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The Council Ch. 01

By: JazCullen



 Here were go again, back into my crazy world of vamps and weres :-)

Hope you like the opening instalment of the final part of this world. (And I'm stressing final here otherwise I'll still be sitting here in five year's time writing yet another sequel LOL!)

Many thanks to WorldHistoryBuff for sticking with me as editor as I tame these naughty twins :-)

And my thanks to the Guild for all their support and encouragement. 

*****

Loretta fluffed her shoulder length brown hair and sighed as she sat in her car watching the vampires go in and out of the seedy looking club. She really needed to get her hair cut. She couldn't remember the last time she'd worn it so long, usually preferring to have it a lot shorter. It made life a little easier when she shifted to wolf form, her fur more sleek and figure hugging.

She wasn't usually a girly girl, preferring to be more of a warrior; a hunter and protector. Her sleek, well-honed body was testament to that as was her position as Beta in the Hanlon pack. But ever since the night of the war last year she felt a little part of herself changing inside. She was letting her hair grow, paying more attention to how she dressed and moved. Christ, she'd even caught herself considering trying on some nail polish the other week.

She shuddered at the memory. Thankfully she had managed to restrain that girly impulse. She could just imagine the taunts she would have gotten from the other Betas if she'd shown up with bright red painted nails. Still, they probably would have looked pretty spectacular, almost as if she had talons which were dripping with blood. The image made her think of 'him' and her insides suddenly got all warm and tingly.

If there was a hard way or an easy way to do something, she always managed to select the hard way. She had been so close to death that night that it had taken her days to realise what meeting him signified. Only when she was back on her feet and getting around unaided did she finally realise just what had happened and just how screwed she really was.

Loretta sighed again and opened the car door, well toned, shapely legs rippling as her feet hit the sidewalk and she climbed out. She was here to see an asshole and it didn't look like he was coming out of the dive in front of her anytime soon. Which meant she had to go inside. 

Her wolf stirred deep inside her, excitement warring with trepidation at the thought of walking into the nest of vampires on her own. They could kill her in a heartbeat and there was a good chance they would. Her only hope was that the man she was here to see would be present and would stop anything bad happening to her. Or at least she hoped he would.

She slid her hands down the sides of her deep crimson mini dress, her lips quirking in a little smile at the brevity of it. Cedar said to go in with all guns blazing and then had taken her shopping to buy the item that was now clinging to her like a second skin. She might as well be walking in completely naked, the dress showed off her body so much. Now that would have been amusing, watching the shock on the vampires' faces as a naked Were walked into their territory.

Squaring her shoulders, Loretta leaned into the car and grabbed her matching purse before straightening and locking the door. She couldn't put it off. Jared needed to know what was going on and the only way they could find out was by asking the man she was here to see. Heels tapping loudly on the tarmac, she crossed the road quickly and entered the aptly named club The Dive.

Sharp eyes quickly took in the large open room, the dark secluded areas which would afford humans with little or no view but were easy to penetrate for a Were. There was a medium sized dance floor with a few swaying bodies on it but mostly the room was full of private leather clad booths. A quick scent told her there were maybe a handful of humans present in the room but the rest were vampires, who were suddenly turning to look at her as she strode quickly across the room towards the bar against the right wall. She knew they could instantly scent she was a Were and that they would not be happy with her presence in their domain.

The brief, fragile acceptance which had begun between their species almost two year ago had broken down pretty quickly after almost a hundred vampires died in the abortive attack on the Hanlon compound. Now they were back to where they started, the majority of vampires detesting all Weres and the pack ready to kill any vampire who was not a personal friend of theirs.

Loretta reached the bar and stared intently at the man behind it. The music had died and a silence hung over the room as she felt close to a hundred and fifty pairs of eyes boring into her back and one pair staring at her face as intently as she was staring at him. The bartender's beautiful face twisted into a grimace of disgust as his hazel eyes swept her with contempt. He hissed loudly into the silent, tense room.

"No dogs allowed," he growled loudly, hissing again when she hopped up onto one of the bar stools and rested her hands on top of the bar.

"Andrei hired you," Loretta countered, forcing an amused drawl into her husky voice. It was better to let the entire room know as quickly as possible that she knew their boss. It would halt any action on their part for a moment. She knew he was their boss even though vampires didn't run in packs and have Alphas the way Weres did. 

One meeting with the vampire all those months ago told her all she needed to know about him. He was a cold, ruthless killer with the most amazing smile and laughing brown eyes which he used as his best weapon to fool others into thinking he was harmless. Andrei Romanov was anything but harmless. He ruled these people in the room and he set Loretta's wolf on edge and her heart thumping with excitement. She'd always liked to live dangerously but Andrei was a step too far on the wild side even for her. That hadn't stopped her from volunteering to come here though.

Her mention of his name tamed the room slightly. Well, it brought a thoughtful expression on the bartender's face if nothing else. He leaned down and picked up a phone from underneath the bar. "There's an arrogant bitch in here who doesn't understand the concept of no dogs allowed," he said shortly, his tone full of anger. He listened quietly for a second and then looked at Loretta. "Name," he barked ominously.

Loretta's lips twitched slightly as she considered her response. He must have called Andrei. She tried not to show any sign of relief that he'd had the brains to do so. Maybe she wasn't about to die in the next couple of minutes after all. 

"Rose," she answered, her lips twitching further. She was playing a dangerous game, relying on the vampire to remember their last conversation. Maybe he had forgotten her completely, it had been almost a year ago and vampires were such a fickle people, swiftly moving on to the next thing that caught their attention without a second thought for what they were leaving behind.

The bartender hung up after listening quietly for another long moment. He turned and grabbed a bottle of red wine and two glasses, putting it down on the bar in front of her. His head jerked to the door to his left marked private. "You're to go down." His attention turned from her immediately, his eyes raking the room quickly as if silently conveying some message to his own kind.

The music suddenly started up again and Loretta breathed a sigh of relief as she grabbed the bottle and glasses and moved over to the indicated door. Andrei clearly must have remembered her. She felt a stirring of excitement inside her and tried to dampen it down as she pushed through the door and started making her way down the long flight of stairs before her. She was here on pack business, not personal business. She had to keep that firmly in mind.

Andrei Romanov leaned back in his chair, his keen ears listening to the heels tapping lightly on the stairs as the spicy scent of cinnamon drew closer. He tapped a long finger against his lips as he smiled slightly, his interest piqued as to why the little she wolf was entering his domain. She was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. He couldn't work out which one at the moment.

Not a lot surprised the elder vampire anymore but the woman approaching his office just had, for the second time. The first was the night of the war, when he had found her broken and close to death, still in wolf form at the time. He had gone to put her out of her misery but found himself unable to do so. It had been disconcerting to say the least and very out of character for him. 

Instead of killing the she wolf he had healed her with his blood, giving up a secret of his kind which was once closely guarded. Had she kept that secret or had she told her Alpha at the first possible opportunity? It was something he had always wondered about when she came to mind. Something which happened much too often for his liking. 

Still, he couldn't help smiling as he listened to her reach the door, a little shiver of excitement coursing through his body at the thought of seeing her again. The last time she had been covered in bruises, her feminine beauty hidden under the damage done to her body. He felt as if this would be the first time he was truly seeing her.

The office door opened and she stepped through, stopping in the doorway. His brown eyes quickly travelled over her body poured into the most delicious little red dress he had ever seen, his appreciation for her tempting womanly curves causing his blood to heat slightly. Damn, she was surprising him again, or rather; his reaction to her was surprising him again. 

She looked hot, there was no denying that. Her breasts were pleasantly firm and rounded, the plunging vee of her neckline showing ample creamy white flesh. Her small waist was pinched tight in the dress, her hips flaring out as the tight material clung to her like a second skin before ending mid- thigh showing off her strong, sleek legs. She wasn't a tall woman, maybe five feet three or four but in her red patent leather heels her legs looked so much longer, her calves so graceful. 

His eyes travelled back up her body to her face and he actually struggled to keep his expression carefully neutral. She'd let her hair grow out. The thick brown locks rested just on the top of her shoulders in silky waves. It really suited her, softening her slightly sharp features which couldn't really be termed as beautiful in a classical way but were exceedingly attractive despite that. He smiled as he watched her silently, seeing her deep brown eyes sizing him up just as intently as he was her.

Loretta was so still because she quite literally found herself unable to move. Andrei Romanov was even more beautiful than she remembered from their first meeting. Granted she had been in a considerable amount of pain and close to death at the time, but even still, she had registered his inhuman beauty despite that. Her memory had obviously been clouded with the pain because it didn't do him justice though.

His long, light brown hair was loose around his shoulder, his brown eyes intent as they travelled over her body very slowly and actually caused a stirring of liquid heat inside her which she fought down before she started scenting up the room in a very embarrassing way. Her gaze slowly roamed over his strong, hard face, taking in the strong brow, high chiselled cheekbones, hard, granite jaw and soft, slightly curved lips. The vampire was a walking advertisement for all things that were alpha male; hot, sexy and extremely dangerous.

His big body was huge even sitting down. She knew he was around six feet tall and so strong he could snap her neck with barely any force required. His wide shoulders and arms made his white, silk shirt bulge slightly, the soft material at odds with the hardness of his physique. 

Her gaze didn't get much further than that because he remained seated but her memory of him knew she wouldn't be disappointed in the rest of his amazing body. She could still remember how it felt to be draped over his hard, muscled thighs, of how he moved with such grace and speed as he'd carried her almost tenderly in his embrace that night.

Loretta met his eyes when he travelled back to her face, seeing a hint of amusement in them. They were his secret weapon, able to lull his enemies into a false sense of security before he took them apart. Andrei Romanov may be the most beautiful man to walk the planet but Loretta Simpson wasn't the most stupid woman to, she knew exactly what he was. Her eyes stayed locked on his for a fraction of a second longer and then she clinked the glasses in her hand and moved into the room.

"Hey asshole," she drawled smoothly, her lips twitching in a little smile as his widened even as one of his eyebrows quirked up at her greeting.

"Hey Rose," he answered, finding her irreverence strangely refreshing. He wasn't used to blatant disrespect. In truth, he'd be tempted to kill anyone foolish enough to address him as she had just done, but the little she wolf somehow managed to get away with it without sparking his ire. "You look much improved on our last meeting."

She set the glasses and bottle of wine down on the desk in front of him, coolly opening the bottle and pouring out two healthy glasses before she responded. "Vamp blood sure tastes like shit but it does wonders for a girl's complexion," she retorted with a little laugh, taking her glass of wine and sitting calmly down in the leather chair before him. She tipped her glass in his direction before taking a sip from it.

Andrei threw his head back and laughed loudly at her sass. Yes, she really was quite refreshing, as long as she didn't let it go to her head too much.

Loretta watched him with bated breath. She had thought long and hard on how to approach him on the way over. She had sensed that he responded to strong personalities on their first meeting. She tried to measure her inner strength whilst trying to appeal to his baser side with the skimpy dress. That she had also managed to appeal to his sense of humour was a bonus. She would live a little longer, maybe long enough to find out what she needed to know and make it back to the pack.

His laughter trailed off as he picked up his glass of wine and tipped it in her direction. "I'd say you had balls, Loretta, but that wouldn't be anatomically correct," he smiled softly. He took a healthy slug of his drink, enjoying the deep, full bloodied wine as it slid down his throat. His mouth watered slightly as his eyes dropped to the pulsing beat at the side of her neck. Her blood would taste so much better than the wine he was drinking. 

He stiffened imperceptively at the errant thought. He had tasted her blood before when he had healed her back, his tongue lapping up her bright red succulent essence as he'd waited for her to heal. He knew what she tasted like, had remembered the sweetness of her taste many a night since then, almost craved it. But he could never taste her again and he knew it. If he ever bit into her tender skin he would kill her instantly. He couldn't stop his venom from releasing the moment he bit, it was a physical impossibility and vampire venom was instantly lethal to a Were. 

"As much as I find your wit mildly amusing, I assume you are not here for a social call?" he finally said, dragging his eyes away from her neck and meeting her gaze head on. She looked wary, most probably having worked out just where his thoughts had been going just then. He liked seeing her knocked off balance. It appealed to the predator in him and let him see that she wasn't nearly as confident as her arrogant entrance implied.

"My Alpha needs to know what's happening with The Council," she said quietly, a thumb lazily stroking over the bowl of her wine glass as she kept her gaze locked with his. She watched him frown, a flash of irritation appear in his eyes along with something else. Wariness? Did he have something to hide? Something pertinent to the pack's survival? She instantly became more alert, searching his beautiful face for some answers but finding none as he closed down his expression expertly, a blank mask settling over his features.

"And you came to me why?" Andrei's voice was cold and hard, his eyes narrowing intently. Had Caleb told the Alpha? If the other vampire had he was going to have to do something, find a way to counter his interference. He couldn't allow the Ancient to run around telling all his secrets, especially to non-Vampires. He didn't think Caleb would have said anything. He had said he didn't want to be involved in Council politics. Maybe he was reading more into the she wolf's words than were really there?

Loretta wasn't unaware of the sudden tension in the room or the way Andrei's big body was suddenly coiled tightly as if ready to spring. She wondered what she had said that had suddenly sent him into such a feral state. She couldn't counter the slight shiver of trepidation which coursed through her body. She had to be very careful with what she said next or they might be her last words.

"You're the only one available to ask," she said carefully. "Caleb and Annie are in Europe. No one knows where Demetri whisked Mara off to but they are definitely out of the country. We know your brother is too and has been for months now. So that just leaves you, Andrei." She let out a slow breath when she saw him relax, his hard expression melting slightly and a hint of amusement coming back into his eyes.

Andrei willed his anger to subside, scenting her fear and not liking the acrid scent it gave off. It interfered with her wonderful spicy scent of hot cinnamon which he particularly enjoyed. Her explanation seemed plausible enough. If the other vampires weren't around and the pack really were concerned about what was happening in the Council, they would send a representative to him if he were the only 'friendly' vampire available. 

"Why you?" he asked curiously taking another drink of wine as he relaxed more fully. He watched a slight flush of colour tinge her cheeks as she twisted slightly in her chair.

"I volunteered," she answered after a short pause, taking a little Dutch courage from her glass before speaking. "It seemed imprudent for the Alpha to come himself given the uncertainty of our welcome, plus his mate has recently given birth and he doesn't like to be away from her. A Beta seemed the logical choice to send."

He watched her silently for another long moment. "Why you?" he growled softly, repeating his question and smiling slightly when she flushed with colour again. She really did look cute when she was all flustered and knocked off balance. He was enjoying her discomfort immensely.

Loretta sighed and met his gaze, knowing he wasn't going to give her any information until she answered what he wanted to know. "I argued that there was less of a possibility of you killing me than any of the others," she admitted truthfully. "You had your opportunity to do so and didn't take it. I figured that gave me a fighting chance of walking out of here alive."

Her honesty surprised him. He wouldn't have harmed any other member of the pack if they'd come but she wasn't to know that. He had no need to harm them, not unless they attempted to hurt him in some way. While he had no great love for the dogs, they were under Ancient protection; at least until the Council came to a decision on what, if any, retribution was to be inflicted because of the war.

Her bravery amused him and he felt a little flicker of pride in her which surprised him. She constantly surprised him, engaging him on so many different levels. The little she wolf intrigued him greatly as did his own reaction to her. He was finding this meeting with her was more than he had imagined their next meeting would be. 


The Council Ch. 01



He smiled slowly, standing up and picking up the bottle of wine. He rounded the desk, interested to see how she would react to his nearness as he poured some more wine into her glass. His smile widened as he detected the increase in her heart rate, her hand shaking ever so slightly as she held the glass as steady as she could. He perched on the side of the desk, looming over her. "You seem a little nervous, Loretta. Something bothering you?"

Loretta's wolf howled loudly as she unconsciously tried to shift away from his big body. He was so close to her she could feel his body heat and it was setting up little sparks of electricity in her body, making her wolf ecstatic but making her human side very uncomfortable. The smug smile on his face told her he knew exactly what he was doing, that he was deliberately playing with her.

She felt her anger spark and tried to tamp it down. Losing her temper with him wasn't the way to go. It would give him the upper hand; make him feel superior, that he had won some kind of battle. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

Setting her glass down, she stood slowly, bending forward enough that she knew her cleavage would be amply displayed to his intent gaze. She smiled as she watched his eyes narrow sharply and heard his breath suck in hard. She took one tiny step which brought her almost toe to toe with him. Even sitting on the edge of the desk she still had to look up at him. His size was impressive. "Nothing bothering me, Andrei," she sighed softly. "You?"

Their eyes locked for a long moment, both of them rooted to the spot as they both issued challenges and waited for the other to back down. The silence in the room suddenly seemed very heavy, only broken by the soft sounds of their breaths rasping out way too fast.

Andrei struggled to hold himself in check as the little she wolf challenged him so blatantly, her head tilted defiantly to the side. She was so close to him, her sweet scent teasing his nostrils, her body heat like a blazing furnace as she stood so close. His body hardened in an instant, lust spiralling sharply inside him. He stifled down a deep groan, his nostrils flaring as he watched her eyes darken to almost black and scented the wonderful musky scent of her body answering his. 

This was so incredibly stupid. They both should know better. He was a vampire and she was a Were. An impossible combination and yet he found himself moving almost as if he had no control over himself. "Stupid little bitch," he growled a second before his large hand wrapped around the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to his.

Loretta whimpered softly as Andrei's mouth took hers in a kiss so devastating she felt her knees tremble the instant his mouth slanted over hers. Her wolf shrieked her joy as his hot mouth lazily nudged hers, his tongue licking slowly along her bottom lip before pressing for entry. She sighed and parted her lips, allowing him to ravish her mouth with bold, hard strokes of his tongue, meeting him half way so she could taste him as thoroughly as he was tasting her. This was so wrong. She shouldn't be allowing this to happen but all rational thought was leaving her mind as his hands moved and began to slowly stroke down her bare back with a surprisingly gentle touch.

She moaned and moved closer to him, pressing her swollen breasts against his hard chest as his hands reached the curve of her ass and he pulled her lower body towards him, spreading his legs so he could fit her between them. Her moan turned into two as his mouth continued to devastate hers as her body connected with the unmistakably hard ridge of his erection which he ground against her stomach with a deep growl.

Andrei felt as if he was going up in flames. Her sweet taste was intoxicating, the feel of her soft curves pressing against his aching hardness enough to make his body tremble with desire. He shouldn't be kissing her, touching her soft skin, pressing his raging cock hard against her sexy body but he was doing all of that and wanted to do so much more.

If he didn't get some kind of control he was going to bend her over his desk and fuck the living daylights out of her. The thought shocked him even as it made him groan loudly and grind his mouth harder against hers. Just the erotic image of Loretta's legs spread wide, her ass in the air as he slid between her thighs and rammed his thick length into her soaking wet pussy was enough to make him almost explode.

He had to stop. One of them had to stop before this insatiable hunger got out of hand and someone got hurt. More accurately before she got hurt. What if he lost all control as he felt dangerously close to doing already? What if he accidentally bit her in the throes of passion? He didn't need to bite, to feed whilst laying with a woman but he liked to and was in the habit of indulging himself. He would kill her if he did so and he didn't want that to happen.

With a muffled growl he ripped his mouth from hers, pushing her away swiftly, keeping a tight grip on her upper arms as she stumbled slightly at the speed at which he separated their bodies. When he was sure she was steady on her feet he dropped his hands and raked one of them through his tousled hair, his breathing harsh and ragged as he regarded her disappointed face.

"Do you have a death wish?" he ground out angrily, moving back behind the desk as he fought to get his breathing under control and recover his equilibrium.

Loretta watched him, her heart pounding erratically, her wolf howling her disappointment that he was withdrawing from them. Shock rocked through her body in deep waves. She wasn't shocked because she had responded to him. No, she was shocked at the intensity of her response, at how quickly she had forgotten all about her personal safety when his lips had touched hers.

Staring at Andrei's rigid back she took a deep breath and picked up her glass of wine, draining it quickly to steady her nerves. The situation was impossible and she couldn't deny that. The angry vampire before her was her mate. Her wolf had taken one look at him and declared he was hers. 

The combination of a vampire/were mating was just too dangerous. Her wolf wouldn't listen to her though. She had claimed him and nothing was going to satisfy her until they joined together, however they were going to manage that little problem.

Andrei finally turned around, his expression carefully neutral as he looked at her briefly before sitting down behind the desk. "The Council has not reached a decision yet," he said as if they hadn't just been practically ready to rip each others clothes off a matter of moments ago. 

"Very soon there will be a change in the vampire hierarchy; a new Council will be sitting. The consensus has been reached that the outgoing Council erred in its judgement of not getting involved when Graves' aggression towards the pack became obvious. The Council Elect has been in training for the last half a decade. They have considerable power now that the rotation is so close to happening, it is only a week away. They have come to the decision that the outgoing Council does not have the right to make a judgement therefore it is postponed until the new Council has time to investigate the matter."

Loretta's mouth dropped open in surprise. His honesty was staggering. He was telling her valuable information about how the hierarchy of his people worked, knowledge that no Were had ever been privy to before. Her Alpha would be very interested in this news. This was the second time he had let slip something his people wanted to be kept secret from all Weres. "You appear to know a lot about it, Andrei. Is there a reason for that?"

She watched his eyes narrow and expelled a deep breath. Her instincts were still sharp even if he did turn her knees to mush with one kiss. He had told her so much more than he probably wanted to with that one slight narrowing of his eyes. Andrei Romanov was part of the Council Elect. She was certain of it and she was certain that her knowledge was shining in her eyes as he watched her intently, his expression hardening.

"Did you keep my secret, little wolf?" he suddenly growled softly and she took another deep breath before she shook her head in the negative and watched his lips firm into a tight line, anger clouding his deep brown eyes.

"Did you really expect me to?" she countered softly wishing she hadn't finished her wine so she could settle her nerves a little more as the atmosphere in the room dropped a couple of very chilly degrees as his displeasure sunk into her very soul. 

"Do you think because you healed me that I would betray my pack, Andrei? Jared needed to know. I am his Beta and it was my place to inform him of any little titbit that can protect his pack from your kind."

Andrei pushed his anger down reaching for his glass and then changing his mind, pushing it across the desk towards the she wolf before him. He stood up again and crossed the room, heading for a hidden compartment behind a wooden wall panel, taking out the bottle of cold blood and pouring himself a generous glass to soothe his desire to taste her blood. He drank deeply, poured a refill and carried it over to the desk again, watching Loretta drink from him glass.

He wanted to growl as her lips caressed the glass where his own mouth had been not so long before. It was almost as if she were kissing him again. He sat back down and drank some more blood, his eyes fixed to hers as she watched him, knowing what he was drinking. It didn't appear to bother her and he felt his lips quirk in a little smile. She really was a brave little thing. Didn't have the sense she was born with but brave none the less.

"You got what you came for, Loretta," he finally said, suddenly wanting her gone from his presence. If she stayed any longer he didn't know what he'd do next, what other secrets he would unwittingly tell the little she devil. She seemed to have a way of slipping under his guard and loosening his tongue. "You have all my secrets now. Run along to your boss and fill him in on all the juicy details. I'm sure he'll find them riveting."

It was clearly a dismissal, his tone bored, his expression remote. Loretta couldn't help feeling disappointed but she knew he was right. She had come here on pack business and she was leaving with the knowledge she had come to collect. She rose slowly, smoothing down her skirt as she stood. "What will the Council Elect's decision be?" she asked, her tone brisk and to the point. She could be as detached as he was.

Andrei snorted loudly, shaking his head at her sass even as he smiled in approval. God she was a complete pain in the ass but a very sexy, delectable one. He considered her question, his eyes raking over her body slowly as he came to his decision on just how much he was willing to give away. "You would stand with the pack if the decision went against them?" he asked even though he knew her answer. She didn't speak but she did nod her head, drawing a weary sigh from him.

"Then you know what the Council Elect's decision will be, don't you, Loretta?"

She stared at him with a puzzled expression on her face, her eyes questioning him. Sighing loudly Andrei stood once more, moving back around the desk and pulling her hard against his body. His head dipped to her neck, inhaling deeply at her wonderful scent, his tongue snaking out to run lightly along her fragile skin as she trembled slightly. He knew he shouldn't be getting so close to her again but he couldn't help himself.

He raised his head and their eyes met and he saw hers widen slightly in surprise as he allowed her to see past his guard. "Does that answer your question?" he asked quietly, his gaze trapping hers as his hands ran down her back as if he couldn't prevent them from doing so.

Loretta swallowed hard wondering if she was getting the right message from him, needing to hear the words but knowing he would never say them. Andrei Romanov would never admit out loud that he would protect a pack of Weres because he was attracted to one of them. She finally nodded her head slowly, unable to find her voice with him being so close to her.

"I believe this meeting is now concluded." He arched a perfect eyebrow at her as he spoke, releasing her as abruptly as he'd gathered her into his arms, resting back against the desk and folding his arms.

Loretta picked up her purse and licked her lips slowly. Her heart was thundering loudly in her chest, her wolf prowling in agitation as she prepared to separate from her mate. She couldn't stay no matter how much she wanted to. She couldn't be with him and she knew it even if her wolf wasn't happy with the turn of events. 

Her mind was whirling at what he hadn't said in words but so clearly intimated with his actions. As long as she stood with the pack, he would ensure that no decision would go against them. He would have been as well as acknowledging verbally that her interest in him was returned with as much fervour by him. But she knew he wouldn't utter the actual words. Not Andrei Romanov, cold bloodied vampire. He would never verbalise anything that would make him appear vulnerable in any way.

"Thank you, Andrei," she said quietly, looking up at his hard face, so very tempted to press her body against his again and see if he would have the strength to push her away for a third time. She smothered down a deep sigh. She was a fool to even think it. She would be playing Russian Roulette with her life again. It was so very tempting though even if it was incredibly stupid.

Andrei growled loudly, seeing the conflicted emotions crossing her face, knowing exactly how she felt because his rigidly crossed arms were the only thing that was stopping him from doing all those delicious things he had been imaging doing to her. If she didn't leave right now he was going to lose all control and give into the insatiable need she created inside him. "Go now!" he hissed quietly, his eyes burning with fire as he struggled to keep his more feral side under control.

His sudden feral expression made her heart lurch wildly in her chest, her wolf growling loudly inside her, her breath quickening and her eyes darkening as she reacted to the wildness within him. "Wrong move," she growled softly dropping her purse to the floor and giving in to the need to feel his hardness pressing against her once more. Her body arched against his as his breath hissed out loudly and his arms came around her in a crushingly tight grip. 

He held her tightly, stilling all her body movements, trying desperately to halt her aggression so it didn't fire his any further. "Stop," he hissed, a deep guttural groan escaping him as she twisted in his arms, rubbing against his straining cock. He caught a glimpse of wildness in her eyes, her wolf close to the surface. 

That explained why his hold was not having the desired effect. He had never had to restrain a Were before. He had no reference of how much strength to use. She wriggled against him again and he was completely lost, his head descending to capture her mouth in a hard desperate kiss. God she tasted better than the first time he had kissed her, sweeter, more intoxicating. The hot musky scent of her arousal filled the office and made his body twitch hard with lust.

She uttered a soft breathy moan and the combination of her soft curves, sweet scent and husky sighs drove all rational thought from his mind. Only one thought remained, how he was going to fuck her senseless until she screamed his name in ecstasy.

"Andrei, rip the dress and you're going to regret it," Loretta growled against his lips as his hands tugged hard at the material separating her body from his. Her words stilled his movements and he raised his head to look down at her, his eyes glittering wildly.

"Fuck the dress," he hissed reaching for the fragile straps to snap them from her body. She seriously wanted self control from him, after pushing him to the end of his endurance?

"I'm not going home naked," she laughed softly, her hands catching his wrists and applying a firm pressure as she stepped back and quickly tugged the zipper down, letting the material pool at her feet leaving her standing in only her heels and a red lacy thong.

Andrei's breathed sucked in deeply as his wild eyes travelled quickly over her creamy white skin, fastening on her firm, round breasts with their soft pink tips hardening already in the cool air. "Come here," he growled softly, a frown darkening his face as he saw her smile slowly and shake her head at him.

He glared at her in confusion. What the fuck was the little she devil up to now? She wanted this as much as he did, he could scent it on her delectable body. Christ, she had pushed him and pushed him until she finally got what she wanted. Now she was saying no after stripping off half naked in front of him?

Loretta struggled not to laugh at his frustrated expression. He had obviously never been with a wolf before, didn't understand that the wildness inside her craved that he had to be strong enough, fast enough, and dominant enough to take her. Her wolf demanded nothing less. If he wanted her he was going to have to work for it. 

"You have a lot to learn about Weres, Andrei," she sighed softly taking another step backwards, running her hands slowly down her hips. "We're not insipid little human females. We don't fall to our knees in gratitude that a man deigns to share our passion. If you really want me, then you have to prove you're capable of taking me."

The predator in Andrei sparked, his lips curling into a chilling little smile as his eyes flashed with excitement. "You want me to play chase?" he growled softly. "That seems a little unfair on you, Loretta. You know I'm faster than you, stronger than you. You know I'm going to win so why bother with all the needless time wasting?"

"Who says it's needless," she laughed huskily kicking off her shoes and shifting instantly, surprising a startled hiss from the beautiful vampire in front of her. His surprise lasted barely a fraction of a second before he came at her with a feral laugh issuing from his chest in a deep rumble.

Loretta growled and streaked away to the right, nimbly circling the desk and putting it between them. She watched Andrei's head turn lazily to the side, his eyes tracking her as his hands began unbuttoning his silk shirt , sliding it effortlessly from his broad shoulders.

Two things registered in Loretta's mind. The first was how rock hard his chest was, all rippling muscles which promised strength and the ability to defend her if the need ever arose. The second was the fierce excitement on his face which told her he was enjoying the chase, that she could expect to be overcome and forced into submission when he caught her. Both had her wolf rumbling her approval. Any thoughts that she shouldn't be doing this were completely forgotten. Her lust was in control, her need to be with her mate completely dominating everything else.

She expected him to come at her again but instead he turned away, unbuckling the belt of his jeans as he crossed to the office door and slid the lock home. He stripped completely naked, standing before her without a hint of self-consciousness as he let her eyes peruse his body slowly. 

God he was amazing. All hard muscles everywhere, his impressive cock standing proudly against his stomach. He was thick, rock hard and had been walking the planet long enough that she knew he was adept at using the powerful tool between his legs. She howled softly, her body flooding with moisture as she felt her mouth start to water. Maybe she wouldn't try so hard to get away? Maybe it would be more fun to submit quickly?

Andrei felt his blood boil at both the heated look in the wolf's eyes and also the soft howl she emitted as she hungrily ran her gaze over his body and found it to her liking. His lips quirked in a little smile, smug male satisfaction flooding him that the little she devil was reacting to him the way she was. Her scent was filling the room so thickly that if he didn't get his hands on her soon he was likely to start ripping the room apart to get to her. This chasing thing was mildly entertaining even if a little frustrating. It certainly got the heart pumping and appealed to the predator within him.




The Council Ch. 01



"Here I come, ready or not," he crooned softly, feeling it only fair he let her get a little head start on him. He was going to take her down in no time. He blurred suddenly, rounding the desk to find her gone, his hair swaying wildly as he crouch down and scanned the room quickly with a guttural hiss coming from his lips. She was almost at the door, spinning around to chuff lightly at him, bringing a feral grin to his face. The little she devil was fast for a wolf. He was impressed.

He blurred again and she anticipated his movement quite well, bounding over the leather chair she had been sitting in to place it between them. Andrei growled his pleasure, his heart rate picking up instantly. Entertaining or not, he was going to have to punish her, for teasing him so mercilessly, when he finally did catch her. 

She was moving again but he countered her quickly, leaping onto the desk and over it to catch her around the waist and spin her up and over his shoulder, twisting his body sharply so he could pin her onto the desk with the same movement. The wolf struggled hard but was no match for his strength as he easily pinned her down, his large hand tight against the scruff of her neck.

"I win," he breathed softly, rubbing his cheek against her silky soft fur, finding her wolf form oddly appealing. "Give me my reward and I promise not to punish you for being a dreadful tease, little wolf."

Loretta struggled hard to get away from him but he had quickly learned to adjust his strength to counter her wolf. She growled loudly, wriggling a little more before she shifted, moaning softly as his large hand dug painfully into the back of her neck. He released his grip a fraction of a second later, laughing softly as he leaned over her and ran his lips slowly over the skin he had just gripped so hard.

Her skin was so soft, so fragile. His tongue snaked out and he groaned his pleasure as he tasted her leisurely, trailing his mouth slowly down the curve of her spine. He halted at the spot where he had pierced her body to heal her, remembering the sweet taste of her blood pooling from the hole he'd made, how delicious it had been in his mouth. He ached to taste her again.

His lust filled brained screamed a warning at him but Loretta was moaning loudly, wriggling her delectable little ass against his chest and he was lost within his need to be buried inside her body and riding her hard and fast. With a growl he slid his hands beneath her, raising her more fully onto the desk so she was on her hands and knees.

Her overwhelming scent of arousal crashed over him and he growled again, spreading her legs apart so he could gaze at her perfect pink flesh, teasing her open with two fingers so he could watch her juices drip from her body as she prepared for his possession of her. She was so beautiful, her lower lips thick with her rich blood, her flesh glistening with her moisture.

With a muffled groan Andrei lowered his head and licked boldly from the top of her pussy all the way down to her tight hole. Her honey exploded in his mouth, her taste the most powerful aphrodisiac he had ever encountered. He was past all rational thought, working only on pure, animalistic instinct. His need to claim her surpassed everything else, her willing submission spurring his feral nature on to take more liberties with her sexy body. His mouth buried hard between her thighs as he began to feast on her sweet nectar fervently.

Loretta cried out loudly, her body rocked with pleasure as Andrei's very skilled tongue worked its magic against her pussy. She had known he would be a skilled lover but nothing had prepared her for the way he settled down to eat her alive with his wicked mouth and tongue. He was ravenous, wild and untamed as he lapped greedily at her before drilling his tongue deep inside her body. She cried out again, rocking backwards, needing more and whimpering with that need.

His tongue circled her clit almost lazily, teasing her by never quite touching it. Was this payback for making him chase her? She growled her frustration trying to angle her body so his tongue connected with her throbbing nub but he skilfully managed to thwart her movements until she was almost keening with desperation. "Andrei," she hissed through clenched teeth. "Lick me!" His muffled laugh vibrated all through her heated flesh and she groaned at the sensation.

"I thought I was," he countered his voice thick with need as his mouth moved to her ass and gently kissed her cheeks. He slid two fingers deep into her drenched pussy and thrust hard and deep, bringing another loud cry from her lips. He pressed ruthlessly into her body, long bold strokes pushing her quickly towards her peak but keeping her on the brink of her orgasm, not letting her fall over into the sweet bliss that waited for her. She had made him chase her, now it was time for her to be made to work for her pleasure.

With inhuman self control, he held himself in check, fighting his own need to achieve sexual bliss within her body. He kissed back up her spine, licking the side of her neck as he pressed a third finger inside her, stretching her body with each hard thrust into it. Her moans were joining together into one long wail, her skin slick with a light sheen of sweat as she rocked backwards frantically, lost completely in her lust. 

Her lust was intoxicating, heightening his own to dangerous levels, but still he kept her on the brink, his predator needing to be in complete control. "Do you like that, little wolf?" he whispered against the shell of her ear. "Do my fingers feel good buried in your hot little pussy? Do you want to cum?"

Her breath hissed out sharply, her wolf howling in ecstasy at his whispered words. Her need to cum dominated everything. She was willing to beg him for it if that was the only way he was going to stop torturing her. "Yes," she hissed on a long drawn out growl. "Stop playing with me, Andrei. Do you want me to beg?"

He laughed softly, his mouth grazing her ear gently. "Begging sounds good," he murmured. "Are you going to beg for me, little wolf. Won't that hurt your arrogant little ego to beg a vampire for your sexual release?"

A loud rumble left her throat and she twisted quickly in his arms, surprising him with her sudden movement. His fingers were still buried deep inside her but now she was on her back, her flushed face breathtaking to look at, her lips parted as her breath came out in short, harsh pants. Her glittering eyes, smoky with her need, met his and his heart skipped a beat as he sank into their depths.

He was kissing her hard before he realised what his was doing, his fingers sliding deep inside her, his thumb moving to her clit and pressing down ruthlessly. Her scream of ecstasy was swallowed up by his mouth as her body shattered under his touch, her pussy walls clamping hard around his fingers as she writhed on his hand. 

He hadn't meant to let her off so easily but one look at her passion filled face had pushed him over the edge. He wanted to give her pleasure more than he wanted to hear her beg. Her climax was the reward he got for giving in to her. Her body strained with her release, her sweet honey flooded his hand soaking it completely. It was the sexiest, most erotic thing he had ever witnessed.

He kept up his ruthless thrusting into her hot body as she rode out her climax. Only when her body relaxed against him did he gentle his touch, sliding his fingers from her slowly. He slowly licked his hand clean, watching her face intently. God she was truly stunning in her passion, completely taking his breath away as no other woman had before. His cocked throbbed so painfully hard he was almost wild with his need to sink inside her tight body, to feel her inner muscles grip him as hard as she had his fingers.

His mouth moved to her breasts, pulling first one taut peak inside to suckle hard before he moved to the other. Loretta's breathing was still harsh and ragged, not having had time to come down from the peak of her first explosive orgasm. He didn't intend to give her any time either. He couldn't, his own need was taking control completely. 

He stroked her soft skin, ran his mouth over every inch he could reach without turning her over, stoking her passion ruthlessly back to the heady heights she had just reached. When she was once more moaning helplessly, he eased her towards the edge of the desk, positioning his straining cock at her throbbing heat. "Look at me," he growled hoarsely, waiting until she opened her eyes to meet his gaze with a dazed one of her own. 

He wrapped one arm behind her back, raising her slightly from the desk, his other hand threading in her hair to keep her gaze pinned with his. He thrust forward hard, spearing her on his cock in one long thrust, growling in ecstasy as her tight muscles opened to him, inviting him deep inside.

She was scalding hot and so tight it was almost painful but in a very pleasurable way. He held still inside her, leaning down to kiss her lips hard, gentling his touch when she moaned and flexed her hips against him. "You feel so good," he groaned his voice thick with passion as he wrapped his arms tightly around her body, anchoring her to his hard length.

His need had reached critical mass, his restraint a thing of the past. He flexed his hips, drawing back and plunging hard into her hot body. Her muffled cries rang round the room as he set up a punishing pace, his thick cock spearing her over and over again as he gave in to the need inside him. She felt so good, so hot and tight and perfect wrapped around his throbbing length. He kissed her feverishly, their tongues mating hard and fighting for dominance as she matched his punishing pace with equal lust.

She was truly amazing, the strength of her wolf rippling through her body, making her an equal partner in their frantic joining. Always before he had to be so careful with his lovers. They were usually human and so fragile it was a challenge not to damage them as he took his pleasure. With Loretta it was so much more. Her wolf revelled in his lust, demanded his feral side to come to the fore and take her completely.

Andrei did. He took her hard and fast and with a wildness that surpassed everything he'd ever experienced. Even with his own kind, sex had never been this intense, this mind blowing, this total perfection.

Loretta was lost within the sensations wracking her body. Her wolf was so close to the surface she was almost at the point of shifting as she bucked hard against Andrei, his body pushing hers to the very edge of her endurance level. She had never felt as alive as she felt with his thick shaft plunging deep within her, stretching her, filling her as no other ever had. Every nerve ending danced with pleasure, liquid fire coursed through her veins as her need to claim him almost overcame her completely. She was two heartbeats away from biting him, mating with him against his will.

His fingers dancing across her clit distracted her enough that the impulse fled as she shattered completely beneath him, writhing in mindless pleasure as her climax crashed through her turning her to complete jelly as he continued to stroke inside her in a harder, faster rhythm.

Loretta clamped tightly around his pulsing cock, causing him to roar loudly in ecstasy as he swelled and thick ropes of cum burst from the tip and splashed deep inside her convulsing body. Sweet bliss rocked through his entire body as he shuddered deep inside her, all rational thought gone as he lost himself completely.

Andrei's fangs elongated, brushed teasingly against the side of her fragile neck, a tortured groan escaping him as he felt her stiffen in his arms. He clutched her tightly as his body shuddered its last, his fangs retreating without breaking her soft skin, a deep groan of relief escaping his throat. 

Loud tortured breaths escaped them both as they stayed locked in each others embrace as their hearts started to slowly calm.

Andrei finally raised his head, looking down into Loretta's wide, startled eyes, a little smile tugging at the corner of his sensual lips. "You like to live dangerously, little wolf," he chuckled lightly. "Next time, let's not play chase. You'll have a better chance of surviving that way."

Loretta's heart skipped at least two beats as she realised just how close she'd come to dying. Not to mention just how close she'd come to breaking one of her kind's biggest taboos by mating with the vampire against his will. She was right. Being with Andrei was a step too close to the wild side for her but a sultry smile crossed her face despite that. He'd said next time!

To be continued... 



The Council Ch. 02



Andrei helped Loretta down from the desk smiling ruefully at the mess the office was in. Playing chase indoors was not such a good idea even if it was kind of fun. "We appear to have gotten a little carried away," he drawled, his tone full of amusement as Loretta looked down at the phone, papers and laptop lying on the thick carpet.

"Hope your laptop still works," she laughed lightly, stepping around him and eyeing the door to the left of the desk. "I don't suppose that's a bathroom by any chance?" It wouldn't pay to walk through a nest of vampires smelling of sex and then getting to the compound with his scent all over her. She was sure Jared wouldn't be too impressed with that.

"Lucky for you it is," he laughed. "What would your Alpha say if you came home reeking of me?" He watched her face flush slightly with colour and laughed harder.

"Considering he detests you, I'm sure he wouldn't be too happy, Andrei," she smiled sweetly heading over to the bathroom and praying it had a shower in it. She'd shifted wearing her thong so she needed to be able to clean up properly otherwise it would be a tad embarrassing leaving the club.

Andrei watched her retreating back, his eyes running lazily down the smooth curve of her back, the firm cheeks of her ass and the tightly honed muscles of her taut thighs. That was another thing he liked about Weres. They were so completely unashamed of their nakedness as well as being very resilient when it came to sex. They were a sensual, lustful people and he could relate to that. He was mildly amused to realise that he was actually starting to find something worth liking in the dogs, or maybe it was just one little bitch that he found so likable?

He knew he was making a huge mistake giving into his lust for the little she devil. It could and would lead to trouble with a capital T. But she was so tantalisingly sexy that his blood heated instantly when she was close to him. He'd need to have more control the next time. He had almost bitten her, only her fear managing to seep through his lust long enough to hold him at bay. He really didn't want to hurt her. He actually liked her, a lot.

"Need a hand washing your back?" he asked with a laugh, his heart starting to race at the thought of having her again. She turned to look over her shoulder at him, her brown eyes flashing with laughter.

"Sure, as long as you don't mind a pack of wolves bursting into the club," she countered. "I've already been here long enough, Andrei. Any longer and Jared will send in the cavalry thinking you've hurt me in some way."

He conceded her point, dressing and tidying up the office as she showered quickly. He had the foresight to set her dress and shoes on the chair in the bathroom while she showered. If she came out naked he'd only be tempted to dirty her all over again and there was no point in pushing their luck. His blood was still too heated, his feral side still too close to the surface. It was better to allow some time between them so he could keep himself more firmly in control.

He smiled as he sat back behind his desk and waited for her to finish cleaning up. When he'd gotten up this morning he hadn't anticipated his day would turn out to be so eventful. Playing with a member of the Hanlon pack was not a good idea. It was fraught with danger and potentially lethal for the little she wolf and him. If he hurt her even accidentally he had no illusions that Caleb Cullen would come looking for his head.

Still, Andrei liked to live life dangerously. He wasn't used to being told he couldn't have what he wanted and for the moment he wanted the delectable little wolf currently leaving her scent all over his private bathroom. From the very first moment he'd come across Loretta in the forest there had been something about her that had intrigued him enough to make him want to save her life so he would have the opportunity to get to know her a little better. 

The object of his musings came out of the bathroom and he dampened down a deep groan. How could she look sexier fully dressed than she did naked? Perhaps it was the fact he knew she wasn't wearing any panties under her skimpy little dress, that all he had to do was slip his hand under it and he'd find her hot and willing for his touch.

"It's time you left," he growled softly, willing his aching body to behave itself. Her slight smile let him know she was aware of just what she did to him and for a moment he wanted to wipe it off her smug face, then he smiled slowly. She was so much like him in some ways it was almost scary. She knew what she wanted and she wasn't afraid to ask for it. That was one of the things he liked about her so much.

With a sigh he got up and opened the door, turning her to the right which surprised her. His eyes had their usual twinkle in them, his lips curling into his customary mocking smile. "You really want to walk through that lot up there with my scent all over you? You may have showered but they'll still know that you've lain with me," he said with a little laugh.

Her expression clearly told him that she wouldn't and he laughed harder. "And here was me thinking you were braver than that, little wolf," he laughed again, placing a hand lightly against her lower back and escorting her down the corridor to the back door. "It's been an entertaining evening, Loretta," he sighed, a little husky note entering his voice. "Very entertaining."

The rich, deep timber of his voice sent little shivers of pleasure through Loretta and she suddenly wished the evening wasn't quite at an end but she had to get back to the compound. Would he want to see her again? His previous words intimated that he would but he was very mercurial, his moods swinging in different directions quite rapidly. He could change his mind very easily.

She sighed deeply and turned to look up at him as he opened the door for her. "It was definitely interesting if nothing else," she managed to say; pleased with how nonchalant she was sounding when really she wanted to throw herself into her mate's arms and stay there forever. She somehow doubted he was quite ready for that yet. 

"Goodnight, Andrei," she said quietly turning away.

Andrei was picking her up and spinning her around to press her against the wall before he realised what he was doing. His mouth found hers expertly and his tongue slipped inside when she uttered a startled gasp. He kissed her savagely; strangely angered by her insipid little goodnight, the way she was ready to walk away as if they hadn't just had the most intense, mind blowing sex ever. 

She moaned into his mouth, her tongue reaching to duel with his in an erotic dance as he pressed his straining cock between her legs, rubbing himself against her molten heat with a need that took his breath away. What had she done to him to make him want her so much? Why was she able to stoke a need inside him that made him feel as if his entire body was on fire with lust for her and only her?

He raised his head slowly, looking into her dazed eyes as she fought to take deep breaths, her little heart hammering loudly, her breasts rising and falling with each sharp pant coming out of her delectable lips. He groaned softly and rubbed his cock against her again, tempted to take her back inside and fuck her again until they were both lost in the heady ecstasy of sexual bliss once more. He felt his fangs start to elongate and it was like a bucket of cold water being thrown over his lust. 

With another groan he slid her down his body until her feet were once more on solid ground. "That's how you say goodnight," he breathed huskily before he took a step back and allowed her to step around him. His lips quirked in a little smile when he saw how shaky her legs were.

"Loretta," he called after her retreating back, waiting until she turned her flushed face to look back at him. "If you come again, use this entrance but don't touch the keypad. It will give you a nasty shock. Use the call button beneath it."

She didn't answer him, merely nodded and turned away again, walking slowly to her waiting Audi. Had he just invited her back? It definitely sounded like it. Her lips quirked in a little smile. She much preferred his goodnight to her own and she really liked the fact he was warning her about his security protocols. There was a definite hint of protectiveness there. Her wolf growled appreciatively and she wiggled her hips a little more than she really needed to, feeling his eyes boring into her. 

Well she had wanted to see him again and she'd gotten more than she'd bargained for out of the meeting. Her wolf was happy, her body was satiated and Andrei Romanov had lost the first round in the war she had just launched on his heart. Only he didn't know it yet. 

Smiling she climbed into her car, her smile widening as she saw him still watching her from the corner of the alleyway. She was so tempted to go back to him but she fought the impulse and drove away, heading back to the compound to let Jared know the news.

"Nice piece of ass," a voice drawled quietly behind Andrei as he watched Loretta leave. He tensed immediately, growling deeply as he rounded furiously on his twin brother. For some reason he was angry at his vulgar terminology. "Watch your mouth, Alexei," he hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes flashing dangerously as he pinned him with a steely glare.

His twin merely laughed, his blond hair swaying around his shoulders as he threw his head back in amusement. "A little touchy, aren't you, brother?" he laughed softly. He inhaled deeply, his beautiful face split with a wide grin. "Interesting fragrance you're wearing."

"I thought you were in Peru," Andrei snorted a hint of a smile crossing his face as his pleasure at having his twin home cut through his sudden anger. He was a complete pain in the ass sometimes but he was the only family he had, the only person he truly trusted completely.

"Ecuador and you know damned well where I was because you sent me there, brother," Alexei drawled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement. He had really missed his brother a lot. They did separate every now and then and go about their own business for a while, but they never truly felt comfortable unless they were close together, watching each others backs.

Andrei laughed and gave his brother a warm hug before he turned back down the alleyway to re-enter the club. "I've missed you," he admitted with a rueful smile. "I wasn't expecting you home for another few weeks."

"And miss your election to the Council?" Alexei asked dryly. "I so can't wait to see those idiots put a raving psychopath in charge of our well being. That will most definitely be a moment in history when our people look back and ask themselves how they could have been so stupid."

Alexei liked to tease his brother by calling him a psychopath. Most people fell into two groups, those who believed Andrei's laid back persona and those who believed he was truly insane. The truth of the matter was he was a mixture of both and so much more. Yes, he had his moments when even Alexei shuddered at what he could be capable of but most of the time he was in complete control. 

He was fiercely intelligent, skilled at giving people which persona they needed so he could achieve the end goals he wanted. No one really knew Andrei though. Sometimes Alexei wondered if he truly did himself. The only thing he was completely certain of was he knew his twin better than anyone else to walk the planet. That he would stand at his side to the death if need be.

"It's just a mindless ceremony," Andrei sighed resting against the desk when they entered the office. "The Council Elect have been running things for the last year almost. Once the fiasco of Graves came about the current Council lost a vote of no confidence in it. They were left in place to pander to our rituals but they haven't been actively involved in anything of real importance since then. Good work in Ecuador, by the way. I knew you'd be able to bang those idiots' heads together and get that thorny little issue sorted."

Alexei was surprised at his brother's news. Never in their history had a Council had a vote of no confidence called against them let alone lost one. Graves had a lot to answer for. It was amazing that one man could cause so much fallout for their kind. But he had died for his sins so there was some justice to be had. 

"So, how did you manage to get a vote of no confidence?" he asked shrewdly. He had no doubt that Andrei was responsible for that turn of events. When his brother wanted something, nothing stood in his way.

Andrei's lips quirked in a little smile as he regarded his brother intently. "It wasn't that hard," he admitted. "I just needed to get control of the Council Elect and get a majority vote from them. There was a little power struggle but nothing I couldn't overcome."

Alexei laughed and shook his head. A little power struggle in Andrei speak could mean anything from a minor debate to an all out war. He breathed in deeply and wished he hadn't. He rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Do you have to have sex in the office?" he sighed wearily. "The room is positively reeking of what you and your little wolf were getting up to." 

He wrinkled his nose to piss his brother off, enjoying seeing him getting annoyed. "How did you manage that anyway? Without biting her?" he asked curiously and then another thought struck him. "Shit, Andrei, tell me she's not part of the Hanlon pack?"

"Mind your own fucking business, Alexei," Andrei growled softly. "This is my club and I can do what the hell I like in it. And who my female guest was is none of your damned business. Your rules remember? You mind your business and I'll mind mine." 

Alexei frowned deeply, pinning his brother with a hard stare. His lack of answer told him everything he needed to know. Andrei was messing with one of the Hanlon pack, probably the little bitch he'd saved last year. 

"And if you have a little accident while you're exercising your dick, what then? You expect me to keep minding my business when Caleb and Demetri come to give you a little call?" His tone dripped sarcasm as he rolled his eyes in despair. His brother was way too wild to consider the possible ramifications of his actions.

"Credit me with some self control, Alexei. I'm not a bloody youngling!" Andrei growled angrily. So he might have come close to slipping up tonight but the shock of the almost accident would be enough to keep him in check when he saw Loretta again. He was mildly perturbed to realise he was thinking of when, not if, but he shrugged it off. The sex between them had been pretty amazing. It was only natural that he'd want to sample her delights again.

"So how did you contain the need to taste her blood?" Alexei pressed, very interested to hear the answer to that question for his own reasons. A tall, statuesque blonde with cerulean blue eyes coming very easily to mind, as she had done many times while he had been away.

"I decided I preferred my woman to be living," Andrei retorted drolly, all too aware of just why his brother was suddenly so interested in his sex life.

His answer brought a loud laugh from Alexei, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yes, I can understand why the alternative would be a bit of a passion killer," he chuckled lightly. "So tell me more about your little wolf. How long has it been going on?"

Andrei counted to ten and then he counted to ten again. Then he considered punching his brother but decided he didn't want to have to clean the office up again. He let out a long, slow breath and sighed deeply. "Her name is Loretta," he finally said. "She's a Beta in the Hanlon pack, the bitch I saved last year as I'm sure you've already gathered. This is the first time I've seen her since then. Happy now?"

"You like her," Alexei said quietly, a hint of amazement in his voice as he watched his brother's face carefully. "You like her a lot, don't you? That's why you're getting so pissed off at me. You don't normally jump to the defence of your women the way you're jumping to hers."

A dark scowl crossed Andrei's face and he clenched his hands into fists as he struggled with his rising temper. Alexei was really pushing his luck. "Enough," he hissed through clenched teeth, a clear warning in his voice.

His brother held up his hands in mock surrender, a smile hovering on his lips. "Okay, I'll behave. You aren't half touchy, Andrei. I thought you missed me?"

"I lied," Andrei growled softly though his lips curved up in a smile calling him a liar. He had missed his twin; he just didn't want to discuss Loretta with him. She was none of his business and he wanted to keep it that way. He frowned slightly when he realised just how protective that thought was, then he pushed it away. It wasn't important. It was just sex. Great sex, but sex none the less.

He moved to sit behind his desk as Alexei sat down in the chair Loretta had used earlier. He began filling his brother in on the latest news and then listened to what has been going on in Ecuador.

*****

Loretta skipped lightly up the three steps into the Alpha's house in the heart of the forest. Although it was getting late she could hear voices in the sitting room so she turned in that direction to find Jared and Millie sitting on the rug before the fire, their little ones lying on a blanket between them. She smiled instantly. Everyone smiled when they saw their Alphas' little girls, they were just adorable.

Jared went to rise but Loretta waved him down. "No need to get up," she said quickly. "Nothing too eventful to report." Not with regards to the pack anyway.

She watched her Alpha relax as she walked over and knelt down beside them. "Hello, little angels," she cooed softly a loving smile crossing her face as she gently touched the two little girls' cheeks almost reverently before she looked back at Jared.

"The Vampire Council is changing next week and Andrei is part of the new one," she reported briskly. "He said the previous Council has been out of favour because of Graves so no decision will be reached about what to do until the new Council comes into power."

Millie's cobalt eyes narrowed slightly and she shot the other woman a quizzical look. "He admitted that to you?" she asked her voice full of surprise.

Loretta nodded and smiled slightly. "Yeah, I think he has some trouble keeping his mouth shut when I'm around," she laughed softly. "Keeps giving away his secrets and then getting annoyed that he's done so. I think he told me more than what he really wanted to, judging from the look on his face at the time."

Jared pondered her words. If what Loretta said was true then that would surely explain why no action has been taken by the vampires so far. He ran a hand through his long black hair and then absent-mindedly brushed a hand gently across Mina's head. He looked down at his daughter and a soft, gentle smile crossed his handsome face. "You believe him?"

"Yes, I believed him," Loretta answered after a long pause. "I asked about what the new Council would decide and he intimated that no decision would go against the pack. He didn't say it right out but the impression he gave was he would veto any potential action. How much influence he has on the Council is anyone's guess though."

Jared frowned slightly and pursed his lips. "If he intimated it then he'll make sure it will happen," he answered thoughtfully. "The ramifications of doing otherwise are too great." He saw the surprise on his Beta's face. "Andrei knows what it will mean for his kind if they go to war with the pack, Loretta. He knows Caleb will stand with us, Demetri, Nors and God knows how many others. If the Vampire Council attack then they will be attacking their own people. It will mean civil war for them."

She took a moment to digest the information as she fought down a little smile. Christ, he really was a sneaky, manipulative bastard. Intimating it was because of her when he was really trying to head off an internal conflict within his own people. Andrei Romanov played dirty to get what he wanted. Was his reluctance just an act too? Had he intended the evening to end the way it had? She would have to step lightly to keep one step ahead of her beautiful vampire.




The Council Ch. 02



"What?" Millie asked with a bemused look on her face as her sharp gaze took in the other woman's expression. There was a certain tenseness about her friend, a coiled excitement.

Loretta took a deep breath. "I was just thinking what a sneaky, manipulative bastard Andrei is," she sighed softly. She took a deep breath. She couldn't really keep it from her Alphas any longer. They had a right to know. "I suppose I should let you both know this, Andrei Romanov is my mate."

The two Alphas stared at her with completely stunned expressions for a long moment. 

"You're absolutely certain of this, Loretta?" Millie finally managed to get out when it became clear that Jared wasn't going to say anything.

