that he hid himself from them. She wondered why that was. "So that's what you smell like," Dayton mused from his position on her bed when she walked back into the bedroom draped in a towel. She smiled and continued drying her hair, her eyes intent on his face which was withdrawn, hiding all his emotions. "You like?" she laughed lightly. He frowned and sat up running a hand through his unbound hair. "You feel at home here, Rayne." It wasn't a question more of a statement. "You wouldn't unmask your scent otherwise." He appeared unhappy about it. Chewing her inner lip, she sat down on the bed beside him. "And you don't?" Dayton took a long time to answer, thinking through her question carefully. "It's not that," he finally sighed. "Part of me feels a connection but it's incomplete somehow. Like I have something else I need to do before I can be truly at home here. I'm leaving, Rayne." Sadness welled up inside her, partly hers and partly his emotions which were raging wildly deep inside him. He ached to belong to the pack and yet a cold thread of hatred ran through him growing stronger with each passing moment. "Let it go, Day," she whispered. "You've let your emotions out and that's a good thing. But don't fixate on the negative ones. They'll destroy you just as much as withholding them was destroying you." "I can't remember what Faith's lips felt like pressed against mine anymore." It was a tortured admission, pain in every word. "She took that from me, Rayne. She laughed and she took it for no other reason than she could." His eyes were flashing with pain laced with a dark hatred when he turned to look at her. Rayne sucked in a deep breath, touching his face gently. "She hurts too. The first time I saw her in your gallery I thought my knees would buckle at the pain she carried deep inside. I was amazed at how serene her expression was considering all I could feel coming from her. She must be a very strong woman to have walked the planet for over two thousand years with all that anguish deep inside." "You want me to feel sorry for her?" he hissed furiously, pulling away from her touch, disbelief in his eyes. "I want you to look at her objectively, Day. Look at what she's become. Because that is what you will become if you allow your negative emotions to take over." Rayne knew her words were harsh but he needed to hear them. "If you can't find it in your heart to pity Freya then at least try and find some understanding. Maybe understanding Freya Eriksson is what you need to finally come home." Dayton was off the bed in an instant, fury racing through his blood as he glared down at her. He couldn't believe she was sticking up for the vampire, asking the impossible from him. "If you love her so much then you go and pity and understand her," he ground out through clenched teeth. "Just don't ask me to do so. I thought you were supposed to be my friend, Rayne." His rejection of her caused a deep pain to settle in her heart but she held her ground. "Friends tell each other the truth even when it hurts," she answered sadly. She didn't want to hurt him and she knew she was but she had to try and stop the growing hate which was ready to consume him and turn him colder and harder than he'd ever been before. A cold, hard mask settled over Dayton's face, reminiscent to the one he was used to showing to the world but never to her. "Friends are loyal and stand by each other no matter what," he said quietly, turning and walking out the room without a backward glance. Rayne stared after him trying to decide whether she should follow him or give him some time to calm down. The sound of voices made her decision as the visitors began descending the stairs from the third floor. She didn't want to meet them just yet. She knew Rafe would have told the other Alphas about her and she didn't want to see their speculative glances. Sighing she lay back on the bed and hoped that Dayton could work through his hurt and anger quickly so she could try again to break through the new barriers he was starting to wall around his heart. If he allowed the hate to fester then there was no telling what would become of him or the woman he was so focused on hating. ***** Dayton was furious with Rayne, so angry that he flew out of the compound and deep into the forest. He ran until a light sheen of sweat covered his body and then he slowed down, finally coming to a standstill in a small glade. He couldn't believe she was defending the vampire, taking her side over his. Rayne's betrayal was like a knife to his heart. She was the one person he had come to rely on to always be there for him, to stand with him through everything. And now she sided with the woman who had taken his last precious memories from him with her cold callous act. The anger and pain he felt was threatening to overwhelm him completely. He couldn't stand it, shifting in a blink of an eye, letting go and allowing his wolf to come out. It wasn't even a conscious decision, it just happened. He could hide within the wolf, crouch down so low, cut himself off so completely that the animal became almost whole, just shy of being completely Rogue. The large brown wolf howled into the forest and took off at full speed, running faster and faster away from the Pack, away from Rayne. In a matter of moments it was miles away. Sensing the end of the forest approaching it veered left, towards the more mountainous region it didn't normally traverse. The need to run was a compulsion. The wolf couldn't have stopped even if it tried. And then a scent hit it and it was like having its heart ripped out. Cherry blossom, so sweet, so tantalising, so deadly. The wolf howled loudly and the man crashed forward to take control. His wolf howled again, struggling to stay the dominant mind but he wouldn't allow it, snarling as the scent overwhelmed him and he changed direction heading straight for the woman who owned that scent. Blue eyes flashed with death, the need to rip and claw and destroy the only thing on his mind. The fury within made him careless, less observant. The old pit trap was upon him before he could halt his forward movement. The wolf's howl turned to one of utter agony as Dayton tripped the trap and began falling downward into the twenty foot deep pit with large, razor sharp spikes embedded firmly in the ground. ***** Freya heard a wolf howl and looked up from the papers littered across the table top in front of her. The sound was feral, full of rage. It told of a death about to come. The sheer viciousness of it made her smile before she dropped her eyes back to the documents before her. The next howl was of such agony that she was moving before she realised what she was doing so, standing on the porch of the well concealed wooden retreat high up in the mountains surrounded by trees. Nors had built the place almost a thousand years ago. They had lived there together for a few centuries before he had become bored with it and moved back down into the city. She had always treasured that time, how close she had been to her brother, just the two of them content with each other's company. This was probably why she had maintained the retreat long after Nors had forgotten it even existed. She knew there was something pathetic about how she kept the place almost the same as it had been then. The only real additions she had made to it was to put in a modern bathroom and upgrade the kitchen too. She didn't eat but it was always in the back of her mind that one day she may sell the place and if a Were or Human bought it they would want a proper kitchen. The retreat had been everything to her once so very long ago. A place of happiness, a place of safety. It had been instinctive to come here, to retreat to the last place she could ever remember feeling true happiness. And now there was an animal out there intruding on her privacy, a wounded animal by the sounds of things. Should she look for it or should she let it die? In the wild survival depended on being strong and fit. If the wolf had been stupid enough to get itself into trouble then it was no business of hers. And yet the echo of that anguished howl still hung on the afternoon air and she found herself remembering a pair of dark blue eyes, agony shining in their depths. Freya stepped off the porch and inhaled deeply. Her body stiffened and her head swung around to the left. The scent that greeted her was like a punch in the gut. She could smell the forest, the rich earthy masculine scent that belonged to only one male she knew. She took off into the trees in an instant, following that scent and the sweet, sweet smell of warm hot blood. The pit was twenty foot deep, her keen gaze easily taking in the long, naked limbs of the man lying impaled on the wicked looking spikes. Her heart twisted hard as she walked the pit carefully working out the best place to drop down into it. She ignored the twisting of her heart, pushing it deep down out of the way. Dayton had obviously gone into the pit in his wolf form but had reverted back to human after being impaled. It would make it awkward getting him out because the pit had been dug for a large wolf not a six foot three man. She could scent his blood, could tell that something major had been severed by its thickness. It was evident she didn't have time to be pissing about. Freya dropped into the pit, a spike piercing one thigh deeply, another shredding her hand that reached out to avoid falling on top of him. She ignored the pain, was used to suffering all manner of injuries over the long centuries. She snapped off the spike below her thigh and pulled it through, tossing it out of the pit. She then did the same with the one through her hand. She was healing instantly, her agile mind working out how best to free Dayton from his spikes. Luckily for him he was unconscious. The agony he would be in, had he been aware, would have driven him insane. There was nothing for it; she was going to have to lift him up. His weight had pushed the spikes in deeply and she needed to sever them beneath him. Dayton Alexander was not a light man, his big body full of thick heavy muscles, but she was an Ancient vampire and her strength surpassed his to the nth degree. Freya wrapped one arm securely under his back and raised his body slowly, ignoring the sucking noise of his torn flesh rasping against the thick wood. She worked quickly, methodically, severing each spike beneath his body. Most of them had missed vital organs which was a minor miracle, with the exception of the one through his left thigh. That had hit his femoral artery. It was that one which was pumping his blood out so fast that he was probably moments away from death. She could hear how weakly his heart was beating and she strove to work faster. Freya sprang up agilely, easily clearing the pit with the man secured in her arms. She lay him down on the ground and moved to the worst injury. She stared at the spike, knowing that the instant she pulled it out there would be precious seconds remaining to stop him from bleeding out. She had been in this situation once before, the night she had tried to keep Ashleigh alive long enough for Nors to come heal her. She'd been unable to do the healing because they wouldn't have been able to mate if she had. Dayton required the same kind of healing. His only chance of survival was if she mixed her vampire blood directly with his. He would never be able to mate with another vampire if she did so but then he was still pining for his dead mate anyway. She figured it was a moot point for him. Making her decision she gripped the protruding stake with one hand and ripped open her fingers on the other. With the speed born of an Ancient, she pulled out the stake and plunged her blood soaked hand deep into the wound. Searching quickly for the rupture in his artery, she mixed her blood with his until it sealed completely; then she closed the wound. She treated the non lethal injuries in the same manner, removing the stakes and sealing the wounds quickly. Then she opened his mouth and fed him a few drops of her blood, holding it closed until he swallowed reflexively. His heartbeat was stronger, the imminent threat of death receding. But he would hurt like hell when he woke up. She hadn't been able to give him enough of her Ancient blood to speed up his healing too quickly and she doubted that he would accept any more once he woke up, not the way he felt about her. Standing up slowly Freya stared down at Dayton wiping her hands against her already bloody jeans. She studiously ignored the pull of his blood; that sinfully wicked flavour that had set her on fire when she'd first tasted it. What was she to do with him now? He was alive but unable to fend for himself. She didn't want to return to the compound or her family, didn't want Nors to remember their secret place and come looking for her. If she left Dayton here he would most likely die and her efforts to save him would have been pointless. She wasn't even sure why she'd bothered to save him. Maybe it was her way of apologising for what she'd done to him? Something had touched her cold heart long enough to make her unbend enough to save a dying wolf. Allowing him to perish now wasn't an option. Sighing deeply, Freya reached down and picked him up almost tenderly. She streaked through the trees, taking him back to her sanctuary. ***** Dayton's first waking thought was pain. It surrounded him, engulfed him and tore him apart. His last memory had been of pain too. A sharp agonising ache as the spikes had pierced his body and then nothing but blackness. "You're awake." The feminine voice sounded bored, slightly irritated. It was enough to force him to open his eyes and turn his head slowly to the side to see the woman he hated more than anything peering down at papers in her hands. His first instinct was to launch himself at her but he was as weak as a newborn baby, helpless before her. Fury burned at his helplessness, red hot and pointless because he couldn't do anything about it. He had obviously been badly injured; his Were healing abilities struggling to counteract the damage. He ignored her and tried to look around his environment. He was in some kind of building, rustic but with enough modern touches. There was electricity for one, the faint purr of a generator outside. He was lying on a huge sofa. It was soft, with his body sinking into it as it almost wrapped itself around him. A soft blanket covered him and he was surprised to find that he felt clean. He must have been covered in blood after his fall. How he wasn't now was puzzling. "Where am I?" he asked, his throat scratchy due to dryness. The vampire rose, cold green eyes meeting his hate filled ones for a brief moment before she walked out of the room, returning with a glass of water which she held out to him. "My lair," she answered, a trace of amusement crossing her face as he growled at her. "Drink. Your body needs to replace the fluids. You lost a lot of blood." He was able to turn slightly, push himself weakly up onto to one elbow so he could reach for the glass. It was an effort to hold and drink from it but he made himself do so, refusing to accept any help from her. The last thing he remembered was scenting her, the fury at finding her within his grasp, the need to rip her throat out the dominating thought in his mind. It had made him careless and now he was weak and at her mercy. "I thought wolves were supposed to be intelligent," Freya remarked, moving to sit back down at the table and pick up more papers to look through. "You appear to be on the stupid side, managing to fall into a pit trap. I find that a little disappointing myself. I'd attributed more intelligence to you. I so hate being proven wrong." "Fuck you!" Dayton hissed, rage boiling through his blood at her words. She raised an eyebrow and met his gaze with a slight smile curving her lips. "Well, I did offer that service, dog. You didn't appear to be too interested at the time," she said sardonically. The rage blossomed, turned cold and hard as he glared at her. "Do you have any idea how much I hate you, vampire?" Soft tinkling laughter filled the room, her eyes warming with real amusement as she perched her chin on her hand and regarded him intently. "Is that supposed to make me feel bad in some way?" she asked curiously. "You have no concept of the number of people of all species who hate me, Dayton Alexander. One more makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. But I suppose if it makes you feel better then please feel free to hate all you want. It's a very potent emotion. You can justify all manner of awful deeds in the name of hate. I'm quite partial to it myself." "There isn't anything even remotely human about you, is there, Freya?" he bit out, surprised to find that her words actually shocked him despite everything he already knew about her. She had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. "Not for much longer," she breathed softly, something cold lurking in the back of her eyes, a secret hidden deep within. Her expression changed instantly, turning bored. "Perhaps you should sleep a bit more? The sooner you heal the sooner you can be gone from here. There isn't a lot of time left so it's best you go home as soon as possible." Despite everything, something froze inside Dayton, an alertness coming over him at her words. There was such a sound of finality to them, a hint of weariness hiding in the bored tone. His instincts latched onto it and he gaze sharpened. "What does that mean?" He hated himself for asking the question but he couldn't help himself. "Nothing that concerns you, wolf. Just heal and be gone. I can help the process if you'd like. My Ancient blood will heal you faster." Disgust surged through him and he bit out a curse. "Thanks but I'd rather die than drink your blood," he said hoarsely. Cold green eyes met his, wintry and hard, a darkness within them that almost made him back down. "How do you think you still live, dog?" she asked; her voice as cold and flat as her eyes. A Long Walk Home Ch. 09 Denial ripped across his face, his gorge rising at the very thought of it. He wasn't stupid, he knew what she said was true. She had to have fed him her blood for him to still be alive. His hatred hardened, grew, reached out and overwhelmed him completely. "When I heal I'm going to kill you," he promised; his voice low and guttural. "By the time you heal enough to try it will be a moot point, little doggie," she laughed, standing and scooping up her documents. "Seeing as you're not going to sleep anytime soon, I'll finish my work elsewhere. You're distracting me." She headed further into the back of the room, disappearing through a door he hadn't noticed before. Dayton cursed loudly, furious at his helplessness and the way she laughed at him. Her cryptic comments crashed through him and he tried hard to work out what she meant by them. Was she leaving the area? Everyone already thought she had. She was obviously working on something judging from the documents she was poring over. Was she tidying up last minute details to do with her finances before she vanished completely? The thought of her escaping without punishment was a knife to his heart. He knew he didn't stand a hope in hell of actually killing her but if he could at least hear her scream once before he died, it would be worth it. He ignored the fact that she had healed him, saved his life. To do so, she had forced her blood inside him, tainted him even more than she already had. He had no desire to thank her for that, only to curse her even more. It went against all his natural instincts for self preservation but he lay back down and closed his eyes. One thing Freya Eriksson was right about. He did need to sleep to heal faster. And the faster he healed the quicker he would be able to end this war with the stunningly beautiful vampire who had shredded his heart in a way no one else ever could. Freya leaned against the closed door, listening intently until she heard the sound of Dayton's deep slow breathing, signalling he was once more asleep. She had mixed a clear sleeping potion into his water, something that was practically undetectable. She had known the wolf wouldn't have voluntarily slept once he knew he was helpless before her and he needed the rest so his body could repair itself. She re-entered the room and walked to the sofa, standing over the sleeping man. The hate was gone from his expression though his mouth was tight with the strain of the damage done to his body even as he slept. He looked so helpless, so vulnerable that she couldn't resist reaching down and touching the long streak of silver that marred the perfection of his thick brown hair. What must it feel like to love so deeply, to care so much for another living being that a person's hair lost all colour at their passing? She loved Nors so much, Ashleigh and Liam too, but would their loss cause her hair to turn silver, her heart to break so badly that decades later it was still shattered in a million pieces? She wanted to be able to understand this man, this proud wolf who raged against the injustice of his life even as he believed he wanted it to end. He was quite frankly the most complex person she had ever come across, complicated and fascinating at the same time. His emotions were in turmoil, ripping him apart and the only way he could cope with them was to latch onto one and hold onto it with a tenacity that was breathtaking. That emotion was his hatred for her and while she admired the strength of it, the lethal, dangerous edge to it which she could relate to so well, she was also astounded to find that it cut her deeply, lancing against the cold heart beating in her chest. This wolf would never rest until she died. Maybe he would find the way out of his personal abyss when that happened but she doubted it. She'd been alive too long, seen and done too many things as she'd roamed the world. She knew the truth of it; hate solved nothing. It festered, twisted and corrupted a soul until there was nothing left but pain and emptiness. She was a living, breathing advertisement of that. "Don't let it claim you too," she whispered softly, her hand tracing the strong jaw beneath her fingertips. "Fight, Dayton. Fight with everything within you because you're so much better than I'll ever be. So much stronger, so much more deserving. Don't surrender to it. Remember what it was like to live, to laugh and love with your beautiful Faith. Live for both us and maybe, just maybe, I will have done one good thing in my life which made it all worthwhile." Words whispered across his sleeping mind, a soft feminine voice so full of anguish his heart ached at the sound. He couldn't hear the words, couldn't understand them but he knew the sound of agony when he heard it because it was an echo of what he felt. Every day since Faith had died he'd replayed the moment of her death at least once, his heart shattering all over again as he cradled her body in his arms and howled his grief into the forest air. Pain was something he understood, something he reacted to; instinctively. He tried to swim up from his drugged sleep, tried to reach out to the woman whose voice shed tears of agony though he knew her eyes were dry. But sleep claimed him completely, the voice whispering in his subconscious, his wolf howling mournfully as he surrendered to the blessed relief of unconsciousness. When Dayton next woke it was early morning and he could tell he'd slept the day and night through. The smell of food cooking wafted from the kitchen and his stomach rumbled. His body needed food almost as much as it needed liquid to replenish his blood loss. He shifted slightly on the sofa and found himself able to move a little bit easier, his weakness having receded a bit though his body still ached. A mug of coffee was on the table beside him and he looked at it suspiciously wondering if it was drugged. He'd tasted the slight aftertaste of some kind of drug in his water too late the day before. He didn't trust the vampire not to drug his coffee as well. "You needed sleep yesterday." Her voice drifted in from the kitchen. "Today you need to start moving around." He bit his lip not to respond to the cold amusement in her tone. Could she read his mind? He'd always believed vampires couldn't mess with Were minds, not without a great deal of difficulty. Taking a deep breath he threw off the blanket blinking in surprise when he found a pair of male silk pyjama bottoms covering his nakedness. Had she gone shopping while he was sleeping? Sliding his legs down to the wooden floor he noted that the material was a few inches too long for him. Understanding came a moment later. They would fit Nors perfectly. This retreat must have been one she shared with her brother at one time or another. "Bathroom's through the door, second on the left. Do you need any help?" "I'd rather piss myself first," he muttered under his breath, forcing his aching body to stand on unsteady feet. Tinkling laughter, full of genuine amusement sounded. "Well you can clean it up if you do. Being a nursemaid doesn't come naturally to me and there are some things I most definitely won't do." He bit off a curse, forgetting her enhanced vampire hearing. Her response made the corner of his mouth twitch a fraction. Imaging Freya Eriksson getting her hands dirty like that was actually amusing. For a second she almost sounded a little human. He pushed the thought away ruthlessly and made his way slowly but steadily in the direction she'd indicated. Once safely in the bathroom he looked down at his injuries, surprised to see how many there were on his upper torso alone. They were vivid red in colour, painful in the extreme but none of them appeared to have been life threatening which had to have been a miracle in itself. Locking the door he made his way over to the modern, stand alone shower and turned it on to a very hot setting. He used the toilet while he waited for the steam to begin to fog up the room. Stripping off the silk pyjama bottoms he eyed his legs critically. More puncture marks where the stakes had entered his body but it was the one on his left thigh that ached the most and drew his attention. The fatal one. He knew enough about anatomy to know that he must have punctured his femoral artery, that this one was the wound that had almost taken his life. It would have if the vampire outside hadn't acted quickly to save him. Stepping into the shower he examined his conflicting emotions over that. He knew what she'd had to do to stop him bleeding out. It turned his stomach just thinking about it and yet, if she hadn't done it he wouldn't be here now, standing in her shower, plotting ways to end her life. His wolf stirred, a faint howl echoing inside him as he pushed the animal down. His subconscious also stirred, a faint whispered sound of anguish drifting across his mind as he carefully washed himself. He didn't know what that sound meant or why his wolf wanted to surface and break their agreement. All he knew was he couldn't be distracted from his goal because it was all that was keeping him together at the moment, his need to take revenge on the woman who had saved his life. The thought was wrong, so very, very wrong and yet he stoked the need, the crippling need to find some surcease from the rage and agony ripping him apart. Hurting Freya Eriksson was the only way to do that. Killing her would be preferable but he knew that was a pipedream. She had taken everything from him, first Faith and then Rayne. His friend's betrayal was a wound almost as deep as the one Faith had left in his soul. Rayne's empathy for the vampire ripped through him, hurt him; brought tears to his eyes. Freya had taken the only other woman he had let into his life, stolen their friendship, his trust in her. She deserved nothing but pain in return and he was going to be the one who inflicted it. Determination on his face, he dried off carefully and looked at the clothing on the floor with distaste. He didn't want to be so vulnerable around the vampire. He guessed that she must have washed him, bathed him even while he lay unconscious. He would have been drenched in blood from his injuries and yet he'd been clean and dressed when he'd woken up. Just the thought of her hands on his naked flesh was enough to stoke his hatred higher. No woman had touched him so intimately since Faith. It was another black mark against the vampire, another score that needed to be settled as she took every last precious moment with his mate away from him. Opening the bathroom door he was about to try the other rooms, figuring if Nors had pyjama's here then he should have some clothes too. If he could find the Ancient's bedroom he could at least dress himself in proper clothes. He paused when he saw a chair resting directly against the wall from the door. On it was jeans, a shirt, some socks and a pair of boots. Oddly enough he wasn't that surprised. He should have been, because her actions called her a liar, about being a nursemaid not coming easily to her. Her actions so far clearly indicated that somewhere in her cold heart, some level of compassion lived, that she was capable of doing the right thing if she really wanted to. Again, he felt a moment of softening towards the vampire and again he pushed it ruthlessly away. He wouldn't be diverted by a small act of kindness. She was a vampire, the perfect vampire even. She was so coldly ruthless, so feral and dangerous it was a wonder she had attained Ancient status. He was sure it was only because Nors had protected her, reined in her worse excesses. Grabbing the clothes he retreated into the bathroom and dressed quickly, running his hands through his hair to tame its wildness. There was a brush on the counter beside the vanity mirror but he ignored it. It was a feminine brush, her brush and he wouldn't have it anywhere near him. The clothes were a bit big for him but they were adequate enough. At least the boots fit. Finally feeling as if he'd donned enough armour to face the waiting vampire, he left the bathroom and headed back into the main living area. Freya looked up from the papers in her hand and watched the wolf enter the room. His face was hard, determined and she had to fight down a smile as he reluctantly came towards the table and sat down in front on the plate of food waiting for him. She could hear his stomach rumbling, knew that he would hate every single mouthful he was forced to eat of his breakfast. She eyed him intently, taking in the slightly healthier pallor of his skin, his long wet hair, scruffy as it lay down his back in tangles. Males were so silly sometimes they actually amused her. She had to fight harder to hide her smile. Her hairbrush must have been a step too far for this proud wolf with hate in his eyes. She would find one of Nors' brushes and leave it out for him. He attacked the food quickly ignoring her as he forked bacon, sausages and eggs into his mouth. He paused long enough to drink the fresh coffee she'd prepared and take a bite out of the mountain of toast on a separate plate. He was tense, his big body taut as he ate. Dayton Alexander was a wild animal, full of rage and hate, in a world of agony because he was quite literally at the mercy of and reliant on the one person in the world that he detested most. It was simply heartbreaking to watch him. Stunned shock rocked through Freya as the thought danced across her mind. She dropped her eyes back to her documents, aware that she was running out of time and had so much to get done. Taking care of the wolf hadn't factored into her plans and it was delaying her timescale. Feeling empathy for him was also something she hadn't expected. It was confusing, unwanted. She couldn't falter now. "Who would have thought you could cook," he finally broke the silence between mouthfuls of food. There was grudging respect in his words, pulled out through gritted teeth. "I can do many things," she replied in a bored tone, not taking her eyes from the legal document in front of her. "Just because I don't eat doesn't mean I can't cook. I had a human lover once a few decades ago. He was quite talented in the bedroom for one so weak. I kept him around for a little while." She sensed him stiffen slightly and smiled. Most probably not the response he had expected. Neil had been talented in the bedroom, enough to make her gentle her ways a bit, to steal a few years of respite from the monster within. He hadn't touched her heart but he earned her respect enough that she had made the effort to at least simulate some caring. It hadn't lasted. It couldn't really, not when he realised she was incapable of loving him. But it had been pleasant while it had lasted and she did feel some fondness for the man who had tried to win her heart but had ultimately failed. "I don't know whether to pity the poor bastard or pin a medal on him," Dayton answered before he went back to eating. She laughed softly, raising her head to meet his gaze. It was a cold laugh, completely without warmth. "Most definitely pity him," she drawled softly. "I broke his heart and left him ruined for any other woman that came along in his life; as I've done with all my other lovers." Cold chips of blue ice bored into her, his expression so hard she was surprised his jaw didn't shatter under all that tension. "I think I'd rather pin the medal on him," he answered slowly. "At least he was brave enough to try even if he was foolish to do so. Any man who tries to win the heart of a cold hearted bitch like you most definitely deserves a medal." Freya smiled again, dropping her eyes back to her papers. "As you wish," she drawled smoothly, her tone once again bored. Dayton ate because his body needed it. He ignored how tasty the food was viewing it as simply fuel. He would take no pleasure out of something she'd done for him. His jibe about her old lover didn't appear to faze her at all, not judging from the smile on her face. She really didn't care that she'd ruined a man's life, just as she didn't care that she'd ripped his apart either. He retreated back inside himself, trying to block out her presence and the sweet scent of cherry blossom which wafted over him. He had almost finished eating when a cell phone rang and he listened intently as she picked up the device close to her hand. He expected her to leave the room but she took the call in front of him. "Did you get the last set of documents?" she asked without any unnecessary small talk. She listened for a moment and then spoke again. "I'm still reading through the last transfer papers. I was sidetracked a little. I should have them signed and back to you by the end of the week. That will conclude our business." Another short pause to assimilate the answer and then she ended the call and went back to her reading. His curiosity was piqued and he couldn't stop himself from asking the question that was suddenly burning for an answer. "You're leaving?" Did she stiffen slightly? Was that a slight chink in the cold vampire's armour? He must have imagined it because when her eyes met hers she even rivalled his coldness when looking at her. "Yes, I suppose you could say I am," she answered with a slight smile. There was something ominous about the way she said it, something hidden within the very words which he couldn't work out. His wolf stirred again and he almost growled in irritation at the animal's presence where it wasn't wanted. He expected Freya to look away and return to her reading but her gaze remained fixed to his and he was once more struck by just how stunningly beautiful she was. Beautiful as only a cold, marble statue could be. "Your mate must have been a pretty despicable creature," she suddenly said throwing him so off balance that for a moment he could only stare at her stunned before rage reared up inside him and his temper exploded. "Don't you ever speak about her," he growled hoarsely. "Not one fucking word! She was worth a million of you, Freya. Ten million! And you will not degrade her by speaking about her. Ever!" "Oh dear, did I pick at a scab there?" she laughed softly, her eyes glittering wildly, the deep green suddenly ringed by a fire of red that was disconcerting to look at. "And here was me thinking you were made of ice, Dayton. It would appear I was wrong." Her laughter pushed him over the edge and his hand tightened around the knife in his hand until his knuckles were white with the effort of holding back from throwing it at her. "Shut your fucking mouth!" he roared, his wolf howling wildly, his body quaking with rage. "Don't you like hearing the truth?" she asked tilting her head to the side with a mocking smile on her exquisite face. "I only asked because it strikes me that any woman who would expect her mate to bleed as you bleed for her must have been truly despicable while alive. I wonder if there's a Heaven up there, Dayton. Do you think your Faith is up there right now, riding the cock of some gorgeous angel while laughing at you down here, wallowing in your self pity, crying over a woman who turned to dust decades ago?" Agony, hot blinding agony raced through his veins. Reason left him, mindless, savage rage and hatred all that was left of him. The knife sailed through the air, deadly, lethal, intent on the throat of the woman who desecrated his last remaining memory of his mate, his beautiful, loving Faith. His aim was weak, his injuries still hampering him. She didn't move out of the way, waited for the knife to nick her skin, for her blood to flow. He'd hit her on the side of her neck, the knife burying deep though missing any major arteries. Not that it would have mattered because she was vampire. Only total decapitation would have ended her life. A Long Walk Home Ch. 09 Still she let him do it and they both knew it. She could have easily moved out of the way but she let him hurt her, let him do what he'd been craving to do from the first moment she had touched him in his gallery. Calmly, Freya reached up and removed the knife from her neck. She kept her gaze fixed on his, watched the emotions running unchecked across his face before he closed down again behind his hard mask. There was horror there, guilt laced with satisfaction, disbelief warring with pleasure. Part of him was glad he'd hurt her but another part of him, the real part of him loathed what he'd just done. He was a protector not an assassin. The very core of him as a man was to shield, to protect; to die for those under his care. It had been a calculated gamble to reach that part of him, to bring it to the surface in the cruellest way imaginable. Only by targeting the one thing he held dearest could she rip down his barriers, lay him totally bare to the emotions within him. He would hate her for eternity or however long he lived but he needed it, his soul cried out for it. And it appeared fate had placed her in the role to help him find it. It was almost ironic that her last act would be to save the soul of a damaged wolf, to drag him kicking and screaming to find the inner peace he so denied himself. It was fitting too that she would learn humility at the end of it all, that she would learn to care about something other than herself. Because Freya Eriksson did care. She'd cared from the very first moment that she'd tasted his blood against her lips, when she placed her lips against his and tasted the one man that had the power to steal her heart and hold it forever. It was almost liberating to finally admit it to herself. She had been denying it for days now but there was no hiding from it anymore. Dayton Alexander had done the impossible, he had stolen the one thing she had never dreamed could be stolen from her. It was too late for her now but it was comforting to know that at the end she'd learned what it was like to love, to truly love someone so much that she would do anything, be anything he needed her to be so he could heal. Dayton Alexander wasn't meant to be hers but there was someone out there, someone who could reap the benefits of her last acts, who could know the love that he had to give when he finally let Faith rest in peace and walked back into living as he was meant to. "I'll get you a fresh knife," she said coolly, rising from the table to head into the kitchen. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 10 Here's a little extra chapter this week. Real life has made it impossible for me to answer emails and comments as I've wanted to. So here's a treat to make up for it :-) Many thanks to mikothebaby for her editing skills and to the Guild and my Tweeps who keep me entertained. Enjoy! * Dayton sat shell shocked, disbelief coursing through him. He couldn't believe he'd lost control the way he had, that he'd actually thrown the knife at her. He couldn't believe that he was still alive; that she hadn't retaliated and taken his life as he'd tried to take hers. But the thing he couldn't believe the most was, how at the very last moment, a fraction of a second before the knife had left his hand, he'd changed the angle of his throw. He was proficient with knives, an expert even. His aim had been true even if slightly weak from his injuries. The knife was destined to bury itself deep in her throat, incapacitating her long enough to allow him to get a sharper one so he could detach her lovely head from her shoulders. And at the last moment he'd change his angle, enough to merely wound her without leaving her helpless. It was staggering. The hate he felt inside him twisted, turned around on itself until it was no longer focused on the vampire, but was directed at him. He'd almost killed Freya and what really was her crime? She had kissed him, shown some attraction to him and said a few uncomplimentary things about Faith. Hardly actions deserving the death he imagined for her. Those things had hurt him, wounded him deeply but to try and kill her? It was unconscionable. He was better than that, a former Beta who would have laid down his life to protect any member of his pack. He didn't recognise the man he had been a moment ago. Yes, Freya had hurt him but she had also saved his life, cared for him when he couldn't do so himself, cooked him food when she didn't eat, anticipated his every need in her own warped way. Rayne's words came back to him, his friend's appeal on behalf of the vampire. He knew now that Rayne could feel other's emotions, that it had been his pain which had first attracted her to him. She had sensed the same pain in the vampire, had been amazed that Freya could hide it so well behind her serene mask. He hadn't wanted to listen to it, hadn't wanted to admit that maybe the vampire did hurt inside, maybe she did understand some of how he felt. A pair of anguish filled green eyes filled his memory, raw pain in her voice as she damned him to hell. His gut twisted hard and he sucked in a deep breath, turning to look into those same green eyes which were still tinged with a fine circle of red. "Your knife," Freya remarked calmly, handing him a clean one so he could finish his breakfast, not that he could stomach another bite. "Finish it," she said in the same calm tone. "You need to be out of here by tomorrow morning at the latest. You need to regain your strength as quickly as possible." She walked back to her chair and sat down again as if nothing untoward had just happened. "Why the deadline?" he finally asked quietly, forcing himself to eat some more, knowing she was right, that he did need to regain his strength quickly. "You're interrupting my plans," she answered almost absentmindedly, turning a page in her hand to read the next one. "I have other things to do than care for a wolf who was too stupid to notice a trap." There was more to it than that. He didn't know how he knew but he did. His wolf was stirring with agitation, unhappy with his actions. Dayton bit into a slice of toast and took a sip of coffee to wash it down. "You're wrong," he said quietly, pushing his plate away, unable to eat any more. His words and sudden movement had Freya meeting his gaze again with a raised eyebrow. "About what?" Taking a deep breath, Dayton let it out slowly, swallowing hard. "About Faith," he said so quietly it was almost a whisper. "She would have kicked my ass if she could see me right now." His lips quirked slightly; a hint of warmth entering his eyes. "She had a temper that was so hot everyone ducked out of the way when she blew, me faster than anyone else because it was usually my fault." A true smile crossed his face, his expression softening completely. "She hated being looked after and I was a Beta. It was my role to protect everyone and she was the one person I wanted to protect the most. It drove her insane sometimes." "She sounds as if she was pretty feisty," Freya answered in a carefully neutral tone. "A strong mate for you." "She was. The best mate ever. She loved life, dived into every new experience without a care in the world. When she laughed my heart sang with joy, when she yelled my heart sang with joy, when we loved I stopped being a single person and joined with her completely, two people living in one soul for the barest fraction of a moment. She was my life." "And yet you hate her with every fibre of your being." Her statement stunned him. Denial ripped through him, his mouth opening automatically to protest but nothing came out. He stared at Freya, her words echoing around the room, crashing over him in a wave of raw agony. A choked sound ripped out of him, clawing its way out of his very soul. "She left me!" The words were issued on a raw, primal scream of anguish, guilt and harshness in the air as he admitted the one thing he'd hidden from himself for over fifty years. Freya watched him crumble, watched the sheer horror on his face as he gave voice to the truth he had hidden from himself for so long. Something cracked deep within her, something splintered as she watched a proud wolf disintegrate before her very eyes. Pain like nothing she had ever experienced before welled up inside her as her wolf bowed his beautiful head and began to sob such awful tears of anguish. She sat rooted to the spot, unable to move or offer him any comfort. He didn't want it from her anyway. She would only add to his anguish if she placed her hands on him at that moment. Instead of going to him she forced her limbs to move, retrieved the dishes silently from the table and took them into the kitchen. Leaning against the wall, hidden from the man in the other room, she closed her eyes tightly and wept silent tears with him, her heart breaking at his anguish. To love was to suffer, to feel nothing but pain and misery. For two thousand years she'd done this to her brother, broken Nors' heart over and over again with her actions. She would do so again but it would be the last time he would ever have to suffer the misery she put him through. If she could only tell him that she understood now, how sorry she was for every tear she had ever caused him to shed over her. If he only could know that just once she had known the same anguish, the same unrelenting torture of knowing someone she loved was slowly killing themselves, slowly wilting under the pressure of emotions they had hidden from for so long. Listening to Dayton cry, seeing the agony she had put on his face by making him face up to what he'd been hiding from for so long, was the cruellest punishment ever, one that would haunt her until her dying day. But she had to do this for him, had to drag him back to living no matter what it cost her personally. It would only hurt for a short period of time. She could endure it. He had stopped weeping by the time she returned to the room, a cup of coffee in both hands. Her face was as serene as ever, her gaze sweeping over the destruction written across his face. "She couldn't help it," she said quietly. "I'm sure Faith would have preferred to remain with you rather than leave the mortal world as early as she did." He took a deep breath, kept his gaze averted from hers even as he reached for the proffered coffee. "I know," he answered hoarsely, amazed at the weight that felt lifted from his shoulders. "Your heart hasn't been ready to face it, Dayton. That is why it has taken you so long to admit to your feelings. You can't heal until you admit to the hate, understand the foolishness of it and let Faith go. She is dust. You can deny it all you want but it doesn't make it any less true. Faith is dead and she is never coming back. Accept it." Dayton turned his eyes to hers, was once more struck by the red ring of fire around her irises. He knew he had just humiliated himself in front of the one person who couldn't even begin to understand what a true emotion was. And yet she'd said all the right things, pushed through his very last barrier until he was raw with no place left to hide. If she was so unfeeling then how could she know what to do? He wanted to hate her for it, strove to find that bitter emotion he'd held so tightly to before, but he couldn't find it. It was as if his tears had washed away every bitter emotion he'd felt for the last fifty years. Instead of hate he actually found himself wanting to thank her. From the moment she'd entered his life she had pushed him relentlessly one way or another. Because of her he had returned to the pack, begun the slow reintegration with his family and his people. Because of her he was alive when he should now be dead. Because of her he didn't hate Faith any more for leaving him. He could accept that it was just a horrendous accident; that his beautiful mate had laughed and loved with such wild abandon, that she had given everything to him in the time that they'd had together. Because of Freya Eriksson he could finally let his Faith go as his mate would have wanted him to. He could finally start to look towards the future and maybe hope to find someone new to share his life with. "Why?" Something danced across her face, an emotion so fleeting that he didn't have time to catch what is was before her mask slipped into place. "Call it my apology, for taking that which you did not give freely," she answered before rising to leave the retreat. "You should rest some more, Dayton. You can use Nors' room. It's the first on the left through the door." The vampire slipped out into the early morning sunshine leaving him alone with his shaken emotions still whirling wildly through his mind. Dayton was confused by her response, still feeling raw as he made his way to the bedrooms, heading towards the room that belonged to her brother. The door directly ahead caught his attention and he wondered if it was Freya's. Just what was her room like? Who was the real Freya Eriksson? A person's private space reflected their personality more truthfully than anything else did. He was walking towards the closed door before he realised what he was doing, his wolf vocal in a way it hadn't been in a very long time. Reaching out he turned the knob and let the door fall open. Shock rippled through him causing every muscle to tense in his body. His mouth gaped open and he fought to breathe as he stared at row after row of his paintings all one on top of the other. There was barely an inch of wall space between them. They were all pieces from his showing in Japan years ago. It had been his best exhibition, a large number of his paintings attracting buyers. From the looks of things Freya Eriksson had been the one who had purchased most of them. Seeing them all together in light of his recent emotional backlash, he could easily see the pain and suffering within each painting, the harshness of each brush stroke like a knife wound. His heart turned over in his chest, his thoughts in turmoil. Why did she have all these painting? Why did she surround herself with such misery? Was Rayne correct all along? Was Freya Eriksson really wounded so badly? His artwork seemed to say yes and yet her calm demeanour said otherwise. The ring of fire around her eyes concerned him too. He didn't know why he cared at all but he did. There was something so badly wrong here that his wolf was reacting to it, his protective instincts kicking in when they shouldn't. Not for a vampire. He was backtracking to the living area, his body aching with the exertion he was putting it under. He needed to rest, needed to gather his strength; but he was suddenly and perplexingly desperate to see Freya, to talk to her, ask her some questions. He threw open the door and found her sitting on the steps of the porch. He stopped in surprise, blinking slowly. He had expected her to be miles away and yet she hadn't left the area. "You should be resting," she said quietly not turning to look at him. "You need to leave tomorrow. Do I have to drug you again?" He growled loudly before moving to sit carefully on the step beside her. "I thought you'd realise by now that I don't like being made to do things against my will." "Sometimes a man needs a little push in the right direction. He can be pigheaded and stubborn and not always know what is best for him." Her head tilted to the side and he was once more staring at her eyes and their abnormal glow of red which appeared stronger in the morning sunlight. "What does it mean; your eyes?" Long dark lashes swept down hiding her gaze before they fluttered open again and she met his. "Nothing important. Nothing that need concern you." Her evasiveness caused more unease to settle deep within him. "That's not an acceptable answer, Freya. Not one I'm willing to accept. You've just ripped me to shreds emotionally. I deserve the truth after what you've put me through." Pain flickered in her eyes, the first honest emotion he'd witnessed since he'd woken up in her retreat. "Everyone has their demons, Dayton. You don't have a monopoly on pain and suffering. Everyone selfishly believes that their pain is stronger, that it hurts deeper than anyone else's. The truth; it's all relative. Each person's pain is as strong or as weak as they allow it to be." There was such hopelessness in her voice that he reached out and caught a lock of thick brown hair, watching the sun glint off the blonde and red streaks hidden within it. It was instinctive to reach out to someone in pain. "Tell me your pain, Freya. I told you mine. Let me hear what demons haunt you." It was so tempting, so overwhelming to feel him sit so close to her, to have him touch her voluntarily. Freya wanted to reach out to him, to succumb to his words, to the hypnotic sway in his voice that promised her he would listen to every word she said. No one had ever really listened to her. Nors had tried but their timing had always been wrong. "I'm afraid that if you're still here tomorrow I will kill you," she answered honestly, her gaze never wavering from his. Her answer surprised him but it didn't frighten him. "Why would you do that?" "Because I wouldn't be able to stop myself," she whispered, a catch in her voice as her guards tumbled down around her. "The hunger is crippling. It's tearing me up inside until all I can think about is feeding." The red fire around her eyes, it all suddenly fell into place. Rayne had mentioned once that when a vampire went hungry for too long their eyes began to glow red. It was a highly dangerous situation because their humanity was lost and they devolved, effectively turning Rogue. The only solution was for their peers to put them down as Weres put down a rabid wolf or cat. Ashleigh's words came back to him too, her certainty that Freya would never return, that Nors believed his sister had left to find some way to die. His conversation with Freya when he'd asked if she was leaving and her cryptic response. It all fell into place and his wolf howled a mournful sound so loud it was all he could hear for a long moment. "What have you done?" he whispered, horrified as her eyes glowed a little redder. "I'm tired, Dayton. So very tired of it all," she answered quietly a tear rolling down one perfect cheekbone. "Tired of the memories, of the endless faces of lives I've ruined, lives I've taken. My very first act as a vampire was to slaughter an entire family. I would have killed them to the very last member if Nors hadn't spirited the children away. There was still more than enough for me to drink from, to bathe in their blood and feel their pulses beat their last. It was horrifying but it was glorious too. Heaven and Hell all rolled into one." More tears fell, silent and yet screaming of an agony that ripped her soul apart. "I'm a monster and you should get as far away from me as possible, Dayton." He was horrified at her words, imagining the destruction she had caused and yet he could see her pain, see the self hatred deep within her and knew that if she could go back she would do things differently. But she couldn't go back and she couldn't go on, not until she let go of the past the way she had forced him to let go of his. "Let it go, Freya," he said firmly tightening his grip in her hair and pulling her face close to his. "The past can't be changed, you've shown me that. But we can learn from it and move forward. You just need to try." "I can't," she whispered tremulously. "Not anymore. It's too late for me, Dayton, but it isn't too late for you. Leave while you can. I'll call The Council before I degenerate too far. They'll send a clean up crew and take care of me. You should be as far away as possible before that happens." His wolf howled furiously, something broke deep within him and he was amazed that there was anything left inside him still to break. He had thought he wanted this woman dead and yet he couldn't walk away from her, couldn't leave her to self destruct the way she was intending. Fight! The word resounded through his head and he heard it in a feminine voice, a tortured voice that had urged him to fight when he lay in a drugged sleep. He'd heard it in Freya's voice. "Fight, damn you!" he growled harshly a second before he ground his lips hard against hers in a kiss so ruthless it brought cuts to both their lips. "Fight, Freya," he whispered against her mouth. "Don't give in." For some reason it was suddenly crucial that he save her as he hadn't been able to save Faith. His wolf demanded it. The man he was demanded it. Somehow he had to reach into the soul of this broken woman and will her to fight. Her sobs wrenched through the morning air, long, wracking sounds that made his wolf howl continuously and his own eyes fill with tears. He kissed her through her sobs, brushed his lips against her wet cheeks over and over again seeking to give her comfort, trying to imbue some of his strength to her. Letting her know, through a wolf's touch that someone cared enough to fight for her. With a tortured groan he ripped himself away from her and forced his aching body into the house, grabbing the first sharp knife he could find. He didn't hesitate, didn't stop to think about what he was doing. He drew the blade across the side of his neck quickly and forced her mouth to him. "Feed, damn you! Fight!" Dayton's blood filled her mouth, her stomach cramping in agony as the scent of him overcame her. Freya swallowed hard, savouring his precious life's blood and began to pull deeply, ravenously. It had been months since she had fed. For years she had hurt herself, holding off feeding for as long as possible, until the agony was so crippling it was an unendurable torture, a fitting punishment for what she was. Years of planning, waiting for the right moment, the time when she would know it would be right to die. As she had known when she had stared into a pair of anguish filled blue eyes that had seen deep inside her and branded her the monster she truly was. Long torturous months of slowly starving to death engulfed her. It had been excruciating, terrifying, and yet she had persisted, intent on finally having an end to her suffering. Now she glutted herself unable to stop the pull against his neck. When his wound closed she sank her fangs deep into his tender flesh, feeling him stiffen at her bite and then moan softly as she continued to feed. It was only when he fell limply against her that reason took over and her heart stopped for an instant. A Long Walk Home Ch. 10 "No!" she moaned ripping her fangs from him, catching him as he fell backwards, his face completely ashen. She could hear his heart beating but it was weak, his pulse barely flickering in the side of his neck. Tearing into her wrist she pressed it urgently against his lips, fear rushing through her as she forced her blood into his mouth. She had taken too much from him and he was already dangerously weak from his injuries. Her heart thudded painfully as he moaned and swallowed, taking more of her blood inside him. His colour improved, enough for the danger to have passed. For the second time in days, Freya picked Dayton up and carried him into her home. When consciousness returned Dayton found himself lying in a large bed, Freya lying width wise down at the bottom, watching him intently. The first thing he noticed was the red was no longer ringing her irises; the second was the concern on her face mixed with a healthy dose of irritation. "I thought you were cured of your death wish," she said dryly moving to sit up before she crawled to the top and lay beside him. She rested her head on her bent arm, her green eyes never wavering from his. "You bit me," he answered slowly turning onto his side to face her. "I'm still alive so I guess that answers how you healed me before." He knew how Weres could become immune to a vampire's venom. She had to have mixed her blood with his to heal him. He was surprised his disgust at the thought didn't surface as it had done earlier. "I should have killed you," she mused with a frown on her face. "The belief has always been that time is required for your other injuries to heal before it would be safe to bite you. Though I suppose we don't really know of the exact timing required for it to be truly safe. Both Loretta and Ashleigh had more than one potential fatal injury to them. You had only the one. Maybe that's why you're still breathing." Dayton found himself fascinated with the open expression on her face. There was no sign of the cold, closed off woman he was used to seeing. Oddly enough she looked younger which was ridiculous considering she was over two thousand years old. "Why would you do such a thing?" she finally asked; her eyes full of curiosity and confusion. There was something quite endearing about the expression on her face, something so soft and approachable about her, that he found himself reaching out and once more catching a lock of her multi coloured hair. "You do keep telling me I'm a stupid wolf," he remarked lightly, his lips twitching slightly as hers did. "Why did I pass out if it wasn't the venom?" Another frown crossed her exquisite face, fear clouding her suddenly expressive eyes. "I'm Ancient. We can survive for months without feeding. It had been too long since I'd last fed. I took too much blood and you were already dangerously low from your own injuries. You'll find your strength will take a while to return." He let out a slow breath. "That explains why I feel so tired. Was it enough for you?" Freya sat up swinging her legs from the bed. "For now," she answered quietly. "Rest, I'll bring you something to eat and drink. It will help you regain your strength quicker." She was almost at the door when he stopped her, his gaze intent on her back. "Did I risk my life needlessly, Freya?" She turned to meet his gaze, feeling so vulnerable with all her barriers down. Only Nors and Ashleigh had ever fought for her before. The wolf before her had not only fought for her he'd been willing to sacrifice himself even if he hadn't realised the foolishness of his actions. There was warmth in his eyes that had never been there before. She could still feel the brand of his lips against hers. "I will fight," she whispered seeing a strange emotion ripple across his beautiful face. For a moment she thought it was pride but she shook the thought away. Why would Dayton Alexander feel pride in her? Only hours before he had buried a knife in her neck. It would be foolish of her to read anything into his expression just because his caring instincts as a Were Beta were once more coming to the fore. Dayton lay back against the bed feeling so exhausted that he had to close his eyes. His body felt as if he'd gone ten rounds with every Beta in his Pack, his emotional state was less easy to analyse. He had just run a gauntlet of emotions so intense it was a wonder he'd survived them. Letting Faith go had been pure agony and yet it had also been a blessed relief too, a fact he still felt a bit of guilt over though he knew it was time. Finally releasing the last of his emotions, acknowledging that she was his past had freed something deep within him, something his wolf had been trying to tell him for years but he'd ruthlessly suppressed the animal. His wolf's recent activity had oddly been a comfort to him, as if it was lending him the strength to meet his emotional crisis. He'd forgotten what it was like to embrace the animal, to join with it and be one instead of segregating their time into separate entities. He felt tears prick his closed eyelids. He had missed his wolf and was only now just realising how much. Swallowing against the lump in his throat he forced himself to think about Freya and his reaction to her. The violence of his emotions towards her had been unconscionable. He was not the man who had come looking for her, full of hate and red hot fury. He had never been that man and he couldn't understand why he had felt such a need to protect himself from her. His need to make amends was what called to him now. She had saved him both physically and emotionally and he needed her forgiveness though he was too much of an emotional wreck at the moment to simply ask for it. All he could do was try to help her as she had helped him. If he could teach her to forgive herself, to take a chance at living a better life, to fight for herself, then he would stay by her side until she believed in herself. Maybe then he could ask her to forgive him too. His wolf liked the sound of that, rumbling contentedly deep within him. His animal's agreement soothed him, told him he was on the right path. The sound of the bedroom opening a moment later had him wearily opening his eyes to look up into the exquisite face of the most beautiful woman he could ever remember seeing. "A light soup you can drink," Freya said softly, cupping the back of his head and pressing the warm liquid to his lips. He drank slowly his eyes intent on the softness of her lips, the warmth of her eyes as she patiently fed him the liquid food. She replaced it with some cold water, smiling when he shot her a questioning look. "No drugs this time," she smiled. "You don't need them." She was right because no sooner had she rested his head back against the pillow than his eyes were closing and he was slipping into a deep dreamless sleep. Freya watched him sleep, a deep aching tenderness filling her soul as she reached out and traced his jaw lightly. He was so beautiful, so proud and strong. He probably viewed his breakdown as a weakness but she viewed it as a strength. He could only heal by confronting his emotions. He had done so and now he was mending at an almost phenomenal rate. She was certain that the worst was over for him. Soon her wolf would be ready to leave and she would have to make a decision on what she was going to do with her life. She had promised him she would try. She just wasn't sure if she had his strength. But she would try because he asked it of her, because he was willing to fight for her even if he didn't feel for her what she felt for him. Silently she left the room and picked up her cell phone, hitting the speed dial. "Freya?" Nors' voice was thick with emotion; fear and concern the predominant ones. "Hello, Nors," she whispered, fighting back tears at just the sound of his voice. "Are you alright? Where are you? I'll come and get you. We've been worried out of our minds, Freya. Liam wouldn't stop crying. Ash thinks we're never going to see you again. Just tell me where you are." Sweet Nors, so demanding and so protective. Her brother never ceased to amaze her. Despite the displeasure creeping under the relief at hearing from her, she knew it was just his concern for her. "I need some time," she said quietly. "I just wanted you to know that I'm okay. I have a...friend staying with me at the moment. I'm not alone." His voice was gruff when he next spoke, his emotions close to the surface. "I didn't mean what I said before. You know that, don't you? I love you, Freya. We love you and you'll always have a place in our family." Her tears overflowed, his love shining through with every word. "I know," she whispered tremulously. "I love you too so very much. Tell Ash and Liam that too. I'll be home as soon as I can." "Freya, are you sure you're okay?" he asked gently. "This friend you're with, is it anyone I know? I can still come and get you if you change your mind." Wiping at her tears she sat straighter and took a deep breath. "You've picked me up too many times, Nors. You have your family now and it's time I learned to deal with my own mess and work it out on my own. I'll call again soon and I'm fine, really I am. Don't worry about me so much. It's time you lived your own life." There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long moment and then Ashleigh's voice. "Freya? What did you just say to Nors? He's laughing and crying at the same time." "He's just learned his sister has finally decided to grow up," she said with a small smile on her face. "He's probably in shock. I have to go now. Kiss Liam for me, Ash, and don't let Nors worry too much. I'll be in contact again soon." She hung up before any more could be said and finished wiping her cheeks dry. Then she headed back into Dayton's room and lay down beside him. She felt emotionally drained, tired on a level she'd never felt tired before. Caring was an exhausting experience and she was yet to see the benefits of it. Watching Nors and Ashleigh together showed her that it was worth it. Now it was her turn to find out if it really was. She closed her eyes and let sleep claim her, all the while conscious of the wolf at her side. Dayton rolled over and wrapped his arm around the soft, tantalising woman sleeping beside him pulling her tightly against his chest. Sleepily he breathed against the side of her neck, his lips brushing the soft skin lightly so as not to wake her. His wolf rumbled its pleasure, his body reacting instinctively to her closeness. His tired mind began to climb out of the thick fog of sleep and he knew it wasn't Faith in his arms. The thought didn't trouble him as it once had. Faith was gone and there would always be a special place in his heart for her. He would always love her and miss her but it was time to move on, time to start living again. He knew who he was holding so tightly. There was no mistaking that wonderful scent of cherry blossom that teased him. Her scent had always teased him, right from the very first moment he had seen her. It was what had thrown his barriers up even tighter than they had been before. Clinging onto his memories of Faith had demanded it of him which was why he had reacted so negatively to her. He slowly opened his eyes, shifting slightly so he could prop his head on his hand and gently brush Freya's hair from her face. She truly was exquisite to look at, so soft and vulnerable in her sleep. He smiled slowly catching a lock of her hair and letting it fall through his fingers. He knew she would hate being considered vulnerable. She viewed herself as a monster and maybe a part of her truly was just as all vampires were capable of being. The past couldn't be changed but the future could. All she needed was the right trigger, the right incentive to want to be different. Finding Freya's trigger was what was important and he was committed to helping her do that. His fingers trailed lightly across her jaw, her skin like silk against his fingertips. It felt strange touching a woman's skin after denying himself so long, strange and intoxicating at the same time. His wolf was certainly enjoying this closeness to her, as was the man. Freya stirred, turning in her sleep, instinctively seeking the warmth of his body. Her hand came up to his chest as she cuddled into him, making his heart start to race and his body tighten with need. He couldn't stop his hand threading into her hair, tilting her face up as he lowered his head and gently brushed his lips against hers. He had kissed her earlier, used touch as a way to anchor her as she fell apart outside. His kisses then had been way of grounding her, a way to reach inside her and pull her out of her destructive thoughts. His kiss now was the kiss of a man who wanted the woman lying in his arms. It was his first real kiss in over five decades and it felt amazing. Freya opened her eyes, feeling warm heat beneath her fingertips and hard lips moving sensually over hers, teasing her, enticing a response that she had no hesitation in returning. Her shocked brain tried to assimilate that Dayton was kissing her but her body overrode her surprise to press against him and kiss him back with a need that was almost overwhelming. His hand tightened in her hair and he rolled her onto her back, his mouth becoming more urgent as her response ignited a fire deep within him which was quickly raging out of control. Her taste was heady, intoxicating and he pressed his erection against her as his tongue swept into her mouth and tangled with hers in a hot, erotic dance. He'd forgotten how wonderful kissing could be, how hot and sensual it was to taste a woman's mouth so intimately, to press her softness against his aching hardness as he tasted every inch of her. Freya's response was total. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty as her fingers burrowed into his hair and she kissed him back as if starving for the contact. She was full of hunger, full of need and passion and he realised instantly that he'd found her trigger, what she needed to survive, what everyone needed to survive. Freya Eriksson needed touch. She needed someone to see past the mask she presented to the world and truly see the woman beneath it. It was what she had craved, what she'd been searching for all her life and had never found. Freya needed someone to love her, despite her past, despite her faults. She was starving for affection, for tenderness, for love. Dayton pulled his mouth from hers, his wolf growling loudly, demanding to be heard after decades of being silenced. He stared into her beautiful green eyes, shock rippling through him as he finally listened to his animal, finally heard what it had been trying to tell him but he'd been too wrapped up in his misery to hear. Freya Eriksson had been waiting for him! He was her trigger, he was what she needed. And she had been what he had needed, what he had spent the last fifty years craving. The woman in his arms, this erratic, volatile vampire was his new mate. His wolf howled in ecstasy as he stared down at her in stunned shock. He knew it was possible to find a second mate, that there were instances of it happening in the past though they were few and far between. Most wolves went Rogue after losing their mate, unable to bear the loss of half of their souls. Most who didn't; were older when their mates passed so they spent their remaining years alone. But Faith had been young when she'd died and he had been strong enough to hold onto his sanity, to survive her passing though he'd done a piss poor job of it. He was young enough and had the capacity to love again and he found Freya firmly embedding her way into his heart right beside the spot Faith lived. It was a different kind of love from what he'd felt for Faith. He could feel the difference. Faith had been his youth, his wild streak; their love almost innocent in its beauty. Freya was his future, his salvation. The love blossoming for her was intense, deep, taking over the bigger part of his heart but that was only right because she was alive, vibrant and beautiful in his arms. "What?" she whispered concern crossing her face as he stared down at her. Dayton kissed her softly, resting his forehead against hers as his body hummed with joy and he fought to calm his racing heart. He should have felt terrified at this turn of events, he should have been running a mile from her but he wasn't. His mate was a vampire. She was indestructible. He would never have to suffer her loss as he had suffered Faith's. But he would have to go carefully with her. Freya may crave to be loved but she wasn't used to accepting it. She was fragile emotionally, still learning who she was deep down inside. He would have to ease her into his life, convince her that she deserved the happiness she wanted so badly. His wolf didn't even argue with him about it, agreeing with him in an instant. For the first time in such a long time, Dayton had a goal to reach for, someone to live for. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world. He stole another kiss, a long searing one that turned his blood to fire and brought the sweetest of moans from Freya's lush lips. Then he rolled off her and lay on his back smiling. "Still feeling a bit on the weak side," he belatedly answered her question, feeling her eyes on him the entire time. It had the desired effect, sending her scooting off the bed like a shot. The truth was he felt more than able to get up and fix himself something to eat, but his vampire had displayed a need to care for him. She said she was no good as a nursemaid but when it came to him she was a natural at it. She was already showing her reaction to the mating pull though she probably had no idea what was happening to her. Letting Freya experience her softer side was the way to go. Letting her explore her need to comfort, to care for another person was critical to her forgiving herself. He didn't need a woman to wait on him hand and foot but it was about her needs at the moment. Once she was more balanced, once she was accepting him as part of her life, then he would show her just what he needed. The passionate, fiery love of a vampire. Untamed, wild and so very, very sensual. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 11 Once again my thanks to mikothebaby for editing for me. It is greatly appreciated. Enjoy! * "I'm never going anywhere with you again!" The tart words hung in the confines of the car making Caleb Cullen's lips twitch in amusement as he stole a quick side glance at his grumpy mate. She'd been shooting acidic little barbs ever since Rafe had called to tell her the babies had arrived and it was all he could do not to burst out laughing at her rare display of ill humour. "I believe you were the one who wanted to visit Shanghai," he reminded the petite redhead sitting at his side, his tone dry as he struggled to contain his laughter. "Six months ago," she muttered under her breath, her arms folded over her chest tightly. "You wanted to visit the Seychelles first, and then the Dominican Republic. If we'd gone to Shanghai when I wanted to then we would have been home and I wouldn't have missed the birth of the babies. Again!" This wasn't the first time she'd missed the birth of new additions to her family. They had been in Europe when Millie had had her children, arriving late to greet her nieces. Now her nephews were here and she'd missed that too. Caleb sighed deeply and pulled the car over as soon as they'd entered the seclusion of the forest, unsnapping her seatbelt and his and pulling her firmly onto his lap so she was sitting astride him. He ground his mouth hard against hers, holding her tightly until she softened under his touch and leaned into him, surrendering to his kiss. "Mmm, doesn't that feel so much better?" he breathed against her lips, tangling his hands in her riot of red curls that flowed like silk through his fingers. Her soft sigh washed against his mouth and he kissed her again, more gently this time, savouring the sweetness of lips that drove him insane with need every time he tasted them. "I'm being a horror, aren't I?" she whispered when he let her up for air. Apologetic lavender eyes connected with his and he smiled lovingly at the exquisite creature in his arms. "Luckily for you I'm addicted to horrors," he teased gently, earning him one of her beatific smiles that set his heart racing a hundred miles an hour and made him feel as if he was falling even more in love with her than he already was. As if that were remotely possible. Rhianna Armand was his world. She was everything to him just as he was to her. His heart beat in time with hers, his breath matched the pace of hers. She was the other half of his soul and he wouldn't have it any other way. "Shouldn't we talk about what's really upsetting you?" he asked gently, playing with a long strand of curls while trying to ignore her damp heat pressing against his rigid body. He wanted her constantly, could never sate his need for her beautiful body no matter how many times he loved her and he loved her at every possible opportunity he could get. She was totally addictive and she was his and he wanted to take her right now but he knew she had other things on her mind. "Later," she evaded turning her head to look out the window. He cupped her chin and brought her gaze back to his. "You've been avoiding it for five years, Annie," he said firmly, refusing to allow her to duck away from the topic again. "You can't hide from this, sweet one. You have to talk to Rafe. It's only blind luck that Gard hasn't revealed his presence to the wolves so far. You know he's fascinated with the pack, that he's spending more and more time watching over them." Rhianna frowned deeply biting hard at her lip. She knew what Caleb said was true and yet she still couldn't find the right moment or the courage to talk to her brother, to reveal to him secrets that would rock his world and possibly rip it apart. She loved Rafe so much, relied on him to always be there for her. What if he couldn't cope with the truth? What if he saw Gard as somehow replacing him in her affections? How did she tell her Were brother that her soul contained another soul which was so old, so powerful that she eclipsed all other beings that walked the planet? "I'm frightened, Caleb," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. His heart melting, he cradled her face tenderly wiping at the wetness starting to run down her cheeks. Her eyes were both ancient and young at the same time, the knowledge and strength of a vampire queen battling against the fears and insecurities of a young woman who was terrified of losing the only blood relation she had left in her world. "I'm with you, Annie," he said soothingly. "I will always be with you. And so will Rafe. Trust in him, sweet one, as you always have. Use some of that wisdom to always do the right thing, the wisdom you've given to everyone else so selflessly. You know you mean the world to Rafe. You know he is strong enough to accept this." Her arms tightened around his neck and she buried her head on his shoulder, emotions running rampant through her. She wanted to believe Caleb so badly, wanted to believe that everything would be okay but the fear lingered, though it did lessen a bit. "I love you, Caleb," she finally sniffed, kissing his neck lightly before sitting back up. "As I love you," he breathed softly kissing her trembling lips tenderly until he felt her gain some control over her emotions. "So, are we going to meet our nephews or what?" he teased against her lips, shivering in pleasure as her soft laughter filled the car and she climbed off his lap and settled herself back into her seat. "Drive on, James!" she laughed with a haughty tone to her voice and he rolled his eyes in mock exasperation as he put the car back into gear and headed towards the compound. She hadn't agreed to talk to Rafe but at least she wasn't fixating on her concerns anymore. Her excitement at meeting her nephews was the only thing on her mind and that was what he'd wanted to achieve. They could talk about the other matter again later. He'd convince her the time was right to talk to her Were brother so her Vampire brother didn't have to suffer anymore. Caleb's relationship with Gard was complicated in the extreme. In his first incarnation as Callain, he had been King to Anakatrine's Queen and his brother had been The Guardian. It had been clearer cut then, though still a volatile mix. Gard had protected Anakatrine as a child, had been ready to lay down his life for her. He was her brother and her Guardian and he took his role very seriously. Then she had matured and fallen in love with Callain and Gard's role had changed subtly as he'd had to take a backward step to his new King. They had clashed in their joint goal to protect Anakatrine but Gard had always had to concede in the end because Callain outranked him. Their roles were technically reversed this time around and confusion reined between himself and Gard. The oldest living vampire had survived his sister and her mate, walking the planet endlessly waiting for Anakatrine to be reborn as he knew she would. The complications came in the timeline involved, and the change in the whole Vampire hierarchy now. Caleb had been born almost two thousand five hundred years ago. Everyone believed he was the most Ancient vampire still alive. They were wrong. Gard was over six thousand years old and by today's standards should have been the most revered, most powerful vampire in creation. But no one knew about him except for him and Rhianna, even Demetri had no knowledge he was still alive. Gard had kept himself hidden over the years, tirelessly waiting for his sister to be reborn. In that time he had found Caleb and chosen to Sire him, not realising that he was Siring Callain, his long lost King. That was another added complication because modern day Vampires were supposed to yield to their Sires. Technically Caleb should yield to Gard in all things but he was Callain too, a hundred times more powerful than his Sire and mated to Rhianna, the living embodiment of Anakatrine's soul. Caleb would yield to no one with the exception of the exquisite woman at his side and even then he would fight her if it was required, if it meant the difference between her life and death. He could bend for her and did often because it gave him unimaginable pleasure to see her smile but he could stand against her too when she was being unreasonable or irrational even though it tore him apart to have her at odds with him. The modern world didn't need a King and Queen, not overtly anyway. The Vampire Council ruled over their kind and the new structure he'd set in place five years ago appeared to working much better than the old one had. So far there had been no need to ask the Ancient Council to intervene. To his mind that was the true indicator it was working. Mara kept them abreast on anything they needed to know about what was happening in The Council. Everything appeared to be running smoothly so Caleb had taken the opportunity of spending some much needed time alone with his mate. It wasn't his fault Rafe had decided to finally get Lacey pregnant at the same time, though he conceded that they could have come home a little sooner only he hadn't wanted their alone time to end. He knew they would be coming home to the thorny topic of Gard and the decision his Annie appeared incapable of making. It was so unlike her to procrastinate like this and a clear indicator of just how much distress it was causing her. She was so intent on her own distress that she was missing the signs of Gard's though. Not that his brother didn't conceal it from her ruthlessly. Gard was used to protecting her even if that meant protecting her from signs of his own unhappiness. But Caleb could see it every time he looked into lavender eyes that mirrored his mate's so perfectly. Despite all the complicated shit, the male jockeying for position in Rhianna's affections, he loved Gard and counted him as a member of his family as well as respected him for his unwavering loyalty towards his mate and his position of being his Sire. Granted, he would never tell him that but that didn't mean he didn't feel it. Or didn't see his suffering and could stand idly by and watch it. He pulled up outside Rafe's home and stifled down a laugh at how quickly Rhianna was out of the car and tearing up the steps. His gaze drifted left, met the eyes of the silent invisible man leaning against the side of the house. "About time you brought her home," Gard's voice rumbled deep inside his mind and he had to work hard not to smile at the petulant note that crept into his tone. "I suppose it's pointless asking you to let us get settled back home before you descend on us?" he asked as he got out the car and headed towards the house. "I'll follow you home." Caleb sighed and entered the house, smiling as he saw his mate wrapped in her brother's arms laughing and crying at the same time as they both talked over each other, saying hello, talking about the babies, reaffirming the tight bond they shared with each other. Rafe's eyes connected with his over his sister's head and he smiled a greeting. "Good to have you home, Caleb." "It's good to be home," Caleb answered realising that he had missed this a lot. Rhianna claimed they were pack members but it was an honorary membership rather than a true bond. They were in no way tied to Rafe by his Alpha bond but they were tied to him by something more precious, the heart of the little redhead currently in the Alpha's arms. It was a bond as strong, if not stronger than a mere Alpha bond. It was indestructible. His Annie just needed to believe in that. "So where are these boys of yours?" he asked giving into his need to extract his woman from her brother's embrace and hold her possessively to his side. He heard her slight sigh of exasperation though she laughed lightly at his silliness. He couldn't help it. He just didn't like seeing her in anyone else's arms, even if it was Rafe's. "Lacey won't let them out of her sight," Rafe laughed. "I swear they're going to spend the first few years of their life thinking the whole world consists of our bedroom." His tone was light and teasing with a hint of over protectiveness in it. Caleb was sure it wasn't just Lacey who wasn't in a hurry to have their sons out of their sight. He followed Rhianna and Rafe upstairs, pausing for a moment on the first floor to stare at one of the bedroom doors with a slightly puzzled expression on his face. He thought he could scent something different but it was faint and impossible to grasp. Shaking his head slightly he inhaled again and whatever it was he'd scented was gone. He continued upstairs to meet his new nephews. Rayne felt her heart thump painfully hard in her chest as she watched the majestic vampire continue on his way upstairs. She had just left her room when Rafe's sister had arrived and something about the petite redhead had set her on edge. For the briefest of moments she had felt she knew the other woman but she'd never laid eyes on her before. It had unsettled her enough to shadow herself but even then she hadn't felt completely safe. She'd blended into a dark alcove and peered out nervously as Rafe had greeted his family. When the male vampire had paused a few feet away from her she'd held her breath as he'd scented the air. She was sure he would turn his head enough and see her, positive that he could see right through her shadowing abilities as Gard could. Then he had turned and continued on his way, leaving her knees shaking with fear as she watched him go. The same feeling of 'knowing' wafted from the male. She knew who he was though she had never met him. He was Caleb Cullen, the most powerful vampire in history, with the exception of Gard that was. She was still fixated on him when he suddenly paused on the third landing and looked over the banister directly at her hidden spot. He was as beautiful as Gard, aristocratic in a Grecian manner, his eyes a deep golden brown, his matching hair flowing around him like a silky curtain. He was huge and imposing, lethalness and a hot sensuality oozing from his pores. But underneath all that she could sense something more, a hidden well of goodness so bright it could light up a night sky if revealed. Her heart thumped painfully again as he lingered on her hiding spot, convincing her that he was looking directly at her and then he turned away once more and continued on his way. She almost flew from the house, trying to control her flight instincts so it didn't look like she was running away from something or someone. When she hit the boundary of the trees she shifted to panther form and then she really flew running so hard and fast away from the compound and the two vampires who scared the living daylights out of her. She sensed Gard before he arrived at her side. He was not masking himself from her, letting her know that he was close so as not to make her anymore skittish than she already was. She didn't stop running, didn't shift back to human form, instead she used her full speed, picking up the pace and releasing her full abilities. Gard matched the panther easily despite the fact she was running way faster than any Were should be able to run. There was a hint of wildness in her eyes, a touch of panic laced with fear that made him want to break the person who had instilled such terror in her soul. His relief at having his sister home melted completely as he watched his panther leave the Alpha's home as if all the hordes of Hades were on her tail. He had no idea what had prompted her panic but he was after her in an instant, determined he was going to find out. He could have halted her run, could have made her stand and face him but she needed the freedom of the wind against her fur to help alleviate her scattered emotions. So he ran with her silently, letting her know he could not only keep up with her but that he would be there when she was ready to stop running and confront whatever it was that had frightened her so much. He nudged her gently in the direction he wanted her to go in; knowing she would have to slow down eventually and he may as well have her somewhere that he ached to have her. She finally slowed and came to a standstill staring in confusion at her surroundings. "This is my home away from home," he told her quietly, watching the panther's chest heave from the exertion of her full speed run. They were in a little clearing screened off by a large jagged rock which gave the appearance of there being no way in. He had skilfully manoeuvred her along the complicated pathway that concealed the cave entrance hidden behind the rock. She shifted, her chest still heaving, a slight sheen of sweat glistening over her skin. "You live in a cave?" she panted out, confusion on her face. Gard bit down a tortured groan. She was wearing that green basque again, the one she'd been wearing that night in her room when he'd first tasted her sweetness. Her heaving chest was accentuating her lush breasts even more, her damp skin an erotic dream come true. He wanted to start licking her all over and never stop. His body came to life instantly and he had to stifle down a deep growl. "No, I live in a house most of the time," he answered carefully. "I just stay here when I want to remain close to the pack." He didn't admit that he hadn't been home properly since she had come to the compound, only long enough to gather essentials. "I didn't think vampire's had lairs. Isn't that a little animalistic for you lot?" Her head tipped to the side a slight smile beginning to curve her lips as the wildness receded from her eyes. His revelation had tempted her cat's curiosity to come to the fore. "We can slum it when we need to," he laughed; softly urging her into the cave opening. Rayne gasped in astonishment as she took in Gard's idea of slumming it. There was no getting away from the fact it was a cave but he obviously spent more time here than he'd led her to believe. How the hell had he managed to make a cave look like a proper home? There was a huge fire pit in the main 'room' which was ablaze and giving off enough heat to make the place feel warm. The smoke drifted upwards and was caught in a simple hooded chimney system that whisked it to God knew where but it didn't fill the room and make the air unbreathable. Along one wall was a wide raised platform covered in huge cushions in brown and black. It appeared to be built into the rock, its purpose clearly that of a sofa. Hidden behind what appeared to be purpose built screens covered with Japanese symbols, was another raised platform dominating the other 'room' with its sheer size. It was a bed of gigantic proportions but then he was a huge male. It was dressed in similar colours of brown and black, the bedding thick because the cave was cooler in here because of the screens blocking the heat. She raised her eyebrows slightly, trying to ignore the shiver of pleasure that coursed through her. They were far away from the compound, hidden from prying eyes and keen hearing. The bed looked lusciously inviting. She continued on her tour though, ducking behind another screen to see a huge tub standing alone in the middle of the room. There was no sign of any plumbing but then she hadn't expected any, it was a cave. Seeing her sardonic expression, Gard smiled slightly and walked to the back wall detaching an unobtrusive grey rubber pipe from a hook and hanging it over the tub. The instant he did so clear cold water began to fill the tub as he slotted in a plug before it could seep down the drainage area beneath it. She was amused at the smug expression on his face. He was like a kid showing off and it was endearing to see. "And you heat the water how?" she queried as she watched the tub fill up quickly. He paused for a moment as if contemplating a course of action. "Magic," he finally answered his eyes serious as they regarded her intently. A Long Walk Home Ch. 11 Magic? She realised he meant it, that he wasn't yanking her chain. This vampire of indeterminate age was telling her that he could perform magic. She should have laughed at the very notion but for some reason she didn't. Something in his very stillness, the way he was watching her so intently suddenly had her looking around the cave system, noticing what she had missed. Little glass bowls flickered with light in various nooks and crannies but didn't give off any smoke. They weren't filled with a smokeless gel either, they were simply full of a single flame, suspended in nothing but air, like magic. Her eyes swung disbelievingly to his as he removed the pipe from the now filled tub and returned it to its place on the wall, gravity keeping the water from flowing out. Lavender eyes met hers, mysterious, intent as he approached the tub again. "How hot do you like it?" His voice was low, sensual, and full of innuendo. "Very hot," she whispered; her voice catching breathlessly as she drowned in his gaze. "Ashspiri," he said quietly, his hand in the water as he kept her gaze fixed with his, searching for any sign of panic or fear. Her lips parted in a started gasp as steam suddenly rose between them. "Hot enough?" he asked lightly, his lips curving at the stunned expression on her face as she tentatively touched the now heated water. "How?" she gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. The water was at a perfect temperature and all he'd done was whisper a foreign word. "Magic," he said again, his smile broadening as he headed around the partition to retrieve some thick towels from a large wooden chest on the other side. He had just revealed a secret to her that no one else apart from his sister and her mate knew. He should have felt some trepidation about doing so but he didn't. The expression of wonder on her exquisite face had been worth it. "You're sweaty from your run," he told her, pulling a small table close to the tub, full of the necessary items required for bathing. He made room for the towels and dropped them onto the table. "Why don't you freshen up and I'll arrange some food for you? I have no kitchen here, not a requirement I need but it will only take me five minutes to get you something. Relax. Enjoy your bath." He headed out again leaving Rayne staring mutely after him. He had heated water with his bare hands; his illumination of the cave was most definitely not conventional. He said it was magic and it certainly appeared to be. Just who was her vampire? What was he? She found it didn't matter to her, her need to know only because she wanted to know more about him. If he could do magic tricks then fine, it would make playing with him much more interesting. Stripping off her clothes, she secured her hair on top of her head and slid into the bath. A long sigh of bliss escaped her as the hot water took the chill of the cave off her skin. She rested for a moment and just soaked it in. Then she grabbed some liquid soap from the table and a sponge and began to leisurely wash away the effects of her run. The water was so soothing she rested back again and closed her eyes, luxuriating in its warmth. Big, male hands brushing her shoulders had her eyes opening to see Gard standing above her his eyes lazily roaming her naked body beneath the water. His expression was full of hunger, a faint glow coming into his lavender eyes. She realised what that glow meant now. It was his power. His inner magic. "Water's getting cold," she said softly breaking his perusal and drawing those amazing eyes to hers. He dipped his hand into the water and whispered that magical word again and she felt heat surround her and her skin tingled ever so slightly. Her lips quirked in a little smile as her heart kick up a beat. "Bet you'd make a great hot water bottle," she quipped lightly and the intensity of his stare softened and he smiled sensually at her. "I guess you'll find out soon enough," he answered huskily and her heart skipped in her chest. "More empty promises, Gard?" He stood up straight, his eyes darkening as his hands went to his shirt and he started to unbutton it. "No, you get to scream now, Kitty," he whispered softly. "Nice and loud, over and over again until you're hoarse." Rayne's stomach fluttered wildly at the heated promise in his words and his eyes as he slowly bared his chest for her eager perusal. She sucked in a sharp breath as he revealed a wall of pure, hard muscle, his skin glowing in the flickering lights, steam moving to cling to his taut physique. He was beautiful clothed but he was a God in his naked skin. Liquid heat pulsed between her thighs and she had to force herself to take each breath as he watched her enjoy his body with a pleased, sensual smile on his lips. His boots thudded to the floor and then he was peeling off his jeans revealing thick, muscled thighs, lean sculpted hips and the most impressive erection she had ever laid eyes on before. He stood proud and unashamed of his body letting her look her fill as she licked her lips in a very catlike way. A deep growl rumbled from his chest drawing her eyes reluctantly back to his. "Somebody looks hungry," he drawled softly, his voice husky and low. Rayne came to her knees in the tub, her arms braced on the cold edge. "Somebody's ravenous," she breathed softly, her eyes dancing with anticipation as she reached out and tried to close her hand around the thick length of him. He let out another loud growl that sent shivers down her spine as she tugged gently, pulling him closer. "I like to lick too, vampire. All cats do. But sucking is also a very great pleasure of mine," she smiled a second before her tongue snaked out and lightly traced the vein running the length of his erection. His hips jerked, his breath caught and his hand fisted tightly in her bound hair. "Then suck, little kitty. Nice and hard. Show me how you play." It was an order but one she was happy to obey. She teased him with little flicks of her tongue, feeling his hands tighten in her hair as he became impatient. She savoured his taste, luxuriating in the feel of hard steel wrapped in a core of hot silk. Then her hunger got the better of her as she took him deep into her mouth sucking hard as he wanted. The loud roar that erupted from his lips was music to her ears, the way his hips flexed reflexively trying to drive himself completely into her mouth, an aphrodisiac like no other. Rayne had had three thousand years to perfect her skills of oral loving and she was thankful for them because she wanted to give this male pleasure as he'd never received before. Her hands gripped his thick thighs, feeling his muscles tremble under her touch as she used her mouth ruthlessly on him, sucking him in deeply and flicking her tongue against him as she did so. His breathing was harsh, his hands almost painful in her hair as he groaned loudly with each hard suck she gave him. Gard was awash with sensation as her hot, wicked mouth pleasured him beyond bearing. He had challenged her and she was meeting that challenge effortlessly. Her throaty moans were a clear indicator that she was taking just as much pleasure from her intimate kiss as he was. Never before had a woman turned his knees to mush the way his cat was currently doing. He was ready to climax already and he hadn't even started to pleasure her as he wanted to. His eyes glittered as he watched Rayne lave his cock with her wicked tongue before she once more took him deep inside her mouth and her hot suckling action threatened to draw his seed from him in record time. It was such an erotic sight his heart pounded hard in his chest and he had to grit his teeth to try and stem the coming eruption. "Rayne." It was a command to stop, harsh and guttural as he fought for control. Her mouth released him and her big green eyes glinted in a very feral manner as she looked up to him. "Cat's adore cream," she breathed huskily an instant before her mouth engulfed him again. Gard roared his pleasure, his control snapping at her words. He pressed himself deeply into her mouth, felt her claws on his flanks digging in deeply. He came on a wave of white hot pleasure, his legs trembling wildly, harsh groans coming from his mouth as his kitty cat accepted all he had to give her and eagerly licked for more. It was the most intense climax he'd had in a very long time. It left him feeling weak and shaky and oh so satisfied. He looked down to see her licking her lips slowly a very satisfied smile curling over lips that had just taken him to Heaven and back again. As his breathing began to calm he rubbed his thumb over those lips, laughing softly when she caught it in her mouth and bit gently. "Pretty little mouth," he breathed softly. "I hope you plan on sucking me to orgasm again in the very near future." Her soft throaty laughter filled the room as she twisted her body until she was once more resting against the tub with her eyes closed. "Depends," she answered lightly. "Someone promised they would make me scream. So far he's the only one I've actually heard doing so." Gard threw his head back and roared with laughter. She really was an entertaining little thing teasing him out to play like the true cat she was. She appealed to him on every level, engaged him so totally that she was all he could think about. "Water's getting cold again too," she added with mock complaint in her voice. He stepped into the large tub at the opposite end from her, his legs bracketing her body. "Then let me heat it up for you again, Kitty," he breathed softly, whispering his magic as the steam began to rise again. "Lord that is a neat trick!" Rayne moaned softly. "I wish I could do it." "Then you'd have no use for me," he countered rubbing his legs slowly against hers and trying not to groan at how good her soft skin felt against his. Green eyes flickered open lazily, a sensual smile curling lips that were so kissable he didn't know how he was managing to abstain from doing so. "Oh, I think I could come up with some reason for keeping you around," she quipped lightly, squealing with laughter as he growled loudly and yanked her roughly until she was sprawled against his hard chest, her swollen nipples pressed tightly against his body. His mouth caught hers in a hard, primal kiss full of need and lust and the promise of unimaginable pleasures. Rayne surrendered to him instantly, luxuriating in the way he tasted, the way he felt pressed hard against her body. Her vampire played like a cat, wickedly, sensually and utterly delightfully. Her cat purred loudly urging her to take their mate, to sink their teeth hard into his hot skin and mark him as hers. "Soon," she whispered to her animal, urging her down even as she flexed her claws lightly against his chest earning her a pleased rumble and his tongue plunging recklessly into her mouth. "Kitty likes to scratch," Gard rumbled against her lips, the feel of her lightly unsheathed claws making his cock jump, becoming harder than he ever thought it could possibly become. He flexed his own talons, running them ever so gently down her back until he reached her tight bottom and sank them in just a little deeper. Rayne purred loudly. Her back arched, her slender throat bared to his mouth as she let out a real live purr that filled the room deafeningly. It was the sexiest sound he'd ever heard and he stroked her again so she would repeat it. "And to be scratched," he whispered huskily his lips grazing the fragile skin of her throat, feeling the vibration of her sexy noise against his lips. She set him on fire, burned him with every touch, every noise she made. He was quickly becoming obsessed with her. She was all he thought about, the reason why he couldn't leave the forest, couldn't stop watching over her. His need frightened him but it exhilarated him too. This cat was in his blood and he couldn't rest until he'd had her over and over again, losing himself in the sweetness of her luscious body. His lips branded her soft skin; his teeth nipped gently at the delicate arch as he made his way back up to her mouth and took another hot, searching kiss from her lips. He loved the way she felt against him, the way her soft skin teased his erection lying thick and heavy between them. He wanted to sink deep inside her body but he hadn't made her scream yet. The last two times he'd tasted her she'd been forced to hold back because of where they were. Holding back was not acceptable to him, not when he was pleasuring a woman and, more importantly, it was completely criminal when he was pleasuring his cat. He sheathed his talons, running his hands slowly up to her waist as he broke his kiss. His eyes glittered as he gripped her tightly, slowly raising her onto unsteady feet as he rested back against the tub. "Purring is very exciting, kitty cat," he breathed deeply angling her body towards his mouth which was already beginning to water as her scent overwhelmed him. "But screaming is much more preferable." His hot breath washed over her body a split second before he put his mouth to the sweetest, most delectable part of her spectacular body. Her cry was hoarse, guttural as his tongue scythed lazily through her slick folds, tasting every inch of her at a slow, languorous pace which was designed to bring her the ultimate pleasure while never letting her reach completion. His cat thought she had a truly wicked mouth but she had never experienced all he could do with his. He too had had to hold back because of their previous location, he didn't have to now. He could feel her legs trembling wildly, hear her harsh breathing as she tried to increase the firmness of his touch but he held her easily, his tongue lazy, teasing, tasting all she had to give him. He laughed softly against her heated skin as she squirmed against him, desperate for the release of the sexual tension deep within her. He was going to teach her what six thousand years of living had taught him, how to pleasure a woman to the very point of insanity. His tongue was relentless, dipping inside her hot body, tasting, teasing, savouring the sweetness her body gave him as her cries became louder, more frantic, a hint of desperation in each sweet sound she uttered. He bit gently against her soft flesh, laved his bites with slow swirls of his tongue, drank down her sweet essence as if it was the most delicious thing he had tasted. Short of actually tasting her thick, hot blood it was. Her flavour was addictive and he wanted to feast at her succulent body for hours on end. He could feel his fangs itching to elongate, his beast rising within urging him to sink his fangs into the delicate flesh in his mouth. But he held his feral side back. He wanted to play with this cat for a very, very long time. "Oh God, Gard! Please!" Rayne half sobbed, mindless with pleasure, desperation clawing through her as she sought the release that hovered a fraction of a second away and she couldn't reach because he wouldn't let her. Her body was burning up, her skin once more covered in a light sheen of sweat as he tortured her with his mouth ruthlessly. If he didn't tip her over soon she would go insane. She needed it, she craved it, and she was desperate for it. She wanted to scream with frustration when he took his mouth from her. "No!" she wailed hoarsely. "Don't you dare stop!" Smug male laughter, low and husky as his hands tightened on her hips and his breath teased her mercilessly. "Scream for me, Kitty. Nice and loud." His tongue swept hard through her folds, flicked the oversensitive bundle of nerves that was begging for his touch. Rayne screamed as pleasure rocked through her. Her knees gave way and her head fell forward weakly as her body trembled wildly in his grasp. Teeth bit hard, enough to sting and make her scream again, and then that wicked tongue laved her abused flesh and she her body fragmented, her voice hoarse as bliss overwhelmed her, surrounded her, sucked her down so deep that all she was aware of what the feel of his hands on her hips and the merciless strokes of his tongue as he rode her through the most intense climax she'd ever experienced. Her screams made his cock jump wildly, her shuddering body made his heart beat impossibly fast, her complete surrender filled him with a pleasure he had never known before. Gard licked and drank down her pleasure, his own need to join her in sexual release almost crippling him. But this was for her, his exquisite cat and he controlled his own urges as he slowly kissed her down from her release. He very gently settled her back against his body, soothing her with long, slow strokes down her back as she fought to regain her breath, her eyes closed as she lay limply against him. He could feel her heart beating wildly against him, knew he had satisfied this beautiful woman in his arms as no one else had before. His lips curled in a satisfied smile as he continued to stroke his cat until she began to utter that sexy little purring sound again. "I don't know which I like more, your pretty little screams or that sexy little purr," he breathed softly, running his fingers gently against a perfect cheekbone. "I think I'll have to hear them both again to make a decision." Rayne groaned and emitted a short laugh, her body so sated she could barely move. "Can you feed me first? I think I'm going to need the energy." His chest rumbled with laughter and he tilted her chin up so he could drop a quick kiss on her delectable mouth. "No stamina," he sighed laughing, sitting up and grabbing a sponge and the liquid soap. "You're all sweaty again," he added with a very satisfied smile teasing his lips as he began to soap her skin gently. Rayne let him wash her, luxuriating in the feel of his strong hands against her skin. Cats liked being stroked and she certainly enjoyed the way he stroked her almost reverently. It had been such a long time since she'd met anyone as strong as, if not stronger than her. It had been an eternity since someone had actually cared for her instead of it being the other way around. It was heavenly to allow this wonderful male to take care of her. All too soon it was over and Gard was once more applying a little extra heat to the water before he stepped out of the tub and began to dry himself briskly with a towel. She felt so languorous all she could do was lay there watching his beautiful body shimmer in the glow of the lights. "No man should ever be as beautiful as you are," she whispered softly, her face soft and dreamy as she admired the view. He laughed softly, hooking the towel around his waist before bending down to brush his mouth gently across her lips. "I've walked this world a long time, Kitty," he breathed against her lips. "I've seen the ancient wonders of the world. I've seen queens and goddesses in their thousands. Not one can hold a candle to you. They would fade instantly into the background the moment you appeared among them." He wasn't usually one for flowery speech, preferring the more honest, earthy approach. But his words were heartfelt, undeniable. She eclipsed everything he had have encountered in his long life. She was exquisite, seductive, intoxicating and so utterly addictive. And she was his. He knew in that instant that he would never let this sultry little cat escape him. She could try and run if she felt so inclined but he would hunt her down to the ends of the earth and back again. She belonged to him in every way imaginable. She would never escape him. Branding her his with a hot, lusty kiss, he forced himself to leave her in the tub, drying his hair with a second towel as he went to retrieve some of the items he had picked up earlier. He smiled as he imagined the expression on her face when she saw what he'd gotten. She probably had no idea that they were actually close to the outskirts of town despite the apparent remoteness of their location. It had taken him no time at all to get home and then to the store to pick up what he wanted. A Long Walk Home Ch. 11 So it was with great delight that he watched her expressive face when he returned and hauled her out of the tub and wrapped her tightly in a fluffy towel. He dried her gently and then enfolded her beautiful body in the thick, black robe he'd bought for her. She appeared partial to the colour and he liked seeing it on her. With her pale skin and midnight black hair it made her look so sinfully sexy. He knelt and eased her feet into the outrageous black and white cat slippers he'd purchased, smiling widely as they fit to perfection. He had guessed at her sizes but he had gauged accurately. Her soft laughter rippled over him like a soft breeze. "Not exactly romantic," she laughed in delight, flexing the foot he still held in his hand. He looked up at her, mischief dancing in his eyes as he shot her a wicked grin. "It was one of those 'saw them and thought of you' moments," he admitted, his breath catching at how beautiful she looked as she gazed down at him. "Just where did you go?" Rayne asked curiously, loving the playful side of him, being once more reminded of just how much of a cat appeared to lurk in his soul. There was so much she didn't know about him, so much she craved to discover. What she had so far was enough to tell her cat that he belonged to them. She wanted to know the rest of his secrets. "We're closer to town than it looks," he laughed standing up and nudging her back out into the main room, his hands on her hips as he followed her. Rayne stiffened slightly, her eyes falling on the picnic hamper beside the fire which was now ringed by enormous black cushions that could probably sit eight at a time. The hamper immediately made her think of Dayton and their earlier disagreement. She hoped he was okay, that he would work out his conflicted emotions and come home soon so they could talk about it and put it behind them. Gard's lips against the side of her neck brought her back to the present as his arms wrapped around her waist and he leaned his chin on her shoulder. "You don't like?" There was a hint of tension in his voice, as if it mattered that she did like his gesture. "It's perfect," she soothed, wrapping her arms around his and squeezing gently. "Then you should eat quickly," he breathed quietly his lips once more kissing the side of her neck softly. "I'm hungry too and it's not for food." He led her towards the cushions and sipped at some champagne as she dived into the fruit, cheese and cold meat sandwiches he'd bought for her. His eyes were intent, his expression darkly sensual as he watched each morsel pass her lips. "I love your mouth," he sighed softly, his voice low and deep. "You make it move in such fascinating shapes, whether you're sucking me to orgasm or biting into the juiciest pear. Totally tantalising." "You have a one track mind," Rayne laughed softly using a napkin to wipe her sticky chin as pear juice ran down it. The food he'd bought was of the freshest, finest quality as was the robe and slippers she wore. She was quickly getting the impression that only the best would do for her as far as he was concerned. Her cat purred with pleasure and the woman wanted to purr too. He growled softly and reached for her, licking at the sweet juice leisurely before rising and picking her up swiftly. "I'm tired of waiting," he growled against her lips. Rayne's heart leapt and heat flared between her legs at the stark, uncompromising expression on his face. His voice was thick with need, his eyes glowing hotly as he took her mouth ruthlessly, walking to the bed and following her down onto it. His mouth was a hot, wicked brand against hers, his hands quickly stripping off her robe and slippers. He took a few seconds to shrug out of his own robe before his hard body was once more pressing her into the soft mattress, a thick thigh nudging her legs apart. She'd thought he couldn't possibly arouse her anymore swiftly than he had done in the tub but she was instantly on fire, the feel of his thigh pressing so intimately against her wet heat almost enough to send her into an instant climax. Gone was the teasing, patient lover in the tub. In his place was a man so hot, so desperate for the feel of her skin against his that his touch was on the rough side. The hands that found her breasts squeezed the soft flesh hard, thick fingers finding her aching nipples and tugging sharply as his mouth plundered hers over and over again in a string of searing hot kisses. She cried out into his mouth, arching greedily into his hands, shamelessly rubbing herself against his thigh to experience the pure bliss that rushed through her body at his touch. The more wanton her response, the more enflamed he became. Teeth nipped forcefully at the side of her neck, trailing downwards quickly, sucking in a taut nipple and biting down on the tender nub hard. Rayne screamed and arched into his caress, shuddering wildly as his tongue laved her abuse flesh roughly and he began to suckle against her hard. His thigh flexed between her legs, pressing hard at the same time as he bit and suckled at her other nipple. Lights danced before her eyes and Rayne screamed her release into the air, her body quivering as she exploded in a wave of ecstasy. She was still quivering and trying to catch her breath as Gard's strong arms turned her onto her stomach, his hands sliding down to grip her hips and pull them up. The hot, heavy heat of his cock pressed against her bottom as he leaned over her, covering her entire body with his in the most primal way. "This is what your cat wants, isn't it?" he growled in her ear, his breath whispering against her skin, his voice low and thick with need. "To be claimed completely, to surrender to its male." His teeth bit down gently on her neck, great care being taken not to break her skin, not to allow his deadly fangs to grow and hurt her. "Is this what Rayne wants?" he breathed raggedly. "Do you want me to claim you like a cat? To force you into submission and take everything you have to offer?" She was so breathless she couldn't speak, couldn't voice her needs. The feel of Gard covering her, ready to claim her so totally had her cat roaring in ecstasy, purring with a submission she'd never wanted to exhibit before. He was her mate even if he didn't know it yet. She needed him inside her and she would take him however he wanted it to be. "Take me," she growled back at him pressing her bottom against his thick length desperately. "Claim me, vampire. Make me yours." Gard growled loudly, gripping her hip tightly with one hand while the other circled her stomach and held her firmly in place. "You belong to me," he declared hoarsely, his hips surging forward as he impaled her on his cock in one hard, forceful thrust. They cried out in unison as their bodies joined, both of them overcome with the ferocity of it and the way they fit so perfectly together. Gard's possessive claim hung on the air between them and Rayne fought for breath, struggled to cope with the sensation of having him buried deep inside her, stretching her unbearably but filling her so completely. "Mine!" she growled softly, tightening her body around him deliciously and hearing his answering growl of pleasure. She couldn't say another word because he slowly eased from her tight depths and then surge back inside with another long, hard stroke that took the breath from her body. Gard hadn't meant to be so rough with her, so out of control. He had planned to tempt her, tease her and make her wild with desire until she begged him to take her. But something had cracked inside him as he'd watched her eat. His control snapped completely and he was left with only the feral part of his nature demanding he took what belonged to him. Not that his cat appeared to mind the wildness of their joining. She was purring, making sexy little moans and her body, dear God, her body was clenching so hard around his cock it was almost painful. He knew she was trying to urge him on to a faster pace and that thought brought some level of control back, enough that he could guide their lovemaking at his own pace. Sliding a hand under one leg, he spread her wider to him, watched as he slowly eased from her delectable body and then slammed in hard again. She screamed and he roared loudly in response to the sheer ecstasy that was being buried in her hot body. Again he eased out slowly, slammed in hard, over and over in a slow steady rhythm designed to make their joining last for a very long time. He had promised her she would scream in ecstasy. He kept his promises. He took her hard and leisurely, changing his rhythm to slow and gentle before once more thrusting forcefully into her. He couldn't maintain the pace indefinitely, his need for her was too great. He covered her body, licking along her spine as he positioned his strong arms on either side of her. "Time to fly, Kitty," he whispered against her ear. "Join me." Rayne pressed back feverishly, meeting each hard thrust, panting hoarsely through her cries of pleasure as he picked up the pace and began rocking hard and fast deep within her. Her body was his to do what he wanted with as long as he didn't stop doing the amazingly incredible things he was at the moment. She was so close to coming apart at the seams, so close to joining him in sweet bliss. He pulled her up until her back pressed against his chest, their sweat slickened skin rubbing sensually against each other. Thick fingers slid through her silky folds, found her clit and massaged and pinched ruthlessly as he surged hard and fast into her body. Rayne screamed, shattering into a million pieces, unable to breath, unable to think as sensation crashed over her, ecstasy riding her body viciously. Gard roared loudly, his grip tightening on her as he thickened inside her, his seed pulsing wildly into her body as he surrendered to the sweet bliss that washed through him. Rayne collapsed limply against him, her heart beating so hard she thought it would explode out of her chest. She could feel the wildness of Gard's heart against her back as he shuddered once more and pulsed deep within her. She would have fallen forward if he hadn't held her so securely. Long moments passed with only the sound of their ragged breathing filling the cave as their skin slowly cooled and a slight shiver ran through Rayne's body. Gard moved them immediately, slipping from her body and settling her under the warm thick blankets, lying on his back with her firmly ensconced in his arms, her head pillowed on his chest. "I like the way you scream," he breathed softly when he could speak; savouring the feel of his cat nestled contentedly against him. "I like the way you make me scream," she laughed softly, her laughter turning to a quiet purr as he stroked a hand over her hip. They lay silently for a moment, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, savouring the closeness that only came from two people surrendering completely to each other. "Mine?" Gard said his tone curious as he tipped her chin up so she was looking at him. "Explain." Rayne swallowed hard, staring into his eyes and knowing that he had been around long enough to know what it meant when a Were proclaimed that word. Her cat whispered, 'mine,' in her head, purring loudly. She opened her mouth to say something but found herself unable to speak. The image of the two vampires back at the compound suddenly came to mind and her heart stuttered slightly, self preservation urging her to keep quiet. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 12 Once more my thanks to mikothebaby for her editing skills. I've tinkered a little since it came back so any errors are my own :-) Enjoy! * Rayne rolled away to lie on her back, staring up at the cave ceiling. It looked so cold and grey, a direct contrast to the warmth surrounding her wrapped up in the thick blankets in Gard's bed with the heat from his body at her side. He'd asked her a question and something was holding her back from answering it. She didn't know what it was, but it had to be instinctual because her cat wasn't even trying to force her to reveal he was her mate. This was strange, considering it had been almost desperate for her to do so earlier. Now her cat suddenly wasn't so eager? Gard was lying so still at her side and she could feel his eyes on her even though he was silent. He was expecting a response, waiting patiently. She finally turned to meet his gaze, her expression carefully neutral. "Can you do the bath thing again? I need to get back to the compound and it would help if I didn't have your scent all over me, might give it away that you're out here." Her response surprised him, taking away the warm glow he'd been experiencing from their lovemaking. They'd just had the most amazing sex of his very long life and she was suddenly retreating from him, hiding behind a calm mask that let none of her inner emotions show? All he had done was ask a question. "Or maybe you just want to wash me from your body?" There was a hint of steel in his voice, something he hadn't displayed since the first time they had met. Her throwaway response cut him deeply and he reacted instinctively with his own. Rayne turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow inquiringly at his terseness. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If I'd wanted to do that I would have said so," she answered quietly. "I assumed you wouldn't want the pack being aware of your presence in the forest." "I don't," he agreed in a calmer tone, "but you don't have to be in a particular hurry to leave either. Or avoid my question." He felt hurt that she was ready to climb out of his bed as if what they'd just shared meant nothing to her. She had claimed him while they made love, just as he had claimed her. Everything about her fascinated him, called to him and told him she belonged to him completely. Her declaration had led him to believe that she felt the same way. When a Were claimed someone with the word 'mine' it meant they were claiming their mate. He knew she was his, had probably known from the very first day when she'd fallen from the tree and his heart had almost stopped. He just hadn't been willing to admit it to himself. Rayne rolled away from him, turning her back as her cat mewled quietly inside her. She could feel Gard's tension rise, knew he was unhappy with her reaction to him but something inside her urged caution. She knew he was her mate. She wanted to claim him and from the looks of things he appeared more interested in pursuing some kind of relationship with her other than a quick fumble between the sheets. But she just couldn't say the words, no matter how much she wanted to. So she closed herself down completely. "People say all manner of things in the heat of sex, Gard. Most of the time, they mean nothing. As for leaving, I've got things to do. I have a friend I need to track down. We had a disagreement earlier and he left feeling very unhappy with me. I need to fix it." She was suddenly flipped onto her back, Gard looming over her with a hard expression on his face. "He? Who is he, Rayne and why is he suddenly more important than spending time with me?" His voice was laced with jealousy, his fingers digging hard into her shoulders. She felt her temper spark and pushed at his chest. "He is none of your damned business," she growled out. She knew he was thrown by her behaviour but being high handed wasn't something she was willing to tolerate. Her friendship with Dayton was important to her. She didn't have time to put up with petty jealousy. She opened her mouth and said the first thing that came out in a fit of temper. "Just because we fucked doesn't give you proprietary rights over me, vampire. Yes, it was great, I enjoyed it immensely but it was sex and nothing more!" If she could have taken the words back she would have. The flash of uncensored pain that crossed his face was like a knife to her heart. She hadn't meant it, her cat was roaring furiously at her. But she had said it and the effect it had on Gard was instantaneous. The pain vanished and dark fury crossed his face. His expression turned rock hard, his fingers biting deeper into her skin. Gard stared down at her and felt a pain he'd never experienced before. Her words rocked him to his very core, breaking something inside him. Anger reared its ugly head and also a deep sense of unease. Rayne hid so much of herself from him. He was conscious of the fact he didn't really know anything about her except she could do things no Were should be able to. And she made him ache in a way no other woman could. She had all but flown out of the Alpha's house the moment Caleb and Annie had shown up, panicked to run as far away as she could. He should have noticed the timing of it but he'd been more concerned about her. Now that he thought back on it he suddenly found he had more questions he wanted answered. Important ones. It wasn't like him to be led around by his cock. It wasn't like the pack to just let anyone into their safe haven, let alone so close to the children. The first time he had seen her she had been trying to get into Lily's room. Did she have other abilities he didn't know about? Could she sway other people's thoughts? The longer he considered everything, the deeper his unease grew. His anger was starting to escalate as his protective instincts towards the pack kicked in. He had considered keeping her, taking her as his mate and binding her so tightly to him she would never be able to leave. Where had that thought come from? Was it his or was it Rayne's? "Just who and what are you, Rayne, because you sure as hell are not an ordinary Were. What were you running from earlier?" His voice was hard; completely brittle as he fought against the pain he was feeling. Rayne lay still beneath him, sifting through his emotions unashamedly as his expression hardened even more and her playful lover transformed into the cold, deadly vampire he truly was. The pain that was suddenly flooding her body had nothing to do with his hold on her. She could sense his distrust and it hurt like nothing had ever been able to do before. Even the pain of being alone for countless millennia paled into insignificance compared to what Gard was able to inflict on her with just one hint of uncertainty. She knew it was her own fault, she had created this gulf between them but it still hurt that he could doubt her so easily. Her cat let out a pained mewl and curled up in a ball. She couldn't read minds but she knew the man above her. He was thinking things through at the moment but he would act soon. If he really viewed her as a threat...killed by her own mate? That would be a tragedy to end all because the guilt would kill him too. Could she talk him down? "Don't do this." It was a whispered plea from the depths of her soul. She saw hesitation cross his face and for a brief moment she had hope that she had reached him. Then his expression once more turned irresolute and she knew she would have to act fast before he did something he may never be able to forgive himself for. She shifted in a heartbeat, shadowing herself as she flew from the bed. She knew he could track her in human form but could he still 'see' her if she was in panther form? It was the silent urging of her cat to shift, almost as if her panther knew something she didn't. Gard's roar of rage answered her question as he flew from the bed to crouch on the floor his eyes spanning the room and passing over her numerous times. He couldn't see her but he would be able to hear her when she moved though. She spun, trying to keep her flight path unpredictable as she sailed out of the cave and into the forest. "Rayne!" Gard had shifted into full vampire mode. He streaked out of the cave, his jeans hastily pulled on but undone. It had taken him less than five seconds to get outside and start hunting her. He couldn't believe she'd eluded him, run from him. What infuriated him more was the expression he'd seen on her face before she'd shifted. She had honestly believed that he would hurt her. He might be mad at her, concerned about just who she was and if she was a danger to the pack, but despite that, despite everything, he would never ever hurt her. He couldn't. It would be like ripping his own heart out. "Rayne!" It was those precious few seconds Gard had taken to pull on his jeans that had enabled her to pick out a large oak tree to scamper up and hunker down in. She perched in her hidden spot and held her breath while he scouted the area in a blur, cursing under his breath as he did so. He even came close a few times but never managed to stumble upon her hideaway. Eventually he disappeared back into the cave, fury wafting off him in waves, distrust coming a close second to the turbulent emotions deep within him. Rayne held her position, fighting down the waves of pain crashing through her. She didn't move until Gard once more came back out, fully dressed, furious and heading towards the compound with a determined expression on his hard face. Her cat roared in a combination of fury and distress. She was furious at their mate for distrusting them even as she was pained too. Rayne wasn't even aware that she was crying until a tear landed on her paw. Staring down at it she considered her options. She couldn't go into town in panther form and she couldn't go back to the compound because Gard was headed there. She didn't trust him not to have left some kind of magic ward in place to alert him that she had returned to the cave for her clothes. She was thankful he had slipped up and let her in on his magic secret though he would probably be pissed at himself now for doing so. With no other options left to her she decided to try something she'd never done before. She could shift fully clothed and still have them when she shifted back, but could she create clothes when naked? She shifted, closing her eyes and trying to imagine what she'd been wearing earlier. Nothing happened except sweat began to bead her brow at the intense concentration she was exerting. She wiped her wet cheeks and took a deep breath. Then she tried again. She gasped in shock when she found herself fully clothed. Another ability she had no idea she could do, just like all the others. Gard's question came back to mind and she felt her eyes moisten again as she carefully climbed out of the tree and shadowed herself. She couldn't answer his damned question because she didn't know the truth of the answer. There were hints that she could be a Vampire/Were hybrid but no real facts to support it. The pack was dubious about it even though they didn't have any other suggestions to offer. The stupid vampire was angry with her, distrusting her because she couldn't tell him what he wanted to know. If only he knew that she'd spent three thousand years trying to find the very answers he wanted. Her pain started to turn to anger. So far today the two men she cared most about had questioned her loyalty to them, looked at her with anger in their eyes. She'd opened her heart to both of them and they were breaking it in their own separate ways. This was what she had been searching for all her life? Somewhere to belong, to place down roots and care about others? At the moment it felt like shit, a colossally stupid thing to do. Wrapped in angry misery, Rayne headed out of the forest, away from the place that both fascinated her and made her want to sink to her knees in anguish. She needed time to regroup, work out her next move. Maybe it was time to move on again? Maybe this wasn't the place for her after all? ***** Caleb stood in the kitchen of the Alpha's house, expertly throwing together a meal for Lacey. Cooking was a skill he'd acquired years ago when he'd first met his Annie, when she was still human and required food to ease her hunger. She no longer needed food but his passion for cooking had remained and he used his visits to the compound to indulge in his not so guilty pleasure. Lacey was hungry so he wanted to feed her. He also wanted private time with Rafe and had urged the other man to join him. He wanted to know who the woman was on the first floor earlier and he sensed there were other things he needed to know about too. Rafe was watching him silently from his seat at the dining table, sipping at a cup of coffee. "Who's the wildcat?" Caleb finally asked, letting the full weight of his gaze fall on Rafe as he spoke. He wanted to see his initial reaction to the question. Apart from a slight tightening of his lips, Rafe managed to keep his expression neutral. "The newest member of my pack." His reply was slightly guarded, as if he was deciding how much information to impart. Caleb could understand that. If Rafe had formed an Alpha bond with the woman then he would instinctively want to protect her at all costs. It was a surprising announcement. Wolves and cats didn't usually form bonds outside their own animal group, though he supposed Rafe's pack was anything but normal. "Why was she hiding on the first floor landing when we arrived?" Rafe's eyes widened then a frown started to furrow his brow. "I didn't see her," he admitted after a long pause. "She must have been using her abilities. I'm surprised you saw her if she was." That sparked Caleb's interest and he turned the gas down on the stove and sat down beside his brother. "Spill it, Rafe. What's been going on here?" It was a demand not a question and one that only served to make the other man frown more. "Damn for a moment there it sounded like you thought you had a right to control my pack, Caleb. I obviously misunderstood you because I know you wouldn't try that shit on me." Caleb stifled down a deep sigh and met Rafe's gaze intently. He'd forgotten how prickly Alphas were not having been around for a while. It was bad enough when he'd just had Jared to contend with but now Rafe had become an Alpha it was doubly as irritating having to watch what he said. "Annie's heart would break if any harm were to befall this pack," he said wearily. "I'm not stepping on your toes, Rafe. I'm trying to make sure her family is protected. You know that so can we please dispense with the pissing contest and you just tell me what's going on? This affects us too." Rafe sighed deeply and lowered his aggressive stance. He couldn't really argue with his brother, not where his sister was concerned. "Rayne has abilities that no Were has exhibited before. The children are exhibiting the same abilities." He didn't need to elaborate which children he was referring to. Caleb tensed immediately, his expression hardening. "How did she come to the pack?" The words were bit out tersely. An unknown Were with unheard of abilities was not something to be taken lightly. "Dayton Alexander brought her and before you go off on one, he's known her over fifty years. She's no threat to the children and no spy sent from some new, unknown enemy. Her arrival is purely coincidental." Caleb didn't believe in coincidences but if what Rafe said was true then there was no way someone could have known decades ago that vampires and Weres would mate one day and produce offspring. He relaxed slightly, his thoughts turning in another direction. "Dayton Alexander? He's returned to the pack?" It was another interesting turn of events. Rafe nodded. "The Alpha bond shifted from Jared to myself. Ashleigh and Freya went to see him a while back and something must have kicked in because he came home. Not that he's here at the moment but he's met with Cedar and Aaron. He's slowly reconnecting with his family. There's hope it might be a permanent homecoming." Two virtual strangers within the pack and Freya somewhere in the mix? Not something that Caleb liked the sound of at all. There had been something in Rafe's tone when he mentioned Freya and that filled him concern. His antipathy towards Nors' sister hadn't really changed much over the years. He knew she was a crisis waiting to happen and when it did his friend was going to end up hurt because of her. "What's Freya got to do with this?" A low growl erupted from Rafe and his eyes turned hard. "Freya's pack. Our business. Don't get involved, Caleb." It was the last thing he'd expected to hear so he couldn't help show his surprise. "When the fuck did Freya become pack?" he demanded. "Has she mated with a wolf?" "She's pack by association with Nors and Ashleigh," Rafe insisted, his expression irresolute. "That's all you need to know." Caleb could see that they were going to come to blows pretty quickly so he stepped away from the table and returned to the stove, stirring the soup which was simmering gently. Rafe's aggressive stance was concerning on many levels. He didn't want to lose his temper with his brother. Annie would give him hell if he did and he was particularly fond of the other man too. Freya had obviously done something that Rafe was worried about. Which meant it was something against the Weres. Caleb was smart enough to know that Rafe would only claim the volatile woman as pack in a bid to stop her coming under threat from her own people. He suddenly cursed loudly and swung his gaze back to the table. "Did she harm a Were?" It hurt to ask the question. Not because of any love for Freya but because of what would be required if the answer was affirmative. He had made his thoughts on the subject perfectly clear five years ago. There could be no exceptions. If Freya Eriksson had attacked a Were in anyway he would take her head no matter what the fallout of doing so would be. He would break Nors' heart if it was necessary to ensure the safety of every Were that walked the planet. And he would weep for doing so. "What's wrong?" Rhianna's urgent mental query sounded deep inside his mind and he swallowed hard to try and dampen down his emotions. Their mate bond could be very inconvenient at times. "Alpha stuff," he answered gruffly. "I'll tell you about it later." "Caleb..." I said later, Rhianna!" Their connection broke off instantly and he cursed loudly again feeling her retreat in both surprise and hurt. He'd been curt with her because of his own conflicted emotions about what he may be called on to do. He hated hurting her. It was a wound to his own soul every time he saw a look of pain on her face or felt the mental tremor through their bond. Rafe was watching him carefully, his tough stance softening as if he could tell what his brother was struggling with. "Caleb, you've helped both the Hanlon Pack and this one selflessly over the years. Most of us are alive only because of your help. I know you've had to make tough decisions to ensure that happened. Let me return the favour this once. Let me take on the burden of Freya so you don't have to be put in an untenable position." Caleb considered his words carefully and then turned off the stove. He nodded once and then let out a long deep breath. "If she's crossed the line there is no saving her, Rafe. Not for Nors' sake or anyone else's. You need to be prepared for that." He knew the other man hated the more violent aspects of pack life even if it was necessary from time to time. Rafe rose and collected two bowls from a cupboard and laid them on the counter beside the stove so Caleb could dish up the food. "She's not irredeemable," he answered in a quiet voice. "Nors and Ashleigh couldn't love her as they do if she was. And Liam is exhibiting signs of being able to read emotions in other people. He told his parents that she's hurting inside all the time. She's not evil, Caleb, she's one of us. Someone who has been suffering a world of hurt for God knows how long and needs a safe place to belong to. That makes her pack in my eyes." A Long Walk Home Ch. 12 Caleb felt a huge rush of pride course through him as he watched the other man. He was in awe of just how much empathy Rafe had for wounded souls. Just like his sister. He hoped his assessment of Freya was right, that there was some hope for her, for everyone's sake. "She's pack," he finally agreed, trusting in Rafe to know the right thing to do and feeling relieved that he could hand her off to someone else. He was just about to turn to the topic of the children and their abilities when the door to the house crashed open and a furious vampire suddenly appeared in the kitchen, red hair flowing wildly, lavender eyes burning with a fury he'd never seen before. "Where is she?" Gard asked in a cold voice completely at odds with his wild appearance. Rafe shifted instantly, the enormous brown wolf howling loudly as it sprang towards the interloper in the kitchen. Caleb had to move fast to get between the two of them as Gard automatically went defensive, talons at the ready to rip the wolf apart. "Stop!" The very feminine, very angry voice in the doorway had everyone freezing on the spot. Heads whipped around to stare at the woman standing there tensely. She was glaring at them with naked fury in her eyes. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Rhianna demanded, her gaze firmly locked on Gard giving him the full weight of her displeasure. Caleb's lips twitched in a little smile. He couldn't help it despite the tension in the room. His Annie was taking a backseat at the moment and in her place was Anakatrine in all her glorious splendour. His queen didn't surface very often but when she did she called to him in a way he couldn't describe. "And I don't know why you're grinning like an idiot," she rounded on Caleb, wiping the smile from his face. "We'll discuss the manner in which you just spoke to me later. Rafe, if you could please shift back and put some clothes on, I'd appreciate it. I'll wait for you three in the library." "What the fuck..?" Rafe growled loudly as he reverted back to human form, staring at his sister's retreating back in astonishment. He was so shocked that he completely forgot for a moment that there was a strange, feral vampire in his kitchen, then his gaze hardened and he once more turned to the other vampire. His entire body went rigid as he met a pair of lavender eyes that he knew so well but were in a face he'd never seen before. The shock of straight auburn hair was also a colour he recognised and he felt his heart crash hard in his chest as he stared at the man. "I suggest we don't keep her waiting," Caleb interjected smoothly his eyes intent on Gard who was giving Rafe a decidedly unfriendly look. He could feel The Guardian's tension mixed in with jealously. Between that and Rafe's growing aggression as he realised something was very wrong about the man before him, he knew things could quickly escalate out of hand. He was thankful his Annie was ceding control to her other half at the moment. The decision on how to explain Gard to Rafe had just been taken out of her hands and what was about to come would not be pleasant for her. Holding onto a queen's strength would be all that would get her through this in one piece. "Rafe, I can vouch for Gard," he said quietly. "He is no threat to the pack. I think we should all go to the library now where we can discuss this in privacy." ***** Rafe's thoughts were in turmoil as he crossed to the large hall cupboard and pulled out a set of sweats and a T-shirt and quickly pulled them on. He had adopted the custom of having spare clothes at the Alpha's home and the community centre from his time in the Hanlon pack. It came in handy for uncontrolled shifts, especially when his sister was around. He had no qualms about running around naked but it just felt wrong doing so in front of Annie. Thinking of his sister brought a stab of fear deep within him. Once before he had looked at her and not recognised the woman he had brought up since the age of three. It had been five years ago, the night Lily had been born. He was chilled at seeing that same strange woman in his kitchen a few moments earlier. That had not been his Annie, his baby girl. And the strange vampire had her colouring, something that Rafe lacked. A deep sense of foreboding ripped through him as he entered the library and closed the door quietly. Rhianna was standing with her back to the room, looking at the bookshelves as if she was hunting for something to read. Caleb was sitting on the edge of his desk, his gaze never leaving his mate. The stranger was sitting in one of the armchairs; his gaze also tracking the petite redhead's every movement. "Annie?" It was more a question than saying her name. Rafe held himself still as she turned around slowly to look at him as he leaned against the door, afraid to come any further into the room. He was relieved to see it was his sister looking back at him, her expression distraught as she silently begged him for forgiveness. He had no idea what she needed to be forgiven for but her expression terrified him. He wanted to go to her but he stayed where he was, waiting for her to explain. "I'm sorry, Rafe," she finally said quietly never breaking her gaze with him. "I should have told you this a long time ago but I was frightened. I didn't know how you would react and I didn't want to hurt you in any way. I was a coward and now it's come to this." She waved her hand at the armchair and Rafe broke her gaze to look at vampire who returned his with one of pure animosity. "Who is he?" He heard himself asking. He didn't care which one of them answered. He just wanted to know what the fuck was going on and what danger it posed for his pack. "To answer that you need to hear about the history of the Vampires," Rhianna answered moving over to Caleb and allowing him to gather her against his chest. His arms banded around her like protective steel and she appeared to draw strength from him. "Vampires were not always ruled by a Council, Rafe. Thousands of years ago they had a matriarchal hierarchy and were ruled by a vampire queen called Anakatrine. She had a brother who became her Guardian, who protected her as she grew into her powers and became old enough to rule her people. She had a mate in her King, his name was Callain. They were a triumvirate, guiding the vampire nation together. It was a good time, a peaceful time when Weres and Vampires existed in harmony." Rhianna swallowed hard and Caleb's arms tightened as he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss at the side of her neck. He soothed his mate gently and took up the tale. "They ruled wisely for millennia," he said quietly. "In those days being Ancient was a given, not the rare commodity it is now. The peace appeared absolute so Anakatrine decided our people had evolved enough that there was no more need for a royal hierarchy. She formed the very first Vampire Council in a bid to retire from power, to allow our kind to rule themselves in wisdom. None of them had any idea of the rot that was hiding underneath the surface of our people. It was only when the first Vampire/Were mating occurred that it became obvious." Gard stood up and paced to the desk coming to stand beside them and turning to meet the wolf's sceptical gaze. "Three thousand years ago the first hybrid child was born," he continued when Caleb stopped speaking. "She was viewed as an abomination by the vampire nation. The Council ordered the death of the child and her parents. Anakatrine tried to stop it but her voice was no longer being heard by the corrupt vampires. She managed to rescue the child but at great expense to her magical energy. She gave the child to The Guardian and entrusted him to hide her safely while she conjured a false image of the infant to fool our people." Rafe couldn't help the loud snort that erupted out of him, shaking his head in disbelief. "Magic?" he interjected moving further into the room. "Kings and Queens? Guardians and magic? You really expect me to believe this shit?" He couldn't believe Caleb and Annie were doing this. He stared at them as if he'd never seen them before. Did the stranger hold them in his thrall somehow? Everything he was hearing was totally preposterous. "The Guardian left his queen to do her bidding," Gard continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, his voice cold and lifeless. "He was connected to his sister and her mate by a bond only death could break. The Council rose up against them. Every single wound, every single cry of pain drove The Guardian to his knees. It became too much for him. He hid the child alone in the forest and raced back to protect them. He was too late. Anakatrine and Callain were destroyed at the hands of their own people. He had failed his queen, his beautiful sister. Grieving he returned to complete her last edict. The child was gone, her blood soaked gown the only thing that remained of her. He had failed her too." Rhianna turned to him, slipping out of Caleb's grasp to wrap her arms around Gard as his pain crashed over her. She had always known that he blamed himself but this was the first time he had ever vocalised it. Despite her earlier anger at him for revealing his presence she couldn't let him hurt like this. Rafe watched his sister embrace the other man and he couldn't help the jealousy that coursed through him. He could see the deep affection between them, their similar colouring sparking his fear again. He dragged his gaze from them and saw Caleb watching him intently. There was compassion in his eyes as if he knew what he was thinking and feeling at that moment. "Even if this is all true, if I can suspend my disbelief, what does this have to do with anything today? This was millennia ago." Rafe's voice came out sounding raw as his fear ratcheted up as he took in the three people standing before him. Three...a triumvirate. The breath left his body in a painful gasp, denial ripping through him. "No!" he ground out hoarsely. "Annie? Tell me you're not implying what I think you are. Please!" "Rafe." Rhianna flew across the room to him as he sat down dazed in the armchair Gard had recently vacated. "I'm so sorry. I know this is hard for you, that it all feels unbelievable. If someone had told me all this five years ago, I would have felt the same way. It was only when Caleb awoke Anakatrine within me that I found out the truth. I wanted to tell you so badly. I know I should have but I was scared you wouldn't want me in your life any more." "It's not possible," he whispered his voice breaking as he stared down at her kneeling before him. She was his Annie, not some dead vampire queen. He was her brother, not this stranger in his home. He couldn't process it, couldn't believe the growing horror building up within him. "Annie, please don't say this is real. Tell me it's made up, that you're my baby sister. Don't take that away from me." He saw the truth in her eyes, heard it in the tortured sob that ripped from her throat as she reached for him. "No!" He pushed her away, standing up abruptly. Everything he had believed in was being ripped away. His whole life before he became a Were had been a vicious lie. His need to flee the pain consuming him was overwhelming. With an anguished roar he ran from the room, the house, and flew into the forest to try and outrun the knife carving into his soul. ***** Rhianna fell to the floor, loud wracking sobs ripping through her body as Rafe rejected her so vehemently. Caleb had her in his arms instantly, crushing her tightly as she wailed inconsolably. Gard stared down at them, hatred filling his soul as his sister crumpled under the impact of the wolf's rejection. Rage roared through him, inflamed by his already erratic emotions caused by Rayne. He took off after the wolf, ignoring Caleb's frantic cry and the tall, blonde female who appeared at the library door. "What's happening?" Lacey cried, her voice full of fear as she felt her mate's anguish and saw Rhianna disintegrating in Caleb's arms. Her brother met her gaze with a tortured one. "Stay with Annie," he ground out, reluctantly releasing his own mate. "I need to protect Rafe." He was gone in an instant, leaving the bewildered woman reaching for Rhianna. "Annie, tell me what's wrong," Lacey whispered shakily. "Tell me Rafe will be okay." Gard caught up with the wolf easily. His instincts were to rip it to shreds but he knew Anakatrine would hate him for eternity if he did so. She cared about this wolf, her anguished sobs testament to that. So he controlled his instincts and concentrated on subduing the Alpha before he did anything to cause himself some harm. That would destroy his sister and he had failed her enough in the past. He wouldn't do so again. He tackled the snarling animal, using his superior strength to pin it to the forest floor. He wasn't gentle with his methods but he didn't go out of his way to be brutal either. "I should kill you right now, dog, but it would destroy her if I did. Stop fighting me before I have to use more force than I wish to." The barked command was cold and deadly. It had the desired effect. The wolf stilled instantly though stayed tense. Gard didn't release his grip but he didn't tighten it either. For five years he had hated this man with a passion. Rafe Hanlon had had years of being with his sister, lost years when she had lived and Gard hadn't known about it. He had envied Rafe that time with her, hated him for having her laughter and her tears. Jealousy was a potent and often violent emotion. Gard had dreamed of the violence he could do to this wolf, all the while knowing he could never harm a hair on his head. He struggled for control of his emotions, surprised to find it was easier to control them around the wolf than it was the man. He took deep breaths, slowly cooling his temper, fighting down the urge to kill and be the only man Anakatrine called brother. It was hard but he managed it, the sound of her sobs never leaving him. She hurt because she craved this wolf's love. It was a shock to concede that the wolf hurt because he was losing something he held so dear to his heart. The woman called Rhianna Armand. Gard sat up, abruptly moving away from Rafe to lean his back against a thick tree trunk. He forced himself to think rationally, to subjugate his own feelings and see those around him. He had protected this pack because his sister loved every member of it. They were her family, the big Alpha even more than most. What he had never stopped to consider was how the pack felt about Rhianna. He had just accepted that they loved her because he loved her. He'd never considered just how much they loved her, how precious she was to them. In a long, slow heartbeat he suddenly understood the wealth of pain Rafe Hanlon must be feeling at having his sister suddenly wrenched away from him. He could relate to that because he had spent three thousand years feeling that same pain while he waited for Anakatrine to be reborn. "I can't describe to you how precious she is to me, Rafe," he finally said in a low voice not looking at the wolf. "To feel her die was an agony I've never fully recovered from. To find her again, a miracle I prayed for nightly. I know the pain of losing her and I know the joy of finding her again." He turned to the wolf and found the man looking back at him, his expression full of pain and distrust but he was at least listening. "I understand your pain. You love her as fiercely as I do. You feel you have lost her because she is more than your Annie now, something different. She will always be your Annie and she will always love you." "She isn't Annie any more," Rafe ground out hoarsely. "I don't recognise the woman she's becoming." His denial was absolute and Gard growled loudly. "Anakatrine has been awake for five years now," he countered in a hard tone. "Has your sister been missing those five years? You will only lose her if you choose to walk away from her. She is still Annie." ***** Rafe fought against the agony he was feeling. He forced himself to think back on the last five years, all the times spent with his sister, her demeanour, their laughter, their runs together in the forest. There hasn't been a hint of Anakatrine in those moments, just his Annie. He groaned loudly and lowered his head into his hands, weeping silently. The vampire was right and it ripped him apart to admit it to himself. Rhianna had never changed towards him and the pack. She had always been there for him. Yes, she had kept a secret of life changing importance to herself but from his reaction to finding out about it, she had good cause to. She had feared his rejection and he hadn't disappointed her. He'd run from her, broken her heart because he didn't want to face up to something so monumental it would take him years to wrap his head around it. His sister carried the soul of a reincarnated vampire queen. Caleb was undoubtedly Callain and Gard....he had as much claim to call Rhianna his sister as he did. It was so overwhelming the weight of it crushed down on top of him. He didn't know how the vampires would react to finding this out. He didn't know what it meant for his pack. At the moment all he knew was his Annie thought he didn't want anything more to do with her and that would be breaking her heart. "Everything okay?" Caleb's quiet words drew both their eyes. He stood tensely, ready to intervene if required but his expression clearly said he'd prefer not to. "Who's with Annie?" Rafe asked standing up and drying his eyes quickly. He straightened his spine and pushed down his conflicted emotions. He was Alpha to a pack. He couldn't go to pieces because he'd heard something he didn't like. "Lacey is with her." Caleb's gaze was intent, searching his face keenly. "If you can't deal with this yet, say so, Rafe. I can't have her hurting any more than she already is. We can meet again when you've had some time to digest the news and reach some accord with it." "You think I want her hurting any more than you do?" Anger flashed in Rafe's eyes but it was mainly directed towards himself. "I can handle this, Caleb. It just came as a shock. Surely all three of you can understand that? It's not every day you find out your sister is someone other than the woman you've loved her entire life." Caleb relaxed and his lips twitched slightly at the aggressive tone in Rafe's voice. It was a good sign that he could cope with the news. Now he had to work on ensuring that their secret remained hidden. "You need to keep this to yourself for now. It's not something we wish to become common knowledge. Lacey must know of course and Jared and Millie can be informed but the packs don't need to know anything at this time." Rafe strode past his brother, heading back to the house. "As long as it presents no danger to the pack then I'll agree to this. For Annie's sake. But if this impacts on Weres in anyway I will not keep quiet, Caleb." His tone brooked no argument and Caleb let it go at that, following behind with Gard at his side. Rafe pulled on a new pair of sweats and turned to the library. Lacey's eyes sought his desperately as she cradled Rhianna against her. His sister was still crying but it was silently now, her eyes red, her cheeks stained with her tears. "Rafe? Honey, are you okay?" Lacey's worried voice soothed down his emotions a bit more. He knelt on the floor beside them. "I'm fine, baby. Let me fix this." He was pulling Rhianna into his lap, dropping soft kisses on her wet cheeks. "I'm sorry, Annie," he whispered gently. "It was just such a shock. I didn't mean to turn away from you." "Rafe," she sobbed clinging onto him so tightly he knew she would mark him but his healing abilities would take care of that. "I don't want to lose you. I can't ever lose you again." A Long Walk Home Ch. 12 His heart twisted in his chest and he suddenly understood why she had been so afraid to tell him the truth. Once she had thought he was dead and it had almost broken her completely. That pain had never fully left her and was what drove her relentlessly to ensure he was always safe along with the pack. She would never do anything to endanger him or his people. "You couldn't ever lose me," he groaned softly rocking her gently as he kissed the top of her head. "You'll always be my Annie, my baby girl. Nothing and no one will ever be able to take that away. I swear it." His gaze connected with Gard's, his eyes hardening as he gave his sister all the reassurance she needed. For a moment they glared at each other and then the vampire slowly nodded his head, conceding they both had a valid claim to call this woman their sister. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 13 Once again my thanks to mikothebaby for giving up her time to edit for me. And please don't get exited about a page 3 LOL. Page 2 just overflowed a tiny bit :-) Enjoy. * Dayton wandered through the retreat his strength almost fully restored. Freya was gone when he woke up and for a moment he had panicked, thinking she had left for good but then he'd spied her cell phone on the table, her papers still scattered over it. The feeling of relief that had swept over him had been so intense he'd almost sunk to his knees. His emotions frightened him with their intensity. He's gone from hating Freya to knowing she was becoming vitally important to him, a part of his soul just as surely as Faith had been. If anything happened to her, if she left him as Faith had, he didn't think he would be able to stand that agony again. And it frightened him. His wolf growled in irritation and he shook himself slightly, wandering towards the door to Freya's room. Taking a deep breath he opened it and stepped fully into her personal, private showing of his artwork. She had opened up to him but he felt he still needed to learn about her, to understand what drove her. He could only capture her heart if he knew how to reach it. He knew instinctively it was something very hard to do. His mate had hidden inside herself for so long; it wouldn't be an easy task to tempt her back out again. He examined the art on the wall with an objective eye. He could remember painting every piece, the darkness inside him each time, driving him incessantly until he was exhausted and had nothing left to put into them. He'd used to paint the forest, draw charcoal portraits of his family and the Bryants. He'd stopped painting properly when all the joy had gone out of his life. It had all become about abstracts, fury and violent brush strokes, something that appealed to Freya. He was sitting on the bed, staring at the paintings when Freya returned, walking silently down the hallway towards him. He'd left the door open so she would know he was in her room. He had no intention of sneaking around behind her back. He turned to watch her as she reached the doorway. Her eyes were shuttered, her emotions hiding behind the serene mask she donned so easily. His breath caught as he looked at her exquisite face. She took his breath away with each glance in her direction. He knew he was totally lost to her. He didn't fight it, didn't want to. So many years of being alone was coming to an end. While he feared it on some levels, he welcomed it on others. He wanted to live again, to be free to laugh once more. "You were in Japan," he smiled softly, turning back to the paintings in front of him. "It was my best showing. I was surprised I sold so many paintings that week. I can see why now." She stepped into the room and moved silently to sit beside him. "I didn't see you there. I had no idea I was buying wolf art." The latter was said in a derisive tone. "Would it have stopped you buying them if you'd known?" He was curious to know how deep her prejudice ran for his kind. He knew she was prejudiced; she'd done little to hide that fact from him when they'd first met. She was silent for a long moment and then she turned to look at him. "No," she whispered, her mask slipping ever so slightly. "Each one called to me. I looked at them and I thought the artist was painting my soul. It was as if you'd reached inside me and pulled away all my barriers." Her voice faltered and she turned away again. "My favourite one was Blood. That one represented me as none of the others did." Dayton watched a tear trail down her cheek and he couldn't stop himself from reaching up and catching the teardrop on his finger. "Was your favourite?" He remembered painting it as if it were only yesterday. He had done so on the first anniversary of Faith's death. It had taken him decades to finally bring himself to show it. A part of him had been relieved when it had sold. "I destroyed it." Another tear fell as she whispered her admission. "It hung above my fireplace at home for years. After that night in the gallery...I knew I'd crossed the line. Nors came to the house. He was furious with me. He had every right to be, just as you did. I destroyed the house. And then I destroyed me." His heart broke at the raw pain in her voice. He didn't care about the painting, she could destroy every single painting in this room and he wouldn't care. His arms went around her and he pulled her close to him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "It doesn't matter. None of it matters any more, Freya. No one can change the past, we can only move on and create something better. I'm finally ready to do that. Are you?" Freya leaned against Dayton, savouring the warmth of his arms around her, the gentleness in his voice. It felt like he was asking her something important, that it truly mattered to him that she was willing to take a chance at life. She had caused him so much pain, destroyed his work and he didn't condemn her for it. It was wrong to let him ease her guilt but she couldn't pull away from him. "I'm scared," she whispered, her voice breaking. "What if I fail, Dayton? I tried so hard for Nors and Ashleigh and I still failed them. What if I'm just incapable of being the kind of person you're asking me to be?" "What if you can be?" he countered; his voice hoarse as her pain almost drove him to his knees. "What if you can be better than you've ever dared to hope? You're a fighter, Freya. You have to be or you'd never have survived as long as you have. You don't have to try alone. I'll be with you every step of the way if you let me." She stilled in his arms, a sharp intake of breath catching her off guard, almost making her choke with its suddenness. She raised her head to look at him, confusion on her face. "Why would you want to?" His answer was to kiss her. He couldn't stand seeing her pain, hearing it in her voice. He needed to make it go away so he parted her lips gently with his and tasted of her sweetness. His heart soared as she surrendered immediately, accepting his mouth against hers as if he had a right to touch her like this. He knew he did but he didn't think she knew it yet. Dayton finally pulled back, staring into her eyes. His hand touched the side of her neck lightly, gently brushing over the unblemished skin that had bled the day before. His gaze never wavered from hers. "Maybe it's my way of asking your forgiveness?" She knew what he was referring to and she was surprised at the regret she read in his eyes. He held himself accountable for that? "No forgiveness is required," she answered quietly. "You did not hurt me and it healed instantly." "I wanted to kill you, Freya." It was a tortured admission, full of self-loathing. She shouldn't laugh but she did; a soft tinkling sound that filled the depressing room with light. "Well, you make a terrible assassin then, Dayton. A good one doesn't change his throw at the last moment; he goes right for the target. And he doesn't forget that Ancients are not ordinary vampires. Even if you had gone for my throat that little knife wouldn't have slowed me down any. I was perfectly capable of protecting myself the entire time had I so wished to." He was astounded that she laughed off his attempt to kill her. A very male part of him was even a little put out that she laughed at his attempt. Not that he wanted her harmed in any way but a wolf's pride could still be dented at knowing his future mate was so much stronger than he was. Dayton wasn't used to many people being stronger than him. "Why do you keep kissing me?" she suddenly asked curiously, completely throwing him with the sudden change of topic. He barked out a short laugh. "Your mouth tastes good," he answered honestly. "And it's been a very long time since I've tasted a woman's lips. I'd forgotten how addictive they could be." He wanted to tell her how much he loved kissing his mate, how it consumed him entirely but he didn't think she was ready for that yet. "How long?" It was a demand plain and simple, intent eyes searching his face for the answer. It made him want to laugh again at the sheer possessive in her tone. She probably had no idea just what she was giving away in those two terse words. "No one since Faith," he admitted, watching her just as carefully as she was watching him. He caught the flicker of surprise that crossed her face, waited for her to mask her emotions as she usually did. He was surprised when her expression stayed open. "The cat?" This time her words held a trace of jealousy in them. His wolf preened even as the man groaned loudly and stood up. "Fuck!" he cursed, remembering his last words with his friend. "I need to call Rayne. She'll be wondering where I am, worrying about me." Freya froze inside at the tone of his voice. It was obvious he cared greatly about this other woman, the one he allowed to touch him when no one else was granted that privilege. She felt anger rear up inside her, followed closely by jealousy. Dayton Alexander confused the hell out of her. One moment he hated her, the next he acted as if he cared in some way. He had broken through her barriers, reached inside and pulled her kicking and screaming back to life. He'd let her feed from him, held her and kissed her until she forgot everything but the feel of his mouth against hers. For a second she had believed that maybe he was her salvation, that when his healing was complete he would be able to heal her too. One mention of the cat and she was forgotten completely. She hated the other woman with a vengeance. The urge to seek her out and rip her to pieces roared wildly inside her. It was instinctive, what the old Freya would do with anyone who threatened her in any way. Hurting the cat would hurt him though and he'd been through so much pain already. "Freya? I asked if I could borrow your cell." Dayton's words broke her out of the cycle of misery and violence she was experiencing. She rose gracefully, her expression closing off as she stepped around him. She caught a frown on his face but ignored it, heading back into the main room, silently castigating herself. She had been foolish to read something that wasn't there into his behaviour. If his choice was the other woman then she would find a way to accept it. The pain of thinking of him with anyone else was excruciating. It was worse than anything she could remember feeling before. It reinforced her thoughts about what love really was. She knew the emotion could be wonderful when two souls met that were meant to be together. She also knew that it was just a pipedream for herself. She wasn't meant to have that kind of love in her life. She was aware of Dayton following her silently, could feel he was tense and alert. Did he believe she was going to self-destruct again? She wasn't sure if she would or not herself. The wolf had asked her to fight. She had given him her word. She just prayed she had the strength not to let him down. Because despite everything, despite him preferring the cat over herself, she knew he cared enough about her that it would pain him if she didn't try. And she never wanted to cause him another moment's pain if she could avoid it. Freya waved at her cell, silently giving him permission as she headed into the kitchen to give him some privacy. They both knew she was being polite more than real privacy; she would be able to hear everything he said. He didn't appear to mind though but she still created as much noise as she could while she made them both a coffee, as she listened intently to his every word. Dayton picked up the phone and watched Freya retreat from him like a frightened cat. He knew he was going to have to try and get her to unbend where Rayne was concerned. His friend was important in his life and he wanted Freya to like her. At the moment he could sense that she viewed her as a threat. He had to ensure that the two women didn't come to blows. He dialled Rayne's number and waited for her to pick up as he mentally considered his options. He needed a plan of action with his future mate and he wasn't sure how to go about it. He was distracted when he heard Rayne's tentative greeting. "Rayne, it's me. I misplaced my cell. I'm using a friend's." He knew she would be confused at the strange number on her display "Dayton." It was a sigh of relief more than a spoken word. "Where are you? Are you okay?" His lips twitched in a smile and he felt relief wash over him. He'd been angry with her when they'd last spoken. He wasn't sure if she would be glad to hear from him again. But she was the same old Rayne, his best friend who selflessly thought of others before herself. "I had a bit of an accident but I'm mending now. Sorry it's taken me so long to get in touch." He heard a sharp intake of breath and then it was slowly released. She didn't ask unnecessary questions, taking his word that he was okay. "You sound different, Day." It was his turn to take a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I've let her go," he answered quietly. He thought he heard a muffled sob on the other end of the phone but he must have misheard because Rayne didn't cry, ever. "Oh, Day, I'm so pleased to hear that. It's been a long time coming and I'm glad I was still here when it finally happened. Welcome home, honey." Dayton sat up straight, every nerve in his body suddenly wired. Something was wrong in her voice. The words seemed fine but there was a hint of finality about her last statement that seeped into his brain and had him on alert status in the blink of an eye. "What's wrong?" he demanded, his heart kicking up a beat as worry started to flood him. "I've only been gone a few days. What kind of trouble could you get yourself into in that short a period?" It was a stupid question. It was Rayne he was talking to. She was unpredictable at the best of times. "It's time for me to move on," she answered after a brief pause. "I don't know when I'll be back this way or even if I will be. I'm just glad I got to witness you moving on with your life, Day. I can't tell you how much joy that brings me, knowing you will be fine without me hovering over you every five minutes." He uttered a choked cry, unable to help himself. She couldn't be leaving for good. Not Rayne. She had always been there for him even if he hadn't wanted her to be. Something really bad must have happened. "You can't!" He blurted the words out even as he knew there was nothing he could do to stop her. She came and went as she pleased, always had and always would. He swallowed hard and tried to dampen down the pain he was feeling. "Rayne, listen to me. Please don't leave until we've had the chance to have a proper talk. I don't know what's happened but I'm sure whatever it is we can work through it together. Let me help." "You can't fix this, Day." Rayne's voice was so sad it almost brought a tear to his eye. "I appreciate you want to but it can't be done." Anger replaced his pain, a fierce rush of fury so hot he thought he'd explode with it. "Coward!" He literally hissed the word at her. "Fifty fucking years you refused to let me drown and at the first hint of trouble you're running away? What about the Alpha bond, Rayne? How far do you think you can run from that? You're pack now. We need you. The children need you. Are you going to leave them to their fate? You know none of us can help them the way you can. I thought that was what you did, help people who need it?" The connection went dead and he cursed loudly, struggling not to damage the phone. With exaggerated carefulness, he placed it on the table in front of him, his thoughts whirling madly. Rayne couldn't run away. It was just wrong. She didn't take the coward's way out, she was stronger than that. He had no idea if his words had gotten through to her or not. No idea if he would ever see her again. That thought hurt him more than he thought possible. "Do you love her?" Freya's calm words broke through his whirling thoughts and he turned his head to see her standing looking down at him. He could hear a trace of fear in her voice even though her expression was blank. His wolf growled loudly and he ran a weary hand through his hair. "Sit down, Freya." There was a hint of command in his tone. He hadn't meant it to be there but he was feeling so frazzled at the moment he couldn't help it. He was surprised when she did as he asked, taking the chair next to him. "Yes, I love her," he admitted out loud for the first time ever. "But I'm not in love with her," he clarified at the sudden intake of breath that told him this mattered greatly to his vampire. "Rayne is...hard to explain. I suppose she's my best friend. I've known her for what feels like forever. She's kept me sane when all I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and never come out again. She's important to me, Freya, but as a friend not as a woman. I've never kissed her or ever wanted to. I don't think of her that way. You're the only woman I've kissed since I lost Faith." Freya swallowed hard, her tumultuous emotions having her so off balance she didn't know how to react to them. Hearing the anguish in Dayton's voice as he spoke to the cat had ripped her apart inside. It was obvious he cared for her greatly. She'd had to ask the question because she needed to know the answer. Now he was telling her that the cat was just a friend, someone he was close to and didn't want to lose. He was a very caring man when he let himself feel. She also felt he was an honest man too. He'd certainly never hid any of his erratic emotions from her. She was the only woman he had kissed? Was he trying to tell her something she wasn't fully hearing? Or was it just wishful thinking on her part? "You need to go back," she finally said. It was obvious he was concerned for this Rayne, that his need to protect his friend was very strong. She couldn't stand in the way of that need. It was who he was as a person, the old Dayton coming to the fore as he shed the last of his grief. "Come with me." He didn't deny that he needed to leave because he did. He had to find Rayne and help her through whatever was troubling her. But he couldn't leave Freya either. He didn't want to be without her and she wasn't ready to be alone yet. She needed him whether she knew it or not. Her long thick lashes covered her eyes for a brief moment, hiding whatever was lurking inside them before fluttering back up to meet his gaze. She nodded once, rising from her chair. "It will be quicker if we run. I can carry your clothes for you if you want." He rose too and reached for her, brushing her lips gently with his in a soothing kiss. He knew this was hard for her and he was proud of her strength. He was surprised she had agreed so easily but overjoyed that she had. He'd set himself a monumental task, trying to save the two women who meant the world to him. He only hoped he was up to the task after being so closed off for so long. His hands went to his shirt and he started unbuttoning it as she turned away and quickly gathered her papers into a canvas pack she produced from the kitchen. The way she deliberately avoided looking at him as he stripped naked made his lips curl in a small smile. "Promise you won't try to ravish me," he teased lightly, causing her to look at him with a startled expression on her face before the most adorable blush fanned across her cheeks as she took in his nudity. "I think I can contain myself," she remarked dryly, averting her gaze to take his clothes and put them in her pack. "Bummer," he muttered under his breath knowing full well she could hear him. Her reaction to his light teasing was delightful. It completely threw her and he realised this was the direction he needed to take with her. Freya didn't know how to play. He was going to teach her just how much fun it was. Once he'd found Rayne and worked out just what the hell was going on. A Long Walk Home Ch. 13 He shifted to wolf form and waited for his mate to lock up the retreat. Then they took off into the trees, vampire and wolf flying through the forest at breakneck speed. "I'll point out the traps for you," Freya remarked in a droll voice, just the smallest hint of teasing creeping into her tone. The wolf growled loudly in response, his disdain clear to hear. A wide smile crossed her lips as she ran beside him. This felt right, the feeling of peace within her almost perfect in its sweetness. She wanted to run with this wolf for eternity. She wanted the peace that only he could give her. As she ran she dared to dream that maybe one day she could have what she craved so badly. ***** "Aunt Freya!" The loud shriek was accompanied by the sound of little feet hitting the dirt as Liam raced towards Dayton and Freya as they walked into the compound. They'd stopped long enough for Dayton to revert to his human form and dress, choosing a more sedate end to their long run. Freya was surprised by the strong surge of emotion that rushed through her as her nephew ran towards her. His pleasure at seeing her was uninhibited, the enthusiasm of a child who had yet to learn to guard his emotions to protect himself. She would have had to be made of ice not to reach down for this small child and gather him up in her arms. He clung onto her fiercely; laughing in delight as she carefully cradled him against her. She was always careful with her touch with him; terrified she would hold him too tightly and accidentally hurt him. "Missed you," he whispered against her neck dropping little kisses wherever he could. They tickled and she found herself struggling to contain her laughter at his touch. She wasn't normally one to laugh but she was doing it more often these days. She found it a little unsettling but also invigorating. "I didn't expect to find you at the compound," she said gently. "In light of some recent developments, we thought it best to remain here until a solution could be found," Nors answered from the doorway to the Alpha's house, his gaze searching his sister's face intently. She raised an inquiring eyebrow, wondering what developments he was talking about. Her protective instincts kicked in and she tightened her grip on Liam just a little more. If anyone thought to harm her nephew she would quickly disabuse them of that notion. Nors strode down the steps and approached her quietly. "There is no outside threat," he said gently, seeing the building fury in her eyes and wanting to alleviate it. He touched her cheek gently, soothing her as he always did. "I'm glad you're home, Freya." She leaned into his touch, feeling relief flood through her at his constant love and support. "I'm glad to be home, Nors." He smiled then, genuine warmth crossing his face as he kissed the top of her head and extracted his son from her arms. "I cleaned up the house, arranged new furniture. The kitchen and bathrooms will be completed at the weekend. You made quite a mess." He turned and headed into the house. "You didn't need to do that." She followed after him, Dayton a step behind her remaining silent as he watched the siblings interact for the first time. He knew how important Nors was to her. He wanted to get a feel for their relationship so he wouldn't inadvertently step on any toes and cause issues later on. "I didn't but I wanted to. You needed a home to come back to. Ash would prefer if you moved in with us. She is being quite insistent on that point so be prepared for it. Be gentle with your refusal. If you hurt her feelings I won't be pleased." She stumbled in surprise, Dayton hands around her waist the only thing that kept her upright. Nors turned, his eyes quickly taking in the proprietary hold of the wolf, the way his sister did not automatically pull away. He managed to hide the shock from his expression, meeting Dayton's gaze with a cool one of his own. He couldn't help being concerned by what he was witnessing. The wolf had been damaged beyond repair only days ago, now he was making a claim that he instantly recognised but his sister probably had no idea about. If Dayton was unable to go through with this, if Freya allowed herself to care and it went to shit, it would break her completely. "Aunt Freya doesn't hurt so bad any more, Daddy. Neither does Dayton." Liam's words whispered in his head for the first time and he looked down at his son in surprise, awed at the sound of his mental voice and also his words. "You will tell me if she hurts?" He should have felt bad about asking a two year to do this but he was quickly coming to realise his son was a remarkable individual despite his tender years. While he was still childlike is most aspects, when it came to other people's emotions he had a level of maturity which was almost frightening. He had worked tirelessly to try and ease his Aunt's suffering on his own. Now he had his parents to help him. "She's going to be okay, Daddy. I know she will because she's not alone any more." Liam was so confident that Nors felt himself relax, his gaze softening slightly as he looked back at Dayton. His nod was almost imperceptible but it was there, his silent acknowledgement of the wolf's claim to his sister. "I've managed to arrange for your painting to be repaired too," he said as if nothing untoward had just happened. "The restorer said it was a bit of a mess but was confident she could have it back to its former glory." Freya felt Dayton's hand tighten on her waist and instead of moving away as she should she leaned back against him, knowing that the news of the painting meant something to him. He'd said it didn't matter that she'd destroyed it and she believed he meant it at the time. But it was obvious that having it repaired did matter to him a great deal. The sound of more footsteps broke their connection as he dropped his hands from her and she took a step forward to complete their separation. She felt instantly bereft and her heart twisted hard. She was craving his touch as she'd craved no other. Nors was sharp enough to notice her confusion and would most probably ask her about it. She wasn't sure how she was going to answer him when he did. "Ah, you're both back." Rafe said as he walked down the stairs. "I'd like to see both of you in the library." It wasn't a request and Freya automatically balked at his tone. She didn't know where the Alpha got off thinking he could order her around as if she was a pack member. Dayton's hand on the small of her back surprised her. She was walking where he nudged her before she even knew what she was doing. She shot him an irritated glare but he only gave her a half smile and continued to urge her to follow Rafe into the library. The Alpha appeared to be distracted as he sat behind his desk and waved at them to sit. Dayton retrieved a chair from a corner and placed it in front of the desk. He stood behind it as Freya glared at him again before she sat down facing Rafe. His smile grew slightly as he rested his hands on the back of the chair, his fingers grazing the nape of her neck soothingly. He felt some of her tension subside. "You are causing me a problem." Rafe's intense gaze was focused on the vampire, a slight tightening of his lips signalling his displeasure. "Now, I know you're an Ancient and think you're all that but your behaviour is unacceptable. You can hiss and spit at me all you like but you're not leaving this room until we get a few things straight. Nors and Ashleigh are pack. They're my responsibility and anything that hurts them hurts me, which effectively makes you my responsibility too." Freya gaped at him in shock, her mouth falling open. She couldn't believe the way the wolf was talking to her. It was outrageous. His words were just as bad as his tone. Who the hell did he think he was? The only thing that was stopping her flying over the desk at him was the heat from Dayton's fingers stroking gently against her skin. It was keeping her grounded, soothing the fury that was suddenly rushing through her. "Caleb's back," Rafe continued, ignoring her volatile reaction. "He knows something's wrong. I've managed to convince him to allow me to deal with it so for now you get to keep your head, Freya." The deep growl that erupted from Dayton's mouth drew his eyes to the other man and he studied him quickly before filing away the information he'd gleaned. He dropped his gaze back to the vampire. She was sitting rigidly, a careful mask covering her emotions. "What? Did you forget what happened in The Council chambers five years ago, Freya? You were there too. Any vampire who caused harm to any Were would be executed on the spot. No excuses, no justification, instant execution. You hurt Dayton. Did you think because you're an Ancient that somehow gave you a free pass? Not in Caleb's eyes it doesn't. There are no exceptions. The only reason you're still alive is because it would kill Nors if anything happened to you. Ashleigh and Liam too." Dayton's hands tightened on the nape of her neck, fury raging through him. He'd had no idea what transpired years ago because he'd segregated himself from his people. Hearing what had been decreed terrified him as well as infuriated him. No one would harm his mate. He didn't give a flying fuck who it was. "Freya caused me no hurt." He didn't know how he kept his voice level but the cold steel within it was unmistakable. "I've made no official complaint and have no intention to. So you can stop threatening her and tell Caleb Cullen that he'd better stay away from her." Rafe sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers and tapping them lightly against his lips as he took in the way Dayton's hands now rested protectively on Freya's shoulders, his entire body language that of a wolf ready to defend his mate at the slightest provocation. The man before him was no longer the man who had come hesitantly into his pack. He had no idea just what had occurred between him and the vampire but it had to have been something profound. Although he was perturbed by the suddenness of the transformation, he couldn't help feeling pleased about it too. Dayton had been a strong Beta to Jared from all he'd heard of the man. It appeared that Beta was surfacing swiftly. "I've already spoken to Caleb," he finally said. "He acknowledges Freya is pack. I was just unprepared for how much pack she really was." His words were meant for Dayton, letting him know that he was aware what was transpiring even if the woman with them appeared clueless. He wanted to sigh deeply at the prospect of becoming Freya's Alpha. He would almost have preferred Demetri over the volatile woman, though only almost. "As long as it's crystal clear," Dayton pushed. He knew he wasn't being very respectful to his Alpha but he needed to make sure there were no misunderstandings. He would choose Freya over the pack if it came to it. It wouldn't be an easy choice but he'd walked away once before. He would walk away again if it was the only way to ensure her safety. Freya was getting seriously irritated by the way the two men appeared to be talking over her in riddles. Dayton's defence of her was staggering, the way his hands held her shoulders both soothing and also confusing. He kept touching her when least expected. She wondered if it was a wolf thing. She knew they were quite tactile. It was one of the reasons she hated being around the compound, it made her feel uncomfortable. And yet, Dayton's touch didn't. It soothed her and made her feel warm inside. Her irritation and confusion increased and she sat forward, dislodging his hands as she pinned the Alpha with a hard gaze. "I don't need a pack of dogs to protect me. You have no right speaking to anyone on my behalf. You have no claim over me. I am not pack nor will I ever be. If Caleb has an issue with me then I will deal with it personally." She turned her head to look back at Dayton, her irritation increasing at the amused expression on his face. "I don't need you to defend me either," she bit out. "But it feels good, doesn't it?" he countered, his smile never faltering as she glared at him. She had no intention of letting him know just how good it felt. And she was annoyed her displeasure was only making him smile more. He had to know that when he smiled his entire face lit up and he became even more gorgeous, more sexy and desirable. He was baiting her deliberately. "Whether or not you feel you need our protection is a moot point," Rafe said quietly. "You have it so deal with it. Now I need to have a private word with Dayton. I'm sure your family is anxious to catch up. Just try and stay out of any trouble that will make my life too difficult, Freya. I know you won't be able to resist completely but if you could keep it down to the minimum I'd appreciate it." It was so clearly a dismissal that she could only gape at him again in complete shock. For a moment she seriously considered doing some bodily harm to the wolf and then Dayton's hands once more circled her waist and she went rigid with shock when he spun her around and kissed her soundly in front of the Alpha. It wasn't a brief kiss by any means. It was hot, passionate and stole the breath out of her body so she had to cling onto him limply to stop her knees from buckling. "Remember what Nors said," he whispered against her lips. "Let Ashleigh down gently. She cares about you and only wants to help you. Don't throw it in her face." She swallowed hard, staring into his dark blue eyes, fascinated by the light she saw dancing within their depths. Her confusion increased but her irritation soothed greatly as he held her close. She wanted to promise him the world in that moment, anything so she could see his eyes dancing with such merriment. It was hard to pull herself out of his arms, hard to nod her head in acquiescence to the Alpha, but she did it for Dayton, because it would make him happy. "I will contain myself," she answered grudgingly turning and walking out of the room as quickly as she could. "You've given yourself a tough task," Rafe commented as the door closed and Dayton took the seat Freya had vacated. "And me the worst headache ever. She's a lot of hard work." Dayton met his Alpha's gaze squarely. He knew the other man was aware that he was claiming Freya as his mate. Despite his words he didn't appear to be as worried as he made out. "She's worth it," he answered firmly. "You were hard on her." It was an accusation even though it was said calmly. "She needs softness from her mate, discipline from her Alpha. I won't apologise for it. She understands strength, values it. She'll give me no respect until she comes to see me as deserving of it." He had a valid point. Dayton was forced to concede that, even if he disliked the way Rafe spoke to her. When he mated with Freya the Alpha bond would snap in place instantly. She would truly become pack and if she didn't respect Rafe then it would cause problems. "Was this what you wished to speak to me about?" He didn't know Rafe well as a person, though he was aware he was a good Alpha from all Aaron and Cedar had told him. He was sure he had questions that he wanted to ask him about finding a second mate. It happened so rarely that it was classed as something special when it did. Rafe laughed loudly. "No, though it has piqued my curiosity," he admitted. "Second matings are something to be celebrated though your choice could have been a little less volatile." He held up his hand when Dayton opened his mouth the protest. "Don't get me wrong. I have no ill feelings towards Freya. She has my eternal gratitude for doing the impossible, bringing you home to us. She will make pack life lively but she is fiercely protective of those she loves. We are strengthened by her addition and that is always a good thing." "Then what did you want to talk to me about?" Dayton was confused. He couldn't think what his Alpha would need him for when there was so many other strong members of the pack to do his bidding. Rafe frowned deeply and ran a hand through his hair. "Certain revelations have come to light since you've been gone. I can't speak of them directly but I can say they are staggering. You know about the children. I'm assuming Rayne told you everything as you're so close. I need to know where she is. We need her guidance in how best to deal with the abilities the children are displaying. Do you know where she is?" It was Dayton's turn to frown at the mention of his friend. He'd come back to the compound expecting her to be there. If Rafe was looking for her too then he had no idea where she would be. She never revealed where she stayed when she was in town. "I don't know," he admitted, concern creeping into his voice. "I spoke to her earlier and could tell something was wrong. It's why we came back, so I could talk to her. I thought she would be here." "No one's seen her. She vanished the day Caleb and Annie came home. I believe Gard knows something though what it is I have no idea. He won't speak to anyone about it, not even Annie." "Gard?" Dayton had never heard the name before. He knew who Caleb and Annie were, everyone did. This other man was a surprise though. "He's a friend of my sister's," Rafe answered carefully. "An Ancient vampire; with some skills that appear to be similar to the children. I don't know much about him except he's been watching over the pack for a few years. I believe he's had some contact with Rayne since she's been here. I suspect possibly a romantic entanglement though I have no confirmation of that." Rayne...bedding a vampire? The thought was so absurd that Dayton almost burst out laughing. And then he thought of himself. If anyone had told him a month ago he would be claiming a vampire as his mate he would have died laughing. Lord, had Rayne found her own mate in this Gard? Was that why she felt the need to run? She didn't liked being caged in anyway. He could understand her flight instincts kicking in to some degree but she was smart enough to know she couldn't run from the mate bond. There had to be some other reason she was running. "She was talking about moving on, Rafe. She may already have done so. Rayne is searching for something. I don't think she even knows what it is but it's a compulsion within her. For a moment I thought she had found it here but something's spooked her. When she shadows herself no one can find her. I don't even know how to begin tracking her down if she doesn't want to be found." Rafe sighed deeply and leaned forward on the desk. "I know one man who can," he said quietly. "If she remains in human form. Gard at least told us that much. Apparently if she shifts to her panther and then shadows herself she drops off even his radar. Caleb can see through her abilities too but he won't leave Annie's side at the moment. I guess our only option is to ask Gard to try and track her." "But if he's the one she's running from she'll revert to panther and slip away," Dayton argued. "Let me try to find her. She trusts me, cares about me, maybe enough that she won't leave without coming to see me one last time." The Alpha considered for a moment and then nodded. "It's not just the pack that needs her, Dayton. She needs us too. Try and convince her of that." He nodded and stood up, anxious to find Freya before he went looking for Rayne. "Oh, and Dayton, let me know when you're ready to officially accept the position of Beta within the pack." Rafe's parting words had his head turning back, a slight feeling of unease flowing over him. His Alpha appeared certain that he would be staying. He acknowledged that finding his mate in Freya was a step closer to coming home for good. He just didn't know if she could survive being part of a pack. A Long Walk Home Ch. 13 Any decisions he made would have to hinge on what was best for his mate. He nodded his agreement anyway. Just knowing his new Alpha was according him the honour of such a high rank despite barely knowing him pleased his wolf greatly. He headed out the library, looking for his mate. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 14 mikothebaby thank you once more for editing for me. I have tweaked the chapter so any mistakes are my own. Enjoy! * "For the love of all that's holy would you two stop growling at each other?" Caleb's words rang through the sitting room, startling Rhianna and earning an irritated snort from Gard. His mate turned wintry eyes on him, her lips tightening in a firm line. It was enough to drag a weary sigh from him. The atmosphere in the house had been unbearable. Rhianna was still angry at her brother for forcing her hand to reveal herself. Gard was pissed about something he wasn't willing to talk about and failing to back down in the face of his sister's displeasure. "Annie, what's done is done. Rafe is adapting well to everything he's learned as is Lacey, Jared and Millie. It's unfortunate they had to find out the way they did but growling at Gard every five minutes isn't going to turn the clock back." His tone was firm, his usual patience almost at an end. He could feel her conflicted emotions through their bond, had heard her pacing back and forth at night when she thought he was sleeping. It was driving him crazy because he couldn't help her work through her issues. He hated feeling so helpless. "You think I'm mad because of that?" Rhianna gaped in surprise, her tone incredulous. "I'm mad because he is hurting and refusing to talk about what's bothering him." She pointed a finger at her brother though her gaze never left her mate's. "Stupid idiotic males! Think you're all so tough and can deal with everything on your own!" Her eyes suddenly turned to her brother. "Well you can't and as soon as you start realising that, I'll start calming down. Talk, Gard." "I have nothing I wish to discuss." It was the same curt statement he'd delivered time and time again to his sister. Lavender eyes clashed and then Rhianna let out a frustrated shriek and left the room in a wave of fury. Caleb let out a long weary sigh and regarded his brother with a hard look. "This has got to end. I don't give a fuck whether you want to talk or not. You are going to tell her something, anything, and make her believe what you're saying is what's really bothering you." "Or what?" Gard growled dangerously. He coiled his big body tensely, on his feet in an instant as his eyes began to glow with his own anger. "Or I'm going to trash this room using you to do so," Caleb answered, his voice chilling. "And then she's going to be pissed at me so I'm going to have to trash something else with your help once again. I will continue on doing so until my mate is happy once more. I hope I'm making myself perfectly clear." He saw the dangerous flash in Gard's eyes but he didn't care. He'd always thought his Annie in tears was the worst thing he could be forced to endure. That was before she'd vanished completely and was replaced by the bundle of fury she currently was. This wasn't his Annie and he wanted his mate back. If kicking the living daylights out of Gard was the only way he was going to achieve it then he would. He waited for Gard to attack, was certain he was going to do so and was prepared to carry out his threat. When the other man backed down he blinked in surprise. "Crystal," Gard barked out before he too swept out of the room leaving him alone. Caleb knew something important had just occurred. His complicated relationship with Gard had hovered between them for years. His brother acquiescing to him had finally formalised their boundaries. Gard was acknowledging Caleb's right as his former king and mate to Annie. There would be no more confusion on the matter. He wanted to go search for his mate but he knew he needed to give brother and sister some time together. Instead he grabbed his car keys and left the house. Maybe if he wasn't around they would be able to scream at each other or whatever it was they needed to do to resolve their problem. His protective instincts always kicked in and he couldn't stay out of it when they started on each other. He was effectively doing more harm than good. With a glance back at the house he climbed into his car and headed over to Demetri's. He hadn't been at work for days and figured he could use the time to catch up with anything that may need his attention. ***** Rhianna hated feeling the way she was. It was frustrating and unnecessary and she knew it was driving Caleb insane. She was amazed it had taken him so long to blow. He must have been gritting his teeth for days trying not to react to her temper. She would need to make it up to him but first she would need to try and find a way to get rid of the negative emotions she was feeling. Gard's pain was killing her. She could feel it every moment of every day and it was like a knife in her gut. He was hurting so badly though to look at him it was hard to tell. But she could feel it deep inside and he wouldn't talk to her about it. She had thought Rafe's pain was unbearable to endure. Her brother had amazed her with his acceptance once he'd gotten over his shock. She had thought everything was going to be fine now that hurdle was over but she hadn't counted on Gard becoming an issue. He was clearly resentful of Rafe and that concerned her. Her fear was escalating daily because she didn't know if his withdrawal was in direct relation to her Were brother. If the two of them went head to head, if they put her in a position of having to choose between them, she didn't know if she could survive that. She loved them both so much. "Anakatrine." "Annie! My name is bloody Annie! How many times do I need to tell you that, Gard? When will you start listening to me?" A loud snort greeted her angry words and she pushed away from the kitchen counter and walked across the room to sit at the dining table taking a deep breath to try and regain some control. "Annie's full of love and laughter, a happy little thing who doesn't fail to draw everyone under her spell. Don't see much sign of her at the moment so I figure Anakatrine is most definitely in residence." Gard's tone was mocking as he sat down across from her, forcing her to look at him. She was silent for a very long time and then her shoulders slumped and she let out a deep sigh. "You're driving me insane," she whispered wearily. "Did you forget the bond, Gard? I feel everything you're feeling. It's killing me." Shock rocked through him and his own hard expression suddenly melted away to be replaced with one of horror. "I've been blocking," he said hoarsely. He'd known the bond had reformed. That was how he'd tracked her down all those years ago. In the past they had always been able to block each other when required. He'd been doing so religiously for days. "Well, it's not working for some reason," she answered, tartness still in her tone. "I don't feel you or Caleb when you block. You shouldn't be able to feel me, Annie. Not unless you're much stronger this time around." He was aghast at the prospect. She had always been powerful but if she was even more so, then there was no telling just what she could do now. "I don't want to be stronger. I just want to be your sister and to help you with whatever is hurting you so much. Please, Gard." Her eyes filled with moisture and he let out a groan and reached for her hand, enclosing it tightly in his. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you could feel me. No wonder Caleb's just threatened to demolish the house using me as the wrecking ball." That brought a startled gasp from his sister and he squeezed her hand gently and gave her a smile. "It's okay. I know when to back down." "Poor Caleb. He doesn't deserve me." Gard agreed with her but not in the way she'd meant it. As far as he was concerned no one was good enough for his sister, not Callain or Caleb, but he was the best that walked the planet and he was her choice. He would concede to Caleb because that was what would make her happy. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Her name is Rayne," he said quietly looking down at their joined hands. "You haven't met her yet but I know you'll like her. She's feisty, independent, incredibly beautiful and as sexy as sin. When I'm with her, she is all that exists in my world. You told me to find love and I did. But she ran from me, discovered a way to hide so I can't track her. Being apart from her is tearing me up inside." "The wildcat?" Rhianna gasped softly. She'd heard all about her, knew that there was some suspicion that she could be a hybrid child. She had kept her own counsel on that point, waiting to meet Rayne before she spoke her thoughts on it. Hearing that Gard had found his mate in her both filled her with elation and also dread. If Rayne was who she suspected she was, then Gard's pain would only increase rather than lessen when it was revealed. "Are you sure?" Her brother met her gaze. "Completely. She's mine, Annie. It doesn't matter if she tries to deny it. We belong together. She's aware of it too. When we made love she claimed me with a word. A Were can't take back that word." She swallowed, dread washing over her at the total conviction in his voice. "Gard...I don't know how to say this." Rhianna couldn't continue, swallowing again as she tried to make herself speak. Her tension transmitted to him and unease flitted across his face. "Say it," he demanded his fingers tightening around hers. "You know who she is, don't you? If she's as old as she claims to be there can be no other explanation." She watched the haunted expression in his eyes, saw denial clashing with the truth. "You can't deny it, Gard. You must have known the moment her uniqueness became evident." Gard shook his head, releasing her hand and looking away as he fought her words. He couldn't admit it to himself, couldn't allow the truth to surface because if it did, if he let himself believe then he didn't think he could live with the knowledge. "You can't hide from this, brother," Rhianna whispered sadly. "I know," he groaned hoarsely, his expression so haunted it ripped at her heart. "I think I've always known but it was only after Rafe found out about me, when he was telling you about the children that everything finally clicked into place. If Rayne truly is a hybrid child then there is really only one child she could be." "Oh, Gard!" Rhianna moved around the table, wrapping her arms around him, understanding the extreme pain she'd been feeling for days now. He had left Rayne in the forest to try and save his sister. He had abandoned an infant, believed he had been responsible for her death all these centuries. To find out the child had lived and he hadn't protected her would be bad enough. To discover that child was his destined mate and he had betrayed her would be an agony beyond imagining for a man whose very core was to be a guardian. "I left her," Gard choked out staring down at the table. "All those centuries she's been alone not knowing who or what she was. Three thousand years, Annie. She's walked alone her entire life because I left her." That knowledge would torture his soul for eternity. She held him tightly, tears rolling down her face as he let go and clung to her. She was the only person he would allow himself to be vulnerable around. That was until he found Rayne. But his mate wasn't there right now so he wept silently in his sister's arms, releasing the overwhelming guilt he felt for his past actions. "She will forgive you," Rhianna whispered gently, tightening her hold on him. "She's your mate. She has to forgive you because if she doesn't it will rip her apart inside. We'll find her somehow. We'll make her understand." Gard wished he had her faith. He wanted to believe his sister but he couldn't. How could Rayne ever forgive him when he couldn't even begin to forgive himself? ***** It was a subdued Annie Caleb came home to later. He found her in their bedroom, staring sightlessly at the ceiling. It was clear she had been crying and he had to fight down the urge to go looking for Gard. He knew they were alone which meant he must have gone home. Silently he slid onto the bed and gathered her into his arms, feeling a shiver run through her as she came eagerly into his embrace. "Do I need to kill him?" his voice came out sounding hoarse, his heart breaking at her misery. He was surprised when she giggled against his chest. "You never change, Caleb," she sighed softly. "Still so overprotective even after all this time." She raised herself up on her elbow so she could look down at him. "Rayne's the first hybrid child. She's also Gard's mate." "Sweet Jesus!" he groaned loudly, concern crossing his face. "No wonder he's wound so tight. Fuck, Annie, this is turning into a nightmare." She lowered her forehead to his and sighed deeply. "I know. We have to help them. I've had to initiate a reverse block to tune Gard out. I'm more sensitive this time around so although he was blocking it was having no effect on me. Hence, the bitch from hell routine." She shot him a rueful smile, regret on her face. His response was to pull her down so he could attack her lips in a long slow kiss which melted her from the inside out. "I'll forgive you as long as you forgive me for threatening Gard. I know he will have told you about that." She rolled her eyes and kissed him gently. "Deal," she whispered against his mouth, a small sigh escaping her. "What are we going to do, Caleb? I told him she would forgive him. What if she doesn't? I can't stand seeing him in so much pain." He rolled her onto her back, smoothing back her tangled curls gently. "I know you love him and want to help him, sweet one, but this is his battle. He and Rayne are going to have to work this one out between them. You have to step back and let them do so." "But..." "No buts, Annie. You can't right every wrong in the world. You can't become so involved in everyone else's lives that you forget to live you own. The last few days must surely have taught you that. I want my Annie back." She groaned and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth to hers once more. "I'm sorry." Her breath whispered against his lips and he groaned too. "Show me how much." It was a blatant demand, his body pressing hard against hers making it more than clear which form he wanted her apology to take. She choked off a laugh, desire igniting instantly as he slid between her thighs and pressed his erection intimately between her legs. "You have a one track mind sometimes, Caleb Cullen." There was more than a hint of amusement in her voice. "Thankfully we're always on the same track," he chuckled lightly, his fingers making short work of her top, baring her breasts for his eager attention. "Do you know I haven't touched these beauties in almost three days?" His hands captured the soft globes, squeezing gently. His tone was more than affronted at being denied the pleasure of her body. His petulant tone made her laugh out loud even as his soft stroking of her heated flesh brought a moan from her lips. "Maybe you should make up for lost time?" she whispered huskily as her back arched to meet his descending mouth. "Oh, I intend to," he mumbled against her softness, his tongue beginning a slow torturous swirl around her hard peak. He suckled it into his mouth, his touch gentle for a few seconds before he became firmer. He had her writhing deliciously in next to no time, treating each breast to a wicked form of torture as he alternated between being gentle and then rougher. He focused entirely on her breasts, breathing in the sweet scent of her arousal but never going anywhere close to where he knew she wanted him to be. "You are such a tease!" she complained, trying to urge him lower as fire raged through her body and damp heat exploded between her legs. "And you love every minute of it," he laughed, finally stripping off her jeans and panties, running his tongue against the soft skin of her inner thighs. "Caleb!" The tortured wail had him laughing harder. It also had his cock throbbing painfully hard in his jeans. He loved his name on her lips. It didn't matter what tone she used, just hearing her call to him made his heart soar. Her hands threaded in his hair trying to urge him close to her succulent flesh which was crying out for his touch. He removed them forcefully, sliding up her body to press her arms above her head. "Keep your hands to yourself or I'll find an alternative bed to sleep in tonight," he warned, his eyes flashing with amusement as hers widened in shock. "I mean it, Annie. You apologise by letting me do what I want. No negotiations." "If I didn't love you so much I would tell you to piss off," she grumbled loudly but there was laughter in her voice and desire too. He knew she loved it when he took control. She always protested but succumbed so easily as he stroked her to orgasm. He began to love her delectable body slowly, teasing her with light touches designed to drive her wild. It was an exercise in self-control not to strip himself naked and thrust hard inside her. He was desperate to feel her welcome him in deep, but he had days to make up for and he was going to take his time pleasuring his woman. Rhianna cried out and arched up as he slid two long fingers deep inside her. She was hot and wet and ready for him. He teased her with light touches and then his thumb brushed her clit as he drove hard into her body. She cried out loudly, her body trembling as he tipped her over the edge and she soared with her climax, pleasure dancing across her beautiful face. This was how he loved to see his mate, lost in the pleasure of her body, forgetting everything for a few brief seconds as he rocked her world and took her to Heaven. His mouth replaced his fingers as he licked greedily at her sweet essence. He was addicted to her taste, addicted to everything about her. He ravished her body, pushing her mercilessly towards another climax so he could feast on her pleasure. Her hands were in his hair and he struggled not to laugh. She was so disobedient, even when he threatened to leave her bed. But she knew an empty threat when she heard one. Nothing would ever keep him from her side. He suckled against the tiny bundle of nerves that gave her the most pleasure, scraping lightly with his teeth until she stiffened with pleasure and her sweet cries filled the room once more. As she slowly calmed, he stood up and rid himself of his clothes, joining her back on the bed in an instant. His own need was at fever pitch, his lust for her turning him almost feral. Caleb's fangs elongated and he gripped the nape of her neck, exposing the soft skin of her throat so he could sink his fangs into her flesh. He thrust hard into her body at the same, pulling at her sweet blood as he claimed her. His arms snaked around her back, lifting her slightly from the bed and arching her body to his dual penetration. He rocked into her hard, savouring the feel of her silken heat around his throbbing cock. Making love to his Annie was the most intoxicating experience ever, one he intended to enjoy for the rest of his life. Caleb closed the wound on her neck and flipped over onto his back, keeping their bodies joined as he did so. His hands cupped Rhianna's breasts as she took over control, sliding sensually up and down his shaft in a slow, hot rhythm. He wanted to urge her to go faster but he equally wanted to watch her take her pleasure from him. It was one of the most erotic sights ever and he loved to indulge both of them with it. Rhianna ran her hands over Caleb's chest, leaning forward as she rocked against him. Her fangs were already out, her lavender eyes glowing with pleasure as he bared his neck to her in open invitation. She didn't need a second urging, her fangs slicing through the corded skin to drink deeply at his life's essence. A Long Walk Home Ch. 14 The fire of his blood rushing through her was an aphrodisiac like no other. She pulled again, her movements becoming more frantic as she raced towards completion again; knowing this time would be the best because he was with her every step of the way. She had barely sealed his wound when she was once more flipped onto her back and he was taking her with long, hard thrusts. Her legs wrapped around him and she moved sensually against him, her ragged breathing matching his as he thrust harder and faster. Lights danced before her eyes and she screamed his name as her world splintered completely and she was just a mass of sensation. She could hear him roaring out her name as he emptied himself inside her, his body shuddering with pleasure as they became one for a brief, precious moment. "We didn't do that for almost three days?" The incredulous note in Rhianna's voice, as she gasped the words out between laboured breaths, had Caleb laughing loudly as he cradled her close to his body. "Rest assured it won't happen again," he chuckled softly, relaxing in the afterglow of their lovemaking and the joy of having his Annie back in his arms. She snuggled into his arms as he pulled a blanket over them and then dropped a lazy kiss on her parted lips. "You're right, love. It's hard to take a step back but I know I have to. Gard knows I'm here for him if he needs me." He knew how hard it was for her to admit that and he kissed her again, this time a soft, gentle meeting of lips that conveyed just how much he loved her. "It'll work itself out, sweet one. Everything always does. He knows we're both here for him." He closed his eyes and hoped fervently it would work itself out. It would crush his Annie if Gard was left alone, mated to a woman who rejected him. He would never find happiness if that happened and his woman's tender heart would ache for eternity for him. ***** You're going to meet her?" Freya's quiet question followed him as he slipped out of the Alpha's house. "I'm going to the gallery," Dayton answered truthfully turning to look at her. "I'm hoping Rayne will show up but I don't know if she will." He saw no point in lying to her. She wouldn't like it but it was something she would have to come to terms with. He had every intention of convincing Rayne to stay if he could find her. The cold mask was securely in place, her green eyes devoid of all expression as she looked down on him from the doorway. He could almost see the thoughts whirling inside her head. He wondered what she was thinking in that moment. The mask vanished and a look of confusion crossed her face. "Why does this make me feel so angry, Dayton?" He walked back up the steps until his face was level with hers. "You know why, Freya. You're just not in the right frame of mind to accept it yet." His voice was gentle, his hand reaching out to caress her cheek gently. "There's no rush. And you have nothing to be concerned about regarding Rayne. So why don't you kiss me goodbye and then head back in and spend some time with your family?" She blinked slowly at him and then hesitantly leaned forward to brush her lips gently against his. Apart from that night in gallery, Dayton had always been the one to initiate the kisses they'd shared. This time he asked her for one, holding himself still as she brushed her mouth experimentally against his, feeling strange being the one in control of their small intimacies. She didn't understand what his cryptic words meant but she did understand the need to taste him because it was all she could think about. His arms came around her and she deepened the kiss as he responded greedily to her, desire coursing through her body as their tongues duelled erotically. He gently disentangled one of her arms from his neck, his mouth never leaving hers as he trailed her hand down his chest, over his stomach until he pressed her intimately against his groin. Her hand flexed against his hardness, her fingers curling around the throbbing erection straining against his jeans. "That's why you have no need to be worried about Rayne," he breathed against her lips. "One kiss, Freya, that's all it takes from you to make me hard as steel, desperate for your touch." A soft moan escaped her, liquid heat flooding between her thighs as his words washed over her and he groaned as she rubbed her hand against his body. He was so hard, so thick and long. She wanted to free him, to sink to her knees and taste him in her mouth. He groaned again and reluctantly pulled away, his eyes so dark they looked almost black. "Remember that when your emotions become confused," he said gruffly. "Think one kiss and remember. I have to go now. I'll be back as soon as I can." Freya held herself still, her breathing slightly ragged as she stared deeply into his eyes, reading a promise in their depths. "I will be here waiting," she finally said. They were simple words, appearing innocuous but it was a huge statement for her. She wondered if he realised that. "My room's the second on the left on the first floor," he answered with a small smile. Her heart fluttered and she turned her head to look back into the house. "That one?" She pointed to the room two doors down from the top of the stairs. His smile widened. "That one," he confirmed with a glint in his eye. She turned back to face him, her expression thoughtful. "Now I have a location to wait." She leaned forward and kissed him again, a gentle kiss that was a brief meeting of lips. Then she turned and headed back inside, closing the door behind her. Dayton didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was slowly coming to trust him and that filled him with such joy but his cock was now rock hard and extremely painful because of her kisses and he couldn't relieve that ache until after he'd found Rayne and helped her. With a rueful smile, he dug out his cell phone and dialled Rayne's number as he headed towards his Jeep. The call went to voicemail but he'd been expecting it to because of their last conversation. He waited for the beep. "Dinner. I'm buying. Gallery. No need to dress up unless you really want to." He terminated the call and climbed into the Jeep. At least her last picnic hamper would get a second use even if she didn't show up. He headed out of the compound and away from his mate. He hoped he'd reassured Freya enough. He guessed he'd find out when he got back. ***** Rayne listened to the message for a second time and closed her cell. She wasn't sure what she was going to do. She'd barely moved out of her apartment since she'd fled from Gard. She was afraid he would be looking for her and decided that staying in one place would minimise the chances of him picking up her trail. Her earlier conversation with Dayton had left her reeling. She was so happy for him and wanted to go to him, to see the life in his eyes as he let go of his past and embraced the future. But he had been angry with her too because she'd talked of leaving. He'd said some harsh things but she couldn't fault him for doing so. She was a coward, running from Gard even though she didn't even know why she was. The children needed her. The pack needed her. They had offered her a home, something she'd craved all her life. And all she wanted to do was run as far away as she could. Even her cat was mad at her for leaving their mate. She sighed deeply and threw herself down into her large, overstuffed armchair in her small sitting room. Dayton didn't sound angry any more in his voicemail and she did want to see him. Making her decision she dragged herself out of the armchair and walked the block and a half to the gallery. The door was locked but the wall lights were on, the rug she'd brought the last time in the middle of the room. She let herself in with her key just as Dayton walked out of the back office. Instantly she could see the change in him. He looked so much more relaxed, younger even now that he wasn't holding his emotions in so rigidly. The smile he gave her lit up his entire face and she felt tears well up in her eyes. He looked happy. "Wasn't sure whether you'd come or not," he admitted moving over to the rug and kneeling down on it. "You caught me off guard this afternoon. I'm sorry I came across so harsh." "We've always told each other the truth," she sighed softly. "Even if we haven't always wanted to hear it." She sank down beside him and accepted the glass of champagne he handed her. "To new beginnings," he toasted, clinking his glass to hers. She stared at him wondering just whose new beginnings he was referring to. He held her gaze for a moment and then he rummaged in the basket again and began laying out the food. "You were right, you know," he said as he worked. "About Freya. Did you know, Rayne?" His eyes met hers again and they positively shone with happiness. She gasped loudly, shaking her head. "You and Freya?" She had known they had the power to heal each other but she hadn't expected them to be mates. Suddenly she understood the full importance of Dayton letting go of his past. "Where you with her; when you called the first time? Was she the friend you'd borrowed the cell phone from?" He nodded and stuck a cracker into a salsa dip. "I'm taking it slow because she's not used to the whole love and adoration thing," he smiled taking a large bite out of the cracker and crunching enthusiastically. "She's coming to trust me so it's only a matter of time before we complete the mating." Rayne was stunned at his news but pleasantly so. "Won't she have to...heal you so you can complete the mating?" He laughed softly and took another sip of his drink. "Already taken care of as I was stupid enough to fall into a pit and sever my femoral artery. Freya found me and healed me. She's already had a bite out of me too and I'm still alive so we know everything's fine on that score." She drained her glass and held it out for a refill, shock rippling through her as he casually spoke of almost dying, being healed by his mortal enemy before allowing her to bite him as he decided she was going to be his mate. All in a matter of days? It was making her head spin. "Day, don't you think this is all happening too fast?" She couldn't keep the concern out of her voice. "Not any faster than you finding your mate in Gard and then pissing off with your tail between your legs." The stem of her champagne flute snapped in two, the bottom part piercing her palm and drawing blood. Her body went rigid with shock as her eyes locked on his. He was watching her intently, daring her to lie to him. "How did you find out about that?" He rose and headed into the office, coming back out with a first aid kit. "Rafe said Gard admitted to having contact with you. He speculated it could have been something romantic. Gard being your mate seemed the only logical explanation to me." He removed the stem from her palm and quickly used the tweezers from the kit to pull out any glass shards before she healed. She cleaned her hand with some antibacterial wipes and cleaned up the mess she'd made as he put the kit away and returned with a new glass for her. "What's got you spooked, Rayne?" Her head dropped and she stared sightlessly at the rug. "I don't know," she whispered. "He calls to me, Day. Everything about him makes my blood pound in my veins and my heart beat so fast I'm afraid it will burst out of my chest. My cat claimed him during the heat of passion. I claimed him before I even got into his bed. And then something frightened me. My gut told me to flee and I couldn't stop myself from doing so. I made out it was just a casual fuck and that hurt him, made him mad. I haven't been back to the compound since." Her misery was so strong that he reached out and pulled her down beside him stroking her cheek gently as they faced each other. "Well, speaking from a male perspective I can understand why he wouldn't have been too impressed with that parting shot," he said with a touch of amusement in his voice. "You know you can't run from your mate, Rayne. You know we need you in the pack. Come home with me. I'll help you reach an understanding with this Gard if you need me to. You're not alone. I've told you that before. You'll never be alone as long as I live. And you have a mate waiting for you now too." She shivered and closed her eyes, looking so vulnerable that he barely recognised the woman he'd known for over five decades. Finally her eyes opened and she nodded her agreement. "How does Freya feel about us?" she asked suddenly. The vampire didn't strike her very much as the sharing kind. If she was going to be staying then she needed to know the lay of the land. A smile crossed his face and his eyes danced with amusement. "She's as jealous as hell," he admitted smugly. "A sure sign that she's feeling the mating pull and will soon be mine." Rayne snorted and rolled onto her back, muttering a curse under her breath. "Glad you're finding it so funny. I'm really not looking forward to having an Ancient vampire looking to rip my head off because she thinks I'm after you." He laughed loudly and jumped to his feet. "All the more reason to mate with Gard; so she doesn't see you as competition. Come on, let's get back. I've got a hot date lined up for tonight." Still muttering under her breath she helped him tidy up and Dayton was relieved to see the old Rayne appearing. He'd barely recognised the woman who'd first shown up at the gallery. He hoped this Gard character was going to treat her well because he'd have him to deal with if he hurt her in anyway. Not that he'd be able to do much against an Ancient vampire. Apart from sic Freya on him. That thought had him smiling, as did the one that she would be waiting for him in his room when he got home. "Shift your ass, Rayne." She arched an eyebrow at him and dumped the hamper in his arms before grabbing his car keys from the desk. "I think I preferred you when you were a manic depressive," she said snippily. "I'll wait in the car." Grinning, Dayton tossed the hamper in the office and closed and locked up. He was excited to return to the pack and also excited to have Rayne returning with him. It didn't take them long to get back to the compound, Dayton all but bounding up the steps into the house. He sensed immediately that something was wrong and he stiffened as he saw the strangers in the sitting room. He knew they were vampires rather than Weres and it was easy enough to guess which two were Caleb and Rhianna and which was Gard. Rayne walked in at the back of him and froze instantly. Her startled gasp was loud in the silence, her eyes strangely not on Gard but on the other two vampires. Rafe stood from the sofa and motioned them to come in. It was only as they entered that Dayton noticed Freya leaning against the far wall, her eyes on Caleb Cullen but quickly swinging to his as he entered. He immediately wanted to go to her, Rafe's words from earlier causing him to want to protect her. "Rayne, Dayton, you haven't been formally introduced to my sister Annie and her partner Caleb. I believe you already know Gard, Rayne." Silence greeted Rafe's introduction. Dayton was torn between going to Freya and staying beside Rayne. She was so still at his side; he could barely hear her breathing. His eyes met Freya's and she nodded slightly, letting him know she was okay. "I know you," Rayne suddenly whispered, her gaze still on Caleb and Annie. "How can I know you?" Rhianna stood, walking towards her and stopping when she close enough to reach out and touch her. Her lavender eyes seemed to glow in the lamplight flooding the room and then a tear slid silently down her cheek. "It's her," she said softly, her voice catching. "I'd recognise those eyes anywhere. Even as an infant your eyes were already remarkable, that thread of silver captivating around the green of your iris. You've walked alone a long time, Sarayne." Rayne's knees buckled and Dayton caught her before the vampire could lay hands on her. He immediately blocked her from the other woman, the huge auburn haired vampire growling loudly in the background. "Annie, what the fuck?" Rafe bit out. "You said she was in no danger." "She isn't," Rhianna cried, confusion crossing her face. Dayton was easing Rayne further away, holding her tightly as he growled a warning at the room. "You used me to bring her here?" he roared furiously at Rafe, all his instincts to protect coming to the fore. "Everyone calm down." Caleb's quiet tone didn't lessen the impact of his words. It had the desired effect the room falling silent for a moment. Rayne appeared to be in some kind of shock, her gaze unfocused as Dayton held her close. "Rayne, talk to me," he demanded choosing to ignore the others. "Come on, snap out of it. Anyone would think you were some weak lily-livered woman the way you're carrying on." His tone was derisive, designed to catch her attention. It worked as she slowly focused on him, blinking almost in slow motion as she gathered her wits about her. "I remember, Day," she choked out. "I was so young I shouldn't be able to remember it but I do. Mama was crying. We were in a cold, dark place and Mama was holding me so tightly and I could hear Daddy crying too. Then a pretty lady came and she took me and passed me to a man. I wanted Mama so I reached for her but she was holding another me but it wasn't me." Her breath caught in a sob and it was only his strong grip that held her up as the memories assaulted her. "The man took me and ran away. I was crying because I wanted Mama but he wouldn't take me back no matter how much I cried. He ran for a long time and he kept falling down but he didn't drop me. Not until the last time he fell down." Her voice turned hoarse her breathing ragged as she pushed around Dayton staring first at Rhianna and then at Caleb. And then she turned to Gard, met his hard, lavender gaze and she crumpled to the floor with a cry of anguish. "You left me," she wailed staring at him in disbelief. "I was a child, a baby and you left me alone in the middle of a dark forest. How could you do that, Gard? How could you abandon me? Leave me helpless?" The vampire moved, hissing a warning as Dayton tried to intervene. The tension in the room exploded and Rafe immediately came to Dayton's side as Freya leapt across the room to land in a crouch in front of him. Her talons clicked together as she dared Gard to come anywhere near her wolf. Gard ignored her and the others dropping down beside Rayne and pulling her into his arms. He said nothing, merely held her as she wept agonising sobs, his arms so tight around her he was afraid he would mark her soft skin. But he couldn't let her go, not when her heart was breaking and he was the cause of that anguish. Fury oozed from every pore in Rafe's body as he glared at his sister. "You'd better have a good explanation for this, Rhianna. Because if I don't like what I hear I swear to God you will no longer be welcome in this compound." "Back off, Rafe." Caleb's voice was like a bucket of cold ice being thrown over the entire room. "Don't you blame her for this or use emotional blackmail against her. You and I will have a serious issue if you do." "Stop it," Rhianna moaned softly. "Both of you." Her eyes turned to her brother with a silent plea in them. "None of us mean any harm to Rayne. You wanted answers for her. Well, the answer is she is Sarayne, the first born hybrid child, the one we tried to save when her parents were destroyed by The Council. We told you our history. We believed the child perished when Gard came back to try and help us. She was less than eighteen months old at the time. How could we know she would retain enough memories of then?" Rafe glared at her a moment longer and then he frowned deeply and looked down at Rayne. "Is she strong enough to cope with this, Dayton?" A Long Walk Home Ch. 14 "Tell the vampire to back away." Dayton's words were hard, his expression murderous. "Come near and I will kill you instantly," Gard growled, his fangs elongating as his eyes began to glow softly. Rhianna stepped in front of him blocking his view of the others. "You need to release her, brother," she said softly. "I know you want to protect her but right now she needs the arms of someone she trusts. She needs time to come to terms with this." "Don't ask that of me," he ground out, naked fury in his voice. His hold on Rayne tightened, his hand threading through her hair as he rocked her gently. "Gard, you must." Rhianna's tone was firmer, allowing no room for argument. She reached out and ran a hand over his hair. "She needs her pack's love. She needs to feel safe. When she is ready she will come to you." With an anguished groan Gard dropped his head against the side of Rayne's neck, his lips whispering against her skin in a tender kiss. "Forgive me," he whispered. "I will wait for you in our special place." He released her and rose, striding out of the house without a backward glance. Dayton immediately scooped Rayne up and carried her out of the room and upstairs to his. He heard the door closed quietly behind him. "Pull the covers down," he said softly, waiting for Freya to do as he asked. He gently lowered the distraught woman into the bed and pulled off her boots. Then he covered her and sat down beside her. She had stopped crying but now she stared off into the distance, unaware of anything around her. Her distress was heartbreaking to watch. Freya sat down beside him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back. She had no idea what had happened downstairs. All she knew was he was hurting because his cat was hurting and she wanted to give him comfort. She didn't even know if he wanted the comfort from her. When he didn't push her away she held him more tightly, letting him know she was there if he needed her. They sat like that for so long she must have drifted off because she woke to the feeling of being moved. For a moment she thought Dayton was taking her to her room then she realised he had dragged a large comfortable chaise from somewhere and had moved it close to the bed. He was stretched out full length on it and was settling her against his chest, a warm blanket covering them. "I thought you would sleep in your bed," she said quietly, still struggling with her insecurity about the other woman. "One kiss," he whispered, closing his eyes and stroking her hair gently as his lips brushed the top of her head. Warmth spread through her and she relaxed in his arms letting sleep claim her once more. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 15 Once again mikothebaby thank you for the excellent job on editing. I've lengthened this chapter a little, adding in some things that I found lacking within Ch 14 so the additions are all my own as are any errors :-) Thanks so much for all your comments and votes! To my Tweeps, you guys just rock! Special thanks to the Guild for walking through this story to completion with me. Your comments have been invaluable :-) Enjoy! * She felt pain. It was a hot, rushing agony running through her but it wasn't physical. Physical pain she could cope with, understand it would heal eventually but this mental anguish was something she didn't know how to combat. She knew she had to open her eyes, to face it, but she didn't want to. "You're awake." The feminine voice startled her so much she did open her eyes, staring in surprise into the cold green depths of the stunning woman who was lying on some fancy sofa beside the bed. Rayne knew who she was instantly, having seen Freya Eriksson at a distance. What the vampire was doing in her room she had no idea, then she realised she wasn't in her room but was in Dayton's. She couldn't remember much that had happened after her memories had come back. Gard's betrayal had been all that had registered before her mind had gone blank. She reached out with her senses and knew she was alone with the vampire. Not a good thing judging from what her friend had said the night before. "Dayton had to talk to the Alpha," Freya said when she didn't speak. "He asked me to watch over you. You are safe, cat. I take my responsibilities seriously." Rayne swallowed; her mouth so dry it almost hurt. The vampire moved then, rising with a fluid grace that was mesmerising to watch. She really was stunning even with her clothes rumpled and her hair slightly tangled. She used an economy of movements as she vanished from her line of sight and returned with a small tray with some toast and condiments and a glass of fruit juice. "When Dayton was injured he recovered quickly with food," the vampire remarked, a smile tugging at her lips as if she was reliving a memory that pleased her. "The wolf that came to make breakfast was not pleased to find me in her kitchen." Rayne blinked slowly, staring at the other woman in confusion as she placed the tray on the bed beside her and then retreated back to her own 'bed'. "You made me breakfast? Why?" "You're in his bed. You need to recover quickly so you can leave it before it becomes intolerable to me." The words were cold and brutally honest. The vampire didn't want her sharing Dayton's bed and wasn't afraid to come right out and say so. Instead of making her afraid of Freya, the vampire's honesty actually impressed her. Dayton was right. Freya was close to accepting the mating bond. Her possessiveness was that of a vampire but it was also that of a mate. "I know he's told you there is nothing between us other than friendship, Freya," she answered after taking a sip of the juice to wet her throat and ease the dry ache. "You can trust what he says." There was a long pause and then the other woman nodded slowly. "I know he speaks honestly. That is why you're still alive." Another blunt truth; which caused a deep well of pain to rise up inside Rayne. Being alive didn't feel so great at the moment, not with the agony fighting to claim her soul and destroy her completely. Tears filled her eyes and she looked away. Her reaction had Freya hissing in annoyance. "When I am given a task I perform it, cat. You remain safe because he asks me to watch over you. I do not go back on my word." "Maybe I wish you would," she whispered back not looking at her. She knew she didn't mean the words but they tumbled out anyway and was greeted with silence. She sipped at the juice again and then forced a bite of toast down her throat. Freya watched her eat, fighting down the need to remove her bodily from Dayton's bed. She knew her reaction was irrational. All she had to do was think 'one kiss' and she remembered just how Dayton had proven to her that she was all he was interested in. But it was so hard to let go of the old ways, particularly when she saw Rayne as a threat. She had to remember that this woman was someone he cared about, that hurting her would be hurting him. She tried to focus on something else. "You are over three millennia old?" She remembered Caleb's tale so long ago about the first hybrid child who was supposed to have died. If Rayne really was that child then she was older than she was. "Yes." The response was dull and lifeless and caused her to frown. Rayne's wound was not physical. Freya knew how very much mental wounds could fester. She also knew what loneliness felt like. She heard it in that one word and felt a strange kinship click into place. "It is difficult to walk alone," she finally said, her tone a little softer and drawing the other woman's gaze once more. "I have always been alone despite having Nors trying to keep me alive. Until Dayton." That brought a slight smile to Rayne's face and a bit of warmth. "He has that effect on people," she conceded. "I too was alone until I found him." Silence fell again and then Freya sat up watching her intently. "May I scent you?" she asked curiously. "I've never met a being as old as you before. I'm intrigued." Rayne nodded after a brief pause and Freya moved forward, inhaling softly against the side of her neck. The wildcat was tense but allowed her to indulge her curiosity. She was impressed. Baring one's throat to another was a mark of extreme trust. "I know he belongs to you, Freya." The words were a whisper so soft they were almost undetectable. She relaxed slowly and pulled back enough to look down at Rayne. She smiled and there was a hint of warmth in it. "He belongs to you too," she conceded. "He loves you. For that reason alone I will protect you. I will not have his heart broken again for any reason." "Have you told him you're in love with him?" The question made her freeze in shock, confusion crossing her face for a moment before she suddenly softened a bit more and sank down onto the bed beside her. "Does he require me to? I don't know how to react with your rituals. In my world everything is so clear cut. You see what you want and if both parties are agreeable you take it. Weres are more complicated. Your social structure is confusing." Rayne held her breath, staring in awe at a vampire with eyes so old they shone with the knowledge of millennia. Freya Eriksson may be Ancient but she was completely out of her depth when it came to something as simple as falling in love. She pushed away her own misery and reached out to the other woman. She couldn't help herself from doing so, she'd been reacting to other people's hurt her entire life. "It's not so complicated, Freya. You just need to let him in completely. Take a leap of faith. If you find it difficult to believe in yourself then believe in him. He will catch you if you fall." The vampire regarded her intently for a long moment and then the tension slowly drained from her body. "Eat your toast," she ordered. "I still want you out of his bed as soon as possible. But I will not drag you out bodily." She rose and returned to her sofa. Freya mulled over Rayne's words, silently conceding that she could see why Dayton found the cat so intriguing. Up close to her she could scent the pain the other woman was trying to force down. She could understand the misery she lived in at the moment because she had been there herself. Despite that, Rayne still tried to reassure a vampire who could just as easily rip her throat out if she wanted to. The wildcat was strong. She would adjust to whatever was hurting her. She had Dayton at her side and she now had an Ancient vampire watching over her too. Freya's lips twitched in a derisive smile. She was growing soft. She would never admit to the other woman that her thoughts had changed, but she admitted to herself that she would now protect Rayne, not just because Dayton had asked her to, but because she wanted to. ***** Dayton flew up the stairs hurrying back to his room. He'd left Freya alone with Rayne while he sought out answers from his Alpha. Rafe had been reluctant to talk but he'd held his ground until he'd gotten the truth. He'd had to appeal to his Alpha to get the information, arguing that it was in Rayne's best interest if he had all the facts. That had finally swayed Rafe and he'd told him the whole story. It was a heartbreaking tale all around, not just for Rayne. He could understand Gard's reaction the night before even if he still wanted to rip the other man apart with his bare hands for hurting his friend. He was intelligent enough to know that it had been an impossible situation, two core loyalties battling against each other. He didn't know if Rayne would be able to understand it though. His concern for Rayne was twofold. He didn't know if she could heal from the discovery her mate had abandoned her as a child. And he wasn't wholly confident of leaving her alone with Freya. He felt guilty for doubting his mate but she was still so new to her emotions. He wasn't sure just how far she'd come. He entered the room and his eyes went first to Freya who was watching the door expectantly. She would have heard him approaching so he wasn't really surprised. The slight smile tugging her lips warmed his heart and he relaxed instantly. His gaze turned to the bed and he saw Rayne was awake and eating breakfast. She looked shattered but she was functioning. It was a start. He strode across the room, bending down to rub his lips gently against Freya's. He kissed her at every possible opportunity. He knew it grounded her, soothed her, and he loved the taste of her mouth. He was honest enough not to pretend he was being altruistic. "This nursemaid act is becoming a habit," he teased lightly against her lips. "You're going to ruin your reputation." "Not if I toss you out the window I won't," she remarked drolly, but pleasure danced across her face at the approval in his tone. "Now you know Rafe asked you to play nice, Freya," he laughed softly, kissing her again just because he wanted to, smiling as her lips curled against his. "This is me playing nice," she retorted. "If I was being mean you'd already be laying out there rueing the day you ever met me." He bit her bottom lip hard, his tongue laving the nip he'd given her. "You are going to be so much trouble," he chuckled breaking away from her. His eyes shone with excitement as he ran a thumb over her bottom lip and then turned to Rayne who was watching them intently. His gaze turned pensive as he took in her wounded expression. "How are you feeling?" The silver in her eyes pulsed dully as she met his gaze. "I've been a whole lot better," she admitted. He sat down on the bed, moving the tray when it became apparent she wasn't going to eat any more. Freya took it from him. "I will leave you to talk." She didn't wait for anyone to object, simply strode from the room leaving them alone. It was hard to do, especially when she had seen the softness on Dayton's face when he looked at the cat. But she knew Rayne would talk better without her being present and she wanted to prove to Dayton that she could be rational about things, that she could accept his friendship with the other woman even if it did make her gut clench painfully. Dayton relaxed as the door closed behind her turning his full attention to the woman in his bed. Although he wanted Freya close to him, he knew Rayne needed his undivided attention. The pull of two opposing needs helped him understand Gard's dilemma a bit more and his anger ratcheted down another notch. He moved up the bed, silently opening his arms as he rested against the headboard. It was a testament to just how fragile Rayne felt that she flowed into his embrace with barely any hesitation, her arms coming around his stomach to clutch tightly. "I talked with Rafe," he murmured softly. She stiffened in his arms and he dropped a soothing kiss on the top of her head. "You need to hear this, Rayne. You can't make any decisions without knowing the full facts, no matter how painful facing some of them will be. Isn't that what you've been trying to bang into my thick skull all these years?" She knew what he said was true. It didn't make her want to listen to him though. Her emotions were all over the place, so screwed up that even her cat was skittish and unsure. The need to run was a compulsion so deep it was only Dayton's arms that anchored her to the bed, hell even to the compound. He started talking quietly, holding her close as he told her a fantasy tale of Kings and Queens, of a race of beings so beautiful and powerful they could have been great if not for one small flaw; they were corrupt to their very core. It was mesmerising even as it was so cruelly tragic. He was talking about her birth, her parents, about how a vampire queen tried to save their lives but ultimately failed. This wasn't a fantasy. This was reality, a history that she was part of. She could understand now why she'd recognised Caleb and Rhianna. They carried the souls of that king and queen even though their faces were different. She was from their era; she felt the pull of those souls deep within her. She'd heard the tales of the end of the vampire royalty when she was still young, long before their memories had been erased by the Vampire Council. It had made her sad at the time, not realising why it affected her so much. Why she hadn't recognised Gard she didn't know. Had her subconscious mind tried to protect her from the knowledge her mate had chosen another over her? The three vampires together exuded a power and magic never before witnessed. Had it taken all three of them being present at the same time to spark her long dormant memories of her childhood? "The bond those three shared was like nothing we've ever experienced," Dayton interrupted her thoughts, his arms tightening around her. "They had magic as well as a more complicated type of mating bond we know." He stroked her hair gently as he talked, offering his comfort as he walked down the road that caused her heart to ache so badly. "You remember Gard falling, Rayne. Every time he fell it was because he felt another piece of Anakatrine being ripped apart. He kept going, kept trying to save you as his sister died slowly under the assault of their people. He felt Callain fall, knew she had no one left to protect her. He was her Guardian but he was her brother too. It was an impossible choice to make, one I don't think I would ever have been able to. He had to go back. He had to try and save her. He thought he'd hidden you well enough that he could come back for you later. He was too late to save Anakatrine and you were gone when he returned." She listened silently, trying to imagine the anguish Gard must have been feeling at the time. Her own pain was a hot knife deep within her and it fought against the words she was hearing. The rational part of her could understand, the mate part of her couldn't. She had come second to Anakatrine. She may have been a child at the time but she had been his. She should have come first. The ugly, selfish nature of the thought ripped her apart. But so did the many years of being alone, of not knowing who she or even what she was. So many years of only being able to soothe the ache within her by helping others find peace from their own pain. Now she was expected to ease Gard's anguish. The person who was responsible for every tear she'd ever shed; the clawing aloneness deep within her. She didn't have the strength to forgive him. She didn't have the strength for anything any more. All she had was a well of pain so deep within her that if she were to start screaming she wouldn't ever be able to stop. Gard had abandoned her, left her helpless and alone. The memory of the cold, pitch black forest, the terrifying sounds around a little girl so afraid she couldn't even whimper any more was all that surrounded Rayne at the moment. That feeling of terror had haunted her dreams every single night of her life, even though she had never understood why. It most likely would until the day she died. She remembered the darkness and then a pain so terrible she screamed until she was hoarse. Her next memory after that was of her human parents bathing her, her mother singing softly with tears in her eyes, her father stroking her head soothingly. She had always known they were not her real parents; something deep inside her seemed to recognise that right from the very start. But they had bathed her with love for the twenty years she'd lived with them and she had loved them just as fiercely. They'd been an older couple, too old to have had a child her age. Sometimes she'd seen her mother holding a child's blanket to her chest, her eyes far away as if reliving something from her past. She'd never asked her parents about it, somehow sensing they had a grief so strong they were unable to talk about it. With her memories returned to her and the wisdom of age, she now began to suspect they had lost their own child. Possibly her father had heard her scream when she was attacked by whatever had caused her the pain that night. He could have rescued her, taking her home to ease his wife's grief and his own. She knew she would never truly know what had happened after Gard left her that night but she thought her speculation was probably pretty accurate. And she didn't fault her parents for taking her in and loving her so unconditionally. Those first two decades of her life had been what had shaped her into the person she would eventually become. She couldn't regret that part of her life even if her heart had broken as she'd buried first her fragile mother and then a bare handful of months afterwards her father. They'd loved each other so much they couldn't bear being apart from each other once their mortal bodies began to fail. After they had passed was when the real misery had set in, the aching need to belong somewhere, to find out who she was. She had walked alone since the night she'd buried her father until the day she'd met the man who now tried to comfort her, afraid to let anyone else in, the fear of losing them too much to bear. But Dayton had proven a true friend and finally a sense of belonging had begun to settle over her. She'd allowed herself to trust in someone and that in turn had brought her to Gard. She'd lowered her defences to her vampire, accepted him into her heart only to discover that he was the very reason she'd been so lost. How was she supposed to forgive that? "Rest some more," Dayton sighed when she didn't speak. "Think on it when you feel a bit stronger. Just don't make any rash decisions. Don't run, Rayne. We need you. Gard needs you." She remained silent until he left, the tears falling when she was finally alone. She curled into a ball and wept silently as her soul felt pulled in a thousand different directions at once. Gard was her mate and he was hurting. She wanted to go to him and yet she couldn't make herself do so. The frightened, abandoned child deep within her couldn't forgive the man who had left her to die even as the woman ached to ease his suffering. After a long time she rose silently, moving to the window to stare out into the forest. The sounds of the pack were all around, the pack who were welcoming her into their fold. They offered her protection, a sense of belonging she'd never had before. The children needed her to teach them so they could remain safe. Her skills were valued here. She was being offered the one thing she'd craved all her life, a home. But her heart was a shattered wreck and she would only cause heartache and damage in the long run. She had stayed so long because Dayton had needed her. Now he had Freya. He was well on the road to recovery and she knew his life would be different now. He would know a joy that would heal his every nightmare. He would be happy. A Long Walk Home Ch. 15 Rayne shadowed herself, eased the window open and shifted into panther form. No one would be able to track her. No one would see her leave. She silently asked Dayton's forgiveness as she jumped from the window and disappeared into the trees. Her cat hissed loudly at her. She ignored it and ran as fast as she could. This wasn't a decision her cat could make because this was the woman's heart involved. It didn't stop her animal trying to take control though, but she was old and was strong enough to retain control of her dual personality. So it was with some shock that she found herself slowing down as she neared the smooth rock formation that hid the cave from view. She hadn't consciously run in this direction but she was there, at the special place Gard had whispered in her ear the night before. Where he would be waiting for her! A raw, gut wrenching pain gripped her as she stared at the rock. She didn't want to be there, didn't want to see him. But she walked the secret path anyway, slowly padding into the cave. Gard was sitting on the cushions before the burning fire, staring into the flames as if he could find answers deep within. He didn't look around as she entered but she knew he was aware that she was there. The confidence which usually oozed from him was gone, his body language showing a weariness of a man with a deep weight on his shoulders. "I didn't expect you to come." The words were spoken tonelessly, his head turning to look at the panther watching him carefully. She met his gaze and his expression was as blank as it had been the night before when her memories returned. The scent of his anguish was strong though. He couldn't hide that from her. She moved silently, entering further until she was close but still out of reach. She should shift, talk to him but she lay down on the cushions and rested her head on her paws. It would hurt too much to talk but there was a slight lessening of her pain just being close to him. Gard watched his cat approach, aching to reach out and touch her but seeing the skittish look in her eyes, the deep melancholy she didn't try to hide. He didn't think his heart could break any further but it did as she lay down beside him and maintained her panther form. All night he'd waited for her, reliving every moment of the night before as he stared into the flames of the fire. Rayne's smiling face as she'd entered the Alpha's home. She'd looked so beautiful she'd taken his breath away and it had taken all of his self control not to cross the room and drag her into his arms. Being apart from her had been sheer agony; he'd been desperate for the scent of her, the touch of her soft skin, the taste of the woman who was his everything. But he'd known what was to come so he'd forced himself to stay a room apart from her. And then she'd looked at Caleb and Annie, his sister saying her true name and uncovering memories no child should ever be forced to remember. When Rayne had finally turned to him, the betrayal in her eyes had ripped his heart to shreds, her anguished cry a thousand knives piercing his very soul as she understood the enormity of his actions that night. He hadn't been able to stay away from her then. His need to comfort her, to explain, to try and beg her forgiveness had consumed him until it was a clawing pain deep within him. He hadn't wanted to surrender her to her pack, had fought a furious battle with himself to obey his sister's words, but Rayne had needed what he wasn't capable of giving her so he'd left her despite every single part of him screaming in denial at doing so. He'd never dreamed she'd come to him voluntarily. He'd hoped for it but her pain had cut so deep the night before he hadn't allowed himself to believe it. And now she was here, hurting and distrustful but she'd come and he knew he only had one shot at convincing her he'd never fail her again. "I've been alive for over six thousand years, Kitty. For three thousand of them there was only ever Anakatrine in my heart. She was everything, my whole world. My life was hers to do with as she wanted. She chose to love me, protect me, and forgive me anything. Our bond was unto death itself." The love in his voice was unmistakable as he spoke of his sister. The connection between them had been everything. "Right to the very end I obeyed her. She told me to save you even though we all knew what would happen that night. I left though every part of me wanted to stay. Her pain ripped through me as if the wounds were my own but she'd asked me to save you so I kept going. She was dying so you could live and I would not fail her, I would not make her death pointless." His breath rasped out painfully hard. "But I did make it pointless. Callain and Anakatrine died and I was unable to save them. I broke my last promise to her and abandoned you to your death too. I failed to save my sister, I failed to perform her last task and I failed a helpless child who needed me more than my Anakatrine did. The worst part of it all is I failed my mate, betrayed her so badly that she will never be able to forgive me." Rayne didn't think her heart could break any more than it already had. The loneliness in Gard's voice, the sheer aching agony as he relived his past was excruciating. Her cat roared in fury and pain, the woman wept silent tears, and the terrified little girl with a love so pure and innocent it shone iridescently, opened up her heart. Her mate was in the same emotional torment she was in, his pain just as crippling and destructive. She couldn't bear it on top of her own. His guilt would destroy him and that in turn would destroy her. She loved her vampire with all her soul and always would. There was nothing they couldn't overcome together. She shifted instantly, throwing herself the last distance into his arms, weeping hard as his agony ripped her apart. "Don't," she sobbed against his neck. "Don't punish yourself like this. There's nothing you could have done to change things. They happened for a reason and we'll never truly know why. You did the best you could, Gard. You were one man against an entire people who had hatred in their hearts. Forgive yourself." Gard groaned, his arms automatically clutching his beautiful cat to him as her tears bathed his neck and she whispered her words against his skin. He couldn't believe she was here, that despite everything she had come to him. He had failed her and yet she comforted him, forgave him that failure when it wrenched his soul to pieces. He didn't deserve her forgiveness but he would take it greedily because he couldn't let her go. She was the one woman who eclipsed even his love for Anakatrine. She was the other half of his soul and she was reaching out to him, allowing him into her heart. "Sarayne," he breathed softly, tears wetting his cheeks as he shook in her arms. "I'm so sorry I left you frightened and alone, not just as a child but for every moment of your life up until now. If I could change it I would." Soft kisses danced across his face, so fleeting they barely grazed his skin before they moved on to the next place. Trembling lips pressed against his for a brief second. Her breath sighed across his mouth. "I know. But maybe it was meant to be this way, Gard? My loneliness has helped me heal so many people over the centuries. Despite everything I would never want to give that up. They needed me and their lives were changed to something good. Maybe it was always my destiny to walk alone and share my gift until the time was right for me to find my happiness?" He framed her face gently between his hands, scrutinising her beautiful features carefully. Her eyes were red from weeping but they shone brightly, seeing deep within his soul. Her need to heal him was like a blazing beacon and he selfishly surrendered to her because he needed her forgiveness and she needed to soothe his pain. It was who she was, who she had been born to be. A soul so pure and full of love, that no one was safe from her when she set her sights on them. "I love you, Sarayne." The words ripped free, his pain melting away as joy danced across the face of his beautiful mate. She was accepting him unconditionally and his releasing of his guilt was like giving her the moon and the stars. Surrendering to his cat was all she had ever wanted. Someone to love her forever, to give her a sense of belonging, a home she could finally irrefutably call her own. A smile tugged at those lips he could spend eternity kissing. The cat danced in her eyes as her emotions shifted to something richer. "Just as well you do, vampire, because you're mine and I've no intention of letting you be free of me." The sensual note that crept into her tone stirred his blood instantly and his own eyes darkened as need gripped him in its painful grasp. He'd been too long without her, the need to claim her overwhelming him. He needed to show her how much he loved her, how much he cherished the very ground she walked on. "I never want to be free of you, Kitty," he groaned hoarsely. "I've waited my entire life for you. If you'd run I would have hunted you down. I would have worked out a way to see past your panther shadowing. There would have been no corner on this planet you would have been safe from me." His possessiveness made her purr with pleasure, her mouth hovering less than an inch from his. Soft laughter filled the cave. "That makes me so hot I want you to rip my clothes off and drive hard and deep inside me until we both scream." Every muscle in his body went rigid and his breath rasped out loudly into the silence. "You are going to fucking kill me," he finally ground out, his desire warring with his need to just hold her and talk about the things they still needed to address. In answer she shifted her seat in his lap until her damp heat was pressed across the rigid length of his arousal. She rubbed sensually against him and the air turned blue as he let out a string of curses. "Sarayne!" She stilled and met his gaze, a wondrous smile on her face. "I remember now, Gard. I remember my name, how much love was in my parents' voices when they called to me. It always came out Rayne when I tried to say my name." Her eyes shone with moisture but her smile remained. "I want to be Sarayne again. The sound of it on your lips makes me feel complete." His heart melted, the thick need within him turning to something infinitely tenderer than the fierce sexual desire she sparked inside of him. "Sarayne." It was a whispered caress against her mouth. He was unable to deny her anything her heart desired. "Mate with me." Rayne's lips brushed his gently, teasing him with tiny kisses as her words washed over him causing him to still for a moment. His hands flexed on her waist as he growled deeply. There wasn't anything he wanted more than to be hers forever but he knew what that entailed. His venom would kill her instantly until they performed the healing ritual to mix his blood to hers. He could no more hurt her than he could Anakatrine. She wriggled in his lap, teasing her body over the rigid steel trying to break out of his jeans and claim her. Her hands wound into his hair and her mouth took his in an aggressive kiss that was all about hot need, a desire to be joined completely with him. He couldn't fight her. He didn't want to. His need was as great as hers and he opened his mouth to her searching tongue, dancing his erotically against hers as she licked at him just like the cat she was. Her kiss shook his self control until he was perilously close to losing it completely. "Stop," he groaned, dragging his mouth from hers, lifting her from his lap to try and get some surcease from the erotic torture she was inflicting on him. "We need to talk, Kitty." Rayne smiled slowly, standing up and stripping out of her clothes quickly. "Talking is so overrated, Gard. We can do that later. Right now I have other needs." The sight of her naked body above him was a temptation that even a saint would have struggled to withstand. He was certainly no saint. His cock throbbed impossibly hard, his hands clenched in fists to stop himself from reaching out and exploring every inch of the creamy flesh she presented to him. Her eyes told him she would not be swayed. She was more cat than woman, the panther's need to claim her mate taking