The Beta nodded. "Without a shadow of a doubt. He's my mate whether he likes it or not," she sighed again. "I'm guessing he's not going to be too keen on the idea."

Jared let out a deep groan, a dark scowl crossing his face as his mind immediately started whirling furiously, trying to work out just what Loretta's bomb shell meant for the pack. "You do know this is impossible? It's unheard of. A vampire and a Were? Loretta, you do know how dangerous this is? He could kill you."

She met Jared's eyes with a level gaze. "He won't hurt me, Jared. He's my mate," she answered confidently. "I know there are potential issues with it, the whole one bite and I'm dead thing. He knows it too. We're just going to have to work around it somehow. My wolf is completely certain of it. You know we can't argue with our wolves when they choose our mate."

Jared's expression didn't soften, his agitation starting to increase. "The vampires are not going to meekly accept something like this," he bit out through clenched teeth. In one sentence his Beta had managed to soothe his concern over what the vampires were up to, only to turn around in the next sentence and make his heart sink completely.

Loretta met her Alpha's worried gaze and frowned. She had known he wasn't going to be pleased with the news but his reaction was a bit more intense than she had expected it to be. "How is it any different than any other vampire choosing a mate and taking them under their protection?" she asked quietly.

Jared cursed loudly and then glanced guiltily down at his daughters. So, they wouldn't understand what he had just said but he didn't want them subjected to angry emotions. They could sense that. "Study," he ordered softly, watching Loretta stand and head out.

"Jared, I know you're worried, love, but don't go off half cocked," Millie said quietly, a concerned expression on her face. "If he is her mate then there is nothing she can do about it. What it means for the pack? Only time will tell but whatever happens, you know the pack will come together as one just as we did the last time."

Her mate reached across and brushed his lips lightly against hers. "We've only just recovered from the last war, Millie," he sighed wearily. "There is so much more at stake now, too." His gaze travelled to his babies, his beautiful little girls who meant the world to him.

Millie understood his fear, her own gaze caressing her sleeping children's faces, a rush of overwhelming love welling up inside as she looked down at her babies. "Yes, there is," she agreed. "And not just for us, for all of the pack. We stand as one, Jared. We always will. We have powerful friends too who count us as family. If Andrei accepts he's Loretta's mate then we also have an ally on the vampire Council."

Jared let Millie's words sink in, taking a deep breath and trying to calm his whirling thoughts. He automatically thought of the worst case scenario. His mate looked at things from a more optimistic viewpoint. He allowed a little hope that her way of looking at things would turn out to be the right way.

"I love you," he whispered softly, kissing her slowly and deeply, feeling her love for him rush through their bond and soothe his soul. He allowed himself a brief moment more and then his mind started plotting, working out what he needed to start doing to protect his family and his pack.

Millie's soft laughter broke through his thoughts and he pulled away from her lips, a quizzical expression on his face as he saw amusement in her eyes.

"I think that's the first time you've ever kissed me with such complete disinterest in what you were doing," she smiled ruefully.

Jared flushed, a contrite expression crossing his handsome face. "Sorry, baby," he groaned pulling her gently into his arms and burying his head in the side of her neck. "I can't believe I just did that." He kissed her again, this time putting his heart and soul into the long, drugging meeting of lips. His body hardened and he groaned softly as his arms banded tightly around his woman.

His breathing was harsh and ragged when he raised his head, his deep blue eyes shining with love and need for his woman. "Better?" he asked huskily, smiling when Millie sighed softly and her lips curled into a sultry smile. "I'll take that as a yes," he chuckled, relieved to feel a lessening of the tension in his body after Loretta's announcement.

"Come on, baby. Let's get the girls up to bed and then I can finish up with Loretta," he smiled. "Then we can maybe discuss the pros and cons of my kisses a little more?"

The hopeful expression on his face had Millie laughing softly. "That might be a very short discussion," she laughed. "Can't think of any cons offhand." 

She gathered up Alicia into her arms as Jared picked up Mina. He balanced his precious little bundle in one arm and wrapped the other around Millie's waist as they walked upstairs with their family.

Loretta was pacing nervously up and down the study waiting for Jared to arrive. She hoped Millie had managed to work some magic on her Alpha because he hadn't looked very pleased with her. 

She had never anticipated that her choice of mate would create such an issue for her Alpha. Always when thinking of her prospective mate, she had assumed he would have been, or would become, part of the pack. Andrei was a completely random variable thrown into the mix and his being a vampire appeared to be of great concern to Jared.

She turned when the door to the study quietly opened and Jared walked in. His expression didn't seem as intense as before, in fact he looked quite relaxed considering his earlier outburst.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I wanted to get the girls to bed just in case this turned out to be longer than anticipated," he said with a small smile crossing his face. He motioned to the chair in front of his desk and then slid into his own chair. He regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment.

"This is a bit of a nightmare," he finally sighed. "Not just the danger to yourself, Loretta, which is very real and I seriously hope you both are going to take that into account. But there is also the question of how this will impact on the pack."

Loretta frowned deeply. She didn't see what the issue was for the pack but clearly her Alpha felt there was one. Was her mating with Andrei potentially dangerous for the pack? Was she being so blinded by her own personal desires that she was risking her friends and family?

"The vampires will not want an interspecies mating," Jared said quietly. "You know how much they loathe Weres as a whole and especially the Hanlon pack after that business with Graves. If we suddenly start mating with vampires, if a true mating is even possible with the whole venom issue, the vampires are going to try and put a stop to it immediately. And we all know the only way they deal with something they see as a threat to their kind. This won't be one rabid vampire we'll be dealing with; it will be the people as a whole."

Her frown deepened and her heart started thumping hard in her chest. She had never considered that the vampires would object so strenuously to a vampire/were mating. That they could possibly launch another war over it. No wonder Jared was so worried. Her choice of a mate could finish the job that Graves started a year ago and she suddenly felt very afraid. There was only one option open to her.

"I won't see him again," she said softly. "We had sex but it was just the once. There is a high probability that because of our different species Andrei probably won't even realise that it was anything more than a one off encounter. Chances are he didn't even feel the mating pull. He gave no clear indication that he did." Her voice shook as she spoke, her wolf howling mournfully as the words burst out of her lips. She was denying their mate, sentencing herself to a life of always being alone. It wasn't an easy thing to do but the pack's safety was at stake.

Jared stared at her stunned. Never in his long life had he ever heard of anyone successfully fighting the mating instinct. A few had tried and failed miserably. The only one who had actually succeeded had been a female in his Grandfather's pack but she had only succeeded because she had gone rogue and had to be taken care of. If Loretta tried to ignore her wolf then there was a very high probability that she too would go rogue.

"You make me so proud," he said, his pride shining clearly in his face. "You would sacrifice so much for the pack, Loretta, but I cannot allow you to do so. As Millie pointed out to me, the pack stands as one. We fought a war so Rafe could keep his mate. We will fight for you too if it comes to that. But you have my eternal gratitude and utmost respect for your brave offer."

She couldn't help the little sigh of relief that passed her lips. She would have done as she said; knowing the pain and misery it would bring her. It would have killed her not seeing Andrei again but she would have willingly taken the risk to herself if it could have avoided harm coming to the pack.

"So, Andrei has no idea that you're claiming him as a mate?" Jared said thoughtfully. "That buys us a little time. At the moment he just views you as a woman he's interested in on a casual basis? How long do you think that will last?"

Her Alpha's matter of fact summation of her current relationship with her mate actually hurt a little. There was no denying it was the truth but she still didn't like hearing it. She hadn't set any time limits on claiming her mate but she suddenly knew she was about to get some.

"It depends on how often I see him now that we've been together, Jared," she sighed deeply. "If I can keep away for long enough periods of time then I could possibly manage a month, maybe two before I have to tell him that he's my mate. Then there's the whole issue of whether or not we can actually mate if he's willing to do so. I don't see any issues with me biting him, though there's no telling if his vampire blood will neutralise the wolf gene and render it inactive." She sighed deeply at the thought.

"There is the thorny issue of him not being able to bite me without killing me so that could effectively mean all this concern is moot anyway. None of us know if a vampire and Were can mate."

The Alpha nodded thoughtfully. "So, now we have a starting point and a way to kill two birds with one stone," he said quietly watching a quizzical expression cross her face. "We need to find out if there's ever been an interspecies mating before. There's nothing in the archives here because I've been through everything and I'm sure I would have noticed something mentioning it. Someone needs to research this quietly. As we don't want it becoming common knowledge at the moment, that someone will have to be you."

Loretta grimaced even as she saw the logic to her Alpha's words. Researching would mean having to travel to the neighbouring packs and asking to go through their archives. That would keep her away from Andrei as well as hopefully turn up some information. It could keep her away for weeks. She pursed her lips as she looked at him.

"About keeping it quiet?" she said biting her lip nervously. "Cedar knows and I think Caleb does too." She waited for Jared to explode but apart from a slight tightening around his mouth he remained remarkably calm at the news.

"Explain," he sighed wearily running a hand through his hair. 

"You know it was Alexei who told Cedar how to take down the vampires," Loretta answered. "It appears he may have been reacting to a mating pull when he did so only he isn't aware of it. Cedar is though. The night of the memorial when you asked Caleb about the Romanovs, the look he gave both of us that night made it appear as if he knew we were both interested in the twins."

Jared cursed under his breath and then let out a long sigh. Did it really matter that another of his Betas was claiming a vampire as her mate? The situation wasn't really that much worse having two matings rather than just the one. The dynamics of the matings were the same, the potential issues the same.

"So, what you're telling me is that two of my Betas and my closest friend all knew a year ago about this and not one of you thought that I might need to know?" he finally asked in a hard voice. 

He watched Loretta wilt slightly and lower her head at his tone but he wasn't about to apologise for his ill humour. He had a right to be angry about it. He was the pack's Alpha and it was his job to protect each member to the best of his ability. He could have had a year to work on this problem instead of a handful of weeks. 

Still, it wasn't entirely Loretta's fault. There were two other people who had known and not said anything. And his Beta had told him as soon as she knew the mating was a real possibility. He was certain this was the first time Loretta had seen Andrei since the night of the war.

"I'll speak to Cedar tomorrow," he said quietly. "You should have told me this sooner, Loretta, but I understand that you maybe didn't believe the mating would become a viable prospect until tonight and you told me as soon as you were sure about it." A sudden thought struck him. "Is Alexei still out of the country?"

Loretta raised her head and blinked slowly. "Andrei never mentioned him so I assume so."

Which would mean Cedar hadn't had any contact with the other Romanov since the war either. He could almost excuse the two women but Caleb? He couldn't believe his friend wouldn't have told him about this potential issue after everything that had happened with Graves. 

He sighed deeply. "Start your research first thing tomorrow, Loretta. Let me know instantly if you find anything or Andrei becomes aware that you're claiming him as your mate. I'm sure he's not going to take that very well so we need to be prepared for whatever his reaction is. He is now part of The Council. He may react negatively and side with his own people to try and fight against your pull."

She hadn't considered that Andrei might side with his own people against her but then, she had only found out a handful of hours ago that he was now part of The Council. She hadn't had time to really think about the situation at all. Loretta let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through her hair wearily.

"I never thought claiming my mate would turn into such a complete nightmare," she said quietly.

"And I thought I had it bad when Millie tried to bash my head in with saucepans," Jared chuckled lightly, trying to alleviate her tension a little. "It is problematic but we'll find a way through it somehow, Loretta. Don't ask me how but I'm sure something will work out."

He spent another couple of minutes reassuring her and then he waited until she left the study before pulling his cell phone from the pocket of his jeans. He hit speed dial and waited for the call to connect.

"You'd better have a bloody good reason for wakening me at 4am," a deep, voice growled down the phone.

Jared's brow drew down in a dark scowl. "And you had better have a bloody good reason for not telling me your bloodsuckers were sniffing around my pack," he growled back, fury lacing his tone.

A long, pregnant silence followed which felt as if it lasted for minutes but must have been only a handful of seconds. "They are so fucking dead when I get my hands on them," Caleb Cullen hissed loudly. "Is the situation contained?"

"For now," Jared answered, his tone cold and hard. "You didn't answer my question, Caleb."

A deep sigh greeted his words. "We'll talk about it when I get back," his friend answered quietly. "I'll be home in a couple of days. If you need any backup before I get there call Nors. He should be able to keep the Romanovs in line until I arrive."

The call was disconnected before Jared could reply and for a moment he considered calling the vampire back. He stood up and tossed his phone onto his desk. It probably wasn't a good idea. He needed time to calm down and Caleb wasn't at his best in the early hours of the morning. If he called him back some things might be said which one or both of them would come to regret. 

He knew Caleb cared about the pack, that he wouldn't deliberately go out of his way to harm them. Hell, the pack would have been annihilated last year if it hadn't been for his friend. Stifling down his anger, Jared left the study and headed up to his bedroom. A little time spent with his mate would settle him down and they still had that little discussion about his kisses to finish. 

*****

Alexei Romanov stalked quietly through the dense forest, fighting down the urge to roll his eyes and shake his head. He couldn't believe he was deep in the heart of the forest in the middle of the night searching for someone who was most likely tucked up in her bed fast asleep.

The moment he had left Andrei, the urge to see her had overwhelmed him. It had surprised him and irritated him greatly but still he found himself winding through the trees, heading towards the Hanlon compound. He had thought a year away would have dampened his interest but it had only exasperated it.

Time didn't usually register in Alexei's thought processes. He was over nineteen centuries old, a heartbeat away from becoming an Ancient. Time meant nothing to him and yet, the year in Ecuador had felt so very long, as if it was moving in slow motion.

She was in his thoughts almost daily, his nights filled with dreams of their meeting in the open meadow. The way her head tilted so arrogantly to the side as she laughed at him, the smart words coming out of her mouth as she challenged who he was. He didn't know what called to him more, her sassy personality or her incredible beauty. Maybe it was a mixture of both?

Alexei sighed as he neared the compound and started trying to detect her scent, that heady sweet and spicy scent of lemongrass that made him stifle down a deep groan every time he thought about it. It would be nigh on impossible to scent her among all the other scents, not without going into full vampiric mode.

He inhaled deeply once more and let out a sigh. He had no idea if she was even at the compound. Most of the Weres lived in the neighbouring cities these days, only coming to the compound every so often or if there was a crisis. For some reason he saw Cedar more in a metropolitan setting than deep in the heart of the forest. She had an innate class about her that seemed to lend to that lifestyle.

"Can I help you with something, Alexei?" a deep masculine voice said quietly to his left and he started slightly and turned his head slowly to look at the tall, handsome Alpha of the Hanlon pack.

"Creeping up on a vampire like that could get you killed," he growled just as quietly, mildly perturbed that he hadn't noticed the wolf approach. The fact the Alpha was fully clothed made him feel even more put out. He hadn't even approached in wolf form! Alexei had been so intent on Cedar Alexander he had let his guard down which was a very dangerous thing.

"You're on my property, vampire," Jared countered shortly, a dark scowl crossing his face. "Alone, I might add. Very close to my home where my family are sleeping. I think you are the one who should be concerned that your life might end unexpectedly."




The Council Ch. 02



The vampire bristled for a moment and then slowly relaxed, his lips twitching slightly in a little smile. "A valid point, Jared," he conceded slightly ruefully. His eyes turned back to the compound and slowly roamed the dark buildings.

"She's not here," Jared said after a lengthy silence. "She resides in the city most of the time." His own gaze swept over the quiet compound as he tried to decide what to do about the vampire beside him. He let out a weary sigh. "I don't suppose there's any point in my telling you to stay away from her?" he asked.

Alexei laughed softly. "You can tell me if you really wish to, but you know I'm not going to listen to you." He turned back to look the Alpha in the eye, his brown eyes cold and hard as he waited to see what the wolf's reaction was going to be.

Jared's eyes narrowed sharply and he pursed his lips. He finally sighed again. "Wait here," he commanded before slipping away into the dark. He was back in less than two minutes, handing a piece of paper to the vampire. "Don't come back on pack land unless you're explicitly invited, Alexei. I'm not ready to make you or your brother a friend of the pack yet. If others were to come across your presence they could attack first and ask questions later. Cedar wouldn't like the outcome of that."

The warning was clear. Alexei considered allowing it to irritate him but decided not to. The wolf was only protecting his family. He would do the same if the circumstances were reversed. And Cedar wouldn't like it if he killed any of her pack. Date night most definitely would not be a fun experience if the little wolf was trying to kill him to exact vengeance.

He smiled at the thought. She would be glorious in her fury. Maybe he could just wound a few of the pack? He snorted and laughed at the thought. Angering the fiery blonde probably wasn't the best way of going about things. He saw the Alpha raise an enquiring eyebrow at him and he fought down another smile.

"Explicit invitation," he agreed, turning and heading back into the trees. He glanced down at the paper Jared had given him and read the address on it. Alexei's eyes glinted with excitement and his face split into a wide smile. "Time to pay the price for your smart mouth, Cedar," he laughed softly, blurring at inhuman speed into the night.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 03



 Date Night! Hope you all enjoy it hehehe! 

Many thanks to WorldHistoryBuff once more for her editing skills. I did a little tweaking once I got it back for her so if there are any little errors within they are all mine. My thanks to the Guild too for all their support :-) 

****



Alexei was surprised at the house he stood in front of. For some reason he imagined Cedar would live in a flash, apartment complex with a doorman guarding the main entrance; a steel and modern monstrosity. Instead he was standing in front of quite a modest, two storey house, set back from the road at the end of a reasonably wealthy residential street.

The house was modest by his standards but very appealing. The façade was whitewashed, a well tended garden with a nice lawn and pretty little flowerbeds completing the almost suburban image. He couldn't see Cedar Alexander getting down on her hands and knees and carefully weeding flowerbeds or even mowing a lawn. The front garden had structure to it, most probably from a paid gardener. 

He actually found himself liking the house from the outside. There was a distinct feeling of home about it and also a distinct feeling of emptiness. Despite the late hour there was no scent of lemongrass in the close vicinity. Cedar Alexander was not home. 

Where she was at three in the morning he had no idea but he wasn't happy about it. A woman staying out that late usually only meant one thing and she was a Were. She didn't have the normal self imposed taboos of human females. If she had an itch, she would go out and scratch it. Was that where she was? Did she even still feel the urge to have sex with other men now that they had met?

Alexei had found out as much about Weres as he could in the last year. Ordinarily it would not have been a topic he would have paid any interest in owing to the fact that he detested the dogs so much, but once he'd met the little she wolf he'd found himself gathering as much information as he could.

He knew so much about Weres now he was an expert on them and their rituals. He was surprised Andrei hadn't done a little of his own research. He had tested his brother earlier with some of his comments about Loretta and his twin appeared oblivious to what was going on. It was amusing to know something Andrei didn't. Usually his twin was two steps ahead of him when it came to ferreting out information but not this time.

Alexei had known instantly his behaviour the previous year had been out of character, that something was clearly wrong with him. There was no way he would go from being one of the most rigid, indoctrinated members of his race to a Were sympathiser and start blabbing his kind's secrets. That he had done so at the scent of a wolf was enough to start him investigating. What he had discovered shocked him to his very core.

He now knew why he had saved Cedar Alexander and by default, her family and the pack's young. He knew about the mating pull, how it affected the non- Were member of the couple dynamic, how the wolf knew instantly but sometimes it took the partner a little longer to realise what was happening.

Cedar's arrogant, cocky behaviour had been pure wolf that day wrapped in a deliciously tempting female package. He had reacted to her wolf, his own feral nature recognising something even though his more human side had been oblivious. 

At first he had a feeling of disbelief, but the more she invaded his every waking thought while he was away the more he couldn't deny it. Somehow his attraction to the wolf was more than just a normal male being attracted to a female. He was pulled to her just like the descriptions of the Were mating pull. The wolf was trying to lure him in, trying to mate with him.

Logic dictated he stay away from her but the pull was too strong. He wanted her and he had to have her. The fallout of not staying away from her could be astronomical but he didn't care. Nothing and no one could stop him from having her. She was in his blood, imbedded deep inside him whether he liked it or not. 

He knew she would try to bite him, try to infect him with her wolf gene. He had no idea if it would take or how he would complete her little ritual because he couldn't bite her back without killing her. That fact didn't hamper him though. It wouldn't stop him from having what belonged to him and Cedar Alexander most definitely belonged to him, smart mouth, arrogant attitude, beautiful sexy body and all.

Alexei slipped into the darkness as a taxicab turned into the street and drove slowly up to her house. He held his breath as the backdoor opened and the woman who had haunted almost every waking moment of his life for the last year, stepped out gracefully.

He forgot how to breathe instantly. His memory of her hadn't done her justice. He had forgotten just how tall she was, almost six feet in her three inch heels, a fragile pair of strappy black sandals covering her feet and delicate ankles. Smooth, black silk covered legs seemed to go on forever as his eyes slowly travelled up her body. 

A hint of lace at the top of her thighs had him fighting down a strangled groan. Her chic little black dress stopped mid thigh and as she moved the little hint of lace showed just beneath the hemline. Stockings? His body hardened instantly. He adored women who draped their bodies in sexy lingerie. It was fun to unwrap the exquisite package before him, when he wasn't just ripping the satin and lacy little garments to get to his prize.

His heated gaze travelled further upwards, sliding over perfect hips, her taut, flat stomach, her trim little waist. Further and further until her full, ripe breasts came to his view, teasing little hints of creamy white skin showing over the top of her dress. His hands itched to feel the weight of her succulent breasts in his hands, to slide off her dress and find out what colour her nipples were, what they tasted like in his mouth. He stifled down another groan, his body throbbing at just the thought.

His eyes roamed over her graceful neck, the arrogant tilt of her jaw line, the perfection of her stunningly beautiful heart shaped face. Mountains of loose, blonde curls graced her elegant shoulders, framing her face like a halo under the streetlight. There wasn't one thing about Cedar Alexander that he didn't like. Well, there was one. The man stepping out of the cab at her side.

Barely a handful of seconds had passed since she climbed out of the cab, long enough for her to alight and turn to face the tall man with short wavy blond hair and wide shoulders. He was handsome for a human male but then Alexei couldn't imagine Cedar attracting anything but the best. 

Cedar's soft tinkling laughter reached his ears as she leaned towards the man and said something in a low voice. It brought a frown to the man's face and he answered in an equally low voice. The wolf laid a hand on his arm and Alexei had to fight the urge to go over and rip it off the man. 

Cedar was brushing her lips against the man's cheek now and it took all of his willpower to stand completely still as she did so. He held his breath as he watched the man's hand brush her narrow waist as he went to pull her into a tight embrace. She agilely sidestepped him, putting a little distance between them. Clearly the man was unhappy but he smiled ruefully and climbed back into the cab after a few muttered words.

Cedar Alexander watched the cab pull away with a little sigh. For a moment she thought James was going to be difficult but thankfully he got the message pretty quickly. He was a nice man and she really didn't want anything bad to happen to him. She'd enjoyed their date. He didn't deserve to be maimed because he was attracted to her.

She turned slowly and looked directly at the spot Alexei Romanov was standing in. She had scented him the instant she had stepped out of the cab, her heart picking up a little as her errant vampire finally caved in to the mating pull and came looking for her. He had been gone for so long she had been starting to wonder if he was ever coming back. Her wolf was certainly pleased to see him.

"Didn't know you were into voyeurism," she said loud enough for him to hear but still low enough her human neighbours wouldn't be disturbed by the sound of her voice.

"I didn't realise I would have to be," he countered from the dark, his voice carefully neutral. He stayed concealed, enjoying the view of her standing on the sidewalk. "I was expecting to find you tucked up in bed sleeping."

She laughed lightly at the slightly peeved note that entered his voice and turned to walk up the path to her front door. "I had a date." 

She didn't flinch when he appeared right beside her at the door, his large body tense as he leaned against the side of the building. She deliberately didn't look at him, choosing to savour his wonderful scent instead. She had a silly, irrational fear that if she looked directly at him he would vanish, that this would all be a dream and her mate really wouldn't be standing beside her.

"We had a date," he drawled softly, a light husky note entering his deep, smooth voice which almost made her shiver in delight but she was able to contain herself because she knew he would sense it.

"You stood me up, Alexei," she retorted with a slight edge to her tone. "You're a year too late." She unlocked the front door and stepped inside knowing he was going to follow her in so not bothering to try and close it behind her. 

She was annoyed that he had resisted her pull so easily. True, it hadn't been too bad because he was out of the country. She could handle the deep ache inside her at being apart from him a little easier because of it. But the ache had been there constantly, a dull nagging little pulse because her other half was somewhere other than where he should be.

"Ungrateful little bitch," he laughed as he entered and closed the door. "I had to flee the country to keep my head after saving your delectable little ass, and this is the thanks I get?" 

His gaze swept around the great room covering the entire ground floor. It split into three domains by the artfully placed furniture, a chic kitchen in deep cherry wood with black granite worktops, a dining area with matching cherry wood table and four comfortable chairs and a large seating area with deep red sofas and chairs piled high with cream and mauve scatter cushions. The entire space reeked of comfort, a distinct homeliness which made him want to kick off his shoes and relax instantly.

Cedar had done just that, taken off her sandals and dropped them just inside the front door. She padded across to the kitchen area in her stockings without so much of a backward glance, walking over to the refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of white wine. She was buying herself some time to get her chaotic thoughts in order. 

Alexei was finally here and he seemed relaxed, almost at ease with her. There was a certain level of calmness about him which hadn't been there in their first meeting. He had been resisting the mating pull that night, hissing and spitting at her almost like an angry lion rather than the cold, hard vampire he really was. His current demeanour was setting her on edge slightly because he was not reacting exactly how she had been expecting him to. 

Why was he so calm? Did he know? Had he somehow realised what was happening between them or was he simply here just because he couldn't help himself? She had known he would come to her. She had had no doubts about that. He was her mate, the other half of her soul, the one person she was meant to spend her life with.

Cedar was struggling to keep her heart rate at a normal level as her wolf prowled anxiously within her. She didn't want Alexei knowing just how much he affected her. The vampire would hear any increased heartbeat; smell any scent of arousal if she gave in to his nearness. She couldn't believe he was here, in her home, so close she could reach out and touch him. It was hard not to. She had been waiting so long for him to come back.

"No comment?" he asked quietly when she didn't respond to his statement. 

She poured two glasses of wine and finally turned to look at him. He was breathtaking. So tall and wide in the shoulders, his arrogant face carved of granite, all hard plains and angles. His golden blond hair hung loose and straight passed his shoulders, his deep brown eyes meeting hers with a slightly amused look in them.

"You were doing what Demetri told you to do," she countered, leaving a glass on the kitchen counter and moving to sit on one of the high stools at the breakfast bar. "Like a good little boy," she added with a little smile. She watched the amusement fade from his eyes and his lips tighten in annoyance and her own smile widened. 

He didn't look so smug anymore. It was a cheap shot but then, he had vanished for over a year without so much as a word. No goodbye, no attempt to get her number which he could easily have done. She doubted he wouldn't have been in contact with his brother while he was away. He could have asked him to find some way to contact her if he had really wanted to.

His eyes narrowed as he slowly walked over to the counter and picked up the glass she had left there. Her little jibe had irritated him immensely. He needed a moment to quell the instant anger she so easily teased out of him. She was very good when her wolf was more dominant. She knew just which buttons to push to get a reaction out of him. 

He met her eyes and saw the challenge in them. She wanted to anger him because she was irritated with him. Probably because he had been away for so long. Did it cause her pain being separated from her proposed mate for a long period of time? There hadn't been anything about that in the journals and old tomes he had read. 

He regarded her coolly as he sipped at his wine. He didn't even flinch over the whole proposed mate thing anymore. He had had a year to get used to the idea though it had taken almost all of that time for him to finally accept it. A wolf and a vampire. Mating. It was impossible and on one level completely nauseating. If he had heard of it with anyone else of his kind he would have been outraged, disgusted, ready to do something to stop it happening.

With the woman in front of him it was a completely different matter. She called to him on every level. He was one step away from falling to his knees and promising her anything if only she would allow him to be in her life. Granted, there was no way in hell he was ever going to let her know that. She had far too much power over him as it was and this was only the second time they had ever met. 

No they would dance around each other, each with their little secret. She knowing that he was her mate and thinking she was about to lure him into her trap. Him knowing that he was her mate but keeping his own knowledge secret from her. They would fight for dominance and it would be a glorious contest. Submission wasn't a word that had any place in Alexei's dictionary, not when it came to himself.

He took his wine and moved away from her, seeing the slight flare of surprise in her eyes and hiding his smile as he sat down on her large, oversized sofa. He sank into the soft material with almost a thankful sigh escaping him. The flight from Ecuador had been taxing. He was more tired than he had realised. He should have gone home straight from the club but he had wanted to see her, be close to her.

The silence stretched on between them as they continued to wait for the other to speak. Alexei admired her as he sat and sipped at his wine. Her little dress had ridden up and he could see the hint of lace peaking out from the hem again. It made his body throb with need even as his mind tried to shut down with weariness. It was all he could do not to yawn he was so tired. He didn't think that would go down well with his beautiful wolf. The glint in her light blue eyes told him she was wide awake and sharp as a knife. 

It was time to teach his little wolf a lesson. It was time to begin the war for dominance. He sipped at his wine again and then smiled slowly. "If we're going to play this little game then it's only fair to map out the rules," he said softly. "There are only two. One you may set and one I will set. I suggest you think long and hard about what your rule will be, Cedar because once you set it there are no renegotiations of it. One game, two rules and no other limitations."

Cedar's wolf growled her approval and it was all she could do not to roll her eyes as her beast responded to the challenge in Alexei's eyes and his words. Oh, he was very good; she had to give him that. He was deliberately appealing to her wolf side, issuing the challenge in such a way that she would have a hard time refusing it. A two rule game? She wondered what his would be. She was under no illusions that he would keep his secret until she told him hers first.

"No biting," she drawled softly, surprised to see a hint of disappointment in his eyes for a brief second before he quickly masked it.

"Does that apply to both of us or just me?" he asked with a little smile. "Because frankly I really don't mind if you want to have a little nibble, Cedar." Her no biting rule had thrown him. It was a given that he wouldn't bite her so she had effectively wasted her one rule. But if she imposed the rule on herself then how was she going to attempt to mate with him? He was surprised at how much he wanted her to try and bite him.

"I bet you don't," she laughed softly, humour flashing in her eyes as well as a touch of excitement. "Fine, I'll clarify my rule. You are not allowed to bite me, Alexei."

He smiled widely and nodded his head slowly accepting her rule while fighting down the thrill of excitement which went through him. "That was always a given," he chuckled lightly, "But you've made it your rule now so you can't take it back. A bit of a wasted opportunity there, Cedar."

A perfect eyebrow arched in his direction as her soft lips teased the side of her glass as she drank slowly. "You're working on the assumption that I wanted a rule, Alexei," she countered with her own little laugh watching his eyes narrow slightly and a smile quirk his lips at her words.

Damn, she was good! It was all he could do not to cross over to her and lick the tangy taste of wine from her delectable lips. There was a wildness in Cedar Alexander. She appeared so chic, so refined but underneath it all she was a wolf to her very core, untamed and very unpredictable.

"You're rule?" she asked setting her wine glass down and leaning back against the counter, resting her elbows behind her. She knew she was accentuating her curves as she heard Alexei's sharp intake of breath and she bit her bottom lip lightly just to heighten his discomfort. She was being a dreadful little tease and she would most probably pay for it but he was trying so hard to dominate her that she couldn't help responding. 

Alexei was speechless for a long moment, his gaze caressing her perfect breasts before sliding back to her face and her deliciously plump bottom lip which was still being grazed by her delicate little teeth. He almost snorted out loud at the thought. He knew just how sharp a Were's teeth could be, how viciously they could rip into a vampire's flesh. Watching hers scrape along her soft lips made him want to feel them scraping along the side of his neck, over his chest and moving steadily down until she reached the part of him that was about ready to explode he was so fucking turned on just looking at her.

"No lies," he growled softly, watching surprise dance across her face and smiling slowly. "What, Cedar?" You expected something else? Something a little more base and earthy?" He raised an eyebrow at her as her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I did consider my rule very carefully. I was tempted to demand that you had to ask every time you wanted me, not just ask but beg me. That was an exceedingly tempting proposition but not very fair on you. I'd win the game much too easily if I made that my rule."




The Council Ch. 03



Cedar was stunned by his rule, stunned and concerned. No lies? She couldn't agree to that but if she didn't agree he would get up and leave. She would lose him in a heartbeat. 

She knew Alexei wasn't a naturally trusting man, that he held himself aloof from most people, rarely allowing anyone close to him. Probably his brother and Demetri Bozic were the only two people who he completely trusted. His no lies rule told her so much in those two simple words. He wanted to trust her but was afraid to, hence the need to have that as his rule, so he could start to let her get close. 

And she couldn't agree to it.

Alexei tried to read the expression on her face but it was carefully guarded, a slight tightening of her lips the only sign that she was thinking about something very carefully. He was fighting down a deep frown as she didn't automatically agree to his rule. She was incapable of agreeing to it? She was incapable of being truthful with him? 

Just the thought made him angry. Angry and a little hurt. He wanted to trust Cedar but he was nowhere near that stage yet. He knew practically nothing about her as a person and he didn't trust easily. It was what had kept him alive so long, his natural distrust of people. He rose from the sofa, putting his wine glass on her low coffee table.

"Honesty shouldn't be such a hard concept to deal with," he said coldly, raking his eyes over her face. "If you can't agree to the rule then the game ends here, Cedar." He was disappointed in her, disappointed that his first impressions of her could be so wrong.

"I didn't say I wouldn't agree to it, Alexei," she answered slowly with a little frown marring her forehead. "But I have a condition first."

If anything, her response infuriated him more. What conditions could apply to honesty? Either you were honest or you were dishonest, there was no grey area in between. Not in his mind anyway. "No conditions," he answered with a dark scowl turning to head out the front door.

Cedar's heart began to thump rapidly in her chest as he started retreating from her, starting running from her as fast as his long legs could carry him. "Alexei, wait," she called softly, not hearing the almost whispered plea in her voice but he did. He halted at the front door without turning around, waiting tensely to hear what she had to say.

"I can't do anything that will hurt my pack, Alexei, my family," she said quietly. "You could ask me anything about them and I would have to answer truthfully if I agree to your request. What's to say you won't ask me something that would enable you or some of your kind to hurt them?"

Her words shocked him. They shocked him because he hadn't considered that he could be putting her in such an awkward position with his rule. The fact that he hadn't factored in how lucrative it could be to have such control over a Beta in a Were pack stunned him. It proved just how much she addled his thinking. 

But what shocked him the most was the fact that she didn't trust him either. He had just assumed that she automatically would because he was her mate. He had thought it would be an automatic thing for her. He didn't like the fact that she didn't trust him. It gnawed at him like an unbearable itch he couldn't scratch.

He turned slowly to regard her thoughtfully for a long moment. "My rule works both ways, Cedar," he finally answered carefully. "I expect no lies from you and I will give you no lies in return. So when I give you this one condition you will know I will hold to my end of it. I will not ask anything about pack life which is detrimental to your people. If you feel something I ask borders on that, you may refuse to answer and I will accept that. Is this condition acceptable?"

"Agreed," she answered instantly, her beautiful face showing a small flicker of relief. He didn't know if she was relieved because she could keep her pack safe or relieved because he wasn't going to leave.

He was supposed to be teaching her a lesson. It had been the thought in his mind when he started this little game with her but she looked oddly vulnerable at the moment, not as arrogant and sure of herself and he was fighting the urge to cross the room and just hold her, to take her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be just fine. 

It was a foreign feeling for him. Tenderness was not something he experienced very often in his life but at this moment he was feeling tenderness for the beautiful wolf before him.

He smiled slowly and shook away the feeling. She seeped far too easily under his guard. He would need to remember that so he could stay one step ahead of her. If he didn't, she would win the game and he didn't like to lose. "So we have our rules," he sighed softly, moving back into the room, slowly taking off his leather jacket and tossing it on one of the chairs. He sat back down, his eyes intent on hers.

"Mr Tall, Blond and Handsome. Were you going to invite him inside if I hadn't been here?" He was surprised when the question came out of his mouth. He had no idea that his irritation at seeing her with the other man had been festering inside him. He had been so intent on laying the ground work for their game that it had slipped his mind.

A smile curved over her luscious lips as she hopped down from her stool and made her way over to the sofa, choosing to sit on the opposite end of it and put her wine glass down on the coffee table. Cerulean blue eyes met his. "Yes."

His nostrils flared with anger and he had to force himself to stay where he was and not react to the instant rage that clouded his mind.

"But not in the way you're thinking, Alexei," she laughed softly. "James is a work colleague. I have a file he needs for tomorrow morning, which is why he accompanied me home in the cab. He was going to come in and get it because I'm on leave tomorrow. I had to send him away because I scented you close and didn't want him to be accidentally hurt in any way. So now I have to go into work in the morning to give him the file."

He slowly relaxed seeing no sign of deception on her face. A work colleague he could cope with. He would be able to contain his need to go looking for the man and let him know in no uncertain terms that she was off limits to him. 

"Maybe we need another rule each?" he suggested dryly. "I don't share my toys, Cedar. I never have. If you don't believe me just have a little chat with Andrei."

She laughed softly again, her eyes sparkling with humour. "You never did strike me as the sharing type," she agreed. "I don't think I need any clarification from Andrei on that point. A joint rule, Alexei, because I don't share either." There was a hard, possessive edge to her tone which his feral side approved of immensely.

She really was breathtaking. He was hard and aching for her despite the weariness he felt. She did make his weariness worse with having to be so mentally alert when all he wanted to do was lie down and go to sleep. But her scent was teasing him mercilessly. She was so close to him. All he had to do was move a little closer and they would be touching, his hands on her soft, creamy skin.

He had only touched her once before and that simple touch had been enough to almost drive him insane with need. His eyes travelled to the graceful curve of her neck. He could still remember what it felt like to hold her fragile neck in his hands, the bolt of pure electricity which had travelled from her skin to his hand and made him want her more than he already had.

"Do we need to go through the whole chase thing?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low, husky sound.

Her soft tinkling laughter greeted his question and his eyes moved to her face to watch the amusement dance across her perfect features. Excitement flashed in her eyes as she tilted her head to the side. "You've already proved yourself to my wolf, Alexei," she sighed softly. "You saved my family, my pack. And I don't want my house wrecked. I like it just the way it is."

She had barely finished speaking when he was moving towards her, no longer able to stay away from her. He needed to taste her, to touch her, to give into the insatiable hunger she created inside him. Her eyes widened fractionally as he moved so quickly and then he was reaching for her, pulling her into his arms and lowering his head to capture her soft lips.

A muffled groan escaped him as their mouths touched for the first time. It was a light kiss, a soft brushing of lips which did not reflect his need to completely devour the woman in his arms. He wanted to taste her first, savour this first melding of their lips so he could file the memory away and pull it back out time and time again when they were apart from each other.

She tasted amazing, sweet and spicy with a hint of the wine they had been drinking. Her lips were so soft against his, parting to allow his tongue to dip deep inside to lap leisurely against hers. It had to be the gentlest, sweetest kiss he had ever had and it made him breathless, setting his heart racing. 

He groaned again and deepened the kiss, pressing her soft curves against his chest as he ravished her lips with a hunger that surpassed anything he could remember feeling before. She was intoxicating and he couldn't get enough of her mouth, of the way her tongue chased his aggressively back into his mouth as she raised herself onto her knees and threaded her hands into his hair.

Cedar thought her heart might actually explode it was racing so fast as her mate devoured her lips as if he were starving for her touch. She had waited so long for him; she wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming, that Alexei really was crushing her tightly to his chest, his hot mouth sliding endlessly against hers in the most passionate kiss she'd ever experienced. Her hands stroked down his neck, a deep moan escaping her as she touched his hot skin and felt the hard muscles underneath.

Her kiss faltered slightly as she felt the tenseness in his neck and shoulders, her hands gently gliding over his silk shirt in almost an exploratory fashion. He seemed to sense her hesitancy and pulled back to look quizzically at her.

"When did you get back?" she asked curiously, her fingers going to his shirt and slowly unbuttoning it to reveal his wide, muscular chest. She couldn't stop her hands from trailing lightly over him to brush gently against his nipples as he sucked in a deep breath.

"A few hours ago," he answered, his voice low and husky as she continued to stroke lightly down to his rib cage.

"Turn around," she ordered softly and he frowned and let out a low growl, obviously not wanting to do as she asked. She met his intense gaze as her hands moved back up his body to slowly ease the shirt from his back. "You're stiff," she sighed with a little smile curving her lips at the slightly sardonic look he gave her.

"You're going in the wrong direction to determine that," he remarked drolly but he did as she asked, turning and presenting his back to her. He held his breath as her delicate little fingers trailed through his long, thick hair slowly before she brushed it gently over his shoulders. Her touch was so light, so tender that it made his breath hitch in his throat and his cock throb painfully in his jeans. It was the least sexual thing any woman had ever done to him and yet it was the most erotic thing he could remember.

"Lie down," she commanded and he was automatically doing it without thinking about what he was doing. He was face down on the sofa with her straddling his thighs before he realised she was ordering him about and he was meekly allowing her to. He stiffened and started to rise but she pressed firmly into his shoulder blades and it felt so damned good that he groaned instead and allowed her to continue her ministrations.

Slowly her hands kneaded his shoulders and roamed down his back. When she came to a tense muscle her touch became firmer as she worked out the kinks and then she would gentle her stroking and lean forward and press her lips against the spot she had just loosened.

Alexei sighed in pleasure and closed his eyes. Allowing his wolf to have her way every now and then was not necessarily a bad thing. And what she was doing for the tension in his body felt pretty amazing. It was as if she was stroking all the weariness from his body with her deft little touch.

Cedar continued to stroke Alexei's back and shoulder, thrilling at the feel of his hot skin underneath her fingers, shivering as he uttered low growls almost unconsciously. He was so foolish her vampire. He should have waited until tomorrow to come looking for her if he was only just back from Ecuador. She would probably have been annoyed that he hadn't come looking for her straight away but she would have lived with it, knowing that he needed to rest.

Her lips quirked in a little smile as she felt him slip completely into sleep, all the tension leaving his body as he surrendered to the need to rest. She leaned forward and kissed the back of his neck gently before she eased off his body and knelt beside the sofa. She stared into his sleeping face which was partially covered by his hair. He was the most beautiful specimen of a man she had ever seen and he was all hers.

With another smile, Cedar rose and padded lightly up the stairs to her bedroom. She dug out a blanket and headed back downstairs, covering the exhausted vampire before brushing his hair back from his face so she could brush his cheek lightly with her lips. 

"Goodnight, Alexei," she whispered softly, holding her breath when he stirred slightly at the sound of her voice. He settled back down and she turned and headed back upstairs.

Typical man! Turns up at her door, issues his silly ultimatums and then passes out just when things are getting interesting. She rolled her eyes as she stripped off her clothes and climbed naked into bed. So, Alexei thought this was all a game, did he? She chuckled lightly as she settled down to go to sleep. If he honestly thought that then he was in serious danger of losing the game before it had even begun. Despite his dire warnings, and fierce expression he had caved like a baby and fallen asleep in her domain. Alexei Romanov was half way to defeat and he didn't even know it.

Alexei woke up after sleeping for a couple of hours. He felt rested, warm and extremely comfortable apart from the fact that he still had his boots and jeans on. The room was dark but his enhanced sight could see everything as if it was daylight. He was still at Cedar's house but he was alone in the room. 

Christ, he'd fallen asleep? He'd been kissing his wolf, revelling at finally having her in his arms and he'd gone and fallen asleep on her? He knew he was tired after the flight but how he could have passed out on Cedar was beyond him. If she hadn't been running her hands all over his back sleep would have been the farthest thing from his mind.

His lips twitched in a rueful little smile. He wondered if she had been pissed when he passed out. Or maybe she had been disappointed? She had been into his kisses, the scent of her arousal making him dizzy it had been so overpowering. He sighed and sat up trying to make up his mind what he wanted to do. He could get dressed and go home or he could go find his sexy wolf and find out if she was a grouch if she was woken up when it was still early.

He scented the air deeply, her sweet fragrance assaulting his nostrils. His body hardened instantly and he groaned softly. He had his boots and jeans off in an instant. He wasn't willing to wait any longer to be with her. A year was more than enough to wait. Silently he sped up the stairs, following her scent until he came to her bedroom.

Cedar was fast asleep in the middle of a large king sized bed. Her curls were tangled around her head, her breathing deep and even. She looked angelic as she slept, completely vulnerable. Alexei knew she was anything but. If he startled her too much there was a chance she would shift and attack him. His lips twitched and his eyes began to glitter fiercely. Now that would be interesting. Maybe he should startle her to see what happened?

He stalked to the bed slowly, his heart picking up a beat the closer he got to it. By the time he reached the side he'd changed his mind. She had said earlier she didn't want her house wrecked. That probably went doubly so for her bed. He eased back the covers and slid gently in beside her, curling his big body against her back and wrapping his arms around her to pull her tightly against him. His breath hissed out loudly as her skin connected with his, making his body throb painfully hard. Fuck, she felt so good.

She murmured in her sleep, a breathy whisper escaping her lips. "Alexei."

His heart faltered slightly as he sucked in a deep breath, listening to see if she would say anything else. She didn't and he slowly let out the breath he was holding. Was she dreaming of him? Was that why she said his name? Or did she just know instinctively that it was he who was invading her bed and pressing his aching body against hers?

Alexei had come to her bed with the express intention of waking her up and satisfying the itch that both of them were so desperate to scratch. But seeing her so relaxed, so trusting of having him in her domain, he suddenly didn't have the heart to disturb her rest. She had said she had the day off work tomorrow or today to be more precise. He had nothing planned either so he would have all day to learn every single inch of Cedar Alexander's sexy body, and he would use every precious second of that time.

Smiling softly, Alexei gently turned Cedar in his arms and positioned them so she was resting her head against his chest with his arms securely around her. He closed his eyes, surprised to find that his weariness was back again almost instantly. He snorted slightly, his chest rumbling quietly in a rueful laugh. 

This had to be the first time ever that Alexei Romanov had ever actually 'slept' with a woman. It was a novel concept for him and yet a strangely appealing one with the wolf in his arms. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the gentle rhythm of Cedar's breathing until he drifted back to sleep.

He came awake again to the sensation of lips travelling slowly over his chest, a wet tongue lapping lightly against his right nipple. His body was alert instantly, his hands threading in the soft curls that was fanning over his chest. He growled and pulled Cedar's face to his, crushing her lips ruthlessly under his hungry mouth, dragging her bodily on top of him so he could press his hard cock against her soft body.

He had no idea how long he had slept for and he didn't really care. It was morning and Cedar's body was pressing against his and he was determined that he was going to have her as he'd planned to have her the night before and hadn't quite managed to. 

There would be no interruptions, no falling asleep again, no conversations about it. They were going to have sex. Hot, hard, lustful sex which would have them both struggling to breathe at the end of it. From the way Cedar was kissing him back it appeared she had the same idea too which was fortunate for her because he wouldn't be taking no for an answer. He refused to be denied any longer.

Cedar moaned as Alexei took her breath away with a series of long, drugging kisses. She had been surprised to wake up and find him not only in her bed, but her body draped over his and his arms wrapped tightly around her. She had expected him to either still be sleeping on the sofa or to have left during the night. Not that she was complaining. Her wolf was growling loudly, desire coursing through her body as his hard naked body brushed against hers deliciously.

He rolled deftly and flipped her onto her back, his lips never leaving hers as he nudged a powerful thigh between her legs and rubbed against her scalding heat. She was so wet, so hot, her juices instantly soaking his thigh as he pushed the sheet back to free their bodies from it. Her scent immediately filled the room, the heady scent of a woman in heat, desperate for her man to claim her body.




The Council Ch. 03



A low growl ripped from Alexei's throat as her scent washed over him and his cock surged in answer to it. He ripped his mouth from hers and stared into her face, his breathing already harsh and ragged. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life. Her lips were swollen from his fierce kisses, her cheeks flushed with desire, her blue eyes smoky with passion.

He tightened his hands in her hair and tilted her head back so he could watch her with glittering eyes. He flexed his thigh between her legs again and hissed as a soft breathy moan escaped her lips and her eyes narrowed sharply even as her back and hips arched against his body. He did it again and then a third time, hissing every time she reacted to his movements, her juices coating his thigh liberally.

"Do you like that, Cedar?" he growled softly, bending his head to suck against her earlobe. "Remember the rules, little wolf," he added with a little laugh.

"You know I do," she gasped, her body arching once more as he rubbed his thigh against her. What wasn't to like? The brush of his thigh against her body was sending sharp bolts of electricity all through her body, igniting a flame deep within her which threatened to consume her completely. She wanted more, she needed more and she had a feeling he was going to draw his teasing out until she was ready to beg him for what she wanted.

He laughed again, a husky, sensual sound, as his lips travelled down her neck slowly. He wanted to look at her, really see her beautiful body. He raised his head and ran his heated gaze down to her breasts, his breath hitching in his throat. Her skin was so pale, her fleshy globes just perfectly sized for his big hands. Her light brown peaks were already puckered, the tips swollen hard and waiting for his touch.

"You're beautiful," he said huskily, the words almost ripped from him as he lowered his head to lightly flick his tongue against one hard tip. He barely grazed it, teasing her with his light touch before he moved to the other breast and repeated the caress. She shuddered beneath him and moaned softly, exciting him unbearably. He rewarded her with a harder flick of his tongue, his mouth dancing from breast to breast in soft subtle movements that had her breathless and filling his ears with the most erotic sounds which heated his blood.

Suddenly light and teasing wasn't enough for him. He wanted to drive her wild with pleasure, to turn her soft moans to harsher cries of ecstasy. His reaction to her surprised him. Whilst he had always been a considerate lover, never before had he been so intent on ensuring the woman he was with received such pleasure before. Cedar Alexander brought out something deep within him that made him feel less selfish, more giving.

But he wasn't being completely altruistic. He was showing his wolf just how much she needed him, just how much she craved him. When she was burning up inside he was going to reap the rewards of his hard work by sliding deep within her body and taking his own pleasure from her. His hot mouth clamped over a breast and he began to suckle hard, dragging sharp cries from Cedar's lips. Her fingers where digging into his head as she held him to her breasts, urging him to suckle harder, to scrape her taut nipples with his teeth.

He had to be careful not to allow his fangs to elongate. His venom was within his fangs so as long as they were carefully sheathed within his gums he could nip her lightly, scrape gently with his normal teeth. She reacted wantonly to the touch of his teeth against her nipples, arching into his mouth and holding him tightly to her.

Cedar's wolf was practically rabid as their mate nibbled and suckled against her breasts. She was being consumed with lust, desperate to have him inside her as he feasted on her body with obvious relish. She knew if he put his hands between her legs she would be almost embarrassingly wet for him but she didn't care. She ached to feel his hands stroking her, his fingers deep inside her body in a prelude of what was to come.

Her scent called to him, sweet, spicy lemongrass coupled with the musky scent of her juices preparing her body for him. His mouth roamed hungrily over her soft skin, skimming her taut stomach as he made his way to the intoxicating aroma that had his mouth watering and his heart hammering wildly in his chest.

Control! He had to keep control. No fangs, no biting. Just licking, nibbling, suckling against her sexy body. He paused when he reached the pale, bare skin of her mound. She was a woman of the current era, grooming her sex as a lot of women did. Her skin was hair free, soft and fragrant and creamy white. He hissed low in his chest, his lips brushing the fragile skin as Cedar gasped out aloud and pressed up against his mouth.

He had to maintain control! He took a deep breath and wished he hadn't. It just forced her scent even further inside him instead of calming him down. His tongue snaked out to lick against her soft skin slowly before he scraped his teeth gently against her and then suckled firmly. He wanted to mark her, to brand her his. He knew the love bite wouldn't last long, that her Were healing abilities would eradicate it but it would stay for a little while. Hopefully.

He raised his head as ran his hand over her mound, feeling the heat and moisture of his mouth against her flesh. His eyes flickered up to hers and found her watching him through half lidded eyes. A slight smile curved her luscious lips as her breath panted out. 

"Watch the teeth," she breathed softly even as she pressed against his hands. Feeling him scrape against her skin was incredibly exciting but also a little worrying. It was dangerous and they both knew it. If he got carried away? Still, the danger sent a thrill of pleasure through her, the fact that he wanted to mark her somehow satisfying her wolf immensely. He was powerless to resist the mating pull. He stroked against her mound lightly and she moaned loudly and bucked her hips again as he smiled wickedly at her.

The lust on her face took his breath away and the words that were dancing on his lips vanished. He had been of the mind to taunt her a little more, force her to tell him truthfully what his touch doing to her. But her expression was eloquent enough and he was suddenly more interested in completing his journey to her hot, pulsing sex.

He growled and brought his mouth back to her body, desperate to taste her sweetness. His hands were more impatient, pushing her thighs apart so he could feast his eyes and mouth on her hot sex. She was stunning, her body glistening with her honey, her slick folds pink and swollen from the rush of blood to her sex. He slowly slid his tongue along her wet slit, his growl rumbling louder in his chest as her delicate flavour exploded onto his tongue and made his head spin. Fuck her essence tasted almost as good as he knew her blood would taste. If he could actually taste her without giving in to the urge to sink his fangs into her soft flesh.

Lapping at her sweet dew was the best he was going to get at the moment until they worked out just how he could feast on her hot blood without killing her. Not that he was complaining too much. Her taste was addictive, his tongue sliding roughly along each fleshy fold, seeking out every drop she had to offer him, which was copious amounts because the more he licked the more aroused she became.

He dipped his tongue deep inside her body, licking slowly against her soft walls before spearing her over and over again in a teasing prelude to what he was going to be doing with his cock very soon. He wanted to feel her hands on his body, her tongue licking every inch of his hot skin but he knew he was too impatient to have her to let her enjoy him as fully as he was enjoying her. The next time she could show him just how much he belonged to her. For now he was going to drive her wild until she shattered against his mouth and gave him everything, her very essence, her total surrender.

With a deep groan he lapped long and hard up her slit until he came to her throbbing little nub which was hard and pulsing eagerly against his lips. He kissed her lightly and she cried out and jerked wildly against him. She was so sensitive, so lost in her lust that it would take no time to push her over the edge. His mouth drew her clit deep inside, his tongue ruthless as it flicked against the little bundle of nerves as he suckled gently. 

She cried out loudly, her thighs trembling wildly as she bucked against him and shattered with a loud, lusty scream. His nostril flared, a loud answering groan rumbling from his chest as his woman's climax washed over him, her hot juices flooding his mouth as he feasted eagerly against her. Never had a woman's release intoxicated him so much. He was almost ready to explode himself just from her uninhibited response to his touch.

What Alexei was doing to her body bordered on the criminal. The pleasure he wrung out of her was like nothing she had ever experienced before. His mouth was so wicked, his lust and enjoyment evident in the way he had attacked her aching pussy with his lips and tongue. She was still seeing stars from the intense climax she'd just experienced, could still feel the harsh rasps of his tongue against her sensitive folds. Dear God, Alexei Romanov was killing her and she was going to die a very happy woman.

She was still trembling wildly from her climax when his need to possess her broke his iron control. He couldn't wait any longer, he had to feel her hot body sheathing his. With another groan he was sliding up her body, hooking an arm underneath her right leg to open her up for his possession, to give him the perfect angle to slide deep inside her.

He thrust in deep, a loud hiss forced from his lips as her body accepted him eagerly, welcomed him into her tight, pulsing canal. Fuck she felt so perfect, so hot and tight and velvety soft as she gripped his aching shaft tightly. For a moment he was rooted to the spot, buried deep inside her, staring down into her gorgeous face and seeing the pleasure dance across her very expressive features.

Cedar arched up beneath him, trembling wildly as her mate claimed her for the first time, his long, thick cock sliding deep within her, filling her so completely. She cried out loudly, pressing her body eagerly against his as he bottomed out inside her with one hard thrust, taking her breath away completely. She knew he would be an accomplished lover and she wasn't disappointed. Alexei didn't mess around, he went straight for what he wanted

Then he began to move. His hips flexed and he withdrew slowly and plunge in deep once more drawing a harsh cry from Cedar and another loud hiss from himself. He wanted to take his time, to fully enjoy this first joining but he'd waited so damned long to be inside her that now he was, all he could think about was getting to his end goal.

He dropped her leg to the bed and gathered her tightly in his embrace, his hands threading in her hair to hold her head still so he could ravage her mouth as he ravaged her body. Alexei began to stroke into her tightness with long hard strokes, his tongue dancing into her mouth in a wild, echo of his body surging into hers.

He caught every moan, every groan she issued as she wrapped her long legs tightly around his waist and she met his thrusts with equally as aggressive thrusts of her own. Her hands where on his back, her nails raking down his skin as her body slid sensuously against his. She was wild, passionate, perfect in every way and her lust fuelled his like no other. He increased the pounding of his body into hers, her wolf strength matching his perfectly.

He knew he was close to achieving his release. He wanted their joining to last longer but his body was craving his release too badly. Feverishly he kissed the side of her neck, lapping eagerly at the spot he so wanted to sink his fangs into and couldn't. He stroked her hard and fast with his body as well as his hands and lips. He felt the tension coiling in the pit of his stomach, knew she was about to send him to heaven and back again in the space of a couple heartbeats.

"Cedar," he growled against her lips, kissing her wildly. "Cum for me, my wolf," he urged raggedly. "Cum with me."

He ground his cock ruthlessly against her as he felt himself expand. He let out a fierce growl as her pussy clenched tightly around his and she shattered against his cock, pushing him that last little distance to his own release. His hot cum exploded deep inside her, bathing her beautiful body with his sticky essence. He cried out again and emptied more of his seed into her as his climax continued to stoke hers and her own cries turned to a long, low wail.

Alexei shuddered against her until his pleasure ebbed and then he lowered himself carefully against her softness, being careful not to put his full weight on her. He was quite literally stunned by the dizzying heights he had reached with her. It was as if she had ripped his climax from his very soul, it had been so intense. With a groan he rolled to his side and lay beside Cedar with his eyes closed. He listened to her ragged, panting breaths as she rolled to face him and her soft hand came to rest over his wildly beating heart.

Alexei Romanov knew in that instant that he was in serious trouble. Now he had tasted the perfection of Cedar Alexander he would never let her go. Despite everything he had read about Were matings and working out that she was claiming him as hers, there had been a little part of himself that had still rebelled against the whole concept even as he reluctantly accepted it. 

He slowly opened his eyes and started deeply into hers, his breath hissing out slowly. There was no more denying it. Cedar Alexander belonged to him completely. And God help anyone who tried to take her away from him.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 04



Cedar lay with her hand on Alexei's chest feeling the rapid beating of his heart against her palm. His eyes opened slowly and she was pinned in their smoky brown depths as he pierced her with a look that screamed possessiveness. She was already fighting to control her breathing after the wild, tumultuous passion they had just shared, but now she couldn't seem to draw a single breath for the space of at least three heartbeats.

He knew! 

The way his gaze kept her pinned mercilessly was enough to convince her that he knew everything, that he understood what was happening between them. When he had come to her last night, he had not been so certain, she was sure of that. He had been calmer than she had expected him to be, less aggressive despite his little game, but the utter conviction of knowing he was her mate had not been in his eyes. Now it was and she didn't know what to do about it.

Cedar hated being uncertain. It wasn't in her nature to question herself. She always knew what she was doing and why she was doing it. But for the life of her she couldn't work out what to do at the moment. Should she ask him outright? He hadn't said anything and despite his intense gaze he didn't look like he was about to either. 

"Cat got your tongue, Cedar?" he suddenly whispered silkily, his lips tugging in a slight smile. "You look like you're about to choke if you don't spit out whatever it is you're trying so hard not to say."

She swallowed loudly at the slightly mocking tone in his voice. He was bloody playing with her! He wasn't about to admit to anything. He was waiting for her to be the one to ask, to bring the whole question of their being mates out into the open. She bit the inside of her lip to keep silent, struggling not to frown as another thought struck her. 

Would he class it as a lie if she kept silent? It was technically a lie by omission if she said nothing. Would that breach the rules of his game or could she work it into the condition applicable to the pack? It would be extremely detrimental to the pack if it came out that Weres could mate with vampires. She knew even as she thought it that it was a weak argument. Alexei could counter that easily with him being her mate and being unable to do anything which would cause her any harm.

Alexei tried hard not to laugh out loud at the consternation on Cedar's beautiful face. She seriously did look like she was about to choke as she tried to work out what to do for the best. She managed to school her expression for the most part but she kept swallowing hard, a slightly panicked look entering her eyes. He really should put her out of her misery but now he had scratched his itch he was more of a mind to continue playing with his sexy little wolf.

The ringing of her cell phone put an end to his entertainment and he growled softly as he reached out to the bedside table on his side and picked it up. A quick look at the display showed the name Jared. "It's your Alpha," he drawled softly, handing her the phone. "Probably calling to see if you're still alive," he added with a laugh.

His monitoring of her call irritated her and she scowled at him as she rose from the bed and answered the call.

"I believe you have something you want to tell me?" Jared asked curtly in his no nonsense Alpha voice.

Cedar swallowed again only this time it was not the annoying vampire in her bed who was making her uneasy. "Jared," she answered, trying to make her voice sound normal even as she was trying to hide a slight flush to her face at the rebuke in her Alpha's voice. "I had every intention of telling you as soon as I knew if it was a real possibility."

"And was it?" he barked back at her, still clearly annoyed. "Did he come to your house last night? Or should I be asking if he's still there?"

"Yes to both questions," she said quietly crossing the room to pick up her robe from where it was lying on a chair in the corner and sliding into it. "Do you want me to come to the compound?"

"I want you to tell me I didn't make a mistake giving Alexei your address last night, that you're okay," he answered, his voice slightly less irate, a hint of concern creeping into his tone.

Cedar blinked in surprise and sat down in the chair she'd just liberated her robe from. "It was you?" she gasped softly. She hadn't even wondered how Alexei had found out where she lived. She had just assumed he has found the information out somehow using his vampire skills. That it was her Alpha who had supplied the information shocked her immensely.

"He was skulking around the compound," Jared answered, almost sounding sheepish this time. "Luckily for him it was me who scented him and not some of the younger pack members. You know how skittish some of them still are. It was also lucky that Loretta had visited with Andrei earlier too and so I was informed of the situation which had arisen." His tone hardened slightly making it clear that he was still put out by only now finding out about the matings.

Cedar felt herself wilt slightly. She had disappointed her Alpha and she felt bad about it. Jared and Millie had placed such trust in her and she had let them down. "I'm sorry, Jared," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

There was silence on the other end of the phone and then a long, weary sigh. "As I told Loretta, we'll work something out somehow. What's done is done," he conceded. "Both of you will have the full support of the pack, the same support we would give to all pack members." Jared's tone was gentler now, more supportive and it helped ease her discomfort.

A low growling noise from the bed had her looking over to see Alexei watching her with eyes there were glittering with barely controlled rage. She suddenly realised he could most probably hear both sides of the conversation on the phone and he was clearly unhappy about what he was hearing.

"Jared, do you want me to stop by the compound?" she asked again, her tone brisker and almost back to normal.

"No, just keep me informed on what's happening. Call me daily if you're not planning on visiting the compound any time soon, just so I know he hasn't killed you." 

Cedar quickly ended the call and then looked at Alexei with an irritated expression. The stupid vampire was still growling. "What is you problem?" she demanded sharply. She'd already had to put up with one dressing down already. Now she had to put up with Alexei acting like an ass?

Alexei growled again only this time it was the tone of her voice that was setting off his anger. It was adding to the rage he felt bubbling inside him which had sprang up quickly as he had listened to the way Jared had spoken to her. The way her face had paled, the stricken expression which had crossed it, the subdued, submissive tone to her voice had instantly infuriated him. No one had any right to do that to his wolf. He didn't give a fuck if Jared Hanlon was her Alpha. If he spoke to her like that again he would......he would get pissed as hell and do absolutely nothing about it.

Which only served to irritate him even more? He couldn't hurt her Alpha because that would hurt her. His reading of the whole Were pack life made it abundantly clear that the Alpha's word was law unless he was challenged for his position. Pack laws were part of who Cedar was, what she was used to, what was normal for her. It didn't mean that he had to like it but if he was going to be walking in her world then it was something he was going to have to come to terms with somehow.

Her irritation at him clearly indicated that she wouldn't appreciate him getting involved in the conversation she'd just had with Jared. He snorted loudly. Conversation? More like dressing down from what he'd heard. He struggled to dampen down his anger but he was failing quite miserably at it. He wanted to break something, anything, preferably Jared Hanlon's face. 

He shot up from the bed and flew across the room to her, pulling her up from the chair and hissing loudly in her face. "Don't push me, Cedar," he growled quietly after taking a deep breath to control his rage. "I'm already struggling to control my anger at the way your Alpha spoke to you." The way he hissed out the word Alpha was enough to let her know just how infuriated he was.

Cedar swallowed hard as she stared up into his irate face. Damn, this was all she needed! She hadn't thought about how Alexei would react to her status within the pack. Yes, she had known that there was a good possibility she would have to leave the pack to be with him, that he would be uncomfortable being a part of pack life because of his natural bias towards all Weres. But she hadn't considered that he would object to Jared so much, that his need to protect her as his mate would conflict so badly with Jared's position of authority over her.

"He is my Alpha, Alexei and I let him down," she answered as calmly as she could, trying not to anger him any further. "He is responsible for the safety of two hundred people and my actions have impacted on that. It is his right to be angry about it whether you agree with it or not."

His nostrils flared and his breath hissed out in irritation but the hands on her arms gentled slightly and she could see him making a huge effort to contain his fury. A deep rush of pride welled up inside her as she watched her beautiful vampire struggle with his emotions. He was trying so very hard and she knew how difficult it was for him. He wasn't used to curtailing his feral nature. 

They stared at each other for another long moment before Alexei released her and stalked back to the bed, throwing himself down on his back. He was still clearly annoyed but he was in control again, his temper firmly leashed.

Cedar wondered again if she should broach the whole mating discussion. Jared hadn't actually said the words on the phone but the context of the conversation had clearly been about that.

"Don't think I'm going to accede to his authority too." Alexei said quietly, a disgruntled edge to his tone. His words surprised her and her eyes flew to his in shock. He was watching her intently, his expression closely guarded though his eyes had a febrile glitter to them. His lips twitched in a little smile at her stunned expression. "I grew weary of you looking like you were ready to choke, Cedar," he said wryly.

She approached the bed cautiously as she tried to work out what she was going to say. That he had caved in first and admitted he knew what was happening between them, stunned her. He didn't appear to be particularly bothered about it either. But he could just be playing with her again. He appeared to like his little games, a lot.

"Remember the rules, wolf," he growled softly. "This doesn't fall under the condition either." He reached up and grabbed her hand, tugging her down onto the bed beside him and rolling until she was beneath him and he was staring down into her face. "Just when were you going to tell me about this little mating issue?" His tone was silkily soft, too soft for her liking.

"I don't know," she admitted honestly. "I hadn't quite worked out when would be the best time to bring it up. Or even if there was a best time to do so."

Alexei's eyes flitted over her face, the heat of her body stirring his lust again even as he searched her expression intently to see if she was telling him the truth. Again he saw a slight hint of vulnerability in her eyes. It was so at odds with her usual arrogance that most people would probably never notice it about her but he did. It brought out the need for him to protect her, to keep her safe from everything. 

His protective side was usually reserved for his brother. And possibly Demetri too. Staring down into Cedar Alexander's stunning face he sucked in a deep breath as it hit him just how much he needed to protect her. The sudden need inside him rivalled even what he felt for Andrei and for a moment he actually felt a little flutter of fear at just how much power she had over him, how vulnerable she was making him. 

If anyone discovered how vital she was to him they could use her as a weapon against him. He had many enemies who wouldn't think twice about hurting her to get to him. Just the thought of one single hair being harmed on her beautiful head was enough to send him into a blinding rage. She shivered slightly in his arms and he realised he was growling again. Fuck, he sounded like a bloody wolf the way he kept growling in her presence!

He leaned down and gave in to the temptation to kiss her. It had been at least twenty minutes since he had last tasted her luscious lips and he wanted to take the look of vulnerability from her eyes. He didn't like seeing that expression on her face. A nice lusty, wanton expression was so much more appealing.

He slanted his lips over hers and dived eagerly into her mouth with his hot tongue, finding and engaging hers in an erotic dance that let her know in no uncertain terms just want he wanted to be doing with her.

"Alexei," she groaned pulling her mouth away from his and uttering a little moan when he simply brushed his lips against the side of her neck instead. "We need to talk about this," she tried again even though the feel of his mouth against her heated skin was sending her heart racing and a delicious ache to begin deep inside her body.

"No we don't," he murmured against her collarbone. "It will only make me angry and I'd much rather be doing this." He pushed aside her robe and pinched a nipple hard, making her cry out and arch into his hands. He laughed softly and tweaked at her nipple again, delighting in the reaction he received from doing so.

Cedar was two seconds from caving in and forgetting everything but the touch of his hands and mouth on her body. With another groan she pushed hard at his chest until he stopped trying to ravish her body and lay down on his back with a deep rumble of disapproval.

"Fine! You want to talk about this?" he snapped in frustration. "Yes, I know you're claiming me as your mate. Yes, I know it's completely absurd, but it appears I have no choice in the matter so it's bloody pointless fighting it! And no, I have no intention of joining your silly little pack so don't even bother asking me to. Now I think that answers most points but if it doesn't the rest can wait because it's all I'm going to say on the subject right now."

He turned his head to look at her, his eyes flashing so darkly they were almost black. His expression clearly dared her to open her mouth, to even try and push him any further. She would regret it if she did because he was about at the end of his patience with her. He had precious little to begin with at the best of times.

Cedar held his gaze, knowing if she looked away he would see it as a sign of weakness. His little outburst was unexpected but very informative. It confirmed everything she had guessed. He knew, he was accepting it and he wasn't happy about it. She had to fight hard not to smile. Her wolf was ecstatic. They had their mate, now they just had to figure out how to claim him properly. 

She licked her lips nervously as she tried to decide how to answer his outburst. His gaze automatically lowered to her mouth and his breath hissed out as he reached for her and pulled her on top of him, his mouth grinding hard against hers. 

Cedar moaned and pressed her body against his trying to get her robe off so there was nothing between their hot skin. The sudden shrill ringing of her cell phone brought a muffled curse from Alexei's lips and a deep groan from hers.

"Ignore it!" he ordered, kissing her again and trying to tune out the incessant ringing of the phone.

"Alexei, it might be Jared again," she murmured against his lips, trying to disentangle herself from his grasp. "It could be important."

He cursed again and let her go as his frustration level hit an all time high. Weren't Weres supposed to be insatiable when it came to sex? The books he'd read said they indulged themselves liberally. Had he chosen the most sexually repressed bloody wolf for his woman? How could she even think about answering a damned phone when he was rock hard and desperate to be sliding deep inside her body once more?

He heard her saying hello to 'James' and felt his anger surge instantly. It was Mr Tall, Blond and Handsome from the night before. The one she'd kissed on the cheek and who'd put his hand on her waist. 

With a muffled groan Alexei pulled himself up from the bed and headed towards the door that led into the bathroom. It slammed shut behind him as he turned on the shower and stepped quickly beneath it, fixing the temperature once he was inside. 

He really didn't want to listen to her have a conversation with her work colleague. Listening to her talk to her Alpha had been more than enough for one morning. He resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to get to indulge himself in her delights any time soon. She had said she needed to take a file into work for 'James'. Which would mean he was calling because he needed it.

Alexei snorted lightly and shook his head ruefully as the water rushed over his aching body. Cedar Alexander was driving him insane already and he'd been in her company less than twenty-four hours. This was what he had to look forward to? Uncontrolled emotions ripping through him endlessly? He was jumping from lust to frustration to fury all in a matter of seconds. Add in the protectiveness and the jealousy and he didn't know whether he was coming or going from one moment to the next. 

He had to get a handle on his emotions. He had to work out some way to deal with being with Cedar which didn't involve him rolling over in submission to her.

"Everything okay, Cedar?" James asked as the bathroom door closed with a resounding bang behind the irate vampire. 

She rolled her eyes as she sighed softly. "Yes, fine," she answered her colleague. "Just the wind catching a door." It was a lie but not one that related directly to her game with Alexei so he couldn't call her out on it. "So, when do you need the file?"

"Any chance you can get it to me by ten?"

She eyed up the bedside clock. It would take half an hour to get ready, twenty minutes to get to work. It had just gone eight, which left her an hour to spare. "Ten's perfect, James. See you then." 

She hung up and switched the phone off completely. She had one irate vampire in her shower and one hour to soothe his irritation. Anymore interruptions and he was likely to explode. Rolling her eyes again Cedar headed toward the bathroom.

Alexei was still grumbling under his breath, his head under the water which was probably why he didn't hear her enter the bathroom. He scented her though but kept his head under the spray. A soft hand ran lightly over his ass, the other running over the hunched muscles of his back. Damn, she was doing that back thing again. Was she hoping to put him to asleep again? There was no chance of that, not the way his body was throbbing and the speed his lust was escalating deep inside him.

Cedar roamed her hands over his back and ass, marvelling at how sculpted his body was. She hadn't had a great deal of opportunity to admire him earlier but she intended to take her time to do so now. He was so taut, his muscles finely honed, his skin hot and wet from the shower. It was all she could do not to rub herself against him and start purring. Which was a pretty strange thought to have because she was a wolf not a panther.

He allowed her to have her way with him which she found a little surprising. She could feel the tenseness in his body, the hard sexual need which he was holding rigidly in check. She expected him to turn around and take her with little or no foreplay involved. Instead he continued to lean his hand against the tiled wall and let her hands stroke over his body.

She slid her hands around his waist and gave into the temptation to lean against him. She stroked his stomach lightly feeling it contract and a low groan issue from his throat. She liked the fact that they were almost of an equal height. It meant she could rub herself against the taut cheeks of his ass as her hands slipped lower and stroked slowly over his throbbing shaft.




The Council Ch. 04



Another groan escaped him but it was louder this time as his hips automatically flexed at her touch. She fisted his cock in her hand and gave him a few long, hard strokes. She wanted to hear more of his lusty sounds and he gave them up almost helplessly.

"Cedar." It was a husky, lust filled groan that sighed out of his lips as he turned around and reached for her. She laughed softly and evaded his grasp by dropping to her knees before him. Lord he had a beautiful body. His cock was hard and pulsing wildly, long and thick and so incredibly tasty looking. She darted forward and slipped her mouth over the pulsating flesh, feeling his thighs tremble as he growled loudly.

Her own moan accompanied his as she sucked on his cock with relish. He tasted so wonderful, hard and yet soft, tangy and oh so delicious. She attacked him with enthusiasm, using her tongue and even her teeth lightly against his throbbing shaft. His hand fisted in her wet hair as he bucked into her mouth in a slow, steady rhythm.

Alexei's heart was hammering so hard in his chest he thought he would start to hyperventilate. He didn't think vampire's could but it felt like he was going to. Cedar's wicked mouth was driving him crazy. She was slowly killing him in the most wonderful way imaginable. He forgot that he was annoyed with her; he forgot everything but the feel of her wet mouth sliding so erotically over his cock.

He hissed when she used her teeth against him, a light scraping up his length that threatened to send him crashing over the edge prematurely. She was very talented. He couldn't remember a time he'd enjoyed a woman's mouth on his body so much. If he wasn't careful he would be cumming before he got a chance to slide back inside her incredibly sexy body.

It took all his willpower to pull her mouth from his cock. He didn't want the exquisite pleasure to end but he also didn't want to lose this chance of riding between her legs either. He used the hand in her hair to drag her to her feet and pressed her hard against him as his mouth found hers unerringly and he kissed her feverishly. The woman was just so totally intoxicating she took his breath away.

Cedar gasped as Alexei reversed their positions, pushing her under the shower as he moved behind her.

"Put your hands on the wall," he commanded in a low voice which was thick with need.

He used his thick thigh to spread her legs apart as she complied with his instructions. His fingers slid along her slit in a slow tantalising movement, flicking at her clit briefly before moving back to her opening and diving inside to tease her mercilessly. He set up a torturous pace, keeping one hand on her lower back while his thick fingers fucked hard into her body.

She was moaning within seconds, pressing back against his hand as he stroked inside her tight tunnel, finding the sweet spot inside her and turning his assault to that area. Her breath rushed out in a loud gasp, her stomach tensing as he deftly pushed her into her climax with a handful of rubs deep within her.

Cedar cried out loudly as the waves of pleasure wracked her body as he continued to stroke inside her until her orgasm began to subside. He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, running his lips up to her ear where he laughed huskily.

"Very nice," he drawled softly. It was more than nice; it was fucking amazing to watch her cum just from the touch of his hands. She was so erotic, so stunningly beautiful in her passion. He slid his fingers from her body and sucked on them slowly. Her taste was simply divine. He couldn't stop himself from sampling her a little.

Alexei eased his body between her legs and rubbed his throbbing cock up and down her slit in light, teasing movements.

"Don't let go, Cedar," he breathed softly a second before he drove ruthlessly into her body. She cried out loudly, her cry echoing his own as her hot body welcomed his once again. She was perfect for him in every way. Her muscles gripped his thick shaft so beautifully, squeezing him tightly as he rode in to the hilt.

He paused for a second to fully enjoy the feel of her tight tunnel sheathing him, then he slowly withdrew and surged back inside. He took her hard and deep, his hands digging into the side of her hips to give him the leverage to ravage her body deeply. She responded with low, throaty sounds, pressing back to meet his invading cock with a desperate need.

He couldn't ever imagine getting tired of fucking her, of listening to her sweet sounds of ecstasy. His heated gaze travelled over her creamy white skin as they rocked together in an erotic dance of lust and passion. His need was building quickly as he watched the water splash against her soft skin and trickle down her sides.

He suddenly pulled out of her completely, turning her swiftly so he could press her back to the wall and slide deep within her once more. His hand fisted in her hair and brought her mouth to his as he raised her right leg and hooked it around the back of his. He thrust into her deeply, rubbing his chest against her swollen breasts, feeling her hard nipples digging into him

Cedar moaned into his mouth, grasping him tightly to her as his cock continued to ravish her with harder faster strokes. She wanted to bite him so badly. Her wolf was howling her need as she felt her climax begin to build swiftly. She ripped her mouth from his as he surged deep within her once more.

"Alexei," she whispered breathlessly, completely unaware of the desperation which was in her eyes as he stared into her face. "I need..." she trailed off as he thrust deep once more.

"Need what?" he growled softly, bringing his forehead to hers and slackening off his pace a little to give her a moment to catch her breath. "What do you need, little wolf?"

"You," she moaned as if she were in pain. "Alexei, I need you."

The breath hissed out of his lips as he understood what she was telling him. The wild look in her eyes said it all. He was looking into the frantic gaze of her wolf. The need she spoke of transcended the erotic joining of their bodies. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, such as small fraction she probably didn't even notice.

"Then take me, Cedar," he whispered hoarsely suddenly feeling as desperate as she was. He thrust into her hard, pulling her mouth to his neck, shuddering when her teeth scraped along his skin until she came to the spot that she craved so much. He had to maintain control. He had remember not to let his fangs elongate.

The tension in his body was twofold, his climax was imminent as was his little wolf's. Her body was shaking with her pleasure, a deep moan escaping her as he rode hard and fast into her beautiful body. The other tension, the other deep need within him was for what she was about to do.

Her sharp teeth pierced the join of his neck and shoulder. 

He threw his head back and roared in ecstasy as his body exploded in the most intense climax he'd ever experienced. She was sucking at his neck hard, drinking down his pleasure laden blood as she shattered along with him, her cries muffled against his skin as he pumped his seed deep inside her body.

Alexei's thighs trembled hard and then his knees buckled completely and he was falling to the shower floor, his arms tightening around Cedar so she didn't get hurt. He cradled her tightly against him, their bodies still joined as tiny little aftershocks of pleasure rippled through them. She was no longer drinking from him, his wound already healed from her bite.

He trembled as he felt the difference within his body. Her wolf gene was racing through his bloodstream, causing God knows what changes to occur within him. Would the gene survive in his system or would his vampire genetics overwhelm it completely viewing it as a hostile foreign body trying to harm him?

He hoped for Cedar's sake that something managed to survive. The desperation in her eyes had told him just how important this was to her. He could most probably live without her mating ritual but he somehow didn't think she would find it so easy. He wondered if that was really accurate. The moment her desperation had translated to him he had been overcome with the same fierce need to have her bite him. He had wanted her to do it as much as she had needed to do it.

Alexei cradled his wolf close and closed his eyes. He had no idea what the hell he was doing anymore. He just wanted to be with the woman in his arms, to lose himself in her sexy body, to fight with her as they sought to dominate each other, to see her beautiful face glow with a radiant smile when he pleased her. For the first time in his life, his actions were no longer centred around himself and his brother. Cedar Alexander was firmly entwined in his life and he knew he was never going to be the same again.

Cedar's wolf growled her pleasure at having bitten their mate. Her face was still buried in the side of his neck and she could feel the smooth skin where she had bitten him. The bite had healed instantly. She could only pray that the wolf gene would prove more resilient to his healing abilities, that the connection would and could be made. Her wolf seemed to think it had but she wasn't so sure. Only time would tell if she had succeeded in doing her part of the mating ritual. How he was going to manage his was a whole other matter.

*****

Andrei snorted in irritation as he tried his brother's cell phone again and it went straight to voicemail. He didn't leave a message. He hadn't seen Alexei in almost a week and had barely spoken to him either. It was almost as if he was trying to hide from him. 

The out of character behaviour was starting to ring warning bells in Andrei's mind. Something wasn't right, he could sense it. Normally if they had been apart for so long, they were inseparable once they got back together. Where the fuck was he? He'd said he'd come back early to be there for the Council ceremony but it didn't look like he was going to show up at all.

"Nervous?" Alexei laughed from behind him and he spun around to glare at his errant brother who didn't appear the least bit bothered by the irate look he was getting.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Andrei demanded. "You've been impossible to get a hold of ever since you got back."

Alexei's grin widened and his eyes flashed with something Andrei couldn't quite make out. His brother appeared to be in a very good mood. No, it was more than that. Alexei actually looked content? His irritation increased tenfold.

"Calm down, Andrei," Alexei sighed with another little laugh. "You said yourself this is just a formality. I don't know why you're so tense about it." 

He was watching his brother carefully, looking for any sign that he would scent anything different about him. If Andrei could scent the wolf gene within him then he wouldn't be able to go to the Council ceremony. It was something he hadn't thought of when he'd accepted Cedar's mating bite. He knew he should have tested this out a lot earlier but he hadn't wanted to be too far apart from his wolf in the last week. Given a choice of spending time with his brother or spending endless hours getting to know his woman, Cedar won hands down, even though he could cheerfully choke her most of the time.

Andrei glowered at him a moment longer and then sighed deeply and rolled his shoulders to try and relieve a little of the tension inside him. "I'm not tense because of the stupid ceremony," he grumbled. "I've been on edge all week. Something just doesn't feel right and not being able to get hold of you hasn't helped matters. Where have you been, Alexei?"

"Playing," his brother smiled widely. "With a delectable little blonde, though little is probably the wrong word to use, she's almost as tall as I am. Still, she's been very entertaining." There was a glint in his eyes as he spoke, a flash of excitement which told his brother that he was particularly enamoured with the new woman in his life.

Andrei rolled his eyes. That explained the look of contentment on Alexei's face. At least one of them was getting some sex. He hadn't been with a woman since Loretta and his sexual frustration was only compounding his feeling of anxiety. The moment he thought of the little brunette he felt his body starting to react and he bit back a curse and tried to think of something else. 

Every time he thought of her he got the same reaction. It was irritating as hell that he reacted to her like that. It wasn't as if he was actually seeing her or anything. It had been a one off encounter, one he would have been happy to repeat but she hadn't returned or called so obviously she had other thoughts on the matter.

Andrei could feel his irritation starting to rise again and took a deep breath to dampen it down. He had a ceremony to get through and needed to be calm for that instead of getting annoyed because his brother was getting laid and he wasn't. If he really wanted a woman he just needed to reach out and take whatever tasty little morsel was hanging around waiting for his attentions. The fact that he was waiting for a particular tasty little morsel was his own stupidity.

"Come on, Andrei. What's got you so tense?" Alexei asked. "It's not like you to be this riled up."

Andrei sighed and pointed to two vampires who were approaching the building they were standing outside of. "My main adversaries," he said quietly. "The one on the left is Daniel. He's the biggest threat to my power."

Alexei hadn't seen either of the two before so he scrutinised them carefully so he could remember them. The one called Daniel was tall and lean and tended to dress in a style the harked back to the eighteen hundreds. He was full of little affectations from his frilly cuffs and velvet jacket to the way he wore his long black hair in a thick plait down his back that hung almost to his waist.

Alexei thought he looked like a pompous fool and couldn't help laughing. "You're sure he's your biggest threat? He's actually got time to do anything other than wash and dry his hair and then plait it so perfectly each day? What an ass!"

His mocking tone had his brother's mouth tilting up in a small smile. "There are some people who think I'm a nice, friendly vampire too," he reminded Alexei. "Appearances can be very deceiving. He's as much of a shark as Richard Graves ever was. He just hides it better. The other vampire with him is his sidekick, Roberto."

The other vampire looked pretty boring compared to his companion. Just another Elder with muddy brown hair and grey eyes. Alexei knew sidekicks needed to watched carefully. They had a lot to prove as Caleb and Demetri had found out to their grief last year when Graves' sidekick Sandro had almost killed their women. He filed Roberto away in his mind to check up on him later.

Another vampire was approaching and Andrei was suddenly very alert as he watched him. "That's Cristoph," he murmured quietly to his brother. "He is currently aligned with me at the moment but he requires certain incentives. He particularly favours obscure, one of a kind pieces of art but will accept shares in some of the companies I own."

Alexei scrutinised the vampire. He wore his hair shortish for one of their kind, his brown locks barely reaching his shoulders. He had a keen, intelligent expression in his green eyes. He nodded to Andrei as he made his way inside the building. Alexei didn't trust anyone who could be bought. There was always someone else who would be willing to pay that little bit more. He wondered idly if there was anything he could do to make Cristoph's loyalty a little more permanent.

"Andrei, Alexei," a voice called and Alexei's eyes turned to see Stephan approaching them, his hazel eyes full of pleasure, his wavy black hair blowing lightly in the breeze. He smiled automatically. Now this vampire he knew. He had been a friend of theirs for centuries now, someone you could trust to be loyal. The twins greeted him warmly.

"Why are you standing outside?" Stephan asked. "It won't be long until the ceremony starts."

"Alexei was running late and then I decided to give him an introduction to the Council as they arrived," Andrei answered was a small smile tugging at his lips. Stephan was his strongest ally on the Council. The one person he didn't have to watch his back from.

Stephan laughed. "And what did you think of our illustrious members, Alexei?"

The snort Alexei gave summed up his feelings on the matter.

"Now, now, Alexei, this is your Council you're snorting at. Who just so happen to be your new bosses. How does it feel having to take orders from this psychopath?" he smiled pointing at Andrei.

Stephan laughed at the mock outrage on both their faces. "I'm going to head inside. See you in there." He turned and hurried inside.

"I think Stephan is excited about being on the Council," Alexei chuckled lightly.

"Just a bit," Andrei smirked watching his friend disappear into the building. He felt a little better now that Alexei had been able to get a good look at the other Council members. He knew his brother would always have his back. Now Alexei knew who to start paying special attention to, he could relax a bit more. His anxiety levels were still elevated but not as bad as they had been.

"Come on, let's get inside," he said with a sigh. "The ceremony is due to start soon."

Alexei hesitated a second. "Andrei, do I smell alright?"

An expression of complete incredulity crossed Andrei's face as he turned back to look at his brother. "Smell alright? You want me to sniff you? Alexei, are you feeling okay because you're sounding like a raving lunatic at the moment."

His brother's face had hardened but there was something in his eyes which caused a little frisson of fear to go through Andrei. What the fuck was wrong with Alexei? Why was he acting so strangely? He took a deep breath, scenting his brother deeply. He smelled exactly the same as he always did. He didn't know what his issue was. Why he was suddenly concerned about the way he smelled?

He was about to open his mouth and make another scathing remark when he detected something so subtle that for a moment he thought he had imagined it but then he scented it again. It was weak, masked almost completely by his usual scent but it was there. Andrei doubted anyone else would be able to pick it up. It was only the close bond they had together, the fact that they were so in tune with each other that allowed him to detect the foreign scent.

His eyes hardened as he stared at his brother. He knew that scent. It was unmistakable. "We will talk about this later," he said in a cold tone. "For now, rest assured that no one else will be able to detect it. I almost missed it myself it's so faint. I would never have noticed it at all if you hadn't alerted me to the fact that something was out of the ordinary."

Alexei noticeably relaxed, relieved that the wolf gene wouldn't be picked up by any of his people. It would have been a bit hard to explain and Lord only knew what an uproar it would have caused in the Council chambers. He could see the anger burning in his brother's eyes and knew he was going to be on the receiving end of one of Andrei's legendary temper tantrums. 

But he didn't care. He had the confirmation he had been looking for all week. He could let Cedar know that the wolf gene had been accepted by his body. That would make her happy which by default would make him happy. He found himself practically humming with pleasure whenever his wolf was smiling at him.

Andrei hissed loudly. "Get inside, Alexei. Remember who and what you are." He didn't like the soft expression on his brother's face. It wasn't normal. It wasn't Alexei. 

Who the fuck had he let bite him and what the hell was the wolf gene doing to his brother? He couldn't believe Alexei was putting him in this position again. He was a Council member, about to officially take up his role on their ruling body and his twin had gone and let a wolf infect him? This was worse than last year. His fuck up last year was containable but how the hell did Andrei contain this one? How the hell was he going to protect Alexei when it came out that he was tying himself to a bloody dog?!




The Council Ch. 04



He followed his brother into the huge glass and steel building which served a dual purpose. It was a highly prosperous architectural firm run by their people but it was also the headquarters of the ruling body of vampires, the five member Council of Elders who were charged with ensuring their people obeyed the few rules that they actually had in place.

He turned to the left and entered the door marked private after scanning his iris into the electronic reader beside it. Alexei had already disappeared inside. Only one person could enter at a time, to ensure that all individuals had to scan their irises before entering the sanctity of the vampires in the large basement complex beneath the building. Security was paramount. It had to be because of The Council. There was no higher body than them and they had to be protected at all costs.

The hierarchy of Vampires was split into three groups, Ancients, Elders and Younglings. There were precious few Ancients left due to the fact that it took great skill to survive over two thousand years of life as vampire. There had been five of them but now there were only four left with the death of Graves last year. That number would increase to six soon, when Alexei and Andrei reached the exalted two thousand year mark in the next half century.

The Council was drawn from Elders for the simple reason that there wasn't enough Ancients to form a ruling body, that and the fact that the Ancients didn't want to be bothered with needless politics. They felt they had earned their right to live their lives in peace without being bogged down with trying to keep their kind in check.

Traditionally, Andrei shouldn't have been considered for The Council because his status would change within his two century tenure on it but he had managed to argue that there was no legal reason not to elevate him. That he turned Ancient while on the ruling body was not prohibited in any way. There was nothing written in their laws that said an Ancient couldn't elevate to The Council. They just didn't want to be on it.

Nothing stopped Andrei achieving the goals he set for himself. He had wanted on The Council and he had gotten what he wanted.

The brothers made their way downstairs and towards the large double doors at the end of a large, wide corridor, The Council chambers. The doors opened automatically and they walked into the enormous room which covered almost one half of the whole basement area of the building. 

The room was covered in white marble, the stones on the floor having flecks of black and grey in them to take a little of the glare away. To the left and right of the large audience chamber there were rows of dark wood benches which curved in a slight semi circle so everyone seated would be able to have an unobstructed view of the main dais, which had a large oak table with five high backed chairs behind it.

The room was already three quarters full as most of the local vampires were in attendance along with others who had travelled specifically for the ceremony. Andrei ran his eyes slowly over the gathering, his lips tightening slightly.

There was a noticeable gap closest to the left hand side of the dais, the area that was reserved for the Ancients. He would have thought at least Demetri would have shown up for the ceremony. He was his closest friend, the person he trusted most after Alexei. That none of the Ancients had bothered to come was like a slap in the face for the new Council. Despite the hierarchy in place, all vampires looked to the Ancients in awe, held them in such high esteem. 

Which was why Andrei had been so shocked last year when Caleb Cullen had turned on him and threatened to bring down the Council if he didn't ensure the Hanlon pack was protected from any fallout from the war with Graves. Andrei had known that the very fact that Caleb was the oldest of all of them would be enough for him to have a chance at doing just what he threatened that night. 

"Thought Demetri would have shown up," Alexei drawled at his side drawing an irritated frown from him.

"Maybe if he didn't think with his dick the way some other people seem to be doing, then he'd remember who he was and what his obligations were to his own people," Andrei bit back acidly striding away from his brother's mocking laughter and heading towards the dais and the assembled Elders standing behind the chairs.

Alexei smiled and moved over to the left hand side of the dais and sat down in the area reserved for the Ancients. He received a large number of pointed looks from the other Elders gathered on that side of the room, but he ignored them. If his brother was upset that these ten seats were empty then he would fill at least one of them. If anyone didn't like it they could piss off. This was Andrei's moment and he had already upset him with his mating with Cedar. He didn't want him upset any further.

Andrei reached the other four members of the Council Elect, his composure once more in place. It didn't serve to show any hint of emotion around these four. The power struggle within The Council was a delicate balancing act. At the moment the power only rested with Andrei because he had Stephan and Cristoph on side.

"Shall we get started?" Andrei drawled smoothly moving to take the very centre seat at the dais. It deftly told the gathered vampires just who to be wary of. Whoever sat in the middle seat had the power at that moment, the vampires on his left and right being the next most powerful members on The Council.

Andrei ran his eyes quickly over the room as he was flanked by Stephan and Cristoph. Protocol played a large part in vampire customs, seating arrangements being one of the most commonly used to rank power. Which was why there was a specific area set aside for the Ancients which no one was allowed to breach. The fact that Alexei was sitting right in the middle of that area with an unrepentant expression on his face was enough to make Andrei wish he could get up and go over and kick his ass for him.

He smothered down the smile that threatened to cross his face. He knew why his twin had done so and he appreciated his reasoning even though he knew he was going to jump on him with both feet the moment the meeting started. To not do so would reflect negatively on his power, a fact Alexei was very aware of. 

His brother was trying to atone for the foolish act he had committed. He was leaving himself open to censure to enhance Andrei's power on The Council. Everyone knew how close they were. If Andrei dressed his twin down before their people then his standing would be elevated higher than it currently was.

The room began to settle down as the time neared for the official ceremony to start. Andrei's gaze took in the Elders who were seated the closest to the dais and then slid further up the room to the Younglings who were seated closest to the door. The closer to the dais you sat the more respect you were given by others. This was the world of the vampire people, rigid and unbending, lost in centuries of tradition that was guarded zealously.

The clock chimed midday and a hush fell over the room as all eyes turned to the dais.

The double doors suddenly opened, sounding loud in the hush of the room. Almost as one, all eyes quickly swivelled to see who the late arrivals were. Whoever it was should have remained outside because the clock had already chimed signalling the meeting had already begun. To not do so was a sign of huge disrespect.

A tall, regal vampire strode into the room casually, long golden brown hair flowing passed his shoulders, his golden brown eyes twinkling slightly as his lips quirked in a little smile of apology.

"Sorry we're late," he announced breezily, his gaze fixating on Andrei's intently as he strode further into the room. "Flights from Europe were a pain. The humans are having another of their labour disputes."

"Caleb," Andrei breathed, fighting to control the sudden rage inside him. The Ancient had done this deliberately, he was sure of it. He was reminding him in no uncertain terms that he was watching him carefully, that he would continue to do so and be ready to act if Andrei did something he didn't like. 

Andrei tacked a smile on his face, despite his fury. "The Council is honoured to postpone the start of the Ceremony to allow an Ancient such as yourself to attend," he remarked quietly, managing to layer the correct amount of respect in his tone to appease the gathered vampires who were staring at the Ancient with something akin to awe on their faces. Well, the Younglings were at least because most of them had never seen an Ancient, let alone the oldest of their kind.

Caleb Cullen had changed so much in the last few years. He had once shunned the public eye, removed himself completely from vampire politics, had been content to live his life minding his own business. Then he had met a little human woman who had crashed into his life and turned it completely upside down. 

Suddenly he was drawn into matters that hadn't involved him, becoming affiliated with the Hanlon wolf pack and instrumental in the death of one of his fellow Ancient's Richard Graves. He had appeared to retreat back to his former existence after that but now he was back, and despite the congenial expression on his face, Andrei knew that trouble was coming his way in the shape of Caleb Cullen. This was just his opening gambit.

"The Council is far too gracious in light of the appalling lack of respect being accorded to them by our tardiness," Caleb responded smoothly, inclining his head to the dais in further apology. "We thank you for your generosity and will endeavour to keep this little disruption to the bare minimum."

His reference to 'we' and 'our' had Andrei sitting a little straighter, his eyes narrowing as Caleb looked behind him. "Come," he said softly and Andrei stiffened further as Rhianna Armand appeared at the Ancient's side with a wide smile on her face as she looked up at him. Surely he wasn't going to...?

Caleb took Rhianna's hand in his and walked purposely towards where Alexei was still seated, taking his Youngling with him. There was a hushed murmur around the room as the vampires watched this blatant flouting of their traditions. Even if a couple were mated, protocol still stood in the Council chambers. Rhianna Armand's place was with the other Younglings being barely two years Sired to the life of a vampire.

"Please forgive our tardiness, Council," Demetri Bozic said as he stepped into the room, his wife Mara at his side. He treated Andrei to a wide smile as he brushed a stray strand of inky black hair back from his shoulders and then turned his gaze to the tall brunette at his side. He gave her a small smile and brushed her lips lightly with his before he too pulled his Youngling further into the room and down to the Ancient seating area.

Behind him came Nors Eriksson who had to be one of the largest of their kind. His long deep auburn hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, a black Armani business suit gracing his huge frame. He had obviously just come from his work to be dressed so formally which was not the norm for even the most important Council meetings.

"My apologies," he said in a deep rumbling voice, bowing slightly before he followed the other Ancients to sit down.

Lastly came Freya Eriksson, Nors' sister and someone who hadn't been seen in the Council chambers in centuries. She was tall, stunningly beautiful with long thick brown hair which was shot through with alternating blonde and red streaks. There was a wildness about her that drew many an eye. She was notorious for her untamed behaviour though many had never laid eyes on her before. She said nothing, merely inclined her head and completed the quadruplet of Ancients who sat beside Alexei.

Andrei was about ready to choke on his rage, as were the other members of the Council. The silence in the room was so thick it was almost a tangible thing as eyes shifted from the Ancients to The Council and then back again.

On one hand that Ancients were showing complete disrespect for The Council. They had arrived late, allowed Younglings to sit out with their station in their hierarchy. They hadn't even told Alexei to move to his proper place, allowing him to remain.

But on the other hand all four Ancients were in attendance, an unprecedented event which actually validated the vampire Council as no other Council had ever been before. 

Andrei swallowed down his rage and managed to keep his face completely expressionless. He had worked tirelessly to get into the position of power he was now in. There was no way he was going to allow that power to be taken from him. He didn't know what game the Ancients were playing with him but he was going to find out.

The Council chamber doors closed once more.

"Let us begin," Andrei said firmly, signalling the true start to the ceremony.

To be continued...

Once more my thanks to WorldHistoryBuff for giving up her valuable time to edit for me. Also the Guild for all their support and encouragement.



The Council Ch. 05



Chapter Five

Was this really necessary?" Demetri Bozic asked tersely, his eyes never leaving the dais as the new Council was acknowledged and the vampire nation's standard laws were read out as was customary when The Council rotated. He was irritated because he was close to Andrei and didn't like having to ruin his moment.

His friend's words resounded in Caleb's head and he had to work hard not to sigh out aloud. Demetri had made it more than plain that he was unhappy with this course of action but he had relented to do as Caleb asked under quite severe pressure.

"Scent Alexei, Demetri," Caleb sighed mentally. "Really scent him, not a light surface brushing as normal, go really deeply. Then see if you want to ask me that question again." Caleb could barely contain the rage which was boiling inside him despite his calm exterior. If it wasn't for having his Annie at his side he'd be tempted to leap across the dais and smash his fist into Andrei's smug face. That would be after he had pummelled Alexei into a heap first.

He gripped Rhianna's hand tightly and took a deep breath as he waited for Demetri to do as he asked. It took his friend a little longer than he had expected but he knew the moment he scented what Caleb had detected instantly.

"Sweet Jesus!" Demetri hissed in shock, the only outward appearance of his shock being the slight stiffening of his body. Mara glanced up at him and he absent-mindedly rubbed her thigh soothingly as he kept his eyes firmly fixed on the dais. 

"Is it even possible, Caleb?" he asked his friend mentally. "A Were and a vampire?" Caleb's loud mental sigh resounded in his head. 

"It's possible," Caleb answered. "I should have nipped this in the bud last year when I first suspected it but I seriously thought the Romanovs were the very last two of our kind who would ever go down this route. So to answer your question, Demetri, yes this was really necessary. I warned Andrei what would happen if he didn't keep the Hanlon pack out of danger. He didn't listen to me."

Demetri was silent, trying to wrap his head around what Caleb was telling him, what he was scenting from his friend sitting on his other side. Alexei mated to a wolf? The very idea was preposterous. 

Alexei had three things he hated most in life, women as a general rule; they were only good for two things, sex and blood. Weres, he absolutely detested any kind of Were. And Younglings, they were nothing to him until they successfully attained Elder status. Now his friend was breaking two of those self imposed biases? Not only was he getting involved emotionally with a woman but she was a Were too? 

It was so ludicrous an idea he was almost tempted to laugh except he had scented the wolf gene within Alexei. It was so faint it was almost undetectable but for someone as old as he, it could be. The fact it was so difficult for him could only be a good thing. There would only be a handful of their kind who could do so and they were all sitting together at the moment with a vested interest in keeping it quiet.

"What are you going to do about it?" Demetri finally asked.

Caleb shifted in his chair, an arm wrapping around Rhianna's shoulders as he bent down to inhale her sweet scent and drop a soft kiss on the top of her head. It soothed his rage a little and gave him a moment to gather himself before he answered his friend.

"I am not going to do anything," he answered tersely. "They made the mess; they can bloody well fix it. I'm just letting them know in no uncertain terms that I'm watching their every move and they had better ensure that no harm comes to the pack because of this. If I have to get involved again there will be hell to pay, Demetri. I am not going through what happened last year again. I assume that you have no wish to do so either?"

Demetri felt a low growl start deep within him and worked hard to keep it bottled up inside. Instantly an image came to mind of Mara's body lying broken in Rhianna's embrace. The heart wrenching fear of thinking her dead for that tiny instant crashing through him like a tidal wave. No. He would never go through that again, not ever. Not for anyone. 

He suddenly understood Caleb's rage so much better now. He had half a mind to kick the shit out of the Romanov twins himself. They were not even thinking of the potential fallout from getting involved with the wolves. 

"Andrei is on the bloody Council," he growled. "He should know what the fallout of this will be. Our people are not going to tolerate an interspecies mating, not with the level of enmity between our two species."

"Andrei's position on the Council can only work in our favour," Caleb responded. "Why do you think I haven't done anything to block his elevation this last year? We need to change, Demetri. We are stagnating as a people because we hold ourselves superior to all other species. We don't learn therefore we cannot evolve. The changes have started but they are slow because we are so long lived. While I'm angry that this brings a threat to my family, I also see that we need it as a people. Andrei isn't as far into the process as Alexei is but he will be. Loretta has chosen him as her mate. He will succumb but it will be hard for him. Once he realises the futility of fighting against it, he will be in the perfect position to bend the Council to his will and prevent an inevitable civil war among our people."

The mention of a civil war almost had Demetri gasping out aloud. A civil war among the vampires? That must surely be an over exaggeration? He turned his head slightly and looked at the completely blank mask on Caleb's face and almost shivered. He had never seen his friend look so emotionless before. Always he could read something on his friend's face having been around him for so long. His eyes flickered to Rhianna who was also looking up at Caleb with a little frown marring her perfect features. She was also detecting something from his friend that was concerning her greatly.

Demetri turned his eyes back to the dais as the Ceremony wound to a close. He knew Caleb would do anything to protect his woman. He knew how pathological he was about the little redhead and could even understand it because she was almost as special to him too. But start a civil war? Would his friend really go to those lengths to protect Annie's family who were by default now his family?

Mara's hand brushed his thigh and he automatically turned to her seeing a touch of concern in her big brown eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile and placed his hand on top of hers. What would he be willing to do to protect his Mara? He would be willing to do anything and he knew it. He had told Caleb once that he would go up against the Council to protect her and he had meant it at the time. 

Yes, Caleb would be prepared to start a civil war if things turned out badly for the Hanlon pack. And Demetri would be at his side as he always was. The Romanovs had a lot to answer for. They had better fix this before it blew up completely and all hell broke loose.

*****

Alexei followed his brother back to his nightclub in his own car. The cold, hard expression on Andrei's face had been enough to make him decide that he didn't want to ride in the same vehicle with him. When he got like this he was usually best left alone but Alexei knew his brother needed to vent at someone and it was preferable that he did it at him. There was less chance Andrei would physically lash out at him where he may be tempted to do so with someone else.

His brother was livid at Caleb Cullen. The little scene at the Council chambers had most clearly been a message of some kind though Alexei had no idea exactly what the message was supposed to mean. He had a feeling his brother knew though and that was why he was so angry.

Andrei was already down in the office by the time Alexei got to the club. He entered the room but hovered near the door as he watched his brother gulp down a large glass of chilled blood. Hopefully that would soothe his temper a little; feeding usually had a way of dulling the edge of their anger.

"Should I tell Pietro to keep the club closed tonight?" he asked dryly. If Andrei's mood didn't improve it would be risky to open up. If he really lost his temper then he could do some serious damage.

"Why don't you close the door instead and then you can fucking explain to me why you reek of a fucking wolf bitch!" Andrei ground out furiously pinning him with an icy glare.

Alexei rolled his eyes and closed the door. So it was going to be like that, was it? "Why don't you calm down and stop acting that a spoilt child?" he countered with a low growl. "Just because Caleb fucked with you doesn't mean I'm going to stand here and take the shit that you're too scared to dish out to him."

It was the wrong thing to say and he knew it the moment the words left his lips but he objected to hearing Cedar being referred to as a 'fucking wolf bitch'.

His twin flew across the room, slamming into him so hard he flew backwards and crashed into the wall, making a sizable dent in it. Alexei reacted instinctively driving his knee hard into Andrei's groin even as he swung his powerful arm up and punched him on the side of the head.

His brother dropped to the floor and Alexei moved away to put the desk between them. "Stay down, Andrei," he said in a low, hard voice. "If you come at me again, I'm going to hurt you badly and you know I can do it. DON'T make me hurt you."

Andrei hissed loudly, taking a few deep breaths as his body healed from the two crushing blows Alexei had gotten in. His head was still ringing from the punch but it'd had the desired effect. Some of his rage had evaporated, enough to know that Alexei meant every word he said. 

If he didn't back down the two of them would most likely wreck the place before they finally hurt each other so much they would be incapable of swinging another blow. It wasn't often that they actually fought but when they did, neither was willing to concede so it usually ended in a bloody mess and a lot of cleanup afterwards.

Andrei pulled himself up to his feet and moved around his desk watching his brother move in the opposite direction, his eyes intent as if waiting for him to attack again.

"Oh, sit down," he growled rolling his eyes and throwing himself into his chair.

Alexei relaxed, seeing a calmer expression on his twin's face, the wild glint having disappeared from his eyes. Andrei was once more in control of himself. He opted to retrieve a bottle of whiskey and two glasses before he sat down across from him and poured them both a drink.

"Her name is Cedar Alexander, not 'fucking wolf bitch'," he remarked dryly as he pushed a glass across the desk. "As long as you remember that I won't be tempted to beat the living daylights out of you."

Andrei picked up his drink and took a large swallow trying to place a face to the name. He never forgot a face once he'd seen it. An image of long blonde curls and legs that went on forever came to mind. The wolf was very attractive and had a lot of arrogance about her. She was someone he could see his brother being attracted to and maybe playing with for a while but to actually let her bite him, infect him with her wolf gene? 

"What the fuck where you thinking of, Alexei?" he asked almost wearily. "You let her bite you, infect you? Since when did you start thinking with your dick? That's usually my job." His brother frowned slightly and sipped at his drink.

"I let her bite me because it was pointless to deny her," Alexei finally answered after a little pause. He was trying to work out the best way to ease his twin into accepting what had happened between him and Cedar and what was going to happen to him with Loretta. 

"What does that mean exactly?" Andrei asked irritably, a puzzled expression on his face. "Pointless to deny her? You should have just told her no and let that be the end of it." He stared impassively at his twin, waiting for him to admit his foolishness.

"Andrei, I couldn't tell her no because I wanted her to bite me," Alexei admitted quietly. "I didn't just want it, I needed it." He watched shock ripple across his brother's face and took a deep breath. There was no point putting it off, he had to tell him everything.

"I've just spent a year's exile in bloody Ecuador because of what I told the Weres last year," he explained. "I had a lot of time on my hands to think about my actions, to question them. I did some reading up on pack life, their rituals and stuff. What I read shocked me but also answered the question I was trying to answer. The reason I did what I did was because I was reacting to a Were mating pull. Not just any Were either, Cedar Alexander to be exact."

The colour drained out of Andrei's face and he sat there stunned as he looked at his brother and tried to digest what he was telling him. Alexei thought he was the mate of a wolf? Did he have any idea just how insane that sounded? He tried to speak and couldn't find any words.

"Believe me, my reaction was just like yours at the start," Alexei continued with a rueful smile. "I didn't want to believe it either but the longer I was away, the more I craved my wolf. I read everything I could get my hands on and this craving seemed to be a typical reaction to being separated from a mate. I couldn't go to her quickly enough when I came back. I almost went looking for her before I even came to see you but I managed to contain myself somehow."

"Weres and vampires can't mate," Andrei managed to grind out, his tone incredulous, his thoughts in utter chaos. What would this mean for his brother if The Council found out about it? His eyes hardened as he glared at Alexei.

"We're a different bloody species, Alexei. Our bite is instantly lethal to a Were so how can we bloody mate with them? Have a little fun with the wolf by all means but you can't mate with her. You'll kill her if you try."

Alexei frowned deeply, a strange expression crossing his face. He knew the mating was incomplete; that it was one sided because he couldn't complete the ritual, couldn't bind himself as irrevocably to Cedar as she had to him. Just thinking of it made a sharp pain rock through his body so he tried his hardest not to.

"She's mine, Andrei," he said quietly. "Whether or not I can complete her ritual is a moot point. She belongs to me. The one sided bond is just going to have to suffice if it's all we can hope to achieve. I will not leave her, ever, so there's no point in you thinking that this is just going to go away."

Andrei saw the determined look on his brother's face. He also so the brief flash of pain which crossed it when he mentioned that the mating couldn't be completed. He tried to wrap his stunned mind around it. This couldn't be happening. There had to be some other explanation for why his twin was acting so out of character. Alexei hated Weres. Hell, he didn't particularly like women as a general rule either.

And yet the expression on Alexei's face told a thousand words. "You're in love with her," Andrei whispered shocked.

His brother's words hung on the air for a fraction of a second and then Alexei remembered that he needed to breathe. He sucked in a deep breath as his heart hammered loudly in his chest. He had never consciously thought of it, never let the words even enter his brain, choosing to use the term mates or mating instead. But once they were out in the open there was no hiding from them. He was in love with Cedar Alexander. 

He didn't answer Andrei, didn't admit the words out aloud. For some strange reason he didn't want to utter those words for the first time to anyone other than their intended recipient.

"Do you know how much of a headache this going to give me?" Andrei sighed wearily suddenly feeling the last of his anger drain away as he realised he had no choice but to accept what his twin was telling him. Alexei really believed he was the mate of his wolf, to the extent that he had allowed her to infect him. He would never have allowed that to happen unless he was utterly confident in his own mind that it was the right thing to do.

Alexei pursed his lips and then took a drink from his glass. "A big one?" he chuckled softly, suddenly feeling as if he had a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. It was as if admitting he was in love with his frustrating little wolf had lightened his spirits, set him free somehow.

Andrei was already thinking ahead, trying to work out how to protect his brother. The Council would probably ignore the odd sexual relationship between Weres and Vampires but they wouldn't condone an open mating. They wouldn't accept their species being polluted with the wolf gene. It would be effectively creating a hybrid species in their eyes. 

The vampires involved would be shunned from their society. And there was no telling what would be done to the wolves. This could lead to open war between Weres and Vampires. A war that would make last year's one look like child's play.

Andrei could actually understand why Caleb had done what he had done now. The Ancient obviously knew what had occurred between Alexei and Cedar. He would view this as Andrei failing to protect the Hanlon pack. He was warning him that he knew what was going on and he wasn't pleased about it. 

This also made it doubly surprising that the Ancients had disappeared from the ceremony immediately after it had concluded. He had expected Caleb to come looking for him and Alexei once the formalities were over but he hadn't. Only he had expected it to be because they had dallied with a couple of the wolves, not because his brother was mating with one of them.

"You seem to be taking this rather calmly," Alexei said when he didn't speak for a long time.

Andrei snorted. "Believe me, calm is the last thing I feel right now," he answered with an edge to his tone. "I'm trying to work out the ramifications of this, Alexei. So far what I'm coming up with isn't good. Not for the Weres or for you." 

A sudden thought crossed his mind and he blinked slowly. "How long has Nors had that little wolf living with him? You don't think he's mated with her too?"

The question surprised Alexei because he'd completely forgotten that the huge redheaded Ancient had taken a wolf under his protection. Nors was such a secretive person that most people knew nothing about his private life as a general rule so it was easy to forget about the wolf because she was never seen with him in public .

"It must be nearly a year now," he answered thoughtfully. "I don't think he's mated with her because Caleb brought him to the ceremony. If he's pissed at us because of the wolves, I think he would be equally as pissed at Nors too if there was anything going on between him and a Were."