dominance. Gard wasn't used to being the submissive party in his sexual play. But then he wasn't used to having a strong mate demanding it of him as her right. His cat was staking her claim. He would not deny her. He would, however, ensure that he retained enough control not to bite her no matter what she did to erode that control. Surrendering he rested his hands behind him and flashed a sensual smile. "Seduce me then, little kitty. Make me scream." Heat flared deep within her as Gard gave into her. Rayne stalked her prey gracefully coming to stand so close to him she knew he could scent her need. Fire danced in his eyes, a soft lavender glow beginning as his nostrils flared. "A little licking would be a nice start," she purred softly. "To warm me up." He swallowed hard, a low curse escaping him a second before he put his mouth on her and licked through her wet folds with a hunger that had her crying out instantly. Her knees trembled but she held herself upright as he eagerly began paying homage to the very heart of her body, licking greedily over every inch of her heated flesh. Lord, her vampire was a true artiste at pleasuring a woman with his mouth. He left no area untouched, his tongue rough and then soft as he gave her pleasure. He danced into her body, plunging and then retreating, attacking the little bundle of nerves that threatened to push her over the edge into sweet bliss. But he never quite took her there, pulling back at the last moment to nip gently at her swollen lips. "Your taste is the sweetest aphrodisiac in the world, Kitty. I can't get enough of it. I may have to tie you down one night so I can spend hours licking at your beautiful body until you lie exhausted beneath me." There was a hot promise in his guttural words and she moaned loudly because she knew he would deliver on it and that she would let him. Just the erotic image of it was enough to send her crashing into climax, a hoarse scream escaping her as his hands finally moved to grip her hips to keep her standing. He licked and suckled, groaning as she bathed his mouth with her release. He was almost at the point of releasing himself into his pants such was the pleasure he took from knowing she was flying because of his touch. Rayne's heart finally started to settle down into a more even rhythm. Gard's lips were caressing her thigh as he rested his head against her, his fingers trailing down the backs of her legs. "You're overdressed." He laughed softly, moving away swiftly and returning an instant later to resume his position at her feet. He was gloriously naked, his body pulsing to the beat of his heart. "I am yours to command." There was amusement dancing across his face as well as an aching need that took her breath away. Rayne lowered herself astride him once more, rubbing against his thickness until he groaned so hoarsely she was sure he was going to take the control away from her. But he didn't, merely promised her with a look so hotly sensual that she would pay for her teasing when it was his turn. Her hand slipped between them, wrapped around the silken steel of a cock so hard it was ready to burst. His loud roar sent liquid heat rushing sharply between her thighs. She moved her hand fisting him hard. One, two, three firm strokes to hear him roar again then she positioned him at her entrance and held still. "Decide," she ordered, her cat glittering in her eyes. "If I take you now you are mine forever. I will bite you. I will mate with you. I need your consent." Gard's heart fluttered wildly as he stared into her eyes. They were more silver than green, as mesmerising as her wonderful words. "Take me, Sarayne. Make me yours." They cried out together as she sank down hard onto his shaft, spearing herself onto him almost aggressively. And then she began to dance on his body, confidently, intimately, possessively. Gard had never felt as utterly possessed as he did at that moment. No woman had ever claimed him with her body and soul as his Sarayne was now doing. It was sweet pleasure and painfully erotic. He thrust up to meet her downward movements, his hands on her waist helping her to take him as she needed to. He was amazed he didn't want to take control from her. It should have been hard to surrender to her and yet it was the easiest thing in the world to do. The sight of her passion filled face stole his breath away. The vision of her breasts bouncing as she rode him fiercely so erotic. He knew he would allow her to take him any time she wanted to because it was so delicious to watch her do so. Her mouth attacked his viciously, her claws coming out to rake across his shoulders and down his back. The slight pain ignited his feral side and he heard himself growling continuously as she indulged her own animal side with abandon. A sharp nip at his neck almost sent him over the edge. His breath caught and his hands tightened on her body. His next thrust was purely primal as she nipped at him again. "If you fucking tease me, Kitty, I'm going to make you pay," he rasped out hoarsely. He needed her to bite him, craved it as he'd never craved anything before. "Impatient," she laughed huskily, her next movement a hard slamming of her body onto his. His head fell back, his roar almost the scream he'd challenge her to drag from him. Sharp teeth pierced his skin where his neck and shoulder joined. He did scream then, his body flooded with so much sensation it made his head spin. He surged deep within her, their sweat slickened bodies grinding hard against each other as she marked him hers for eternity. Rayne was screaming her own bliss against his neck, tears and laughter bubbling out of her as she violently climaxed against him, her entire body shuddering as wave after wave of pleasure consumed her. She urgently pulled his mouth to her neck. "Bite me!" "No!" Gard fought her even as his fangs elongated and his blood boiled inside him. "Now!" Rayne demanded hoarsely. "It must be now. Gard! Bite me. Please bite me! I'm immune to your venom. Trust me." He tried to control himself, tried to fight his feral nature which demanded he drink from her pleasure laden blood but he failed. With a roar he bit deep into her fragile skin and began to pump his hot seed inside her body. Her sweet blood filled his mouth and he drank deeply, shuddering as he gave her his seed in hard, deep pulses. He was beyond thought now, a creature of his dual lusts. She asked him to trust her and he couldn't refuse her. He fed from his mate ravenously, knowing her blood would be the only thing that would keep him alive for eternity. It was hard to release his fangs, to stop drinking her wonderful essence but he knew he had to. Her heart was fluttering wildly against him confirming she'd spoken the truth about being immune to his venom. How she had known that he had no idea but he would be having a very intense conversation with her about it shortly. For the moment all he could do was hold his mate in his arms and soothe her down from the intense pleasure they'd both just ridden through. Their joining had been so intense that he was struggling to catch his breath but was pleasantly sated. "I can't move," Rayne sighed against his neck, her body so languid it felt as if all her bones had melted. "Luckily one of us has more stamina," Gard chuckled softly, rising gracefully with her still firmly enclosing his body as she wrapped her legs around him. It was a pleasant sensation as he carried his mate through to his bed and crawled under the thick covers with her. A Long Walk Home Ch. 15 He lay on his side, finally leaving her heated flesh with a reluctant groan. Rayne's hair was wild around her head, her eyes smoky with satisfied passion. He reached out and smoothed her hair back gently so he had an unobstructed view. "Mine," she whispered softly, an expression of such happiness on her face it almost brought him to tears. "Yours," he whispered back, leaning forward to gently caress her lips with his. "How did you know you were immune to my venom?" He was still annoyed with himself for losing control enough to bite her. He'd no facts to back up what she'd told him. He should have waited to be sure he wouldn't inadvertently kill her. His irritation was evident in his voice. "You're angry because you trusted me?" Her response shocked him and he frowned deeply. "Never, Sarayne, I trust you with my life. I'm just not accustomed to others knowing more about things than I do. I like to have facts before I act on something." A slow smile spread across her face and she rubbed a hand against his chest soothingly. "You like to be in control," she countered with a laugh, the slight tightening of his lips confirming it. She sighed softly and brushed her fingers over his mouth. "I knew I was immune because I'm immune to all vampire venom." Gard was so shocked he couldn't speak. It was impossible, completely unheard of. "How do you know?" He was sure he didn't want to hear the answer to that question. "I've been bitten a few times over the centuries. Not mating bites though. The ones meant to kill me on the spot. Pissed off a few vampires I can tell you." She deliberately made light of it, knowing he would struggle hearing that some of his people had tried to kill her. A muscle clenched in the side of his jaw and she could almost hear his teeth grinding. "How have we never heard about this?" His calm words didn't match the murderous fury in his eyes. "The vampires were only pissed off for a very brief moment." Her answer was curt, her tone telling him she would elaborate no further. She didn't need to. The only way this knowledge could have been contained was if the vampires responsible were dead. Which meant Rayne was strong enough to take vampire lives. He was astounded at the thought and yet immensely proud too. Knowing his mate was so strong soothed his protective streak slightly. It also generated new questions. "The children?" Rayne sighed softly, a smile gracing her lips. "They are like me, Gard. They will eclipse me because they have something precious which I didn't; they have parents who love them and will nurture them as they grow into themselves. They are the future." As much as he loved the children no one could ever eclipse his Sarayne. She was one of a kind. "They have you too, Kitty. How could they possibly go wrong?" Gard pulled his mate into his arms, kissing her long and deep and oh so sensually. How could anyone go wrong having his cat in their lives? To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 16 Double posting week (fingers crossed it's up by Sunday LOL!!) It's Easter weekend here so thought I'd give you an Easter present :-) Thanks mikothebaby for being such a star with editing these chapters xxx Enjoy! * Dayton smacked his hand off the doorjamb, a muffled curse escaping his lips. His bedroom was empty and he knew without a doubt that Rayne hadn't come downstairs. He walked quickly to her room and looked in finding it empty as expected. She had run. He had seen it in her eyes but had hoped she would stay. Ultimately the decision was hers and he knew that. She wasn't one to be caged by anyone. It didn't stop him wishing she had stayed so he could repay her for all she had done for him. "She isn't used to relying on others." Freya's quiet words had his head turning to see her standing at the top of the stairs. She looked perfect as always having changed into a pair of jeans matched with a red summer top which showed off her pretty curves very appealingly. His mouth was watering instantly. Not only did she look great but it was the most casual he'd ever seen her dress, almost as if she was slowly letting go of the rigid control she enforced upon herself. "You can relate to that," he answered, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. He wanted to kiss her luscious mouth so much but he wanted her to come to him first. So far he'd been initiating all their contact. He had to know if she wanted him as much as he did her. "I've relied on Nors my entire life," she countered walking forward slowly as if she couldn't help herself. "It is others I have an issue with." His lips quirked. He loved her brutal honesty. She just opened her mouth and spoke, never stopping to think of just what she was revealing about herself. She reached him and stopped, her eyes glued to his, waiting for him to do something. When he didn't move she reached up carefully and captured a lock of silver hair. He held himself still as she caressed his hair, then her eyes darkened and she let go, taking a step back. He moved then, sliding an arm around her waist to pull her against his body. "What was that?" She evaded his gaze but he cupped her chin gently, bringing her eyes back to his. "Talk to me, Freya." Resistance flared in her eyes for a moment and then she frowned. "You haven't taken me to your bed. You touch my body, kiss me whenever you want to, you show me you want me but you fail to follow through. Your actions are confusing. At first I thought you were bedding Rayne but you've told me that isn't so. It leaves me with only two options available. You still hold Faith too close to your heart or you don't really want me." It was such a vulnerable admission coming from her that his heart twisted sharply in his chest. He teased his lips gently across hers. "You forgot the third option, honey." She pulled back frowning at his teasing tone as well as the endearment he used. A perfect eyebrow arched in his direction. "Which is?" "I could be romancing you," he chuckled lightly, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. "I may want to bend you over that banister right there and fuck the living daylights out of you but it's not what you need, Freya. You may think it is and I know we'd both enjoy it immensely, but then I'd only be proving to you that I'm just like every other man you've ever known. Out to enjoy your body and nothing else." His earthy words certainly sparked her desire even as her confusion grew. "Sex is natural. It's what males and females do. You are constantly being frustrated because you're not achieving your physical release." Dayton did laugh then tightening his hold on her as she stiffened at his laughter. She sounded very altruistic but he was sure her own sexual frustration was driving her just as much as her concern for him was. "I've survived five decades without real sex, honey. I think I can manage a few months more." "Months!" Freya all but squeaked the word out, her eyes flying to his to see if he was joking. He made her so hot she was about ready to scream to get him to take her and ease the burning ache he set inside her. He was laughing at her still and her anger kicked in. "Perhaps I am not willing to wait months," she said darkly, moving out of his arms. "There are plenty of other willing males who would not turn down a night in my bed." Dayton's smile froze on his face though he managed to contain the growl which threatened to rumble out of his chest. His vampire was testing him, pushing at the boundaries he'd set. "I have no doubt there are, honey," he drawled softly. "But I'd have to kill every man who touched you. As long as you're willing to accept the consequences then feel free to indulge yourself." Her expression remained calmly neutral though her eyes narrowed slightly. "Possessiveness, aggression, typical Were traits when dealing with mates. You contradict yourself with your behaviour, Dayton. Your mate is dead." She was so keenly intelligent it was scary. He had no idea just how much she knew about pack and Were life. Now he had to judge just how much to let her know. Too much and she may take off as fast as Rayne just had. There was a fine line between easing her into his life and keeping secrets from her. She deserved the same honesty she gave him. Dayton turned and walked to his room, holding the door open until she followed him and entered. He closed the door behind them and quickly straightened the bed. The reminder of Rayne being there would most probably be one she wouldn't be comfortable with. He stretched out on the bed and patted the spot beside him. She came with more alacrity than he thought she would. "You're right about my behaviour in one aspect and wrong in the other. I am not contradicting myself. It is uncommon but not unheard of for a Were to find a second mate. It has probably only happened a handful of times in the last three hundred years but some have found happiness after their loss." Freya blinked slowly, quickly sifting through the information he was giving her. She hadn't known it was possible for a Were to mate more than once. He said he wasn't contradictory in his behaviour at her taunt about finding another man, which could mean he was alluding to only one thing. "You think I am your new mate." The words whispered out on a shocked gasp. "Oh, I don't think, honey. I know." His eyes danced with amusement at her stunned expression. She didn't know how to react to this. Her heart rate was kicking up a healthy beat because he was effectively telling her that he considered she belonged to him. No one had ever dared to try and claim her the way he was. It was both thrilling and irritating at the same time. She knew her emotional attachment to Dayton was stronger than anything she'd ever felt for anyone before. His pain had made her weep, her own actions which had caused that pain breaking something deep inside her. This man before her pulled out her softer side, made her vulnerable to him. It was frightening how easy it was for him to touch her on such a primal level. He would demand full surrender though. No matter that she was the stronger of the two, the oldest and the more lethal one. He would want her to submit to him and she knew she was incapable of doing so. "I will not submit to you." There was no point hiding from the issue. She didn't want to hurt him by rejecting him but he had to know that she wouldn't come to heel at his command. Dayton burst out laughing, doubling over and clutching at his stomach he was laughing so hard. Freya growled, her anger igniting instantly. The urge to hit him was strong but she didn't want to really hurt him. She pushed him hard until he fell off the bed and landed on the floor with a loud thump. She expected him to be angry with her but he remained on the floor laughing even harder. Curiously she looked over the side of the bed and then shrieked when he pulled her off and she landed on top of him. He rolled over immediately trapping her beneath him. He was still laughing and there were tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Freya," he managed to get out between chuckles. "Just the thought of your name and the word submit being in the same sentence is enough to make me die laughing. You wouldn't know how to submit if your life depended on it, honey. I don't know where you got the crazy idea that I would expect that of you." Her irritation evaporated and she stared up at him perplexed. "Isn't that what mates do? One is more dominant than the other?" He leaned down and took her mouth. It was impossible not to. He wanted to stroke her all over so he could wipe the confusion from her exquisite face. She opened to him instantly inviting his tongue in to taste her sweetness. Dayton groaned and dived in eagerly, teasing her mouth erotically with his. "No that's not what mates do," he whispered against her softness. "Mates love and protect each other. They spend hours kissing and licking and stroking each others hot bodies and they make beautiful babies together. There might be times when one is more dominant than the other but only if the situation calls for it. Does Nors dominate Ashleigh?" Freya frowned. The heat of his body pressing against hers was making her want to do things other than talking but she knew she had to have the answers to the questions inside of her too. She was about to answer yes to his question and then her frowned deepened. "When Nors really wants something Ashleigh concedes to him," she answered slowly. "And yet when she has a need, he will do anything to ensure it is taken care of." "Sometimes Nors is the more dominant one and other times it is Ashleigh," Dayton smiled as he stroked her cheek gently. "You view dominance as someone ordering the other person about and forcing them to bend to their will. Nors and Ash don't truly dominate each other, they compromise. He can force Ash to do what he wants but he knows he'll hurt her if he does. She knows there are times when he needs to be taking care of her so she lets him because it will hurt him if she doesn't. Mates don't want to hurt each other, Freya. It's the last thing they'd ever want to do." She was quiet as she digested the information, applying it to what she knew of her family and seeing the truth in it. It was actually a very subtle dance Nors and Ashleigh performed in their relationship. They did it effortlessly and they found such joy in it. She stared up into Dayton's expectant face. He was waiting for her reaction. This was what he wanted from her? For them to be bound together exclusively forever, dancing the same dance as all the other mated couples? Part of her yearned for what Nors and Ashleigh had. A larger part was frightened of it. She didn't think she had the capacity to bend in that kind of relationship. Her eyes connected to the streak of silver in his hair. Dayton had chosen a mate before and had suffered unbearably for that choice. Choosing her was another mistake. Surely he had to see that? Faith dying had almost destroyed him. What would she do to him when she let him down as she knew she would? It was what she specialised in; letting down the people she loved most in the world. And she did love this wolf so much. She was pulled to him like a moth to a flame. Every time she was apart from him she wondered what he was doing, who he was with, when she could be close to him again. So far she had managed to behave herself, control her more feral instincts despite the confusing emotions battling inside her. But that would end and she'd do something awful, hurt someone and he would hate her. Freya pushed at his chest, breathing a sigh of relief when he acceded to her silent command and stood up. He held a hand out to her and she accepted it rising gracefully as he tugged her up. "You're making a mistake," she said quietly pulling her hand back. "I would not make a good mate. I don't have the ability to compromise with anyone. I can't be like Nors. I would force my will on you because I am the stronger of us. I would damage your spirit." Dayton wanted to curse out loud but he held it in. He could see the conflicted emotions in her eyes. She wanted what her brother had so much but she genuinely believed she was incapable of having it. It was too much for her too soon. "I believe in you, Freya," he said gently. "I know what you're capable of even if you don't believe it right now. You not only want this, your soul is crying out for it, for someone to love you unconditionally." "You know what I've done," she hissed moving away from him to pace the room in agitation. "You know what I am. How can you just wipe that out as if it doesn't exist?" He watched her carefully, hearing the plea she probably didn't even know was in her voice. She wanted forgiveness so badly, yet didn't believe she deserved it. "Your past matters nothing to me, Freya. But I do want your present and your future to be with me." He caught her, halting her pacing until she was looking up at him with an angry scowl on her face, denial in every bone of her beautiful body. "I want to annoy the hell out of you until you push me off the bed. I want to be at your side as you work through your emotions and learn the correct ones for any given situation. I want you in my bed so I can show you what real love feels like between a man and a woman who are not out for just their own sexual gratification but want to give their partner as much pleasure as they can. I want you, Freya Eriksson. Forever." She yearned for what he spoke of, craved to give in and believe that she could have what he described. "And when I fuck up?" she ground out. "When I disappoint you, hurt someone you care about, what then, Dayton? Will you still want me or will you curse me?" He framed her face gently in his hands and teased his lips over hers. "Why didn't you hurt Rayne? You wanted to. She was a threat to you. Why didn't you act on that threat?" Freya stood so still, her heart beating hard in her chest as Dayton's touch both soothed and excited her. He was a sneaky wolf, changing directions in their conversation to throw her off balance, using touch at the same time to focus her when she was becoming wild. She suddenly realised he'd been doing this since she'd returned to the compound with him. He'd been handling her the whole time and that sparked her anger again. "Answer me, Freya," he whispered against her lips, his tongue licking slowly over her bottom lip tempting a moan from her. Anger warred with desire as she fought not to take his mouth in a hard, punishing kiss which would hopefully soothe some of the pent up frustration running through her body. "Because she was your friend," she hissed out reluctantly. "I would have caused you pain if I had acted on my instincts." The admission was ripped out of her. "And mates don't inflict pain on each other," he whispered softly. "You could never hurt someone I care about, Freya. I'm sure you will fuck up many times in other ways but I'll still be with you, I'll still catch you when you fall. I won't ever wash my hands of you and leave you alone. No matter what." "Why?" It was a confused plea, a need to understand why he was willing to fight so hard for her. "Because you will do the same for me, honey," he groaned softly, his fingers burrowing in her hair. "You already have by forcing me to confront my emotions over Faith. You broke through all my barriers and led me home to my family. You saved my life and cared for me even when I thought I hated you and wanted you dead. I fucked up spectacularly and you stood by me and picked up me. You didn't give up on me as I will never give up on you. We're meant to be together, Freya. We're mates." He made it sound so easy, that all she had to do was reach out and take what he offered. She had hurt him when they were alone and he didn't fault her for it, instead he saw it as necessary to achieve a greater good. He attributed coming home to be her doing, a gift she had selflessly given him. She didn't believe that was true herself but he believed it and he took joy from it. This wonderful man was offering her things she'd never dreamed she could ever have. And she wanted them so badly, she wanted him so badly. If she didn't then she wouldn't be staying in a wolf compound, afraid to leave him, to be alone again. He believed in her so completely. "I'm scared I'll fail again," she finally admitted. "Before it wouldn't have been so bad but now...Dayton, I'm so frightened of failing you." He crushed her tightly to him, stroking her hair gently. She sounded so vulnerable and his protective instincts needed to make her feel safe. She'd had to take in a lot and it was overwhelming her. "I'm not, Freya. You could never fail me. All you have to do is tell me when it becomes too much for you. I'll be there to hold you and keep you safe when you need a bit of extra strength. I'll always be there for you." Freya believed him. The conviction in his voice was total, his arms a protective cage around her. Her wolf would never leave her floundering in a sea of emotions that was so alien to her they caused her pain and confusion. He would drop everything to help her if she asked him to. She didn't deserve him but he appeared determined not to let her go, so she clung onto him, surrendering to him completely because he touched her soul and made her believe in happy ever afters. "Please, don't ever let me go." It was a plea from the very depth of her heart, her voice trembling. "Never!" he vowed his arms tightening even more. "You're mine, Freya. No one will ever take you from me, not even you. We'll go slowly until you feel comfortable. There's no rush, honey. We have all the time in the world." ***** Freya spent an hour playing with Liam in his room. She watched her nephew with a critical eye as he sat with a large jigsaw and painstakingly examined each shape before he tried to slot the pieces together. His little brow was furrowed in concentration, his eyes darting from piece to piece as he worked out the puzzle in his mind. The emotions she felt for this tiny boy had often confused her. Today she could examine them without hiding from herself. She needed to because if what Dayton said was true then he wanted to have children and he was choosing her to be the mother of them. She had never understood the need to procreate, had detested the very thought of it until Liam had come along. Nors' son had been an exception because he belonged to her brother. She had added him to her family because he was blood. It had been a cold, logical decision at first but somewhere along the way her feelings had changed. "It won't fit," Liam groaned, frustration creeping into his voice as he looked up at his aunt. "Then it obviously doesn't belong there," she answered though her lips tugged in a little smile as he frowned at her response. On impulse she sat down on the floor beside him. "Perhaps if you make piles of the same shapes it will be less confusing?" She showed him what she meant and soon they had the similar shaped pieces stacked in four separate piles. "Now look at the puzzle. You can see that the next shape has to have two rounded sides to fit in. Which pile could that be?" Excitement danced across his face. There was only one grouping that had that particular shape in it. He easily found the piece he needed and slotted it into place, grinning up at her when it fit perfectly. "Thanks, Aunt Freya. You're the best aunt in the whole wide world." His pleasure was absolute and she found herself smiling back at him, reaching out to touch his head gently. Warmth spread through her at his open love and honesty. It was so easy to make him happy and when Liam smiled she couldn't help smiling back at him. "And you're the best nephew in the whole wide world," she breathed softly, her heart melting for this adorable little boy. A Long Walk Home Ch. 16 He turned from the puzzle and crawled into her lap reaching up for a hug which she gave him with no hesitation. She cradled him gently and knew that if she could make him happy then she could make a child of her own happy too. She could be a mother and give Dayton what he desired most in the world, a complete family. "I love you, Liam," she whispered, painfully aware that she'd never said the words to him before. It made her sad that she'd held them back from this beautiful little boy. "Don't be sad, Aunt Freya. I know you love me. I can feel it in here." He pointed to his chest. Then he placed his hand on her chest and smiled shyly. "You don't hurt here anymore. That makes me happy." She swallowed hard and cuddled him closer, gently caressing his cheek. She knew about his abilities now, knew that this precious little thing had sensed her pain and tried to help her. It awed her as well as made her feel guilt that she had unconsciously subjected him to her negative emotions. She hadn't done it deliberately but he had still felt it. "It makes me happy too, Liam," she whispered softly. "You are such a special little boy. I am honoured to have you as my nephew." He beamed up at her. "I love you too," he smiled giving her another hug before he clambered back down to finish his jigsaw. Freya helped him, lying down beside him as he worked through the remaining pieces and laughed in delight when it was finally completed. Her eyes shone with love as he clapped his hands and did a little victory dance, so proud of himself. In that moment she knew that she could do this amazing thing. She could give Dayton the children he desired and she could love them just as much as she loved Liam. The thought made her heart thump wildly in her chest but it was excitement that rushed through her and she found herself laughing as her nephew taught her just how easy it was to love if she really wanted to. Freya went looking for Dayton. She felt like a child herself, full of hope and excitement. She wanted to tell him what she'd discovered about herself, wanted to see his eyes light up with happiness that she was letting down another barrier that held her emotions so rigidly in place. Following his scent, she found him outside talking with his sister beside her house. Other wolves stopped to glance in her direction but looked away almost instantly, as if they had determined she was not a threat. It gave her a sense of belonging to know the pack expected to see her among them. That feeling paled into insignificance when Dayton's head turned suddenly and their eyes met. The warmth in his deep blue gaze was undeniable, his pleasure at seeing her written across his handsome face. The smile he gave her faltered minutely before he turned back to Cedar and said something to her. The blonde wolf's pale blue eyes met Freya's for an instant and then she answered her brother in an equally low tone and headed back into her home. Dayton turned and strode across the compound towards her. Freya met him half way and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to hers. Her kiss was almost desperate in its need. It appeared to surprise him but he recovered quickly, wrapping one arm around her waist to drag her bodily against him while his other hand slid under her hair to grip the nape of her neck firmly. He met her kiss with a hunger that matched hers. He didn't appear to care they were standing in the middle of the compound with people watching them. He took control of the kiss, his tongue hot and wild inside her mouth. She could feel the hard ridge of his erection pressing against her, the tension in his body as he literally devoured her mouth with his. It was wild, frantic and so incredibly delicious she moaned into his mouth and tried to pull him closer. She wanted to growl her disappointment when he pulled his mouth from hers, firmly holding her back when she tried to protest. His eyes were almost black in colour, his jaw clenching hard as he looked down at her. "Kiss me like that again, honey, and some of the more vulnerable members of the pack are going to get an education they most definitely are not ready to receive yet," he said hoarsely, his voice thick with need. His words startled her and she glanced around to see a handful of teenagers watching them avidly. She growled loudly in their direction and the group of boys vanished in an instant. Dayton's loud laughter filled the morning air. "Well I suppose that's one way to get rid of them," he chuckled lightly. "We're usually a little gentler on them than that, might be something to remember for the future." Freya flushed and leaned her forehead against his chest. She'd fucked up again. "I'm sorry." "Hey." Gentle fingers tilted her chin up until she met his eyes. He was smiling at her, affection in his gaze. "They'll dine out on that for at least a month. The sexiest female vampire ever growled at them. The simple fact you actually noticed them at all will give them kudos in the pack." That made her frown, she had no idea what he meant by that. "I'm reliably informed that our youngling males have had a long standing competition going to see which one of them could catch your eye first," Dayton laughed. "Granted, they were probably hoping for something a little less aggressive but they'll take what they can get." "They're idiots," she snorted, finally catching his meaning. "They're children and wolves at that. Why would I even look at them?" "They're horny youths who see an unattainable beautiful woman in their midst. They can't help dreaming big. The fact you're unattainable is what makes you so alluring to them. You do know that you've been around this compound for years and probably haven't even spared a glance at the majority of the pack. You belong and yet you don't. You're an oddity, something to be curious about." Freya considered what he said. He was right, she solely concentrated on what happened within the Alpha's house because that was the only place she spent any time when at the compound. She ignored everyone else. It was surprising to find she was noticed by the others. She had just assumed they had ignored her as she had them. "They're still idiots." Dayton laughed again. "They are that. I will be having a word with them about what's appropriate though they may still look until we're mated. I can't very well blame them for that because it is such a delicious view." He leaned down and kissed her again, only this time it was more tender; the heat of the first kiss nowhere in sight. He broke away but kept a hold of her hand, tugging her towards the trees. She went willingly, anxious to get some breathing space from all the eyes she suddenly felt were now on her. Was everyone watching so they could see her fail? "Why the sudden need to be with me?" Dayton asked, stopping just into the trees and unbuttoning his shirt. Freya swallowed hard as he stripped it off easily, her heart kicking up a beat at the sheer perfection of his hard, muscled chest. She couldn't help herself, she licked her lips. "I missed you." Her words trailed off as he unsnapped his jeans. She swallowed again. Her mouth was unaccountably dry at the moment. "I like the sound of that. I missed you too, honey. I thought you were spending time with Liam though. That should have kept you occupied." Her eyes met his, the reluctance with which she looked away evident on her face. "What are you doing?" Dayton's lips curled in a slow smile, his eyes glinting with laughter. "I want to go for a run with you. I'd prefer to have clothes to change into when we get back. You haven't answered my question." She groaned loudly. "You're stripping naked in front of me and you want to have a conversation?" She kept her eyes on his. If she watched him peel his jeans off she would probably go insane and pounce on him. "And it wasn't a question, it was a statement." "Semantics, vampire. Did something happen with Liam?" He sat down and tugged his boots and socks off as he watched her carefully. He knew he was teasing her mercilessly. If she only knew just how much this was crippling him too. From the moment he'd scented her coming out of the Alpha's house he'd been hard and aching for her. Keeping his distance was driving him crazy but he wasn't going to rush her. Taming his vampire had to be done slowly and very carefully. He stood up again and pushed down his jeans. Like most wolves he didn't bother with underwear. "I was thinking over your words about having babies, examining my interaction with him so I could decide if I had the capacity within me to be a mother," Freya choked out, her eyes following his movements, taking in the male beauty of his body. Heat engulfed her, warmth spreading downwards to pool between her thighs. He was beautiful, so strong and vital. His erection pulsed to the beat of his heart and she wanted to taste it, feel it in her mouth as she licked and sucked until he cried out with pleasure. "Stop thinking naughty thoughts and tell me what conclusion you came to." Dayton's voice had dropped an octave, a husky note whispering through his words. It brought her eyes back to his and she could see he was struggling just as much as she was. It somehow made her feel less feral. "I think I can do it, be a mother," she confessed, her cheeks suddenly burning hotly. "If that is what you want." Dayton almost choked but managed to contain himself. When he'd talked with her earlier he had worried he was moving too fast for her. Now she was standing there calmly telling him she wanted to have babies with him. Granted, she had a unique way of discussing parenthood but he wasn't complaining. Just the thought of his child growing inside her was enough to make his cock twitch hard. "What about what you want, Freya?" he asked gently moving towards her. He gathered her into his arms and tilted her head back so he could look into her eyes. "Becoming parents is a joint decision. Both partners should want a child so it's conceived in love." She tried to look away but his gaze was mesmerising. She realised she couldn't hear him breathing and knew her answer had to be so important to him if he was holding his breath. The heat of his body so close to hers was distracting and she had to bite back a moan as she felt his harness pressing into her. "I would like to have children with you one day," she whispered. "I want to be a family with you, to have what Nors and Ashleigh have." Dayton's breath sighed out and he leaned down and kissed her gently. "And I will gladly give them to you, Freya. Anything your heart desires I will give to you. All you have to do is tell me what you want and if it's in my power then it's yours." He kissed her again, a little more lingeringly this time but nothing too passionate. If he gave into his desire he'd be taking this exquisite woman who made his blood boil with a crippling need. But that wasn't what he wanted for her right now. She had made a big decision today. He was under no illusions of just how huge a leap it was for her to consider becoming a mother. That decision meant she was accepting him as her mate. The emotions she would be dealing with at the moment would most probably be overwhelming her. He wanted to show her how to relax and embrace those emotions. "Run with me, Freya," he breathed against her lips. "Feel the wind in your hair, the earth beneath your feet; the sheer joy of being free to race through the trees. Let the forest into your soul; embrace the sounds and textures all around you. Let your spirit fly." He shifted into wolf form, growled softly at her once and took off into the trees. She stared after him and then she began to run, following his scent, staying behind him as she let him guide her through the forest. She listened to the bird song on the air, the rustle of creatures in the underbrush. The scent of the forest filled her and it smelled of Dayton. This was who he was, what he loved and had lost for so long. It didn't escape her that the last person he'd probably run with like this had been his first mate. Inviting her to run with him was another way of opening his heart to her. He would be remembering Faith, remembering the consequences of that last run with her. He was offering every single piece of himself, trusting her to protect his heart. Freya knew she was going to accept everything he offered her. He was in her soul now, buried so deep in her heart that she would cease to exist the moment he did. She ran after her wolf and her heart soared as the freedom he offered her embraced her completely. A tinkling sound filled the morning air and she realised it was her laughter. Tears filled her eyes and joined with the laughter as she flew through the trees with her wolf as her guide. Finally she'd found a place to belong. Nothing and no one would ever force her to give up this feeling. She was keeping her wolf forever, secure in the knowledge that he would never let her go. Dayton circled back towards the compound coming to stop on the wide flat rock where he'd talked to Ashleigh as few days before. He needed to spend some time with her, talk with her about David and her family. He knew it was what she needed and he needed it too. Part of him would always feel guilty about not being there when they died. There was probably nothing he would have been able to do to stop it happening but that didn't ease his guilt any. He owed Ashleigh for not being there for her when she needed him. He owed her for bringing Freya into his life. He would never be able to repay her for that. He rumbled deep in his chest as the scent of cherry blossom assaulted his nostrils and his vampire leapt gracefully onto the rock beside him. Her multi-coloured hair was wild around her head, her eyes sparkling with life as she inhaled deeply and then dropped her gaze down to him. He stayed in wolf form, curious to see her reaction. She appeared more accepting of wolves now and he wanted her to accept this part of him. He rumbled deeply again as she sat down and rubbed her face against his side. It was unexpected but pleasantly so. He lay down and curled himself against her, his head resting in her lap. She smelled so good, so tantalising that he knew he'd have to stay wolf for a while so he could control his need for her. If he shifted anytime soon all his good intentions would be done for. He ached for her. All her talk about having babies made him almost desperate to be with her. Their run had certainly worked wonders for his vampire. She was the most relaxed he had ever seen her but he was still painfully hard for her. "Move," she sighed, pushing at his head until he growled his reluctance. She pushed at him again. "Don't force me to show you just who is the stronger of us. It will only dent your fragile male ego." He shifted to human form, rolling onto his back as he laughed at her idle threat. He knew she wouldn't do as she said. He was curious to know why she was so insistent he moved. He didn't think it was an aversion to his wolf. She had been comfortable enough with him lying against her. Dayton's breath caught as she rose gracefully and slid off her top of in one smooth move. She was bare beneath it and the sun glinted off her skin, showcasing her utterly perfect breasts with their rosy pink tips. If he'd thought he'd been hard before he was wrong. His body pulsed at the incredible sight, his erection becoming so stiff it was painful. "Freya," he managed to choke out but then his voice died as she kicked off her sandals and stripped her jeans and panties off just as smoothly. He really couldn't breathe then, his eyes fixated on her sleekly muscled thighs, the curve of her hips and that sweet juncture between her legs with a very fine layer of neatly trimmed brown hair. She was a Goddess standing there in the sunshine, completely unashamed of her nakedness, her eyes a deep, smoky green that spoke of her arousal. He didn't need to see it in her eyes; her scent told him just how much she wanted him. He could only stare at her, afraid to move in case this was just a dream and he'd wake up to find himself alone in his bed. Freya watched his face carefully, her heart thumping wildly at the naked desire she saw there. She had seen that expression on many faces before but she hadn't seen it quite the way Dayton looked at her. He wanted her body there was no denying that, but beneath the lust was a look of such adoration that she knew his need was more than just carnal. She had acted on impulse and she was glad she had. She wanted him and he was being so careful of her, sweetly protective as he denied himself his sexual pleasure. He was driving her insane. He strode around naked showing her his wonderful body and then he denied it to her. She would be denied no longer. Smiling she moved to his feet and slowly sank down to her knees. Her hands touched his ankles and he flinched slightly and let out a low groan but he held his position, waiting to see what she would do. Her smile widened and she slowly stroked her hands up his well muscled calves and along his inner thighs. There was something so incredibly erotic about the way he lay there and let her discover the textures of his body, her hands moving closer to his long, thick cock which twitched in anticipation. She wanted to devour him with her mouth, instead she took her time and fisted him in her hand as his head dropped back and he let out a deep groan. Slowly she traced the length of him, gently moving her hand up and down as his hips rose involuntarily and his groans continued. The muscles in his thighs trembled and she delighted in the power she had over him even as she was awed at it. She gripped him tighter and stroked him more vigorously, increasing his pleasure and the sounds issuing from his throat. It was so heady, so exciting that she couldn't hold back any longer and bent her mouth to him. He groaned harshly as she took him her mouth and began to suck on him. He tasted divine, his skin so soft around the hard steel of his shaft. His hands fisted in her hair and he pressed her head down even as his hips thrust up gently. She could feel him trying to be careful with her and it made her laugh softly as she took her mouth from him for a moment. Freya was a vampire and a very old one. She had learned the techniques of giving pleasure with her mouth long before he was ever born. She didn't need him to be careful, she needed him to be wild with need, to let go and forget everything but the bliss she was giving him. Her hot mouth once more took his cock but this time she gave into her own needs and slid him relentlessly inside her mouth. His next groan was primal as she took his complete length, sliding him easily into her throat where she held him prisoner as his hips jerked wildly. She did it again and again, building the pressure until he lost all coherent thought and was driving wildly into her mouth. Pleasure hummed through her body as she sucked and swallowed, teased and licked until she felt him ready to release in her mouth. He roared loudly, pulsing deeply as his seed raced from his body and filled her eager mouth as she swallowed all he had to give her. The sound of his ragged breathing filled the air as she licked leisurely, soothing him down from his erotic bliss. Then she crawled slowly up his body, her mouth trailing a lazy path over his taut abdomen until she reached his tight, hard nipples and nipped at them gently. Dayton fisted his hands in her hair and pulled her mouth to his, taking her in a searing kiss. He couldn't believe what she'd just done to his body. The level of pleasure she'd given him had been mind blowing and yet he felt a moment's unease too. He had been totally out of control. He could have hurt her. He pulled his mouth from hers to stare into her extremely smug face and had to laugh. She looked so damned pleased with herself. A Long Walk Home Ch. 16 "You enjoyed that," he laughed quietly, biting back a groan as she literally oozed over his body, her nipples teasing his chest deliciously. "So did you," she laughed back, grinding her mouth against his as he rolled her over to lie cradled between her thighs. The harsh, abrasiveness of the rock rubbed against his knees and he frowned, reluctantly pulling his mouth from hers. "This isn't the most ideal place for this." She threw her head back and laughed loudly, wrapping her long legs around him and pressing her wet heat against his rapidly expanding shaft. "I'm a vampire, Dayton. I have more chance of breaking this rock than it has of me." Her valid point had him laughing softly as he ran his tongue slowly over her bottom lip. "I keep forgetting that." He moved suddenly, wrapping his arms around her as he stood up and jumped from the rock. "I take longer to heal that you do. I'd prefer a softer surface." She kissed him hard, her fingers burrowing in his hair as her tongue teased his and made his knees feel weak. "You're so fragile," she laughed softly, amusement dancing in her eyes as he let go of her. She landed agilely on the feet, her laughter increasing. "Sensitive too." Dayton was delighted at how playful she was, his lips tugging in a seductive smile. She was so beautiful, so open and relaxed. His heart swelled with the love he felt for her. "Some parts of me are extremely sensitive," he chuckled lightly, kneeling down in a patch of thick moss and tugging at her hand. She came to him instantly, sitting astride him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Dayton didn't think he'd ever seen anything more beautiful than his wild vampire flowing into his arms with no hesitation at all. Her trust in him was evident and it made his heart soar. Freya groaned as her body brushed his. He was hard again, pressing against her wet heat so intimately. One hand buried in his hair while the other traced his strong jaw softly. "You have lots of stamina," she whispered rubbing against him sensually. "I'm impressed." "What man wouldn't while having you in his arms," he countered, his hand catching the nape of her neck and pulling her mouth to his for a deep searching kiss. His tortured groan filled her mouth as she rose up and slowly lowered herself onto his body. It was so unexpected that he had to grip her hips hard to hold her still once she sheathed herself on him. If she moved now he would embarrass himself completely. "Fuck, Freya! Haven't you heard of foreplay?" The words were ground out harshly as he took deep breaths to try and calm his body which was aching to drive hard and deep inside her. Her own voice was a husky sigh as her lips kissed up to his ear and she nipped gently at his lobe. "I thought I'd given you foreplay," she teased lightly, her warm breath sending shivers through his body. He was laughing again, a breathy sound that told her just what she was doing to him. "You know I meant for you, honey. There are so many things I wanted to do to your sexy body before we got to this point." Her answer was to raise her body slowly and then caress every thick inch of him deliciously as she sank back down onto him. "You kept me waiting too long. I lack patience." Dayton growled and gripped her hips tightly, unable to stop himself from sliding her back over his body just as slowly as she'd just done. "I'll add that to the list of things I need to teach you," he groaned and then he was pressing her back against the moss, driving into her in long hard strokes as his head bent to suck a rosy nipple into his mouth. His eyes glittered as he took his mate for the first time, savouring the feel of her slick wetness embracing his cock so tightly. He had been waiting so long for this moment without ever realising he had been. He'd been waiting so long for his Freya to come into his life and teach him the joy of being alive once more. His heart thundered hard in his chest as he rocked into her again and a sweet moan escaped her lips. He would show his beautiful vampire what real love was, what tenderness felt like, how he intended to stroke and kiss every inch of her soft skin for eternity until she had no more doubts about whether she deserved to be loved. His mouth was hot on hers, his tongue dipping inside to taste her leisurely as he rode slowly between her legs, drawing out each thrust to give her maximum pleasure. Her arms and legs twined tightly around him, her breathy cries the sweetest love song he'd ever heard. He wanted to stay like this with her forever, just the two of them sliding against each other's skin, their bodies joined in the erotic rhythm of love. Freya couldn't breathe. Dayton was doing such wonderful things to her body. His hands and lips left no inch of her skin untouched, pleasure flooding her wherever he caressed. The feel of him driving into her body was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. This was sex but it was more. He was worshipping her with every part of himself, showing her just how amazing sex could be when two people truly belonged together. It was so beautiful it was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She didn't want it to end but her need was strong, both of them were. Her mouth watered at the memory of his taste and she wanted to taste him again. She knew if she did that she would effectively be mating with him. Ashleigh had once explained to her how sex was an integral part of mating for Weres. She had accepted that he was hers and knew that if she drank from him right now she would be joining with him forever. His sweat slickened chest grazed her nipples and she shuddered at the touch, her tongue licking against his neck almost greedily. His thrusts into her body were becoming more urgent, harder and faster as they pushed her relentlessly towards her climax. "I need to taste you." He stilled just as he buried himself deep to the hilt inside her. His eyes met hers and his nostrils flared as he clenched his jaw hard. He looked so beautiful in his passion, his eyes glowing with emotion as they searched her face intently. "You know what it will mean if you do this?" he asked in a hoarse voice. He couldn't hide his desire to feel her bite. "I need to bite you, Dayton. I've never needed anything so badly in my life." Her eyes told him just how desperate she was and he growled low in his chest. He needed to claim her too but they had to have a talk about that before he did so. The fact she was willing to claim him first set his heart racing and his cock became harder than he'd thought it possibly could. "Then take me, honey. I'm yours forever." He rocked back his hips and drove into her with a need so fierce it rang a tortured cry from his chest. She was pulling him down to her, her teeth nipping at his neck lightly before he felt her fangs pierce his skin and she began to shudder wildly beneath him. Ecstasy raced through him at her bite, his movements becoming frantic as he took her hard and fast, pushing her over the edge ruthlessly as she took him with her in a burst of pleasure so intense he forgot how to breathe. Freya screamed her release, her head thrown back, her body arching into his as his knot began to form at the base of his cock. He pushed hard, forcing himself into her body, craving to be joined to her so she couldn't escape him. He seated his knot inside her tight body and pulsed deeply. He came in hard jerky movements, giving her his seed as he roared his pleasure into the air. They shook together, their breathing harsh, the sounds of their ecstasy carrying on the morning breeze. Dayton finally collapsed against Freya, holding her tightly as he rolled to his side, their limbs entwined as they fought to regulate their heartbeats. Freya kissed the spot she had claimed him. There was no sign of her bite, but he shuddered as her tongue stroked the area telling her it would always be sensitive to her touch. He was hers now. She had completed her half of the mating ritual. Now it was just up to him to complete his. "I love you," he whispered, stroking her hair gently. His voice was so full of emotion it made her heart flutter wildly in her chest. "I love you too," she whispered back and it was the easiest thing in the world for her to say because it was her wolf she was declaring her feelings for. Her Dayton. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 17 Dayton woke abruptly surprised to find he'd actually dozed off for a few minutes. Freya was curled up against him, the springy moss they were laying on not really cushioning their bodies that much. He felt sated and happy though, the best he'd felt in a very long time. And it was all because of the woman in his arms and the trust she'd placed in him. She'd brought him back to life. It had been a hard road but he knew he was almost at the end of it. Once he claimed Freya completely everything else would fall into place. Life couldn't get any better and he smiled contently for a moment before a frown crossed his face. His thoughts drifted to Rayne and he couldn't help worrying about her. He had no idea where she was but he knew she was hurting and needed him. She was so conditioned to running that she wouldn't be able to stop herself doing so unless someone stepped in and stopped her. He felt guilty for being happy when he knew she was suffering. Had she left the area already? He could try calling her again, try and entice her to gallery so they could talk. It had worked before but he wasn't so certain it would work again. He just felt so damned happy that he wanted that same happiness for the woman who had stood by him for so long, refusing to allow him to completely self destruct. "You're thinking about Rayne." Freya's words cut through his thoughts and he tightened his arms around her and brushed his lips against the side of her neck. She didn't sound jealous but he instantly wanted to reassure her of his love. "How did you know?" he sighed against her skin. "I can scent your concern," she answered, turning in his arms to meet his gaze. Her soft skin pressed against his and it was all he could do to stifle down the groan of appreciation. Her arms snaked around his neck, her leg come to rest over his hip bringing their bodies together in a very intimate contact that had his breath catching instantly. "She is a very resilient woman. You worry too much about her. But then, you care about her and it is your nature to be protective of those you care about." For a moment he had to struggle to remember what they were talking about so intent was he on the way her curves fit him so perfectly. His lips twitched and then a wide grin split his face as her words registered. "That actually sounded convincing, Freya, normally you're ready to rip Rayne limb from limb." She shot him a withering look though her lips were curling in a smile as she cuddled closer to his warmth and ran her tongue against his neck where she'd bitten him. The deep groan and the surge of his body against her made her sigh in pleasure. "Mine," she whispered against his ear. "I can afford to be generous now, wolf." He gripped the nape of her neck and brought her mouth to his, plundering her lips hard as need rocked through him. One kiss and she scattered his senses. His vampire was so intoxicating she could block out anything with just one touch of her lips. She tasted so good he wanted to take her again, hard and fast this time until they both cried out their pleasure. He knew they didn't have time for it though so he feasted on her lips a moment longer and then pulled away regretfully. "I need to try and find her, honey. She's hurting." Freya could here the appeal in his voice, knew he was worried that she would feel neglected that he had a need to find the wildcat. Perhaps she would have before he'd made love to her but she didn't any more. "I understand. I will help if you want." The surge of love that washed over him left Dayton speechless for a moment, and then he kissed her again taking his time to enjoy her lush lips. "You're amazing," he breathed against her mouth. "I'm so going to enjoy spending my life with you, honey. Thank you for the offer but I think I'll have a better chance bearding Rayne alone. If I can get her to come see me in the first place, that is." He let her go reluctantly and rose to his feet, holding out his hand to pull her up beside him. "You need to think about where we should live. It doesn't have to be the compound if you're not comfortable with it. There's the apartment over the gallery or your house when the work is completed on it. Or we could get something completely new if you'd prefer. I don't mind as long as we're together." His words caught her off balance and she stared at him in surprise for a long moment before she blinked slowly and headed over to retrieve her clothes. She hadn't even thought about their living arrangements. Her heart started beating rapidly as she realised that she truly did get to keep him forever. As she pulled on her jeans she considered their options. "I can handle pack life now and then," she finally said. "If it is essential that you be close to the compound at times. But I'd prefer the retreat. It's close enough we can be here quickly but far enough away that we can be alone. I have nothing but good memories there and Nors won't mind us using it. I will buy his stake in it from him." She pulled her top on and slipped into her sandals before turning around to look at him. "And I will scout out any old traps too so a certain stupid wolf doesn't fall into one again." Her breath faltered as he laughed at her jibe, so completely unashamed by his nakedness, his body teasing her mercilessly. "I should have carried your clothes with us," she muttered under her breath and was rewarded with a huskier laugh. "Self control issues, vampire?" The teasing in his voice was unmistakable as was the smug male satisfaction that she wanted him again. He strode over and pulled her into his arms for another long, slow kiss that had them both breathing heavily at the end of it. "The retreat is perfect, honey. I really liked it up there but then I'd like anywhere that had you and a large bed in it." Heat rushed through her at the thought. Being alone with Dayton in a large bed was very appealing but she pushed at his chest for him to release her. "I thought you had a friend to go rescue." His grip tightened in reluctance and she couldn't resist caressing his hot skin when she was meant to be pushing him away. It was hard not to when he stood there allowing her to do as she wished, gave her that right to stroke him. Dayton smiled ruefully and finally dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "Thought I was supposed to be the responsible one here," he chuckled lightly stepping back. "Guess we should get back." Freya moved to head back the way they'd come and then suddenly spun around to face him before he'd even taken a step. Her eyes were as black as midnight, her fangs elongated. Long, wicked talons reached for him and he was so shocked at her transformation he could only stare at her in astonishment. He didn't fear her but was confused as to what had set her off. He opened his mouth to ask and found himself being picked up as if he weighed nothing. A split second later he began flying through the air backwards, away from Freya and towards the densely packed trees behind him. Dayton knew she had moved at an insane, vampire speed and yet everything appeared to happen in slow motion to him. The instant Freya released him she was spinning around; running away from him, towards what he had no idea. His heart pounded so loudly it was all he could hear and then muted sounds echoed on the air in front of him and his vampire was suddenly spinning back towards him, lifted bodily from the ground. "Freya!" Her name sounded as if it came from a distance even though it had ushered from his lips. He watched her body jerk wildly as she flew through the air, her top suddenly wet and a much deeper shade of red than before. A ragged hole appeared in her shoulder blade and then blood began to ooze from the site. "NO!" His scream was gut wrenching, memories of his last run with Faith vivid in his mind, the resounding crack of her neck breaking that signalled his heart dying along with her. Not again! He couldn't live through that a second time. He'd only just found Freya and someone was trying to take her away from him. His brain was finally connecting what was happening and his next scream was one of combined fury and anguish. Freya's body was being thrown wildly from the impact of bullets smashing into it. Someone was firing some kind of semi-automatic weapon, trying to kill his mate and he was helpless to do anything about it. Freya hit the rock where they had been not so long ago, landing hard enough for bones to break. Her momentum and the violence of the impact kept her body moving and she tumbled sickeningly over the stone to fall behind it. Dark red blood covered the rock. Freya's blood. Dayton tried to scream again but he'd finally hit the tree line, pain engulfing his body entirely as he connected with first the trees and then the hard packed ground. His head was the last part of him to hit the dirt and it hit with a resounding whack. Instantly he was disorientated, nauseous, and he could feel blackness starting to descend. Sick, terrifying fear clawed at him as he fought against the blackness, tried to get to his mate. He couldn't pass out! Freya was hurt and he had to get to her. He tried to move but his body wouldn't obey his commands. The darkness won and he sank into oblivion. Freya knew she couldn't stay where she was. They would have tracked her the entire way and would triangulate on her position in an instant. There were three of them that she knew about and God knew how many others. Ignoring the searing pain in her body, she was up and into the trees in the blink of an eye. Another gunshot hit close to her head but thankfully missed her as she gained relative safety within the tree line. "Nors!" She had no idea if her brother was at the compound or had left for work. She was still moving, still ignoring her torn chest which was already starting to heal from the multiple gunshot wounds she'd taken. She had to get to Dayton, had to protect him. "Freya!" She almost wept with relief as Nors' alert mental voice answered her while she wove through the trees in the direction she'd thrown her wolf. Her brother knew instantly that something was wrong and didn't stop to ask what, he merely waited for her to tell him as quickly and succinctly as possible. "West of the compound, approximately a mile away. Vampires. Three with guns. I've taken wounds but Dayton's safe from the bullets at the moment. We need help." "We're on our way." His mental touch was gone and she couldn't help the shiver of relief that went through her just knowing he was coming. Nors always came when he was needed and God help whoever was responsible for this when he got there. He didn't tolerate anyone hurting what was his to protect and his sister was most definitely his in his mind. The feral part of her nature wanted to hunt the vampires responsible for this and tear them apart. One thing that seriously pissed her off was being used as target practice. That someone was foolish enough to attack an Ancient vampire of her standing was a personal affront and one she wasn't willing to let go. But her heart was in control at the moment and all she could think about was her wolf and how she had to find him. She was furious with herself. She couldn't believe she'd let herself become so distracted that she hadn't even scented the danger approaching. It was a fucking youngling mistake! And her mate had paid the price for it. She would never forgive herself for it and she would never make that mistake again. She was furious with the vampires out there too but they would pay for their actions. Once Nors and the pack arrived, once Dayton was protected, she was going to rip those vampires apart with her bare hands and feast on their blood. The world would know that no one fucked with Freya Eriksson and those she loved. She tried to keep an eye on the forest as she moved. The vampires would be changing their position to hide themselves and she needed to know where they were so she could better protect her wolf. She found him a moment later, unconscious with one leg bent at an impossible angle. Guilt engulfed her as well as another cold, hard bubble of rage. There would be death for this atrocity; slow lingering death. She sank down beside Dayton and very carefully rearranged his broken leg as best she could. Then she ripped her wrist and pressed it to his mouth, forcing her blood down his throat. She held his mouth closed to stop it leaking out and also to stop him making any noise when he regained consciousness. She had charged the vampires in the hope she would have distracted them from the direction Dayton had disappeared into. She didn't know if it had worked but she had to believe that it had because