"You can find out," Andrei said quietly seeing a frown appear on his brother's face. "If Nors is attached to his wolf romantically he will be more likely to talk to you about it, Alexei. He's Ancient. All of them would have sensed the wolf gene in you tonight despite it being so faint. Their skills are more advanced than everyone else's so it's foolish to think they wouldn't. Nors doesn't like me so he's hardly going to answer any of my questions. He may yours if you have something in common with him."

Nors didn't like most people so Alexei wasn't keen to go looking for him. He was one of the few people who Alexei wasn't confident about going up against and despite Andrei's words, he knew Nors didn't like him anymore than he liked his brother.

"Why does it matter if Nors is mated to his wolf?" he asked with a disgruntled note to his voice.

Andrei's brown eyes began to twinkle slightly, his lips curving in a slight smile. "Because if he has then Caleb Cullen is going to have to get involved," he answered slowly. "At the moment it looks like he's dumping this whole nightmare in my lap but if one of his own friends is knee deep in shit along with us then he'll have to act." The thought of how irritating it would be for the Ancient to get involved when he obviously didn't want to actually made Andrei feel a lot better.




The Council Ch. 05



Alexei sighed seeing the glint in his twin's eyes. "Andrei, don't fuck with Caleb," he warned. "You know you'll lose every time. Demetri will side with him and you know it. Learn from Richard Graves' mistake last year."

His twin stood up abruptly and paced around the room slowly, a dark scowl crossing his face. "He's fucking with me, Alexei," he ground out angrily. "I've no intention of going head to head with him but I don't see why he thinks he can sit out this mess and watch everyone else twist in the wind. If he's so in love with the bloody Hanlon pack and wants them protected then he can damned well get involved and protect them himself."

Alexei's own frown deepened as he watched his brother. Andrei was deflecting which usually meant he couldn't see a way around a problem therefore he tried to deflect onto something else. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing most times but it was in this instance. 

"You want an Ancient to sort out Council business?" he asked, managing to inject a healthy amount of incredulity in his voice. He saw his brother stiffen noticeably and tried to hide his smile. There were times when Andrei was just way too easy to manipulate and this was one of them. He couldn't allow him to get into a pissing contest with Caleb. The end result could be disastrous if Andrei pushed the Ancient too far.

Andrei knew exactly what his twin was doing and he let him do it. He wasn't thinking straight at the moment so any little help he could get, he'd take. "It's still prudent to talk to Nors," he said after a long silence, his tone clearly conceding his twin's point. "If he has the same issue you have then it gives me something to work with."

Alexei's eyebrow shot up at the 'you' reference. His brother really had no idea about his own predicament? He almost wanted to laugh but he didn't. When Andrei found out he had the same issue there was no telling how he would react to it. The way he was reacting at the moment didn't bode well for Loretta. 

He knew he had to start the ground work, to help ease Andrei into his own revelation. It would be easier on his brother and ultimately easier on Loretta too. Cedar was particularly fond of the other wolf therefore he felt it was his duty to keep his brother in check until he came to accept what was happening, even though he'd never actually met the woman who was Andrei's mate.

"How's Loretta?" he asked as casually as he could.

Andrei halted his resumed pacing immediately and turned to regard his brother with a closed expression on his face. "Why do you ask?" he answered carefully as he took a deep breath and willed his body not to react to just the mere mention of the wolf's name. He kept his eyes pinned to Alexei's trying to read his expression to see if there was any hidden meaning to his unexpected question. 

"No real reason," Alexei said nonchalantly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I was just wondering if she was back yet from her trip. She's a friend of Cedar's so I was hoping to meet her. I didn't get to see much of her the night I got home, just a rather pleasing set of swinging hips as she left. I just thought she might have dropped by if she was back. You two appeared to enjoy yourselves a lot that night if I remember the scent in here correctly."

Andrei eyes narrowed at the mention of Loretta's swinging hips, a burst of anger pulsing through him that his brother had dared to look let alone mention it to him. His sudden anger surprised him but he didn't have time to really think about it because Alexei's words were suddenly registering in his brain. 

Loretta was away on pack business? Was that why she hadn't come back after that night? He had just assumed she wasn't interested in another little dalliance with him but if the reason she hadn't come back was because she couldn't then maybe he would get a chance to play with her again?

Alexei was watching his brother intently, seeing the slight flickers of emotion crossing his face. Andrei would never be this unguarded in front of anyone else but then he didn't trust anyone the way he trusted his twin. 

"You know, not only Nors and myself acted out of character that night," Alexei said quietly. "I saved the pack to the detriment of our people, Nors adopted a little orphaned wolf into his family. And then there was what you did, Andrei. You couldn't put a wolf out of her misery despite the fact she was dying. Instead you healed her, revealing more of our secrets."

Andrei felt a chill run though his body. What was he trying to imply? Was he trying to intimate that there was something more going on between himself and Loretta apart from a very entertaining evening of sex? If Alexei thought for one moment he was going to try and drag him into this whole mating with wolves shit then he had another think coming. They had had sex, end of subject. Fantastic sex but just sex none the less.

His eyes turned cold as he stared at his brother with a hard expression on his face. "If you want to mate with a wolf that is your decision. If Nors chooses to then that is his. Don't you dare try and make out that I saved Loretta for reasons that don't exist. Caleb said to find and aid any wolves around the back of the house. That's what I did. There was nothing more to it."

"Really?" Alexei asked softly. "Then why were you so twitchy outside the Council building today? Why did you get angry just now when I mention Loretta's very delightful little hips? Why did your eyes light up when I mentioned she was out of town? Answer me those questions, Andrei. Even better yet, answer them yourself and maybe you'll be surprised at what you discover."

If he thought to get through to his brother he saw that he was mistaken. Instead of making Andrei think about his reaction to Loretta his brother's expression tightened in denial. Andrei wasn't ready to be lead down the road to his wolf. Not yet.

"Don't you have somewhere else you have to be, Alexei?" Andrei growled in a low voice. "Some of us have work to do. I've got a club to get ready for opening time."

It was a clear dismissal and Alexei knew he would only end up enraging his brother if he continued to badger him He sighed deeply and stood up. He could only hope that Andrei would think about what he had said and maybe even answer the questions he had posed to him.

"You're right, I do have somewhere else I have to be," he answered with a little smile. "I've got a wolf to go play with, which is where I'm off to now. See you later." He left the office quickly, his mind already sliding away from his brother to focus on his woman. Cedar would be home from work soon and that was all the mattered to him.

He checked his phone when he got outside and frowned slightly as he read the text message from his wolf telling him that she was going to the compound after work and would catch up with him another time. His good mood evaporated instantly to be replaced with a cold, hard anger. Oh, she bloody well would, would she? He'd see about that. 

Why she thought he would obediently sit around and wait for her to be available he had no idea. Had he ever given her the impression that he was some little lap dog who would patiently wait on her little whims? He was certain that he hadn't. With a determined expression on his face, Alexei strode over to his car. He had a wolf to go teach some manners to.

Andrei prowled around his office furiously. His thoughts were careening wildly around his head almost giving him a headache. He couldn't believe that Alexei actually had the cheek to imply that he would even remotely consider mating with a Were. He liked Loretta well enough and found her physically attractive but that was all there was to it. Nothing more.

Then why had she been all he had thought about the last week? He hadn't been with another woman, not since he had been with Loretta. That fact alone was a complete anomaly for him. He was never one to deny himself the pleasures of a woman but since he had been with the wolf he hadn't even considered laying with anyone else. When he thought of sex, Loretta invariably was the one who came to mind.

He threw himself down into his chair and fumed silently. He refused to believe that his lack of female companionship had anything to do with bloody Were mating rubbish. He was not the least bit interested in tying himself to a single woman let alone a bloody dog. Loretta had just been great sex, end of subject. 

Hell, sex was too polite a term for it. She had been a great fuck. That's what they had done, fucked the living daylights out of each other. No emotions, no tenderness, just a straightforward, lusty fuck. He sure as hell didn't intend to tie himself to her and he most definitely was not going to allow her to bloody infect him with her wolf gene. The idea was ludicrous.

Feeling better now he had quantified their encounter in his mind, he headed upstairs to find Pietro. He found his bar manager already preparing for the coming night, stocking the bar and making sure there were enough glasses.

"I'm heading home for a couple of hours but I'll be back later," he told him brusquely. "I'll be upstairs tonight. If Marcia comes in before I'm back, tell her I would appreciate her company tonight."

He saw Pietro's hazel eyes sparkle with amusement but he ignored him and turned and walked out. Marcia was one of the few vampires that Andrei indulged himself with from time to time. He usually only asked for her when he needed to work off some pent up aggression. His mood tonight called for her inestimable skills. Once he'd had some fun with Marcia, the little brown wolf would be forgotten completely. 

He smiled as he headed over to his car, satisfied that he was in complete control of everything.

*****

Loretta hurried up the steps into her Alpha's home relieved to finally be back home. It had been a long week, and not a very fruitful one either which had made it particularly hard being away. All she had been able to think about was Andrei, the way his lips felt on hers, the touch of his hands on her body, the feel of him driving himself deep inside her. Trying to research when in almost a constant state of arousal was the pits. It made it impossible to concentrate.

Now she was home and she could see him again. She wondered if he had missed her. He'd probably hadn't even noticed she hadn't been back. He was not going to be an easy mate to lure to her and she knew it. She was in for a tough time with him but her wolf relished the challenge.

The sound of raised voices coming from the study surprised her and she paused in the hallway and turned her head in the direction of the room. One voice belonged to Jared and the other....the other belonged to Caleb! She frowned slightly as she listened. She couldn't hear what was actually being said but the words were most definitely angry.

Loretta knew that she and Andrei were the cause of the argument going on between her Alpha and his vampire best friend. She regretted she was the cause of any discord between them but she refused to regret her feelings for Andrei. He was her mate and there was nothing she could do about it. There was nothing any of them could do about it so arguing seemed to be a waste of time.

She turned and headed into the sitting room, finding Millie and Rhianna sitting on the sofa each cradling a baby in their arms. She smiled a greeting and headed over to them. This was the first time Caleb and Rhianna were meeting the babies in the flesh. They had been away in Europe when they were born but she was sure Millie had sent her sister plenty of photos.

"I see you've fallen instantly in love, Annie," Loretta laughed softly, seeing the look of adoration on the petite vampire's face.

"How could anyone not?" Rhianna laughed softly, her rapt gaze never leaving the face of the child she cradled so tenderly. "They are the most beautiful, perfect little things in the whole world."

A loud bang from the study startled all of them and they all turned to the door with frowns on their faces. Millie's eased first and she turned back to her friends.

"Just Jared thumping the desk," she smiled reassuringly, a hint of amusement in her voice as she checked down her mental link with her mate just to make sure everything was okay. "He's got to be able to shout at someone to satisfy his wolf. He's opted for Caleb rather than you and Cedar," she told the Beta.

Rhianna cocked her head to the side briefly and similarly checked her link with her vampire. "Thankfully Caleb is willing to put up with it," she said with her own little laugh. "He feels kind of responsible for not warning Jared last year when he realised there was a potential issue with the Romanovs. He's letting Jared work it out of his system." She smiled at Loretta. "Don't fret so. They'll work out their little disagreement. They always do."

The fact Rhianna and Millie appeared so unconcerned that their mates were arguing settled Loretta's discomfort slightly. She poured herself a cup of coffee from the tray laid out on the table at her side and settled down to drink it just as the study door opened and the two men came into the sitting room as if they hadn't just been verbally tearing lumps out of each other.

Caleb automatically gravitated towards his woman, coming to perch on the arm of the sofa at her side and gaze down at the child she held in her arms. He had never seen such a tiny little thing before in his life. He had had no contact with children over the years, avoiding them like the plague. He sheepishly admitted to himself that he even ignored the pack young, not deliberately, but just out of habit.

Now he stared down at his woman tenderly cradling the little baby in her embrace and he was struck by how natural it looked for his Annie. He felt a sharp burst of discomfort deep inside. Because of him she would never know the joy of having her own child. He had never even stopped to consider it when he had granted her request to be Sired to the life of a vampire. Children had meant nothing to him so he hadn't considered the possibility that they may be something she had hoped to have in her life.

Now that he was thinking about it, he was surprised to realise they had never discussed it. Annie had never brought it up even when she had learned Millie was pregnant. Maybe children had not been part of her life's goals before she met him. He would ask her about it later, when they were alone. He didn't like the thought that he had denied her the chance of being a mother with no thought to how that could affect her.

The child in her arms stirred and opened her eyes wide and appeared to stare straight at him. He was at once enthralled as the deep blue eyes met his and her tiny mouth seemed to smile up at him. Curiously he leaned closer, a large hand reaching out hesitantly to touch the soft, light dusting of little black waves on her head.

"Which one is she?" he asked in a hushed tone.

"Alicia," Rhianna smiled, her eyes intent on Caleb's awed face. He had been ready to have a heart attack when she had first told him that he was going to be an uncle. The pained expression on his face had set everyone laughing that night despite the dire situation they had been in. She had known that he would doubt his capacity to adapt to babies suddenly appearing in his life but one look at his rapt expression and she knew her beloved vampire was falling helplessly in love with his nieces.

"Do you want to hold her?" she asked softly, offering up Alicia to him. For a moment she thought he was going to refuse but then he reached for the baby and cradled her rather awkwardly in his arms, as if afraid he would hurt her. She showed him how to hold her gently but securely as Alicia gurgled with delight, her little hand waving in the air as if trying to reach for him.

Caleb was stunned at how fragile the child was in his arms, how beautiful and perfect the little image of Millie was. Because she was Millie's image, a tiny replica of her mother. He turned his gaze to look at Mina who was nestled against her mother's chest. She had the same black hair though it wasn't wavy like her sister's. Millie and Jared shared the same colouring so their children did too, but Mina had more of a hint of Jared in her facial features, though a more feminine version.

"They're prefect," he whispered softly, smiling as Millie and Jared beamed at his praise. Never having been a parent himself he couldn't understand the level of pride they were displaying but it appeared his words had made them happy. He had only spoken the truth. The babies were prefect and they were part of his family. 

Caleb Cullen smiled ruefully as he looked down at Alicia as she managed to latch onto a lock of his hair which had fallen over his shoulder. No one would ever harm a hair on either of these two little angels' heads. Not as long as he lived. They had stolen his heart in an instant and would be under his protection from this moment on. He looked up as Jared started laughing.

"They do that to everyone, Caleb," his friend smiled. "They're going to be the best protected little girls ever to walk the planet. They have an entire pack watching over them and if that isn't enough, they have their vampire family too."

The front door opened and Cedar breezed into the sitting room with a cheery hello. She was obviously just back from work because she was still dressed in a dark blue business suit and her hair was artfully arranged on top of her head. She spared Caleb a quick glance to see if he was angry with her and then sighed with relief when he smiled rather ruefully as he said hello.

She sat on the sofa next to Loretta with a warm smile for her friend. They would need to get together and catch up now she was back. Her attention was diverted when her Alpha cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"I assume you didn't turn up anything of note about any previous Vampire/Were connections, Loretta?" Jared asked.

"Nothing," the brunette answered with a frown. "If a mating has occurred before we don't appear to have anything in our archives to suggest it."

Jared hadn't really expected her to find anything but there was no harm in checking. He turned to ask Caleb if the vampires knew anything when a sudden thought occurred to him and he frowned deeply.

"When was the last time Ashleigh was at the compound?" he asked, his missing pack member coming to mind. She was currently living with Nors Eriksson, Caleb's friend and fellow Ancient vampire. He had adopted her into his family after the war when the little wolf had struggled to come to terms with the death of her entire family. 

She was on the mend now, appearing to be almost at the end of her grieving period judging from the Alpha's last couple of meetings with her. He hadn't given her relationship with Nors a second thought before now but suddenly it appeared prudent to question it. "There isn't a chance that Nors' interest in her is romantic?" His question was for Caleb.

The vampire frowned slightly and shook his head. "I was with Nors today and asked after Ashleigh. He said she was doing very well, that her time spent running Annie's bookstore while we were away had been a great confidence boost for her. I saw no indication that he thought of her as anything other than a friend."

He had barely finished speaking when he heard a delicate little snort from beside him and his woman mumbled under her breath something that sounded like 'Men!' 

All eyes swung to Rhianna and she rolled hers in response. "Seriously? None of you pay any attention to what's going on under your very noses?" she laughed softly. "None of you questioned why Nors was able to cut through Ashleigh's grief? Why he even cared enough to do so? Ashleigh's wolf instinctually called to him in her time of need and he immediately answered that need by protecting her. Just because they haven't done anything about it yet doesn't mean they're not mates and it isn't going to happen."




The Council Ch. 05



A muffled curse ripped from Jared's lips. He'd given up questioning Rhianna's pronouncements a long time ago. If the petite vampire said they were mates then he believed her. So now he had a third mating on his hands. Not that the number involved really mattered because one was enough to cause the pack issues.

He sighed deeply and turned to Cedar and Loretta. "One of you needs to go over there and have a chat with Ashleigh, find out what the situation is and guide her through any questions she may have. I'm not saying Nors isn't capable of dealing with it but Ashleigh has no family if she needs some female guidance. As you can both relate to her predicament it would be better if it were one of you answering any questions she may have. You can decide among yourselves who it's going to be."

Caleb was frowning, not liking this change of events. If an Ancient was going to claim a wolf as a mate then maybe he would have to re-think his involvement in the situation. He was annoyed with Nors too. Why hadn't his friend told him his interest in the little wolf was anything other than platonic, especially in light of what was going on at the moment? Didn't he think he needed to know this information?

A cell phone rang breaking the little silence that had occurred after Jared's last words. Everyone paused and listened, then Cedar sighed. "It's mine." She dug inside her purse, pulling out her cell, her lips twitching slightly when she saw the caller ID. "I'll just take this outside," she said, heading out of the sitting room.

*****

Alexei pulled onto the dirt road that wound through the deep forest and then cursed loudly and slammed on the brakes. Jared's words came back to him from the week before and he cursed again as he hunted for his cell phone. 

His sole intent was to find Cedar and have a little chat with her about what was acceptable and what was not when it came to their relationship. However, he didn't think it would go down well if he broke her Alpha's edict about requiring permission to enter the compound. He didn't want to give her any ammunition that she could throw back at him.

He waited impatiently for Cedar to pick up, his mood darkening when she took so long to answer. If his call went to voicemail he'd wring her beautiful neck for her. His heart pounded loudly as the call connected and his woman's breathy voice greeted him. "Alexei."

A little of his irritation faded just at the sound of her voice but only a little. He was still mad at her for cancelling on him to come to the compound after work. "I'm five minutes away," he said tersely. "Your Alpha said I cannot enter the compound without express permission. Invite me, Cedar." It wasn't a request, it was most definitely an order.

"So, you can't come here unless you get my express permission?" Cedar laughed lightly, his irritation sparking her wolf's interest and sending a shiver of delight through her. "That must hurt a lot, Alexei. Does it? Remember the game now." She heard his furious hiss as she turned his own silly rules around on him. He wanted to play games? She was up for the challenge.

There was a long pause and then he hissed again. "Yes! Now invite me to the compound or so help me, I'll break your Alpha's edict and there will be hell to pay if I do that. Be careful how you play this game, Cedar. You may not be willing to pay the price that's required," he warned in a quiet voice. His lips twitched slightly as he heard her indrawn breath. She suddenly wasn't so sure of herself now, was she?

Cedar sucked in a deep breath and then laughed again. She swallowed hard to try and contain her laughter. Alexei really did sound pissed. It wouldn't bode well if she pushed him beyond his endurance. A little light teasing was fun though. "You have my express permission to come to the compound, Alexei," she said softly. "I'll be waiting for you at Jared's house."

Alexei disconnected the call without another word, heading down the road towards the wolf that was driving him insane. When he got his hands on her he was going to teach her just what happened when she fucked with him. By the time he was finished with her she'd rue the day she was born.

He plotted what he'd do to her, coming up with such increasingly imaginative ideas that soon his thoughts veered away from physical violence and started taking a more erotic bent. His temper started to cool slightly as his desire started to battle for dominance. By the time he pulled up outside the Alpha's house and saw her standing on the top step at the door, he couldn't make up his mind if he was going to kill her or kiss her. Either option had a fifty-fifty chance of happening.

Cedar watched Alexei get out of the car and her heart kicked up a beat instantly. How could any man manage to make a pair of jeans look so damned sexy? He was scowling darkly as he stalked towards her, his long blond hair swaying in the slight breeze, his big body moving with a fluid grace that set her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She was in trouble this time judging from the expression on his face. Maybe she had pushed him to far?

He stopped on the second step in front of her, bringing them to eye level. For a moment she thought he was going to wring her neck for her but then his eyes took on a more heated expression and he was spinning her around and pressing her hard against the doorjamb, his mouth descending on hers in a fierce, punishing kiss.

Alexei gave into the urge to kiss her. It was a hopeless battle trying not to. She looked so damned sexy standing there in her pristine little business suit, the skirt ending just above her knees showing plenty of long, shapely legs for his eager perusal. Her white silk blouse moulded delicately to her breasts which made him itch to unwrap her delights slowly for his attentions.

He couldn't stay angry with her for long. The moment she was close to him and her scent washed over him in sweet waves as it was doing now, all he could think about was sliding his body over hers, tasting her sweet mouth and feeling her respond to him with the same eagerness he responded to her.

His kiss gentled slightly and turned less punishing, more seductive as he pressed his entire length against her, forcing his thigh between her legs, his hands trying to find the pins in her hair to release her glorious curls so he could bury his fingers deep within them.

"Get a room!" a jovial male voice called from behind them and Alexei stiffened. His lips detached from Cedar's though they hovered close as he opened his eyes to stare into hers.

"Can I hurt him?" he murmured hopefully. "Just a little?"

She laughed huskily. "No, you can't," she sighed pulling away regretfully. "And you can't kiss me here either, Alexei. Jared is trying to keep this quiet. He'll kick my ass for doing this in public." 

She wasn't too worried about the Were that had passed them. It was Mitch Fielding and he was close to being elevated to Beta status. He would hold his tongue because he wanted the trust of their Alpha so he could rise within the pack. He was also a friend of hers. She would probably have to answer a few awkward questions soon but he would keep quiet about what he had seen.

Alexei frowned and stepped away from her, not liking the fact that he had to moderate himself around his wolf. He knew the logic behind it was sound but that didn't mean he had to like it. "It's your fault," he grumbled irritably. "You cancelled on me which is why I'm here now."

"I am a pack Beta, Alexei. I do have responsibilities," she answered with a little smile. "I can't spend every single second of my free time with you as much as I would like to. Anyway, you're only irritated because you've had nothing to do for the last week. Surely now your Council has changed you'll have work to be getting on with?"

The thought of potential new assignments brought a frown to his face. The Council hadn't been in contact about anything new, probably because the rotation was due to happen and nothing important had come up. Maybe they were even being considerate that he'd just returned after being away for a year. 

The thought of having to go away again, of being separated from his wolf was not an appealing one, particularly as there was the thorny issue of the interspecies matings on the table at the moment. He couldn't be away from Cedar until that was resolved. Andrei needed him too. If The Council asked him to take on a new assignment he would refuse them. It was too dangerous for his family for him to be away.

"Andrei needs me here," he answered quietly, turning away to look around the compound as he spoke. "He has opposition on The Council and will need me to watch his back. I won't be going on any assignments anytime soon, Cedar."

Cedar tried not to show? the relief she was feeling at his words. She had been worried he would disappear again soon, pulled into his life as a Council Enforcer. He was her mate and she wanted him close to her not half way around the world for God knows how long.

"You can refuse assignments?" she asked curiously, smiling when he turned back to her. He moved to lean against the wall as his heated gaze ran slowly over her body.

"Of course," he answered somewhat dryly. "We're not like your pack hierarchy, Cedar. We don't have an Alpha who can command us against our will. An assignment is offered and I decide whether or not I want to take it on. Andrei will ensure anything too lengthy is offered elsewhere."

She realised there was so much she didn't know about him, about his way of life. He had obviously thoroughly researched hers because he was very knowledgeable on pack matters. She would have to take some time to talk with him, ask questions, try and figure out how they were going to work together as mates. 

For the moment she filed the knowledge he had given her and turned her head slightly to look back inside the house. She had been away from the informal meeting inside too long and would have to get back to it. "Are you coming in?" she asked softly. "I should warn you, Caleb and Annie are here."

Alexei sighed and straightened from the wall. "I know. I scented them the instant I arrived." He answered her other question by stepping into the house. 

Caleb most probably wouldn't be too pleased to see him here but he didn't give a damn. The Ancient claimed kinship with the pack and came and went as he pleased. Alexei too could claim the same kinship now he had allowed Cedar to mate with him. He wasn't about to let the Ancient dictate where he could and couldn't go.

Cedar smiled as she closed the front door and preceded Alexei into the sitting room. He was tense but had a determined expression on his face, almost as if he was ready to challenge Caleb for his right to be on pack land. Was he starting to connect with the pack through her? Only time would tell but it gave her a little hope that maybe she wouldn't have to leave her Were life behind to be with him.

Once everything was out in the open there would be an uproar, she knew that. She could just imagine her brothers reaction when they realised she was mated to the vampire. Her entire family would be concerned for her safety and she appreciated that but they would have to come to accept their mating whether they liked it or not. 

She had a feeling she would get the most trouble from Aaron. Her youngest brother was the one closest to her and he had been a Beta for over a century. His protective instincts were always the strongest because it was what he was used to, protecting the pack at all costs. Yes, Aaron would object the most. She could only hope that his mate Jen could temper some of his overreaction.

Alexei quickly scanned the room as they entered, taking in the various occupants. He nodded briefly to the Alpha and his mate, ignored their young completely and settled his gaze on the two vampires in the room. Caleb stared at him impassively for a long moment before he nodded slightly but didn't speak. Alexei felt a brief surge of anger at the way the Ancient appeared to be giving his permission for him being there but he dampened it down. 

His gaze turned to Caleb's youngling and he smiled slightly. The little redhead really didn't like him or Andrei. The way she had scowled at them last year had been very amusing. He couldn't actually remember her even uttering one word to him when they had first met. 

The barefaced arrogance of the petite vampire had angered him and also amused him. He had given her a wide berth, mindful of Demetri's warning not to mess with her, that Caleb would exact dire retribution if he did so. Now he really looked at her for the first time and was surprised to note how beautiful she was, how unusual her lavender eyes were as they connected with his with what had to be the first proper encounter they had ever had.

His breath sucked in sharply when she suddenly smiled at him. For a brief second he was stunned at the sheer radiance on her little face, the open warmth in her eyes as she looked at him. He could suddenly understand why Caleb was so protective of her, so enthralled by his mate. Why Demetri too was enraptured by the little redhead.

"Hi Alexei," she smiled, a hint of amusement in her tone at his reaction to her. "Nice to see you again."

Caleb's head whipped around to stare at her in surprise and then he uttered a deep groan and looked back at Alexei with shrewd eyes. He searched intently for whatever it was his Annie was seeing in the other vampire. Frankly Alexei looked just the same to him but something had changed Rhianna's opinion of him. Last year she had hated him with a vengeance, he had terrified her, made her so uncomfortable. Now she was accepting him, endorsing him with her greeting. He gave up trying to find whatever it was Rhianna saw and just accepted that he would have to cut the other vampire some slack. He wasn't about to get into a fight with his woman over it.

Loretta was staring at the new vampire with more than a hint of curiosity on her face. This was Andrei's brother, Cedar's mate? She hadn't met him last year. She had been in the medical centre when the evacuees had returned to the compound along with Alexei Romanov.

He really was gorgeous. She could see the similarity in features with Andrei but he didn't inspire the same deep feelings within her that his brother did. She could understand Cedar's attraction to him. He literally screamed arrogance with a deep sexual intensity about him too. It was a heady combination and one that her friend would not be able to walk away from.

Alexei's gaze had now moved to the last occupant of the room. He recognised her scent instantly, he'd be hard pressed not to the way his brother had positively reeked of her as had the office. He met her curious gaze, his eyes running quickly over her pretty features.

She was lovely to look at. She didn't have the same intense beauty that the other woman had but that somehow made her even more appealing in a way. Her attraction was more understated but just as profound. So this was the wolf who was claiming his brother as her mate. 

"Loretta," he drawled smoothly nodding to her slightly. "It's nice to finally be able to put a face to a scent." He knew his words were outrageous but he couldn't help himself. Cedar elbowed him in the ribs as Loretta flushed slightly but laughed none the less.

"He's perfect for you, Cedar," Loretta said still laughing at his outrageousness. "You just need to train him a little better. He's a little rough around the edges still."

Instead of bristling at the wolf's comment Alexei found himself laughing loudly. She would be feisty enough to deal with Andrei's volatile nature which had been one of the things he had been concerned about before. It would take a strong woman to be able to handle his brother. Loretta appeared to have that strength.

"She can always try," he quipped back moving to the sofa to sit down beside Loretta and give her a wide grin in response to her subtle put down. 

Jared cleared his throat as Cedar took her seat next to Alexei. "We were discussing Ashleigh and Nors before we were interrupted," he remarked drolly. Alexei's presence was slightly uncomfortable but nothing that he couldn't put up with. 

He had obviously called Cedar for permission to come onto pack land so he was at least listening to him. Rhianna appeared to be accepting him which was a good sign and the way the vampire hadn't taken offence at Loretta seemed to add to that. Maybe Alexei could fit into the pack in some manner that was productive rather than detrimental to them.

"What about them?" Alexei asked, his tone curious as he looked at the Alpha. Andrei wanted him to go and speak to Nors so maybe the Weres were thinking along the same lines as they were?

"Annie believes that Nors and Ashleigh are mates," Jared answered after a little pause. "We need to know if that is the case or not because it isn't completely apparent at the moment."

"Andrei had a similar notion," the vampire answered. "He wants me to go and sound out Nors to see if there is anything to it." His gaze switched to Caleb's to see his reaction but the Ancient was keeping his expression completely neutral.

"I'll go with you," Cedar said from his side. "Either Loretta or I were going to go speak to Ashleigh. If you're heading over there too then it makes sense for me to tag along with you." She smiled as she saw the hint of relief on Loretta's face. She knew her friend wanted to go and see Andrei.

"Have I taken up chauffeur duties now?" Alexei drawled softly though his lips twitched in a little smile as he spoke. Being able to spend more time with his wolf while doing what he needed to for Andrei was an added bonus.

"Who says you were driving?" Cedar countered with her own smile, delighting in the hint of irritation that sparked momentarily in his eyes before he smiled his deliciously evil little smile at her which set her heart thumping wildly in her chest.

"You want to wrestle for the car keys?" he asked in a silkily soft tone, his blood heating at the thought of the two of them grappling for the keys.

"My children are present," Jared said rather tersely though he was quite amazed at how much softer the vampire appeared when around his Beta. The connection between them was obviously very strong.

"My apologies," Cedar said sheepishly her gaze drifting quickly to Millie to make sure she hadn't offended her too. Her Alpha bitch was actually smiling, amusement clearly on her face.

"Don't mind Jared," she smiled. "He's clearly forgotten how intense a new mating can be now that he's become a father." Her tone was light and teasing, letting her mate know that she wasn't rebuking him in any way, just she found his reaction amusing.

Alexei stood up reaching to pull Cedar to her feet. He wasn't used to being publicly chastised. It felt uncomfortable. The fact that everyone present didn't seem to mind was probably the only thing that wasn't inciting his anger. It appeared natural to them, to tease and laugh at each other despite the topic under discussion. It was a vast difference from the way his kind interacted, one that would take a little getting used to.

"Come on, we may as well do this now," he said, choosing to ignore the others as he pulled his car keys from his jeans pocket and tossed them to his wolf. "You can chauffeur me around," he laughed, giving in as graciously as he could without making it appear as if he was.

Cedar caught the keys and laughed. She was tempted to make a crack at his caving in but decided against it. This was the most relaxed she had seen Alexei around her pack. She didn't want to do anything that would have him setting up his barriers again. She said her goodbyes and allowed Alexei to hustle her out of the room.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 06



Loretta felt excitement bubbling deep inside her as she headed towards The Dive. Her wolf was prowling hungrily, her own impatience at being separated from their mate for so long, being keenly felt. 

She had pulled up, parked and was halfway towards the entrance before she remembered Andrei telling her to use the back entrance the next time she came. Her footsteps faltered for a second and then she forged ahead. It didn’t bother her to walk through a nest of vampires. They’d seen her before, knew Andrei had invited her into his private office. She didn’t feel afraid at the possible reception that waited for her.

Still, there was no point in being completely reckless. Her eyes quickly took in the dimly lit interior as she stepped inside, her footsteps once more faltering as she took in the scene in the booth farthest into the corner of the room. How she made her eyes disengage from what she was witnessing she had no idea.

Red hot fury welled up inside her as she fixed her eyes to the bar area and headed over to it. The same vampire was on bartending duties, his hazel eyes a little more friendly than the first time she had been there. He appeared curious to see her again, a hint of amusement in his expression as he watched her approach.

She kept her gaze fixed to his so she wouldn’t turn her head to look at the object of her fury. She didn’t want to see the black haired vampire draped over Andrei’s lap, or the way his fingers were trailing lightly up and down her bare arm in a manner that screamed intimacy, that told the whole room that he was used to having his hands on that…that…that floozy’s body! 

Pietro was amused by the wolf’s appearance. He had no idea what was going on between his boss and the girl but from the fury in her deep brown eyes he figured there was a good chance that there was going to be some entertainment coming up very soon. Marcia’s throaty laughter could be heard from the back booth and the sound seemed to agitate the wolf even more as she sat down on the barstool before him.

Andrei had said the wolf was to be left alone if she came in, that she was to be given whatever she wanted at no charge. The message had been made abundantly clear to everyone who frequented The Dive. Touch one hair on the wolf’s head and Andrei would personally gut them. No one argued with Andrei when he issued an edict, not if they valued their lives.

“What can I get you, Rose?” he asked, his lips twitching slightly as she just glared at him for a moment. She was obviously trying to rein her temper in and finding it difficult to do so. Maybe she would shift into wolf form? Now that really would be fun.

Loretta managed to control her temper long enough to start formulating just how she was going to deal with her philandering mate. Of all the bloody mates she had to choose from she had to pick the one who didn’t understand the basic concept of fidelity? 

She ignored the little voice inside her head that told her Andrei didn’t even know he was her mate. Just because she hadn’t actually told him didn’t mean he wouldn’t be feeling the mating pull. After their last meeting that pull would have been stronger, harder to resist. 

She smiled slowly at the bartender. “Can I have a bucket of ice please?” she asked sweetly, her tone so sugary it was enough to make her grit her teeth it sounded so false. “If you could fill it with some soda too that would be perfect.”

Pietro stared at her for a moment with a blank expression. What an odd order. He knew she was a wolf but she was in human form at the moment. Was she going to change into her animal form and lap from the bucket? He was tempted to ask but decided against it. Andrei said anything she wanted she could have. If she wanted an ice bucket filled with soda then who was he to argue with her?

“You have a name?” she asked as he turned to fulfil her order. He almost missed her question because he was musing at how grateful he was that he didn’t have to charge her for her ‘drink’. He had no idea how to calculate the cost. 

Her question seeped into his mind and he answered without really thinking about it. “Pietro.”

“Hi Pietro, I’m Loretta.”

His head whipped up and he frowned slightly. “I thought your name was Rose,” he growled softly.

Her pretty face turned into a dark scowl and she stiffened slightly. “That was a private joke between me and your asshole of a boss,” she bit out tersely. “Is my order ready yet?” Marcia’s laughter was filtering down to them  and Loretta’s eyes were starting to blaze with fury again.

Pietro smothered down a smirk and placed the filled ice bucket on the bar. “It’s on the house,” he told the irate wolf before him. Her face suddenly split into an evil grin.

“Seriously? Andrei is paying for this?” Her tone was full of delight. “How perfect.” She smiled at Pietro who was suddenly wondering if he had just been set up somehow, if he had just made a dire mistake that he wasn’t even aware of.

Andrei stifled down a deep sigh as Marcia leaned forward and laughed in his ear again. This had seemed like a good idea at the time but the vampire was really irritating him immensely. Usually he enjoyed spending time with Marcia but tonight she was leaving him completely cold. She was trying hard but no amount of wriggling on his lap or breathy laughs in his ear was inciting any reaction within him.

He had to admit defeat with Marcia and it infuriated him to do so. There was only one woman he wanted to be wriggling on his lap at the moment and it most certainly was not the vampire in his arms. He wanted to hit something, anything; he didn’t care what it was. 

He tuned out the woman he was with and thought of his conversation with Alexei earlier. Was he as fucked as his brother was? Was his attraction to Loretta more than just lust? Was he about to have to have to concede that he was destined to mate with a bloody wolf of all things? 

No way was he going to allow that to happen. Just because Alexei had succumbed didn’t mean he was going to. He’d spent the last two decades working to get himself on The Council. He had now finally achieved that goal and he was not going to let it all fall apart because of a woman, a bloody dog at that. 

He had a set goal in mind for where he wanted his future to go and it didn’t include Loretta. When he made up his mind about something he never changed it. Ever!  He couldn’t protect Alexei if he lost control of The Council. He’d do his best for the Hanlon pack but his main priority was his twin.

Loretta was nothing to him except a brief moment of madness when he should have been keeping his goals firmly in mind. Then why couldn’t get her out of his mind? Why couldn’t even Marcia tempt him when he had lain with her countless times before and never had a problem? Why did he long for that sweet, spicy scent of cinnamon and a pair of deep brown eyes staring intently into his?

He uttered a deep groan at the same instant he felt warm lips rubbing against his neck and realised Marcia was kissing him. He had to put a stop to this before it got out of hand. He wasn’t interested in her and he needed to let her know before her feelings became too wounded. He reached for her shoulders to push her away from him when he was suddenly overwhelmed with the scent he had been longing for. The scent of rich, hot cinnamon.

A fraction of a second after that he was drenched in freezing cold ice and sticky soda.

Loretta’s fury reached boiling point when she saw the woman kiss Andrei’s neck. She’d had every intention of drenching them both with the icy soda but she took even more pleasure at dumping the complete contents of the bucket over them because of the kiss.

The woman shrieked loudly and flew straight at her but Andrei’s hands were on her shoulders holding her back. Loretta stood her ground as the drenched vampire hissed furiously at her. She didn’t look half as pretty when she was wearing iced soda in her hair and all over her ridiculously expensive dress.

Andrei’s instant reaction was pure utter fury. He was vaguely aware of the sound dying completely in the club as the music screeched to a halt and all eyes turned to the back booth. He was pushing Marcia from his lap, blurring as he whipped around and went for the wolf, snarling loudly as he did so. His hand wrapped around her throat, his vampiric side completely in control, his need to kill something the most dominant thought in his mind.

Loretta’s expression stunned him, halting his initial reaction. She was furiously glaring at him as if he was the one who had done something wrong. She didn’t even look the least bit frightened. He inhaled deeply scenting for her fear and there was none. She just stood there glaring at him, daring him to hurt her, confident that he wouldn’t actually do so.

The woman had to be insane. There was no way he could leave her actions unpunished. But he felt his hand relax slightly around her throat as her scent washed over him and he stared into the deep brown eyes that had been haunting him for the last week. His touch gentled just enough that he was securing her firmly but not hurting her in any way. His anger melted slightly, a little thrill of pleasure coursing through him at the touch of her skin beneath his hand. What was she doing to him? What spell was she weaving over him and how the hell did he break it?

Loretta’s smug smile faltered slightly as Andrei moved so fast she didn’t see him coming. One moment he was restraining the vampire and the next he had her pinned to the side of the booth, his hand wrapped around her throat and with naked fury blazing in his eyes. She swallowed slightly at the rage on his face, surprised to find that she could do so. It took a second to realise that he wasn’t actually squeezing her neck, just restraining her.

“You are dead, dog!” Marcia hissed loudly, her talons coming out as she moved forward towards the wolf, intent on killing the other woman as quickly and painfully as possible.

Andrei’s heart thundered loudly in his chest as he kept his body squarely between Loretta and Marcia. He was livid at the wolf for humiliating him in his own domain but he was equally intent on ensuring Marcia didn’t get anywhere close to her. Why he felt this sudden need to protect Loretta he had no idea. If he was too soft to exact the proper punishment then he should step back and let Marcia do so. But she was vicious when riled and wouldn’t think twice about killing the wolf. He just couldn’t allow that to happen. 

Like the night they had first met, Andrei found himself unable to let the little wolf die. It had confused the hell out of him then and it was still confusing the hell out of him. How could she have the power to make him act so out of character? She quite literally twisted him up in knots and it infuriated the hell out of him.

The other vampire’s hand shot forward, talons extended and heading straight for Loretta’s face. Andrei’s free hand moved swiftly, gripping Marcia’s wrist hard before she managed to rake her talons across the wolf’s face. His eyes never left Loretta’s, watching her intently as he restrained both her and the vampire. 

Not one flicker of fear crossed her face. She seemed so sure that he would protect her, so certain that he wouldn’t let any harm come to her. His breath hissed out loudly. Loretta trusted him. She believed that he was her mate.

“Marcia,” he growled softly, his eyes still intent on Loretta’s face even though he was coiled to turn around and defend her if the vampire didn’t back down. 

He sensed Pietro approach and relaxed slightly. “Pietro will see to your needs,” he told the vampire, all the while trying to ignore the smug look on Loretta’s face. She was so certain he was falling into her trap. Fuck, maybe she was right because he knew he couldn’t allow Marcia to touch her. He didn’t know if that was some mating pull or he just wanted to keep the pleasure of wringing her neck to himself

“I have only one,” the vampire spat back. “Give her to me and then we can get back to our entertainment.”

Andrei’s head turned fractionally to the left to look at her. “Leave, Marcia,” he said coldly. “I will attend to the wolf.”

“She ruined my dress,” the vampire growled hoarsely, fury dripping from each word.

His patience almost at an end, Andrei whirled around and hissed furiously at her. He didn’t have time for Marcia’s histrionics. Not when he was trying to figure out what the fuck the wolf was doing to him, why she was turning his life upside down until he couldn’t think straight.

“Fuck off now or you’ll have more than your dress to be concerned about,” he said in a cold, hard tone before turning back to Loretta and grabbing her by the scruff of her neck.

He shot a furious glare at his bartender and then looked pointedly at the ice bucket lying on the floor. 

“You said anything she wanted,” Pietro said with a sheepish smile.

Andrei growled in response. “Make sure Marcia is reimbursed for whatever she feels she has lost and then make sure she gets home safely.” Without a word to the wolf in his grasp, he headed off towards the door marked private, tugging her unceremoniously along with him.

Loretta’s wolf was growling furiously inside her and it was all she could do not to shift and bite the stupid vampire at her side. He gave no consideration to her shorter legs, striding so quickly  she had to jog to keep up with him. It was either that or have him rip her head off. The hand at the back of her neck was pinching quite hard, giving her no leeway to slacken her pace.

She didn’t even know what he was so mad about. So he got a little wet. Big deal. He should have thought of the consequences of taking up with another woman behind her back. Did he seriously think she would let him get away with that kind of behaviour? Was he really that stupid? She fumed silently as he dragged her down the stairs and into his office.

“Sit!” he said coldly, pointing at the chair in front of his desk. “If you’re not here when I come back I will come looking for you and you won’t like it when I eventually catch up with you.” He strode into the bathroom and closed the door quietly behind him.

Andrei took long deep breaths as he leaned against the door and found himself actually trying not to laugh. The sound of Loretta’s heels running down the stairs had been priceless. He had to give her credit. She hadn’t opened her mouth once in complaint even though he knew he must have been hurting her with his rough grasp.

His eyes flashed as he stripped off his sodden clothes and turned the shower on. His initial anger with the wolf was already waning. Instead he found himself actually feeling slightly  amused at her little display of temper upstairs. He certainly didn’t need to ask if she believed he was her mate. She had positively reeked of jealously upstairs and still did.

He stepped under the shower and quickly began cleaning off the sticky soda.
His thoughts were racing as he tried to work out what to do with Loretta. One part of him wanted to teach her a lesson for being so disrespectful while the other part of him was actually impressed with her temerity. She was pretty spectacular when she lost her temper, a right little spitfire.

He would have to do something to get through to her that she couldn’t publicly humiliate him like that; no matter how justified she felt she was to do so. But her possessiveness struck a chord deep within him. Was this the mating pull Alexei talked about? He should be furiously angry with her and yet, her jealousy and fury at him being with Marcia actually pleased him. She obviously felt a huge level of passion for him and he found himself liking that. Fuck if he was being totally honest with himself he loved it.

Andrei had never wanted to be owned by any woman before but Loretta’s reaction tonight delighted him. Her novel way of putting out a fire which wasn’t actually burning at the time, was pretty inspired. He smiled as he rinsed off and grabbed a large towel to dry himself. He would need to ensure Pietro was quite clear on just what was acceptable to allow Loretta to have in future. If she’d asked for an axe would the bartender have given her that?

He was dressed in a clean pair of jeans and shirt in no time, running a quick comb through his wet hair and re-entering the office. His eyes automatically went to the chair he had instructed Loretta to sit her pretty little ass in, only to find it empty. He didn’t panic, merely turned to the right to see her sitting in his chair with her feet up on his desk.

Disrespectful, disobedient, foolhardy little wench. 

That about summed up his wolf. His wolf? He stifled down a groan and sucked in a deep breath at the purely possessive thought in his head. His gaze was fixated on her shoe which was tapping furiously against the desk. He didn’t know whether to fight or just give in. He was a Council member. He was supposed to lead by example. He couldn’t succumb to a woman, a wolf at that. He had plans, goals to achieve. He couldn’t afford to be diverted by Loretta. 

Was it pointless fighting what his brother, her actions, and his own hidden feelings were telling him? Did Loretta Simpson belong to him?  Was she his mate? He appeared incapable of killing the little she devil, incapable of even maintaining his anger at her. It was now appearing that he was incapable of bedding any other woman since he’d lain with her. 

More importantly, his need to protect her upstairs had almost rivalled his need to protect his brother. That completely stunned him. No one had ever come close to being as important to him as Alexei, not even Demetri and he was his closest friend apart from his brother.

His gaze slid along her bare legs up to the hem of her little black dress and further up to her waist.  He lingered on her luscious breasts before travelling up to the delicate hollow of her throat and finally to her furious, beautiful face. Her brown eyes flashed angrily at him, hurt mixed in with her rage though she tried to mask it. His heart twisted and he actually felt like a bastard for being responsible for that expression on her face.

Andrei’s earlier thoughts of teaching her a lesson for humiliating him evaporated as he moved towards her slowly. “You’re in the wrong chair,” he remarked idly, his lips quirking as her chin tilted defiantly, daring him to do something about it.

The arrogant tilt of her head, the flashing fury in her eyes was all he needed to answer his questions. She was his and probably had been from the very moment he had laid eyes on her. He could fight as long and hard as he wanted, she would have her way and he knew it. It didn’t matter how much he fought against her, everything about her called to him on an almost spiritual level.

He felt something break free inside him as he silently admitted to himself what he had been denying for so long. He was her mate. There was no more doubt on the matter. She was the only one for him. A deep rush of contentment settled over him as he accepted her unspoken challenge.

He moved swiftly, picking her up bodily and sitting down with her firmly embraced on his lap. His body hardened instantly as she growled and tried to wriggle away from him, only serving to make him harder and less inclined to let her go. And more certain that they were true mates.

His hand caught the back of her neck and pulled her mouth to his, a low groan issuing from his chest as she stubbornly held her mouth closed to him, her body rigid in his arms. He brushed his lips slowly over hers, tiny little caresses teasing at her resolve. He knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her; it was only her stubborn anger which was making her resist.

“I didn’t touch her,” he murmured against her lips. “I was going to but she left me cold. She wriggled in my lap just like you’re doing right now and didn’t get the reaction you’re getting, my little wolf.”




The Council Ch. 06



Loretta wanted to believe him but knew he was capable of telling whatever lie he wanted to. She kept her lips firmly closed, refusing to give in to the desire which was sweeping through her body. She wanted to relax against him, to wrap her fingers in his wet hair and kiss him with all the hunger she felt deep inside. But he had been with another woman, whether or not he had done anything with her, it had been his intent to do so and that hurt.

“Loretta,” he groaned softly, his lips never ceasing their subtle dance across hers. “Let me into your sweetness. You know you want to, I can feel it in your body, I can scent it on you. You want me.”

His words only served to anger her more because she knew they were true. She relaxed slightly and his grip slackened as he sucked in a deep breath. The breath whooshed out loudly when she elbowed him in the ribs and managed to slide off his lap and make her way around the desk away from him. She had sucker punched him and she should feel bad about it but she knew she hadn’t hurt him, not really.

“You think it’s that easy, Andrei?” she asked arching an eyebrow at him. “Are you seriously that dense? You admit to wanting to sleep with another woman and think everything’s okay because you didn’t actually do it? Is that how you think relationships work?”

His eyes flashed with irritation though he bit down his initial angry retort. “Obviously I need to be enlightened on the subtle nuances of being in a relationship with a woman. It’s not something I have any experience with,” he remarked drolly. “Though I was unaware that I was actually in a relationship with anyone when I chose to spend my evening with Marcia.” 

He challenged her to argue with him, watching her emotions flicker rapidly across her face. If she challenged his statement she would be lying and they both knew it. Just because she had decided they were mates during their last encounter, at no time had she told him of the fact nor had he acknowledged it in any way.

“Shall we call this one a draw, Rose?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. “I didn’t bed Marcia and you got to humiliate me in public for considering the possibility. I personally believe I’ve come out the loser in the whole thing but I’m willing to concede if it will alleviate your hurt feelings.”

Lord, she was a stubborn little thing. Her set expression told him she still wasn’t entirely happy, that she wanted more from him. He had no idea what more he could possibly give her. He was conceding more than he really wanted to. It galled him to do so but he wanted her so badly he was willing to give her what she needed, within reason.

“Do you want the words, Loretta?” he finally asked softly. “Is that what you need? Fine. Marcia left me cold tonight because she wasn’t the woman I wanted…no I craved to be with. I’ve thought of nothing but you all week and it’s driven me insane. I thought if I indulged myself with another woman I could get you out of my mind. It didn’t work; I just craved you even more. You’ve won, little wolf. I accept the inevitable. I am your mate and no woman other than you will ever do for me.”

Loretta’s heart lurched in her chest as he accepted her as his mate. She heard the rest of his words but the last sentence was all that mattered. Her mate was acknowledging her even though it looked as if he was ready to choke on the words. 

Andrei was hers. Her mate. She almost couldn’t believe it had been that easy, though the last hour had probably been one of the worst in her life so calling this easy probably was the wrong word for it. She saw a concerned expression cross his face before he was moving towards her swiftly.

“Loretta?” he said softly, reaching out and brushing his thumbs over her wet cheeks as he cradled her face gently in his hands. It was only then that she realised she had started crying. She never cried. She didn’t do weeping and all that other girly stuff but tears were most definitely flowing down her face and didn’t seem to want to stop anytime soon.

“Don’t cry,” Andrei whispered softly, his heart twisting painfully as he stared into her eyes. “I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.” He had no idea what he was apologising for. Hell, he had no idea when the last time he had ever apologised to anyone was. All he knew was he couldn’t stand to see his wolf crying. She was so strong, so feisty and spirited. Seeing her so vulnerable tore at his heart, pulled out a tender side of him he didn’t know he possessed.

She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, holding him tightly as he wrapped his arms around her in bands of steel. “Asshole!” she managed to choke out, joy surging through her in huge waves. 

He chuckled as he rubbed his cheek against her hair, revelling in feeling her melt in his embrace. She could call him whatever she wanted, as long as he could hear that soft sound in her voice, the one that he knew instinctively was special and just for him.

Why did everything suddenly feel so right? Letting down his guard emotionally should have felt so very wrong and yet it felt perfect with Loretta in his arms. Was this what Alexei felt with Cedar? Did he feel this sudden feeling of completion?

Andrei had only ever truly loved one person in his life and that was Alexei. He irrationally ignored his feelings for Demetri. He had sided with Caleb so he was not in his good books at the moment. 

Now he felt his heart open so his little Rose could bury herself completely inside it. He was stunned at how strongly she was wrapped within his heart. He had barely admitted their relationship to himself and yet, she was taking up residence instantly and irrevocably. He now had even more cause to ensure that he retained control of The Council. It was the only way to protect his heart.

Loretta took a deep breath and pulled herself together. She couldn’t believe she’d actually started crying because he accepted her as his mate. It was such a weak thing to do. She had expected him to make fun of her weakness but his response had been the exact opposite. Her vampire actually had a heart which was capable of feeling compassion. That was almost as surprising as him conceding defeat. She had a feeling Andrei Romanov was going to surprise her a lot over their coming years together.

“Can we get out of here?” she asked pushing against his chest until he released his tight grip on her.

His eyes narrowed as he stared down at her, searching her face intently. Her tone was brusque and very no nonsense sounding. Not very loving at all which was what he had been hoping for. “What did you have in mind?” he asked slowly.

“As much as we had fun in here last week, I’d prefer a little more comfort this time,” Loretta smiled with a devilish glint in her eyes.

The lustful expression on her face made his body throb and his own lust rise sharply. He smiled slowly and lowered his head to capture her mouth with his. This time she allowed him in to taste her sweetness and he groaned as her tongue pressed eagerly against his as his lips moved restlessly over hers. She tasted intoxicating, spurring his lust to an all time high. He didn’t want to wait, he was ready for her right now but she wanted a more romantic environment so he would control his needs for the moment.

“Where’s your purse?” he murmured against her lips, feeling her stiffen in his arms.

“Crap!” she groaned. “I left it on the bar. I needed both hands for the ice bucket.” She shot him a sheepish grin as he rolled his eyes and laughed softly.

“You will pay for that, little wolf. Though I’ll be kind because you were very inventive with your revenge.” He moved back to his desk and picked up the phone.

“Pietro, do you have Loretta’s purse?” he asked. He listened for a second and smiled. “Run down with it.”

Loretta let out a sigh of relief. “He’s not so bad for a vampire,” she remarked, her eyes running slowly over Andrei’s long body, a little shiver of anticipation running down her spine at the prospect of being alone with him somewhere with no interruptions.

“If you come here and I’m not around, stay close to him,” Andrei said in a serious voice. “He’s been with me for centuries and is one of the few people I trust which is why I’m not going to kick his ass for giving you that ice bucket.”

She laughed as he crossed the room and pulled her back into his arms, his head burying in the side of her neck as he nuzzled against her soft skin with a muffled groan. Damn she smelled so good and tasted even better.

“You did tell him to give me anything I wanted,” she whispered with a soft moan as his lips brushed against her collarbone and her knees trembled at his touch.

“I expected him to use some bloody common sense,” he growled back though there was laughter in his tone as he licked his way slowly back up her neck.

“In my defence, Andrei, I don’t know much about wolves,” Pietro answered walking into the office with Loretta’s purse. “I thought she was going to shift and drink in wolf form,” he admitted with a wry grin. “She’s ballsy enough to do something like that.” There was a hint of respect in his voice and an almost friendly glint in his hazel eyes as he nodded to Loretta.

Andrei raised his head and grinned at his friend. “She is that,” he answered. He actually sounded quite proud of her, enough to make Loretta quirk an eyebrow at him with a grin on her face. She didn’t think he’d be in a rush to have a similar experience despite his amusement at the first one.

He released her long enough to retrieve his car keys and hand them to his bartender while Loretta relieved Pietro of her purse.

“See that someone drops my car off at the house,” Andrei instructed. “I’m heading home for the night. Anything I need to know before I go?”

Pietro shook his head in the negative. “Marcia was still grumbling but I used your credit card to transfer twenty big ones to her bank account. She stopped grumbling after that. I also had a quiet word with her about any thoughts of retaliation. Let her know that would most definitely be frowned upon. I hope I didn’t overstep the mark there.”

Loretta’s eyes had gone round with shock at the mention of giving the woman twenty thousand though Andrei didn’t bat an eyelid at the amount. When she looked up at him he was smiling widely.

“That’s perfect, Pietro. You heard what I expect from you if I’m not around?”

“Yes boss,” the other vampire sighed. “Keep the wolf out of trouble until you arrive and take her off my hands.” The laughter in his voice took any insult out of his words and Loretta found herself liking him even more. 

He clearly would do anything for Andrei and by default he was including her in that because he knew there was something going on between them. He was smart enough not to ask what it was, he just accepted that for the moment his boss was interested in her and that made her important.

With a few final instructions about locking up for the night Andrei wrapped an arm around Loretta’s shoulders and ushered her quickly from the club, taking the back entrance. He was desperate to get her alone, to feel her naked body rubbing against his again. The speed with which she was walking made him smile. She was just as keen to be alone with him.

He was so intent on his needs that he didn’t even object when she insisted on driving her car after he asked if he could. Usually Alexei was the only person he trusted behind the wheel of a car but if Loretta was driving then he would be free to just look at her and marvel at how she was his and how he could be with her whenever he wanted to. 

He gave her his address and settled back in the passenger seat to watch her as she drove quickly but very confidently. It suddenly struck him that she would be the first woman he would be taking to his bed. Hell, she would be the first woman he’d ever taken to his home at all. He didn’t allow many people into his private domain, preferring to have one place which was his and his alone. 

Now he was inviting his wolf into it and instead of it making him feel uncomfortable, it was filling him with excitement. He wanted her in his home. More importantly he wanted to see her in his bed, nestled against his black, silk sheets, her creamy white skin contrasting with the sensual material. His cock throbbed painfully in his jeans at the mental picture. He wished she would drive a bit faster. If he were driving they would be home by now.

“I’m not breaking the speed limit,” Loretta remarked dryly seeing his eyes flicker to the speed dial. “Not only do I not want a ticket but I also don’t want to be wrapped around a tree somewhere because I was driving recklessly. I heal slower than you do remember, even with vamp blood to speed up the process.”

Her mentioning her injuries the year before brought a dark scowl to his face. Before it had simply been something that had happened, part of the war where casualties were to be expected. She had been hurt, close to death but he had healed her and she had survived. Now it felt different. Now he was claiming her as his, it was a whole other ball game. Someone had almost killed his mate and he felt a red hot fury erupt inside of him.

“Sandro is lucky to be dead,” he said in a cold, hard voice. “If he were still alive, I would kill him slowly, make sure he suffered for every broken bone he inflicted on you.”

Loretta smiled slightly, part of her thrilling at his protectiveness. She had no doubt he would do exactly as he said had Sandro still been alive but the vampire was dead now and had been for a long time. 

“You shouldn’t let yourself get worked up over it,” she sighed softly. “It happened. It was a long time ago and I am fine now. You took care of that, Andrei.”

“No one will hurt you like that ever again, Loretta,” he said stubbornly, complete conviction in his tone. No one would ever lay a hand on his wolf again. He would kill them if they even thought about it. He tried to dampen down the rage he felt, knowing she was right. It was in the past and couldn’t be changed. It was the future he had to think of now. Still, he couldn’t let it go completely.

“How long?” he asked quietly.

Loretta stole a quick glance at him and then looked back at the road. “Did it take for me to heal?” she replied. “It was a lot quicker than it would have been without your blood, Andrei. I would have died without it and we both know it. As it was, the bruises were gone within twenty four hours, the bones took a little longer to knit together. Luke surmised it could be because my wolf DNA was fighting against yours, as humans heal a lot faster from vampire blood judging from Mara’s quick recovery from her injuries. I was in the medical centre for five days, able to get around with some help  about three after that. All told, I would say I was back in shape to start training after about twelve days.”

Andrei frowned as he listened. Twelve days to heal was like a lifetime for him. He couldn’t understand why it had taken so long for his blood to do its job. Her back had healed almost instantly so why did it take so long for the rest of her bones to knit together? Was it something to do with their conflicting DNA and different healing abilities? Maybe she had needed more blood than she was given? If he had gone back to check on her sooner he could have let her drink from him again, possibly stopped her pain sooner.

Her hand rubbing against his thigh brought him out of his thoughts, his breath rushing out loudly at the sharp thrill of pleasure that her touch incited.

“I think we have other things to be thinking about,” she said lightly.

His hand covered hers and pulled it to his groin, pressing her tightly against his straining shaft. He groaned and closed his eyes as she squeezed him gently before removing her hand to signal to turn into his long driveway. He smiled as they pulled up outside his home. Yes, they definitely had more important things to be thinking about.

He had her out of the car and inside the house before she could blink, settling her feet on the wooden floor of the entrance hall and leaving her side briefly to lock the door and activate his security system. He had her back in his arms and was kissing her before she really had time to look around.

“Aren’t I getting a tour?” she laughed against his lips as his hands slid down her back to cup her ass and pull her soft curves tightly to his aching body.

“Tour tomorrow,” he groaned. “Sex tonight and lots of it. You have a week to make up for.”

Loretta laughed harder, her laughter turning to a little shriek of surprise as he picked her up effortlessly and blurred them both upstairs and into his bedroom. It appeared he really was impatient for her.

Andrei laid her almost reverently in the middle of his bed and then stepped back so he could just look down at her for a moment. The image he’d had in his head of her lying in his bed paled in comparison to actually having her there. He’d never wanted a woman in his bed before; it was his private place, the one place he could completely relax in. His wolf looked utterly perfect there as she gazed up at him with eyes smoky with her passion.

She sat up on her knees, her hands reaching behind her to unzip her dress. Andrei smiled slowly and crawled onto the bed beside her moving to complete the task. He wanted the pleasure of slowly unwrapping her sexy body for his eager hands and mouth to touch and taste.

He kept his gaze fixed to hers as he slowly peeled the dress from her body watching her pupils dilate as her breath sucked in sharply at whatever expression she was seeing on his face. He was hard and throbbing, aching to be free of his jeans so he could bury his cock deep within her. Whatever expression those needs drew out was obviously one his wolf liked to see.

“Stand up,” he ordered huskily, smiling when she tried to do so but found her heels were making it very difficult to achieve. They sank into the soft mattress beneath her and knocked her off balance.

The predator within him exulted in having her off balance. He liked to shake up his little wolf, to make her have to rely on him. He pressed his face against her flimsy black, lace thong and inhaled deeply as he helped her remain standing so he could tug her dress down to her feet. She smelled so delicious, so aroused as he nuzzled gently at the lace. He couldn’t resist pressing his tongue against the damp material as he pulled off her heels and tossed them along with the dress onto the floor.

Loretta’s hands threaded in Andrei’s thick hair as he teased her pussy through her panties. Her knees felt weak and she knew she would fall to the bed if he wasn’t holding her up so tightly. A dim part of her brain registered that he was trying to stamp his dominance on her, trying to set the boundaries to their relationship. For the moment she let him have his way because his mouth was doing such delicious things to her body.

Her knees trembled wildly as he brushed aside the flimsy material and his tongue scythed through her soft folds. Her grip tightened in his hair as he licked boldly, growling loudly as her juices flooded his tongue and mouth in copious amounts. Her arousal was intense, her need for him consuming her because they had been parted for so long. Her breath came out in short hard pants as she pressed herself eagerly against him, desperate for more, needing to reach her completion as soon as possible.

She knew she was being greedy, that they had all night to satisfy each other but Andrei stirred a need in her like no other. Instantly she was full of hunger, full of a deep need to soar to the heavens and back again. “Andrei,” she groaned hoarsely, a breathy plea in her voice.

He responded instantly, an answering growl erupting from him as he quickly ripped her thong from her body and pulled one leg over his shoulder to open her up more to his insistent mouth. The move increased her lack of balance and she had to grip tightly to one shoulder to hold on as he began to lick hard and fast up and down her wet slit, pressing against her clit briefly each time he reached the top.




The Council Ch. 06



She shuddered and cried out, held up only by his strong body, his mouth working furiously between her legs as she trembled wildly and bucked against him. His tongue was relentless, sliding hard and fast over each soft fold, dipping briefly inside her body to lick against her silky walls before once more sliding up to torture her clit.

She was vaguely aware of his name being a litany on her lips as she felt the tell tale signs of her climax begin. Her stomach coiled tightly, liquid fire racing through her veins as Andrei skilfully pushed her relentlessly towards her completion. 

She cried out loudly, her body stiffening as the dam burst and ecstasy rolled over her in long, pulsing waves. She felt as if she was falling from a great height, flying free fall through the night air as her body shuddered with sweet bliss.

Her eyes flew open in shock as she connected with the mattress and realised that she was falling, that at the moment of her climax Andrei had released his hold on her and followed her down to the bed, his mouth staying buried firmly between her legs as she rode out her orgasm. Her breath caught in her throat as the combination of falling and her climax took her to new heights of pleasure she had never reached before.

Andrei couldn’t stop tasting her, couldn’t drag his mouth from the sweetest, most delectable flavour he had ever tasted. Loretta’s sweet cum was flooding his mouth as he licked and sucked and tried to devour her beautiful essence. 

Never had he taken such pleasure from loving a woman with his mouth. His need to satisfy her, to give her such ecstasy outweighed even his own needs at the moment. Hearing her sharp cries, feeling her body shudder against his touch made the blood rush to his head and filled him with such pleasure. He gentled his touch slowly, easing her down from her climax with soft little licks and gently little kisses. Finally he raised his head and looked up into his mate’s stunned face. He smiled his satisfaction. 

“Do you have a licence for that mouth?” Loretta gasped out through ragged breaths and he threw his head back and laughed loudly, crawling up her body to rub his sticky mouth against hers as he continued to take her breath away by kissing her long and hard.

“Do I need one?” he laughed huskily, pure male satisfaction lining his beautiful face as he lay down beside her to give her a moment to catch her breath. His body was throbbing painfully but for the moment he was content just to lie beside her, to experience this almost serene moment of companionship. He’d never wanted to lie like this with a woman before but then, he had only ever had sex with women before. Making love was a completely different experience  and he found that he liked it a lot. Especially with his feisty little wolf.

Loretta sighed her satisfaction and rolled to her side, burying her head in the crook of his neck as her fingers sought the buttons on his shirt and started to worry them open. He was way too overdressed for her liking. He groaned as she licked and nibbled against his skin, her teeth scraping lightly over the wonderful spot that she so ached to bite into.

She reluctantly pulled away, not wanting to move too fast for him. His acceptance of her was astounding, more than she could have hoped for. She didn’t want to make him skittish by pushing too quickly to strengthen their joining. She could wait a little longer until he was ready.

She sat up and straddled his body, gazing down into a pair of amused brown eyes. She sucked in a deep breath as her eyes roamed over his exquisite face. It should be illegal that any man could look so impossibly beautiful. There should most definitely be a law against it.

His lips quirked in a little smile as he watched the emotions flit across her very expressive face. Her hands were pressing his shirt apart and her little pink tongue suddenly darted out as she licked her lips in appreciation. He groaned softly, imaging her tongue sliding over his aching body. His nostrils flared as he sucked in a deep breath when her mouth lowered to his chest and her tongue did indeed begin to dance across his skin.

“Loretta.” Her name was a husky sound of need as it burst from his lips, his hand moving to hold the nape of her neck firmly as she kissed and licked across his chest, flicking her tongue firmly against his nipples erotically. Her touch was like fire burning him slowly inside and out as her hands joined her mouth to caress the hard wall of his chest. 

He wanted to flip her over, rip his clothes off and bury himself deep inside her. Instead he let her have her way with him, allowed her to be in control, to tempt and tease him to the brink of insanity. And she thought he needed a licence for his mouth?

Loretta couldn’t get enough of the harsh groans coming from Andrei. His muscles tensed and contracted under her hands and mouth as she tasted every inch of his impressive body. He raised up as her mouth ran over his taut stomach, her hands moving to his belt buckle to pull impatiently at it. She wanted at her prize, at that wonderful part of him that she ached to feel inside her body.

She growled in frustration when she realised she’d never get his jeans off without relieving him of his boots first. There was something to be said for undressing individually and then getting straight to the sex part. Still, anticipation was equally as entertaining.

She reluctantly moved away from his hot skin, drawing a moan of disappointment from him which made her smile wickedly. There was a heady pleasure in knowing he was as desperate for her touch as she was for his.

“Boots,” she laughed softly, her laughter increasing when he sat up quickly, snapped his laces and had the offending items off in no time. “Patience is a virtue,” she added still laughing as he growled loudly.

“Fuck being virtuous,” he growled deeply. “I always knew it was overrated.” He pulled her mouth to his and kissed her long and hard, his tongue pressing for immediate entry to dance erotically with hers.

She was pulling his jeans off, freeing his straining cock from its prison as their lips meshed frantically together. She was breathless when she pulled back, pushing at his chest for him to lie down again. “My turn,” she groaned huskily, her heated gaze returning to his body.

She was dipping her head instantly, her tongue running boldly up his hard, throbbing shaft. She shivered in delight as he hissed loudly and bucked up against her mouth, his hands weaving into her hair to pull her insistently against his body.

She moaned loudly, his taste enveloping her, his scent sending hot moisture flooding between her legs. Her tongue ran slowly around the head of his cock before she opened her mouth and sank deep around his thick shaft.

“Fuck!” Andrei hissed loudly as he felt his woman’s mouth engulf his throbbing cock for the first time. His hips bucked up hard, his hands tightening in her hair as he struggled for some self control. Her lips felt so amazing wrapped around his heated flesh, her little tongue dancing agilely up and down his shaft as she suckled on his head. He was pressing deep into her mouth, liquid heat almost turning his bones to mush as she took more and more of him into her mouth.

He couldn’t halt his hips from flexing up hard, pressing into her as she quite literally made him forget everything but the warm, wet heat of her mouth, the teasing, tantalising flick of her tongue against his throbbing body. He was so close to cumming, so close to losing himself completely within her beautiful mouth.

With a tortured groan he pulled her away from his body, dragging her up against him to grind her lips hard against his. His heart was hammering inside his chest, his breath whistling out in another tortured groan as his need to claim her overpowered him completely.

He surged up, his cock driving hard into her tight depths, his hands on her hips to ram her down onto his aching body. His possession of her was hard and deep but she answered his need with her own, leaning down to nip hard against his neck as she pressed down to meet his thrust.

He set a fast pace, his lust taking hold as his woman sheathed him so tightly, her muscles clenching around his cock hard trying to halt his withdrawal from her body. She rocked down on him feverishly, soft breathy moans telling him how much pleasure she was taking from his cock sliding deep within her.

It was soon too much for him and he was flipping her onto her back, thrusting deep within her as they’re lips ground hard together. His fingers tugged fiercely at her nipples, his mouth trailing downwards to catch the swollen nubs and suckle hard against them bringing more sweet sounds from his woman’s throat. 

He continued his relentless thrusts into her body, his thighs trembling as liquid fire raced through his veins, sweet bliss filling every part of his body as Loretta wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him even deeper inside her. He couldn’t get enough of her, couldn’t sink his cock deep enough within her delectable body. She was addictive, intoxicating, the most sensual, erotic woman he had ever been with.

Loretta could feel her climax approaching fast. Her wolf was howling in ecstasy as Andrei took her hard and fast stamping his possession over every inch of her body. His cock surged inside her over and over again driving her wild with pleasure as he grazed every sweet spot inside her body, reached every part of her that was even remotely erogenous and sent shivers of utter delight through her.

Her need to claim him completely was driving her to desperation. She needed it so badly; her wolf was wild for it. She rocked against his body, her nails digging into the back of his shoulders hard as she fought with her wolf. Her mouth was against his neck, her teeth raking over the spot she craved to bite. A tortured wail ripped from her as she felt her climax approach swiftly.

“Andrei,” she cried desperately. “I need to taste you again. I need to bite you. Please! ” Her teeth scraped hard against his neck not quite piercing his skin but sending a deep shudder through his body. 

Her desperation washed over him, her body shivering with the intensity of her need. It was madness for him to allow her to bite him, to infect him with the wolf gene. If the Council found out, could somehow detect it within him, he would lose control of it and most likely lose his head too. 

Even if the Council didn’t find out Caleb would know the instant he scented him. He was already in enough trouble with the Ancient. Giving him more fuel to feed the fire of his anger  wasn’t a wise move.

He had to refuse Loretta even though he knew she was desperate to mate with him. There was too much at stake to act rashly. He pulled her mouth away from his neck, intent on telling her no. He stared into her beautiful face seeing the wildness in her eyes, the desperate plea in them, the disappointment starting to creep across her face as she realised he was going to refuse her.

He thrust deep wanting to take the disappointment from her face, wanting to please her physically when he couldn’t do so emotionally. She moved with him, accepting him even though he wouldn’t give her what she needed, what she craved so badly.

Andrei cursed loudly, feeling his completion nearing. She was giving him everything and he was giving her nothing in return, just a few moments of sweet bliss when she reached the peak of her pleasure. His wolf was surrendering completely to him and he was still holding back. 

“Do it!” he hissed, his voice hard and guttural, full of the same desperation she felt. Her pleasure was everything to him, her needs more important than his. If she needed to claim him then he needed her to claim him too.

Her teeth sank deep into his flesh, breaking the skin, his warm blood flowing into her mouth as she passed her wolf gene to him. She moaned hoarsely, swallowing hard, drinking down his sweet blood as his cock expanded inside her and she was soaring once more, sailing over the edge of the abyss as white hot pleasure lanced through her body as she shattered beneath him.

Andrei roared loudly as her teeth sank into his neck. His cock swelled instantly, her tight walls fluttering around him as his world exploded completely, bliss invading every inch of his body as he pulsed deep within her over and over again, emptying his seed into her as she claimed him totally. 

His fangs elongated, his need to bite her back almost overcoming his rigid self control. He managed to resist, managed to concentrate on just feeling the wonderful aftershocks of their bodies pulsing together as they both breathed raggedly, his body still moving languidly against hers for a few more moments before he rested his weight on his elbows and brushed her damp hair back from her face.

Andrei leaned down and kissed Loretta slowly, a light, loving brush of his lips against hers. He could feel the wolf gene inside him, feel it racing through his bloodstream like a foreign invader seeking to do some damage. He should have been worried about it but he wasn’t. Alexei had received his mating bite a week ago and appeared to be completely fine.

All he felt was contentment. His wolf had claimed him as hers. The pleasure she would have received from doing so probably outweighed the pleasure she received from his body in that moment. Giving his wolf pleasure was all that mattered to him. He wasn’t used to being so selfless and was surprised to find what a wonderful feeling it was to actually give to someone rather than just take.

“Mine,” Loretta whispered softly and his lips curved into a smile against hers.

“Yours,” he laughed softly delighting in her possessiveness as he rolled to his side and took her with him, wrapping his arms tightly around her as she licked at the spot she had bitten him. The skin had healed instantly but the area felt overly sensitive as she nuzzled against it.

“Is your wolf happy now, Loretta?” he asked curiously. He didn’t know how dominant a part her human side played in her mating ritual. For some reason he suspected it was the wolf that drove that aspect of her personality. He really would need to learn about Weres and stuff now that she was so firmly embedded in his life.

“All of me is happy,” she sighed softly, tilting her head up to grin at him. “But my wolf is particularly pleased.” Her expression turned serious. “Thank you, Andrei.” 

He stared into her eyes, his hand reaching to brush her cheek gently. She was thanking him when he felt he should be the one thanking her. She had burst into his life, all sassy mouth, fiery temper and deliciously luscious body. She challenged him, demanded his respect, demanded his love and he was powerless to refuse her.

His life would never be the same again. For once he had no idea what his future held and it was strangely exhilarating.

He smiled slowly, a wicked glint in his eyes. “Well, it was certainly my pleasure,” he teased lightly. “Ready for round two?” He bent his head and caught her mouth under his, stifling down her throaty laughter as he rolled over her and began to love her delicious body once more.

To be continued…



The Council Ch. 07



Heart pounding, blood rushing through her veins, the little she wolf ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Panic infused her very soul as she flew through the trees, the scent of blood heavy in the air, loud screams echoing all around her. One thought dominated her mind. She had to save them. She had to find someone who would listen to her among the madness surrounding her.

Beautiful angels flew all around her, great hulking men with long flowing hair moving almost gracefully as they crashed together in a macabre dance of death. Blood flew through the air as if in slow motion, limbs detached to a symphony of agonised screams. She was screaming inside her head, low whimpers issuing from her throat as she tried to find a way through them.

Beautiful angels; terrifying deadly beings who filled her soul with dread. Eyes shining with glee, smiles of pleasure on each face as they ripped each other apart. She saw a break, whimpered in relief as she darted into the space where the angels were suspiciously absent. 

He was grabbing her before she had time to react. Whimpering loudly, she felt his large hand wrap around her throat, long pointed talons clacking together as he easily circled her slender neck and raised her high from the forest floor. She whimpered again as she stared into the face of the most beautiful angel of them all.

Long red hair billowed around his head; icy green eyes regarded her with cold contempt. Her heart faltered, her mouth so dry she couldn't whimper again. She was going to die. The vampires had gotten to her first before she could find someone to save the children. Total desolation invaded her soul and she gave one last tiny whimper before his strong hand closed around her throat tightly, ready to snap her neck.

A voice cracked loudly among the carnage!

She woke up with a muffled whimper, her hand pressed tightly over her mouth, her nightshirt clinging damply to her skin. Disoriented, her deep brown eyes searched the room in terror, looking for the deadly angels, scenting the air quickly. No blood, no screams, no death.

The girl doubled over, pressing her hands tighter against her mouth as she began to shiver in tiny little aftershocks from the nightmare. Had he heard her? Would he come as he had so many times before? It had been almost a whole month since the last nightmare, almost thirty days of perfect, blissful sleep. 

She waited for her fear to lessen, for her heart to stop pounding so loudly in her chest. The house was silent, no sound of him approaching her room. She should have felt relieved that she had managed to hide this relapse from him but instead she felt alone. A sob threatened to burst out her throat. Where was he? Why hadn't he come?

She pulled her nightshirt off, shifting immediately, her body shimmering in the darkness as the girl vanished and a golden wolf remained on the tousled bed. The sleek animal moved instantly, jumping down and nudging at the open door. Blindly she hurtled along the dark hallway, up the flight of stairs, where she suddenly paused in fear. Did he still leave his door open? Had he stopped doing so when the nightmares appeared to stop?

She started running again, praying silently that he was at the end of the long, dark hallway, that he was where he always was when the nights became too unbearable.

A soft whimper escaped her as she saw the crack in the door before her. It was his welcome, his silent permission to enter his domain whenever she wished to. She nudged the door open almost fearfully, staring at the huge bed with the man lying sleeping on the right hand side. It was testament to his trust in her that he didn't awaken when she entered the room. He had when she had first come to his home, when he wasn't automatically coming to her room in the dead of night when he heard her tortured cries. 

But after a few months, he remained asleep if she came to him and for that she was thankful. She knew he hated to see her so distressed. He never said anything but she would see the slight pinch of his lips, a tightening around his eyes as he comforted her until her weeping and shivering stopped. The instances of her needing him had decreased as time passed. This last period of days, weeks, had been the longest so far without the nightmares.

The little wolf bounded lightly onto the bed beside the flame haired vampire, approaching cautiously in case he woke and she surprised him. He could react so quickly, accidentally hurt her without realising it was she who was there. With another, almost inaudible, whimper, she curled up beside him, pressing against his body heat on top of the covers. She was safe now. She was always safe when she was with him.

A low growl sounded from his chest as her silky fur brushed against his naked skin. He shifted slightly in his sleep, one thick muscled arm coming around her shaking body to pull her more tightly against him. His face buried in the fur at the side of her neck, rubbing gently as a soft, contented sigh escaped his lips.

She froze, remaining as still as she could as he settled back into deep sleep, her name a breathless whisper of his lips, "Ashleigh."

Her body relaxed against him, her fear melting away at the soft sound he made, at the way he instinctually knew she was there even in sleep. Her Nors. Her beautiful red haired vampire. 

He was her rock, her protector, the reason she woke up every morning and worked so hard to make it through each day. He was everything to her but she wanted more, so much more than he appeared willing to give. One day she would be brave enough to tell him how she felt. She would convince him that she was healed and ready to start the next phase of her life. One day. 

She snuggled into him and closed her eyes. She was where she belonged, forever safe with her beloved vampire.

****

Nors groaned softly, his arms tightening around the soft, warm body cuddling into his. The sweet delicate fragrance of honeysuckle filled his nostrils and he instinctually nuzzled against the delicate skin of Ashleigh's neck, his lips grazing her tantalising flesh gently as his body hardened and he pressed against her. 

He came awake instantly, his body stiffening. Ashleigh was in his bed again! Only this time she wasn't in wolf form as all the previous times before. At some point she had changed back to her human form and crawled under the sheets to press her tempting naked body against his. 

Every instinct screamed at him to get out of the bed immediately. To put some distance between them. But she felt so amazing in his arms, so warm and fragrant and incredibly sexy. For months he had longed to feel her pressed up against him like this. It was hard to let her go.

With another groan and a judicious amount of iron self control, the vampire edged away from the beautiful blonde, trying to slide out of the bed without wakening her. She murmured in her sleep and clutched at his shoulders, halting his movements as she moved closer to him, her lips grazing his bare chest. Sweet Jesus, she was trying to kill him! 

For the last year he had carefully striven to keep up a barrier between them, to give her the space and time she needed to heal from her pain. It had been the hardest thing he had ever had to do, denying himself the thing he wanted most in the world, his fragile little wolf. But it had been the right thing to do. She wasn't ready. She needed time. She still needed time otherwise she wouldn't be in his bed once more. She must have had the nightmare again. The one she had had night after long, painful night when she had first come to live with him.

Remembering the early part of their life together always broke his heart. Her heart wrenching cries in her sleep, her beautiful face soaked with tears as she came awake, sobbing for her family. The way she clung to him in utter dejection as she fought so hard to come to terms with her loss. 

There had been a few occasions when he had almost been ready to admit defeat, when it had appeared as if not even his care and complete devotion to her would keep her from turning Rogue, but he had persevered because he couldn't bear the thought of failing her, of losing his one chance of being complete. 

Nors loved his wolf with a passion he had never known he was capable of feeling for a woman. He had always thought he was too old, too selfish, too much the cold, heartless vampire. But Ashleigh had changed all that in one night. One terrible night that had crushed her spirit and almost destroyed her but had turned out to be his salvation. It seemed so cruel that she had to suffer so greatly for him to realise just what he was capable of. 

If he could change things he would gladly spend the rest of his life being cold and heartless if it meant his Ashleigh could be happy with her family once more. He would sacrifice everything for her if he could but there were just some things that he couldn't change. He couldn't bring her family back to life but he could help ease her burden, to be whatever it was she needed him to be. He would love her from afar and just be her friend and protector if that was all she was willing to accept from him.

Her lips grazed his skin again and his heart pounded loudly in his chest. "Ashleigh," he breathed softly, stroking her blonde hair out of her face as he gently eased her lips away from his body before she drove him insane with need and he scared the living daylights out of her. "Wake up, Ash." 

He eased back from her gently, thankful he'd kept wearing his silk pyjama bottoms long after she'd stopped coming to his room. It afforded him a little bit of respectability as long as she didn't look too closely at him. Her big brown eyes opened sleepily and she smiled softly, pleasure dancing across her face for an instant before she suddenly sat up with a startled gasp.

Nors hissed as if he were in pain as the sheet fell from her body, revealing creamy white skin and the beautiful soft curves of her breasts to his rapt gaze. God, she really was trying to kill him! He averted his gaze and swung his legs out of bed, reaching for his robe on the chair and quickly covering his body. He opened his closet and pulled out the first T-shirt that came to hand and tossed it towards the bed without looking back.

Ashleigh shook the last foggy wisps of sleep from her mind, staring at Nors' back as he tossed the T-shirt onto the bed. She couldn't stop the smile that crossed her lips. He really was an old prude, her vampire. He knew she was a Were and that nudity held no taboos to her but he was still a stickler about her covering up when she shifted from human to wolf and back again. It was actually quite sweet and endearing in its own way.

The set of his back told her he wasn't pleased at finding her back in his bed. Or was it because she had shifted back to human while she slept? He didn't usually have an issue with her coming to him in the night if she needed him. "Are you angry with me, Nors?" she asked quietly as she slipped the clothing on to keep him happy.

"You had the nightmare again?" He didn't answer her question but he did turn around now that she was 'decent', his expression carefully neutral.

Ashleigh sighed and ran hand through her hair, nodding as she did so. "I'm sorry if I invaded your privacy," she said tentatively. "I didn't think you would mind even though it's been a while since the last nightmare."

His expression immediately softened and he sat down on the bed beside her. He didn't think it possible for her to look more alluring but somehow the sight of her in his clothes made him want her more than ever. He stifled down his erotic thoughts and gave her a reassuring smile.

"You know you're welcome to come to me if you need to, little wolf," he growled softly. "I was just a little surprised at you shifting during the night. It's the first time that's happened and it caught me a little off guard when I woke up. I don't want you to ever feel you can't come to me, Ashleigh." And he didn't. She may drive him insane if she started shifting back to her human form but he would learn to live with it somehow if she still needed his comfort during the night. There was precious little he could deny his wolf.

"I don't know why I had the dream again," she sighed softly resting her chin on her upturned knees. "It's been almost a month, Nors. I feel so much better now, happier. Why won't it go away?" 

Her big brown eyes held a hint of plea in them which made his heart clench painfully. Time was really the only thing that would heal her completely, and maybe even then she would never fully recover from her losses. She was so much stronger though, a smile more readily coming to her exquisite face, a sparkle of joy creeping into her eyes when she didn't even realise it. 

Nors couldn't resist reaching out to tuck her soft blonde hair behind her ear, his need to pull her into his arms and hold her close almost overwhelming him. If he did that he didn't think he would be able to control himself. He was still too off balance at the moment from waking to find her naked in his arms. He would be fine if it happened again because he would be prepared for it the next time, but this morning he needed to work on getting his self control back in check. 

"You're doing brilliantly, Ash," he smiled softly. "You're more resilient than you give yourself credit for. Don't be disheartened by one little relapse. Think how far you've come already. You are strong, little wolf. You just need to believe that." He had to stifle down a groan when she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. 

His own arms automatically gathered her close as her scent washed over him and his body started reacting immediately. He had to get her out of his bed or all of his good intentions were going to go out of the window and he was going to strip her naked and make love to her the way he had been longing to do for the last year.

Nors gently disentangled her from his embrace and stood up. "You're also going to be late for work if you don't get your ass out of bed," he remarked dryly, heading into his bathroom and closing the door silently behind him. He leaned against the thick wood and let out a quiet breath. His wolf could tempt the devil himself she was so addictive. How he found the strength to walk away from her he had no idea.

Ashleigh smiled as she clambered out of the bed, feeling a renewed sense of peace within herself as her vampire all but ran from her. The memories of the nightmare receded completely as she headed out of the room and back down to hers. 

Poor Nors. He was being so valiant, so stoic and self sacrificing. She had felt his body reacting to her though and it gave her a little hope that maybe her feelings were reciprocated. He had in no way ever intimated that he thought of her as anything other than a friend. She knew he cared about her a great deal because he was always so patient and understanding with her. 

Now she wondered if he felt something more and was just very good at hiding it. Her wolf knew the truth of the matter. He belonged to her. At some point in her stay with him, once the worst of the pain had begun to recede, her wolf had made it more than evident that the red haired vampire was her mate. 

She had been startled at first by that realisation and then she had accepted it. She had been drawn to him the night of the war. He had been the only person to get through her misery and find a way to draw her out of herself when she had wanted to curl up and die along with her family. Thinking back it appeared so obvious now, but at the time she had been hurting so badly she hadn't seen it. Nors was her mate. She just had to get through his impressive defences to make him to recognise that too.

Despite the rather awkward start to the day, their morning routine settled back to normal. Nors showered and dressed for work before heading downstairs to fix some coffee and pop some bread in the toaster for Ashleigh. By the time it was ready, she was skipping down the stairs appearing in the kitchen with a bright smile on her face.

He watched her eat as he sipped at his coffee, admiring the way her hair framed her delicate face in a short bob style. She chattered away about her plans for the weekend which appeared to include a trip to the compound. 

He smiled as she brought it up with no prompting from him. It had been so hard to get her to return home to her people. He'd had to be quite firm with her to get her to go at first and it had broken his heart to hear her plead with him not to make her go but it had been the right thing to do. Now she was making plans to return on her own and he suddenly felt a little afraid by this new development. Did this mean she was ready to return to her people? Would she be telling him one day soon that she was ready to return to the pack?

His smile faltered and he looked away, frowning down into his coffee mug. He would let her go if that was what she wanted. He would do what was best for her even if it would mean his days would become cold and lonely once more. Whatever Ashleigh needed he would make sure she had no matter what the cost was to him.

"Nors," she said impatiently and he looked back at her to see a quizzical frown on her face. "Wool gathering?" she asked with a little laugh. "I asked what time you were leaving work today. Can you swing past the bookstore and pick me up on the way home?" 

Nors smiled gently. "Sure. I'll be there about six. That's not too late for you?"

"No, it'll give me time to relax and have a read while I wait for you," she answered standing up and walking to the sink to quickly wash up her dishes.

He rose too, passing his cup to her when she held out her hand for it. He watched her wash it and place it on the draining board. It was such a normal, mundane thing but the feeling of being a normal couple was highlighted by the gesture and he found that it was something he craved more of as each day passed. There was a feeling of rightness about them sitting having breakfast, washing dishes and heading out to work together. Like they belonged together.

"Come on, I'm going to be late if I don't get you dropped off at the bookstore soon," he said gruffly, grabbing his car keys and heading out of the kitchen before he was tempted to open his mouth and ask her if she was getting ready to leave him. He didn't want to hear the answer to that question.

*****

Ashleigh did one last quick check around the bookstore to make sure everyone had left. She locked the door and turned the sign to Closed. This was her favourite part of the day, when the store was closed and she got to potter around on her own while she waited for her ride home.

Smiling, she tidied up a few books and poured herself a coffee, sinking onto the comfy sofa near the bay window and kicking off her sandals so she could curl her feet underneath herself. She loved working at the bookstore. It had been her refuge for the last six months as she slowly clawed her way out of the deep misery she had been living under for so long.

She could still remember the day Rhianna had appeared at the house and asked her if she was interested in helping out at her bookstore. Ashleigh assumed Nors had told the little redheaded vampire about her love of reading and that was what had prompted the offer. Her love of books had drawn her to the bookstore and she had quickly come to like the other woman whom she vaguely remembered from being at the compound during the war. 

So she had agreed to help out and here she was, six months later, running Rhianna's store for her while she was in Europe with Caleb. She had a job she loved and she had Nors to come home to. For the first time in a very long time Ashleigh felt almost happy, content even.

There was only one thing she needed now to make everything perfect and that was getting Nors to start looking at her as a woman instead of someone he needed to protect. He was always so careful around her, so proper and respectful. She dreamed about him suddenly pulling her into his arms and kissing her until she forgot which way was up and which was down. Her wolf dreamed a lot saucier stuff than that which made her face flush scarlet at just the thought.




The Council Ch. 07



She sipped at her coffee and tried to think of a way to get past her vampire's barriers so they could take their relationship to the next level. She supposed she could keep turning up naked in his bed. He had liked that even if he had tried to hide the fact of how much he had. But as usual he kept her at arms length.

Did he somehow sense that she wanted him? Was he appalled at the thought and that was why he kept retreating from her if she got to close to him? She frowned down into her coffee mug. She'd never really given much thought to mating until she met Nors, figuring it would be decades, possibly centuries before she met her mate. 

Was there any history of a chosen mate refusing the mating? Maybe she would take a moment to go through the Hanlon library the next time she went to the compound, or ask one of the older Weres, maybe Cedar or Loretta because they were over a century old. She sipped at her coffee and closed her eyes as she waited for Nors to arrive.

Ashleigh was framed in her usual position at the bay window when Nors pulled up outside the bookstore. His heart picked up at the mere sight of her. Every day she took his breath away more and more. All day today he had a mental image of her in his bed, the feel of her soft curves pressing against his hardness. He was quite literally going out of his mind with need for her.

His earlier worry that she may decide to return to the pack resurfaced and he had to consider the possibility that maybe he should send her back. If she tempted him much more he was going to do something that would betray the trust she had in him and he didn't ever want to disappoint her.

The turn of events at the Council ceremony had rocked him to the core. Caleb had been furious at the Romanovs for dallying with wolves from the Hanlon pack. Nors had toyed with the idea of speaking to Caleb about his own feelings for Ashleigh, had actually decided to speak with him after the ceremony. Then he had scented Alexei Romanov and all thoughts of anything else had left his mind.

Alexei carried the wolf gene within him! He had allowed his wolf to mate with him. It should have been impossible, yet somehow the other vampire had managed it. 

The immediate implication for their people had not been lost on Nors. He was an Ancient and could see the impending war looming when it came out that Weres and vampires could mate. Their people would not allow it, ever. Which made sending Ashleigh home to her pack the prudent thing to do, even though it was the very last thing he wanted.

The thought of her leaving filled him with such dread. He couldn't imagine coming home and not scenting her sweet scent of honeysuckle, not hearing her soft footsteps or the patter of her paws as she wandered around the house doing whatever it was she did when she was in her own private world. It felt right coming home to her, as if she belonged with him. 

She suddenly opened her eyes and smiled at him through the window and his heart turned over at the joy on her face as she spotted him. For a moment he forgot how to breathe and then he returned her smile and reached over to open the passenger door slightly as she locked up the bookstore and all but bounded across the pavement to get into the car.

"How was your day?" he asked lightly, taking a deep breath to inhale her sweet scent before he headed out into the late evening traffic.

"Busy," she sighed resting her head against the seat with a tired smile. "It's amazing how so many people avoid the big retail bookstores to come to Annie's little one. I think they find it charming in an old fashioned way." She closed her eyes and sighed softly, feeling content to be in his presence and happy that he appeared to be in a good mood.

"Annie's back. She arrived home today," he told her, "I dare say she'll call tonight or turn up at the store tomorrow. Which is a good thing because you can ask for some time off. You've been working six days out of seven straight for months now. You look tired." He didn't like to see the tiredness in her eyes. She was still recovering from her ordeal, working so much wasn't such a good idea.

"It's not work that's making me tired," Ashleigh answered without opening her eyes. "I'm not sleeping too well at the moment."

Nors frowned, sparing a moment to glance at her before turning back to the road. "I thought last night was the first time you've had the nightmare in almost a month," he said quietly, annoyed with himself because he had been away from the house a lot lately, particularly at night time when his self control seemed to be at its lowest ebb. If she was still having the nightmares and he wasn't home to help her he would be furious with himself.

She opened her eyes to look at him, hearing a faint edge to his voice. He was looking straight ahead, his profile hard and angular and so incredibly beautiful. His long red hair was tied back at the nape of his neck as he had just returned from work. He seemed annoyed and that made her frown. 

"No nightmares," she answered quietly. "I've just been having a bit of a problem dropping off to sleep. Once I get to sleep it's been fine, until last night that is."

"Why can't you get to sleep?" he growled softly turning to glance quickly at her before he turned away again.

It probably wasn't the best time to bring it up but he'd asked so Ashleigh opened her mouth and said what she'd wanted to say for months now. 

"I keep thinking I've done something to upset you, Nors." Her voice was soft, a hint of sadness creeping in though she tried to keep it out. "You're out a lot these days and when you're home, you don't spend as much time with me as you used to. Did I do something wrong?"

His breath hissed out loudly as he looked for a spot he could pull over safely, finally finding a narrow dirt track road off to the right. He pulled in and switched the engine off, taking off his seatbelt and turning slightly to face her. 

"Where would you come up with something as ridiculous as that?" The words came out sharper than he intended them to and she wilted slightly under his gaze. He dampened down a curse as he took a deep breath. Her unexpected question had caught him off guard and he was reacting instinctively which wasn't necessarily a good thing for a vampire with his temper.

"I must have done something wrong because you're always so annoyed with me these days," she said miserably. "Even this morning when you woke up. It was as if I wasn't welcome in your room anymore. Just tell me what it is I've done wrong so I can fix it."

Nors groaned closing his eyes and taking a few more deep breaths as he tried to calm down. He couldn't believe she thought she'd done something wrong, that she was worrying so much about it she couldn't sleep. He felt like a complete bastard and didn't know how to make this right for her. His heart told him one thing and his head told him something completely different.

"Ashleigh, you haven't done anything wrong," he finally said as gently as he could. "I'm sorry I've made you feel that way. I definitely didn't intend to. It's just you're so much better now, almost ready to return to the pack. I thought it would be easier for you to return if you didn't feel some kind of obligation to me." It wasn't a total lie, there was some truth in his words, enough that he didn't feel uncomfortable saying them.

She swallowed hard, releasing her own seatbelt and getting out of the car. Nors wanted her to leave so he was distancing himself from her? Less than half an hour ago she had been thinking up ways to seduce him and he was thinking of when she would be leaving? She heard him get out of the car too and approach her coming to stand behind her without touching her.

"You want me to leave?" she asked quietly, her wolf howling furiously at the thought, a deep pain starting to pulse inside her. She swallowed hard feeling her wolf push forward to give her some added strength as she waited for his reply.

"No," he answered, his hand rising against his will to lightly brush the back of her hair. It was so silky soft, so shiny in the late evening sunlight. "I don't want you to go, Ashleigh. I've become accustomed to having you around. But that's not a good enough reason for you to stay. You belong with your pack, little wolf. You've healed now, it is time to go home."

He fought down his own pain, his need to take the words back. If they could contain the matings at just Alexei and Andrei then maybe they could stave off a civil war among his people. If he took what he wanted, if his people found out an Ancient had allowed a wolf to mate with him, the civil war would happen and the Weres would suffer for it. Denying himself was the safest thing to do for Ashleigh even though it broke his heart.

She turned around to look up at him, her expression turning obstinate. "What if I don't want to go back, Nors? Did you even think about asking me what I wanted before you made this decision? I am not a child. I may be young compared to you and I may just have come through a very tough moment in my life but I am a grown woman who is perfectly capable of making her own decisions. I don't need you to make them for me anymore."

Her sudden vehemence was so out of character that for a moment he could only stare at her in surprise before he noticed her wolf close to the surface. Did she really think he wasn't completely aware of how much of a grown woman she really was? It was that very fact which was pushing him to make her return home. Before he took advantage of the fact that she was a grown woman, before he kissed her the way he longed to and showed her just how much of a woman she was in his eyes. 

Nors frowned and looked away from her, staring across the open farmland in front of him. The internal war within him raged on. He wanted her to stay and yet he had to make her leave. He hardened his expression as he turned back to her. 

"But you do need my permission to remain in my home, Ashleigh," he said tersely. "You no longer have that permission. Now get in the car and lets go home. You need to pack." He forced the words out, kept his expression neutral as pain flashed in her eyes and his heart broke even more.

Ashleigh stared at his retreating back as he turned and walked back towards the car. Rage filled her at the way he just walked away from her, making her decisions for her. Her wolf howled loudly as their mate rejected them. She burst forward in fury, fighting to take control. Her human half couldn't be subjected to anymore misery, not even from their vampire.

She shifted, her body rippling an instant before she changed from human into her golden wolf. She turned and took off across the field, running as fast as she could. She knew he would catch her if he really wanted to but she ran anyway. He didn't want her so he wouldn't come after her.

Nors watched her leave, his heart heavy as she flew across the muddy field. "Goodbye, Ashleigh," he whispered quietly. He knew she wouldn't return to the house, had seen the hurt and betrayal in her eyes. It was for the best. If she hated him then she wouldn't grieve for him. 

He turned away to head back to the car determined to do the right thing for her, for his people. He took two steps and then turned around again a deep rumbling growl coming from his chest as his eyes flashed furiously. Fuck doing the right thing! He couldn't let her go. He couldn't go back to his life before he met her. She belonged to him and there was no getting away from that fact.

He took off at superhuman speed, blurring across the field after his wolf. His heart was hammering wildly in his chest but it wasn't from exertion, it was from fear. Ashleigh had been through so much hurt and pain already. What if she truly believed that he didn't want her in his life? The pain and betrayal in her eyes had been unmistakable. He had hurt her with his rejection. What if she didn't want to come home with him?

He couldn't even begin to contemplate that possibility. His Ashleigh was such a sweet, forgiving soul. She would listen to him when he caught up with her, he knew she would. He followed her scent, tracking her easily. She'd made it quite far into the start of the forest but not anywhere near as close to the Hanlon Compound as she probably thought she was.

He overtook her easily, dropping in front of her and halting her in her tracks. If he thought he'd done the hard part chasing after her he was mistaken. She growled loudly, snarling viciously at him but he remained where he was, crossing his arms over his chest as she bared her teeth furiously. She was hurt, angry even. He could understand that. He waited patiently for her to vent her anger at him.

She continued to snarl at him, maintaining wolf form but not trying to outflank him. She would have known it was a waste of time to try. "This isn't the car, Ashleigh," he said in a quiet tone, his 'no nonsense' tone which usually told her when she was pushing her luck.

She refused to answer, remaining in wolf form as she was prone to do when they had their rare disagreements. She knew it infuriated him when she cut of their lines of communication like this. It also made him more determined to have his own way.

"Move now," he ordered quietly pointing in the direction they had come, trying to get her to at least start back towards the car so they could talk about what had happened. She had shifted wearing her clothes so he wanted her safely ensconced in the car before she took her human form again.

Ashleigh snarled again, a low deep rumble coming from her throat. She had no intention of going anywhere with him. She didn't even know why he wanted her to. She was almost on pack lands. He wanted her to be gone. So why the hell was he stopping her? He should be glad she was returning to the pack as he wanted.

He had hurt her! He was the one person she trusted never to do so and he had told her he wanted her to leave. Well he was getting what he wanted. Just because he'd suddenly decided that he'd changed his mind didn't mean that she had. He wanted her gone so she was gone. She wasn't returning with him, she was going home to the pack.

Nors could see the fury in his wolf's eyes as well as the pain she tried to hide. It ripped through him like a sharp knife. He was responsible for her pain. He'd promised to protect her but he'd done a piss poor job of protecting her from himself. Should he just let her leave? Would it be for the best? If he convinced her to come home with him would that be more dangerous than letting her go?

He stared at his wolf and for the first time since he could remember, he had no idea what to do. He wanted her so badly but it was dangerous to keep her with him. But she would be miserable if she left and so would he. What if the Council found out about the Romanovs mating and decided to eradicate the Hanlon pack and he'd sent her home to them?

He wanted to curse out aloud. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. He wished he could be as selfish as the Romanovs and just think of himself and what he wanted. Hell, he didn't even know if Ashleigh even wanted him the way he wanted her. 

He sucked in a deep breath, lowering his arms to his side. He couldn't let her go. There was just something deep within him that refused to do what was right for everyone else. She was his. His Ashleigh. She had been since the first moment he had laid eyes on her.

"Please, Ashleigh," he said softly, his angry expression melting away to be replaced with a slightly sad one. "I'm sorry, little wolf. I promise I won't make you return to the pack if you don't want to. You can stay with me for as long as you need. I promise."

Ashleigh stared at him feeling totally confused. What exactly did he want from her? One minute she could stay, then she had to leave, and now she could stay again? She shifted back to human form, glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

"Are you bipolar, Nors, because you really give off that impression sometimes?" she snapped irritably, her wolf still very much in control. 

"You seem incapable of making a decision and sticking to it. One minute you want me to stay and the next you want me to go. I'm not a toy to be played with. I'm a living, breathing person who has thoughts and feelings! Whatever you decide right now had better be the end of this discussion because I am not going to live in limbo like this. I've already spent the best part of a year with no clear direction on where I'm going and I refuse to live like that any longer!"

She waited for him to answer but he just stood there rigidly, his expression completely neutral though his body was so tense it was making her a little nervous. She looked around to see if there was anyone near but she couldn't see or scent anyone. 

She turned back to the vampire. "Well, say something!" she demanded irritably, but he still just stood there looking at her blankly and her anger spurred even more as well as her hurt. Why had he even bothered following her and saying what he'd said if he was just going to stand there and say nothing more? Her wolf was growling loudly, clearly unhappy with him and with good reason to be. 

Nors quite literally couldn't speak. He was afraid to even move. His wolf was standing stark naked in front of him, her hands balanced on her hips, an irate scowl on her face. She was quite simply breathtaking as she berated him, her brown eyes flashing with anger. Her wolf was so close to the surface still, he could see the wildness of her beast in her eyes.

She was magnificent and it was all he could do not to throw her down on the forest floor and take her where she stood. Where had his quiet, demure little Ashleigh gone to? It was as if she had vanished overnight and now he had a new feisty version of his wolf. One who suddenly wasn't content to be lead but was now challenging everything he said and did.

He wanted to answer whatever it was she had just said to him but he hadn't actually heard a word of it. His eyes had been too busy roaming over her beautiful body, drinking in her soft creamy white skin, the curves of her deliciously rounded breasts with their dark pink tips. 

He'd tried not to look any further but he couldn't resist letting his eyes drift lower taking in her flat stomach, the soft curve of her hips, the light dusting of neatly trimmed blonde curls covering her mound but leaving the rest of her body bare to his gaze. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes to try and block out the sight of her incredible body and stop his own body automatically reacting to it. He pulled off his jacket and swiftly unbuttoned his shirt handing it out to her.

He heard a weary sigh leave her lips but she took the shirt from him. "Really, Nors, for a vampire you're the most awful prude," she said her tone making it clear she was still displeased with him. He risked opening his eyes again to see that she was now swallowed up by his shirt which came down to her knees.

"Can we go home now?" he asked bending to pick up his jacket and pull it on.

Ashleigh stared at him silently as she finished buttoning his shirt. The rage that had taken over her had suddenly waned. Her wolf had seized control by the car and she had let her because it was easier being angry with Nors than feeling the deep pain that had rocked through her at the thought that he didn't want her to live with him anymore.

Now he was asking if they could go home. The way he said it implied that it was their home and not just his. He had said that he didn't mean it about sending her back to the pack but she was afraid he would change his mind again like before.

"Is it my home, Nors?" she asked in a small voice. "For how long? Until the next time you decide that it would be better for me to return to pack? I can't live like that. I can't be worrying that you're going to decide that you don't want me anymore, that you're regretting inviting me into your family and want to send me away again." Her voice broke, her eyes filling with tears as the pain spilled over now that the anger was gone.




The Council Ch. 07



He was at her side in an instant, picking her up and crushing her tightly against him. "I won't, Ash," he groaned stroking her hair gently. "I was trying to do the right thing but I find I'm too selfish to follow it through. You would be better with the pack, possibly safer even, but I don't want to come home and find the house empty of you. I'd miss you too much if you left."

He brushed his lips gently over her hair, giving in to the need to do so, to try and comfort her. "I'm sorry I hurt you, little wolf. I swear I won't do so again. Please forgive me."

Ashleigh buried her head in his chest, her wolf settling down now their mate was no longer rejecting them. Nors sounded very sad, very sincere in his apology. He had always looked after her, always been there for her. She had to believe that he meant what he said. She didn't want to be apart from him ever.

"Can we go home now, Nors?" she mumbled into his chest, echoing the question he had asked not so long ago.

Nors let out a huge sigh of relief, kissing the top of her head gently once more. "Yes, my Ashleigh," he breathed softly striding quickly through the trees back towards the car. "My home will always be your home, little wolf, for as long as you want it to be," he said quietly cradling her close to his chest.

*****

Cedar climbed back inside the car with a disgruntled expression on her face. "Where the hell are they?" she grumbled irritably. She couldn't believe they'd driven all the way to Nors' house only to find it empty. She had things she wanted to do tonight, things that didn't include sitting outside a dark house waiting for the occupants to return home.

"We can always come back tomorrow," Alexei suggested, a hopeful note in his voice. If she said yes then he could go back to her house and roll around naked in bed with her all night. His body hardened at the thought and a wicked smile crossed his face. He still needed to pay her back for the earlier teasing of him, for having to seek her permission to enter the compound. He was sure he could drag some wonderful begging from her sweet lips as he played with her. That would assuage his wounded ego very nicely.

"Alpha's orders," she sighed regretfully. "Ashleigh's been through a lot the last year. It's important to make sure she's okay. She's pack whether or not she lives here with Nors. I'm responsible for her as her Beta as well as her friend."

Alexei sighed too and leaned back in his seat. Cedar's pack duties irritated him immensely because they interfered with the time he got to spend with her, and yet, he could understand that she had those responsibilities because he had his own that he needed to take care of. 

He felt a deep pride too that she was so diligent in her role as Beta, so strong and reliable. Her strength was one of the things he admired most about her. Along with all the other wonderful attributes she had which were many. She was beautiful, intelligent, feisty, incredibly sensual and very strong willed. All the perfect ingredients for the woman who would appeal to him. 

"I know how we can pass some time," he said silkily, reaching over to flip the handle that lowered her seat back. She gave a startled squeak as it fell back abruptly and she found him half pressed over her, his mouth searching for hers and finding it unerringly.

She considered fighting him but it lasted for only a fraction of a second before she opened her lips and let his tongue slide deep inside. Kissing Alexei always took her breath away. He was the most amazing kisser and appeared to really enjoy doing so from the amount of time she had his lips attached to hers. Not that she was complaining. She rumbled her approval and wrapped her arms around his neck as her tongue mated erotically with his, desire flooding her body instantly.

He groaned in response, his hand moving to caress her breasts through her silk blouse before moving swiftly downwards to slide under her short skirt. His groan deepened when he felt the lace top of her stockings and then the soft bare skin of her upper thighs. Her penchant for lingerie always made his cock swell that little bit harder.

He broke their kiss, looking down as he tugged her skirt up over her hips so he could admire body, his breathing already harsh and ragged. He stroked the soft silk of her stockings before lightly teasing her skin, growling as her thighs trembled under his touch. "You're so beautiful," he whispered huskily. "So sensual and wanton." 

His hand trailed up to the lace of her panties, a wicked smile crossing his beautiful face as he felt her already wet and willing for his touch. She always was, her lust for him matching his perfectly. The sweet scent of her arousal filled the car along with her own heady scent of lemongrass. He wanted to lower his head between her legs and taste her but it was awkward in the cramped environment.

He pressed aside the lace of her panties and sank three thick fingers into her wet body with little warning. His nostril flared and he growled loudly as she cried out and her hips rose to meet his invading fingers. He scythed slowly in and out of her hot body, his eyes intent on his fingers disappearing inside her.

Cedar felt as if she was ready to come apart at his first thrust into her body. The fire Alexei could so easily set alight within her took her breath away and left her a quivering wreck. Despite their game playing she was under no illusions that she was putty against the assault of his hands, his mouth and his incredible body. 

Hell, all he had to do was glance at her in a certain way and she was ready to surrender to him. It was almost embarrassing how easily she caved in to him. It was only the fact that he was just as helpless against her that didn't lead him to declare himself the outright winner of their game. Her touch brought him just as easily to his knees as his did to her. 

She moaned loudly and pressed herself onto his fingers, her breath coming out in short hard pants as he ruthlessly stroked her body towards her release. His head was bent, intent on watching the havoc he was wreaking on her body and she knew how much he enjoyed being in control of her pleasure. It called to his need to be dominant but she suspected that he took so much more satisfaction at knowing he was pleasuring her than he would ever admit to himself.

Cedar's sweet moans called to Alexei, making his cock throb painfully hard in his jeans as he used his fingers to pleasure his wolf. The soft walls of her tight tunnel clamped hard around his digits as he stroked them firmly searching for and finding her sweet spot. He carefully lengthened a talon just a little, ensuring it wouldn't hurt her. He stroked against her sweet spot and her next hoarse cry filled the car loudly.

Her thighs trembled hard as he stroked her again with his next hard thrust into her wet hole, her juices flooded his hand as he pumped relentlessly into her. Her breath was harsh and ragged, her hips flexing hard against him. It vaguely crossed his mind that he had been plotting to tease her until she begged for her release but she looked so sexy, so delicious as she rode his fingers hard that all thoughts left his head apart from wanting to watch her come apart for him.

He increased the speed of his fingers, stroked harder against her sweet spot as he brought his mouth back to hers and lightly rubbed his lips against her. "That's it, sweet wolf," he growled against her mouth. "Ride my fingers. Cum hard for me."

Her cries reached fever pitch as she bucked wildly against his hand. His breath hissed out sharply as she stiffened with a loud, lusty wail, ecstasy dancing across her gorgeous face as she shattered on his fingers, her body straining and trembling with the intensity of her climax.

"So beautiful," he groaned hoarsely as he kept his fingers dancing inside her body for a few moments longer, prolonging her pleasure for as long as possible. He pulled his fingers from her and licked them slowly, savouring the taste of her sweet essence. There was always more than one way to taste her. He smiled his pleasure as he cleaned his hand leisurely, luxuriating in her flavour and the scent of her release pervading the car. His wolf truly was intoxicating.

Cedar took long shuddering breaths as she tried to get her heart rate back down to normal. Her eyes opened and she watched Alexei enjoying the taste of her body. The sight made her heart thump even harder than it already was and she stifled down a deep groan. She wanted to jump on him, feel his cock sliding deep within her but she was conscious of the fact they were in a car in the middle of a vampire's driveway. It was not the most prudent of places to satisfy themselves.

"You are so bad," she said huskily, pulling his mouth to hers so she could kiss him deeply, tasting herself on his lips. He laughed lightly, his tongue tracing her bottom lip slowly.

"I'm also horny as hell," he admitted ruefully pressing his aching body against her, a throaty moan escaping him as the soft curve of her hip teased his cock mercilessly. He wanted her so much it was all he could do not to release himself and try and figure out a way they could continue within the cramped confines of the car. 

She laughed too, pushing at his chest so she could right her seat and her clothing. "You should have thought of that before you decided to abuse me," she countered as she laughed. "I'm way too old to be having sex in a car, Alexei. You're going to have to wait until we get home."

He snorted loudly and rolled his eyes. "Typical," he grumbled but his eyes were glinting with amusement. "Woman gets what she wants and the man gets told no!" 

He gave her a hard kiss and sat back in his seat, carefully rearranging his stiff cock into a more comfortable position. Being told no was not something he was accustomed to but he wasn't particularly put out by it. Watching his Cedar achieve her pleasure was enough for him for the moment. He could indulge himself later when they had more time and more privacy.

The headlights of a car pulling into the driveway put paid to anything else happening anyway. Nors and Ashleigh were home.

Nors stifled down an irritated growl when he saw the car in his driveway. His self control was tested even further when the door opened and Alexei Romanov stepped out. His eyes automatically shifted to Ashleigh as he scented the sharp acrid scent of fear begin to invade the car.