she couldn't tolerate them knowing where he was. He was hers to protect. Dayton became aware that he couldn't breathe and started to struggle against the hard hands holding him down. A barely audible hiss sounded in his ear and he froze instantly. "Stop fighting, it's me. Three vampires with guns and very acute hearing. Do not speak above this level." Relief washed through him and his eyes opened to see Freya's blood-streaked face beside him. Tears filled them and he could only stare at her mutely, his mind registering that she was alive, that she hadn't left him as Faith had. She was a mess but she'd never looked more beautiful to him. Her expression was hard, fury blazing in her eyes as well as concern. He knew that concern was for him so he did as she ordered and stayed still, feeling the pain in his body beginning to ebb slowly and realising she must have fed him some of her blood. "Nors has been alerted. The pack comes. As long as the vampires make no move on our position I'll stay with you but I may need to distract them again." Dayton swallowed hard, working on containing his emotions. His mate was okay. She was more than okay, she was pissed as hell and that fire in her eyes reminded him that she was a vampire and a lot harder to kill than most people. He pulled her ear to his mouth, his lips caressing her gently for a moment as he breathed in her scent, his wolf becoming less agitated at the contact with her soft skin. It took him another moment but he finally managed to ground himself in her scent, satisfy himself that she was as safe as either of them could be at the moment. Her calm, controlled demeanour helped him and he finally let out a muffled sigh. "Honey, your idea of distraction is enough to stop my heart," he murmured softly. "If you could keep it to a minimum I'd appreciate it." He kept his tone light but he knew she would hear some fear in it. Freya knew where he'd just been in his mind, knew he'd relived losing Faith and the agony that would have caused him. It was another reason to add to all the others for why she was going to spill blood in the not so distant future. His tone didn't fool her but she strove to match it. "They'll pick up the blood trail fairly quickly. Once they do that I'm going to have to act if the pack hasn't arrived. I will try to avoid being shot again." She let her lips curl in a slight smile. "This is the second time you've passed out at the sight of blood. You could have warned me I was choosing such a sensitive soul to mate with." His hand gripped the nape of her neck and his kiss was hard and bruising. It was brief but he needed the contact with her even if it lasted only a fraction of a second. "When we get out of this, you are so going to pay for that smartass remark, vampire." "I will look forward to being suitably punished," she remarked drolly, her eyes flickering into the forest again. "Now hush and let me listen while your body heals. I need to see if there are more than the three I originally picked up." ***** The instant Nors warned Rafe of his sister's distress call the compound turned into a flurry of activity. The Alpha had learnt well from previous experience and the new pack was prepared for the unexpected. The compound had been built with attack in mind and the moment the order went out, the vulnerable members of the pack were being escorted down to the basement levels of the Alpha's home, the community centre and the medical centre. Experience had shown that having a separate evacuation site split the pack to its detriment. Beneath the main buildings were purpose built tunnels blocked off by carefully concealed steel doors and shrouded in a low static pulse that shielded thoughts from Vampires. The tunnels were soundproofed and well stocked with basic foods and water. They could shelter the vulnerable for weeks if need be. Rafe left Aaron coordinating their defences and ran upstairs to his room. Lacey was already dressed, their sons clutched tightly to her chest as her eyes shone with fury. He felt a surge of pride deep within him as he strode to the closet and pulled out the pre-prepared bags full of essentials for both his mate and his sons. He hooked the bags over each shoulder and then turned to face her. "The compound is safe for the moment. The danger is about a mile away. Dayton and Freya are pinned down and we need to get to them as quickly as possible." He reached out as she handed Ben to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and leaned down to give her a hard kiss as she cradled Aaron protectively in her arms. Her scent held no fear, just the rage of a mother whose children were being threatened. He couldn't have picked a more perfect mate. "Dayton can't lose another mate, Rafe. It will kill him." Lacey hadn't spent much time with the newer member of their pack but the little she had was enough to tell her that they would be friends. "Freya can take care of herself. It's Dayton I'm more concerned about. If one of the vampires gets to him then we'll lose him." Rafe was ushering her out of the room and down the stairs as he spoke, his arm a band of steel across her shoulder. "She's wild," Lacey countered. "And thinks she's invulnerable. She could do something stupid in her need to protect him. You have to get there as soon as possible. We'll be fine here. Everyone knows what to do." Rafe's heart swelled with pride as he stared into his mate's eyes. Her protective instincts for the pack rivalled even his own. He kissed her, long and hard, a little of his hidden fear coming to the fore. He knew he had to leave her to protect his pack members. It didn't mean he wanted to. "I love you, Lace." It was a quiet declaration breathed against her lips. "Take care of our boys and make sure that you don't come out of the tunnels until the all clear has been sounded." "I love you too, Rafe. Now go do what you need to do." She nudged him away and he handed off the bags to Harley who was waiting patiently beside them. He gently placed Ben back in her arms and kissed the babies on their foreheads. Then he kissed his mate once more. "Make sure the door is sealed tightly and then meet me at the community centre," he told his Beta before he turned and strode away. It went against everything within him to walk away from his family but he knew that taking out the attacking vampires was the only true way to keep them safe. He met Aaron on his way outside to the gathering group at the community centre. Cedar and Loretta were already there as well as Nors and some lower ranking pack members. "Anything more from Freya?" Nors shook his head. "I don't want to distract her in case she needs her full concentration. If anything changes for the worst then she'll let me know." "Dayton?" Cedar's eyes reflected her concern for her brother as she watched the vampire's face intently. Aaron was standing beside her and his body was taut with strain. They had only just gotten their brother back. It would crush them if anything happened to him. Nors couched his answer carefully. Freya had a habit of being evasive at times when she didn't want something known. The fact she'd only stipulated the wolf was safe from bullets didn't preclude that he hadn't been hurt in some other way. "As far as I'm aware he's fine at the moment. Freya will protect him until we get there." A Long Walk Home Ch. 17 He turned his gaze to his Alpha. "It would make more sense if I go on ahead while the pack organises itself. I can provide additional backup for Freya." "Go." Rafe's tone was terse as he gave him permission. Two Ancients against three vampires were better odds and meant they had a good chance of Dayton remaining safe until they could get to him. He wasn't averse to using the best tools for the job, as he'd once had to remind Jared when he'd still been his Alpha. Nors vanished in an instant and Rafe back turned to the waiting group. "Aaron, I need you to protect the compound. I know you want to help your brother but we set up our defence plan so it would ensure the pack's safety. If I fall then you become Alpha. I'm placing my family's lives in your hands. Do whatever is required to keep them safe." Aaron didn't balk at his instructions even though he wanted to protect his brother. He knew the responsibility being placed on him was huge, that sometimes pack had to come before family. Rafe would do his best to bring Dayton home safely. He nodded to his Alpha once, touched Cedar's cheek gently and gave her a brief smile. Then he turned and headed back to the Alpha's house without a backward glance. "Alexei said it would take him and Andrei about fifteen minutes to get here," Cedar told her Alpha. "That was a few minutes ago so they shouldn't be long." She'd called her mate at The Council headquarters as soon as the alert had gone out. Rafe nodded. "Remember, three wolves to one vampire. Use the trees to hide your movements as much as possible. Don't make me have to come home minus any pack members today." His words were curt but there was a wealth of emotion underneath the surface. This was his first real challenge as Alpha and he didn't want to lose any people. He didn't want anyone's death on his conscience. "Oh, remember to look up too," Loretta added. "Vampires are sneaky bastards and like to drop down from the trees." Despite the seriousness of the situation she couldn't help her lips curling slightly at the memory of learning that important lesson herself. She still hadn't paid Andrei back for that. "Shift." Twelve large wolves appeared beside the community centre at the Alpha's command. The largest of them growled low in its chest, fury in the sound as the Alpha streaked into the trees, the others a fraction of a second behind him. ***** "Dayton, wolves don't climb trees, do they?" He blinked slowly at Freya. She hadn't turned to face him but her body had stiffened noticeably. "Not as a general rule, that's more cat territory." She glanced back then for a moment and the expression on her face chilled his blood. "Up, now." It was a hissed command and one that had him moving instantly. Wolves might not like to climb but the man had done so many times as he was growing up. The vampires had to be on the move. "They're less likely to look up," she whispered, moving silently beside him as she followed him up the large tree. Her movements were economical and graceful. She was at home in the trees as Rayne was. "Stay as high as you can. I'm going to have to distract them." He didn't like the sound of that. His wolf was growling deep inside him. "Freya." She gave him a push higher until he was perched on a thick branch shielded by a dense canopy of leaves. She stood on the branch below and slightly to the right of him. It brought them eyelevel. Her black eyes didn't faze him. He knew it meant she was tapping into her beast and that made her lethal. "This is my world, Dayton, it's what I know. You said sometimes a mate has to concede to the dominance of the other when the situation calls for it. This is just such a situation." He wanted to protest, the Beta inside him clawing to get out and protect his mate, but he knew she was right as she deftly turned his words around on him. His grip on her nape was hard as he pulled her into a desperate kiss, his lips grinding ruthlessly against hers. "Don't you fucking dare leave me, Freya Eriksson." Her expression softened, some of her feral nature slipping away as she touched his cheek lightly. "If I told you how many times someone's tried to kill me over the centuries the rest of your hair would turn silver, wolf," she smiled softly. "I have much more reason to live now than I ever did then. I will not leave you, Dayton. Not ever." He believed her and it lessened his fear slightly. He kissed her again, softer this time, showing his vampire how much he loved her and how vital it was for her to return safely to him. She returned his kiss with one that soothed him a little more. "Stay silent," she breathed against his mouth. "I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, she was gone, moving at vampire speed from his tree into the next one. He managed to track her that far and then she just disappeared from his line of sight. He couldn't stop the fear rising up inside him despite her words. Feeling helpless when danger was close was not an experience he was used to dealing with but he had to trust that she knew what she was doing. They needed to buy time for the pack to arrive. Freya swung effortlessly through the trees trying hard not to turn back towards her wolf. It was shocking to realise just how unnatural it felt leaving him alone. While she understood the concept of him being her mate, the actual reality of it was frightening. He was quite simply the most important thing in her world now. If she ever lost him it would kill her and she could now understand how he felt at losing Faith. She didn't have time to examine the confusing emotions running through her though. The vampires had become impatient and were trying to track her wolf. It was time to take them out of the game so Dayton would be safe once more. She came upon the first one from above. They were almost directly across from the tree her wolf was in and she wondered if they were in his line of sight. What she was about to do wasn't going to be pretty and she wasn't so sure she wanted him to see her like that. Sure, he was a wolf and had his own feral side but when she truly let go and surrendered to the beast within her, she was nothing short of vicious. Would he change his mind about mating with her if he saw her like that? There was no time to debate the issue. The vampire was starting to swing towards Dayton's direction and she silently dropped from the tree with her talons extended. She severed his vocal chords before he even realised she was above him. Landing on his back, she twisted her hands effortlessly. It was almost an anti-climax when his head came away and she lowered his corpse to the ground. She wanted a fight, someone to lash out at her so she could vent the fury deep within her. Instead she was facing idiots who were so young and inexperienced it made it doubly embarrassing that she'd allowed them to get the drop on her in the first place. Freya shook her head in disgust, moving instantly to slide back into the trees as she tracked her next prey. He was a large vampire, older than the one she'd just dispatched. He covered his position well, proving he had a bit more intelligence than the last one. He was still no match for an Ancient though. She tracked soundlessly, rolling to the right when he sensed her and swung his gun up instinctively. She wrenched the weapon from his hand as she came up behind him. Her talons buried in his lower back, severing his spine and causing his legs to give way. Her next blow crushed his windpipe temporarily so he couldn't cry out. "Didn't your mama ever tell you not to play with guns?" she hissed in his ear. The hatred in his eyes made her smile. He knew he was bested and his life was over. She wanted to play with him a little more but knew there was a third out there that she had to take care of. Her talons bit deep, ruthlessly severing his head from his shoulders in a spray of blood. She managed to avoid most of it but some splashed against her already soaked top. A familiar scent hit her and some of the tension eased from her body as she headed towards the last known position of the third vampire. She knew what she would find when she got there so she wasn't surprised to see the huge vampire just in the process of dropping the severed head of the third attacker to the ground. Deep green eyes met hers before quickly running over her body. "I take it your wolf is in better shape than you are?" Nors asked drolly though his tone did contain a measure of relief. "Nothing a hot bath won't cure," she smiled slowly waving a hand over her bloody apparel. The damage to the vampire at their feet was extensive and yet not a speck of blood touched her brother's expensive suit. She, on the other hand, looked like she'd just bathed in blood. Nors' attention focused on the trees behind her for a moment and then he turned back. "There were more of them but they've left the area. We need to report back to Rafe and organise sweeps of the area." Freya's alert gaze swept through the trees, looking for any sign that they'd missed one. "You're sure they're gone? I won't risk my wolf, Nors." The smile that crossed her brother's face was both pleased and also teasing. "Welcome to my world, sister." There was a wealth of emotion in his voice, a sparkle in his eyes as he surveyed her carefully. She met his gaze her expression softening into something he'd never seen before. "It's such a beautiful world," she whispered, awe in her voice. His smile widened and he reached out and cupped her cheek gently, ignoring the drying blood. "I'm so happy you can see that now, Freya. That's all I've ever wanted for you." She watched him silently for a moment, hearing the words he didn't speak in the undercurrent of pain in his tone. Freya turned her head slightly, kissed the palm of his hand. "Dayton told me the past can't be changed but the future is ours to shape how we want it to be. He's very smart, for a wolf." Nors breathed in deeply. His sister had grown, moved on and now had someone to call hers. Her quiet words gave him absolution. Her happiness gave him the forgiveness he'd so longed for. They didn't need to say the actual words; they both knew what they were really talking about. "Yes, he is a very smart wolf," he breathed softly. "A good mate for you." Talking of Dayton had her eyes going back to where she'd left him. The scent of wolves was strong on the air signalling the pack had arrived. "We'd better get back. Your Alpha will have lots of questions." She turned to move away but he held her back a moment. "You do know Rafe will be your Alpha too when you mate fully with Dayton?" She froze, her eyes narrowing at the news. She hadn't thought of it. She knew she would be tied to Dayton which meant she would be tied to the pack but she hadn't considered how that would come about. She could see the huge Alpha now entering the clearing. He had shifted to human form, walking around in his bare skin as if he was fully clothed. This man would have power over her. He was already ordering her about as if he had a right to. His actions so far had infuriated her beyond bearing. Dayton dropped from the tree to land beside his Alpha and she growled softly at him doing so without getting the all clear from her. She watched them speak together as she'd watched them previously in the library. It was clear that her mate respected the big man, trusted him. She let out a long slow breath. She would be expected to toe the line, accept orders from Rafe Hanlon. She didn't know if she could do so. Bending was not in her nature though she had managed to contain herself under Rafe's disapproval in the library but only because Dayton had been there. Her choice was simple, to accept her mate's world or to be alone again. It should have been an easy decision but it wasn't. She wanted Dayton in her life forever but she didn't know if she could accept the limitations being placed on her to have him. It struck her that this wasn't something she would have to agonise over alone. She could talk to her wolf about her concerns. Together they could work out a way to be together that they both could live with. A decision didn't have to be made right this very instant. "Come. We need to let the pack know what has transpired." She began walking across the clearing, towards the wolf that was turning in her direction, his deep blue eyes shining as she approached. Rafe frowned as he saw the state Freya was in. It was obvious she'd healed from whatever wounds she'd taken but the blood covering her was a testament to what she'd suffered to keep Dayton safe. Her eyes were fixed to her mate and Dayton was striding to meet her the last distance, pulling her tightly into his arms. Nors reached his side as he watched the couple embrace. He turned to look at him. "I don't suppose you left anyone alive?" He knew it was a futile hope that they had. Freya's bloodlust would have been sparked because her mate was threatened, Nors' because his sister had been. "Sorry, Rafe. Freya had already taken out two of them and the third was training a sniper rifle at her head. I couldn't let her be hurt any more. She's been through enough." For all he apologised Nors' words were cold and hard. The Alpha let out a frustrated growl and turned back to look at Freya and Dayton. "So we have no idea what the fuck the vampires were doing here in the first place and if they intend to come back and hurt the pack?" Freya was so relieved that Dayton was holding her, that he was healed from the damage she'd inflicted to protect him, she was only vaguely aware of Rafe and Nors' conversation until the Alpha let out his growl. She stiffened in her mate's arms. "I fucked up," she whispered for his ears only. "I didn't think of the pack, that it was vital to get some intelligence from the vampires." His lips brushed her temple, his hand stroking her hair lightly. "There's no denying it would have been helpful to know why they attacked, honey, but sometimes a situation moves so fast it's not always possible to think of the bigger picture. And you're still new to having to think about the pack as part of your family." She understood his reasoning but she still knew she'd fucked up. She'd let her feral nature dominate her, her need to kill the vampires more important than anything else. It was a clear sign that she wasn't cut out for pack life and her eyes met Rafe's as she slipped from Dayton's embrace and turned to face the Alpha. "I was angry they endangered Dayton's life and I'm used to dealing with incidents swiftly. I won't apologise for protecting him. If that makes you angry, wolf, then so be it." Her tone was irresolute as she waited for the big man to berate her actions. She wouldn't back down even as she heard Dayton's sharply indrawn breath at her tone. Rafe regarded her intently for a long moment. It took him a long time to speak because he wasn't quite sure how to deal with her. He was pissed they didn't have anyone alive to question and yet he understood the rage that came over someone whose mate was endangered. He'd been there himself. He had to find some way to integrate Freya into his pack or he was going to lose Dayton. He was under no illusions the other man would leave the pack again if it was the only way to keep his mate. But he still needed her to know that she couldn't just act on her own without thinking. "Your actions endangered the pack, Freya. Now we have no way of knowing why the vampires attacked in the first place. You chose vengeance over intelligence. You'd better learn quickly to change that otherwise next time it could be someone you love that dies because we're unprepared for what's coming our way." She hissed at him, fangs bared at the verbal slap down but he didn't back down, his expression turning hard. "I don't care if you like what I'm saying or not. If you can't think past your own needs then think of your brother's. If the pack gets attacked then it could be your family that suffers for it. Ashleigh, Liam, all the other children we should be protecting." Her eyes turned black with fury at the mention of any danger befalling her family. Talons clicked loudly and both Nors and Dayton took a step forward but Rafe waved them away, refusing to drop his gaze from the furious vampire in front of him. She had to respect him and for that to happen he had to prove that he was strong enough to stand up to her. Freya wanted to hurt the wolf. God, she craved to sink her talons into his chest and hurt him so bad he'd never again talk to her as he just had. He should have been terrified of her and yet there was no scent of fear from him. That confused her and made her think, made her realise that she was plotting serious harm to a man that her brother and her mate cared greatly for. Her feral nature subsided instantly. Her gaze was still angry but she knew she couldn't hurt the Alpha, remembered her own words to Dayton about how she'd fucked up. The wolf was only repeating what she already knew. He was right and it was hard to admit that. She could have kept one of them alive to interrogate them for information, if she'd been thinking, instead of reacting. "Fine," she managed to grind out. "I should have controlled myself." The acknowledgement felt as if it was being ripped out of her but she knew it was the right thing to do because both Nors and Dayton relaxed slightly. Rafe continued to watch her for another long moment, relieved she'd backed down. "Mistakes happen," he finally said running his eyes over her again. "You'll know better the next time. Head back to the compound and get cleaned up before we give the all clear and the kids come out of the tunnels." He turned to Nors. "Organise sweeps of the area, make sure they didn't leave anyone behind and then clear up the mess. We'll regroup back at the house and debrief once we're sure it's safe for the moment." As the rest of the pack headed off with Nors to do his bidding, Rafe watched Dayton come to stand beside his mate, his arm going around her protectively. She relaxed a bit more, leaning into the other man as her fury lowered another notch. Despite what he's said to her, Rafe knew she was making a huge effort. Given time and a complete mating with Dayton, he had hope that she would settle down and be the huge asset to the pack that he knew she could be. His expression softened. "We might not know why they were here but ultimately Dayton was protected and the pack too by neutralising the threat of the vampires. I know this isn't easy for you and I may come down hard on you from time to time but if you want to, you can do this, Freya." She appeared surprised by his words but she relaxed even more and his eyes met Dayton's and he saw gratitude in them as well as a deeper level of acceptance. The lost Alexander brother was finally accepting that he was pack. "You two will have about an hour to check each other out for any injuries. Then I expect to see you downstairs for a debriefing. I'd suggest you make the most of the time." Rafe almost laughed out loud at the speed the two of them took off into the trees. They needed the time together to reassure themselves they were both okay. He had enough people out doing the sweeps and he wasn't willing to sound the all clear until he'd checked out the area himself. He turned as Alexei and Andrei arrived, quickly giving them a briefing and then shifting back to wolf form to begin his own sweep. The attack on his people infuriated him. He would find out what the fuck was going on and then he would ensure that it didn't happen again. No one was going to hurt his pack. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 18 Dayton stopped long enough to let Aaron know he was fine and then ushered Freya upstairs to his room. He took her straight into the bathroom and turned on the shower as she undressed silently. Now the adrenaline was leaving his body he was left with a pressing need to check every inch of her skin for marks. Not that he expected to find anything on her but his wolf was going crazy inside him and he had to give in to his irrational need. He turned to find his mate naked and blood-streaked, her expression carefully guarded as if she was waiting for him to say something she wouldn't like. She was clearly concerned and so was he. Her standoff with Rafe in the forest showed that she was struggling with adapting to the pack. It wasn't that she didn't try to understand the group's needs; it was as if she was incapable of doing so. That didn't bode well for the future and they both knew it even if they hadn't spoken of it yet. Silently, Dayton tugged her into the shower with him and rinsed the blood from her body. His touch was gentle, his fingers examining every inch of her and finding her skin unmarred. Even though he'd expected it, he still couldn't hold in the sigh of relief as he wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her close to his chest. His own body carried faint bruising though the main injuries had healed quicker than he'd expected them to. He wondered if was because of a combination of her previous healing of him and her mating bite. He hadn't completed the mating yet but maybe he was already feeling some of the benefits of the partial mating. "I want you so much it terrifies me," Freya whispered softly, breaking the oppressive silence. "I'm not terrified because of the need you inspire in me, but because I don't think I can be what you need me to be, Dayton." She turned in his arms and her composed expression had melted away, concern on her face as she stared up at him. "What if I can't accept the pack? What will that mean for us?" He bit the inside of his lip, his expression tense as he pondered her question carefully, listening to his wolf as well as his own heart. He reached up and brushed her wet hair away from her face tenderly. "Then we will be a pack of two, Freya. I won't lie to you and tell you that I don't want to be part of this pack because I do. I never thought I'd ever feel this way again but being here has shown me that I need pack life to feel whole. But if push comes to shove, I need you more. There is no one more important than you, nothing I wouldn't willingly give up to be with you." Her breath caught at the promise she read in his eyes, the sincerity in his quiet words. He would truly leave the pack if she couldn't cope with it. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her if she allowed him to. Part of her was tempted to take the easy out he was giving her. But she knew that was wrong, what the old Freya would have done. She had come so far all because of the man who held her so tightly and swore he would never let her go. For some strange reason Rayne's words came back to her and she realised that if she couldn't believe in herself then she would always be able to believe in Dayton. It was enough to make her want to try harder. Her mate thought she had it in her to be one with the pack. The Alpha also thought she did too, despite being angry with her. Maybe it was time to start listening to others rather than her doubts? "I'll try harder," she promised fervently. "But I'll need your help to stop me fucking up again." "Always," he breathed against her lips, his arms tightening more around her. "I won't let you drown, honey. I'll always be here for you." His mouth took hers in a fierce, hot kiss that that promised her his words were true, that he would always stand by her. All she had to do was let him in, surrender to him and she could complete the journey she'd started the moment she'd laid eyes on a wounded wolf that had nothing left to live for. Her kiss was desperate, the longing deep within her to have what everyone else appeared to take for granted, spiralling out of control as she clung to him. She'd never felt so vulnerable in her entire life and yet she'd never felt so secure either. Being wrapped in Dayton's strong embrace gave her a feeling of belonging that was so poignant, so heartfelt that she didn't stop the tears that slowly trickled down her cheeks. Dayton could feel the tremors running through her body, knew she was overwhelmed by everything again. He gentled his kiss before slowly raising his head to stare down at her. Seeing his vampire looking so vulnerable tore at his heart. He knew how strong she was having watched her take out the vampires earlier with a speed and grace that had taken his breath away. His mate was lethal, able to defend herself and the pack if only she could finally accept them as hers to protect. He kissed her again softly, lightly teasing her lips with tiny rubs of his own as he soothed her distress as he would have soothed a wolf. The power of touch, the power of honest affection given freely was a great healer. He used his tenderness ruthlessly against her until she melted completely into his arms, then he raised his head again and smiled. "As much as I'd love to take you here in this shower, I've a penchant for feeling a nice soft bed beneath us." His tone was teasing but also full of the crippling need he didn't try to hide from her. "Rafe said he wanted us downstairs in an hour. We've already wasted most of that time." Her practical response made him laugh out loud as he hugged her closer. The fact that she was actually listening to what Rafe had said made his heart kick up a beat and hope flare deep inside him. "Rafe can wait, honey. I'm not done with my inspection of your luscious body for injuries." Freya pulled away from him, frowning as her movement caused water to cascade over her face. She moved closer to him again, slicking back her hair. "He gave us an order." His wolf growled loudly, wanting to be with their mate, irritated that she was choosing this moment to be the sensible one. Dayton agreed with his wolf and decided to forgo the intimacy of the bed he so desperately wanted to indulge in with her. She was right on that aspect; they didn't have the time he'd need to satisfy himself between a pair of silk sheets. His answering smile was nothing short of wicked as he wrapped an arm around her back and lifted her against the cold tiles. "I guess we'll have to be quick about it then." He thrust himself into her searing heat as her eyes widened in surprise and her breath sucked in sharply. For a brief second her eyes turned black and then they reverted back to their deep shade of green as he held himself still inside her, luxuriating in the feel of being joined with her so intimately. "And you said I was the one who neglected foreplay." Freya didn't know how she managed to sound so calm. The feel of him inside her body was sweet bliss, causing her heart to instantly begin to speed up as she welcomed him with a tight squeeze of her muscles. "One day soon I'm going to get to indulge myself in the kind of foreplay I've been longing for, honey," Dayton groaned out, his voice thick with need. "Right now I need to be with you so badly, I can't wait." He was moving even as he finished speaking, slowly leaving her tight warmth to thrust deeply inside her once more. He wanted to take his time but the feel of her gripping him so tightly was quickly eroding his self-control. His next thrust was deep and hard, a muffled groan escaping him as she pressed back against him eagerly, her arms tight around his neck. "Harder." Her breathy demand turned his blood boiling hot and his hips rocked against her, taking her with ruthless intent, giving her what she wanted. Nails dug hard into his neck and he growled loudly, arching into her wild caress. His control snapped; his wolf close to the surface as he began to surge deep and fast into her body, his breath coming out raggedly. She met him with equally demanding thrusts, her nails scoring him until she broke his skin and the iron scent of his blood filled the bathroom. "Taste me," he ordered hoarsely, wanting to feel the ecstasy of her bite again. Her fangs sank into the side of his neck and for a moment he stilled completely, buried to the hilt inside her. His body shook wildly as he fought off his climax, not ready for their joining to be over. His wolf howled loudly, a deep growl erupting from the very depths of him. It wanted to mate with her, wanted to claim her so she could never leave them. Dayton fought a mental battle with his animal, shuddering as he tried to contain it. She wasn't ready yet for what was entailed in a male Were mating. They needed to discuss it first so she knew what to expect. Freya raised her head, looking into his eyes and seeing his wolf looking back at her. The feral nature of his gaze made her heart turn over and she knew he wanted to mate with her. She wanted it too and didn't understand why he wasn't doing so. "Why do you hold back?" she whispered. "You want to take me and make me yours." "Freya!" It was a low, guttural cry, strain crossing his face. "You don't know what you're asking. Male Weres, they mate in wolf form." Her eyes widened, shock crossing her face for an instant as they stood locked together, their gazes searing into each other. She'd never dreamed she'd have to accept his wolf in that way. Nors hadn't had to with Ashleigh. He'd told her some of what happened in mating with a Were. The wolf had to make the bite. It was what Dayton was telling her and why he hadn't done so already. He was afraid she wouldn't be able to accept him because of her ambivalence towards other Weres. She didn't know if she could accept him like that but if she didn't...they could never be fully mated. Freya swallowed hard, closing her eyes to hide from the naked appeal she saw in his. She would break his heart if she couldn't mate with him. He was bearing his soul to her. If she couldn't accept him she would be hurting him as he'd been hurt when Faith died. It would destroy him. Swallowing again, she opened her eyes slowly, meeting his gaze once more, seeing sad acceptance on his face. He was waiting for her rejection, trying hard to hide his disappointment because he didn't want her to feel bad about it. Her decision came easily as she gently cupped the side of his face. "Mate with me, Dayton." Joy flared deep in his eyes to quickly be replaced with caution. "You're sure, honey. You know what it means. You have to be totally certain you're ready for it." "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, to be with you. Your wolf is part of you, Dayton. He lives here in your heart and is what gives you your strength. I can accept that." Her hand rested lightly on his chest, over his suddenly racing heart. "I love you." Dayton breathed the words against her lips even as he slid from her body, his gut clenching hard with the need to finally take her as his. His intent was to get them to the bedroom but his wolf was too impatient. They made it as far as out of the shower before they were kissing frantically and sinking down to the tiled floor. His hands roamed her soft curves feverishly as he turned her onto her hands and knees. His wolf was beyond control, his touch harsher than he wanted it to be but his vampire was moaning loudly, arching into his caresses as he positioned himself to take her again. Dayton covered her body, one hand on her hip, the other on the floor beside her. His heart was pounding furiously as he kissed the join of her shoulder and neck; marked out the spot where he would make her his. "It will just be for a moment, honey," he breathed softly. "It will still be me." "I know," she whispered pressing herself back against his thick length, urging him to slide back inside her welcoming body. With a loud roar he thrust in hard and deep, feeling his knot starting to form almost instantly he was so close to the edge. He stroked into her hard until he had no choice but to press his knot into her slick heat. His next growl was one of appreciation as he seated himself firmly inside her. She fit him so perfectly. Freya cried out, moving with him frantically as he started taking her with short, hard thrusts. Her pleasure was absolute, bliss crashing over her in waves as her lover rode her fiercely; determined to push her over the edge into her climax. She sensed the shift, felt the brush of silky fur against her back. Sharp teeth pierced her shoulder where it met her neck. She screamed and her body convulsed. Dayton's strong arms wrapped around her an instant later as lights began to dance in front of her eyes as she climaxed violently. Her wolf was roaring loudly, his body jerking deep within her as he bathed her with his hot seed, both of them joined completely in their passion. Rational thought faded until all she could feel were the sensations running rampant through her. She couldn't breathe, couldn't speak, she could only feel her body go up in flames as it had never done before. "Freya!" Her name was in her head, Dayton's voice crying out mentally to her. He was slowly lowering them down to the floor, their bodies joined by his knot, his arms so tight that if she'd been a Were she was sure some bones would have snapped. "Are you okay, honey?" The surprise of being able to speak mentally with him had her silent for a moment. She did wonder why he was doing so then she took in his harsh breathing and realised that he couldn't speak at the moment. The fact his pleasure had been as mind-blowing as hers brought a satisfied smile to her face. "That was intense," she laughed softly, delighting in their new, close contact. A low, deep chuckle escaped Dayton as his breathing finally started to regulate itself. Intense wasn't the word for it. His wolf was content as was the man. They had finally claimed their mate when he'd least expected it. Now he just needed his knot to subside and quickly. His lips brushed Freya's neck and his hands cupped her breasts and stroked leisurely. "You know, if anyone had told me three months ago I'd be mating again I would have told them they were crazy. If they'd followed that up with I'd been doing it on the bathroom floor I would have died laughing." He was slightly embarrassed about his shocking lack of restraint. "Wolves are impulsive," Freya sighed softly, leaning back to steal a quick kiss. "Thankfully, vampires can endure cold, hard floors while waiting for said wolves to remove themselves from their bodies." Her tone was arrogant though laughter danced within it too. She liked the fact he'd wanted to mate with her so badly he couldn't contain himself. Dayton tweaked her nipple hard and bit the side of her neck. "Laugh all you want, vampire. We still need to get cleaned up and downstairs for the meeting. And our time is most definitely up." She groaned loudly rolling her eyes at the thought of the meeting. Not only would they be late but she was now fully mated with her wolf. Which meant the next time Rafe Hanlon yelled at her; she would be expected to take it. She had no doubt that there would be a next time; she just wasn't sure how she was going to react to it. ***** Rayne sighed and cuddled deeper against Gard's warm chest. His lips sleepily brushed the top of her head as his arms hugged her tightly for a moment and then relaxed as he drifted off again. She felt such a feeling of peace and contentment that she just lay basking in it, finally feeling at home. She belonged. It was hard not to wonder if fate had planned her meeting with Dayton. If she hadn't sensed him all those years ago, felt compelled to help him; then she'd never have found her way to the Armand-Hanlon pack and ultimately her mate. It was strange how life turned out sometimes. Hands stroking down her back had her arching into the hardness of her vampire, a soft purr erupting from her throat spontaneously. "Sexy." Gard's sleepy tone was full of warmth as he stroked her again and then suddenly moved, flipping her onto her stomach as he straddled her lower half and began to slowly massage her back. A long, deep moan escaped her lips as she sighed in pleasure. "I could get used to this." He leaned down, soft laughter whispering across her ear as he licked slowly up her neck before nibbling at her earlobe. "I expect my fair share of stroking, Kitty, but for now I want to indulge myself." Rayne purred again, struggling to catch her breath as his large hands brushed every inch of her back before sliding down and playfully kneading her bottom. She couldn't stop herself from rising up, hoping he'd go lower and use his wicked fingers on her again. It only served to make him laugh again. "Does Kitty want to be played with again?" he chuckled lightly, the heavy heat of his erection pressed against her thigh. "Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you." She growled softly though she was trying not to laugh. She loved the way he knew how to tempt and tease her, how to draw her cat out to play. "You know what I want. I suggest you quit teasing and pleasure me properly or I may have to return the favour at a later date." That earned her a playful spank on her left cheek before he leaned down and kissed it better. She growled louder, twisting onto her back so his next kiss landed on the delicate skin of her hip. Eyes flashing at her challenge, Gard smiled slowly and lick across her hip, biting gently at the tender flesh of her stomach as he slid his arms beneath her thighs raising her up from the bed. He rose to his knees and thrust hard inside her, holding her still so he could sink deep within her. Her head dropped back and a sweet moan of ecstasy slipped past her lips as he claimed her with little fanfare. He held still within her, staring down at the exotic creature that was his mate, marvelling at how precious she was to him and the need she instilled within him. He was unable to sate himself with her body. A few moments sleep and he was desperate to join with her again, to love her until she screamed her release loudly and he followed her into his own climax. She was an addiction he couldn't get enough of. "Mine," he breathed softly, a wave of possessiveness overtaking him. His whispered word had her eyes opening, the thin band of silver appearing more pronounced than before. His eyes widened slightly as the lighter colour appeared to eclipse the deep green of her iris before she gave him a lazy feline smile that took his breath away. "Prove it." It was a challenge he had no intention of declining. He flexed his hips and stroked deeply back inside her, holding her captive as he used his body to stake his claim, proving that she belonged to him and no one else. He kept his movements slow but deep, growling softly as she began to writhe against his hold. Pleasure danced across her face with each thrust into her velvet heat. She was beautiful in her passion. She surrendered to her sensuality with no inhibitions, making his heart soar that he was the one giving her this pleasure even as he took his own from her. She was his mate, his woman, his heart's desire. Her eyes fluttered open again and he couldn't resist leaning down to kiss her. "Sarayne," he whispered against her mouth before he plundered her lips in a hot kiss, wrapping his arms around her as she held on tightly and moved to the hard beat he set with his body. Rayne was burning up inside, overcome with the sensations flooding her body as Gard took her hard and fast, then slowed down to tease her with gentle strokes of his thick length inside her. She didn't know which she loved more, his tenderness or his unrelenting hunger. All she knew was he was hers forever, that she would love with him like this endlessly. A Long Walk Home Ch. 18 Her heart pounding loudly in her chest, she urged him on to move faster, to take her harder as she spiralled up towards the peak of her pleasure. "I love you." The words ripped from her as she crested the peak and cried out her pleasure. She was falling, lost in a world of bright colours and endless sensations as he thrust hard into her and joined her in his own release. He filled her with his seed, stroking into her to prolong her pleasure. As she slowly began to come down, her heart hammered loudly; heat rushing through her body in a short hard blast. She shuddered again at the unexpected sensation, her eyes flying open to see Gard's glowing lavender eyes staring intently into hers as his chest heaved raggedly. He appeared as startled as she was. "What was that? Did you use your magic?" He shook his head and swallowed hard to regain his breath. "Not deliberately," he finally answered rolling to his side and taking her with him. "I've never experienced anything like that before. It felt almost magical but it wasn't anything I did." They lay staring at each other for a long moment, neither of them knowing just what had happened. Rayne didn't think it was anything bad because the sensation had been pure ecstasy. She couldn't believe that anything that felt that good could be evil in design. Smiling she leaned forward and kissed her vampire, licking at his lips slowly to ease the concerned expression on his face. "Loving you certainly is interesting," she laughed softly before she reluctantly extracted herself from his arms and slid off the bed. "I need a bath." Gard let the tension ease from his body, admiring his woman as she headed towards the bathroom. He crawled from the bed after her, knowing she would be looking for him to supply the hot water. He was concerned about what had just happened but decided he would speak to his sister about it before he started getting too worried. Anakatrine's magic was the strongest. Maybe she would be able to shed some light on the strange occurrence. They had just finished a rather extended bath time when the first feelings of unease started to sink into Gard and his eyes flickered towards the cave opening. "Something's wrong." He was pulling on jeans and a T-shirt even as he spoke, pushing his feet into his boots as Rayne watched him carefully. She dressed just as quickly, his unease transmitting down their mate bond. "What?" "Vampires. Fuck! They passed through a while back. It must have been while we were otherwise engaged. They were heading towards the pack." Gard was instantly furious with himself. He was supposed to be protecting the wolves and he'd dropped the ball. "Gard." Rayne's tone was quite sharp though she was worried too. She stepped up to him and caught his gaze with hers. "I don't like to see a look of regret on your face when it comes to our mating. If vampires passed through here then so be it. The pack is capable of taking care of themselves. They have four bloody Ancients in their number as well as the wolves own skills. You may have been The Guardian a long time ago but the world has moved on since then. You can't be expected to protect everyone." He growled angrily, his eyes beginning to glow softly. "They're her family, Sarayne. If anything happens to them she'll be hurt." She didn't need to ask who he meant. His connection with Rhianna was as strong as it was with her now they'd mated. It was going to be a challenge to deal with that closeness and not become resentful of it and she suddenly understood exactly how Freya must feel towards her. She turned and headed out the cave with her vampire close behind. "I'm sure Annie doesn't expect you to save the world either, Gard," she remarked quietly, her tone still firm. "I swear if you even try to lessen our mating because of this you're going to have one pissed off mate to deal with for the rest of your life. Get it in perspective." She shifted to her panther and streaked into the forest scenting the air as she did and smelling blood. She headed in that direction feeling a silent Gard coming to run beside her. She wouldn't allow him to beat himself up about what may or may not have happened. He was entitled to have his own life and claim his mate. If she had to hold him down until he saw sense then she would. They came across the wolves and other vampires just as Andrei and Alexei were melting into the trees leaving Rafe standing alone in the clearing. The big Alpha shifted to wolf form and then turned in their direction. He waited until they had almost reached him before he shifted back, his expression interested as Rayne shifted in front of him. "That would be handy," he remarked dryly as he noted her clothed body. "Don't suppose you could share the secret?" Rayne shook her head, her eyes on the bloodied rock at their side, the scent of the dead vampires filling the area. "Think you need to be a hybrid to be able to do it," she answered in a distracted tone. "Whose?" Her head nodded at the stone. Rafe's lips tightened slightly as he looked away from Gard and met her gaze. "Freya's. Before you overreact, Dayton's fine as is she. They're back at the compound. From what we can tell three or more vampires with guns attacked. Freya took the brunt of it but managed to get a distress call out to Nors and protected Dayton until we arrived. Unfortunately we have no idea why they attacked because the vampires were dead by the time we got here." Gard remained silent through it all, his anger ratcheting up that some of his people had attacked the pack and he'd done nothing to stop it. The fact everyone was okay didn't matter to him. He should have been there to protect the pack not... His thoughts trailed off as he looked down at Rayne. How could he possibly finish that thought? Not mating with her was unacceptable in his eyes and she'd already made it more than clear she wouldn't tolerate him thinking it. He couldn't regret it even if the timing had been off. She was watching him with a shrewd expression on her face and he sighed deeply and turned back to the Alpha. "So the situation was contained." Rafe eyed them both carefully and then nodded. "We're not completely defenceless," he remarked drolly. He knew the vampire was annoyed that he hadn't been there just as he knew his newest pack member had mated with Gard and he now had an additional member to his pack. He wanted to sigh too. It was only a matter of time before Freya joined as well. He silently asked himself what he'd done to deserve all these volatile personalities in his pack. "The pack is running sweeps," Rafe continued, looking off into the trees before looking back at them. "I see you two have mated." His eyes met Gard's and he stared at him pensively for a moment. "Just so you know. This is my pack. I don't care how old you are; how shit hot you think you are. There's only one Alpha here and that's me. Vampires and hybrids don't get the option to challenge for succession, only Weres." Gard considered that. He didn't want to run the pack but he knew he would struggle to take orders from someone as young as Rafe. Mating with Rayne had put him in the unenviable position of now being considered pack. His sister would probably find that highly amusing. The Were right of succession was a smart move. The vampires and hybrids could overpower the wolves in an instant, therefore not lending to a 'fair' fight if they wanted to challenge to become Alpha of the pack. Not that they would probably want to but it made sense having rules in place just in case. So, he was now pack, answerable to the man who had shared his sister life when he'd had no knowledge she was alive again. He'd hated Rafe for that, still felt some ambivalence because of it. But to keep Anakatrine happy he'd tempered his annoyance and made the effort to accept the big man. Rayne's tenseness at his side told him she was waiting to see how he would react to her Alpha's words. For her, he'd walk through fire and do it again, as many times as she needed it of him. "I don't bark when ordered," he finally said dryly, "but I do know how to follow the chain of command when it's required. Just don't try your command shit on me and we'll be fine, Rafe. I wouldn't want to upset Annie by kicking the living daylights out of you." It was the best he could do. Now it was up to the other man to see if he was willing to accept it. Rafe rolled his eyes but his lips twitched in a small smile. "Just as well I don't like the sound of barking then. All I ask of anyone in my pack is they protect it, Gard. From what I understand you've been doing that the last five years anyway. That shouldn't pose any problems for you." There was a brief silence as the two men worked on coming to terms with their new relationship and then Rafe turned away and looked at the dead vampires. "Suppose we should clean up this mess and then head back to the compound. Need to debrief Freya and Dayton and try and work out what the fuck this is about." He waved his hand at the dead vampires as he spoke. "You want me to call Annie?" Gard asked. It wasn't a secret he could communicate instantly with his sister no matter where she was. "She's a bit busy at the moment," a deep, male voice said from the tree line. "She sent me along to find out what was happening." A tall dark haired vampire strode nonchalantly out of the trees, deep green eyes twinkling at the groan that issued from Rafe. "How the hell did she know?" the Alpha asked trying hard not to groan again as he watched the other man approach. Someone seriously was having a lot of fun at his expense at the moment. "Mara does sit on The Council, Rafe. You think Andrei and Alexei could just take off out of a meeting and not give away that something was wrong with the pack?" Demetri Bozic stopped in front of him and raised a perfect eyebrow as he quickly took in the scene. His amused expressed hardened instantly, his eyes going cold. "Unacceptable." The menace in his voice was chilling. Even though Demetri continually professed that he had no time for the pack, everyone knew that he'd be one of the first to rip apart anyone who tried to hurt them. He claimed kinship with Annie and therefore Rafe. The hybrid children were his to protect as if they were his own. Rafe nodded in agreement. "We need to find out who and why. Stupid question but I don't suppose Mara's heard anything?" Demetri's gaze turned back to the Alpha and his expression quickly answered that question. If there was even the tiniest hint that there was some kind of move against the pack, not only would the twins have been aware but so would Mara. And that meant they all would be aware. "This wasn't coordinated centrally," he answered. "Vampires have long memories and most of them are too smart to go up against Caleb or The Ancient Council. This is some kind of splinter group, a test of some kind." Rafe nodded again. He'd been thinking along similar lines but had to ask. A full out war was something he didn't want to have to go through again. Terrorist action by a splinter group would be dangerous too but easier to defend against now that they were forewarned. Demetri checked out the scene again, his expression thoughtful. "We need to get together, discuss options. The pack is pretty well protected." His gaze slipped to Gard's, his agile mind leaping and making connections both Annie and Caleb had neglected to clue him in on. He would have to have a word with them about that later. "I thought you were dead," he remarked coolly. "You've been off the radar for a long time." "Sorry to disappoint you," Gard answered with a small smile teasing his lips. He hadn't seen Demetri in a long time, over a thousand years. He liked the other vampire, respected him even. They'd need to find some time to catch up when the current issue was taken care of. Demetri laughed softly clasping Gard's upper arm in greeting as his friend returned the gesture. "Disappointed wasn't the emotion that came to mind, though Annie and Caleb neglected to enlighten me on the identity of The Guardian. I should have figured it out with your colouring," he smiled. He turned to look back at Rafe feeling a slight undercurrent of tension between the two men who claimed Rhianna as their sister. "The pack's security is increased immeasurably with Gard to enhance its protection." Rafe nodded in his direction. Despite his constant teasing of the vampire, he trusted Demetri's judgement as much as he trusted Caleb and Annie's. If he vouched for the big red haired vampire then he would work on the last remaining issues between himself and Gard until they were both fully at ease in each other's company. Demetri admired Gard's new mate for a second, acknowledging how stunning she was, trying to scent her hybrid nature which she was masking well. She looked a right handful, just what his old friend needed. His thoughts quickly conjured up a pair of deep brown eyes, long thick brown hair, and he smiled softly. Yeah, Rayne was stunning to look at but no one could compare to his Mara. "I'll report back to Caleb and Annie," he finally said. "You've got this in hand so there's no need for us to be here right now. Let us know if you want a full Were/Council meeting or if we're keeping it in the family." He turned away and headed back into the trees. "So that was Demetri Bozic?" Rayne asked in a bemused tone. She was quite taken aback by the vampire, more so than she'd been with any other she'd met before. His reputation preceded him and his general aura didn't disappoint. He was stunningly gorgeous, powerful and decidedly lethal. Just being around him sent a shiver up her spine even if she could appreciate the pretty package he came in. She seriously hoped never to get on his bad side. Gard frowned slightly and wrapped a hand around the nape of her neck to draw her gaze back to his. "I like Demetri," he said softly. "Do I have to kick the shit out of him?" The possessiveness in his voice brought a bubble of laughter from his mate. "Oh he's pretty," she laughed softly. "But he couldn't hold a candle to you, Gard. And you know it." She stroked his chest lightly as he bent his head and captured her mouth in a possessive, branding kiss. Rafe rolled his eyes and looked away but a smile tugged his lips. It was plain to see how deeply in love they were. His pack was all the more stronger having them as part of it. A deep tug inside him had a groan ripping from his throat. "What?" Rayne asked. "Let's get these bodies burnt," Rafe sighed shaking his head as he examined the Alpha bond that had just stretched between him and Freya Eriksson. He'd known it was coming but still he'd hoped for a little more time to figure out how to deal with the vampire when she joined his pack. There wasn't anything he could do about it at the moment so he put it out of his mind as they set about their task. ***** The first thing Rayne did when she got back to the compound was to detach herself from Gard's arms and throw herself into Dayton's. They had walked into the library, finding it empty apart from the other couple. She was aware of the flare of jealously that ripped not only from her own mate but also Freya. She ignored them. "You're hurt," she breathed softly, tracing the light coloured bruises on his bare forearms. "I'm fine," Dayton smiled giving her a tight hug, relieved that she was home safe and well, that she hadn't run from the pack. He could sense Gard's annoyance, knew instantly she'd mated with her vampire. He was happy for his friend. "You've mated." He couldn't keep the joy out of his voice. Rayne laughed in delight and also a touch of awe. She couldn't help stroking his jaw tenderly as she was so used to doing. "So have you, my friend. And your mate is being remarkably restrained." She eased out of Dayton's arms to smile at Freya. It was plain to see she was struggling with her mate's intimacy with another woman but she was working hard at dealing with it. "Thank you, Freya," she said quietly. The words brought a surprised expression to Freya's face. Of all the things she'd expected to come out of the wildcat's mouth, heartfelt thanks wasn't one of them. "For what?" "For loving him enough to bend for him; for giving him back a reason to live. You will forever have my eternal gratitude. Anything you need, all you have to do is ask." Rayne swallowed hard to choke back the rush of emotion she felt for the other woman. One day she hoped that her best friend's mate would be able to accept her completely, that they could be friends too. Freya eyed Rayne carefully for a long time, shocked at her words and the sincerity behind them. She felt some of the antipathy within her die down. The cat was mated now to the Ancient. She had chosen her male and it wasn't Dayton. More of her reserve crumbled as she met the other woman's gaze. "He is lucky to have you for a friend," she finally said reaching out to slide her arm around Dayton's waist as he automatically gathered her close to his side. "I should thank you for keeping him alive long enough for me to find him." Dayton kissed the top of her head, joy surging through him at the first tentative steps towards friendship he was witnessing. He met Gard's slightly hostile gaze and damped down a sigh. Would it be any easier for him and the Ancient? Mates were terribly possessive, not just the females. Newly mated males could be a nightmare to contend with. Gard wasn't pleased with the way his mate casually touched the wolf. Hell, she'd even looked at Demetri with appreciation in her eyes. But then he remembered those stunning eyes looking at him. There was no escaping the love deep within them or the way her body automatically curled into his at every opportunity. His cat belonged to him body and soul and he knew it. "Keep the touching down to a minimum, at least for the next decade or so," he growled softly. He watched Dayton relax, a smile crossing his face as he nodded his agreement. "Possessive much?" Rayne laughed lightly wrapping her arms around her vampire and pulling him down for a kiss. It was long and slow, full of her love and her pleasure that he was willing to play nice with her friend. Gard knew in that instant that he'd give her anything she wanted, just so she would kiss him as she was now doing. Her body practically hummed with approval, their mate bond full of a glowing happiness that made his heart skip a beat. His cat was happy with him and that meant everything to him. Rafe entering the library broke them apart. Behind him came the other vampires and their mates. Aaron brought up the rear, closing the door firmly behind him and leaning against it. As everyone settled, the Alpha's second in command made his report. "The area is secure within a twenty mile radius. Soldiers are patrolling in groups of threes and there's no hint of any vampires. Jared's sent over Brody and Connor and some of his soldiers for additional backup. I asked Connor to take command of both packs while we're tied up here." Rafe nodded, pleased with Aaron's decision. Connor was Jared's number two now that he and Aaron had their own pack. He was a good choice and well respected by everyone. "We can't be endlessly patrolling, not with this number of people. It leaves the pack too vulnerable if anyone slips through." He hadn't rescinded the evacuation protocol yet. Not until he felt totally at ease bringing Lacey and all the children back up from the tunnels. "How technically oriented are vampires?" Rayne asked, an idea coming to mind, something she had seen on her many travels. "We're not dummies but we don't rely on it," Alexei answered. "We don't need to, not with our enhanced sight and hearing." "So, if you were out for a recon mission in a forest you wouldn't be looking for little gadgets tracking your movements?" Rayne continued, watching understanding slowly start to dawn on everyone's face. A Long Walk Home Ch. 18 "Nice," Andrei grinned and it was a genuine smile as he eyed up the wildcat with a speculative expression. Anyone who was going to put themselves out there to protect his babies was an acceptable addition to the pack. "We couldn't rely entirely on technological surveillance but it would cut down the need to have so many wolves away from the compound." Rafe felt some of his tension ease. "We'd need something that blended into the scenery. Who have we got that has the skills to work on this?" "Harley," Aaron answered immediately, referring to one of their Betas who was almost permanently stationed close to the Alpha's house. "If it's got any form of metal in it, he knows how to take it apart and put it together again. He also teaches the young males too. It would be good experience for them to be involved in anything that's going down to protect the pack." Dayton stared at his brother, watching the man who even though he was the youngest of the Alexander clan, was the most dominant, pack focused member. The needs of the pack came first and foremost in Aaron's mind and he was automatically latching onto how the young males could be trained whilst serving the current danger to all of them. His respect for his brother soared. It was clear that Rafe's respect for his second in command was just as high. "Get onto it when the meeting's over, Aaron. Do whatever you have to. I'll leave it in your capable hands. For the next few months that's your main objective." Rafe's gaze turned to the others and he appeared deep in thought. Although the vampires were a great addition to the pack, they didn't hold pack rank as such. Most of that was down to the fact the twins were Council members and their time was needed there as well as being liaisons with the pack and the vampires. Nors was an Ancient and therefore his time was spent doing whatever Ancients did. A memory came to mind and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He'd been hell bent on self destruction years ago, to the point that Jared had jumped all over him. He'd been furious at the time but now he saw the wisdom in his old Alpha's decision. "The pack is going to be down a few Betas for a while," he announced after a long pause. He met Dayton's gaze and saw a small frown start to form on the other man's face. "Sorry, Dayton but we need you. I can't wait for you to make the decision on your own." "Rafe..." "What does he mean?" Freya asked, feeling how tense her mate was and instantly bristling. "I need Dayton to step up to the plate and be who he's supposed to be," Rafe answered before Dayton could. "He's a Beta, was one when he was part of the Hanlon pack. I need him to be one again." Freya kept her eyes on her wolf, seeing the torn expression on his face. Part of him wanted to agree but the larger part of him was holding back and she knew why. It was because of their earlier conversation, about her accepting the pack. He didn't want to commit because he was concerned about her. God, how she loved him; he had meant it when he said he would willingly give up everything for her. Sighing softly she pressed her hand lightly against his chest to soothe the tension within him. "Will you protect my family for me?" she asked quietly. "Will you take care of Ashleigh and Liam as if they were your own?" His stunned expression almost made her laugh. Hell, it would have if it wasn't suddenly so crucial to her that he agree to protect what was hers. The attack on them had been a levelling experience. Once she'd gotten over the whole threat to Dayton she had to consider what could have happened to Ashleigh and Liam if the vampires had gotten through. Having them hurt was just unacceptable to her. "You know I'd die for them," Dayton said quietly, cupping her face gently. "They are yours so that makes them mine, even if Ash wasn't David's sister. But you know what this means if I agree to it, Freya. There will be no turning back. We will be irrefutably part of the pack." "I know," she sighed deeply. "I'm prepared for what that means. This is who you are, Dayton, who you are meant to be. I will adapt." "Glad to hear that, Freya," Rafe interrupted, mentally preparing himself for the coming backlash. "Because you have a lot of work ahead of you. For the next three months you will be training under Dayton in what it takes to be a pack Beta. At the end of that time we'll evaluate the situation and see where we're at with a mind to making it a permanent rank." Complete silence filled the room. Even Aaron stared at Rafe as if he'd just lost his mind. "Rafe, I don't think that's a good idea," Nors said breaking the heavy silence. His sister's body had gone rigid with shock and even Dayton's soothing hands stroking down her back wasn't alleviating any of the tension deep within her. Rafe barked out a laugh. "Neither do I but that's my final decision on the matter. Freya, I want you to stay behind after this meeting has concluded. We'll discuss it further then but for now I'd appreciate you holding your peace on the matter." He turned away from her, instantly dismissing her reaction as if it was unimportant. He was hoping she was too stunned by his announcement to answer him back and it appeared she was when she remained silent but tense. "Okay, the final thing is Demetri swung by earlier. Word is this attack wasn't centrally planned so it looks like it was some kind of independent action. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be keeping an ear to the ground over at the Council. I can rely on you two to keep me updated?" His gaze was now on Andrei and Alexei. Andrei rolled his eyes at even having to be asked but it was Alexei who answered him. "That goes without saying, Rafe. We'll start a quiet investigation, see what we can come up with but I agree with Demetri. No one could have kept this so quiet if it came from deep within us." "The vampires who attacked were not local," Freya suddenly chipped in, surprising everyone. Her expression was carefully neutral as were her words. "They were young too. Only one of them had reached Elder status but even he was weak so he couldn't have been that old. My best guess is this is from the European side. They're more isolated and therefore less likely to be in fear of us Ancients." "That makes more sense," Rafe acknowledged thoughtfully, acting as if the vampire's voluntary inclusion into the discussion was the norm. He was actually pretty stunned by it but kept his feelings to himself. "What about us?" Gard asked. He knew he had skills that could be utilised by the pack. Now he didn't have to hide and was a part of them because of Rayne, he needed to be included. "Rayne, you are now our official hybrid expert," Rafe answered slowly, his keen gaze running across the room to take in the reaction of the others. As he'd expected, no one objected. "We need you to guide the children and to help us understand what they're capable of and how best to nurture their abilities without letting them get out of hand." Rayne smiled widely and nodded. This was something she could do, something she wanted to do. She could give the children what she'd never had, someone to help them find their way in the world. She was practically humming with anticipation. "Gard, I want you to help Dayton. He's going to have a lot on his plate what with training Freya as well as picking up Beta duties. With Aaron on surveillance detail we'll need someone to pick up the training of the young ones. We've always been good at protecting ourselves but now we need to be better. Your protective abilities are what we need. I want the current and next generation of wolves to be so honed in their skills that even a vampire will quake in his or her boots when they hear the Armand-Hanlon pack name." Gard grinned. He couldn't help the wide smile that crossed his face. His respect for his sister's Were brother was beginning to grow. Rafe Hanlon was a very intelligent man. He was skilfully utilising the new additions to his pack, seeing their unique abilities and applying them to where they were best suited. "I'm not an easy teacher," he had to inform him. "I'll work them hard and they're going to come complaining to you about my techniques." "And I'll send them right back to you with a flea in their ear," Rafe answered firmly. "This pack will be the strongest it can be. Mould them, bend them, just don't break them, Gard." "Agreed." "Okay, meeting over," Rafe sighed fighting the urge to run a weary hand through his hair at the thought of what was to come. "Lift the evacuation protocol. Let's get our families back where they belong." Dayton hung back with Freya as everyone started to file out. Nors stopped beside his sister meeting her gaze intently. "Go. I'm fine," she said quietly, giving Ashleigh a quick smile. "I will come see you afterwards." Silently the other couple left with everyone else. "Dayton, I meant what I said," Rafe announced. "I want to speak to Freya alone. I won't keep her long." Freya stroked her mate's chest lightly. "I will be on my best behaviour," she promised. Dayton kissed her gently, worried about leaving the two of them alone but knowing he had to. He trusted his vampire. If she said she would behave then she would. He just didn't want to be apart from her. Sighing softly he stroked her hair tenderly. "I'll be in the community centre." He saw surprise in her eyes for a moment and then pleasure. The fact that he trusted her enough to leave her and go get on with his own work was the right thing to do. It gave her that added incentive to reach inside herself and do what was right. Freya swallowed as he left and prayed that she could do this for him. The Alpha's words earlier had filled her with a mix of rage and confusion. She didn't want to do what he had planned for her. He was effectively forcing her to integrate with the pack and they both knew it. She turned to find Rafe watching her quietly. When he didn't speak she moved a chair to across from his desk and sat down in it. This was what he had demanded of her the last time she'd been in this room with him so she figured it would be what he expected this time. "Years ago I tried to take my own life," Rafe said quietly, startling her completely. "I didn't want to be a Were, I couldn't face being what I was. I didn't fit into pack life no matter how hard my friends tried to help me. Sound familiar?" She stared impassively at him for a moment, taking in the words, hearing the truth behind them. There was pain in his voice as he admitted to his past, as well as self-loathing. Strangely she could relate to him. His story was familiar in so many ways. "And yet you are now mated with young," she answered. "You have your pack and you obviously love life and regret your past actions. What changed?" Curiosity laced her tone. Rafe smiled. "Jared Hanlon is what changed. He sat me down in a library very similar to this one and the bastard promoted me to a Beta in his pack. I was so furious I almost shifted to wolf form and attacked him. I thought he was being cruel when in fact he was helping to save my life." He waited for his words to sink in. "I know you don't like me right now, Freya. But that doesn't matter to me because surprisingly I find myself liking you. I look at you and I see myself in your eyes. You're at the same crossroads I was at and yet you have something I didn't at the time. You have your mate to help you." He leaned forward and placed his arms on the desk. "I'm not doing this to be cruel, Freya. You're pack, you're mine to protect even if you don't think you need it. Each and every one of us is here for you, not just Dayton and Ash and Nors. You belong to us. You belong here. All you have to do is let us in. We don't care about the past, all we care about is the future and that you'll be part of it." Pain welled up inside her, a harsh crippling pain brought on by the easy acceptance of the wolf before her. He meant it! Every single word. She could feel it flowing through the Alpha bond that was now inside her. She could feel it in the wolf gene that was waking up inside her body, trusting in the man who was their Alpha. She'd never belonged anywhere, not before she'd met her wolf and accepted him into her heart. Now another wolf was reaching out to her, asking her to trust in him. The pain ebbed slowly, hope warring with her distrust of all things Were. This strong male had revealed his vulnerability to her. It echoed hers and gave her added hope that she was on the right road to the full recovery he had found. Respect flared deep within her for the Alpha wolf called Rafe Hanlon who was opening himself and his pack to her unconditionally. She swallowed back the lump of emotion that was threatening to overwhelm her. "You know I'm going to keep fucking up," she finally said when she could speak in her normal tone. "You think Andrei is a nightmare? He's got nothing on me. I will never be a tame vampire." Rafe's laugh barked out loudly. "Oh I know that," he agreed when he stopped laughing. "And I also know that my pack couldn't ask for anyone better to protect them." Freya was silent for another long moment and then she gave him a tentative smile. "I will do the Beta training...Alpha." He smiled widely. "Oh, I had no doubt about that," he answered drolly. "The only question was if you were going to do it willingly or not." His certainty made her bristle instinctively and then she burst out laughing and rose from the chair. "You are a formidable foe, Rafe Hanlon. There is a core of steel a mile wide within you that most people miss because of your easy going nature. None of us mated vampires ever stood a chance against you, did we?" Rafe's expression turned to one of mock innocence before he laughed again. "I protect what's mine, Freya, and you are all mine. Now how about you go get started on your training so I can go greet my mate and sons as they come out of lockdown?" Shaking her head, Freya headed to the door. She stopped as she reached it turning to look back at the Alpha who was watching her with a very pleased expression on his face. "Just for the record...I don't dislike you, Rafe Hanlon." She opened the door and disappeared from sight, but not before she heard his final quiet words... "Welcome home, Freya Eriksson." To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 19 Penultimate chapter people :-) I did Tweet and get an overriding Yes to posting the last two chapters back to back...no surprise there LOL. If time permits I MAY post chapter 20 this week. I will update my Bio if it becomes a confirmed thing. mikothebaby thank you so much for editing for me once again. I so appreciate all your time and effort. * Freya wasn't entirely surprised to see Nors waiting for her when she left the meeting with Rafe. The house was quiet for once and he was sitting on the stairs with his arms resting on his knees. He looked up when she came out, his expression concerned. She bit back the disappointment that welled up inside her. Her brother had been through countless centuries of her fuckups. It was only to be expected that he would have anticipated that she'd screw this up too. It was all he'd ever known from her. "I didn't hurt him." The words came out defensively. Surprise crossed his face, his brows drawing down in a tight frown. "I didn't think you would, Freya. That's not the reason I was waiting for you." It was her turn to be surprised. She watched him intently for a moment and then crossed to sit down beside him. "Then why are you here?" Nors swallowed hard reaching out to take her hand in his. He stared down at their joined hands as he swallowed again. "I wanted to make sure you were okay, that Rafe wasn't too hard on you." There was an edge to his voice as his eyes rose to meet hers. "Was he?" She sucked in a deep breath, seeing the hard glint in his eyes. Wonder rose up inside her as she realised the reason for her brother's concern wasn't because of her but was for her. He was sitting here waiting to see if his Alpha had hurt her. What he would have done if that had been the case was anyone's guess. "We have come to an agreement," she said, squeezing his hand gently. "He is quite impressive...for a wolf. I can respect that in him. This being part of a pack may not be as difficult as I first thought." Nors' breath whistled out harshly and he relaxed. "So I don't need to speak with him. I'm glad about that. I like Rafe immensely and would have hated to be at odds with him." He took another deep breath and met her gaze again. "But you are my blood and you will always come first. The last time you needed help I chose the pack over you," he said quietly. "I was wrong, Freya, and it almost cost me your life. I will never make that mistake again. I ask your forgiveness." Tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out and touched his cheek gently. She'd never deserved his forgiveness, knew what drove him to try and save her over and over again. He was a good man, one of the best she'd ever known, and he had to stop punishing himself for what couldn't be changed. Dayton had taught her that. She'd just never realised she would have to teach her brother the same thing. "Nors, forgive yourself," she whispered softly, stroking his cheek. "As I forgave you so very long ago. What you did was done out of love and no desire to cause me pain. You know that. You've paid the price in regret and suffering for too long now. It's time to let it go." She watched the denial cross his face, saw anguish enter his beautiful green eyes. "If I hadn't been so selfish, too afraid to be alone without you...Freya, none of this would have happened. All your pain and loneliness, all the hurt you've been through for so long..." His voice trailed off as he looked down to hide the moisture in his eyes. A tear slipped free, falling on their joined hands. Freya felt her own tears fall and she didn't hide them from him. Her voice cracked as she spoke, opening herself completely. "When I look back, the happiest times in my life have been when you were with me. You have loved me endlessly, picked me up when I've fallen down and kept me going even when I didn't want to. All your life you've given to me, Nors, and never have you taken from me. Let me give this to you now, my brother. Let me grant you this absolution so you no longer have to look back at the past in sorrow. For once in your life let me be there for you, to be your strength, your support." His huge shoulders shook, his head bent as he wept silently. Freya wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. "I love you, Nors. I have always loved you and I always will. Nothing will ever change that." She held him as his tears dried slowly and then he embraced her tightly, his hand stroking slowly through her hair. "Thank you," he whispered into her hair as he buried his face in the side of her neck. The words were simple but the wealth of emotion in them was clear. They sat together for a while longer and then Nors finally straightened up and gently brushed his sister's hair back from her face. He searched her expression intently and finally fully relaxed. "You look the same and yet you look so different as well. The shadows are gone from your eyes." Freya smiled softly, her eyes lighting up in the same way Nors was used to seeing Ashleigh's do when she looked at him. "I love him, Nors," she breathed softly knowing she didn't need to elaborate on who they were now talking about. "I can't breathe without him, can't imagine a world where he isn't at my side. He is home to me, everything I've ever wanted and never dreamed was meant for me. He completes me." Nors smiled back at her, finally letting go of the past now he knew she was safe and happy. Dayton Alexander was perfect for her in every way. He reached in and drew out his sister's goodness in a way no one else could ever do. He would have to find some time to get to know his new brother better, to thank him for all he had given to Freya. "He is a welcome addition to our family, sister mine," he smiled. "I am honoured to call him brother." It was as if he'd suddenly given her the moon and stars the way her face lit up with such happiness. For a moment Nors was stunned by just how radiantly beautiful his sister was when she genuinely smiled, and then he was hugging her close. Everything was going to be all right now. He could feel it in his heart. Finally they could both be happy and look forward to the future. Freya left her brother and headed over to the community centre. Her emotional moment with Nors had been tough but also liberating. But she was still in need of her mate, just to make sure he was okay. Not that any harm would come to him in the middle of the compound. He was helping with the young ones, making sure they weren't traumatised by the length of time they'd spent in the tunnels. Not that they were. There had been sufficient adults with them taking care of them. To the children it was all such a big adventure. Dayton looked up when she entered and handed off the child in his arms to a female beside him. He strode across the room to her, his expression curious but not worried. "Everything go okay, honey?" His arms slid around her and pulled her tight against his chest, his lips brushing the side of her neck softly. He inhaled deeply and then sighed. "God, I love the scent of cherry blossoms." Freya could feel herself melting under his touch, his own scent of pine trees and the forest sinking into her pores and making her feel safe. "I am reporting to begin my Beta training," she laughed softly, trying not to moan out loud as his hand slid to the nape of her neck and tilted her face up to his. "You've been crying." The words were terse as he examined her face minutely, waiting for her to deny it. "Nors and I had a talk after the meeting with Rafe. It was a bit emotional but therapeutic too. Your Alpha did not upset me, Dayton, quite they opposite in fact. I think I may even find myself liking him a little." A slow smile crossed his lips before he bent his head to graze her mouth gently against hers. "I love you," he whispered. "Thank you, sweetness." She knew why he was thanking her and it made her heart soar that she'd pleased him, made him proud of her. It was for this very reason that she would succeed with her integration into the pack. Because this feeling inside was priceless and something she wanted to experience every day for the rest of her life. "I love you too...honey." The endearment felt strange on her lips but the total joy in his eyes was worth the awkwardness she felt saying it. Still she flushed, conscious of intruding eyes on them. Turning her head she saw the young males she'd growled at earlier trying very hard to look as if they weren't watching them. Slipping out of Dayton's arms she took a deep breath. "Go back to what you were doing. I will help as best I can." Dayton wanted to laugh at the disgruntled expression on her face. She looked like someone was about to torture her but he couldn't help grinning at her calling him honey. It was the most perfect thing he'd heard in a long time. "Let me get finished up here and then we'll get to work on what you need to be learning. It won't take me long." He kissed her again and then headed back over to finish helping with the evacuation of the tunnels beneath the centre. Freya watched him leave and then turned to face the youths again. The community centre was obviously a focal place and there was a kitchen area off to the side. Not wanting to be standing around doing nothing, she headed over to the boys. They immediately went to scatter and she hissed in frustration before she took a deep breath. "Stand still." It was nothing short of an order and the four young males froze on the spot, fear crossing their faces. Not the desired result she'd been hoping for but it was a start. "Names and make it quick. I don't have all day." The sandy haired male swallowed loudly but squared his shoulders. They looked around eighteen; young men rather than little ones. "I'm Foster; this is Squid, Moose and Dawg." He indicated his friends as he spoke. Freya's eyebrows rose sharply as she stared at them. She seriously doubted their parents had named them anything so ridiculous. They had most probably picked the names for themselves thinking it made them special in some way. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell them just how stupid the names were but she took another deep breath instead and bit down the urge. "I'm Freya. Seeing as you four are so interested in what I get up to in this compound you're as well as helping me. That way you can stare all you want without being sneaky about it." Her words had them blushing furiously and looking away, making her feel slightly chagrined at her bluntness. It was hard to be subtle about things when she was used to just saying what came to mind. She didn't sense any malice in the boys, just too many hormones for them to think straight. "I'm sure you had some food in the tunnels but it probably wasn't nutritious enough for the little ones," she said in a more gentle tone. "We should make ourselves useful by preparing something for the pack to eat. You will come with me to the kitchen area." "Girls cook," the one called Moose exclaimed in complaint, obviously feeling brave because of her softer tone. He appeared to feel the task was beneath him and a quick look at his friends echoed that impression. Freya gave him a hard stare and slowly elongated her fangs. She held them out for a full ten seconds before she put them away. The boys appeared both fascinated and fearful at the same time. "Those fangs mean I don't have to eat," she answered levelly. "And yet I still know how to cook. It is not a gender thing but a need to provide for those you care about. If a vampire can learn to cook then a male Were can too. Protecting your future mates and offspring is not all about fighting and being a dominant male. It is about nurturing and loving your family. A real man knows how to do that without worrying about how 'manly' he looks. Anyone interested in learning that can join me in the kitchen." She turned her back on them and headed over to the cooking area, smiling as she heard four pairs of feet begin to follow her. She was right; they weren't bad kids, just misguided. They could be taught. Dayton choked back laughter as he watched Freya shame the boys into following her. He'd never seen four young males be so obedient before and yet she had them in the kitchen and going about tasks they would most likely have kicked up a fuss about if anyone else had tried to get them to do it. As he continued on with his own tasks he kept shooting a glance into the kitchen to see how she was doing. His heart turned over as he watched Freya's beautiful face light up with a smile when Dawg did something which she approved of. The young male almost puffed up with pride under her approval and his friends were suddenly more dedicated in their own tasks. His woman was simply amazing the way she unconsciously wove her spell around the boys and taught them to have pride in what they were achieving. He was so damned proud of her he wanted to go over and kiss her senseless. Instead he decided to wait until later and show her just how proud she'd made him. When they were alone... ***** Demetri sprang up the steps leading to the large white mansion's front door. Without knocking, he opened it and paused for a fraction of a second before turning to the right and heading into the kitchen. The smell of coffee permeated the air as did the noise of the coffee machine. He couldn't help smiling as he watched Rhianna fuss over the ornate coffee machine, studiously preparing coffee. It was such a normal sight, was what he was used to despite everything that had transpired over the last five years. When Caleb and Rhianna had revealed themselves to him and Mara, his heart had almost stopped at the sheer enormity of their revelation. His instant concern had been for his adopted sister. She was so new to being a vampire and suddenly she had the memories of a long dead queen inside her as well as a powerful magic that came with them. She'd appeared to be too fragile to cope with it all. But underestimating Rhianna Armand had always been one of his faults. He'd done so when they'd first met and she'd proven him wrong. She'd done so again as she'd worked to integrate the two separate parts of her personality and remain as close to herself as she possibly could. She had her moments when it wasn't always easy for her but for the most part, she remained Annie to her very core. He was proud of her. Hell, after Mara she was his favourite woman, someone he would give his life for without ever being asked too. They'd kept Gard's existence and involvement in things a secret but he supposed they had their reasons for doing so. He assumed it was because of Rafe and the little redhead had been worried about how her brother would react to his presence. They should have known he would never have let it slip to Rafe and he was slightly put out that they hadn't confided in him. Still, what was done was done he supposed. "Coffee's ready," Rhianna smiled, turning to face him. He should have been surprised that she'd known he was there but he wasn't. His smile widened and he fully entered the kitchen, moving to the large wooden dining table closest to the door as she carried the coffees over. "One of these days I'm going to succeed in creeping up on you, Red," he laughed softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and dropping a kiss on the top of her head before he sat down and reached for his coffee. She slid into the chair beside him. "Not going to happen and you know it," she countered with a smile which didn't make her eyes sparkle the way they usually did. It was a sign of her concern even though she was trying to appear at ease. He reached out and rubbed his cheek against her hair, wanting to soothe her worry. He didn't like to see her upset any more than her mate did. "And stop rubbing your scent all over me. You know it only pisses Caleb off." Demetri laughed loudly, deliberately brushing his cheek against her again before he sat back and concentrated on his drink. He knew how hard it had been for her not to go running to the pack when Mara had reported that the twins had taken off like there was a fire in progress. He was surprised when she'd called him and asked him to check out the wolves rather than going herself. His expression must have conveyed his unasked questioned because she sighed deeply. "Caleb says I need to take a step back." Her tone was miserable, her brow drawing down in a small frown. It was clear she was unhappy about not going to the compound. He wondered if Caleb's edict was the reason why she hadn't called her mate to investigate the problem. "They're fine, Annie," he soothed automatically reaching for her free hand to give it a little squeeze. "Some vampires did try to breach the compound but Rafe has it all in hand." "What?!" Rhianna's horrified expression ripped at him and he abandoned his coffee to give her another hug. To hell with Caleb being pissed at his scent being on her, she needed the comfort. "They're safe, Red, calm down. The vampires were dead and although I scented Freya's blood there were no casualties on the wolves' side and Rafe didn't report Freya's injuries as being fatal. They have it under control and Gard was there too. That's the only reason I left them." Rhianna pulled away from him staring down at her mocha as if it was suddenly the most disgusting thing on the planet. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest and she had to fight back tears. She trusted Demetri. If he said the pack was safe then they were. Knowing Gard was there too helped soothe her anxiety a lot but she still wanted to be with them. "I should be there," she whispered, taking a deep breath to try and get a grip on her spiralling emotions. "What will Rafe think of me, Demetri? I tell him about Anakatrine and then the first time the pack needs help I'm nowhere to be found." "Caleb needs his ass kicking," the man at her side bit out, anger lacing his tone. He hated seeing her so distressed, couldn't understand why his friend was being such an idiot. He had to know that keeping Rhianna away from those she cared about would crush her spirit. When she didn't automatically jump to her mate's defence his frown deepened. Usually Rhianna wouldn't hear a bad word said against Caleb, even in jest, but she was thinking so hard it was as if she hadn't heard him. "Annie, is everything okay with you and Caleb?" Lavender eyes met his and she blinked slowly at him before her lips curved slightly. "Yes, we're fine. Caleb just feels that I get so involved in everything that's going on around us that I lose sight of my own life, our life together." "Fucking idiot!" The words came out on a harsh growl her expression went from surprised to irritated. "Demetri!" He relaxed slightly at the automatic censure in her words. She'd obviously missed his first dig at Caleb due to being lost in her own thoughts. Now he saw the Annie he knew so well, the one who would defend her mate against anyone and everyone. He bit back the other curses he wanted to issue and touched her cheek gently. "That's who you are, Annie. You live to be there for others, to love them and protect them. If Caleb takes that from you then you won't be you any more. I know he thinks he's protecting you but he's being an ass, whether you want to admit it or not." She didn't answer him, merely looked away and sipped at the coffee she no longer wanted. But it was something to do other than look at the anger in Demetri's eyes. She didn't want him angry with Caleb, not because of her. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. Demetri's over protectiveness was almost as bad as Caleb's at times. He said the pack was fine, that they'd been able to defend themselves. That proved they didn't need her and Caleb was right. She didn't have to be involved in everything that went on. They could manage just fine without her. And yet, she wanted to be at the compound to make sure everyone was safe and well. Just to check with her own eyes. A Long Walk Home Ch. 19 "Did Rafe say what they were doing about it?" she finally asked looking back at Demetri. She saw him wipe an annoyed scowl from his face before he ran a hand through his long black hair. "He's getting organised and then we'll meet up and discuss it. He'll let us know whether it'll be a formal meeting or just family. I'm sure he'll call you soon." He gave her hand another squeeze before he stood up. "You okay, Red?" He didn't trust the smile she tacked on her face or the quick nod she gave him. Her smile didn't reach her eyes as normal but he didn't say any more about it. He had a pressing need to be somewhere else at the moment, hammering some common sense into his best friend. Hugging Rhianna tightly he said his goodbyes and headed over to his car. He didn't head for home though. He had another destination in mind and God help Caleb when he got there. ***** "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Caleb's head shot up from the report he was reading, surprise on his face at the aggressive body language coming off his best friend as well as the tone of his voice. He stayed silent as Demetri entered the office and closed the door loudly behind him. Demetri had been manning the office for the last few weeks so Caleb had taken over to give him a break and because he'd felt guilty about leaving his friend to do all the work. Despite the lives they led, they still had businesses to run and he was aware that he'd been shirking his responsibilities lately. "I'm assuming you're going to qualify that statement and not expect me to have suddenly turned into a mind reader?" His words were droll as he watched the other man throw himself down in the leather chair in front of his desk. "Annie," Demetri shot back, his green eyes burning with irritation. Caleb stiffened immediately, concern crossing his face. "What's wrong?" He couldn't keep the trace of fear from his voice as he searched down their mate bond and found it suspiciously muted, as if she was masking it somehow. Come to think of it, he'd been barely able to sense anything from it for days now. "What the fuck do you think is wrong?" Demetri growled. "I thought I was supposed to be the screw up out of the two of us but when you fuck up you do it spectacularly." Caleb felt his temper rise, a low growl issuing from his throat as his eyes flashed amber, concern warring with his temper. "If you have something pertinent to say regarding my mate then I suggest you spit it out before I beat it the fuck out of you." Not being able to fully sense Annie was sending a spark of unease through him, his friend's anger ratcheting that unease up to a higher degree. Demetri growled back at him, his own anger escalating as he stood up and leaned on the desk. "How could you do that to her, Caleb? How could you tell her to pull back when it comes to those she loves? You must have known you were crippling her. Even I'm smart enough to know that and she isn't even my mate! Annie is who she is because of the people she loves. If you take that from her you're slowly killing her inside." Fury blazed deep inside Caleb and he rose too, his growl turning feral. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about, Demetri, but I suggest you keep your nose out of our business. You take care of your mate your own way and leave me to take care of mine." "Oh, like you're taking care of her now?" Demetri spat furiously. "You're doing such a grand job of that, Caleb. So good a job there was an attack on the pack today and your mate called me to go and investigate what had happened. She was sitting at home tied up in knots waiting for me to come back with my report and she was still sitting there full of misery when I left her. And all because you told her she was getting too involved in other people's lives to the detriment of yours." His finger came out, a long talon brandishing in the air in his displeasure. "You are a fucking asshole of the highest proportions and you don't deserve to have a mate like Annie. Fucking fix it or I'll really lose my temper with you!" Caleb sat down heavily in his chair, shock rippling through his body. Annie had needed someone and she'd called Demetri? Not him. He stared down at the desk reaching out to their mate bond again and finding it just as fuzzy as before. She was closing him out, hiding her feelings from him. She only ever did that when she was hurting and didn't want him to know. Fuck! There'd been an attack on the compound and he was one of the last people to hear about it because Annie didn't want him to know she was getting involved in pack business? He hadn't meant it that way, not when he'd spoken to her about her reaction to Gard's pain. What he'd meant was... He couldn't lie to himself. He may have been avoiding admitting it but now it was out in the open he had to be truthful about it. He'd been in a meltdown ever since the truth had come out and Gard had come back into their lives. His fear of losing his woman had dug deep inside him and he'd started reacting instinctively. Clearing the bullshit out of his head, he looked back on the last five years, examining his actions in detail. He'd wanted to be alone with her all the time, so much so that he'd even delayed their trip to Shanghai recently because he knew the moment his Annie had been there she would have wanted to come home. And he'd wanted their time alone together to last longer. His actions had made her miss the birth of her nephews. Her anger at that he'd skilfully handled by turning the conversation around to Gard and the secret she was keeping from Rafe. Caleb groaned and lowered his head in his hands, guilt washing through him. In trying to hold onto her he was slowly pushing her away. Demetri was right, he was a fucking asshole and he didn't deserve his Annie in his life. Taking a deep breath, Caleb looked up at his friend. "I take it the compound is secure seeing as you're here?" He didn't wait for an answer, standing up and grabbing his suit jacket. He slipped it on aware of Demetri's eyes on him though his friend didn't speak. He finally met his eyes again, his expression turning hard. "Thank you for being there for her. But the next time...you fucking call me straight away, Demetri. And don't bother starting a pissing contest over this. Just think how you'd feel if Mara came to me instead of you and I kept my mouth shut about it." Demetri stared at him for a long moment, trying to imagine Mara ever choosing someone else to confide in over him. He knew he'd overreact if it happened and his friend kept him in the dark. "Understood," he finally said. "Just don't put her in that position again, Caleb. I'm sure it's hurt her just as much as it's hurt you that she couldn't come to you with this. And I don't like her hurting any more than you do." Caleb sighed and ran his hand through his hair, conceding his friend's point. Then he turned and headed out the office to fix the damage he'd unwittingly caused. The only reason he wasn't going completely insane was his Annie had one of the sweetest souls in the whole world. She would forgive him his stupidity but it would take a while for him to forgive himself for hurting her. ***** Rhianna wanted to call Rafe but figured he was probably too busy at the moment. Demetri said her brother would be in touch when he could so she headed upstairs and took a long soak in the tub to try and alleviate her concern. She felt Caleb push at their mate bond and worked hard to keep it masked without dulling it completely. She didn't want him picking up her distress level. It would only set him on edge and then he'd become annoyed with her again for getting involved in things. Would he be angry she'd sent Demetri to check on the pack? She hadn't gone herself and the pack was under their protection. Surely he would understand that she'd had to just check everything was okay? Sighing miserably she lay down on their bed snuggling deep into Caleb's robe which she'd pulled on rather than her own. She inhaled his scent as she curled up on her side and closed her eyes. Being wrapped within Caleb's scent was home to her. He didn't ask much from her and she would try her hardest to give him what he needed even if it did wrench her heart to stay away from Rafe. She felt so vulnerable, so unsure of what was the right thing to do. She understood Caleb's fear, his need to protect her. He gave off the impression he was handling the thoughts and memories of Callain but she knew he wasn't. Always in the back of his mind was the memory of how he'd failed Anakatrine, how she had died because of that failure. Caleb was terrified of failing her again, of losing her. "Annie." His voice whispered to her and she almost shrieked in surprise, not having sensed him coming into the bedroom. It was a testament to how wrapped up she'd been in her own thoughts that she hadn't felt him come home. She smiled, her eyes opening slowly to see him standing beside the bed looking down at her with a withdrawn, pensive expression on his face. He was mentally castigating himself for something, punishing himself for some wrong he felt he'd done to her. She could read him like a book and it tugged at her heart that she was once more responsible for his unhappiness. Demetri must have told him what had happened. Lord only knew what else their friend had said to him. Demetri had been pissed when he'd left even though he'd tried to hide it. Rhianna stared up at her mate feeling her heart kick up a beat as it always did around him. Her smile softened and she reached out a hand unable to bear seeing him so upset with himself. He was so strong, so vibrant and powerful. He exuded a hard male sensuality that took her breath away every time she looked at him. She didn't like to see him so uncertain and off balance. Caleb took her outstretched hand, watching her small fingers rest against his large palm so trustingly. He felt a rush of love and warmth seep through their mate bond and he was ashamed to his very core. She always forgave him no matter how idiotic he was being. She always trusted him, loved him, and filled him with compassion and gentleness. Seeing his Annie lying curled on their bed in his robe, her beautiful red curls still damp from her bath...she was the essence of everything that was good in the world; in his world. She was purity and fire all rolled into one. She was delicate and strong, sweetness and judgement. She was his Annie but she was also Anakatrine and he had no right to try and take that from her. "Forgive me," he whispered, slowly sinking down to the bed, brushing his lips tenderly against the pulse in her wrist. "I'm afraid that's impossible, Caleb," she sighed softly causing his eyes to fly to hers in shock. The gentle curve of her lips soothed his instant concern; the love shining in her eyes bathing him with joy. "I cannot forgive you for loving me, silly man," she laughed softly. "Even if you do it in such strange ways at times." Rhianna sat up slowly moving closer to him until she could brush his long hair from his face and stroke his cheek tenderly. "You have to forgive yourself for the past, love. It cannot be changed. Be with me here and now, in this life, sharing this love. I need you with me always. Nothing will ever change that. Our hearts beat as one, our breath moves as one. You are my soul as I am yours." "Annie." Caleb whispered her name, shame battling with an overwhelming rush of love as he looked into her eyes and saw both Rhianna and Anakatrine looking back at him. She had reached peace with her duality, far easier than he had done despite him thinking it was the other way around. "I'm supposed to be the Ancient here," he finally said ruefully. He knew he had to let her fly free. It was who she was, the woman he had fallen in love with so very long ago. Caging his Annie was the cruellest thing he could ever do. She embraced life, reached inside people and pulled the very best out of them, even if it meant sometimes it would cause her pain and suffering. And he would always be at her side because there was nowhere else he would rather be. Soft tinkling laughter lit him up with joy as she reached up and kissed him gently against the corner of his mouth. "But I'm the queen," she teased lightly. Caleb couldn't stop the laughter which filled his soul as he gathered her completely into his arms and cradled her close so he could kiss her gently with all the love he had in his heart. "You're a witch," he countered huskily deepening his kiss because he couldn't get enough of her. When he raised his head and stared down into her exquisite face he knew everything would be all right. As long as his Annie loved him everything would always be all right. "So, what do you want to do about this attack on the pack?" he asked with a rueful smile, his heart racing as he watched her expressive face. He knew he was giving her what she needed, what she craved so badly. The freedom to be who she was and to protect those she loved. Rhianna's face lit up with pleasure as she wiggled out of his arms and sat before him. "I have an idea, Caleb, but first we need to find out exactly what happened and just how deep within our people this rot is running." He raised an eyebrow in query and her beautiful smile shone once more and she uttered two words to him which brought his own lips twitching in an equally wide smile. "The Praetorians." Caleb had forgotten about them, ignored most of their past lives because he'd wanted to hide from how their time there had ended. He should have known his Annie wouldn't hide from it, that she'd reach back in time and find a solution to their present day problems. It was just like her to be so courageous. She was every inch the queen she'd once been so very long ago. "You constantly amaze me, sweet one," he breathed softly, bending his head to kiss her long and slow, teasing her lips apart so he could dip inside and taste her addictive sweetness. He pressed her back against the bed, the urge to feel her naked body against his more than he could stand. "We'll continue this conversation a little later," he laughed huskily, already peeling his robe from her body so he could admire her lush curves. "Caleb." It was a breathy half complaint quickly extinguished as he heard his woman's heart race wildly in her chest as she sucked in a deep breath. "Bedroom is my department," he reminded her with a wicked smile, his tongue sliding down to her breast which he cupped loving and raised for his eager touch. Rhianna moaned, arching into his caress as his hot mouth suckled against her tender flesh. She half laughed, half groaned as he took his task very seriously, intent on driving her wild in the shortest amount of time possible. She could have argued with him but decided not to. There was no point cutting off her nose to spite her face. She surrendered to Caleb's touch, knowing there was time enough to discuss the options they had to protect the pack. Rafe had it covered at the moment. She had every faith in both of her brothers that she could spend this time with her wonderful vampire without the need to worry about anything bad happening. "Yes, Caleb," she sighed softly, holding his head to her body as he slowly loved her as only he could. ***** Rayne felt anxious as she sat beside Gard in Rafe's library. It was unusual for her to feel so tense but she couldn't quite shake the feeling. Rafe had summoned them early with no explanation of why he wanted to speak to them other than there would be others attending the meeting, noticeably Rhianna and Caleb. She hadn't seen them since the night she'd recovered her memories and she couldn't help wondering what her mate's sister would say once she discovered they'd mated. It had been two days since the attack on Freya and Dayton and the compound was still on high alert even though there had been no sign of any further vampire incursions. The pack was still running daily sweeps of the area despite finding nothing in the surrounding forest. The sound of people entering the Alpha's home caused her to stiffen slightly and Gard to look at her with a slight frown. She immediately tried to relax but knew she wasn't fooling him when his arm slipped around her shoulder and pulled her tightly to his side. He knew she was worried about his sister accepting her into their family and had tried to alleviate her unspoken concerns. The door to the library opened and Caleb entered followed closely by Rhianna. Behind her came another woman, tall with long brown hair and deep brown eyes. At her back was Demetri Bozic, his big body alert, his eyes flickering across the room quickly taking in who was present. Rhianna immediately flowed to Rafe's side, his arms coming around the little redhead instantly to scoop her up in a fierce hug. The closeness between the two of them filled the room instantly with warmth. Rafe tightened his arms around his sister, knowing she still felt guilty for not coming sooner despite the fact they'd spoken a few times on the phone and he'd assured her everyone was fine. It was slightly amusing to realise they shared the same obsessive personality trait, the need to protect each other even though their lives had moved in such different directions. He held her close as he turned to Gard and Rayne. "No need to introduce Caleb and Annie obviously and you've met Demetri briefly. The gorgeous woman at his side is his long suffering wife Mara." He laughed at Demetri's irritated snort before continuing. "Mara, this is Annie's brother Gard and his mate Rayne." He concluded the introduction by kissing the top of his sister's head and giving her another tight squeeze. Everyone smiled at Rayne and she felt her unease start to lower. There was no hint of reserve on their faces and Rafe's easy teasing of Demetri and completely relaxed demeanour helped to soothe her further. She relaxed into Gard's body earning herself a quick brush of his hot lips against the side of her neck. "You can let me go now, Annie," Rafe laughed softly as Rayne's tension level calmed. "Before Caleb decides I need my ass kicked for stealing his woman from him." That brought a laugh from Mara which Demetri echoed. "I wouldn't worry about Caleb, Rafe. He's getting soft in his old age. I steal his woman all the time and he hasn't managed to kick my ass yet." Caleb's narrowed gaze swung to his friend, his lips quirking slightly. "Mara, if I asked you nicely to mute your mate bond for half an hour would you do so?" he asked drolly. "I see no reason for you to be punished for this idiot's lack of respect." His tone clearly indicated he was joking, that this was a long standing joke between two old friends. "Would you beat a man for being an ass, Caleb?" the brunette countered sweetly, smiling at her mate as she did so. "The poor dear can't help it. He was born that way." Caleb couldn't contain his laughter as Demetri glared down at his mate, mock indignation on his face. "The poor dear? Wife, I may have to take up some of this beating malarkey myself. You clearly don't know your proper place when it comes to your husband." Mara rolled her eyes and patted him on the chest. "Well, if you haven't managed to teach me it yet, Demetri, I fear you have no chance of doing so. Though, I'm sure there has to be some vampire law somewhere that says you cannot assault a member of the Council. I will need to research that when I get to work." Her mate laughed and gathered her into his arms dropping a hard kiss on her lips. "I'm certain there is nothing against a man decorating his wife's pretty little ass a nice shade of pink, Council member or not." His voice dropped low and very intimate and Mara groaned and pushed him away. "Men! They have one track minds," she sighed haughtily though her eyes twinkled with laughter as Demetri pulled her back against his chest and feathered his lips slowly against the side of her neck. A Long Walk Home Ch. 19 Rafe released Rhianna into Caleb's waiting embrace and rolled his eyes at Gard and Rayne. "Now you understand why I don't want that man as a member of my pack. I would resign as Alpha five minutes after he joined." The warmth and easy banter between these powerful people was unmistakable and spellbinding to Rayne. They teased each other confidently; secure that the bonds that tied them together were unbreakable. They were family and their relaxed demeanour in front of her was showing her she was family too, even though she didn't know them very well. "He protests too much," Demetri laughed with a wink in her direction. "He loves me really." "Ignore my husband, Rayne," Mara sighed with mock exasperation. "Everyone else does. I, unfortunately, do not have that luxury as I married the fool." She squeaked loudly as Demetri patted her backside teasingly, his laughter filling the room. Rhianna laughed too, leaving Caleb's arms to cross the room to them. "You've met Demetri already. You should listen to Mara. She's the only one of us who has any control over that troublemaker." Her alert gaze flickered over the couple and then she smiled slowly. "You've mated," she sighed softly. "I thought you had but wasn't sure because Gard is hiding you within his bond. You are welcome to our family, Rayne." Rayne didn't know what to say, a little in awe of the tiny woman who meant the world to her mate, who also clearly meant everything to the other people in the room. Despite the fact only Rafe and Gard had a clear bloodline link to Rhianna Armand, the others seemed to surround the other woman, enclosing her within a strong protective barrier. She was the heart of these people. It was the only way to interpret the intertwining relationships in the room. She was a queen even though she studiously avoided picking up that mantel in this incarnation. Rayne felt an overpowering urge to sink to her feet before Rhianna and pledge her last breath to her. Without Anakatrine she would be dead. She owed her life to the soul that lived within the woman before her. Lavender eyes flashed with power for a moment and Rayne saw a queen come to life within Rhianna Armand. "Will you rise for me, Sarayne?" Gard blinked in surprise shooting his sister a slightly concerned look even as he rose at the same time his mate did. His arm slipped securely around Rayne's waist, his posture protective. "Brother mine, would you believe I would harm that which you hold in your heart?" Anakatrine asked softly, her gaze turning to him. The feeling of power within the room was high, everyone suddenly still and watchful. Unlike before, this was not a brief glimpse of the former queen. Anakatrine was completely in control and her power literally vibrated within the room. Caleb moved quietly, coming to stand at her back, his hands moving to rest of her shoulders as everyone held their breath. "My Queen has always held my heart in her hands and been generous with her love and devotion of it. I have no fear she would do any less this time," Gard answered formally, slipping easily into the ways of the past. Anakatrine smiled softly, reaching up her hand as her brother lowered his head to her. She traced his cheek lovingly her lavender eyes pulsing with power. "Never has a queen had a more perfect Guardian," she sighed softly. "Always have you been the most loving of brothers. I have been blessed to have you protect me, my Guardian, but know now that task has ended. Beside you stands your mate. She is love and compassion, a healer of souls. She has walked through fire, alone and afraid, searching endlessly for the other half of her soul. She has brought joy to your heart and for that she will forever have my love and protection. She thinks to kneel at my feet when in truth I should kneel at hers in gratitude for all she has given you." Anakatrine turned to Rayne, her hand coming to lie gently against her cheek as her power continued to pulse within the room. "I looked upon you as a babe and I knew in that instant you were our future, Sarayne," she continued. "I knew the consequences of my choices; I knew what I was sacrificing to ensure you lived. While I regret the pain those choices caused I do not regret the outcome. Because you live, our children will have someone to guide them and help them grow. My brother will have his life's mate and the joy of his own family." Her eyes twinkled suddenly as she looked at Gard for a moment before returning her gaze to Rayne. "I see he has already blessed you with child," she mock whispered, suddenly looking less of a royal queen and more of a teasing sister. "What?" Rayne squeaked, shocked eyes turning to her mate who looked equally as stunned. The memory of the heated magic shuddering through her body suddenly came to mind and her hand dropped to her stomach protectively. She searched deep within herself and felt the tiniest of flickers of life. Tears filled her eyes as she looked back at Gard who was slowly dropping to his knees beside her, his hand reaching tentatively forward to press on top of hers. He closed his eyes and reached out, feeling the same flicker of life. His child was within her body! It was astounding, miraculous, so completely terrifying. He turned stunned eyes to his sister, accusation in them even as joy filled his soul. "Did you do this?" He knew he hadn't used his magic on Rayne that day but magic had flowed between them. "I know you think me all powerful, brother mine, but even I am unable to create life," Anakatrine sighed softly, leaning into Caleb's embrace with a faint wistful note in her tone. "There are only two people who were capable of creating this child within and I certainly was not one of them." She turned suddenly and glared up at her mate. "And don't you think for one moment you're whisking me off across the globe in the near future. I will be present for this birth, Caleb Cullen or so help me, you will rue the day I ever came back into your life. I hope we are totally clear on that." "As my lady commands," Caleb laughed softly, hugging her tightly to his chest as her joy flooded through their mate bond. He felt sorry for Rayne and Gard. His woman was going to be in their shadows until the poor child was finally born, determined not to miss another birth. Gard rose cradling Rayne close to him, unable to believe how his life had changed so much. From being alone for so many long centuries, now he had his sister, his new pack, his mate and a child on the way. The wealth of emotions within him was hard to contain. "Thank you, Sarayne," he whispered inside her head, all his love in the depth of his words. He couldn't speak any further, was too overcome by his emotions. He could tell she felt the same way as her own emotions travelled down their mate bond and her eyes shone with tears of happiness. "We're having a baby, Gard," her stunned voice echoed in his head. "That we are, Kitty," he laughed, smug satisfaction lacing his tone as well as pride and deep love. He pulled her down beside him on the sofa, peace in his heart as the others all moved to sit too, their teasing voices in the background as he concentrated fully on his wildcat. He could feel her tension leaving her as she accepted that she was now part of his family, that she had received the blessing of his sister and his friends. Gard looked around the room and knew that all within were linked to him, despite the lack of blood ties between them. His gaze settled on Rafe and the sibling rivalry he'd felt was suddenly no longer there. The huge Alpha turned his head as if compelled to do so and met his gaze. Rafe smiled as their eyes met, a silent acknowledgement that he too was ready to share the love of their sister with no further animosity between them. A sudden thought occurred to him and he stifled a gasp of surprise. If he had died along with Anakatrine and Callain all those years ago, his soul would have reincarnated into the body of the man before him. He would have been honoured to share that connection. Anakatrine was no longer present in the room and Gard wondered when he would next see his queen. He knew she would come forth when needed but had the feeling it would be a long time before she was called on again. Rhianna was perched on Caleb's lap, leaning against her mate's chest as his arms circled her protectively. This was her time, her life and family to love and protect. And it was only right that Annie was the one to live in this time. "So, now the pleasantries are out of the way we should get down to business," Caleb announced, his tone turning serious. "We've decided to keep this to family only for reasons we will explain later. Rafe, you can decide who you want to tell once you know everything. We trust your judgement." Rafe nodded, ceding the floor to the vampires. His ego didn't require him to be in control just because the attack had been against his pack. He trusted everyone in the room and knew they would give their lives to protect his people. Mara sat up from her lounging position in Demetri's arms. "We've investigated quietly among our people and can confirm the attack was not centrally planned as we'd already suspected. No one appears to know who orchestrated the attack but the feeling is it's definitely targeted from Europe and beyond. If there is an individual directing some splinter groups we have no idea. It could just as easily be a group effort. The only thing we could glean is that surprisingly the attack has been taken seriously among our people. Some of them are ambivalent and don't care, but the majority have taken it as a direct attack against both the Ancient Council and the ruling Council. They may not be willing to open arms and embrace Weres but they do object to our laws being violated." The news was surprising to Rafe but also very welcome. It lessened the risk of a concerted attack by the vampires and also meant his current defensive plan was on the right track. "Do we have any idea what they hoped to achieve with the attack?" he asked. "They came with some semi-automatic weapons so they obviously wanted to try and incapacitate the vampire element of the pack. They knew they were facing Ancients but appear to have no concept of just how powerful an Ancient is. The impression I got was they were looking to slip past the vampires and get to us directly." Mara frowned. "They could have been trying to get to the hybrid children or they could simply have wanted to try and reach a high ranking wolf in the pack. We hold the Vampire/Were Council meetings in secret locations. If they wanted to target The Council it would be easier to reach us during one of those meetings than at the Council chambers. A high ranking wolf would know the locations and could be tortured to give up the information." Rafe stiffened, not having considered that possibility. His eyes turned to Rhianna who was also sitting up, her body tense. "Call Jared immediately," she said quietly. "We assumed the attack was something to do with the children. If it wasn't then the next attack could happen at the Hanlon compound. They are part of the Were Council." "Connor is still here," Rafe said tersely, falling silent for a moment and then turning back to his sister. "I've alerted Aaron to inform him so he can let Jared know instantly. Chances are the attack is more about the children but it's better to be safe than sorry. Jared and Millie will need to know about what we're discussing here." Caleb agreed. "Doesn't Dayton need to take Freya to meet the rest of his family? Now might be a good time for them to do so. There is no harm in having an Ancient visit the Hanlon pack for a few days." Despite the seriousness of the situation Rafe found himself smiling. His brother never ceased to amaze him the way he quickly took in a situation and came up with an instant solution. "We'll need to inform Dayton and Freya as well then," he said. "They've already suffered at the hands of these vampires. I won't send them in blind, Caleb." "Of course you won't," the vampire answered swiftly even though he was still rather perplexed about just how Freya Eriksson had suddenly become a vital member of the Armand-Hanlon pack. She was the last person he had ever expected to change her ways but it gave him hope that she had. If Freya could come to love the wolves then just about any vampire could. Rhianna's warm approval suddenly flared through their bond, her love shining brightly. She always seemed to know when he was battling with a problem and coming to a conclusion which she agreed with. His woman was truly remarkable and he thanked everything that was holy that he was blessed to have her in his life. His arms tightened around her and he bent to brush his lips against her hair. "We wanted this group kept small because of what I'm about to propose next, Rafe," Rhianna said quietly. "It's not because we don't trust our friends. It's just the way it was in the past and it worked well that way." Gard's interest was immediately piqued and his attention focused fully on his sister, trying to work out what she was about to say. His mind drifted to the past and he suddenly smiled a very slow smile, pride for his sister coursing through him. "The Praetorians," he breathed softly, earning a soft smile from Rhianna as the words escaped him. "Yes, Gard, it is time to call The Praetorians back into service." Rhianna turned to Rafe, rising to coming and stand before him. "Long ago when there was only The Guardian to protect Anakatrine, a group of protectors were formed to assist with his task. Their identity was kept a secret and they lived in the shadows. They were the most deadly fighters of our kind, silent assassins of all who would threaten the royal hierarchy. They were The Praetorians and they served me well until I disbanded them in my wisdom, turning our people over to the first vampire Council." She took a deep breath wondering if things would have been different if she hadn't made that decision. She shook the thought from her head acknowledging the past couldn't be changed. She could change the future though; she could protect their most precious treasures. "It is time to reinvent The Praetorians," she announced. "Only this time their task will be to protect the children. Only the most trusted vampire will be inducted into their ranks. Their identities will remain a secret and they will be tested by the triumvirate before joining. Our magic will determine if they are worthy of the task asked of them. The pack will never see them, neither will the children. They deserve a chance to live normal lives full of love and happiness. To ensure that, the Praetorians will never see the children either. They will be given their true scents as a way to protect them. Which is why you will need to instil in the children that they show their true scents should they ever be away from the protection of their pack and family and find themselves in need. It will be the only way The Praetorians will be able to defend them should the worst happen." Rafe mulled over her words trying to work out whether it would better just to allow the children to know about their secret guardians. Annie made sense wanting them to have normal childhoods, to feel safe and secure but what if one of them didn't obey him and masked their scent when in danger? Rhianna smiled. "You can always command them when they're old enough," she said and he shot her a startled look wondering if she'd just read his mind. Her expression was so innocent that for a moment he thought she actually had and then he smiled too. No, she just knew him so well and how his mind worked when puzzling out something. "Will a brief burst of their true scent be enough for The Praetorians to track them, Annie? What happens when they mask their scent again? Will their guardians be able to follow the new scent?" She nodded. "Until the children reach maturity and are deemed responsible enough to leave the pack on their own, their identities will be protected from everyone, including The Praetorians just in case one slips past us who means them harm. The Praetorians will be able to track by scent from a distance but be close enough that they can be there instantly should there be a need. There will always be a minimum of three of them to protect each child. We may slip up with one bad apple getting through but I doubt we will with three. Rayne, as much as we all would prefer not to, can you enhance the children's teaching on shadowing? It is a good defence mechanism for them with only a few of us able to breach it. I will look into deciphering a way for their parents to also be able to see past it." Rayne's growing respect and awe of the petite redhead blossomed. She didn't know her new sister very well but looking into her soul and sampling her emotions was enough to tell her that she could love the other woman as fiercely as her mate did. She had no idea why she'd ever worried about Gard's close relationship with his sister. "That makes sense, Annie, though if you can find a way to settle their parents' worries it would be best. Ashleigh and Nors almost died when Liam shadowed himself. They need to be certain they can protect their young." "So will you and Caleb be running these Praetorians?" Rafe asked, coming to terms with what was needed to protect his pack and feeling stronger knowing this shadowy group would be in place even if they would never see any actual evidence of it. His sister turned to look at her mate and shook her head as Caleb quirked an eyebrow at her in query. He had left this up to her, to decide what she needed to feel comfortable with the protection of her family. "No, that task will be left up to someone else," she finally answered turning back to her brother. "I have faith that between us we can come up with someone who is strong and dedicated whose loyalty will be unquestioned when given the task to head The Praetorians. It will mean that your existing defences will need to be kept up for a few months or so. Naturally, we will assist with whatever you need, Rafe, until such times as we have sufficient Praetorians to protect the children." Demetri stirred, rising silently in one graceful movement, his wife moving with him as if they were one being instead of two. "I know exactly who to ask," he said quietly, his expression serious. "I will need to go out of town for a couple of days to track him down though. Mara will need protection while I'm away." His wife shot him an irritated glare and rolled her eyes. "Mara is perfectly capable of taking care of herself," she muttered under her breath. Demetri sighed dramatically, his lips twitching in a smile at her peeved tone. "Yes dear, but you know I'll only imagine someone is intending to harm you and then I'll get pissed. And we all know what happens when I get pissed, so don't argue with me about this woman. My peace of mind is preferable to the other option." She grinned up at him, pulling his head down for a kiss as his expression told her he wouldn't be swayed on the matter. Despite his autocratic ways she couldn't help the thrill that ran through her at his over protectiveness. Sometimes it was just perfect to be a woman so loved that her man turned feral at just the thought of any harm coming to her. She wouldn't let Demetri know that though otherwise she'd never get to do anything without him dogging her every footstep. "Fine, I'll stay with Caleb and Annie while you're out of town and I will not go to the Council chambers without an escort from either Alexei or Andrei. Satisfied?" His smug smile was enough to make her mutter a very unladylike curse deep within even as she burst out laughing and kissed him again. A Long Walk Home Ch. 19 "You are fully confident with your choice, Demetri?" Rhianna asked. It wasn't that she didn't trust her friend's judgement, it was more a case of she hadn't been aware of Demetri trusting another individual outwith their current group. After Caleb and herself, the Romanov twins were the closest to Demetri, followed after that by Nors. Demetri did not trust easily. He raised his head and turned to look at her, total confidence in his eyes. "I haven't seen Mackenzie for a few centuries but I know he's still living and roughly where he is right now. He's a hard man, implacable but fiercely loyal to those who warrant it. I did him a service once, one he had yet to repay. He has a habit of taking up causes which he feels are worthy enough. I have no doubt he will answer this call. There is no better person outwith our family that I would give this task to, Annie." He waited for her permission, slightly surprised that he did so. He adored Rhianna, counted her as his sister. He just wasn't aware until that moment that he'd started to view her as his queen. He had always been ready to defend her, had helped save the Hanlon pack because she asked it of Caleb. Now he knew without a doubt he would do anything she asked of him, that he trusted her with the same deep abiding trust he had for Caleb. Rhianna watched surprise briefly cross Demetri's face, wondered at what he was thinking in that moment. His faith in this Mackenzie person was absolute even though Caleb didn't appear to know him judging from his surprised expression. When it came to all things concerning fighting, Demetri was the most lethal of them all because he was the one who could shed his humanity in an instant and do what was necessary. He felt no remorse, never second guessed himself while Caleb suffered for the hard decisions he had to make. Her mate was leaving everything up to her though she knew he would support whatever decisions she made. He trusted in Demetri wholeheartedly, as did she. With a smile she turned to Mara and winked