He had carefully kept all vampires away from his house since she had come to live with him. The only vampires apart from himself who Ashleigh had come in contact with since the war were Caleb and Annie. She didn't view them as a threat the way she did every other vampire.

He hadn't even let Freya visit when she arrived back from Japan a couple of days ago. His sister was pretty volatile at the best of times and wasn't happy at hearing he had a wolf living with him. He didn't want Ashleigh subjected to Freya until she was able to handle the level of animosity his sister would most likely display towards her.

Now Alexei Romanov was on his property and his wolf was starting to shiver in fear and Nors felt a deep murderous rage overcome him. He could quite easily kill Alexei at the moment. The only thing stopping him was the fact it would scar Ashleigh too much to see him rip the other vampire to shreds.

"Stay in the car while I deal with this," he said quietly, moving to get out and confront Alexei.

A startled exclamation escaped Ashleigh's lips as he looked at her and then her face broke into a wide smile and her fear scent vanished immediately. "Cedar," she cried excitedly, quickly undoing her seatbelt and flying out of the car towards the tall, blonde Were who had exited the other car after Alexei. 

Nors blinked slowly and counted to ten before he too alighted from the vehicle and walked over to the couple who were waiting for them.

Cedar took one look at Ashleigh's state of undress and shook her head with a fond smile crossing her face. She braced for the other woman's exuberant hug and returned it with as much feeling. "I see you're still shifting without undressing first," she remarked dryly.

Ashleigh laughed, a rueful expression on her face as she stepped back. "Nors annoyed me and I let my wolf have control," she answered dismissively as if it were a normal occurrence. "It's been so long since I've seen you, Cedar. Where have you been? You weren't at the compound the last couple of times I was there."

"I've missed you too," Cedar laughed softly, touching her cheek gently, her eyes quickly taking in how much better Ashleigh appeared to be, how much more at ease with life she was. 

The relief she felt was overwhelming. The entire pack had been so worried about her. It was hard not to feel over protective of Ashleigh after all she had been through and Cedar had a particular soft spot for the younger woman. Living with Nors obviously had been the best thing for her despite the rather unorthodox decision at the time.

"Ash, I'd like you to meet Alexei Romanov," Cedar said quietly, knowing she was still skittish around other vampires and wanting to let her know that she was safe with Alexei, that he could be trusted. "My mate," she tagged on watching shock ripple across the other woman's face.

Ashleigh stared at Cedar silently for a long moment, stunned at her announcement. She was openly claiming a vampire as her mate and he was letting her? She turned her gaze to the tall vampire at their side, the one who had terrified her only seconds before. 

He was beautiful in the usual inhuman fashion of a vampire. Not as beautiful as Nors but she could see why Cedar would find him attractive. He was really her mate? He wasn't denying Cedar's words, in fact he had a rather resigned expression on his face which made him look a little less scary than before.

His brown eyes watched her intently for a long, silent moment and then he smiled. "Hello, Ashleigh," he said gently. "I'm sorry if my presence here upsets you. I mean you no harm." 

He could see the hint of fear in her eyes, knew the story of what she had been through. Cedar would want him to reassure the girl and he actually found that he wanted to as well. She was a pretty woman who appeared to be just coming out of a nightmare that he probably would never be able to comprehend himself. 

He could also sense Nors' tension as he stood close to Ashleigh, his eyes boring into him. The other vampire was clearly displaying protective tendencies towards the young wolf which had his mind working overtime. It appeared they were correct in their assumption that Nors was interested in Ashleigh.

Nors couldn't work out how to react to the presence of the other couple. He wanted to get Ashleigh inside the house and away from Alexei, to make sure she was okay and not frightened. And yet, his wolf was happy to see Cedar, very happy in fact, so he didn't want to send them away and disappoint her again so soon after their disagreement.

Alexei wasn't behaving as he expected him to either. Cedar had calmly announced they were mates as if it was normal and the vampire was allowing her to do so without an argument. He was also being very gentle with Ashleigh. Alexei Romanov being gentle? That was a complete oxymoron! 

"Pleased to meet you, Alexei," he heard Ashleigh answer quietly, her tone sounding firm and confident and he stifled down a sigh of relief. At least she wasn't afraid of the other vampire anymore. Cedar's claiming of him as her mate obviously held great importance to his wolf.

He nodded slowly to Cedar and Alexei and placed a hand lightly against the small of Ashleigh's back to shepherd her towards the front door. "Clothes," he growled softly not liking her state of undress in front of the other man. She was perfectly decent in his shirt but still, he wanted her to be properly dressed. He heard the other couple follow behind and resigned himself to the fact that they would be coming in whether he liked it or not.

His mind whirled at Cedar's statement. He hadn't known who the wolf was that had claimed Alexei. Caleb hadn't mentioned any names, just said the twins were messing with a couple of the wolves from the Hanlon pack. If he'd taken a moment to think about it he probably would have guessed it was either Cedar or Loretta. They were two of the more feisty females of the pack, the two most likely to attract the roving eyes of the Romanovs. 

If Cedar had chosen Alexei did that mean Loretta was the one who had set her sights on Andrei? She would have a tough time taming him if she had. He was very volatile. But then so was Alexei and Cedar appeared to have lured him in pretty quickly. 

The other burning thought in his mind was what this meant for him and Ashleigh. If Andrei allowed himself to be bitten by a wolf and he was a Council member, then would it really make any more of a difference if he let Ashleigh claim him? That was if she wanted to claim him in the first place which he was starting to fervently hope for the more he thought about it. 

Nors held his silence as they entered the house. Ashleigh immediately hurried upstairs to change, Cedar close at her heels which left him alone with Alexei. He knew Ashleigh would be hungry and claim the kitchen when she came back down so he turned towards his downstairs study.

"This way," he said to Alexei heading into the room and leaving the other man to close the door quietly behind them. His study was more of a library, with large bookshelves filling one wall, a couple of large leather chairs beside an open fire, as well as a sofa against one wall and a desk and chair against another. He chose to sit in one of the armchairs, gesturing for Alexei to sit in the other.

Alexei watched Nors closely. He didn't really know the Ancient that well so he was on his guard around him. It seemed prudent to be so. Nors didn't look particularly annoyed anymore, not as he had first appeared to be outside. Probably he had handled his meeting with Ashleigh to the Ancient's satisfaction.

Nors watched the other vampire just as intently, meeting his gaze and holding it easily. It wasn't hard to guess why he was here, not after what had happened at the Council ceremony. Andrei had sent his brother to check up on the status of his and Ashleigh's relationship.

He almost snorted a laugh. The Romanovs wanted to know what his relationship was with his wolf? Perhaps they could tell him what it was because he had no idea himself. He wanted Ashleigh so badly it ached to be denied her. He knew he was in love with her and had been for what felt like forever, almost from the very first moment he had laid eyes on her. But was he her mate? Was that what she wanted from him? He would have no clue until he talked with her about it.

He was also conscious of the fact that the man before him held more knowledge of what it meant to be attracted to and even mated to a wolf than any other of their kind. Alexei was here to find out information from him. Perhaps he could also increase his own knowledge by picking the other vampire's brain. It galled him that he might have to rely on one of the Romanovs for something but his wolf was worth the irritation.

"Let me guess, your brother sent you?" Nors finally said after a lengthy pause as they sized each other up.

Alexei grinned slightly and nodded his head. "As Jared sent Cedar," he answered coolly. "It would appear we all had the same sudden need to find out just what the situation was here between you and Ashleigh." He saw little point in subterfuge. The Ancient was way too intelligent to fall for any half truths.

He knew Nors didn't like him or Andrei and he didn't particularly care one way or the other. He knew of very few people who did actually like him. The ones that did were the only important people in his life and that was all that mattered to him. 




The Council Ch. 07



Still, he had something that the Ancient needed and that made him smile slightly. He could almost see his brain whirling away as he digested the news that Cedar was his mate. Nors wanted his wolf in the same way. He just appeared unsure of how to go about achieving that end. Alexei had the knowledge of Weres that most of his kind severely lacked, probably all of them because none of them had ever considered mating with a Were before. And the Ancient wanted that knowledge, he could see it in his eyes.

Nors frowned deeply and fought down an irritated growl. He hated having to rely on Alexei for anything but after what had happened today, after almost losing his Ashleigh, he knew he had to talk to her, find out what she wanted from him. If she wanted him the same way he wanted her then he was willing to mate with her and to hell with the consequences. But to do so would mean that he had to ensure her safety, had to ask the other vampire how to handle the situation so his wolf didn't get hurt in anyway.

He sighed deeply, "I would say it was none of anyone else's business but it would appear that would be a lie," he said. "You allowed Cedar to bite you and now you carry the wolf gene. Has there been any noticeable change within you?" 

He watched the satisfied smile which curved Alexei's mouth and he fought down the need to wipe it from his face. Ashleigh was worth putting up with the arrogant bastard's smugness. If he kept repeating that to himself he'd be less likely to try and take the other vampire apart with his bare hands.

"Nothing physical," Alexei replied with a thoughtful expression. "Not that I can determine anyway. I may have mellowed ever so slightly temperament wise and have developed a decidedly unhealthy addiction to my wolf but that appears to be the only discernible consequence of allowing her to bite me."

Nors digested what he said slowly. Alexei's claim of a more even temperament wasn't noticeably obvious. He still appeared to be the same cocky, arrogant individual as always but he had been gentle with Ashleigh. Nors had a feeling that was more to do with wanting to please Cedar than the actual wolf gene within his body. 

"You find it easy to contain your need to feed from her?" he asked next. He didn't realise he was holding his breath waiting for the answer until he saw Alexei's smile widen. He slowly released his breath and found himself relaxing slightly.

"Yes and no," the other vampire laughed softly as he watched the Ancient's obvious relief changing quickly to a deep frown. He considered holding his peace and not elaborating just to play with him a bit longer but decided against it. He would most likely be pushing his luck if he did and he actually felt a slight level of kinship with the Ancient. They did have the same issue after all. 

"Yes, because I much prefer Cedar to be alive rather than dead so it's fairly easy to keep that thought firmly in mind," he clarified. "No, because I ache to taste her blood so badly it almost drives me insane holding back. I ache to complete her ritual, to try and bond with her the way she has bonded with me. But it is impossible so I just have to learn to live with whatever discomfort I feel about being unable to taste her."

Nors was surprised at the wistful tone that had crept into Alexei's voice as he spoke, of the soft expression that crossed his face as he admitted to how hard it was not to bite his wolf. Alexei really didn't think the wolf gene had changed him in any way? Nors had never seen the other vampire let down his guard the way he had just done so. 

Or was it his feelings for Cedar that made him lower his guard? Nors could plainly see that he was looking at a man so helplessly in love with his woman that he might as well paint a huge placard and carrying it around his neck just in case anyone missed the signs. He could see it because he felt the same for his Ashleigh. He felt his animosity towards the Elder start to wane slightly.

Alexei watched Nors intently as he spoke, almost one hundred percent certain now that the Ancient was the mate of his wolf. He just needed to ask him directly and he saw little point in beating about the bush. "Is Ashleigh your mate?"

Nors' breath hissed out slowly, his eyes narrowing as he met Alexei's gaze. He knew the twins would try and use his attachment to Ashleigh as a way to gain support from the other Ancients. He wanted to be angry with them for it but he was surprised to find that he actually felt a sort of affinity with them. 

They were reacting to the mating pull of their wolves. They could deny their Weres no more than he could deny his Ashleigh. His heard turned slightly hearing the sounds of his wolf in the kitchen with her friend. He felt her pull keenly, his fear at almost losing her earlier making it almost impossible to remain seated and not go to her to make sure she was okay.

He sighed deeply and turned his gaze back to Alexei. "Ashleigh is my mate," he conceded quietly. ***** Ashleigh lounged at the kitchen table as Cedar expertly rifled through the kitchen cupboards as if she lived there. Her Beta had insisted on making her some dinner so she decided to let her. It was nice to have someone cater to her for once. Usually she had to make her own food and eat alone. Nors would sit with her as she ate, if he was home, but he didn't eat food so it wasn't quite the same as having Cedar with her.

"The last time I had dinner with someone was when I was last at the compound," she mused quietly as her friend started expertly tossing the ingredients of a quick chicken stir fry together.

Cedar heard the almost wistful note in the younger woman's voice and felt a little pang inside. It must be hard for Ashleigh to be away from the pack so much. She knew the girl was happy living with Nors but losing that close connection with the pack, who effectively became your extended family, must still be hard.

"We were giving you the space you needed, Ash," she answered carefully. "It was very difficult for you to be around us after what happened. You know you will always be part of the pack, that you will always have a home with us. You don't have to limit your visits to the compound. You can return more regularly if you want to."

"Can I?" Ashleigh breathed quietly, a touch of uncertainty in her voice. She loved living with Nors but she was finding herself missing pack life more and more as each day passed. "I've often wondered if the pack didn't feel that I had deserted them in some way when I chose to come live with Nors." It felt good to be able to talk about the hidden fears inside her, fears she hadn't even shared with Nors.

The stunned expression on her Beta's face answered her question before she even spoke. "Oh Ashleigh, no!" Cedar groaned, pulling the wok from the gas flame and crossing the room to crouch down before her. "Tell me you haven't been thinking such a silly thing? Of course we don't feel you deserted us, little one. You were so badly wounded by the war. We would have done anything to save you because we love you. You will always be in our hearts and part of us." She stroked her cheek gently before she pulled her into a tight embrace. She could feel relief shuddering through the other woman's body as she hugged her back tightly.

"I miss the pack, Cedar," Ashleigh admitted. "I love Nors so much but sometimes I just want to run with everyone under the full moon, to be part of the pack once more for a little while."

Cedar released her and gave her a reassuring smile before she headed back over to the stove to continue with their dinner. She would need to talk to Jared and Millie about this, possibly have one or both of them visit with Ashleigh to help reassure her that she was welcome home anytime. She filed the thought away and latched onto what else Ashleigh had just confessed. She loved Nors. She probably wasn't even aware that she had said it out aloud.

"Have you spoken with Nors about your need to return to the pack more often?" she asked quietly as she dished up the food and headed back to the table.

Ashleigh shook her head. "We were fighting about whether or not I should return to the pack on the way home tonight. I'm kind of confused about it because part of me does want to go back but most of me doesn't. Nors was going to send me home for good and that's when I lost my clothes. It...it hurt that he didn't want me here anymore, Cedar."

"Because you're in love with him and he's your mate?" Cedar prodded gently, smiling when Ashleigh's startled gaze flew to hers as it slowly dawned on the younger woman what she had admitted to a moment before.

Ashleigh groaned and toyed with her food, dropping her gaze to her plate. "My wolf tells me so," she admitted quietly. "But I don't think he's interested in me that way. Can mates resist the pull?" She looked back at Cedar, hoping to see a negative shake of her head.

Cedar laughed softly and reached across to pat her hand reassuringly. "Why do you think Alexei and I are here, Ash?" she asked with a smile. "Annie said you two are mates so we're here as representatives of our species to check up on that claim and make sure everything is okay. The way Nors was looking at Alexei earlier pretty much made up my mind that he's interested in you but Alexei is sounding him out at the moment just to make sure."

She saw the younger woman frowning in confusion. "You were afraid of Alexei when we first arrived," she clarified. "It's understandable considering the circumstances. What you didn't see was the expression on Nors' face when he saw your fear. He was ready to rip Alexei apart to protect you. He is most definitely interested in you, Ash."

Ashleigh stared at her stunned, blinking slowly. "Then why would he want me to return to the pack?" she asked in confusion. "If he wants me then why does he keep himself at a distance from me? Every time he seems me naked he has me cover up as if the sight of me offends him."

Her peeved tone and outraged expression had Cedar laughing loudly. Lord, Ashleigh was so innocent in some respects. She wasn't as young as she looked, though Cedar had no idea if she'd had any experience with men before the war last year. She was certainly old enough to and she had just assumed she had because of their lifestyle. But maybe she wasn't as experienced as she'd first thought, not in the subtle signs of recognising when a man was interested.

"Ash, you have just been through a very traumatic experience," she answered when she finally managed to control her laughter. "I dare say Nors has been giving you time to adjust to everything, to heal from your pain. As for the covering up part, you have a pretty amazing body on you. I dare say you've been driving the poor man insane running around naked when he's been trying so hard to be a gentleman. It's a wonder he's not foaming at the mouth if you do that on a regular basis."

Ashleigh flushed pink and took a moment to eat some chicken as she tried to digest her friend's words. If what Cedar said was true then that kind of explained Nors' reaction this morning. He was aroused by her even as he pushed her away. 

She didn't have a whole lot of experience with men but she wasn't a complete novice in that department. She had spent some time with one of her pack mates before the war had happened. It hadn't been anything particularly serious as they knew they weren't mates but it had been a pleasant enough experience for the few months it had lasted. Her wolf was growling softly, clearly happy with the way the current conversation was going. 

"Annie really said that? About us being mates?"

Cedar nodded. "You do know she's never wrong," she answered with a smile. "I guess it's up to you now. I think you'll find that once Nors has had his conversation with Alexei that he may be less likely to behave himself so impeccably, if you feel you're ready for that."

The determined expression on Ashleigh's face had her laughing softly again. Nors was about to be in for a rude shock if he decided he was going to keep trying to fight the mating instinct. Her friend most definitely had her sights well and truly set on him whether he thought she was ready or not.

"What's it like, Cedar? Actually mating with a vampire?" Ashleigh asked quietly, trying to control the excitement starting to build up inside her. Cedar was an experienced woman. She would know when a man was sexually attracted to someone and she was confident that Nors was interested. Add to that Annie said Nors was her mate. Her wolf was rumbling happily within her, restless to be alone with their flame haired vampire so they could ask him outright if he wanted them.

The Beta smiled widely. "A complete utter pain in the ass if you're mated to Alexei Romanov," she laughed again. "But also the most incredibly exhilarating, frustrating, sensual, wonderful, erotic thing in the whole world."

It was Ashleigh's turn to laugh as she saw the love and excitement glowing on Cedar's face. "Sounds like fun," she grinned biting into more chicken and chewing thoughtfully. Suddenly everything felt that little bit better. Her concerns about the pack were groundless and her vampire wanted her the way she wanted him. She hummed happily to herself as she ate her dinner. 

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 08



Ashleigh felt a bit guilty at suddenly wanting Cedar and Alexei to leave quickly once dinner was over. Thankfully her Beta was a very wise woman and she swiftly rounded up her mate and shepherded him from the house with a slightly puzzled expression on his face.

Nors closed the door behind them and then turned to look at his wolf who was eyeing him with a thoughtful expression on her face. He tried to work out what was going on behind her eyes, what Cedar had discussed with her, but she was quite skilled at keeping her own counsel when she wanted to.

"Did you and Cedar have a nice visit?" he finally asked when she didn't say anything.

"Yes, it was lovely to see her again," she sighed softly. "It's been a while so it was nice to catch up with pack news and just have someone to eat dinner with."

The way her voice changed on the last sentence made him frown slightly. It sounded as if she missed sharing a meal with someone. He did sit with her while she ate, discussing his day and hers but he supposed it wasn't quite the same as the more communal meal times she had been used to with the pack.

"Ashleigh, we need to talk," he said quietly gesturing for her to precede him into the study. He was aware that she'd been through a whole torrent of emotions already today; they both had. Maybe talking about it tonight was the wrong thing to do but he had so many thoughts running through his head it was driving him insane.

Ashleigh entered the study, heading over to her favourite chair beside the fireplace. They spent a lot of time in the study and she had always liked the companionable feeling that came over her as she sat in her chair reading and Nors sat in his, sometimes reading a book or going through business reports. They adopted their favourite positions and she regarded his face intently. Her thoughts were surprisingly calm considering everything that had happened today.

She could tell that Nors wasn't as calm because of the way his expression was so carefully neutral. He always put that 'face' on when he was trying to work something out in his mind, trying to be careful about what he said and how he said it.

She just knew that despite Alexei talking to him about the whole mating thing, her vampire was going to be awkward about it. Getting him out of the mental mind set he was in of always having to protect her was not going to be easy. She would probably have more luck convincing him that they were mates if she just sat down in his lap and kissed his socks off. 

She struggled not to smile at the thought. She could just imagine his reaction to that. Or could she? Would he be shocked and push her away? He was very good at maintaining his self control, this morning had proved that when he had woken up to her naked in his bed. It had also proved that he was attracted to her too. 

Ashleigh mulled Cedar's words over in her mind. She had said it was up to her now, that she had to take charge of the situation. Her wolf rumbled her approval and it was almost impossible not to smile at her beast's impatient pacing up and down inside her.

No, Nors was going to want to talk everything through, discuss it to death to make sure he was doing the right thing by her as he always did. Their disagreement earlier had been a starting point but she knew he needed more of a push to get through his stubborn defences. She had to take what she wanted and have faith that it was what he really wanted too.

Nors was trying to work out the best way to approach the conversation. He knew his wolf had turned a corner in her recovery, her fight for independence earlier clearly showing that she had overcome the worst of her pain and was ready to meet the world head on once more. If he was truthful with himself he had known that for a while now but had been unwilling to let go, afraid she would want to leave if she felt she didn't need him any longer.

He had told himself he was only doing what was best for her when really he had been trying to hold onto her. He just hadn't admitted it to himself until now. It was evident things were changing but he felt they were changing too swiftly. Yes, she was his mate and he wanted her forever but he still felt she needed some time to adapt to their changing relationship. 

They could start slowly. He was strong enough to be able to wait a little longer for her. Maybe he could court her as humans did? He could take her out on dates and ease into their new life together? He was mulling it over when Ashleigh stood up and promptly sat herself down in his lap. His arms automatically went around her even as he stiffened in surprise, his gaze flying to hers.

His surprise only increased when she bent her head and brushed her lips gently against his. He was rooted to the spot for a second, unsure of how to react and then his instincts took over and he was kissing her back, sliding a hand to the nape of her neck to hold her mouth to his as he slowly savoured the first taste of her sweetness.

His brain screamed that this was wrong, that they needed to talk but his body had other ideas. Ashleigh's soft lips where moving gently over his, her tongue tracing his bottom lip erotically drawing a low groan of need from his chest. His body hardened instantly as he pulled her soft curves against him and deepened the kiss, his tongue diving into her mouth to lick greedily at all she had to offer him. She tasted so good, so sweet and intoxicating. He had imagined their first kiss many times but nothing came close to the total perfection of the kiss they were sharing.

Ashleigh moaned with pleasure, stroking Nors' tongue with her own as he quite literally took her breath away with the passion of his kiss. She had taken a risk being so bold with him but it was paying off. Gone was the careful, considerate vampire and in his place was a man who appeared to be starving for the taste of his woman.

Nors' lips moved hungrily over hers, his tongue stroking everywhere, his hands clutching her tightly against his chest as the evidence of how much he wanted her pressed insistently against her bottom. She sighed her pleasure into his mouth, wriggling against him, threading her hands in his hair after pulling it free from its confines. This was the Nors she wanted, that she craved as much as her wolf did. The one that saw her as a woman with a woman's desires and needs.

Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest, desire flooding every inch of her body as her first kiss seemed to turn into a hundred. Nors' mouth was relentless against hers, allowing a brief pause for them to catch a breath before he once more latched onto her and rubbed his mouth erotically against her softness. Oh God, could he kiss! She wanted to stay like this with him forever, just feeling the firm touch of his lips gliding effortlessly over hers. It sent the blood rushing to her head and moisture flooding between her legs. She wanted him so much it was as if she was being consumed by fire her need was so great.

The sweet, musky scent of Ashleigh's arousal cut through the hazy fog of lust surrounding Nors and he stiffened slightly, realising what he was doing and who he was doing it with. He wanted her so badly, wanted to taste every inch of her body but deep inside he knew they needed to talk first. He had to be sure this was what she really wanted and wasn't just a knee jerk reaction to a very emotional day, a need for him to comfort her. If he took his wolf he would never let her go, ever. She had to be totally sure of what she wanted.

It was hard to stop kissing her, to drag his lips from hers but he managed it somehow, his breathing harsh and ragged as he stared into her flushed face. "Ashleigh, we need to talk," he ground out through tortured breaths.

She rumbled her disagreement, her eyes opening to meet his gaze, her wolf dancing within the smoky brown depths, her lips swollen and glistening with moisture. "You talk too much," she breathed softly, her hand stroking lightly over his cheekbone and down to his jaw line. "Isn't this better than talking? Better than denying yourself what you want so badly? I need you, Nors." 

She leaned forward and kissed his jaw lightly, trailing her lips across his face slowly before heading down the side of his neck, her tongue snaking out to taste his skin leisurely.

Nors groaned at her soft touch, his hands tightening on her as he fought to try and push her away but found he couldn't do so. Everywhere her lips touched she set a little fire blazing, a heady rush of heat that only she was capable of assuaging. He was vaguely aware that his wolf was seducing him. A part of him found it amusing that he was succumbing so easily to her charms but then he had waited a year for her.

She knew what she wanted and she was reaching out to take it. She brought her lips back to his and licked slowly over their fullness, hearing his breath hitch in his throat, feeling his body jerk against her bottom as a low rumble sounded from his chest. The expression on his face took her breath away. The need she saw there ignited her own and she pressed her mouth firmly to his, moaning when his lips parted to allow her to slip inside and taste him as she wanted to.

Nors stopped fighting her. He was incapable of doing so and he knew it. With a muffled groan he gathered her securely in his arms and rose from the chair, his mouth never leaving hers as he carried her up to his bedroom. He was going to claim his wolf. He wanted it and so did she. He'd worry about the ramifications of their actions later. At the moment his need for her was dominating everything.

He slowly lowered her to his bed, following her down and gently easing his mouth from hers so he could look down into her face. He waited until her eyes opened, his breath catching at the need he saw deep within them. She was breathtaking, so stunningly beautiful she made his heart flutter wildly in his chest and his body throb with need.

"Are you sure, Ashleigh?" he whispered huskily. "You have to be sure because if we do this I will never let you go, little wolf. You'll be mine forever." He held his breath and waited for her answer, shuddering slightly as she smiled up at him.

"I'm sure, Nors," she breathed softly. "I want to be yours forever. I want you to be mine forever."

His heart leapt hard in his chest and he was kissing her again, pulling her tightly against him as joy flared through him. She was finally his. He didn't have to deny himself any longer; he could love her the way he had always dreamed of loving her.

Ashleigh saw the joy on his face but she saw something else in his eyes that made her heart soar. She saw love. He was letting down all his carefully constructed barriers and showing her exactly what he was thinking and feeling. Her vampire loved her. He was willing to accept her as his mate.

His lips were trailing over her face, soft light kisses teasing her as he made his way down to her neck, licking and nibbling as he went, making her moan and press her body against his hardness.

"Nors," she breathed hoarsely, pulling his face back to hers, desperate to tell him how she felt, what he meant to her. She wanted no questioning of what they were doing, no long drawn out conversations of the wisdom of their being together to come at the end of their joining. She wanted him to be completely certain that she knew exactly what she was doing.

He didn't want to stop tasting her soft skin but she was determined that he would pay attention to her. He smiled at her forcefulness, liking the strength she was displaying. He tenderly brushed her soft blond hair back from her face as he met her gaze.

"What, my wolf?" he asked softly, a glint of amusement in his eyes at her fierce expression.

Ashleigh took a deep breath, her gaze roaming over his beautiful face, drinking in the tenderness she saw there, the love shining in his eyes. He really was the most beautiful man to walk the planet and he was all hers, forever. "I love you, Nors," she breathed softly, watching him blink slowly before his face lit up in the most breathtaking smile she had ever seen.

Nors didn't think he could ever feel any emotions as strongly as the ones he was feeling as his wolf told him she loved him. He searched her face intently, seeing the love shining in her eyes, the fierce emotions surging within her that had more to do with her feelings than the lust they were both currently experiencing. His Ashleigh loved him.

He touched her face gently, his hand shaking slightly as he caressed her cheek with a light touch, his breath coming out in a long slow sigh of pleasure. "I love you, Ashleigh," he whispered huskily. "I've loved you for such a long time, my wolf."

He kissed her reverently, slowly and very gently, trying to let her feel the depth of emotion he felt for her. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before. Every moment with his wolf was the most intense, glorious wealth of emotions that sent him spinning in different directions. He'd never felt anything as intensely before she had entered his life.

Joy rushed through Ashleigh, making her want to laugh out loud as she held Nors tightly to her and surrendered to the sweetness of his gentle kiss. She felt as if she was soaring on the wind, flying high among the clouds as he whispered his love to her. She didn't think there had ever been a more perfect moment than this one, where her mate accepted her so completely.

His gentle kiss was devastating but she needed so much more from him. She had his love, she was his forever. Now she wanted his passion and his lust. She needed him to lose all control and take her as if he wouldn't be able to live without being inside her. Showing his love for her physically as well as emotionally.

She pressed against his hardness, deepening the kiss by stroking her tongue boldly into his mouth as she moaned softly. His answering groan fired her blood and made her more aggressive, her hands starting to tug and the buttons of his shirt almost desperately.

"Nors, I need you," she groaned softly. "All of your fire. Show me how much you love me, my vampire."

Her words shattered the fragile hold on his self control. Endless months of waiting for her surged inside of him and he was helping her remove his shirt before pulling at her own shirt, buttons popping in his haste to get to her delectable body. He groaned deeply as her creamy white skin was bared to his gaze, his hands moving almost helplessly to her breasts encased in her white lacy bra.

"Oh God, Ashleigh, you're so beautiful," he groaned softly, his hands kneading her flesh through her bra, his breath hitching as her nipples hardened under his touch and grazed his palms through the sheer material. He watched her face as he stroked and caressed her fleshy mounds, her body arching into his touch as she moaned her approval.

He'd never seen a more beautiful vision than his Ashleigh lost in her passion, her lips parted, a flush of colour staining her cheeks as she made soft breathy sounds that made his cock throb painfully in his pants. He stroked and teased her slowly and firmly, delighting in the pleasure dancing across her gorgeous face, until he finally had to feel her flesh fully against his hands.

The bra was gone in an instant freeing her breasts to his eager gaze and touch. He had no idea if he took the garment off in one piece or shredded it completely. All he knew was he had to taste her delicious curves. He growled as his head lowered and his tongue swirled around one dark pink peak, teasing loud moans from his wolf as he wet her heated skin with his saliva liberally before he caved in and had to suckle the taut peak into his mouth.

His growl was louder as the hard nub pressed against his tongue, her sweet taste flooding his mouth and sending the blood rushing straight to his groin. Sucking at Ashleigh's breasts was the most intoxicating thing he had ever experienced. She tasted so good, the contrast between the smoothness of her skin and the hard beaded tip driving him insane with pleasure. He could quite literally feast on her taut peaks forever but there was so much more of her sexy body to explore.

Each hard pull of Nors' mouth at her breasts was sending little jolts of electricity crashing straight between her legs. Ashleigh held his head to her, pressing her breasts greedily against his insistent mouth, desperate for the pleasure he was giving her. Her body was on fire with her need for him, the moisture between her legs clearly giving away how much she wanted him, craved him to be inside her.

She didn't ever want him to stop suckling at her breasts and she moaned her disappointment when his mouth moved away to trail tiny little kisses along her ribcage. She wanted him to go back to her breasts, to feast there endlessly and drive her wild with need. It was only his hand at the button of her jeans that stopped her demanding he return to the task at hand.

Her breath caught as she felt the button open, heard the rasp of the zipper moving down and the tug of the material being pushed down her hips. Her body trembled in anticipation, her eyes flying open when the tugging stopped with her jeans still on her upper thighs.

She found Nors watching her intently, a slow seductive smile crossing his gorgeous face as his hand cupped her body through her lace thong. She knew he was finding the fragile material soaking wet with the proof of her desire for him. He appeared to like that very much as he rubbed his hand lightly against her in a slow, teasing movement.

She wanted to open her legs wider to give him more access but her jeans were hampering that. It appeared that was the desired effect he wanted because his smile widened as he brushed his lips gently over hers before raising his head again. His gaze was heated, his eyes intense as he slid one long finger under her thong and slowly parted her lower lips. She gasped and shuddered as her juices allowed his finger to run smoothly through her slick folds.

"Exquisite," he breathed softly, beginning a slow, leisurely stroking motion up and down her slit, circling her clit teasingly before gently grazing the tiny bundle of nerves sending her head back and sharp cry of ecstasy to tumble from her lips. He stroked her again, repeating the caress, slowly driving her wild with his teasing touch.

Nors growled his pleasure as he teased Ashleigh's beautiful body. The scent of her arousal washed over him making his head spin with desire. She was so wet, so hot against his finger as he easily slid through the soft flesh between her legs. A deep sense of smug male satisfaction came over him that his wolf wanted him so much, that his touch made her body react the way it was doing.

He increased the firmness of his touch, her hard nub pulsing against his fingertip as he pressed against it. He watched ever flicker of emotion crossing Ashleigh's face, drank in ever wanton moan and sharp cry of pleasure. He held his own need in check so he could watch his wolf soar, feel her shatter at his touch. She wanted to feel his love in the physical sense so he showed her just how much she meant to him, just how precious she was and would always be in his eyes.

He lowered his mouth to catch her breathy cries, his finger moving faster and harder as he pushed her relentlessly towards her release. "Fly for me, little wolf," he whispered against her lips as he felt her body stiffen slightly, heard her breath catch an instant before she cried out her ecstasy and shattered against his hand.

Nors groaned harshly, holding her shuddering body tightly, his finger stroking her through her climax as his own body strained painfully, wanting to join her in the heady bliss of her sexual release. His mouth caught her cries, drinking them in as he stroked her down slowly from her pleasure, soothing the intense emotions making her body tremble so deliciously. She was perfection and she was all his. His beautiful wolf. His Ashleigh.




The Council Ch. 08



"That was so beautiful to watch," he murmured against her lips, smiling as she opened her eyes and stared up at him with a dazed look on her face.

"That was so beautiful to experience," she whispered softly, reaching up to tuck his hair behind his ears, pressing her lips softly against his in a fleeting kiss. "I've never felt so alive as I did just now. I want to feel that again, Nors."

He groaned deeply, his heart racing at her words, at her gentle touch. "And you shall, my Ashleigh," he whispered back. "I'm going to spend eternity loving you and giving you all the sweet pleasure you want. Starting again right now." 

She laughed softly at the eagerness in his voice, the way his eyes flashed and his nostrils flared. She had no doubts that he would love her endlessly until she was so exhausted she would have to ask him to stop. Her heart kicked up a beat as he rose up from her, pulling her up with him to stand beside the bed.

"Too many clothes," he growled softly, his hands tugging at her jeans and freeing them from her body as he knelt before her and she held onto his wide shoulders for balance. 

Her thong followed instantly and she gasped and shuddered wildly as his mouth immediately buried itself between her legs, his large hand running up her inner thighs to tease then apart so he had unrestricted access to her body. She held on tightly as his tongue rasped roughly over her heated flesh, flicking against her over-sensitive button before moving lower to dip inside her body and lick against her velvety walls.

"Oh God, Ash, you taste so unbelievably good," he murmured hoarsely, licking back up her wet slit, leaving her pussy long enough so he could swallow deeply and savour her intoxicating flavour as it exploded in his mouth. She was so wet, both from her arousal and also the release she had just achieved. She had the sweetest taste he'd ever sampled, the heady scent of her arousal and her sweet flavour driving him insane with need.

He was so close to losing complete control but he held himself in check, wanting to love her body as he had dreamed of doing so many times. Her legs were trembling under his assault and he lifted her slightly to ease her back onto the edge of the bed, draping her thighs over his shoulders as he knelt before her and began to lap hungrily at her body.

Ashleigh cried out and pressed against his mouth, his hands on her hips, holding her tightly as he feasted between her quivering thighs. The touch of his hand against her had been amazing but the unrestrained touch of his mouth took her breath away completely. He left no inch of her pussy untouched, his tongue scything through every fold, seeking and finding every drop of moisture her body had released and drinking it down greedily.

Her hands fisted the sheets hard, her head thrown back as lights danced before her closed eyes, her body shaking in pure bliss as Nors' hot mouth devoured her ruthlessly. She couldn't believe she was so close to cumming a second time, that he could take her so quickly back to the heady heights of her release in such a short space of time. But she was ready to fly again. She couldn't escape from the relentless pressure of his mouth against her tender flesh.

"Nors," she cried out trying to grind herself against his mouth but unable to do so because of his tight hold on her. He growled against her pussy, the deep rumbling vibrations sending liquid fire shuddering through her body. "Oh God!" she cried out again as she felt the tension begin to coil in her stomach.

His tongue dipped inside her body briefly before he licked upwards and sucked her clit into his mouth. His teeth grazed the tiny bundle of nerves lightly and then his tongue danced across the captured nub in a hard, fast rhythm. Ashleigh screamed loudly, her body shaking wildly as she tumbled over the abyss into a shattering climax. Her body strained with her release, her breath rasping out in tortured groans as wave after wave of bliss crashed through her.

Nors growled again, her hot cum flooding his mouth as he licked and suckled against her hard, drinking down her sweetness greedily as she rode her climax with sweet abandon. He couldn't stop tasting her, couldn't stop licking every inch of her beautiful body as she shattered so deliciously against his mouth. He now had two things that he wanted to do endlessly to her body, feast on her luscious breasts and also between her silken thighs.

He gentled his touch as her climax subsided. He raised his head and smiled his satisfaction at the stunned but satiated expression on her gorgeous face. Pleasuring his wolf was turning out to be such a rewarding experience. He could do so for hours on end if she'd let him.

His own need was becoming harder to control as he slowly kissed her flat stomach, his tongue laving every inch of her soft skin he could reach. He dipped into her bellybutton and she giggled lightly, wriggling away from him to escape his teasing.

"Come back here," he growled softly catching her around the waist and lying on his back to pull her down on top of him. He groaned as her entire length settled along his body, his hips pressing up to meet her softness. "Ashleigh," he groaned softly capturing her lips in a hard kiss as her hands reached between them and she fumbled at the zipper of his trousers.

The feel of her hands brushing against his aching cock almost made him cum instantly and he had to still her movements, rolling to place her beneath him before he rose to his feet and quickly stripped the rest of his clothes off. She pouted with disappointment and he laughed softly. "Next time, love," he promised in a low, husky voice. "I need you too much this time."

Ashleigh watched Nors' impressive body being unveiled for her pleasure and her breath sucked in as her greedy gaze travelled the wide, hard plains of his chest over his taut stomach down to his very impressive shaft standing proudly between his legs. He was so beautiful, so hard with need and she couldn't help licking her lips as she imagined how he would feel in her mouth, how he would taste as she loved him as thoroughly as he had just loved her.

The low rumbling growl he emitted had her gaze sliding back up his body to his face, a sultry smile crossing hers at the strained expression he was wearing.

"Don't look at me like that," he ground out hoarsely. "Not if you don't want me to disgrace myself." He didn't need to be a mind reader to guess what was going through her head as she licked her lips. He wanted it as badly as she appeared to but he was almost at the point of losing all control. He needed to retain some degree of self control so he wouldn't succumb to his need to taste her which was hovering close to the surface already.

He crawled back onto the bed, looming over her to lean down and kiss her long and hard, his tongue leisurely lapping inside her mouth as he teased her legs apart with one thick well muscled thigh. He needed to be inside her, needed to feel her scalding heat embracing his throbbing cock.

Keeping her gaze locked with his, he slid an arm under her back and raised her body slightly, positioning himself against her opening and resting there without moving for a brief moment.

"Ash, you have done this before?" he ground out through clenched teeth as he fought for control, suddenly worried that she was still a virgin. He should have asked instead of just assuming she had some experience due to her Were nature. 

"Not for a while," she admitted, her face flushing a light shade of pink." And only with the one partner so I'm not very experienced at this, Nors." 

She appeared embarrassed by her lack of sexual experience and he smiled slightly as he leaned down again to kiss her tenderly. "It doesn't show," he whispered against her lips pressing forward gently, easing himself slowly into her wet heat. 

He took his time, wanting her to be able to adjust to his body sliding inside her and also wanting to savour the utter joy of joining with her for the first time. She was tight and so incredibly hot as her velvety walls gripped his cock hard, her slickness from her two climaxes easing his way inside her beautiful body. He shuddered as she wrapped around him, luring him in as she raised her hips to encourage him to complete his possession of her.

"You're perfect, Ashleigh," he groaned softly, resting his forehead against hers as his breath rasped out loudly, his intent gaze taking in the pleasure dancing across her face.

"You feel so good," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and rolling her hips upwards. He was stretching her body, filling her so completely that she was desperate for him to start moving inside her, to take her once more to the heady heights of sexual bliss. "Love me, Nors," she begged softly.

His control snapped completely, his hips flexing as he withdraw and pressed back inside her tightness. "Always, love," he breathed hoarsely, his body settling into a slow, hard rhythm as his lips devoured hers in a long drugging kiss.

He didn't know he had the capacity to be so tender and gentle in his lovemaking but then he hadn't ever really made love to a woman before. He'd had a few longish relationships over the years and had even liked the women he had lain with but never had he loved a woman the way he loved his Ashleigh. Never had his sole aim been to make the woman lying beneath him achieve the ultimate pleasure he could give her.

They danced together in an intricate, erotic meeting of bodies, hands and lips roaming over sweat slickened skin as they learned what gave each other pleasure. Nors found he couldn't stay away from her breasts, suckling against her hard peaks as she cried out over and over again. Everything about Ashleigh was intoxicating, making the blood rush to his head and his heart pound loudly in his chest.

She moved instinctively with him, her body matching his pace as if made for him. He could feel his need beginning to reach critical mass, knew he would soon be at the point when he needed to give in to his own body's needs. He wanted his wolf to cum with him so he increased his movements, sliding deeply into her over and over again.

"Oh God!" Ashleigh groaned rising up to meet his faster tempo, his body stroking hard and fast inside her, rubbing erotically against her velvety walls and sending fire spreading throughout her body. Her hands dug into his hair pulling his mouth to hers as he thrust relentlessly into her body, quickly spiralling her upwards at such a rate she could barely breathe at the sheer intensity of it.

"I need to bite you," she suddenly cried out loudly, her eyes opening to meet his, her wolf lurking so close to the surface. "I need to mate with you," she moaned desperately. "Please, Nors! Please let me bite you."

His breath sucked in sharply, her desperation transmitting instantly to him. He knew she would feel the need to mate. He had hoped she would want to do so because he wanted it as desperately as she did. He felt one small moment of worry, one small hesitation of what the consequences of their mating would bring and then he kissed her hard.

"I'm yours, Ashleigh," he whispered softly. "I'll always be yours. Take me, love. Make me yours." He thrust hard into her as he felt her teeth scrape the spot where his shoulder met his neck. He cupped her head to him and stroked hard and fast into her beautiful body as she bit down, breaking the skin and dragging a deep roar from the very depths of his soul.

Ashleigh's wolf howled her delight as they claimed her mate, his body loving them hard and fast as they drank down his life's essence and transferred the wolf gene to him. Her body shook wildly as she came in a haze of white hot pleasure, her loud cry escaping her as she released her bite and surrendered to the ecstasy crashing through her.

She could feel Nors thickening inside her, his body pulsing as he surged into her over and over again and came with his own harsh cry, spilling his seed deep within her body as they rocked together in mutual ecstasy.

Breathing raggedly, hearts thumping painfully hard, they writhed together for a few moments more until the intensity of their release began to subside and their movements slowed.

"Oh my God," Ashleigh choked out hoarsely trying to catch her breath as Nors rolled to his side and gathered her into his embrace, his own breathing as ragged as hers was. 

"I second that!" Nors chuckled between panting breaths, stroking a hand lazily down her back to soothe her down from her climax. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his body, tracking the wolf gene as it invaded him and moved around his blood stream. 

He was hers now. Lord only knew what the consequences of his actions were going to be but it didn't matter to him. She was his mate, his beautiful little wolf and no one would take her from him. He belonged to her and he had let her mate with him. He couldn't regret that even if it was a purely selfish thing to do.

"Is it always like this, Nors?" Ashleigh asked still a little breathless from their lovemaking. She couldn't remember it being so intense with Klaus. It had been a pleasurable enough experience but nothing compared to what she had just shared with her vampire.

"God, I hope so," he answered fervently humour lacing his tone as he dropped a kiss on her forehead, tenderly brushing her damp hair back from her face. "It's never been this wonderful for me before, Ash. I've never experienced a joining as intense as what we've just shared."

She smiled sleepily cuddling into his embrace. "I'm glad," she sighed softly. "I thought I'd been doing something wrong the last time I did this because it didn't come anywhere as close to being as spectacular as this was."

He laughed again, feeling rather smug that she was complimenting his sexual prowess. "It must be a mate thing," he answered still laughing. "Otherwise I'd have to concede to have been doing it all wrong too." 

He listened to her soft tinkling laughter and then her deep yawn, reaching out to cover them with a sheet. He had some things he needed to take care of but for now he would just lie with her as she drifted off to sleep. 

His sister suddenly sprang into his thoughts and he stifled down a sigh. Freya was not going to be pleased with this turn of events. He cradled Ashleigh close and closed his eyes. His sister would just have to get used to it. He wasn't letting his wolf go for anyone.

*****

Loretta groaned and rolled over, her eyes opening tiredly. She tried to focus on Andrei's bedside clock but her eyes refused to work properly. Her vampire seemed to have an issue with her getting any sleep. He insisted she stay over at his house and then preceded to spend half the night ravishing her so deliciously that she couldn't say no to him and ended up suffering for it the next day.

Her eyes finally adjusted as she rubbed them wearily and she muttered a low oath as she crawled over the sleeping man beside her catching her foot in the bunched up sheets and tumbling towards the floor with an irritated growl. Strong arms wrapped around her before she connected with the hard wood and an equally irritated growl sounded in her ear.

"Where do you think you're going?" Andrei asked in a deceptively quiet voice which sent a little shiver down her spine. He could be a bit of a grouch in the mornings which made for some interesting encounters considering she wasn't much of a morning person herself.

She tried to shake herself free of his grasp, tried to ignore how good it felt to have his strong arms holding her tightly to his wide chest. She wasn't even going there this morning! "I'm late, Andrei," she groaned, a little of her irritation coming out in her tone.

"It isn't even seven," he retorted, flipping her easily back onto the bed and trapping her beneath his big body.

Loretta let out a slow breath as she stared up into his beautiful face. His hair was all mussed up and tangled around his shoulders, his deep brown eyes were still sleepy but also held a trace of irritation at being woken up. She knew she probably looked as rumpled as he did but somehow he always managed to look like sex on legs whereas she looked like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

"I told you last night," she sighed wearily. "Jared's called a Beta meeting. He's going to inform the rest of the Betas about the matings. It's at eight and you happen to live a forty-five minute drive from there. Let me up, Andrei." She saw a stubborn expression cross his face and groaned deeply. He was going to be difficult, his expression said it all. 

"Andrei," she began in a warning tone but he silenced her with his mouth, pressing his tongue inside as she went to protest. The instant he kissed her she went up in flames as she always did. He knew it and that was why he ruthlessly used her body against her when he wanted to get his own way. She melted against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against him as he nuzzled her lips in a slow leisurely kiss.

Andrei growled his pleasure as his woman gave up fighting with him and surrendered to his kiss. He loved their morning disagreements. She was so grouchy first thing in the morning; stubborn and so sexy looking with her hair tumbled haphazardly around her face, her eyes flashing with annoyance. He loved kissing her into submission. It was one of his favourite pastimes and he knew she loved it too otherwise she wouldn't cave in so easily. The last few days with his wolf in his life had been exhilarating and he'd loved every moment of it. 

He wanted to spend the morning losing himself in her beautiful body but he had his own things he needed to do and she did need to get to the compound. He groaned and rolled off her, releasing her to go and take her shower, trying to ignore the painful throbbing in his groin. "Go, while I'm still feeling so generous," he laughed softly, swatting her ass as she scrambled over him to get to the bathroom.

He'd deliberately made her side of the bed the farthest away from the door when he'd realised that she was too lazy in the mornings to walk around the bed to get to the bathroom. He liked feeling her body pressing against his as she rushed to the shower.  

He waited five minutes and then got out of bed and headed in to join her. He was still hard and aching for her. He always was. He slid into the shower and wrapped his arms around her kissing the side of her neck.

"Andrei," she groaned as she rinsed the soap from her body and tried to ignored his wandering hands. "I don't have time for this."

"I'll be quick," he growled turning her and pressing her against the cold tiles. His hand slid between her legs, stroking lightly and finding her wet for him. He groaned and kissed her hard, lifting her body and sliding deep inside her.

Loretta groaned and wrapped her legs around his waist, holding on tightly as he set a fast, hard pace, pounding into her relentlessly and sending sharp bursts of pleasure careening through her body. His lips blazed a trail of fire from her mouth, down her neck and across her breasts, stopping to suckle hard against her nipples. The man was insatiable and she loved every moment of it.

He was also being true to his word, making this a quick joining as his hand snaked between their bodies and his lips travelled back to hers. A few deft strokes of her clit and she was shattering in ecstasy, the hard thrust of his body into hers dragging a loud cry from her lips. His own muffled cry of pleasure was swallowed by her mouth as he joined her with his own intense climax. 

He held her close as their bodies slowly calmed down, kissing her softly and stroking a hand against her breast. She was so beautiful. So feisty and passionate and he just couldn't get enough of her. He reluctantly let her go, sliding her from his body and easing her back to her feet.




The Council Ch. 08



"Set the alarm the next time," he grumbled softly dropping another quick kiss on her lips. "So we have more time."

She turned her back to him and quickly washed herself, sliding around him so he could do the same as she stepped out and dried herself. She frowned and look at him over her shoulder. "Wait a minute, I did set the alarm last night," she said indignantly.

He shot her an unrepentant grin. "So that was what that noise was at six this morning?" he asked innocently, laughing hard when she flipped the towel at him.

"Asshole," she growled as she walked out of the bathroom, struggling to keep a smile off her face.

"I believe we've already established that, Rose," he called after her retreating back, his laughter following her into the bedroom.

Loretta was still trying not to laugh as she dressed quickly and dug into her purse for a comb. She quickly brushed her wet locks and frowned in the closet mirror. She really did need to get her hair cut. It was such a pain in the ass to have to worry about grooming it. She didn't have time to dry it and it would be a mess when it dried naturally.

Andrei appeared behind her, a towel wrapped around his waist, his fingers running slowly through her wet hair. He smiled at her in the mirror. "I love your hair," he said quietly, a glint in his eyes as he watched hers narrow slightly.

Was he able to read her mind? Loretta squinted at his reflection turning slowly to look at him in the flesh. Did he know what she had just been thinking or was her irritation with her hair just written across her face? 

His comment didn't appear to be as innocent as he tried to make it. Was he trying to influence her decision about cutting her hair? Because he could piss off if he thought he was going to try any of that macho crap on her! "I'm getting it cut," she said brusquely. "It's a pain to look after."

His smile widened slightly and he leaned down and brushed his lips lightly over hers. "That's a pity," he murmured softly." But it's your hair." 

He made a show of running a hand through his own long brown locks. "You know, you might have a point there, Loretta. It's been a long time since I've worn my hair short. I quite fancy a change myself."

She gaped at him as he turned and opened the closet door and began pulling out clothes. Andrei cutting his hair? She loved his hair. The way it flowed down his back as he moved was like watching liquid silk move. It was sacrilege for him to even consider doing so.

It took her ten seconds after the thoughts whirled through her head to see just what he was doing and she snorted in annoyance and elbowed him in the ribs. He just laughed and dropped his towel, quickly pulling on a pair of jeans and a dark blue silk shirt.

"Asshole," she grumbled again, grabbing her purse and jacket and turning to head out the room. She couldn't believe he was actually going to blackmail her into not cutting her hair. It didn't matter that he hadn't actually said the words she knew what his little act was all about.

He was blocking her path instantly, using his supernatural speed to head her off. "But I'm your asshole," he grinned wrapping his arms around her and giving her a kiss so devastating she was ready to forget all about the Beta meeting and climb back into bed with him.

"Yes, you are," she sighed with a smile tugging at her lips. "I'll call you later, Andrei."

He laughed as his wolf left still annoyed with him. He liked irritating her but he liked loving her sexy body even more. He really shouldn't have turned the alarm off this morning but it had been almost four when she'd finally fallen asleep. He knew she needed more than two hours sleep a night. He would have to start curtailing himself, letting her get more rest. He could survive on practically no sleep if he had to but his wolf couldn't. 

He finished dressing and grabbed his car keys and jacket. He'd let her have an early night tonight. Maybe he would only keep her awake until two in the morning. Smiling he headed out the bedroom allowing himself a moment more to relax before he had to face the rest of the Council and work out what Daniel was plotting behind his back today.

Loretta managed to get to the meeting on time but only because she abandoned her car in a quiet spot and shifted to wolf form after calling one of the other pack members and asking them to come pick up the car and telling them where she'd left the keys.

It was quicker to run through the trees to the compound and cut a good fifteen minutes off her journey time. She even had time to go to her self contained apartment in one of the communal cabins and pull on a pair of sweats and a tank top. She slipped her feet into a pair of low sandals and tied her hair in a ponytail, and then she headed over to the Alpha's house.

The upcoming meeting was not going to be pretty but at least it wasn't going to be as hard on her as it was Cedar. Jared had let them know in advance that with there now being three matings with the vampires it was time to at least let the other Betas know if not the whole pack. That meant Rafe would be around as would Aaron.

She smiled as she thought of the two senior Betas. She'd had a brief moment with Rafe a few years ago before he met Lacey. It had been nothing serious but it had been fun. Slightly ironically, Cedar too had had a brief moment with Rafe; they had even been exclusive for a couple of months before they parted company but remained close friends.

The thing about Rafe was he had a strong sense of responsibility and felt he had to look out for his friends. And he classed both Cedar and herself as being two of his closest friends after Aaron. Also, he was Jared's adopted brother and the next in line to lead the Hanlon pack should Jared decide to step down without a mature son to take over.

He was going to be really upset when he heard about the matings. Not only because he would be concerned about them being hurt but also because he would instantly know how dangerous it could be for the rest of the pack. She hoped he would be able understand their situation. He'd had a similar issue claiming Lacey as his mate which had led to Graves attacking the compound the year before.

Aaron was a whole other ballgame. He was Cedar's youngest brother but had been a Beta for over a century. Before Rafe had joined the pack he had been Jared's second in command though he had relinquished that role to his best friend with no quibble at all. He was a lovable rascal, always smiling and cracking jokes but lethal when his pack was threatened. 

He had almost died trying to protect Rafe's mate Lacey the year before but had found his mate in Jen at the same time and recovered from his injuries. Jen was pregnant, almost five months gone and Aaron's protective instincts were at an all time high. Any threat to his mate and the pack would set him off. He'd be doubly as angry that his favourite sister was also at risk. Aaron and Cedar were so close it was hard to guess almost fifteen years separated them. Most people thought they were born at the same time they were so close.

No, this was not going to be a pretty meeting at all but there was nothing she could do but stand tall and take whatever was coming. She hadn't told Andrei of her fears about the meeting. He would only have become angry and decide he was tagging along. Then there really would have been a lot of crap to clean up. She rolled her eyes at the thought and headed into the meeting.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 09



Loretta's brown eyes swiftly scanned the scene as she entered the Alpha's dining room. They tended to use that room for a full Beta meeting because there wasn't enough seating space in the study and it was a pain to carry chairs through when using the dining room would suffice.

She spotted Cedar standing talking to her brother and from the ready smile on Aaron Alexander's handsome face it was obvious that he had no idea what the upcoming meeting was going to be about. Her other two brothers were standing close by talking quietly to each other.

It was easy to see they were siblings. They had the same blonde hair and cerulean blue eyes. They were also very tall as were all of the Alexander family. Jen, Aaron's mate, was the one oddity among the clan with her jet black hair and smaller stature. Not that the Alexanders cared, they all adored Jen almost as much as her Aaron did.

She met Cedar's eyes as her friend looked over at her and shot her a reassuring smile when she saw a trace of concern on her face. She would sit beside her when the meeting started to give her moral support when the shit hit the fan. For now she looked around the room until her gaze landed on the huge bear of a man standing beside the fire and she headed in his direction.

Rafe Hanlon looked up sensing her approach and he smiled his usual welcoming smile, his brown eyes flashing with pleasure. Loretta hadn't seen him in a couple of months because he spent more time at his home in the neighbouring city these days with his mate Lacey, than at the compound.

She hadn't realised how much she had missed seeing him around until now. He was the largest member of the pack, standing well over six feet tall with wide shoulders and an impressive chest. He was handsome in a rugged fashion with a shock of unruly dark brown hair. Rafe was a latent Alpha with no desire to lead. He accepted his responsibilities as Jared's second but he shied away from any talk of starting his own pack in the neighbouring city.

Jared had broached the subject after the war, when Aaron had nearly died on the journey back to the compound for medical treatment. The Alpha's logic was if there was a satellite pack in the other city then time could be saved getting Weres to medical facilities if they needed it. Rafe had flat out refused saying there already was a Hanlon pack and refusing to start his own pack under the Armand name.

He used to be Rafe Armand until the night he was attacked by a Rogue Were and declared dead to the human world and his sister Rhianna. He had adopted the pack name when he finally accepted that his human life was over and he was a pack member.

"Hey sweetie," he smiled as she reached him, giving her a quick hug and dropping a kiss on the top of her head. He had started calling her the excruciating endearment the night Andrei had carried her half dead out of the forest. It made her shudder but she knew he meant it as a sign of his affection for her so she let it slide. Most of the time. She didn't think he'd be calling her that for much longer anyway, not after the meeting got underway.

"Hey Rafe," she smiled back returning his hug with a brief one of her own. She didn't want to go back to Andrei with the scent of another man on her. The stupid vampire would probably flip out if she did. "How's Lacey?"

Rafe's expression glowed at the mention of his mate, a wide smile covering his face. "Perfect," he answered, a little sigh in his voice.

Loretta laughed softly. "You'd think after all this time you could come up with a better answer than that," she teased lightly. It was his stock response when asked about his mate.

He grinned. "Well, it's true," he smirked. "She is perfect. Though very busy at the moment. This teacher training thing on top of her actual studies is very time consuming."

"She deserves a medal for all the changes she's been through in the last year and the way she just dives into each new challenge with such enthusiasm," Loretta remarked with a smile. She really liked Lacey a lot, not just because she made Rafe so happy being his mate, but because she had been the final catalyst that helped her friend fully integrate into his life as a Were. She had a lot of time for the other woman.

"Don't you mean she deserves one for putting up with me?" Rafe joked, laughing.

"You said it," she quipped back, laughing at his mock outraged expression just as Jared walked into the room. 

Instantly everyone was alert as the Alpha moved to his customary seat at the head of the table by the fire. Rafe slotted into the seat on his left and Aaron across from him in on the right. Everyone else pretty much sat wherever they wanted to so Loretta walked around the table and sat beside Cedar as she slipped in beside her brother.

"Before we get started, "Jared began in an authoritative tone. "I know it usually goes without saying that anything discussed in these meetings remains confidential until I say otherwise, but in this instance I want to make it abundantly clear that is the case. If anyone here thinks they may have an issue with that then let me know and I will Command it of you. I'd prefer not to do so but this matter is so grave I need to be sure that everyone is able to keep their own counsel about it."

The room suddenly went deathly quiet as everyone looked at the Alpha in surprise. Loretta watched each Beta carefully. Her eyes fell on Brody and Connor Alexander. They were sitting further down the table, closer to the door. They were as light hearted and jovial as their siblings usually, but they looked very pensive at their Alpha's words. 

How were the Alexander brothers going to feel about keeping quiet when it came out about Cedar's mating? They wouldn't be able to tell their parents and other sister, Willow. The family were so close that she didn't think they had any secrets from one another. 

She reached under the table and found Cedar's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Having to keep secrets from their family was going to make the brothers react even more strongly than they were already likely too.

"Okay," Jared continued when no one spoke, taking their silence for their agreement that the meeting was completely confidential. "In the last couple of weeks a serious issue has come to light, one which could possibly impact on the safety of the pack though it could also possibly come to nothing."

The Betas sat up that bit straighter, surprise etched on Rafe's face as he looked at his brother. As Jared's number two he was very seldom left out of the loop when it came to the safety of the pack. He was frankly stunned to find out that there was some issue he wasn't aware of.

Jared looked at Rafe and then Aaron before he took a deep breath. "We have had three new matings within the pack, though they are of a controversial nature," he announced quietly. "Three of our pack members have found their mates in vampires."

For an instant nothing happened and then the room suddenly exploded in a riot of male voices all trying to talk over one another. Jared held up his hand for silence, waiting for the room to settle down, giving the Betas time to initially vocalise their shock at the announcement.

"How can that be possible, Jared?" Rafe demanded, a frown on his face. "A vampire can't complete the mating ritual because their bite is lethal to a Were. It can't be a true mating, not in the sense of what other mated pairs share."

There was a hasty murmur of agreement around the table at his words and Jared struggled not to let out a weary sigh. He had been expecting someone to broach that subject, to somehow try to invalidate that it was a true mating.

"If Lacey had chosen not to bite you but you had bitten her would you say she was not your mate, Rafe?" he asked quietly.

Rafe's frown deepened further, turning his expression into a dark scowl. "That wouldn't be the same thing, Jared, and you know it," he argued. "Lacey would be my mate because my wolf recognised her as so."

"As have the wolves of the Weres involved," Jared countered. "The vampires involved have also acknowledged the mating and allowed the Weres to pass the wolf gene onto them. These are proper matings. Matings that I am acknowledging and supporting." His tone left no further debate on the matter.

"What are the vampires saying about it?" Aaron demanded, his expression concerned. "We're still sitting around wondering when or if they're going to take any punitive action for last year. They're hardly going to sit still for us suddenly wanting to mate with them." His immediate thoughts were for Jen. He had to keep her and their babies safe. They were his life.

"The Ancients know as do the vampires involved obviously," Jared answered. "The rest of their kind has no idea what's happening. Pretty much like the pack. Those that need to know are being informed. Those that don't, shouldn't have to be worrying about something that may not come to pass."

Aaron didn't look pacified in the least but it was Connor who spoke next from the bottom of the table. "Who are the Weres involved?" he asked quietly.

Loretta felt Cedar stiffen slightly beside her, saw Aaron's head swivel in her direction as he sensed her movement too. She watched Cedar return her brother's gaze and saw instant understanding cross his face.

Aaron's chair slammed back to the ground as he jumped up, growling loudly, his wolf dangerously close to the surface as he bristled with fury.

"Aaron!" Jared yelled rising as well as all eyes turned to look at Cedar. She swallowed hard and raised her head.

"I am mated to Alexei Romanov," she announced loudly, ignoring Aaron completely as he quivered in fury at her side, looking down the table at her other brothers to see their reaction.

Brody looked stunned, simply staring back at her while Connor looked as angry as Aaron.

"No fucking way," Connor growled standing up, leaning forward on the table to glare at her. "You are not mating with a bloody vampire, Cedar! End of discussion."

She met his glare with a firm expression on her face. "It's not up for debate, Connor. It's already done. I've claimed him." She swallowed hard again as she saw his face darken further and heard a loud growl at her other side.

"We should have killed that bastard when we had the chance," Aaron hissed, referring to Cedar and Alexei's first meeting during the war.

It was Cedar's turn to rise, turning to glare at her younger brother furiously. "You will leave my mate alone, Aaron, or so help me I'll make you so sorry you were ever born," she growled stabbing him in the chest with one of her fingers to emphasise her point. She couldn't believe he had just said that. He wanted to kill her mate? He knew what that would do to her!

"How could you do this?" Aaron growled back, his eyes blazing with fury. "You're endangering the pack, endangering Jen and your nieces and nephews. Did you even stop to consider that before you let a filthy bloodsucker crawl into your bed?"

A sharp stab of pain blossomed deep within her at her brother's words. She had known her family would not be happy about the mating but this outright hostility, this rejection from Aaron in particular was really hard to swallow. She knew it was his concern for not only his mate but also herself which was making him react the way he was. It didn't make it any less painful to hear though and it didn't stop her from lashing back at him in hurt.

"Yeah, like you and Rafe really stopped to think about how many of the pack would die to protect your mates," she ground out hoarsely. "Why don't you go over and tell Ashleigh that she isn't allowed to find happiness in mating with Nors because it's a danger to the pack, Aaron. She only lost every single member of her family that night so you could have Jen and Rafe could have Lacey!"

Aaron paled instantly, moving further away from his sister as their Alpha roared loudly. "Enough!" His tone was laced heavily with his Command, the Alexanders wilting under the weight of it.

"I know this is difficult for the Alexander family," Jared said in a more even tone. "But you are not here as a family right now you are here as my Betas and I expect you ALL to act accordingly. Everyone sit down now." He waited until everyone resumed their seats, Aaron shifting his as far from his sister as possible.

"Aaron, that will be the one and only time you will abuse one of this pack for being with their mate," Jared said coldly. "None of the mated Weres are to be treated any differently than any other member of this pack. If you can't agree to that then you are free to leave at any time. The same applies to you, Connor and anyone else who thinks similarly," he added looking down the table at the other man.

He turned to Cedar. "I know you were only lashing out because you're hurting, Cedar, but if I ever hear you assign blame to anyone for what happened last year you will no longer be welcome in this pack," he said equally as coldly. "I know that may be a moot point for you anyway because of Alexei's dislike of us but it still stands. The only person responsible for what happened last year was Richard Graves and he was dealt with."

He took a deep breath and looked around the room slowly. "I'm disappointed in all of you," he finally said quietly watching just about everyone's heads lower under his disapproval. "When this first came to my attention I too reacted as you are doing and Millie reminded me that we were a pack and we stood together and always will. I took comfort from that, remembering how we stood side by side last year, how we refused to allow anyone to threaten our way of life, our right to have our mates at our side. Now look at us."

The room was totally silent for a long moment, Cedar and Aaron shifting uncomfortably in their chairs, Connor not looking very comfortable either.

"So, if Cedar got Alexei and Ashleigh got Nors, I take it that means you got Andrei, Loretta?" Rafe finally said breaking the silence, a slightly sardonic note to his voice.

Loretta looked at him, trying to judge how he felt about it. His expression was hard to read so she decided 'what the hell?' and grinned slowly. "Guess you could say I drew the short straw," she quipped lightly trying to alleviate the tension in the room a little.

Rafe snorted at her answer but he still didn't look angry. Rather he just looked resigned to the situation. "How do you want us to handle this, Jared?" he asked turning the Alpha.

"It stays in this room for now," Jared answered. "Andrei is monitoring things on their end, keeping a close watch on what the Vampire Council is up to so we'll know if anything happens on their side. For the moment everything is to go along as normal but keep an eye out for any signs of unknown vampires hanging around the forest."

He sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair. "I know this is a surprising development. Frankly I'm more surprised that none of us recognised the possibility existed due to the amount of increased contact we've had with the vampires recently. We don't know if the vampires will ever be able to complete their part of the mating. We're looking into whether or not anything has happened before in the past but haven't managed to turn up anything."

Rafe had a thoughtful expression on his face. "What does Caleb have to say about this? The vampire's archives may contain something?"

Jared rose and paced around the room, pausing to lay a comforting hand on Cedar's shoulder before moving down the table. "He's keeping an eye on the Council. I've not had time to ask him directly about searching his own archives. Loretta visited some of the surrounding packs recently but there was nothing in ours."

He turned his gaze to the brunette. "Can you ask Andrei to check through his archives, Loretta? If it's possible to do so without causing any suspicion among his people."

Loretta tried to imagine her vampire with his nose buried in a library of books and wanted to laugh at the thought. She hadn't seen him read much since they'd been together but then, they'd hardly made it out of the bedroom in most of that time.

"I'll ask him," she answered with a small smile tugging at her lips. "He'll most likely complain about it but I think once the idea is in his head he'll see the wisdom of doing some research. He can probably get Alexei and Nors to help him if it's too big a task to do on his own."

The Alpha nodded to her as Brody spoke for the first time. "Does this mean we're going to be seeing the Romanovs around the compound a lot, Jared? Because if so, we're going to have to tell the pack something otherwise there will be a lot of speculation and possibly a few encounters with the younger members that we could do without."

Jared frowned looking at Cedar and Loretta. "With the exception of Nors who is already a friend of the pack and practically a regular around here, there will be no new vampires suddenly showing up," he said with a regretful tone to his voice. "The Romanovs must stay away from the compound as much as possible. They are allowed here only by express invitation. I've already told Alexei that and Andrei doesn't appear to be the least bit interested in coming here. Still, Loretta, you will make it plain to him that he is not permitted on pack lands until I say so?"

She nodded her agreement. As long as she stayed at Andrei's place he would have no need to come looking for her at the compound.

"Any more questions?" Jared asked.

"The Council will obliterate the pack when this comes out," Aaron said in a cold hard tone. "How are we going to defend ourselves from that, Jared?" He saw his sister stiffen, her head bowed and he tried to ignore her, still reeling from what she had said to him. He felt a bit bad for hurting her but it was a valid question, one that had to be asked. 

"We're going to have to rely on our friendship with the vampires," Jared answered. "We don't have a hope in hell of combating an outright attack from the Vampire Council. It won't be like last year and we all know that. But we have the most powerful vampires as our allies and they're completely invested in this pack for a number of different reasons. If it comes down to a fight, we won't stand alone."

Silence once more reigned in the room as the Alpha waited to see if anyone had anything further to say. When it became apparent they had no more questions he quickly closed the meeting.

"Do I need to assign a referee for you two?" he asked looking at Cedar and Aaron.

"That won't be necessary, " Cedar answered quietly, standing up abruptly, releasing Loretta's hand which she'd been clutching tightly underneath the table. She gave her friend a grateful smile before she turned back to her Alpha. "I won't be around the compound much from now on. Like you said, Alexei has no love for the pack. I will go where my mate is not only comfortable but also accepted." She turned and headed towards the door refusing to look any of her brothers in the face.

"Cedar," Brody called, catching her arm as she walked past, standing to pull her into a big bear hug. "It doesn't matter to me, sis," he whispered quietly. "Once everyone calms down a bit everything will work itself out."

"Thanks, Brody," she answered in a quiet voice, returning his hug and trying not to hold on too tightly. Just having one of her brothers not hate her was some comfort. She moved out of his embrace and continued out of the house.

"You can't just walk off as if nothing has happened," Aaron ground out as he followed her from the house. He was mad at his sister for what she had said inside but he knew he had been out of order too with what he'd said. It was just the shock of the situation, his concern for her as well as his mate. They needed to talk , to sort it out. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a fight with Cedar it was so long ago. He didn't want to be at odds with her.




The Council Ch. 09



"Watch me," she bit back refusing to turn around, walking to her car and opening the door. She was barely holding on at the moment. She couldn't go another round with Aaron right now. All she could think of was he wanted to kill her mate. He had said so inside. She couldn't believe he would even think something so horrible let alone say it out loud.

"Cedar, wait!" her brother called, a slight softening in his tone, a hint of a plea in it. She ignored him, climbing into the car and driving away before the tears that were threatening to fall managed to do so.

Brody appeared at Aaron's side, Connor on his other side as they watched their sister drive off. 

"Nice one, you two," Brody growled angrily giving them both a scathing look. "You'll be lucky if she ever speaks to either of you again. And why the fuck should she after that little show? She's there for all of us at a drop of a hat and you two rip her heart out the one time she needs us?" He snorted in disgust and headed off towards the communal hall shaking his head at their utter stupidity.

"Guess we fucked up," Connor announced with a weary sigh as the car vanished. He shot Aaron a dark look. "Though all I said was she wasn't allowed to mate with the bloodsucker. You said you wanted to kill him so I reckon she'll talk to me a lot sooner than she ever talks to you again."

"I don't need you to remind me," Aaron snapped angrily, his face flushing red. He turned on his heel and headed towards the home he kept at the compound. At least in there he'd be able to get some peace and quiet as he tried to work out how to make this right with his sister, if he even could.

"Andrei Romanov," Rafe sighed shaking his head at Loretta as they headed outside behind everyone else who was leaving. 

She snorted and laughed at his expression. "Yeah, he's a lot of hard work," she admitted but there was a soft note in her voice that spoke volumes. "He's not as bad as you think though, Rafe."

"You're sure you're safe?" he prodded, concern in his eyes. He was really fond on the feisty little brunette. He didn't want anything bad to happen to her, even accidentally.

"Could you hurt Lacey?" she countered softly watching shock cross his face at even the thought of it before he smiled ruefully at her, conceding her point. 

"I'm perfectly safe though thanks for caring. I appreciate you being so understanding about it, Rafe. It's so unfair that Cedar's the one who has to take all the abuse over this when Ashleigh and I get a free ride."

Rafe gave her a quick hug and another kiss on the top of her head. "Cedar's strong. She can cope with it. She has us to help her too. Once Aaron and Connor calm down they'll be there for her. It's just the shock of everything that's caused this little issue. The Alexanders are the strongest, most loving family I've ever known. They'll get through this and come out stronger in the end."

"I hope so, for Cedar's sake," Loretta sighed turning to head to her apartment. She fancied a little alone time just to herself for an hour or so, maybe she would take a run in the forest to clear her mind a little from the not so great start to her day.

*****

Alexei was heading towards his wolf, excitement bubbling up inside him as it always did when he managed to spend some time with his woman. He couldn't believe how quickly she had come to mean everything to him. He wondered if he would have had such a hard time coming to terms with the mating as his brother was having, if he hadn't had a year to get used to the idea.

Thinking of Andrei made him decide to check in with his twin. "Hey Andrei," he called mentally as he pulled up outside Cedar's house and switched off the car engine.

"What do you want?" his brother grumbled irritably. "I'm in a Council meeting trying not to rip Daniel's fucking head off at the moment. The dick is actually trying to get a call for action against the pack, citing that we will appear 'weak' if we do nothing."

Alexei frowned gripping the steering wheel tightly as he counted to ten to try and soothe down his instant irritation at the news. "I hope you have it under control, Andrei, because if Daniel does anything to hurt Cedar I'm going to rip him apart. And I don't give a fuck if he's a Council member."

"You seriously think I'd let him hurt the pack in anyway?" Andrei's annoyance was clearly heard in his mental tone. "Loretta would stand with the pack if war was declared. I've got just as much reason as you have not to allow anything to happen."

Alexei suddenly smiled, his grip loosening on the steering wheel as he relaxed back against the car seat. The fury and possessiveness in his brother's tone told a thousand stories. "So, she managed to snare you?" he laughed lightly. "Didn't you tell me you were just doing what Caleb instructed that night, brother? That there was no way you were mating with a wolf? And just exactly when where you going to tell me about it? How long have you been mated with her?"

He knew it was mean to tease his twin but he couldn't help it. He wanted Andrei to feel what he felt for his Cedar. He wanted him to experience that perfect feeling of completeness with his mate. He was relieved that Andrei had stopped fighting Loretta so hard and given into the inevitable. He liked the little brunette a lot despite their first meeting being so brief.

"Fuck off, Alexei!" his brother growled irritably but there was a hint of humour in his tone too. "I hate it when you say 'I told you so.' You're such a smug bastard at times. Yes, I have accepted that Loretta is my mate. I had no choice in the matter. Not that I really wanted one in the long run. As to when it was a few days ago and quite frankly I've been a little on the busy side since it happened," he added, his tone softening slightly.

The smile on Alexei's face widened. "Yeah, you're a complete goner," he teased, still laughing. "I'm glad you stopped being an ass about it. Now I don't need to kick the living daylights out of you if you hurt Loretta and upset Cedar by doing so. Just make sure you keep Daniel firmly under control. Let me know if you need any back up."

He heard Andrei's distracted grunt and deftly cut off his communication with him. He knew his brother now had added reason to keep The Council in line so he could relax a bit more and enjoy spending some time with his woman. Andrei didn't often let people into his heart but when he did his protective side overwhelmed him. No one would hurt Loretta ever now Andrei had claimed her as his. Which meant the pack was completely safe.

Smiling, Alexei strode up the path towards Cedar's front door, a small frown crossing his face as his sharp ears picked up the sound of banging within and his enhanced sense of smell picked up traces of fury and also a tinge of hurt. He stiffened instantly. What the fuck was going on inside?

He opened the door to find Cedar slamming cupboard doors in the kitchen, pulling out things and slamming them down on the counter. Obviously she was supposed to be making herself some food but it looked more like she was trying to dismantle the kitchen with her bare hands.

He would have been amused if he could scent only anger in her but she was hurting too and that instantly started a slow bubble of rage deep within him. Someone had hurt his woman and he wasn't happy about it. 

He watched her pull out a piece of steak from the refrigerator and start to beat it with a wooden mallet. "I think it's already dead," he remarked drolly, closing the front door and heading towards her. She glared at him for a moment and then went back to beating on the meat.

He frowned, his sharp gaze taking in the slight redness around her eyes, the hint of puffiness there too. Had she been crying? His rage ratcheted up another notch at the thought of her being upset enough to cry. His Cedar just didn't do things like that. If someone had hurt her enough to make her cry then he was going to kill whoever it was.

He stepped behind her and halted her destruction of what had been a perfectly good piece of meat but now resembled road kill. "Like I said, sweetheart, it's already dead," he repeated in a level tone, taking the mallet from her and laying it quietly on the counter so he could turn her to face him.

"You want to tell me what's upset you so much?" he asked softly, his gaze intent on her face as she stubbornly refused to look at him.

"It's nothing, Alexei," she growled quietly pulling away from him and moving to grab the open bottle of wine on the counter and pour herself another glass. "Just family stuff. Nothing for you to be concerned about."

He watched her with narrowed eyes, mentally counting to one hundred as she told him her first lie. He really detested lies and if he wasn't so deeply involved with her he would have walked away instantly but instead he calmed his rage and counted slowly so he wouldn't overreact. 

"You know the rule, Cedar," he said quietly. "And you've just broken it. No lies, not ever. I don't care if you think you're protecting my feelings or someone else's. Complete honesty or I walk out of here."

She took a deep breath, hearing more than disappointment in his tone, hearing the trace of hurt too that she wasn't being completely truthful with him. She'd spent most of the day alternating between fury and tears and she was feeling raw and off balance. She couldn't deal with Alexei's issues on top of everything else.

"Well, why don't you then?" she asked aggressively, throwing back her wine and pouring some more. "I'm tired of playing your stupid little games, Alexei. You can take your silly rules and stick them where the sun doesn't shine."

She heard him hiss loudly a second before he was spinning her around and pressing her hard against the counter, fury in his eyes as well as hurt. She swallowed but held his gaze, not willing to back down. She'd done enough backing down already today, been subjected to enough harsh words and condemnation and it was all because of the vampire who was glaring down at her right now.

Alexei stared into her angry face, looking past the fury he saw there and concentrating on the hurt deep within her eyes. He ignored her words completely, knew she didn't mean them as he slowly stroked her cheek lightly and lowered his head to graze his lips gently against her.

She held herself rigid for a second and then she melted against him, her arms coming around him to clutch tightly. "I'm sorry, Alexei," she whispered against his lips. "I didn't mean what I said."

"I know, sweetheart," he breathed softly. "Talk to me, Cedar. Tell me what's upsetting you so much."

She sighed deeply. She wanted to talk to him about it but she was afraid he'd react angrily and do something stupid. She might be furious with Aaron right now but she didn't want him hurt. Alexei wasn't used to curbing his more physical side around non vampires.

"Jared informed the Betas of the interspecies matings," she answered carefully. "Needless to say it created a bit of an uproar at first and it didn't help my three brothers are Betas. Not only did they get to find out of the potential threat to the pack but they got to hear that their sister was mated to a vampire too. It didn't go down too well with them."

A slow frown began to settle on Alexei's face as he mulled over her words. He could understand how that could put her in an awkward position as her family was not aware of her mating due to the restrictions placed on her as by her Alpha "You had a disagreement with them?" he finally asked quietly.

"More like World War III," she snorted, a humourless laugh escaping her. "Brody was okay with it but Connor forbid me from mating with you and Aaron....well let's just say his mate is pregnant and his protective instincts are off the charts at the moment. He said something harsh and then I snapped back with something equally as bad. Jared finally stepped in and threatened to throw us out of the pack if we didn't stop." 

She sighed deeply again and pressed her head against his shoulder. "It was just a family argument, Alexei. Families do that from time to time. I'm sure you and Andrei have your moments too."

The fact that she didn't elaborate on what Aaron had said was enough to tell him that the younger brother was the cause of her tears. He knew she was particularly close to him and that her brother shared the same bond. He had been very protective of her last year. 

Alexei remembered Aaron's words well that day. He had promised to kill him if he hurt Cedar and now Aaron had gone and done the very same thing himself. Alexei was a firm believer in quid pro quo. He filed that information away as he stroked her back soothingly, feeling her begin to unwind slightly.

"Yes, Andrei and I have our moments," he agreed in a deceptively even tone., brushing his lips across the top of her head and tightening his hold on her. His rage was still festering deep inside him even though she was so much more relaxed now.

"So you know what siblings are like then," she sighed softly. "They fight and say silly things and then they make up and forgive each other. It's no big deal, Alexei."

He disagreed with her completely, about the no big deal part. Yes, siblings had their fights but it was a big deal to him that her brother has said something so nasty to her that he'd made her cry. He was not about to let that go unpunished.

"Why don't you go and have a long soak in the bath and I'll head out and pick up some takeout for you?" he suggested easing back from her and smiling slightly. He brushed her curls back from her face and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "You did kind of destroy that perfectly good bit of meat you'd planned on having for dinner. What do you want? Chinese?"

The thought of her vampire heading out for takeout when he didn't eat was so funny that Cedar actually found herself laughing, relaxing more. The thought of a long soak in the tub was also very appealing. "You're not so bad for a vampire," she sighed still laughing. She was pleased he wasn't overreacting. She actually felt a little guilty about being concerned about his reaction in the first place.

Alexei felt a little twinge deep inside him, a little questioning of himself but it was quickly overridden by his rage. "I'm not so good either," he replied dryly with a smile. "Food order?"

She recited off what she wanted and he told her he'd be back soon, prodding her to head upstairs for her bath. He knew she would forget to get out of the tub once she got in. She usually did. It gave him some extra time to do what he wanted to do. 

He studiously told himself that he wasn't doing anything wrong. It wasn't as if he'd lied to her or anything. He was going to get food for her, he was just going via the Hanlon compound. He hadn't told her he was okay with the situation, she had just assumed it and he hadn't disabused her of the notion. 

Aaron Alexander needed to know that he didn't have an automatic right to hurt his mate just because he was her brother. Alexei was determined that he would understand that message very clearly.

*****

Aaron was late leaving the compound and still annoyed with himself. He had to pick Jen up from Rafe and Lacey's house and he was going to be at least half an hour later than he'd planned to be. Thankfully his mate was having too much of a good time with her best friend so she didn't mind in the least. But he did. He didn't like being apart from her for so long and he'd been stuck at the compound most of the day.

He'd toyed with the idea of calling Cedar a few times but decided against it. From her reaction earlier she'd probably just hang up on him. No, he'd need to corner her face to face to sort out their disagreement. It was better to let her calm down first too. 

He hated fighting with his sister. They didn't do it very often and when they did it was nowhere near as vicious as this fight had been. He flushed slightly just thinking about it.

He was almost at his car when he scented the vampire. He didn't need three guesses for who it could possibly be because he recognised Alexei Romanov's scent from when he had first met him. He automatically tensed, his wolf snarling loudly within him though he fought hard to contain his beast and not shift. Shifting would only inflame the situation.

The fury he could sense rolling off the vampire in spades surprised him at first until he realised why he was sensing it in the first place. Shocked rocked through him for an instant and then his Beta instincts kicked in. The vampire was lethal when in his own feral state but now he was something completely different. 

The wolf gene within him was reacting to Cedar's distress and enhancing the fury in Alexei. Aaron wasn't just faced with an angry vampire. He was faced with a newly turned wolf trying to protect his mate too. He didn't know much about vampires but he knew enough about new turnings to know that he needed to handle the situation very carefully or someone was going to be seriously hurt.

If he shifted to wolf form Alexei would react negatively. But it was the only way he could call for help and be certain he was heard. If he did send out a mental call to Jared then the pack would mobilise instantly and Alexei could be killed. He resigned himself to the fact that he would just need to take what was coming and deal with it himself.

He sensed Alexei's approach rather than saw the vampire, turning just in time to feel strong hands at his throat before he went sailing through the air towards the trees.

Aaron groaned a split second before he hit the ground. Fuck, he knew it was going to hurt when he landed but he didn't think it would feel this bad! His wolf roared in fury, trying to take control but he suppressed it ruthlessly. He knew if he reacted to the vampire's aggression then someone was really going to get hurt. 

He'd been a Beta a long time and had helped many a human through their transformation to Were life. It was a confusing time for them as they worked on trying to deal with all the different instincts that came with the wolf gene being present in their blood stream.

Alexei Romanov wasn't all that different from them though he was more deadly because he was a vampire and his own natural instincts would be warring with the wolf part within him. His mate had been hurt and he was reacting to protect her. Aaron could understand that so he remained in human form to try and keep the vampire more balanced.

He sensed the vampire approach again and tensed, wondering where he was going to land this time. He looked up at the irate vampire when he simply stopped in front of him, glaring murderously at him with a hint of frustration on his face. Aaron almost smiled as he realised the vampire's dilemma.

Alexei was furious. He had seen red the instant he'd sighted the wolf, his need to rip him apart driving him almost insane. He was going to kill the stupid dog but he was going to do it slowly. The satisfaction he thought he'd get from throwing the other man through the air didn't come though. Aaron Alexander didn't even put up a fight! He just let him attack him and then just lay there in human form.

"Shift!" he hissed furiously at the blond wolf. He wanted to fight the wolf not the man. Staring down at Aaron in human form was disconcerting. He had the same hair and eye colour as Cedar. It was almost like looking at her and it was frustrating the hell out of him because he didn't want to be looking at the brother of his woman. He wanted to be looking at a wolf.

Aaron instinctively went into his teaching mode. He didn't even make a conscious decision about it, it just happened. Jared invariably left a lot of the pack integration to him because he was particularly skilled at it with his easy going personality. So he adopted his usual soft tone when trying to soothe a frustrated wolf.




The Council Ch. 09



"The confusion you're feeling is natural, Alexei," he said calmly, moving slightly to try and ease the pain in his hip where he'd connected with the ground hard. "The wolf gene brings out your protective instincts where your mate is concerned and you react accordingly when you feel she has been hurt. Protecting your mate is the basest instinct a wolf has."

He watched the vampire's expression carefully still seeing the murderous fury in his eyes but also a hint of alertness, as if he was listening carefully. "You want to hurt me and it's conflicting with your need to protect Cedar," he continued in a soothing tone. "You know that hurting me will hurt her. So you're kind of between a rock and a hard place at the moment. To protect her you need to hurt me and yet, to protect her you can't hurt me."

Alexei growled loudly, fury lancing through him as he took a step back from the wolf. "You have got to be fucking kidding me!" he hissed, beginning to pace up and down in agitation. 

He knew what Aaron said was true because he couldn't bring himself to hit the other man again. He wanted to, so very badly, but he kept seeing Cedar's face every time he tried . All this because she had bitten him? He wasn't used to feeling this confused, of having his actions hampered by anything. It was completely infuriating!

"You hurt her!" he finally growled stopping to glare down at the wolf once more. "You had no right!"

Aaron kept his tone even, his expression non confrontational. "We had an argument," he agreed. "Siblings do that, Alexei. We'll sort it out. We always do. Your reaction to it is quite strong though. Possibly because of your vampire genetics at odds with the wolf gene. That could take a bit of work to balance out but I don't see it as an insurmountable problem."

Alexei stared at him with a confused frown on his face. Did insanity run in Cedar's family because her brother sure was talking as if he was a few screws loose somewhere. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Aaron got up tentatively making no sudden moves. "Do you want to continue feeling this level of confusion and irritation?" he asked with a small smile starting to tug at his lips. "You're going to have to work at finding some inner balance with the wolf part of your nature, Alexei. I can help you with it. It's part of my job as Beta to help new pack members integrate."

The vampire stared at him as if he was insane. The stupid dog thought he wanted to join his pack? He didn't know where he got that notion from but he was damned well going to disabuse him of the fact. "I do not want to join your stupid pack," he hissed softly.

That brought a frown to Aaron's face as he considered how to respond. He didn't want to keep the vampire's fury too elevated but Jared's words at the pack meeting were playing on his mind.

"You would force Cedar to leave the pack?" he asked carefully. "Because that's the only option open to her if you can't learn to control your reactions. She would leave in a heartbeat to be with you, Alexei. She's as much as said so already today."

Alexei stared at the wolf in shock. He had no intention of forcing Cedar to leave her pack, her family. He knew how important they were to her, how much it would hurt her to have to give up the only life she knew. He was astounded she would be willing to do that for him. 

He opened his mouth and then closed it again. He was suddenly aware that the red hot fury within him was subsiding, that his need to kill the wolf in front of him was easing quickly. Again he was struck by the almost untenable position he was placing his woman in and how she hadn't said one word to him about it. Not one complaint from her sweet lips that she would have to leave everyone and everything she loved because he was too stubborn to bend his ways to accommodate her needs.

He groaned loudly and raked a hand through his hair. "This is because she bit me?" he asked in a calmer tone, though still clearly angered. "You're telling me I have no control over this stupid reaction? "

Sensing the danger point had subsided Aaron relaxed more, his natural humour bubbling up at the vampire's perplexed expression. "You can learn control but the basic emotion is there for good," he answered smiling. "It's usually not that hard to master but like I said, you have your own vampiric nature to have to deal with too so it could take a while longer for you. I can help though."

Alexei stared at him suspiciously. "Why would you want to?" he countered in a quite tone. "I came here to hurt you. If you'd shifted to wolf form I would most probably have killed you." He saw little point in hiding anything from the wolf. He would have killed him if he had shifted.

"Lucky for me I didn't shift then," Aaron remarked drolly shaking the dust off his jeans and quickly checking that all his bones were in one piece. Thankfully he hadn't sustained any real injuries and whatever bruises he'd received would be gone before long.

He looked at the vampire in front of him and sighed deeply. This was Cedar's mate and he couldn't deny it. The best way to make amends with his sister was to help her mate if he could. "I'll help because it's my job in the pack to do so, Alexei," he said quietly. "I'll help because it will make Cedar happy if I do and maybe she'll speak to me again some time soon," he added.

The vampire regarded the wolf, trying to give enough time for the last vestiges of his rage to subside. He almost groaned again when he felt his more logical, cool headed vampire nature regain control. He had almost killed Cedar's brother because he'd lost control. She would have hated him forever if he had hurt Aaron. 

He knew he needed to learn how to control the wolf reaction within him. He also knew that he would never allow his wolf to leave behind her life for him either. Which meant he had to learn how to function as part of her family unit, her pack. 

That her brother was willing to help him after what he had just done was quite surprising. But then he could see the compassion and responsibility in Aaron Alexander's eyes. He had the same level of commitment to the pack as Cedar did and he appeared to be doubly sincere in wanting to help because it was his sister's mate. 

"If you hurt her again I will make you sorry," he finally growled softly, reaching his decision and wondering what the hell Andrei would say when he told him about it. 

Aaron smiled. "You know, you never even stopped to ask if she hurt me too," he said ruefully, watching surprise cross the other man's face for an instant. "There are always two sides to any argument, Alexei. It's a good starting point to try and keep that in mind the next time your instincts flare up. It can help you counter the instant aggression long enough for some reasoning to be done."

He started walking back to his car. "Just for the record," he added. "I love Cedar very much. Hurting her isn't something I take any pleasure in doing and it's a very rare occurrence for me to do so and vice versa. I'll stop by tomorrow to speak with her. I was just giving her some time to calm down. She wasn't willing to make up earlier when I tried."

Alexei stared at his retreating back. "When will you help me with this integration?" he asked in a slightly peeved tone. It was bad enough he was going to have to do this for Cedar. Having to ask a wolf for help grated on him immensely. He just wanted to get it over and done with but it appeared Aaron had other ideas. Couldn't they just do it now?

"Where are you supposed to be right now, Alexei?" the wolf countered with a laugh turning to face him as he reached his car and dug into his pocket for his keys.

"Fuck!" Alexei groaned raking a hand through his hair. He'd completely forgotten he was supposed to be feeding his woman. "Out getting her some takeout." 

Aaron laughed louder, shaking his head. He'd had a sneaking suspicion that his sister had no idea what her vampire was up to at the moment. "Then I suggest you get to feeding her," he smiled. "I don't have time to teach you tonight, Alexei. I have my mate to pick up and I'm already running late as it is. Plus, it's not an instant thing to learn. It comes with time and practice. I'll arrange a schedule with you tomorrow when I come over."

He climbed into his car, leaving the vampire staring after him as he drove off. He was surprised to find himself amused by the other man. Considering the amount of flak his relationship with his sister could cause the pack, Aaron actually found himself starting to like the vampire. 

His fiery temperament was just what his sister needed to keep her in check and he could see how completely lost the other man was when it came to her. Maybe having a vampire in the family wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.

*****

Cedar woke up slowly, stretching automatically and turning to burrow in beside Alexei only to find the bed empty and the spot beside her cold. Her eyes flew open and she pushed her errant curls out of her face as she blinked in surprise. She hadn't woken up to empty bed since her vampire had arrived back from Ecuador and she was little perturbed to find him missing. Where the hell was he? Usually he was waking her up with his very talented hands and mouth seducing her body.

She sat up and scented the air, relaxing slightly when she heard the sounds of the coffee machine downstairs. At least he hadn't left without waking her. She started to smile and then she froze as the scents below started registering.

"Fuck!" she hissed, flying out of the bed and grabbing her robe. She could scent Aaron in the house along with Alexei. Her vampire had appeared to be okay last night with the whole fight thing but that didn't mean he wouldn't be tempted to hurt her brother now that they were face to face. Aaron had to be insane coming over to her house. He wasn't stupid, he would know that Alexei wouldn't be pleased that he'd upset her.

She flew down the stairs and then halted in surprise, her mouth gaping open. Her brother was perched at the breakfast bar, an easy smile on his face as Alexei poured out three mugs of coffee. Her eyes were riveted to the vampire, searching for any sign that he was about to explode.

It didn't slip past her notice that her mate was bare-chested with just his jeans on, his hair mussed up as if he'd only dragged his fingers through it to keep it out of the way. He looked so bloody hot she wished her brother wasn't in the room so she could attack his sexy body right there in the kitchen.

But her brother was in the room and she wasn't talking to him. Why Alexei had let him in she had no idea. He knew she was mad at Aaron. She was a bit peeved that her vampire wasn't reacting a little more irately towards her brother. Not that she wanted him to hurt Aaron in anyway but still, he was her mate. He was supposed to feel protective towards her.

Both men turned to face her at the same time, Aaron shooting her a slightly sheepish smile while Alexei let his gaze trail slowly down her body and back up again with a very heated look in his eyes. He immediately abandoned the coffees and crossed the room to her, gathering her body close to his and fastening his mouth securely to hers in a kiss that literally stole the breath from her body.

It was all she could do not to moan out loud as desire immediately rushed through her body. Alexei broke the kiss reluctantly, trailing his tongue lovingly against her bottom lip before he raised his head and smiled his sexy smile at her. "Morning, sweetheart," he said in a slightly husky tone. "You have a visitor."

His reminder that Aaron was present was enough to make her stiffen and move away from him. She glared at her brother, her eyes wintry as she impaled him with her angry gaze. "So I see," she answered tartly moving to retrieve one of the mugs of coffee. 

She almost smiled at seeing the three mugs. She wondered if Alexei had heard her wake up or if he'd made three because he intended to wake her after doing so. Probably the former, his hearing was so much better than hers. She turned to regard her brother again.

"What are you doing here, Aaron? I thought I made it more than plain that I didn't want to speak to you yesterday?" Her tone was tart and very unfriendly but it didn't faze her brother one bit.

He grinned at her widely. "That was yesterday," he quipped back. "Today is a whole other day, Cedar."

"I still don't want to talk to you so get out," she snapped irritably turning to look at Alexei. "I can't believe you let him in. I don't know what you were thinking."

"I was thinking that you can't afford to replace a whole new kitchen," he drawled back with a smile tugging at his lips as he joined her across from her brother. "And holding a grudge doesn't strike me as who you are as a person." He dropped a quick kiss on her outraged lips and then picked up his own mug of coffee and sipped with an expression of pleasure crossing his face.

"Come on, sis," Aaron cajoled with his most winning smile. "You know you can't stay mad at me for long and I am really sorry for what I said yesterday. I wasn't thinking straight at the time. I was worrying about Jen and the babies. I know I was totally out of order. I didn't mean what I said, I swear it."

She continued to glare at her brother only she was including her vampire with her dark scowls too. How could Alexei turn into such a traitor overnight? He had been angry with Aaron last night and today he was treating him like they were best buddies?

"I'll fix your cupboard door for you," Aaron smiled, eyeing up the kitchen door which was hanging off one of its hinges. "Unless Alexei wants to do it," he added with a quick glance at the vampire. "You know you're crap at fixing things, Cedar."

Alexei growled softly and speared Aaron with a sharp gaze. "Do I look like a carpenter?" he asked drolly though the thought of trying to repair Cedar's damaged door actually seemed a little appealing. 

He growled again and looked at his woman. Was this something to do with the mating thing? Was he suddenly going to want to start building and repairing things for his mate? He would need to ask Aaron about it later but he wouldn't be very pleased if that was how he was going to start reacting. It was just so wrong!

Cedar stared from one to the other as if they had both suddenly grown horns and a forked tail. What on earth was going on between those two? She could feel her anger at her brother waning. His apology was sincere and she understood why he had reacted the way he had. And Alexei was right, she didn't hold grudges.

She sighed deeply and felt herself starting to relax. "Fine, fix the damned door before you leave," she said slightly less tartly than before. "I'd be waiting for hell to freeze over before Alexei got around to doing it."

"Damned straight you would," her vampire retorted with a snort but he was smiling too, obviously pleased with his reconciliation efforts working out so well.

"I'm sorry too, Aaron, about what I said," she continued with an apologetic smile for her brother. "I was just reacting out of hurt. I didn't mean it either. You know how much I love Jen. I'd do anything I could to protect her and the babies."

Aaron jumped down from his stool and walked around to give his sister a warm hug. "I know, sis," he answered quietly, relieved that she was forgiving him and they were okay again. "I was an ass. I promise I'll do my best not to be such an idiot again. I was just worried about you too but I can see now that Alexei will take care of you, even if he is as crap at fixing doors as you are."

His deliberate taunt had the vampire snorting in irritation and pulling open kitchen drawers until he found what he was looking for. The bloody wolf was challenging him and he wasn't about to let him get the better of him. He picked up the screwdriver and proceeded to examine the damaged hinge on the cupboard door.

Cedar burst out laughing, looking from Aaron to Alexei and then back at her brother with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. 

Aaron smiled too, pulling his sister away to the seating area and sitting on the sofa beside her as the vampire started to puzzle out how to do some manual work with his hands that didn't consist of ripping someone apart bodily.

"He came to the compound last night," he quietly informed his sister, calming her instantly when she started to react angrily. "No, don't get mad, he didn't hurt me much. It appears the wolf gene is reacting within him and he needs some direction on how to deal with it. I've agreed to help him."

Her mouth dropped open as she stared at him for a long moment and then looked back at her vampire. This was the first real indication that the wolf gene was having any effect on Alexei. She couldn't even begin to imagine how at odds the gene would be with his vampiric nature. 

She turned back to her brother with wide eyes. "You're helping him?" she breathed softly.

Aaron smiled gently and brushed her cheek lightly. "He's your mate, Cedar," he sighed. "And it's my job to help new pack members integrate. He doesn't want you to have to give up your pack life so he's willing to learn. For you."

A huge rush of emotion welled up inside of her and she felt her eyes fill with tears. Aaron would do this for her, to help her mate? Alexei was willing to try and accept pack life for her? It was all too much and the tears spilled over. "Thank you, Aaron," she whispered tearfully giving him a big hug as she sniffed quietly.

"I warned you what would happen if you made her cry again!" Alexei suddenly hissed at their side, his hands reaching for Aaron, his expression furious.

"Alexei," Cedar laughed through her tears placing herself quickly between them and cupping his face gently. "They're happy tears, not sad ones. Aaron just told me about last night, about what you're willing to do for me. And what he's willing to do too. I just can't believe I have two such wonderful men who love me so much they'd be willing to do this."

Alexei stared into her beautiful, tearstained faced, his heart thumping painfully in his chest at her words. The emotions he had felt in Andrei's office welled up inside him, the unspoken words he hadn't acknowledged to his brother hovering on the tip of his tongue.

Neither heard Aaron quietly leave as they stood locked in each other's gaze.

Alexei touched her wet cheeks reverently, brushing a thumb over her trembling lips lightly and feeling her breath rush out against his skin. "I love you, Cedar Alexander," he whispered softly, feeling a rush of exaltation flood through him as he said the words.

Joy flashed across her beautiful face, more tears flooding her eyes as she smiled tremulously at him. "I love you, Alexei Romanov," she whispered back.

He groaned with relief at hearing her say it. They were the three most wonderful words she could ever say to him. He kissed her lips gently. "No more games, sweetheart," he breathed against her mouth.

She wrapped her arms tightly around her vampire, her body thrumming with joy and happiness as he surrendered as completely to her, as she had to him.. "No more games, my love," she sighed happily.

His kiss turned deeper, his tongue snaking into her mouth and rubbing sensuously against hers. She moaned and pressed against him, suddenly stiffening and pulling away much to his annoyance. "What?" he growled irritably. 

Cedar laughed softly, shaking her head at him. "First voyeurism, now exhibitionism?" she asked lightly seeing understanding cross his face as he glanced around for Aaron and smiled when he found him gone.

"You're too practical sometimes," he laughed, pushing her lightly until she fell back onto the sofa with a laugh of her own. 

He knelt before her, his big hands releasing the tie to her robe, easing the dark blue silk from her luscious body. "I can't get enough of you," he breathed deeply, his hands cradling her breasts almost reverently as he slowly began to stroke the soft flesh.




The Council Ch. 09



He eased between her thighs, leaning forward to capture a nipple in his mouth and suck on it gently as he groaned his pleasure at her taste. Her body was just sinful, her taste the most delicious aphrodisiac in the world. He could feast against her softness for hours on end and never grow tired of doing so.

He kissed and nuzzled her breasts, teasing the taut peaks until they were so hard they looked almost painful and Cedar's breath was hissing out in loud pants. He then firmed his touch, his hot mouth suckling hard against each nipple as she cried out and arched against his mouth. The sweet scent of her arousal filled the room, making his cock ache to be inside her sexy body.

Cedar writhed against him as he tortured her breasts as only he could. If he kept it up she was in danger of cumming just from the incessant pull of his mouth on her aching peaks. Each sharp tug was going straight between her legs, endless waves of pleasure washing over her.

"Alexei, I need you," she moaned softly, pulling at his hair to bring his mouth to hers in a hot, desperate kiss. She was on fire for him and didn't want to wait. She pulled at his jeans, freeing his thick cock and stroking it urgently as he groaned loudly and pressed himself into her hands. He pulled away with a muffled growl and hastily stripped off his jeans.

She rose to her knees on the sofa, pulling him off balance so he fell down beside her. She was straddling his hips instantly, pressing her wet heat against his rigid shaft and rubbing against him sensuously.

"Fuck!" he growled loudly, his arms coming around her as he pressed against her pussy urgently, his mouth fastening on hers for a hard, wet kiss. "You're fucking killing me here, Cedar," he groaned as she teased his cock mercilessly with her body, refusing to let him slip inside. He knew he could overpower her, take control of their lovemaking but the look of pleasure on her face held him in check. His woman wanted to be the one in control so he let her.

"Do you want me, Alexei?" she teased lightly, sliding sensuously against him, her fingers threading in his hair and pulling his head back. She ran her other hand over his chest, tweaking at his nipples hard until he cried out and pressed against her, his nostrils flaring as his breath hissed out loudly.

"You know I do, witch!" he growled, moving his hands to her hips to halt her exquisite torture and line himself up with her hot opening.

"Thought so," she laughed breathily, sliding down onto his straining cock at the same instant he thrust up and impaled himself inside her. They groaned in unison as their bodies joined, both freezing in the moment to stare deeply into each others eyes.

"I love you," Cedar whispered, her heart and soul pouring into the three words.

His nostrils flared again and pleasure danced across his face as he raised her up and then pulled her back down onto his body in a slow, torturous movement.

"I love you," he breathed softly raising his head for her soft, gentle kiss as he began to slowly grind deep inside her.

Cedar moaned into his mouth as they rocked together in a gentle, loving dance, his body filling her so completely. They had made love many times, often wild and passionate, sometimes tender and romantic but nothing surpassed this moment. The intensity of the emotional bond between them seemed to elevate this joining into something so much more spiritual than anything they had shared before.

Alexei loved his wolf with all of his heart and soul, stroking into her hot sheathe with a tenderness he wasn't aware he was capable of. Something about her telling him she loved him seemed to have triggered something within him. He wanted to show her just how much she meant to him, just how precious she was to him.

He took her passionately, sending her quickly crashing over into her release, holding himself back so he could enjoy watching her shatter against him. He held her close as she collapsed against him, soothing her with gentle strokes of his hands down her back until her breathing evened out.

Then he began again, raising and lowering her onto his cock as he thrust into her in the same slow, loving movements he'd used before. He wanted to cum so badly but he wasn't ready to stop bringing her pleasure. He built her slowly back up until her moans were coming so close together it was hard to tell where one started and another began. He could feel her ready to peak once more and stroked into her hard to send her flying again into the heady heights of ecstasy.

As she came down from her second climax, he twisted on the sofa until she was lying beneath him, his rock hard cock still buried deep within her delectable body. He stared down at his wolf, running his hands slowly over her sweat slickened skin. "You're beautiful," he murmured softly, pressing into her body with a long, hard thrust.

His need rose up and he began to drive hard and fast into her tight pussy. He growled loudly as she sheathed him over and over again, her hips rising to meet him despite her weariness at having achieved two mind blowing orgasms already. He knew he wouldn't last long, his body aching to achieve its own release.

Cedar wrapped her legs and arms tightly around Alexei and pressed eagerly against him as he thrust furiously into her body. His breathing was harsh and ragged, his beautiful face tight with strain as he sought his own bliss within her body. The expression on his face was enough to send her shattering for a third time, her climax taking her completely by surprise because she hadn't thought she had anything else to give him after the first two.

As her velvety walls contracted around his thick shaft, he cried out loudly, her name ripping from his lips as he swelled deep inside her and began to release thick ropes of cum into her beautiful body. He shook with the sheer intensity of his climax, her own pleasure fuelling his. 

It seemed like forever before Alexei could breathe again with anything that bordered on normality. He kissed Cedar gently, loving her lips with soft strokes of his tongue before slipping inside to taste her leisurely. God, how he loved his wolf. She was everything to him and he knew he was completely lost to her forever.

He finally moved them so they were lying face to face on their sides, arms and legs still firmly wrapped around each other.

"Oh, I fixed the cupboard door," he finally said with an expression of smug satisfaction on his face.

Cedar opened her eyes to look at him and burst into peels of laughter. "Wow, guess that means I've found myself the perfect man then," she laughed softly, her laughter being cut off by his hard kiss to halt her teasing.

With a contented sigh, she surrendered to her vampire, kissing him back before settling against his hard body and allowing herself to drift off to sleep.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 10



 I am off on my travels so will post this a bit earlier to hopefully get a chance to read some of the reaction before I catch my train at the end of next week. This is my favourite chapter so I hope you all enjoy it :-)

WorldHistoryBuff, you are a complete star for rushing through the edits for me. Thank you so much for all your hard work!

My thanks to the Guild for their nagging erm I mean 'enouragement' LOL! 

*

Andrei was pissed big time! Loretta had stayed at the compound instead of coming home to him, citing pack matters that required her presence too early in the morning for her to make the long journey back to the compound at the crack of dawn.

Only she hadn't told him that to his face. No, she had left a bloody voicemail message on his cell phone and then hadn't picked up when he called her back. Rage bubbled up inside him as he pulled off into the dirt road that led to the compound. 

It was early, barely five am. He had stayed at the club until it closed, working on suppressing his anger and finally conceding defeat. His woman was just going to have to learn that she did not leave voicemail messages blowing him off when he'd spent all day putting up with Daniel's subversive attempts to wheedle some kind of action against the Hanlon Pack.

All day long he had spent protecting her beautiful little ass and all of her bloody dogs and she left him a fucking voicemail message? It was a warm morning despite the early hour and he had his window open. Which was why he suddenly slammed the breaks on and came to a shuddering halt. 

He scented the air deeply, smelling the hot spicy scent of cinnamon that told him his woman was out there in the forest already, most probably in wolf form. He groaned despite his fury, his body hardening instantly as his feral nature kicked in. The memory of chasing her around his office quickly came to mind and of what had happened after he caught her.

"Fuck!" he cursed loudly staring up at the roof of the car and trying to get his erotic thoughts under control. He wasn't here to fuck her, he was here to let her know just who had the control in their relationship. And it certainly was not her!

He was climbing out of the car before he could stop himself, a low growl sounding in his chest as his head swivelled to the right, picking up  her scent. He took off at high speed, flying through the trees towards the woman that was driving him insane with need and setting his heart racing with just one whiff of her delectable scent.

He tracked her easily, following her silently through the trees as his beautiful brown wolf streaked along the forest floor at full speed. God, she was glorious in wolf form! Not that he got to see her as a wolf very often because she kept this part of her life completely separate from him. It occurred to him that he didn't like that there was a part of her world he didn't share, but he shook the feeling away. He didn't want to be associated with her pack anymore than he already was.

He could have overtaken her at any time, but instead he simply followed her. He found it mildly amusing that wolves never seemed to look up. It was a serious flaw in their character. A lot of danger came from above so it was always wise to spare a glance up every now and then. If Loretta had thought to do that then maybe she would have stood a chance against him. But she didn't.

He quickly tired of playing with her, his fury only marginally alleviated by admiring her wolf and feeling a flicker of pride at just how fast she was, how strong and agile she looked running through the trees. He streaked through the branches until he was ahead of her and then he dropped silently before her, landing in a crouch. His long brown hair was wild around his shoulders, his eyes glittering sharply in the pale dawn light.

Loretta screeched to a halt, growling in surprise when Andrei suddenly appeared out of nowhere to land in front of her. For a moment she could only blink at him in surprise, opening her mouth to ask him what he was doing there and only succeeding in growling again because she was still in wolf form. She was about to shift back to human form and then she saw the wild look in his eyes, the hard expression on his face.

Oh, fuck was he pissed! She'd seen him angry before but nowhere near as furious as he was right now. What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he looking at her as if he wanted to rip her head off? Surely, he couldn't be pissed because she'd stayed at the compound? She'd called and left him a message. She felt a shiver of trepidation course through her.

In the blink of an eye she turned around and started running away from him as fast as she could. It was at the back of her mind that this was probably the wrong thing to do, that it would only excite his feral nature rather than calm him down but she was running before she knew it and couldn't seem to stop herself from doing so.

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, her breath panting out with the stress of running full speed. She'd already covered miles this morning at full speed so she wasn't up to her usual standards having already tired herself out. Still, she tried to put as much distance between them as she could even though she knew it was a futile gesture. He would catch her in no time.

Andrei hissed when his wolf vanished into the trees. He smiled slowly, his eyes flashing with a combination of anger and also pleasure. So his woman thought she could run from him? He was going to take her down so hard she wouldn't know what had hit her. He gave her a little head start. It was the gentlemanly thing to do. Then he streaked after her, staying on the ground as he tracked her this time.

He could hear her clearly even as he followed her scent. Her breathing was laboured and he knew she wouldn't be able to run at full speed for too long. His feral nature exalted in the chase, his body hard and aching for her as he felt his rage lessen a bit more as lust took over the fight for dominance within him. When he caught her he was going to show her just who was the dominant one in their relationship and he was going to thoroughly enjoy every second of it.

Loretta could hear Andrei catching up with her. He made no attempt to move silently, playing with her, letting her know just how close he was. She wanted to scream in frustration that he was gaining on her. She knew it was futile to keep running. She hadn't even been paying close attention to what direction she was going in and was only just realising that she was boxing herself in. Soon she would hit the wide stream and run out of options of which direction to travel in.

She yelped loudly when he connected with her, somersaulting in the air but landing back on her feet as her head whipped around to find him. He was nowhere in sight and she howled loudly. The bastard was playing with her. Chest heaving she looked around wildly and then suddenly looked up. Andrei was balancing precariously on a branch high above her.

"Good little doggie," he laughed softly, his laughter becoming louder as she streaked away to the right and started running again. He was so proud of his wolf's intelligence, of her grace and beauty as she fled from him again. But he was still going to teach her a lesson.

Andrei attacked and retreated again, spinning her into the air before vanishing into the trees. She howled loudly and a low growl ripped from her throat as her head swung around and up again looking but not finding him. His soft laughter filled the morning air at her confusion and irritation.

He began an almost constant attack, flipping her over and over again. He was careful not to hurt her. He just flipped her ensuring he was close enough that if she went to land awkwardly he would be able to break her fall. But she was very good. She always landed on her feet, her howls progressively becoming louder and more frustrated as he bested her time and time again.

But still she ran from him which only made him keep going. When she had the sense to stop running and concede defeat he would stop toying with her. He could tell she was almost exhausted because her speed was clearly dropping off but she refused to cave. She just kept running.

Andrei finally tired of their game. She was going to run herself until she collapsed rather than concede defeat. She was a stubborn little wolf but he felt such pride in her temerity. It was so goddamned sexy and he was so hard for her that he had to have her instantly.

The next time he collided with her, he kept his arms wrapped around her body, pressing against his wolf and pinning her to the forest floor. Her breath hissed out and she heaved against him but he was holding her too tightly and she was just too tired to fight anymore. With a miserable howl she shifted to human form, glaring furiously up at him. 

Andrei's greedy gaze took her sweat slicked skin, her luscious naked curves and he growled loudly, his cock jumping painfully in his jeans . He leaned forward and ran his tongue slowly up her cleavage until he came to the delicate hollow of her throat. He kissed her very gently there before he raised his head to look into her beautiful brown eyes.