at her. "Bring your credit card...we may as well spend his money while he's away." Demetri burst out laughing reaching for Rhianna and ruffling her curls the way Rafe did to annoy her. "How many years ago was that? Are you going to throw that up in my face endlessly? Caleb, your woman is in need of a spanking. You may have been mated longer than I have but you clearly haven't gotten the art of how to be a true dominant mate down yet." A hard elbow to his ribs had him laughing harder as he released Rhianna and tackled his mate to his side as she tried to elbow him again. "Neither have you, you arrogant ass," Mara laughed wrapping her arms around him. Caleb rolled his eyes though he was smiling too at the byplay between them. It had lessened the tension in the room, everyone relaxing now they had a plan of action being formulated. "We probably could do with sending someone over to Europe for a while, someone who isn't well known," he mused. "Having a mole in the lion's den wouldn't be a bad thing." "I would have suggested Stefan but he's a Council member and probably noticeable," Demetri said after a brief pause. "And he would want to take Emily with him which would not only leave the Council two members down but also place her in a potentially dangerous situation." "Emily is stronger than she appears," Mara countered though she didn't disagree with Demetri's assessment. She was just in the habit of protecting the Youngling who sat on the Council with her and was mentored by Stefan. "Pietro," Caleb said quietly which brought a groan from Demetri. "You know he's Andrei's favourite bartender, Caleb. He'll be pissed as hell if you take him away." Caleb barked a laugh. "Pietro may tend bar at The Dive but he is anything but a bartender, Demetri. I don't care how jovial and approachable that man appears to be. We all know the folly of falling for that little act when it came to Andrei. I have no doubt there is a lot we don't know about Pietro, maybe even things you aren't sharing either?" He raised an eyebrow at his friend, knowing that Demetri would be well versed on just who and what Pietro was capable of having spent so much time with the Romanov twins over the centuries. That they placed their trust in the bartender was telling enough. Demetri grinned unrepentantly at him, his eyes silently answering Caleb's question. "Pietro would be a good choice to send," he conceded. "But you can tell Andrei because I'm not. He's only just started talking to me again for siding with you and messing up his grand entrance onto the Council all those years ago. That man sure knows how to hold a grudge." Caleb had to smile as he nodded his agreement. He knew Demetri wouldn't have a problem with telling Andrei the news but it would probably come better from him. "I take it we've covered everything now?" Everyone looked around the room waiting for any other points to be raised. When no one spoke they began to disband, Demetri and Mara slipping away first. Rafe hugged Rhianna tightly, his love for her a bright beacon in his soul. Always she was there for him no matter what just as he would always be there for her too. His gaze connected with Caleb's over her head and he smiled. "Thank you." "Thought you'd realised by now that no one messes with our family," Caleb smiled back. "We might be a little pushy and arrogant at times, Rafe, but we protect what is ours. I think it's highly unlikely there will be another attempt on either pack for a very long time. This feels like an opening gambit and they got their asses handed to them on a plate. They will regroup before they try again. By that time we will have the Praetorians in place along with all your own protective measures. No one will get past us." "Vampires are a very patient people, Rafe," Gard said, coming to join them with Rayne at his side. He smiled at his sister as she gave him a quick hug before she welcomed Rayne into her family with an even bigger one. "They will most likely wait until they think we have become complacent before they strike again," Gard continued. "That will give me time to train this generation of young males and possibly even the next. I want to give the hybrid children special training too so they are fully prepared to defend themselves." "Do what needs to be done, Gard, and schedule myself and all the Betas into the same training regiment you want for the children," Rafe said firmly. "You have authority to do anything that needs to be done to secure protection for the pack. When I am training I am not your Alpha and your word is final." It was a huge amount of trust and respect to give the Ancient, which Gard was very aware of. His lavender eyes were warm as he smiled and nodded his head. "We will train as brothers," he answered quietly, welcoming his sister's Were brother into his family unconditionally. Soft tinkling laughter filled the room and Rhianna hugged them both before slipping back into Caleb's arms and grinning up at him. "I love it when my boys play nice," she laughed softly. "And I'm going to be an Aunt again!" Caleb rolled his eyes, his heart swelling with love as he looked into his Annie's radiant face. Her joy filled his soul as only she could and he couldn't resist bending his head to rub his lips against hers. He would move a mountain if she asked it of him but all she asked was for her family to be safe and protected. He could never deny her that. To be continued... A Long Walk Home Ch. 20 What a ride this story has been. I think it's been my favourite one so far because I've loved the characters so much as they came to life for me. I've been in awe at all the wonderful comments from everyone. They've kept me going especially when I faltered around about chapter 15 of this tale and wondered if I'd ever be able to finish it. I can't tell you how much your words have kept me writing. I couldn't let you all down :-) So I hope you all enjoy this final chapter. I can't thank you enough for reading, voting and commenting. To the Guild - you've been the best friends ever. To my Tweeps - thanks so much for the hours of fun, the loaning of the smut fairies (LOL) and the friendship you have given to me. mikothebaby - you have been an utter treasure to me and I can never adequately thank you enough for all your hard work. Don't relax too much though because I will be back to clog up your inbox with more tales in the future :-) Enjoy! * Rayne was still stunned at the news she was pregnant as she left Rafe's library, Gard closely following behind her. She could feel his emotions through their bond and had to fight down a laugh. One moment he was ecstatic and the next he was full of trepidation. Confused didn't come close enough to describing his emotions. She was aware of Lacey in the sitting room with her sons and couldn't stop herself from peering in to look at them. She felt her own trepidation set in as she watched the ease her Alpha handled first one child and then the other as she cooed to them. Lacey made it look so effortless and she couldn't help wondering if she'd be half as good a mother. "You'll be perfect," Gard soothed, his arms wrapping around her from behind, his hand resting tenderly against her stomach. "Have you taken up mind reading now?" Rayne laughed softly leaning against the thick wall of his chest. Lacey looked up and smiled at the sound of their voices. She took in Gard's hold and her smile grew wider. "It's easier than it looks, Rayne," she called out, immediately coming to the correct conclusion as to why her pack members looked so shell-shocked. "Right up until the moment the boys were born Lacey was convinced she'd be a terrible mother," Rafe chuckled coming up beside them. "She measured herself by Jen's standards and found herself lacking." His tone made it plain how ridiculous he'd found that idea at the time. They headed into the sitting room together with Caleb and Annie bringing up the rear. Rafe crossed to his mate, sinking down to the floor beside her and reaching out to gather Ben in his arms for a quick cuddle before he lay him down gently and gave Aaron the same doting hug. Rayne eased down onto one of the large sofas with Gard, with Caleb artfully guiding his mate away from the other sofa and towards one the many armchairs in the room. He picked the one closest to the babies. "A King should have his throne," he laughed lightly at Rhianna's raised eyebrow. "So should a Queen," she quipped back as he sat down and pulled her onto his lap. "You have one, sweet Annie. You're sitting on it." "Men!" Rhianna rolled her eyes in mock exasperation even as she settled comfortably against Caleb's chest, contentment on her face as she gazed down at her nephews. She realised this was the first time she'd been in a proper family environment with her brothers and their mates. The feeling of completeness that came over her was wonderful. "I wonder if we'll have a son or daughter," Gard mused, fascinated by the little boys wriggling on the soft blankets on the rug. He didn't really mind what they would have. He just wanted their child to be healthy and happy. "Do you wish to know?" Rhianna asked with a mysterious smile on her face as their eyes met. Gard blinked slowly, surprise crossing his. "You know the baby's sex already?" It couldn't be possible. They were only just pregnant; the child was barely days old! Rayne could feel Gard's excitement even though she was just as astounded that Annie knew what they were having so early. She met her mate's eyes and raised an eyebrow. She really didn't mind knowing the baby's sex if he wanted to. Rhianna didn't answer his question but her smile did become wider. "Put him out of his misery, Annie," Rayne laughed softly. "I'll never hear the end of it if you don't. I'd really like to know if we're having a boy or a girl." "Well, if you're both sure," Rhianna grinned. "You're having a son." Pride welled up inside Gard's chest, a strong, deep feeling of utter joy that his son was growing inside his mate. He had never dreamed he would find the one woman who would make his long days of lonely existence come to an end. Now he not only had his exquisite wildcat but she was also giving him a son to cherish. He had hoped for a little girl, one exactly like her mother but he figured they could work on that for their next child. "A son," he breathed quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "We could call him Tobias. I've always liked that name." Rayne turned to look at him, her expression one of disagreement. "Tobias? You want to name my son Tobias? I don't think so, vampire." She was lightly stroking her stomach, smiling even as she put her foot down. Her son was inside her, a perfect little boy who would be just like his father, only he'd have much better taste in names! "What's wrong with Tobias?" Gard growled as the others laughed at his disgruntled expression. "It's a perfectly good name for a boy. I don't hear you coming out with anything." "I'm just coming to terms with the fact you knocked me up so quickly," she bit back struggling to contain her laughter as his expression changed to one of complete outrage. Her mate actually spluttered as he tried to formulate words and she did burst out laughing then. "If you can't come to an agreement on naming the child, I have the perfect solution for you," Rhianna suddenly said. Her voice was quiet yet they both turned to look at her. There was something in the tone that was quite hypnotic as if she was combination of both Annie and Anakatrine in that moment. Rayne was immensely curious as to what her new sister considered the perfect name for her son. "What would you suggest, Annie?" "Kothari." Gard went so still at her side that for a moment Rayne was convinced that he'd stopped breathing. Their mate bond was completely silent as he stared at his sister with a stunned expression on his face. A trickle of unease went down her spine for a moment as the siblings looked so intently at each other. "Is there some special significance to Kothari?" she finally breathed out when Gard remained silent. Rhianna's gaze moved from her brother and met hers. She smiled a beatific smile. "I've always thought that sometimes tradition can be a wonderful thing," she sighed softly. "Sometimes it's just perfect to name a son after his father." Rayne frowned, taking her words in, turning slowly to look up at Gard who had a sheen of moisture in his eyes as he sat so quietly beside her. Rhianna's words finally penetrated her mind and understanding rocked through her. "Your name is Kothari?" The words tumbled out on a stunned breath. She had never considered her mate had any other name. He was...he was just Gard. Wasn't he?" Gard's gaze finally dropped to hers and a hint of amusement crossed his face as he looked down at her. "Gard the Guardian?" he said drolly. He was still stunned at hearing his birth name spoken once again after so many millennia of it never passing anyone's lips. He should have known Anakatrine would never forget it as everyone else had. He was just unprepared for how emotional it had made him feel hearing it once more. "Kothari is my birth name. It's just been so long since I've heard it that I was a bit surprised hearing it after all these centuries." His shock easing, he smiled down at his mate. "I was so puffed up with my own self importance of being the Guardian that I announced it continually when Anakatrine was being her most wilful." Rhianna rolled her eyes and laughed. "You'd better believe it. If I heard it once, I heard it a thousand times. He was always pontificating about how he was 'The Guardian'. He took such pride in his status that I started shortening it to Gard just to annoy him. Of course, when the Queen of Vampires began addressing someone in a certain manner, her loyal subjects followed suit. The nickname stuck and despite what he says, he preened every time he heard it." Her brother shot her a glare but his lips where tugging in a smile softening his expression. "It was my badge of honour," he conceded. Rayne was still shocked but she couldn't stop smiling too. "Kothari," she whispered her hand against her stomach, her voice filled with awe. "The perfect name." Her eyes met Gard's as she sought his approval. His love for her shone so brightly, his hand moving to rest against hers as he leaned down to kiss her gently. "The perfect name," he agreed. And it was. He was looking forward to his son carrying his name, to this new life with his feisty little wildcat. "I wonder what Dayton and Freya will call their children," Rhianna sighed with a little smirk on her face as she looked at Rafe. "I have a feeling their children will fall on the feminine side." Her brother grabbed a nearby cushion and threw it at her. "That's it! Out now!" he bellowed his face going red. "Take your stupid oracle ways out of my house. Cursing me with miniature versions of that vampire is the meanest thing you've ever done, Rhianna Armand!" Just the thought of more Freyas was enough to turn his hair silver, hell the little demons would probably come out with silver streaks to match their father. The group collapsed into laughter, even the babies gurgling happily at the peeling sounds surrounding them and the indisputable warmth and love that radiated in the room. Caleb tossed the offending cushion back, catching Rafe square in the face with just a little too much force to be completely playful but not enough to be hurtful. He'd caught it before it had hit his mate and though he knew there was no malice in it throwing anything at his woman was just unacceptable. Rafe grunted and shot him a very rude gesture with his middle finger even though he was chuckling loudly and Lacey slapped his arm in reproof. "The boys are present!" she huffed trying not to descend into a fit of giggles as the Alpha of the Armand-Hanlon pack started getting abused from all angles, his mate included. "You're supposed to be on my side," he said slightly peevishly even as he pulled her forward for a long kiss. "I quite like the idea of lots of little Freyas running about," she shot back, dissolving into laughter when his expression told her in no uncertain terms that she was going to pay for her lack of loyalty later. Smiling, Caleb rose and set Rhianna gently to the floor keeping her firmly ensconced on his left side so his body blocked her from any further flying cushions. "That would be a suitable punishment for abusing my mate," he said smugly, his smile broadening when said mate slapped him lightly on the chest. "Idiot," Rhianna laughed under her breath, squirming from his arms so she could hug Rafe and Lacey tightly, whispering her apology into her brother's ear. He cradled her carefully against him, his hands gentle on her as they usually were. "I'll forgive you that bombshell because you're just too damned hard to resist. And because your vampire has no concept of how to have a proper pillow fight," he laughed rubbing his cheek. "Caleb!" Rhianna groaned shooting him an exasperated look before rolling her eyes and sinking down beside the babies to give them hugs and kisses. Her vampire gave Rafe a sheepish smile before his gaze turned back to Rhianna, watching her with the little ones, fascinated by the sheer love that seemed to ooze from her every pore. He felt a stirring in the air, a crackle of energy which would be unnoticed by the Weres. He felt Gard's eyes on him and turned briefly to look at his brother. "She has bonded such with all the children," he told him privately. "We both have. Just lightly enough that we will always be able to find them no matter where they are." The sensation of magic slowly eased as the petite redhead kissed both boys on the forehead and returned back to her mate's side. "I will do so too," Gard told them both on the communal path they could use to speak to each other. "They are my pack now, mine to protect." His gaze focused on Rhianna turning his thoughts private for her alone. "You said my time as The Guardian had ended, sister mine. It has only evolved into something different. I will keep our family safe." "I know, my brother. You have always guarded my heart just as you said I have guarded yours. I can't tell you how happy I am that you have now found your own joy in the world, that you will now know a love so true that nothing can ever come between you." Rhianna moved to hug first Gard and then Rayne, shooting a quick stab of magic to the life growing inside her sister to make her bond with her nephew even before he was born into the world. She saw Rayne's eyes widen and sensed Gard's slow smile as he realised what she'd just done and also sensed Rayne's reaction to the energy used. "Interesting," she mused to her brother. "You should investigate that, Gard. Your mate can feel even the subtlest of magics being used. I shudder to think what else our beautiful little hybrids will surprise us with as they grow." Caleb retrieved his mate, aware there had been private communication with her brother but not concerned about it. He was slowly coming to adapt to the fact that he had to share his woman; that he had to let her fly free so she would always come home to him. "Let's go home, sweet one," he whispered in her ear as she melted against him and gave him one of her many smiles that turned his heart inside out and made him forget all about breathing. They said their goodbyes and headed outside, Rhianna pausing on the steps to look around the compound slowly. Caleb stopped at her side, following her gaze. Two little brown and golden cubs were tearing around outside's Cedar's home, their parents watching carefully with slightly bemused expressions on their faces. Cedar looked up at Alexei and his arms came around her, a reassuring smile on his face as he held her close. He said something low under his breath and his mate giggled before they turned back to watch their daughters romp in the dirt in wolf form. Lily and Kallum suddenly burst from their house, their annoyed father following them outside trying to keep a scowl on his face even as his lips twitched with amusement. "Oh my!" Loretta said with a startled squeak as she came to stand beside Andrei. Her children seemed to shift of the run, one moment human children, the next two little black wolves, Kallum being slightly larger than Lily despite being the younger. Excited yips filled the air as the Romanov children shifted for the first time, awkward and gangly for the first few moments as they adapted to four legs and then suddenly confident. They dived onto their cousins with glee, rolling in the dirt with them. Loretta looked a little pale but Andrei appeared to take the shifting in his stride. He glanced at his mate and then turned to his brother. "Watch the kids for a couple of hours!" It wasn't a request and he didn't wait for an answer, simply picking Loretta up and vanishing into the house with her. Further away, Nors and Ashleigh were coming out of the community centre, Liam running ahead towards the cubs. "Daddy, when will I be able to do that?" he called as he ran, laughing when Dara accidentally knocked him over. Immediately his laughter turned to shrieks of glee as the four cubs started licking him all over. "You can ask Rayne later," Nors called back, his arm around Ashleigh as she tensed slightly; worried the cubs would be too rough with her son. "Hey Alexei, watch Liam for us for a couple of hours." Nors yelled. A loud growl sounded in the air and a very frustrated expression crossed the blond vampire's face. "Do I look like a fuc...erm I mean a bleeding babysitter?" Cedar laughed as Nors quickly pulled his mate away in the opposite direction before Alexei could object further. "No, love," she sighed softly. "Your fellow Ancients just trust you with the lives of their most precious little children. Instead of railing at it you should view it for what it is." She patted his tight ass lovingly as the children couldn't see her. "And I'll make it up to you later, lover," she added with a sultry smile on her lips. Alexei groaned and kissed her soundly; remembering inquiring little minds were around before he became too lost in her sweet taste. "Damned right you will, sweetheart." Rhianna sighed again as she watched the interaction, other wolves bustling around the compound doing their own daily activities. Her gaze turned to Caleb who was watching her expressive face. She smiled. "Interesting how they can shift into different colours," she remarked quietly referring to the cubs. "More unknowns about just what their many capabilities will be." She wasn't worried about it; it was intriguing more than concerning. "I'll feel easier once Demetri has contacted this Mackenzie person and the Praetorians are in place. I am surprised you don't know of him, love. I trust Demetri but it still feels a little strange that there is someone out there who sounds so powerful and yet you've never come across him before." Caleb shrugged and pulled her into a tight embrace. "The most important thing is we both trust Demetri. He has often left my side over the centuries, gone his own way when the wanderlust took him. I'm sure he knows many others I have never met. But rest assured, sweet one, I will know all about Mackenzie before he is allowed anywhere near our family. Pietro too." Rhianna laughed softly, gazing up at him with total adoration on her face. "I had no doubt of that, my love. You will always protect what is mine." "What is ours, my Annie," he corrected gently, bending his head to kiss her tenderly, savouring the sweetness that was her lips, drinking in the scent and taste of the woman that was his very heartbeat. He heard more laughter within the compound, Jen and Aaron's voices adding to the background, their children complaining that they'd have to wait until they were teenagers before they could shift into wolf form for the first time. He broke their kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, sighing softly. "As much as I love our family, I want you home with me so I can taste every inch of you until you beg me to stop. Come, woman. Your vampire needs you." Soft tinkling laughter filled the air, the sweetest sound in his universe, after the low throaty moans his mate issued when he pleasured her so lovingly. "Yes, Caleb," Rhianna said meekly, laughter dancing in her eyes at the suspicious glint in his at her easy acquiescence. "Come on, witch! Run with me." Hand in hand they vanished into the trees, Rhianna's soft laughter still filling the air as they took off at breakneck speed, leaving the compound safe and secure behind them. ***** Dayton could feel how tense Freya was as he tugged her downstairs towards the front door. She gave a whole new meaning to the term 'dragging your feet' and he would have smiled at her reluctance if he didn't feel the same way too. When Rafe had called them into his study to quickly apprise them of the situation and what he wanted from them, Dayton's heart had slammed hard into his chest. He was only just starting to feel comfortable around Aaron and Cedar after so long and now he had to face the rest of his family. A Long Walk Home Ch. 20 He'd studiously avoided Connor since he'd arrived at the compound...well he hadn't actually had to make that much of an effort to avoid his eldest brother he had to admit to himself. He'd been a little tied up with his new mate and new responsibilities within the pack. It had been relatively simple to be somewhere else whenever Connor showed up at the main house. His brother had appeared to sense his unwillingness to interact with him and had given him a wide berth too. Possibly Aaron or Cedar had said something to him, convincing him to stay away until Dayton was ready to face him. His siblings so far had accepted him back into their lives as if he'd never been gone but to have to face his parents...to have to look into his mother's eyes and see the pain he'd caused her. It was suddenly too much for him and his steps faltered before he reached the door as he came to a stand still bringing Freya up short beside him. Freya turned to look up at her mate and saw complete panic on his face. Up until that moment she had been fighting her own inner demons, railing silently about being forced into the situation of having to meet her news and be 'nice' to them. The thought was total anathema to her and she'd been struggling hard to do this for her mate even though deep down she was afraid that they wouldn't accept her into their family and he would be hurt by their rejection. She didn't care if they hated her personally all she cared about was how Dayton felt. Now she stared up into blue eyes so filled with fear her heart almost broke to see the expression on his strong face. No one had the right to make him doubt himself like this, she didn't care who it was. He had done what he'd needed to do to survive a loss of unimaginable proportions and that was all there was to it. Stiffening her spine she gripped his hand tightly and shrugged off her own concerns about the upcoming meeting. "I will protect you, Dayton. You do not stand alone. I won't allow anyone to hurt you ever again." Her fierce words and equally fierce expression startled him and he smoothed out his expression as a warm feeling flooded through him and he realised how pointless it was to hide from what had to be faced. "I know that, honey," he sighed softly wrapping his arms around her and stealing a deep kiss to settle his nerves. "I'm just being silly worrying about seeing the family again. I know they love me. Just as I know this isn't easy for you either." He was amazed at how strong she was being about this meeting, having only argued for half an hour before she'd finally conceded to go. Nors had told him that when Freya didn't want to do something, she could rail for weeks on end before finally giving in. He'd been smugly impressed with himself that he'd managed to defeat her objections so quickly. "I will adapt," she smiled against his lips, her sweet scent soothing him as only she could. "Then there's no putting this off," he sighed again. "Rafe doesn't think the Hanlon pack will come under attack but it is better being safe than sorry." He couldn't keep the slight unease out of his voice. Only Connor and Brody lived at the Hanlon compound but the rest of the family would be there today because he knew Connor would have called them and told them he would be coming. Taking a deep breath Dayton opened the door and stepped out of the Alpha's house. There were two Jeeps parked just outside. His eyes automatically went to his eldest brother who was leaning against the hood of the first Jeep, arms crossed nonchalantly as he chatted with Aaron who was standing just in front of him. Cedar was sitting beside him on the hood, smiling up at him as he talked. Dayton's breath froze in his body as Connor's head turned slowly towards the open door, his pale blue eyes seeking and finding his unerringly. His eyes took in every minute detail of the ruggedly handsome man with shaggy blond hair and intimidating physique. This was the sibling he had known the longest, they had been born together, the first of the Alexander children. He couldn't judge what his brother was thinking because his expression was closely guarded as his gaze flicked from Dayton to Freya who was holding his hand so tightly he knew he was going to bruise. Appreciation flared in Connor's eyes and a slow smile curved his lips. "Well, now I understand why you were locked in your room all this time, Day," he finally drawled softly. "Having a beauty like that hanging off a man's arm is more than enough reason to go AWOL. Kind of crushed it wasn't because you were shit scared about seeing me again, though." There was more than a hint of teasing in his voice and Dayton felt some of the tension leaving his body. Connor was...well he was just Connor, usually laid back and friendly though quick to blow his temper when riled. That he was relaxed said a lot about how he felt about seeing his younger brother returned from his self-imposed exile. He watched him push away from the Jeep and saunter over. When he got close enough he raised a meaty clenched fist and Freya stiffened at his side instantly expecting some form of attack. Dayton couldn't stop his lips from curving into a smile at his mate's protectiveness even when it wasn't warranted. He squeezed her hand gently before releasing it and knocking his fist hard against Connor's. They had always greeted each other like that, ever since they were young boys. It was Connor's way of telling him that nothing had changed in his eyes. His brother reached for him and pulled him into a tight bear hug, pounding his back hard. "Good to have you back, Day." As always Connor kept words to the minimum when feeling emotional. His words were short but the emotion within them conveyed everything he wanted to say. He pulled back and regarded Freya intently for a long moment and then presented her with his fist. She stared at him blankly for a second and then repeated what she'd witnessed her mate do. She banged fists with the blond wolf wondering if this was some weird wolf ritual she wasn't aware of. Connor winced loudly, shaking his fist in the air as the vampire almost pulverised his knuckles into dust. "Hot damn!" he muttered through clenched teeth. "I've got to get me one of these female vamps. You got any single friends, darling?" Freya stiffened first in mortification for hitting the wolf too hard judging from his pained expression and hoarse voice, then from confusion at the way the easy endearment flowed from his lips directed towards her. She was accepting of the way Dayton spoke to her because he was her mate but this man was a stranger to her. Swallowing down her initial reaction which was to hit the wolf again only harder this time, she carefully controlled her expression as she counted to ten to cool her temper. "I don't have friends and even if I did I'd be surprised if any of them would be interested in a wolf." If she'd thought her cool words would somehow crush the man before her it only brought a dazzling smile which was so unexpected she turned to look up at Dayton in confusion. "Feisty as well as strong," Connor chuckled. "You lucked out, little bro. Pity she doesn't have any friends. Though don't suppose that really matters now she's got us." "Don't let Connor ruffle your feathers, Freya," Cedar called out from her perch on the car hood. "He likes to think he's a lady killer when really he's a big teddy bear deep inside." "Dial it down a notch, Con," Dayton said quietly, his arm keeping Freya firmly at his side to stop her from fleeing. Getting a blast of the Alexander clan so full on was maybe a step too far for his usually solitary mate. Connor instantly looked repentant, picking up on his brother's concern and taking a step back. He smiled gently. "No offence meant, Freya. I'm just trying to say thank you for bring Day home to us. I didn't get hit much with the sensitivity stick when I was born and didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." His words were so sincere, his expression so downcast, that she couldn't help relaxing against Dayton's side as she finally worked out that the big gruff male in front of her was trying to welcome her into his family in the same way he related to his brother. She was quite astounded that he felt she was so much a part of the Alexanders that he was willing to treat her on an equal footing as her mate. Maybe meeting the rest of them wouldn't be so bad after all, if they were all so ready to accept her as Connor was. "None taken," she finally said, straightening up. "I am still adapting to your pack ways but it's getting easier. Did I hurt your hand badly?" She noticed he was still holding it rather gingerly at his side. "Broke my knuckles." He grinned at her horrified expression. "It's all cool, they're healing just fine. Will be good as new in another couple of minutes. You pack a mean punch." Freya's eyes swung to Dayton's to see what his reaction was to her breaking his brother's hand. He was grinning widely, pride shining in his eyes which totally confused the hell out of her. She had the distinct impression she would always be walking a tightrope of confusion around the Alexander family. Before she could apologise to Connor his phone went off and he groaned deeply. "That will be Ma again or Willow. I swear they've been calling or texting every ten minutes for the last couple of hours." He put on a high pitch voice. "Have you left yet?" he mimicked before he answered the call. "Willow, we're just leaving now," he grumbled. "I was just saying hi to Freya and then we're heading out. We'll be there in an hour or so." He paused and listened to his youngest sister for a moment and then grinned at Dayton. "Nah, he hasn't dyed his silver. Looks older than me now but hell, he's always wanted to be the eldest and he'll do anything to achieve it. Now get off the phone so we can make tracks. And tell Ma not to call or text again. I'll be driving." He hung up muttering "Women!" under his breath. "You ready to hit the road, Day?" His question was asked lightly but there was concern in his gaze as he looked at his brother. He knew Dayton was worried about facing the rest of the family. He'd done his best to ease him, had even let his vampire break his knuckles as a way to metaphorically 'break the ice'. He wondered if he'd done enough. "No time like the present," Dayton said firmly, feeling a lot more relaxed because of his brother's easy acceptance of not only him but Freya. Connor was letting him know he had his back, just as Cedar and Aaron's presence to see him off was their way of showing him they were there to support him. He tugged Freya towards the cars, releasing her long enough accept Cedar's hug. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, grateful for her love and support. "The family's just excited to have Dayton home," Cedar said to Freya as she stepped out of her brother's arms. She didn't attempt to hug but her eyes were warm as she smiled at the vampire. "We're a bit on the tactile side but don't be afraid to ask for some space if it makes you uncomfortable. No one will be offended." "Ma might completely ignore that request," Aaron laughed as he slapped Dayton hard on the shoulder before grinning at Freya. "Try and cut her some slack though. She's been missing her baby for a long time and a second mating is a truly amazing occurrence. She'll most likely want to hug a lot." Freya could feel panic start to build up inside her at the prospect of strangers touching her as if they had the right to do so. She just wasn't accustomed to the amount of tactile contact she envisioned happening. She looked to Dayton for help and saw his brows drawn down in concern. She also saw longing in his gaze, as if he was suddenly desperate to be back in the warmth of his family after being so long apart from them. She could feel his emotions roiling from one end of the spectrum to the other as he tried to work out which one would take dominance. He needed his family to finish his healing. This was his last hurdle and he needed her to be strong for him, to help him through it. She was his mate and now part of this large family who liked to smile and hug a lot. So far she had been accepted by three of his siblings and from the way they spoke, the remainder of the Alexander clan were waiting to accept her too. If that meant she had to suffer tactile contact then she could cope with it, to help her wolf find true peace. She gave Aaron a small smile, barely a lifting of the corner of her mouth. Despite his laughter she could see some concern in his eyes about how she would react to his other family members. She admired him for his caution. She had come to respect this brother of Dayton's having watched him for many years around the compound as he'd worked to build the pack into what it now was. He was a male of integrity, even she could see that. "I will be gentle with your mother," she promised lightly. "She sounds a lot like Ashleigh. She's very tactile too." Her tone was long-suffering but there was a faint trace of amusement in it. Aaron smiled back at her, his concern melting and something like pride glowing in his eyes. "We'll make a wolf out of you yet, Freya." "I'd rather die first," she drawled softly before turning away to hide her amusement as he burst out laughing. Yes, she could do this for Dayton. The Alexanders weren't too bad...for wolves. Connor bid farewell to his bother and sister and jumped into the first Jeep just as his phone rang again. Freya heard his muttered curse as she climbed into the passenger seat of the second one. "Ma, I told Willow to tell you not to call again! We're on our way..." She closed the door and turned to Dayton as he climbed in and started the engine. "Your family are overpowering, wolf. I expect you to make this up to me, big time!" Smoky heat danced in her mate's eyes as he leaned down and gave her a slow lingering kiss. "How does me licking every inch of your delectable skin before I slide deep inside you and ride you hard until you scream my name in bliss sound?" "Dayton!" Liquid heat immediately flooded her body at his husky words, images of the way he'd done just that the night before coming sharply to the fore. "You are so going to pay for that, wolf," she growled pushing away and facing forward as he laughed and heading out of the compound after his brother. Dayton couldn't help feeling happy as he headed towards the Hanlon compound. He was so damned proud of Freya and the way she was working hard to accept his family. He knew she was making this huge effort for him and he adored her for it. His earlier disquiet about facing his parents and remaining siblings was now just a small bubble of unease rather than the full on panic it had been earlier. He was starting to feel confident that it wasn't going to be as bad as he'd imagined. Even if it was he had his vampire beside him and he could face anything as long as he had her at his side. He stole glances at Freya as they drove in a companionable silence. She worried at her bottom lip from time to time and then she straightened her shoulders as if mentally talking to herself, convincing herself that she could do this. He knew she could, he had complete faith in her. One day she would have that same belief in herself and the Alexander family were going to teach her that in the only way they knew how. They were going to bully her into submission with all the love they had inside them. He was so lost in his internal musing that they were pulling into the Hanlon compound before he realised they'd covered the distance between the two packs. There was such a feeling of familiarity about being back. This was where he had lived with Faith, where he had grown up with his family and friends. There was a sense of coming home to a certain degree because it had been such an integral part of his life but it didn't feel like home any more, not like the Armand-Hanlon pack did. Connor pulled up outside the Alpha's house and Dayton came to a stop behind him. He'd parked level with a beautiful bronze statue of a wolf reaching for the moon and a sense of loss quickly flooded through him. He knew this was Brody's work, recognised the love and attention to detail of his brother's technique. He also knew this was the memorial that had been raised for the pack members lost all those years ago when the vampires had attacked. Silently he climbed out of the Jeep, barely aware of Freya automatically coming to his side as he stared at the wolf with its head raised to the sky. This was where David had died, where a whole family, bar one fragile young girl, had perished on a night so long ago when he had been continents away. This was where he had lost his second family, when he had been so lost himself, incapable of mourning what had once been so precious to him. His hand shook as he reached out and touched the wolf, silent tears falling down his face as he connected with the bronze. He bowed his head and closed his eyes, grief shuddering through his body. "Forgive me." "There is nothing to forgive," Jared Hanlon said quietly coming to stand on the other side of the man he had fought so hard to save half a century before. "Your presence here would not have changed a single thing, Dayton. They gave their lives to protect the pack and they did it with honour and bravery. Not one of them would ever want you to blame yourself for something that was out of your control." Dayton let the Alpha's word bring him some level of comfort but he knew that it would take some time to fully believe him. He wiped at his tears as he turned to face the man he held so much respect for. He met blue eyes that were a shade darker than his own. They were full of respect and relief and he felt a sense of closure wash over him as he regarded his old Alpha. This man had done so much for him over his life that he would never be able to fully repay him. "Thank you, Jared." Jared smiled widely reaching out to give him a huge bear hug and pound his back hard. "It's so good to have you back, Dayton. I could string Rafe up for stealing you from me but something tells me you fit better there than you would here now." He glanced at Freya and gave her a nod. He was used to the vampire being standoffish with him so didn't expect much from her by way of greeting. She tended to be rather curt when they met at the other compound. Still, he smiled at her because she was the godsend that had come along and brought Dayton back to them. She would always have his respect and gratitude for that. "Welcome to the Hanlon compound, Freya. I believe this is your first visit here. You have free passage to come and go as you please and our gratitude for sticking around for a few days just in case we have any unwelcome visitors." Freya slipped into Dayton's arms as the Alpha realised him from his bear hug. She had been at a loss at what to do as her mate had shed tears for those he had lost from this pack. She had hesitated to hold him in case it was the wrong thing to do with so many wolves in her peripheral vision. Jared Hanlon had known what to do, what to say to ease her mate's hurt and she was thankful for that. She nodded her head in his direction. "Thank you, Jared. I will try not to abuse your hospitality too much. No vampire will harm a Were in this compound while I am here." Her words came out sounding slightly stiff and formal but the look of outright shock which crossed the Alpha's face was instantly gratifying. Freya's lips quirked slightly as she took in his stunned expression at her civility. Maybe being 'nice' wasn't so bad after all. She could have just as much fun keeping the wolves on their toes by being reasonable than she could by snarling at them. A light pat on her backside had her attention turning to her mate who had raised an eyebrow in her direction. A Long Walk Home Ch. 20 "Play nice, vampire," he growled inside her head. She gave him a mock innocent look as her smile broadened slightly. Dayton's earlier grief was receding to be replaced by his playful side as his emotions dialled back down into something resembling normal. If she could keep distracting him by keeping him wondering what she was going to do next, then this visit would be a lot easier for both of them. A stunning dark haired woman had appeared at Jared's side and Freya turned back to face Millicent Cooper, Jared's mate. She'd only seen the other woman on one occasion in the past as she tended to stay close to the Hanlon Compound with her children when not in the city with Jared. "This is my mate, Millie," Jared introduced her. "Honey, this is Dayton and I think you've met Freya once before?" "I have." Millie smiled in Freya's direction. "It's nice to see you again." She turned stunning cobalt eyes on Dayton and her smile beamed even wider. "I'm so pleased to finally meet you. You are both welcome here anytime. Your mother and sister have been driving us insane the last few hours. Why don't you head over to your old place and say hello?" She frowned slightly as she looked around at the gathering of nosey wolves who were watching the homecoming of one they'd thought lost for so long. "I'm surprised they weren't here to greet you," she mused. "I warned them to give Day some time to meet with the Alphas before they descended upon him," Connor admitted. He had stood silently watching his brother's homecoming with a lump in his throat. He was still stunned that Dayton had returned to them and was diving into his Beta duties as a way to cope with it all. "You gave your mother a Beta command?" Jared laughed loudly. "You are so going to pay for that, Connor Alexander." Connor flushed red and stared down at his feet. "She wouldn't stop phoning me," he muttered in his defence. His Ma was going to have his hide whether or not he was Jared's number two. It was embarrassing to admit that it didn't matter how big he got or how high in the pack he ranked, his mother would still singe his ears if she felt her little boy had done wrong. Dayton knocked his knuckles against his brother's shoulder. "Don't worry Con; she'll be so overjoyed to have me home she'll probably let this one slide." His brother's hopeful expression had them all laughing with the exception of Freya who was relaxed enough but still a little overawed with the easy way the wolves teased each other while completely ignoring the hierarchy of the pack. It was just so different to the vampire hierarchy it was hard to comprehend at times. "Time to meet the rest of the clan," Dayton smiled down at her, hugging her tightly and pulling her through the assembled wolves towards a two storey wooden cabin at the far end of the compound. It was clear the building was set quite deep into its surroundings. As the Alexander family were so numerous it only stood to reason they would have required a place of their own with enough rooms to raise six boisterous children. Freya felt her heart flip over as they neared the building, only the sharp intake of breath from Dayton forcing her to relax. She felt excitement as well as trepidation running through their mate bond so she did her best to soothe him. The door suddenly flew open and a blonde woman with shoulder length curls flew down the three steps and launched herself into Dayton's arms. He'd barely enough time to release Freya before he caught the other woman and braced himself so he didn't fall backwards. "You are in so much trouble," the woman ground out glaring over her shoulder at Connor who'd brought up the rear. "Ma is spitting nails, Con. You're going to hear about this for the next decade at least!" She gave him a gloating smile and then started kissing Dayton's face with much enthusiasm. "God, I've missed you so much, Day! I can't believe you haven't come over sooner. Ma can't make up her mind whether to be pissed at you or to cuddle you to death. She's been a complete nightmare! And why didn't you dye your grey bit? Do you want to look old? And how did you find a second mate? Is this going to be a new family tradition? Are all us Alexanders going to have to mate with vampires? Okay, I know Jen's a wolf but first Cedar and now you? I don't know if I want to have a vampire mate!" "Willow! Slow down, girl," Dayton laughed. His sister had managed to rattle off her litany with barely a breath between all her questions. Her natural exuberance was just as he remembered and he found himself immersing himself in her, luxuriating in all that was familiar. "Willow, let your brother go before your mother has heart failure," a deep male voice boomed from the doorway. Dayton reluctantly released his little sister as he turned his gaze to meet his father's. The happy smile gracing the older man's face was more than he could have hoped for. His greedy gaze took note of the wisps of new silver threading through his blond hair, the small lines of strain that had started to show on his father's still youthful face. There were those small signs of aging but apart from that Iain Alexander was still the strong, dominant male that Dayton remembered from his youth. His father had always been firm but fair with his children. He'd instilled in them all a deep sense of pack and loyalty and he had always been quick to laugh with his offspring. His eyes flitted to the tall blonde woman framed in the doorway at his father's side and he swallowed hard feeling so overcome with emotion as he met his mother's gaze. Pale blue eyes shone with tears as Charlotte Alexander stared at her second son, quickly cataloguing the changes which had occurred in her boy since the last time she'd seen him. He looked older, a bit leaner than she'd like but the awful lost expression was gone from his deep blue eyes. He looked uncertain, afraid to approach and that caused the tears she'd been holding in to overflow. "Dayton Alexander, I swear you'll be the death of me one of these days," she bit out gruffly. "I can't believe you doubted for one moment that we wouldn't welcome you home. I thought I'd taught you better than that!" Her words were haranguing but her voice trembled with emotion. Dayton swallowed hard again, the lump in his throat wedging tighter as he hurried forward to wrap his arms around her, hanging on so tightly he was afraid he might accidentally hurt her. He felt his mother tremble against him and shame washed through his body. "You taught me just right, Ma," he whispered fighting hard not to cry at the pain he'd subjected her to. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." Charlotte stroked her hands through Dayton's hair, drinking in his scent, holding her son close as if her life depended on it. She'd given up all hope of ever having her boy back. She'd been forced to content herself with knowing that at least he lived where others had died when losing their mates. Now her baby was back and it didn't matter a damn that he was a grown man and a Beta. He would always be her boy no matter what. "I know, son," she whispered against his neck. "We all know that. Losing Faith was just unbearable for you. We understood that. We may have missed you while you were gone, Day, but you needed that space. I'm so goddamned proud of you for surviving, for holding on long enough that you could come back to us." Iain rested his hand on his son's shoulder, his free hand running soothingly down his mate's back. "We both are, Dayton," he said quietly. "If it had taken you another fifty years to come home we'd still be just as proud that you had the strength to come through something as terrible as losing Faith." Dayton stood in his parents' embrace, feeling the last of his regret die away under their unconditional love and support. He had lost fifty three years of his life with his family but he knew he had the future to look forward to and all because of the exquisite vampire who had brought him back to life. "I want you to meet Freya," he said quietly, turning his head to look over his shoulder. His mate was standing with her serene mask in place, watching his homecoming silently. He had no idea what she was thinking or feeling because their mate bond was so still and calm, echoing her expression. His mother slipped out of his embrace and walked down the steps to come to stand before Freya. "I'm Charlotte," she said quietly, her voice shaking slightly. "I really want to throw my arms around you, daughter, and welcome you into our family but I suspect you would find that a little overwhelming. Instead I will just say that we are honoured to have you join us. And I will never be able to repay you for saving my son's life and bringing such joy to him once more." Freya was almost eye level with Dayton's mother she was so tall. The wolf had such a regal bearing to her, her face so beautiful framed by wispy blonde hair like most of the Alexander family. She had been concerned when they had welcomed Dayton home. The emotion in their voices when they spoke of Faith made it plain they had loved her very much. She had suddenly felt apprehensive that they would look at her and find her lacking somehow. But Charlotte's eyes were so warm, her face still streaked with happy tears at having her son back. Her words held such emotion, sincerity ringing in every one of them. She had called her daughter. It had been so long since Freya had had a mother, thousand of years since someone had claimed her as their child. She was stunned to find herself yearning for that once again now that it was being offered by the woman before her. "Tactile contact is a new experience for me," she conceded quietly, "but one I am slowly becoming accustomed to. I would be honoured to accept an embrace from my mate's mother." "You are so going to regret that," Willow laughed loudly a second before Charlotte threw her arms enthusiastically around Freya. The vampire stiffened at the swiftness of the hug and then slowly relaxed allowing the wolf to have her way. She gave her a tentative squeeze back remembering she'd accidentally broken Connor's hand not so long ago. Instead of feeling uncomfortable, it felt quite soothing to be embraced by Charlotte. Freya caught Dayton's eyes over his mother's shoulder and she was rocked by the utter joy she witnessed on his face. Becoming part of his family meant so much to him. He already looked so much happier, so much more carefree now that he was with his family. She hummed with pleasure that this small thing she did was enough to make him happy. After all he had given her, it wasn't so hard for her to bend and accept his family into her life. She tightened her hold on Charlotte to reinforce her acceptance of the woman and then slowly released her gazing warily at the others. Where they all going to want to hug her too now? Iain laughed his arm still loosely around Dayton's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll ease you in slowly, Freya," he smiled. "Welcome to the family. We're lucky to have you. Oh, and I'm Iain by the way." "But you can just call them Ma and Da like we do," Willow added. "Willow!" Dayton growled softly worried about just how much his mate could take in the one go. The Alexanders were pretty full on with their openness. It wasn't a bad thing, but it was probably too much for Freya. "What?" she growled back. "I'm just trying to help Freya feel like part of the family. You're all going on about Faith without a thought to how that might make Freya feel. I only wanted her to know she's just as special to us as Faith was, even if we haven't really had a chance to get to know her yet." Dayton softened his tone walking down and gathering his sister close. "You're intentions are good but don't get carried away," he sighed. "Freya needs time to learn how to cope with all of us and she knows just how much I love her. She is not threatened by memories of Faith, not mine or our family's." He was so confident when he spoke that Freya felt the last of her worries about joining this family melt away. Dayton loved her and admitted it freely for everyone to hear. Yes, his family had memories of his first mate which they cherished but they were welcoming her to make new memories with them. And Willow had defended her even though she didn't even know her. That was quite staggering. She had never felt so accepted before by total strangers. "I don't want to cause any family discord," she finally said causing Charlotte to laugh. "This isn't family discord, darling," Connor drawled. "This is typical Alexander family life." "Sorry I'm late!" another hulking blond wolf called drawing Freya's attention as he hurried up to them. It was easy to see he was an Alexander. He had the same gorgeous good looks, though his face had a slightly more serious edge to it, as if he was a deep thinker despite the obvious happiness glowing in his cerulean blue eyes. In his right hand he had a carefully wrapped box and with the other he grabbed Dayton around the neck and planted a kiss on his head. "Good to have you home, big bro," he said solemnly. He smiled at Freya. "I'm Brody." Dayton shrugged off his hand and gave him a mock glare rubbing at his hair as he did so. "I can't believe you kissed me! That is just so wrong, Brody. I thought you would have grown out of that bad habit after all these years." It was a long standing joke between them. His brother had always kissed the top of his head since he was a little, knowing it irritated Dayton so much. Brody just grinned unabashed. "Just don't knock knuckles with the vampire, Brody. She broke my hand when I did it." Connor called out and Freya felt herself start to flush scarlet, waiting for some form of condemnation to come from the family surrounding her. Charlotte clipped the back of Connor's head gently but hard enough to make him grumble "Ouch!" "Good for Freya," she laughed. "About time someone put him in his place. You and I have a conversation coming up in the near future, my boy. Ordering your mother around!" They all laughed at the irritated glare on Connor's face, Brody smiling reassuringly at Freya. "I'm the nice brother, just so you know," he grinned. His expression turned serious as his gaze swept over Dayton for a long moment and then turned back to her. "I was late because I was making a present for you," he said quietly. "It's for both of you, kind of like a mating present but I want to give it to you, Freya. When we learned Dayton was coming back to us we all got together and tried to think of something to gift to you, for bringing him home. We came up with this and I didn't have a lot of time but I worked day and night on it so it would be ready for when you came to visit. I hope you like it." He held out the gift wrapped box to her. Freya stared at the box in complete shock, her heart starting to thump hard in her chest and a lump suddenly lodging deep in her throat. They were giving her a gift? She couldn't remember the last time anyone had gone out of their way to buy something for her, let alone to make something with their own hands. She didn't know what to do, what to say. She was suddenly terrified that she was going to disgrace herself and shame Dayton somehow by not acting appropriately for the situation. "Take it, honey," Dayton smiled gently, his hand touching her back with soothing little strokes. He didn't know what was in the box but he knew it was a sculpture of some kind because that was where Brody's talents lay. He had a lump in his throat and he could feel his vampire struggling to contain her own emotions. Tentatively Freya reached for the box, slowly unwrapping the dark blue shiny paper. She lifted the lid and peered inside, a startled gasp escaping her involuntarily. Her hand almost trembled as she reached in and pulled out the pure silver figurine. It wasn't large, it could fit in the palm of her hand, but it was the most exquisite thing she had ever seen. The attention to detail was meticulous, the ethereal woman seated on a small platform, a large wolf curled around her with its head resting in her lap. It immediately made her think of her run with Dayton, sitting on the rock as he protected her in wolf form. "It's beautiful," she finally breathed, emotion making her voice husky as she fought to contain it. Her gaze rose to Brody to see him beaming with pleasure and then she became aware of the utter silence around her as she turned to look at the rest of the Alexander family who were smiling their welcome too. "Thank you." Dayton's arms wrapped around her giving her strength as she struggled with everything. He was as touched as she was, working on his own feelings even as his protective instincts kicked in. "Da, give us a moment. This is all still so new to her." His father nodded and began hustling the family into the house. Willow was chattering away, teasing Connor about the roasting he was going to get from their mother while Iain was beaming down at his mate, joy exuding from them both. Brody was the last to enter after laying a hand on Dayton's shoulder and giving it a squeeze. "I know it's overwhelming, honey. I'm so proud of you," Dayton whispered in Freya's ear as he held back slightly and dropped a kiss on the side of her neck. She moaned softly and leaned into his touch, luxuriating in the one pair of arms she didn't object to having around her. She swallowed hard, found her composure and shot him a mock irritated glare. "If I have to call your parents Ma and Da I swear I will beat you senseless," she laughed softly. He knew she wasn't serious by the way she melted against him and the way she cradled the figurine so carefully between their bodies. "Only if you want to, my love," he breathed capturing her lips and kissing her soundly, not caring who may be watching and there were a fair few wolves still hanging around to ogle the miracle of a wolf finding a second mate. Freya surrendered herself to his kiss. Dayton's love made her feel free, his kisses set her on fire, and his family were probably going to drive her insane. But she wouldn't change anything for the world. She had finally found where she belonged and it was with an outrageously sexy wolf and his exuberant, loving family. One year later... Dayton woke up reaching out for his mate and finding the bed empty. It was the dead of night, total darkness surrounding him but his wolf vision enabled him to easily discern the room and the basinet beside the bed. He knew it was empty and his heart automatically turned over with fear as he rose quickly and grabbed his black silk robe. He knew it was silly to be frightened but he'd never dreamt someone could become so precious to him in so short a space of time. He silently padded from the room on bare feet, seeking out his woman and his child. Freya would never allow any harm to come to their daughter. His fear was unnecessary but it wouldn't leave him until he found them and satisfied himself they were safe. He could hear the quiet murmur of Freya's voice from outside and he frowned slightly as he headed to the open door. She'd taken the baby outside? They were at their retreat not in the heart of the pack. So what if there were probably about six Praetorians less than a mile away and discreet camera surveillance blanketing the area. It didn't mean they could be complacent, take unnecessary risks. He would be having words with his vampire about this. He would make it abundantly clear that their daughter was not to be placed in jeopardy in any way. He could feel a low growl starting to reverberate in his chest and he pushed it down as he tried to contain his anxiety. The harsh words on his lips melted away as he stopped in the doorway and stared at his mate. She was sitting on the porch in her deep green robe, their child balanced safely along her outstretched arms which rested on her bent knees. Her hands supported the baby's head gently, her voice soft as it whispered over the babe. A Long Walk Home Ch. 20 Freya's position reminded him of a time so long ago, when he'd had no clue she'd belonged to him but had been compelled to save her. It wasn't that memory which halted his angry words; it was the expression on her face as she gazed down at their child. The sheer wonder, the total adoration he witnessed on her face made his heart skip a beat and a wealth of love bubble up inside him. She had come a long way in the last year, was almost unrecognisable to the woman he'd first met. She would always be Freya, would always have her moments when she struggled to contain her more feral instincts. But she was adapting, integrating with the pack and motherhood was coming easy to her despite her initial fear of failing. Dayton rested against the doorframe watching his family in the stillness of the night. He stood as silently as possible listening to Freya talk to their daughter. "Do you feel the breeze, little one?" she whispered softly. "Can you scent the night air and see the sparkling stars? This is your world now, your home where you will always be safe from harm." She leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead; her smile beatific as a little hand grabbed a lock of multi-coloured hair and held on. "You have so many guardians, so many protectors who will keep you safe, my daughter. I would die for you in a heartbeat as would your father. Your Uncle Nors will slay a thousand enemies to protect you; your pack will stand at your side through anything." She laughed softly as the baby gurgled up at her and tugged at her hair. "Your grandmother will hug you a lot," she added in a slightly disgruntled tone. "You will need to endure that for your father's sake. It makes him happy and when he's happy we are happy." She sighed and kissed her again, changing her hold to cradle the babe in her arms. "You have cousins just like you. They will protect you because you're the youngest. They will most likely underestimate you, daughter mine, but we both know you will be strong and resilient. You will need to be especially protective of your cousin Liam. He has a gentle soul, is so empathic that I fear for him sometimes. You have a blood bond with him. You will keep him safe." A slow smile crossed Freya's face as she stroked her daughter's cheek gently. "You father will be overprotective to a fault. You will need to forgive him that, it is a wolf thing. He won't be able to help himself." A soft laugh rumbled from Dayton's chest as he pushed off the doorframe and walked the handful of steps to sit down beside them. His big hand gently brushed his daughter's head. "You've known I was there the whole time, haven't you?" Freya smiled and leaned against him as his arm wrapped around them. "I knew the instant you woke up just as I know that to the east of us there are three vampires and an additional three to the west. There's two behind the house and one about a mile directly ahead of us. I think that's a bit of overkill personally. I am slightly insulted the Praetorians don't believe we can protect our own child adequately." He laughed and kissed the top of her head, hearing the subtle rebuke in her tone even as her love washed over him through their mating bond. Of course she'd known exactly who was where and how safe it was to introduce their daughter to the forest and the night. "Your mother is right, Elina. Your father does suffer from over protectiveness. An annoying trait but at least he isn't mapping your entire life out for you before you are even a month old." His tone was light and teasing but he still earned a glare from his mate. She snorted in irritation. "You have witnessed the lunacy of my fellow male Ancients. They treat their sons as males and their daughters as fragile, breakable things. I will not allow that for my daughter. She will know her own worth and be confident in her abilities." "I would never dream of treating my only child as the centre of my universe, sweet love," he teased her gently. He understood the fierceness behind her words. Andrei and to a lesser extent Alexei were treating their female offspring as being fragile. It was a mistake and he envisioned the trouble it would cause in the future as they grew up. Freya had been most vocal about it and had had numerous arguments with them over it. Andrei had been refusing to speak to her for nearly three months now after she'd called him an 'insecure, snivelling excuse for a vampire who was so scared of his own shadow he was a disgrace to their nation.' Or something along those lines, he couldn't remember the exact phrasing. It had been a tense moment requiring Rafe to step between them when it looked like they were about to fight it out. He'd diffused the situation and warned Freya to keep her personal views to herself. Thankfully for once his mate had heeded their Alpha and backed down. Discovering she was pregnant had distracted her enough that she'd decided to ignore the other Ancient from that point onwards. "Have you finished reassuring our daughter, vampire?" he asked after a short silence. "The air is growing cooler and she's almost asleep again. Come back to bed, love. We promised Rafe we would return to the pack before Elina's first month had passed. It's time to go home." Freya sighed and rose gracefully. She had desired the first month of her child's life away from the pack, to be alone with Dayton and their daughter at the retreat. Pack life was easier but she'd been worried that she might not be a good mother and hadn't wanted an audience if she'd failed at it spectacularly. Loving Elina had turned out to be as natural as loving her mate. She was confident she could hold her head up high when they returned to the pack, that she could be a good mother as well as a good pack Beta. Her Alpha hadn't wanted them to be outside the pack's main protection but he'd acceded to her request. It was her turn to prove his trust in her. She smiled up at Dayton and passed him their daughter to carry inside. She followed him but hesitated as she closed the door, staring deeply into the forest. A year ago she had first felt like she truly belonged, that she had found her way home. But it was this moment, as she prepared to join her mate in their bed, her child lying safe in her basinet beside them, which truly completed her sense of belonging. She was finally home. The End