"The next time you leave me a voicemail message I'm going to paddle your very delectable little ass for you, Rose," he said in a silkily soft tone. "Are we clear on this?"

She stared mutinously up at him, breathing heavily which quickly caught his attention and brought his eyes down to her breasts. The heated expression that crossed his face made her heart pound even harder and her body start to react to him straddling her. She groaned and rolled her eyes in despair. 

She couldn't believe she was getting off on his macho crap. It was so embarrassing. But she was. The first throbbing ache of need was starting between her legs and the way his nostrils flared slightly told her that he was scenting her arousal. His gaze returned to her face and a small smile tugged at his sensual lips.

"Your word, Loretta," he said quietly. "Or I'm out of here right now. Your choice, darling."

"You are such a bastard, Andrei," she hissed at him as he rubbed his hardness against her body and she arched up to feel more of him pressing against her.

He laughed softly and leaned down to lick the side of her neck all the way up to her ear which he suckled against lightly for a moment before releasing the lobe and breathing heavily against it. "Oh, I most definitely am," he agreed, a smug note in his voice. "But you already knew that, Loretta. Isn't that why your wolf wants me so badly? Why you want me so badly? You could never mate with a man you could easily force into submission. You'd be bored to death in less than a week."

She wanted to scream in frustration because he was right. It was the wildness within Andrei that called to her so completely. Despite him besting her, their chase through the forest had been so exciting, so exhilarating that she wanted to do it all over again only she was too tired .

"If you'd picked up I wouldn't have had to leave a message," she grumbled trying to free her arms which were pinned by one large hand above her head.

"I called back," he countered, his eyes hardening slightly. "You didn't answer."

"My battery died," she huffed out in exasperation. "Did you seriously think I wouldn't answer your calls if I could, Andrei?" 

The look she gave him was so withering that he actually felt a bit chagrined. He had thought she was ignoring his calls which was why he had become so angry. He hadn't stopped to think that it could be something as simple as a flat battery. 

"Andrei," she groaned, seeing the truth on his face and shaking her head in disbelief. "I'm the one who keeps coming to you. I've walked through your flea infested pit of a club how many times? I've put up with seeing other women draped on your lap, been disrespected by your people and just had to sit through a very embarrassing pack meeting and admit that I was mating with you. And you seriously think I wouldn't answer your calls?"

He released her instantly, rolling onto his back to lie beside her, a deep scowl on his face. "My club is not flea infested," he said peevishly. "And tell me who disrespected you and I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." 

He knew he was prevaricating. He couldn't argue with her words and he didn't like to admit that he was wrong. She was the one who had come looking for him the first time and every other time after that. While he had sat back and waited for her to come to him and then gotten angry when she hadn't last night. Not once had he come looking for her. Not after the war when he had known she was hurt. Not even after their first time together when she had vanished for a week.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly feeling uncomfortable saying the words even though he meant them. This was the second time he'd apologised to her in a matter of weeks. He went from never uttering the words to suddenly saying them all the time to his wolf. It was irritating that she brought these feelings out in him, feelings no one else did.

He turned his head to see her watching his expression intently, a slow smile starting to cross her face.

"Well, the run was quite invigorating," she admitted with a sultry smile. "Certainly got my blood boiling. How about you?"

Her instant forgiveness made his heart falter slightly before it suddenly started to race as her desire started rekindling his almost instantly. He grinned back at her. "Chasing you certainly is a very horny experience, my Rose," he admitted huskily. "I see red and all I want to do is catch you and fuck you hard and deep until you scream my name in ecstasy."

His earthiness made her heart stutter and a low rumble escape her as she rolled over to lie on top of him. "Seems a pity to have gone through all that exercise without a little reward at the end of it," she said in a sultry voice before she quickly jumped to her feet. 

Her beautiful body shimmered slightly and then she shifted back to wolf form, dragging her long tongue along the side of his neck briefly before she headed off into the forest once more.

Andrei groaned, counted slowly to ten and then sprang to his feet with a wide smile on his face. God, she was so unbelievably amazing. So completely perfect for him. He took off after her, laughing as he went. He knew she wasn't far away, that she wasn't running from him this time. She wanted him to catch her and quickly.

When he did catch up with her she was in the middle of a long, wide stream back in human form and floating serenely on top of the water. She looked so stunning that he just stood there for a moment watching her before he stripped out of his clothes and waded out to her. He was surprised when he had to tread water, he hadn't realised the stream was so deep, it was more like a mini river.

He caught her up in his arms watching in fascination as the cold water dripped slowly from her hardened nipples. His tongue snaked out and he caught the drops of water as they fell, his breath caressing her soft skin without his mouth actually touching her. 

Loretta squirmed in his arms trying to bring her breasts closer to his hot mouth but he was intent on drinking the water as it flowed down her body. It was such an erotic sight that she felt liquid heat pool between her legs and she uttered a low moan. "Andrei, please," she whispered softly.

Her soft plea was music to his ears, the scent of her luscious body preparing itself for his possession such a turn on. He suckled a nipple deeply into his mouth, laving the hard nub firmly with his tongue. She tasted so amazing, she always did.

He groaned and suckled harder before releasing her and lowering her body back into the water. He did the same with her other breast, first drinking the dripping water from her swollen peak and then suckling the remaining wetness with his hot mouth. She was moaning continuously by the time he raised his head from her succulent breasts.

He slid her down his body until she wrapped her legs around his waist, his mouth finding hers in a long, hard kiss. He moved closer to the bank, finding a rock outcropping which was smooth enough to rest her against. "Slide yourself onto my cock," he ordered huskily as he pressed her against the shiny wet surface.

Loretta groaned and positioned him at her entrance, lowering her body onto him and sighing her pleasure as he slid easily inside her. He filled and stretched her with his rigid thickness, holding her tightly as they just stayed locked together for a brief moment.

Then the feral, lusty expression that she knew so well crossed his beautiful face and his nostrils flared slightly. "Hang on tight, darling," he ground out huskily before he began to thrust ruthlessly into her body.

She cried out, her head falling backwards as he began to take her with hard, powerful strokes. His hand was there to support her head so she didn't bang it against the rock. Liquid fire coursed through her body as her vampire took her at such a hard punishing pace that she was breathless before she knew it, panting heavily as he surged over and over inside her body. His mouth suckled gently at her nipples as he pounded inside her, the contrasting sensations making her shudder with delight.

Making love with Loretta was the best, most intense experience of his life. He wanted her constantly, craved her so much every moment they were apart that it was slightly scary. He rocked his hips hard, sliding deeply into her scalding heat and growling with pleasure as her body deliciously massaged his aching cock .

He would never tire of being with his wolf, of loving her like this over and over again. She was so firmly embedded in his heart that he didn't even need to ask himself if he had fallen in love with her. He knew it. She was as important to him as Alexei was, probably even more so but on a different level. She was his beautiful wolf, his wild, spirited little Rose.

"You feel so fucking good," he groaned out surging hard and deep inside her. "So totally perfect, Loretta." He couldn't stop thrusting deeply, his groans telling her how much pleasure he was taking from her luscious body.

Their bodies slapped together hard, water rippling wildly around them as their ragged breathing and harsh moans filled the morning air. Andrei could feel the tension begin to coil in his stomach, knew he was seconds away from losing himself within her beautiful body. He increased his pace, slamming into her hard as her body stiffened and she screamed out his name as she shattered on his cock, loud breathy moans dragging from her throat.

"Loretta," he groaned loudly, chanting her name as he swelled inside her and she took him over the edge with her silken sheathe rippling around his aching cock. He jerked hard into her, his hot cum bathing her insides over and over again as his world exploded in total bliss. 

His fangs slid easily into the side of her neck, piercing her fragile skin and nicking her artery to allow her sweet life's essence to fill his mouth. 

Lost in the haze of his lust he drank greedily, his body thrumming with ecstasy as her sweetness enveloped him completely and he drowned in her delicious flavour. Her utter stillness slowly seeped into the fog that engulfed him and he realised what he was doing. A loud guttural roar of anguish escaped him as he ripped his fangs from her neck, his heart crashing painfully in his chest.

"No!" he groaned in anguish. "Loretta! Oh, sweet Jesus, NO!"

Fear like nothing he had ever experienced before crashed through him. A second after that, a mind numbing pain followed it. The pain was so overwhelming his legs trembled with the force if it and he had to fight hard not to sink to his knees as he cradled his precious wolf in his arms. He'd bitten her! He'd lost control and destroyed the one perfect thing in his life!




The Council Ch. 10



She was so still in his arms, her face pale, her eyes closed. Andrei shuddered wildly, tears springing to his eyes as he held his wolf tightly, praying for a miracle that he knew just wasn't coming.

There was a moment of utter silence as he stared at the woman he loved, his wolf who he had just killed because he was unable to control his base needs. Then she slowly opened her eyes and stared back at him in confusion.

"I'm alive," she whispered in complete shock. She saw her own confusion mirrored on Andrei's anguished face, vaguely aware that her vampire was crying at the moment.

"Loretta?" he whispered softly, a shaky hand coming to her face, disbelief in his tone. "Are you okay? Do you feel alright? Oh, God, I'm so sorry! I lost control. I didn't mean to bite you."

"I feel fine, Andrei," she answered slowly. And she did feel fine, in fact she felt utterly incredible. She was as confused as he was as to why his bite hadn't killed her but she felt a deep joy within her too. If he could bite her then they could complete the mating ritual. Actually, they just had completed the mating ritual only he didn't know it yet.

Andrei moved back slightly, confusion warring with relief on his face as he tugged them back into the centre of the water, still cradling her close to his body. "How is this possible?" he asked shakily. "My bite should have killed you, Loretta." He couldn't believe she was still alive. He couldn't stop touching her, checking that her heart was beating smoothly. She was so precious to him.

She gave a shaky, bewildered laugh. "I know," she whispered. "But I feel fine, Andrei, really I do. In fact, I feel utterly amazing, like I'm floating on top of a cloud at the moment. I don't know why I'm not dead but I'm glad that I'm not."

She reached up to stroke his face gently. "You know what this means, don't you?" she asked quietly. "You've completed the mating ritual, Andrei. We're fully mated now, whatever that means. We may be the first Vampire/Were full mating ever achieved."

Andrei's relief that she wasn't dead or about to die on him was waning and now he was starting to think more logically about it. His wolf was so happy at him biting her and his venom not killing her but he couldn't help being concerned about it. What if this was just a one off? What if he slipped up and bit her again and did kill her the next time? They had to be careful, to think this through, to try and find out how this was possible. 

"Loretta, we need to keep this quiet for now," he finally said in a concerned tone. "I'm not asking you to betray your Alpha by holding the information back," he added when he saw a frown start to mar her beautiful face. "I need some time to try and look into this. Just a little time."

Loretta didn't like withholding any information from Jared, especially something this important but Andrei's expression gave her pause. She frowned as she considered what to do. "Okay," she finally answered. "As long as I'm not asked out right about it, I won't say anything for a couple of days, Andrei. But after that I will tell Jared what's happened so you'd better do whatever it is you need to do quickly."

"Agreed," he said instantly, his arms holding her tightly against him as he kissed her gently, his thoughts in utter chaos. He had bit her and she was alive. She had said they had completed her Were mating ritual. He searched inside himself as he kissed her, looking for something different within him now he had bitten her.

He felt just the same as far as he could tell. He could feel the wolf part of her within him as he had since she had first bitten him. It didn't feel any stronger, any different.

Loretta's tongue stroking deep inside his mouth quickly shattered his thoughts away from practical matters and stirred up his lust again. She felt so damned good in his arms that he was soon rock hard and aching for her once more. How any woman could be so desirable and make him ache like this so instantly was beyond him.

"You do the exact same thing to me," Loretta murmured huskily against his lips as she clutched him tightly. "One touch and I'm instantly burning for more. It's quite embarrassing that I'm so 'easy' where you're concerned."

Andrei stiffened noticeably and pulled away from her, looking at her with an odd expression on his face. She stared at him in surprise. "What?" she asked, perplexed. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, little wolf, you said the exact thing I needed to hear," Andrei answered mentally. "The only thing is, I didn't vocalise what you responded to." 

Loretta's expression turned completely stunned as she stared at him intently, his lips not moving but his words clearly sounding inside her head. "Andrei?" she whispered tremulously in her mind. A wide smile suddenly crossed his beautiful face and he was once more pulling her back into his embrace.

"I can hear you, my Rose," he answered with a soft laugh tumbling from his lips.

"Oh my God!" Loretta gasped, awe and also pleasure filling her. "We can communicate like proper mates, Andrei. You should be able to hear me in wolf form too, now." She threw her arms tightly around him and embarrassed herself by bursting into tears of joy. 

"I can't believe it," she mumbled into the side of his neck as he held her tightly. "I can't believe we can share this, Andrei. I didn't think it would ever be possible."

Andrei soothed his wolf, hating to see her cry but knowing that she was just so overwhelmed by everything that had happened. He was pretty overwhelmed by it too but he felt a fierce joy deep inside. He could communicate mentally with his Rose now. The level of closeness that would bring to their relationship filled him with delight. If he could communicate with her in wolf form too it would be the most amazing experience ever.

He didn't even question why he was taking so much pleasure from this turn of events. He had admitted to himself that he loved her and he knew she loved him too. Sure, he had limited time to work out all the connotations of what had happened but he would get to work on that as soon as he could. He had his wolf and had mated completely with her, making her happy and that was all he cared about at the moment.

He kissed her again, his tongue duelling with hers as he raised her body slightly and lowered himself back inside her sexy body. The moment called for some kind of celebration of the change of their status. He groaned as she sheathed him perfectly, her muscles clenching around his throbbing shaft as she moaned softly.

"I love you," he heard himself say as he raised her up and slowly lowered her back down his body as he thrust up deeply inside her.

Loretta felt more tears gather in her eyes as she brought her gaze to his, her arms and legs wrapped firmly around him. "I love you, Andrei," she whispered, smiling through her haze of tears as she saw joy cross his face as well as a deep tenderness in his eyes.

She held on tightly as he rocked them both together in a slow, tantalising pace. His body stretched her so fully, tiny jolts of electricity flowing through her as he made love to her so tenderly. It had to be the most beautiful lovemaking she had ever experienced, lovemaking she had never thought Andrei was capable of. But he rocked her world with his passion and tenderness, sliding easily inside her as his lips travelled over her wet skin with a light, loving touch.

She was instantly reaching her completion, her wolf rumbling her ecstasy as they made love to their mate for the first time as a fully mated pair. She couldn't hold back the rising crescendo which was threatening to crash over her, moaning loudly against Andrei's lips.

His breath rushed out in a harsh, ragged pant as his wolf took him tumbling swiftly towards his climax. The wealth of emotions rocking through him stunned him as did the strange swelling that suddenly started growing at the base of his cock.

Loretta felt his knot start to grow and her heart faltered, crashing loudly inside her chest. "Push it all the way in," she ground out desperately. "Don't worry about hurting me, just put it inside me."

He thrust deeply, forcing the knot into her body, not knowing why she was desperate to have it inside her or even what it was but trusting it was some kind of wolf thing that was occurring now that they were fully mated. He felt a fierce sense of joy when he fitted the knot inside her body. It locked them so completely together and he liked the feeling of knowing she couldn't escape his hard shaft.

It hampered his movements slightly, forcing his thrusts to be shallower but then he was cumming and he found that it was perfectly shaped and formed to bring his climax to a spectacular end. They came together, both crying out in ecstasy as they reached their completion in a haze of pleasure.

"Sweet Jesus, Loretta, what the fuck is happening?" Andrei groaned through ragged breaths as they stayed locked together after their pleasure had peaked.

Her own breath was harsh and ragged, her body resting weakly in his tight embrace. "It's a wolf knot," she sighed softly. "It's common in my people, a joining only true mates share. It's signifying the fact we are now fully mated." She deliberately left out the fact that it was suppose to ensure conception. That wasn't possible for them because he was a vampire and couldn't have children. There seemed little point in telling him about it.

Andrei found himself oddly pleased that this knot thing was something she had never experienced with anyone else. It was mildly disconcerting that he couldn't disengage from her body and he wondered how long they would remain joined like this. She had said she had things she needed to do early this morning and he was suddenly aware that being joined like this compromised them both. If someone tried to attack while they were locked together he would be hampered in his defence of his wolf.

"Just stay still and the knot will disengage in a couple of minutes," Loretta answered his unspoken thoughts with a little laugh. She was secretly pleased at sensing his thoughts and the deep need to protect her rearing up inside him.

He sighed and kissed the side of her neck, trusting that she knew what was best in the circumstances. It was a wolf thing after all. He was suddenly struck with just how 'wrong' the entire morning had gone. He had come here to teach his wolf a lesson. Instead of doing so he had bit her, fully mated with her and was now joined by a wolf knot to her. Oh, and he'd confessed his love to her too. Yeah, he was one badass vampire, not! His wolf turned him to putty in her hands but he couldn't find himself regretting what had happened.

The knot gradually reduced and he was able to slip free of her body. "Well, that was most definitely an interesting morning," he said ruefully, his brown eyes twinkling with humour. He deliberately hid the bubbling concern he felt about the situation from her. She looked so happy, so radiant in her beauty that he didn't want to shatter this moment for her by speaking about his trepidation. She had agreed to give him two days. He would try and figure out what was going on in that time.

Loretta sighed softly and began to head out of the water, joy filling her completely even as her thoughts whirled madly in her head. Andrei loved her and was now hers completely. They could communicate mentally and he was exhibiting signs of wolf genetics with his knot developing during their lovemaking. She was still uncomfortable about keeping quiet for a few days but she had agreed to it so she couldn't retract her word. 

She sighed again. She really did have an early start which was why she was on her morning run so early. She shivered slightly despite the fact that it was a warm morning. The stream was pretty cold. Not that she had noticed at the time but now her passion had cooled she felt cold and her clothes were miles away where she'd left them when she'd shifted to wolf form.

She felt Andrei's arms wrap around her from behind as he nuzzled at her neck. "You're cold," he sighed. "Where are your clothes?"

"Somewhere way over there," she laughed pointing into the forest. "I wasn't expecting to be skinny dipping this morning."

He laughed softly and moved to gently wring the wetness from her hair, then he wrapped his shirt around her body.

"I'm going to shift back to wolf form," she smiled turning around to face him. She was secretly pleased with his protective instincts rearing up, his need to make sure she was warm clearly written all over his face.

He stared down into her gorgeous face, a deep sense of warmth coming over him as she stood there practically drowning in his shirt. She looked so utterly adorable he had to lean down and give her a long, slow kiss before he released her and pulled on his jeans and boots. He didn't bother fighting to get his socks on his wet feet, he just stuck them in his pocket.

She gave a startled squeak as he scooped her up and took off into the trees in the direction she'd pointed in. He had no idea where he was going but he was sure she would tell him if he took a wrong turning.

It took no time for him to reach the spot where she had undressed before shifting. It was quite close to the compound as he had expected it to be.

"Andrei, Jared doesn't want you or Alexei hanging around the compound," she said with a slight frown on her face.

"Fine with me," he answered with a crooked smile. "I don't particularly want to be here either." He lowered her feet to the ground and watched appreciatively as she shucked off his shirt and handed it to him before she pulled on her sweatpants and tank top. She slipped her feet into a pair of low heeled sandals.

"Oh, Jared also wanted to know if you could check your archives for any reference to Weres and Vamps mating. If you can do so without it causing any suspicion among your people. I suppose you're intending on doing that now anyway, after what's happened."

He frowned slightly. "So I'm not allowed here but your Alpha wants me to do him a favour?" He arched a perfect eyebrow at her, disbelief written across his face.

She frowned too, seeing he was going to be stubborn about it and trying to think of a way to head him off. "I suppose if you look at it that way then you have a point," she answered carefully.

His frown deepened, his good mood evaporating instantly. "What other way is there to look at it, Loretta?" he asked archly. He was not pleased to be banished from the compound but expected to help out the wolves too.

"The way I did when I went around the other packs trying to find out information," she answered quietly. "I wanted to find something, anything that would give us the answer to how we could be together completely, properly mated. We may have managed to do that but we don't know how we have. There's still Alexei and Cedar to consider, plus Ashleigh and Nors. Don't they deserve to have what we now have, Andrei?"

He stared down at her silently for a long moment and then he pulled her close and kissed her gently. She looked so disappointed in him that he wanted to wipe the expression from her face. 

"I will do this for you, my Rose," he whispered against her lips. "Not for your Alpha. For you, because you ask it of me, and for Alexei because I know how much he wants this too."

It was the right answer because she hugged him tightly and kissed him almost feverishly before she pulled away and gave him a sunny smile.

"I really need to go now," she sighed regretfully. She didn't want to leave him, she never did when they were together. But somehow it didn't feel so bad this time. He was hers completely now and it gave her a certain level of comfort to know that he was inextricably bound to her the way she was to him.

"You'll come to the club tonight?" He held his breath while he awaited her answer, letting it out slowly when she nodded her agreement. He kissed her lingeringly once more and then she vanished towards the compound.

Andrei watched her until she was out of sight then he turned and headed back to his car. He was amused to realise that he had come here with the sole intent on teaching his woman who was boss and instead was meekly leaving having agreed to help the wolf pack out again. 

Exactly when had he turned so soft where she was concerned? Was it after she had drenched him in his club or when he had allowed her to bite him? Maybe it was as far back as the night he had found her dying in the forest and he had healed her broken body? 

He laughed softly and shook his head. He had a lot to get done today. He would need Alexei and possibly Nors' help with the archive search and he also needed to find a new house. Somewhere only a ten or fifteen minute drive from the compound. So Loretta wouldn't have to be away from him if she had another early start.

He also had to go and see a man about a dog. He wasn't particularly looking forward to that meeting but he needed answers quickly and Caleb Cullen was the only one he thought would be able to supply them. Whether or not the Ancient actually would answer his questions was another matter, but it related to the Weres so maybe Caleb wouldn't be so tight lipped when pressed.

Sighing deeply at the prospect of having to ask the Ancient for help, Andrei slipped into his car and headed away from the compound.

*****

Ashleigh stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Nors while he scowled furiously back at her. He was dressed for work while she was still standing in her robe, her tempting flesh peaking out of the loosely tied garment making Nors wish that they were doing something other than fighting at the moment.

He just couldn't understand her logic, how her mind worked sometimes. She had mated with him for God sake! Why she refused to move into his bedroom was beyond him. She spent every night with him anyway. What was the difference with moving her clothes and things in?

The last few days had been the most amazing and the most frustrating of his life. He finally had his wolf and yet she kept slipping out of his grasp. She kept turning around and doing or saying something so contrary he didn't know which way to turn or how to react to it.

It had been bad enough when she'd announced she was going to be returning to the pack more often. At first he had thought she was changing her mind about being with him but she had explained her reasons why. Once he had thought about it carefully he could understand her need. Sure, he wasn't happy that she would be away from him so much but she needed her own people. She was ready to let the pack back into her life and that was the most important thing.

Now she was trying to explain to him why she didn't want to share his bedroom and he just couldn't understand that at all. It almost felt as if she didn't trust him somehow. That she expected him to let her down in some way. It bloody hurt and that was what was fuelling his temper.

Ashleigh couldn't believe Nors was being so unreasonable. Couldn't he understand that their relationship had just flipped over on its head and that she needed a little time to come to grips with all the sudden changes happening in her life? She loved her stupid vampire so much but she needed some breathing space while she came to terms with everything. Why couldn't he see that?

She hated that he was angry with her but she held her ground. She instinctively wanted to give in to him so he would smile at her again, kiss her until she was breathless and then make passionate love to her. But she knew they were still working out the dynamics of their relationship and despite having needed him so much after the death of her family, she was ready to stand on her own two feet again. 

She had been a strong wolf before the war. She'd had aspirations at the time to one day work her way up to be someone the Alpha Bitch could rely on, could count on to help her with her pack duties. Maybe one day that could still happen once she integrated back into the pack properly. It wouldn't happen if Nors had his way all the time and kept her chained to his side and in his bed the way he appeared to want to.




The Council Ch. 10



"Nors, you have to understand," she started to say only for him to cut her off with a low, angry growl which made her sigh deeply and square her shoulders more firmly.

"I don't have to do anything, Ashleigh," he ground out through clenched teeth. "You've made your decision perfectly clear. You're going to do what you want and to hell with how I feel about it. Not a lot of understanding required for that, is there?" He stalked over to the kitchen counter and grabbed his car keys, studiously ignoring the hurt expression on her face.

"Nors, will you listen to me?" she sighed wearily. "I'm just saying we need a little more time to get used to all the changes. I'm not saying I don't want to be with you. You know I want that. You're my mate."

"How many of your pack who have mates share separate bedrooms?" he countered, the dark scowl never leaving his face. "And what the hell is there to get used to? I love you and you love me! What else do we need to know about each other, Ashleigh? " 

He waited for her to reply and then cursed under his breath as he stalked out of kitchen when she just gaped at him wordlessly. If she wasn't going to bloody answer him then he was going to work. She could have the whole day to think about what she needed. He wasn't going to hang around looking like a complete fool while he waited for her to formulate her thoughts. He knew he was being irrational but he wasn't used to feeling the pain he was currently experiencing. 

"Nors, please!" Ashleigh called after his retreating back, hurrying out to the entrance hall. "Don't be like this. I know you're cross with me but don't leave the house angry. We'll both be miserable all day long and you know it."

She was right, he would be miserable but he was too angry to give in. He needed her to accept him unconditionally and she just wasn't ready to do so. And it hurt him so much he couldn't deal with it at the moment. 

He turned slowly to face her, seeing the anxious expression on her face. His heart wrenched painfully and he struggled to moderate his temper. He didn't want to be the cause of any pain for her, even if she was hurting him. "We'll talk about this later," he finally said, managing to achieve a semi-civil tone. "I have to get to work or I'm going to be late."

If he'd thought his more even temper would take the stricken expression from her face he was wrong. She looked even more upset. "You own the company, Nors," she countered quietly. "You can be as late as you want and no one would give a toss about it. You're running away and you know it. Don't lie to me about needing to be at work. You could stay until we sorted this out if you really wanted to."

He growled loudly, his frown deepening. "You're right, I don't want to talk about this right now," he answered slowly. "You keep saying you need time or you need space, well now I do, Ashleigh. I can't have this conversation with you right now so let's just drop it. Perhaps later when we've both had time to calm down, we'll be able to discuss it reasonably. That's the best I can give you at the moment."

Ashleigh bit her bottom lip as she stared up at his hard face. She knew he was hurting, that he didn't mean to suddenly be so cold with her. He was probably right about both of them needing some time apart to cool down. She just couldn't bear him leaving the house so angry with her. "Will you at least kiss me goodbye?" she asked quietly.

The hesitant note in her voice almost broke his heart and cut through a lot of his anger. Sure, they were having a disagreement but surely she didn't think that he had suddenly stopped loving her just because they were fighting? He watched her bite her bottom lip nervously, uncertainty in her eyes and he groaned deeply. He couldn't do this to her.

Nors was instantly gathering her up against him tightly, kissing her soft lips almost desperately. He didn't want to be fighting with her ever. Her soft sigh against his mouth brought an answering groan as he deepened the kiss and picked her up bodily so she could wrap her legs around his waist as their lips duelled frantically.

"God, Ash!" he groaned against her mouth. "I don't want to be fighting with you, little wolf. I hate it so much."

"I hate it too, " she whispered softly. "I'm sorry, Nors." She couldn't stop the sigh of relief that shuddered through her body as her mate held her so tightly, his lips travelling all over her face in soft gentle kisses. She could feel the tension leaving his body, his hands stroking gently down her back.

He groaned again and buried his head in the side of her neck. "I just want you with me, Ash. I don't ever want to be apart from you even though I know I have to be sometimes. You belong in my bed permanently, not this separate rooms thing where you can go to be apart from me. My room is your room too, my beautiful wolf."

"I understand," she sighed softly. "I'm not rejecting you, Nors. I do want to be with you too. Only I need some time to adjust to the changes. Just a little time, not forever."

Nors sighed too, raising his head and stroking her cheek gently as he drowned in her big brown eyes. There was a plea for understanding in them and he fought to push away the last of his own hurt and smile gently at her. "Whatever you need, love," he finally said. "You can have all the time you want as long as I know that one day you'll be where you belong. I'm sorry I reacted the way I did."

Her wide smile and the love shining from her eyes was enough to set his heart racing and soothe the remaining ache in his heart. He would gladly give her anything she ever wanted as long as she kept looking at him with such adoration on her face. He kissed her gently, drinking in her moan of pleasure as his body reacted to her soft curves pressing against him and he stifled down a groan. He did need to get to work.

Reluctantly he released her lips and slid her down his body. "Despite owning the company I do have a business meeting that I'm now late for," he said with a rueful smile on his face. "Making up will need to wait till later but the kissing part was very nice indeed."

She laughed softly and gave him a big hug before stepping back to allow him to leave. "I love you, Nors."

"I love you too, Ash," he smiled stroking her cheek one last time. "Have a great day off and I'll see you when I get home from work." He dropped another quick kiss on her lips before he turned and headed out of the house.

Ashleigh sighed with relief when the door closed. Arguing with Nors was not one of her favourite pastimes. She was glad they had managed to work it out before he left.

She stretched slowly wondering what she was going to do with the rest of her day. Annie had given her the week off now she was back from Europe so she had plenty of time to herself and no real idea of what to do.

She ran upstairs, took a quick shower and got dressed, all the time thinking of her conversation with Nors and why it was so important for him to have her in his bedroom. She didn't like seeing the hurt in his eyes as she'd tried to explain her reasoning to him. She knew he still didn't understand it but he was willing to give her all the time that she needed.

She sat down on the end of her bed and frowned slightly. He always put her needs first, had done so ever since she had come to live with him. He was the most selfless person she had ever met and she suddenly felt a deep well of shame rise up inside her.

She didn't know why she was so resistant to moving into his bedroom. It wasn't as if she didn't want to be there because she preferred sleeping with him than she did alone. She just had this need to show him that she was capable of standing on her own two feet, that she didn't need him to look after her anymore. But maybe she was taking it a step too far?

He was right about the mate thing. She tried to imagine any of her pack meekly accepting that their mate wanted a separate bedroom. It was such an outrageous idea that she laughed softly. She lay back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling frowning thoughtfully.

She was being ridiculous and she knew it. She loved Nors and wanted to be with him forever. She couldn't have picked a better mate for herself. He was kind and gentle, passionate and loving. So selfless. 

She groaned and sat up. And she was trying to keep him a little at arm's length because she was afraid that he'd leave her, or that something would happen to him and he would die just like everyone else had.

Losing her family had been too much to bear. She had gone from having a family who had loved her unconditionally to suddenly being alone. Finding their bodies had been the blow that had proven too much for her. Possibly she would have been stronger if she hadn't seen them just lying there, so still and lifeless.

She was avoiding taking this last step with Nors because she was afraid he would die too, that she would be left alone again. He had been the only thing that had mattered to her last year, the rock her wolf had clung to as she fought her way through the grief. If she lost him she knew she would never recover from it and that scared her so much.

But Nors was a vampire, an Ancient even. He had proved endlessly that he would never leave her, that he would always be there for her. He had lived for over two thousand years before he had ever met her. Now that he had, he would make sure that he lived another two thousand because he loved her and would never let her go. 

She had to trust in him. He didn't understand her reticence and he didn't deserve it either. He didn't deserve to feel pain because she was too cowardly to take that last complete leap of faith and embrace life fully again.

Ashleigh sat a moment longer and then she rose from the bed and walked over to her closet. She began taking out her clothes and laying them on the bed. She couldn't live her life thinking of what ifs. Bad things happened all the time. She had to accept that and reach out and take what happiness she could find. 

Having made her decision she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. A wide smile crossed her face as she thought of the look on his face when he came home tonight and found all her things in his room. The happiness she would see there would be worth all the worry deep within her. Her vampire deserved only good things in his life after all he had done for her.

*****

Nors wearily ran a hand through his hair after releasing it from the leather tie which held it in place at the nape of his neck. It had been a long morning and he was still feeling a bit raw after his fight with Ashleigh. He still couldn't understand just what her fears were but he had agreed to her terms and would stick by his word whether he liked it or not.

His phone rang and he picked it up stifling down a weary sigh. Something told him he wasn't going to like the conversation he was about to have. He had an inbuilt ability to know when trouble was coming his way.

"Nors, you need to do something about Freya," Otis, his warehouse manager said tersely down the line.

A deep groan escaped him as his sister's name was mentioned. Ash and Freya on the same day? This surely was some cruel, unusual punishment the fates were about to subject him to. "What's she doing now?" he sighed tiredly.

"She's been at the warehouse for the past hour," Otis grumbled. "She keeps walking up and down, smiling at everyone without saying a goddamned word, acting like she's ready to pounce any second. Seriously, Nors, it's fucking freaking everyone, including me, out. . Can you tell her to fuck off?" 

The amount of cursing his manager was doing was a clear indication of how upset he was. Otis very rarely swore. Nors sighed again. He knew what his sister could be like, how intimidating she could be when she did her 'silent' act. She was doing this to piss him off because he had banned her from his home. They'd barely spoken since she'd come back from Japan because their first meeting had turned into a vicious argument. 

"Tell her I want to see her at the office," he finally answered. "Make sure she knows it's not a request, Otis. If she gives you a hard time about it let me know and I'll come down there and get her personally. Make sure she knows that too."

He hung up and lowered his head to his desk, taking long deep breaths. Freya in a snit was a very taxing thing to have to put up with. He was usually quite tolerant of his sister's idiosyncratic little ways but today was not one of those days when he was willing to put up with them.

Freya was wild to her very core and always had been. She was a lot tamer than she once was. In the first five centuries of her life as a vampire she had been almost impossible to tame, sailing so close to the wind that the Council at the time had been debating on whether to order her execution.

He had been warned by Caleb that the possibility was being discussed. He had immediately taken his sister off to a remote place and chained her in a ten foot by ten foot cell where he left her alone for a week. It had been a pretty extreme thing to do but he had known he needed something extreme to get through to her just how off the rails she had become.

She had cursed and screamed at him, spewing hatred and vile words which cut him deeply when he came back for her a week later. He had let her feed from him, enough to sustain her and then he had left her for a second week. He had stayed close. Keeping a careful watch on her unobtrusively as she ranted and shrieked her hatred at him.

Again he returned to let her feed, listened to her condemnation of him as a man, as a brother, as a vampire. His heart had broken at her words but he maintained his tough love stance. He had to get through to her or he would lose her completely. Despite her wildness, Nors loved his sister to distraction. He had to save her.

It had taken four long weeks of the same endless torture. Freya's at being chained in the cell and his at having to listen to his sister's hate filled words. Finally he broke through her shell. At the end of the fourth week when he had come to feed her, his sister had been silent, her head hanging low as she avoided his gaze.

He had ripped at his wrist, silently holding his wound to her mouth. She had kissed his wrist gently, her fangs sinking into his skin as she fed sparingly. When she had finished she raised her head, meeting his gaze for the first time. "Thank you," she had whispered so softly he had almost missed the words.

He had released her immediately, holding her gently as she shed what had to have been the first tears he had seen her cry since they had both been Sired into the life of a vampire. His heart broke as he cradled her tenderly, pleading for her forgiveness even though he knew he had done it to save her life. He hadn't taken any pleasure from hurting her.

His sister had forgiven him instantly now that she could see just how wild she had become. She had understood that he had acted out of his love for her and his fear that she would be executed. She had calmed down a lot after that though she still maintained her wild streak. She was just better able to dance the fine line between what was acceptable and what was unacceptable now.

It had been bleak time in his life but there had been benefits to be achieved from it too. His deep abiding friendship with Caleb Cullen had begun around that time. He was eternally grateful to his friend for alerting him to the danger to his sister's life. Which was why he would support Caleb in just about anything he asked of him. Nothing could ever repay his friend for his warning fifteen centuries ago.

Now he was at odds again with his sister over his relationship with Ashleigh and he was feeling the strain of it. He wanted Freya to like his little wolf, to welcome her into their family but she was too mired in her own self importance, her stupid belief that she was superior to every other creature that walked the planet.

Nors couldn't allow Ashleigh and Freya to meet until he was sure that his sister would behave herself. He shuddered to think how he would react if she hurt his wolf in any way. They were the two people he most loved in the world and he didn't want to have to choose between them. He knew who he would choose, who he just couldn't live without having her in his life. He prayed it would never come to that.

The sound of his office door opening had Nors raising his head to look at his sister as she framed the doorway. She was a stunningly beautiful woman even with her wild hair colouring. Her head was tilted arrogantly to the side and he could see that she was ready for a fight and he stifled down a groan and hardened his expression.

"What the fuck do you think you're playing at, Freya?" he demanded aggressively. "If you're pissed at me then you come to me about it. I don't want you in the warehouse again. Is that clear?"

She rolled her eyes and closed the door, walking nonchalantly over to the chair in front of his desk and sitting down. She swung her legs up onto the edge of the desk and tilted her head back and closed her eyes.

"I wasn't doing anything," she sighed softly. "I was just checking out how the business was running, making sure no one was stealing from you, brother." Her tone was mocking, her body language letting him know that she was not intimidated by him in the least.

Nors stared at her thoughtfully, trying to work out how best to approach her. When she was in one of her moods it was sometimes hard to determine which approach would work best. She wrinkled her nose slightly as he watched her and then she sat up straight and her green eyes turned to chips of ice.

"You let her bite you!" she all but shrieked at him. "Have you lost your fucking mind, Nors? How could you do this? She's a fucking dog for crying out loud! She isn't one of us and she never can be!"

His temper snapped immediately, her denigrating words about Ashleigh pushing him too far. "That is the one and only time you will ever address my mate in that manner, Freya," he said in a cold, hard voice, his entire body tensing with anger. "If you open your mouth and say anything about Ashleigh so help me God I will make you so sorry. And don't think I won't either because I will. This is the only warning you get. I suggest you heed it."

They glared furiously at each other, the temperature in the room nose diving as they breathed heavily, their fury dominating the room. Finally Freya looked away, struggling to calm her anger.

She couldn't believe her brother was being so reckless, so fucking idiotic over a bloody dog of all things. It was bad enough the Romanovs were acting like halfwits. They were fucking halfwits anyway in her eyes so it was almost understandable that they would be so stupid. But Nors? Her own brother? She had to put a stop to this.

"This is unacceptable," she ground out through clenched teeth. "I will not have a fucking d.....wolf in my family, Nors!" She choked on having to amend her words, calling the bitch a wolf sticking in her throat. 

"Live with it," he growled back. "Ashleigh is my mate and a part of my life. If you can't accept it then you can fuck off back to Japan and stay there until you can. Don't think to try and come between us, Freya. Don't put me in a position to choose because you won't like the outcome. This doesn't have to be an issue between us, not if you don't make it one. The decision is yours."

He was disappointed in his sister even though he had expected her reaction to be this extreme. He had hoped for some tolerance from her but it appeared it had been wishful thinking on his part. She was as stuck in her cold, vampiric ways as ever. He meant what he said to her. If she refused to accept Ashleigh then she could go the fuck back to Japan because he wasn't given his wolf up for anyone, not even his sister.




The Council Ch. 10



"That suits me just fine," Freya spat standing up. "As soon as this little debacle is over and done with I'm going home to Japan and I won't be coming back until you come to your fucking senses and get that d....wolf out of your life! I was right all those years ago, Nors. You are a complete fuck up as a vampire and as a brother. You'd rather fuck a dog that give a shit about your own flesh and blood as well as your own people!"

The growl of pure fury that erupted from him had her stepping backwards swiftly. For a moment she thought he was going to attack her and then his expression closed down completely, his eyes going dull and lifeless.

"Leave," he said quietly, turning away from her and picking up a folder from his desk, his dismissal evident.

Freya furiously glared at him a moment longer and then spun on her heels and slammed out of the office. Just like that he was ready to push her aside for a bloody dog? She meant so little to him that it was so easy to push her away? She barrelled into a tall hard body and stopped in her tracks, looking up to see Caleb Cullen's cold, hard face peering down at her.

She swallowed hard, surprised to see the other Ancient at Nors' office and a bit concerned to see the hardness on his face. She didn't have much to do with Caleb but she did know to step lightly around him. Even she wasn't so foolish as to irritate him.

"Forgive me, Caleb, I didn't see you there," she said moving to walk around him so he could continue on to her brother's office.

"A word, Freya." His tone was hard, a hand gripping her arm halting her from moving. Her startled gaze flew to his before she nodded silently and followed him into the first available empty office he could find.

She watched him close the door quietly and felt a slight shiver of fear course through her. There wasn't much that frightened Freya Eriksson but the silent, hard man before her was managing to achieve it.

"Caleb," she started to say but he held a finger up, signalling he wanted her silence.

Caleb was furiously angry and struggling hard to contain it. He had heard every word between Nors and Freya and he was hard pressed not to slap the stupid woman around. He didn't usually go in for hurting women but he could cheerfully do so at the moment. It was only knowing that he'd disappoint his Annie so much if he did so that helped to contain his first impulse.

"You really are a total bitch, aren't you, Freya?" he finally said coldly, watching her eyes widen in shock and then indignation start to set in as her lips parted. "I strongly suggest you don't open your mouth right now," he added. "I also strongly suggest that you open your ears and listen to what I have to say."

He waited to see if she would hold her tongue and was relieved when she did so. He sighed deeply and tried to dampen his anger down to a more acceptable level.

"Nors doesn't deserve having a sister like you," he said quietly. "You've brought him nothing but heartache from the moment you were Sired to this life and yet still he loves you. Until he meant Ashleigh you were his very reason for existing. He would have done anything for you and probably still would despite what you've just put him through. Frankly I fail to understand why he even bothers with you. Part of me wishes that I hadn't warned him that you were about to be executed all those centuries ago. At least he would be over the pain by now instead of living it daily having to deal with you and your selfish little antics."

Caleb moved to a little table nestled in a corner with a couple of seats around it. He sat down as he kept trying to work on his temper. It was ratcheting down slowly. He no longer felt the need to react violently and he was glad of that because it would have hurt Nors if he had been unable to control his baser instincts.

"Sit," he growled and almost smiled at the speed she sat down in the chair across from him. He regarded her face intently, seeing a tinge of colour in her cheeks. Was it anger? Shame? He didn't care at this point.

"Nors has done everything for you, Freya. He has loved you and protected you his whole life and this is how you thank him? I don't think you even realise how distraught he was when he thought you were going to die. He cried, Freya. Nors actually shed tears he was so terrified that he was going to lose you. How can you do this to him? How can you shit all over the one chance of happiness he has because of your own petty prejudices? He's right you should fuck off back to Japan and stay there. He will be so much happier without you in his life dragging him down all the time."

He knew he was being harsh with her but he couldn't stop the words from tumbling out. She needed to hear the truth. If she didn't like it then tough fucking shit he didn't care. Nors would never say these things to her face. He would endlessly forgive her because he loved her. Caleb wasn't hampered by those same restraints and he was glad of it. He would hate to feel any kind of tenderness for the cold woman sitting before him.

Freya wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. For some reason Caleb's censure was cutting her deeply and she didn't know where to look. Nors had been so frightened for her he had cried? She could remember that time as if it had happened only yesterday. It was ingrained in her memory, all the hurtful spiteful things she had said to him as he had fought to keep her alive.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her face flushing scarlet as she raised her eyes to meet Caleb's. His golden brown eyes were hard and unforgiving.

"It's not me who deserves the apology," he answered coldly, standing up quietly. "Tell Nors I'll catch up with him later." He walked out of the office leaving her sitting in her own misery. If she redeemed herself he would make an effort to readjust his current opinion of her. If she didn't, then he would make sure she never again interfered in his friend's life.

Freya sat for a long time in the small office, her head bent as she mulled over everything Caleb had said to her. She didn't know why his words got through to her but she found herself rising and turning back towards Nors' office.

Nors tried to read through the folder in front of him but he couldn't get his mind off his sister and their argument. When she had called Ashleigh a dog the second time he had wanted to hurt her so badly that for a second he had almost done so. 

He felt so ashamed of himself for wanting to hurt her. What she said was only words. Words could only hurt you if you let them and he had let her get to him. He knew what Freya was like. Her actions and words hadn't been anything he hadn't expected so why had he let them get to him the way he had? He was noticing a slight tendency towards getting a little out of control recently. Was it something to do with the wolf gene inside him?

Freya drove him insane most of the time and yet she was his little sister. He loved her so much even when she was breaking his heart. The thought that he could have physically hurt her made him feel sick to his stomach. Before Ashleigh she was the one person in his life who he would have died to protect, who he would never have dreamed of ever hurting physically.

He stiffened as his office door opened and his sister stepped back inside. "Freya, I can't do this again," he said quietly, not looking up at her. "Please, can you just leave for now. We can talk about this another time."

Nors' bent head and subdued tone was so unlike him that Freya just stared at him for a moment and then she closed the door quietly and stepped around the desk to him.

"I will try," she said through dry lips. "I'm not saying I won't make a pig's ear out of it sometimes but I promise I will do my best, Nors."

He turned to look at her, surprise and hope clearly etched on his face and she felt worse than she had been feeling a moment before. She hadn't thought that was even remotely possible. She'd had no idea her actions hurt her brother so much, that she had the ability to wound him so painfully.

"I'm so sorry, Nors," she whispered. "Please forgive me."

He had no idea just what she was apologising for but he hoped it was for what she'd said about Ashleigh. He was stunned at her sudden penitence. It was so out of character for her.

"I love you, Freya," he sighed wearily. "I may struggle to like you sometimes but you'll always have my love and I will always forgive you even if it does take me a little time to get there."

She smiled tentatively at him, reaching to wrap her arms around him and shuddering with relief when he returned her hug fiercely. "I love you too, Nors and I'm sorry I'm such a pain in the ass. I promise I'll try harder. If you're happy with Ashleigh then I'm happy too. You deserve something good in your life and I can adapt to having a wolf in the family. When I finally meet her I promise I will welcome her into the family. Just please don't send me back to Japan. I want to be part of your life."

The groan Nors issued was one of immense relief. He didn't need to choose between the two women in his life. He had no idea why his sister had had this sudden change of heart, he was just glad that she had.

"Thank you," he whispered quietly, holding her tightly. "Ash needs all the family she can get, Freya. She lost every member of hers in the war with Graves and she almost went Rogue because of her pain and grief. She's only now coming to terms with it and I couldn't allow you close to her for fear of setting her back. I want you to love her as much as I do. I want you to protect her as you would protect me. I know it's a lot to ask of you but if you could please try it would mean the world to me."

There was such a heartfelt plea in her brother's voice that Freya's eyes filled with tears which she didn't stop from falling down her face. She kissed him on the top of his head and clutched him tighter to her. "Oh Nors, I'm sorry," she said again, her voice catching. 

She tried to imagine how she would feel if she lost her brother. It was totally unbearable to even think of it. That Nors' little wolf had lost everyone she had loved touched her on a level that she hadn't realised she was capable of experiencing. That the wolf had fought to stay sane after such an awful experience and succeeded was surely down to Nors' love and attention.

Freya had first hand knowledge of just how dedicated her brother was when he loved someone. She was under no illusions that he had suffered greatly trying to keep his wolf alive. 

"I will love her just as if she were my own sister," she promised. She had no idea if she was capable of such a grand gesture but she would try very hard for her brother. She would try and be the kind of sister he truly deserved, to give him back the love and support he had always lavished on her.

The smile Nors gave her made her promise worthwhile. He looked so relieved and very happy that she mentally promised herself that she would manage to accept his wolf or she would die trying to.

She turned to leave, halting at the office door. "Oh, Caleb Cullen stopped by," she announced. "He said he'd catch up with you later." 

She left with Nors staring thoughtfully after her. Caleb had been here? Was he the reason for Freya's sudden turnaround? If his friend had come to see him what had he wanted? And why hadn't he stayed to talk to him?

Nors sighed deeply and picked up the folder in front of him. It had turned out to be quite a day so far. Two arguments, a nightmare of a morning meeting he had been late for, and a disappearing friend. Could anything else go wrong?

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 11



 You guys ROCK! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments on Chapter 10! Managed to submit while I'm away so hope you enjoy this chapter as much :-)

WorldHistoryBuff, thank you as always. You're the best! To the Guild too! 

*

Loretta felt crap. She didn't just feel crap, she felt like she was going to die. She threw up noisily and leaned wearily against the toilet bowl. She had been perfectly fine this morning and even into the afternoon but come dinner time she had suddenly started to feel a bit shaky, first a light temperature forming and then the nausea. 

Maybe she had been too exuberant with her morning workout with Andrei? He had run her ragged before they'd made love twice. Add to that the shock of him biting her. It was obviously more than her body could take in one day. 

She felt a moment of fear as she remembered the bite. It had been the most amazing and terrifying moment of her life. Amazing because she experienced the most intense orgasm she'd ever had and terrifying because she had been waiting for her heart to stop beating as Andrei's venom flooded her system.

Maybe her sudden illness had to do with the venom? She should go to see Luke and get checked over but that would involve her telling him why she was worried and he'd tell Jared instantly. There would be none of this patient/doctor confidentiality crap when it was something that could affect the pack adversely..

She had promised Andrei she would give him two days. She had also promised she would be at the club tonight but there was no way she could go feeling the way she did. She had two choices. Either ride out the sickness on her own and call Andrei to let him know she wasn't coming over; or she could call him to come pick her up and he'd just have to deal with her illness along with her.

She knew which one she wanted to do. She wanted to be with Andrei so badly at the moment it was almost crippling her. She wanted his arms around her, soothing her while she felt so ill. The fact that he probably would come looking for her at the compound if she bailed on him two nights in a row also played a part in the decision she came to.

Dragging herself back into her bedroom she grabbed her phone and called Andrei, silently cursing the fact that her new telepathic bond with him didn't stretch much past a mile. She had hoped it would reach further because vampire mates could contact each other at much greater distances but it proved to be the same as Were mates' bonds. 

"Hey Rose," Andrei said softly when he answered. 

She could hear the smile in the softness of his tone and she smiled too, feeling comforted just hearing his voice. She also felt suddenly very weak and fragile, not something she was used to. "Andrei," she breathed quietly, a slight tremor escaping her along with a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?" he asked instantly, sounding immediately alert. "Loretta, are you alright?"

"I'm not feeling too good," she admitted slightly hoarsely. "I feel feverish and I've been throwing up a bit. My entire body is aching at the moment. I don't think I can go to the club tonight, Andrei."

His breath hissed out loudly. "Of course you can't," he answered a bit sharply, his concern evident. "I'm on my way over."

She felt her heart start to sink immediately. She really didn't want him coming onto pack lands. It would just create unnecessary issues. "Wait for me just outside the compound," she urged quickly. "I'll meet you there."

"I'll come and get you. You stay where you are." Andrei's tone brooked no arguments but she still argued with him anyway.

"I'm fine enough to meet you, Andrei. Please don't enter the compound. If you do so it will only attract attention and piss Jared off. Please, Andrei." She heard his breath hiss out angrily and she fought down a sigh. 

Maybe meeting up with him tonight wasn't such a good idea after all, not when she was feeling so crappy. If she was this low he would easily be able to dominate her and she wouldn't have the strength to fight back and keep him in check.

"Fine," he finally answered his tone much gentler. "We'll do this your way. Keep your phone close though and call me back if you have any trouble making it to the compound boundary."

Andrei hung up immediately and raced upstairs into the club. His heart was pounding with fear at the thought of his wolf being ill. Her voice had sounded so weak, her breath so shaky. It was so out of character for Loretta to sound so vulnerable that he was instantly concerned.

"Pietro, I'm out for the night," he told his bartender. "Do the necessary with closing up."

Pietro smiled widely. "Let me guess, Loretta again?" he teased lightly. His boss's current relationship with the feisty little Were was an endless source of amusement for him. Andrei appeared to be like a chicken running around with his head cut off most of the time these days.

Andrei managed a weak smile and nod of his head as he hurried outside. He couldn't shake the gnawing fear which was starting to settle deep within him. Was this his venom just starting to take effect? Was Loretta slowly dying? Why the fuck hadn't she gone to her doctor straight away?

He was speeding recklessly towards the compound, his heart thumping painfully hard in his chest. If anything happened to her because of his actions he would never forgive himself. He silently prayed she would be okay, that this was just some normal human or Were type illness and nothing to do with him biting her this morning. Never getting sick himself he had nothing to compare it to and it was that lack of knowledge which was increasing his anxiety levels even further.

Loretta was waiting for him, resting against a tall tree on the forest floor, just outside the compound boundary. Her face was so pale that for a moment he thought the unthinkable and was flying out the car and was at her side in an instant.

Her eyes opened and she smiled weakly at him. "You took your time," she managed to get out weakly.

"Why didn't you go to Luke?" he demanded, his tone so sharp because of his concern. He picked her up gently, cradling her tenderly against his chest as his eyes intently roamed her pale face, his heart thumping painfully hard in his chest as she rested weakly against him.

"I didn't want him asking if anything out of the ordinary had happened recently," she murmured softly, closing her eyes and sighing with relief that he had her safely in his arms. She felt so much better just having him close. She shamelessly leaned on her mate's strength feeling calmer that he was there to protect her.

"Of all the stupid, idiotic reasons I've heard for not going to a bloody doctor," he ground out through clenched teeth. "Fuck, Loretta, you should have gone to him the moment you started feeling unwell!"

Her lips twitched in a little smile and she opened her eyes again to look up at him. He looked so frustrated, so worried. She could see annoyance in his eyes and also a little hint of fear. Her vampire was so worried about her and it made her feel good. 

"I promised you two days, Andrei," she sighed. "I didn't want to break my word to you. Whatever it is seems to be passing anyway. I feel a lot better already. Maybe I was just sickening for you?" 

Her smile was stronger as she made her little joke though she wondered if there was a little truth in what she said because she had felt better when she had heard his voice earlier too. The sickness seemed to feel worse when she couldn't hear or see him. Maybe it was something to do with her body accepting his mating bite?

Andrei was torn. Part of him wanted to take her straight to her doctor at the compound and the other part wanted to take her home with him and nurse her himself. Not that he had the first clue about taking care of someone who was ill but she was his woman and it was his role to protect her. She did look a bit better already, her voice not sounding as weak as before. Maybe she was right and whatever was wrong with her was already starting to pass?

He opted to take her home after a brief internal struggle. He didn't want to let her out of his sight until he was sure she was okay. If she got worse he could have her back at the compound in the blink of an eye. He'd just run with her. It would be faster than driving.

He carried his precious wolf over to the car and lowered her gently into the passenger side, before leaning in to buckle her seatbelt. She snorted slightly a rueful smile crossing her face.

"All that's missing is the white horse," she chuckled lightly and he felt his own lips twitch in a little smile. She did sound so much better.

"I'll remember that the next time my damsel in distress calls for my help," he retorted, bending to kiss her lips lightly before he closed the car door and hurried around to climb in beside her.

She dozed on the drive home. He couldn't contain himself from reaching out to touch her as he drove, needing the contact with her. Her colour was better though she still looked pale and her breathing sounded slightly laboured. Maybe he should have made her see Luke after all. But he couldn't deny he wanted the time she had promised him before telling her Alpha about him biting her.

Andrei wondered just how much of a callous bastard he really was as he pulled up outside his house and moved to open the front door before coming back to the car to gently pick his woman up. She remained sleeping as he kicked the car door closed and carried her carefully into his house.

He knew Loretta struggled with maintaining the needs of her pack against her personal need to be with him. He too struggled with trying to look after his people's best interests and be the best mate to his precious woman. 

He should have argued more with her at the compound. Insisted that she see the doctor but instead he had allowed her to convince him she was alright. So he could have the time he needed to investigate how he had managed to bite her without killing her.

"Bathroom," Loretta suddenly moaned loudly and he streaked upstairs at supernatural speed and got her into the bathroom just in time for her to throw up noisily down the toilet bowl.

He held her hair back gently from her face and supported her firmly as she heaved a second time. Sweat broke out on her body as she gulped in large deep breaths once her body calmed again.

"Sorry," she groaned as he helped her over to the sink and she rinsed her mouth out.

He stroked her hair gently. "Shhhh, you've nothing to be sorry for," he said softly. He kept hold of her as she brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth again, and then he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. "Feeling any better?" he asked tenderly, his worried gaze searching her face intently.

"A bit," she sighed managing a weak smile as Andrei gently stripped her clothes off and helped her into bed. 

He covered her and then lay down beside her on top of the covers, his hand stroking her cheek gently. "Are you sure this is nothing serious, Loretta?" he asked anxiously, his expression grave.

"It feels like a touch of food poisoning," Loretta sighed with a reassuring smile for him. His concern was touching and making her feel better. "It should pass shortly. Try not to worry too much, love."

Andrei snorted and rolled his eyes. His woman was throwing up and looking all weak and helpless and she seriously expected him not to worry about it? After he had bitten her and unleashed his toxic venom into her system!

He lay with her until she drifted off to sleep and then he called Alexei and asked him to come over. His brother wasn't too pleased at the summons, especially when he told him to leave Cedar behind.

Alexei arrived half an hour later in a very bad mood. He was about to lay into his brother and then noticed the ashen colour to Andrei's face and the pinched corners to his lips. "What's wrong?" he demanded.

"Loretta's sick," Andrei answered. "I need to go talk to Caleb and I want you to sit with her until I get back." There was no one else he would trust with his woman but his twin. He didn't want to have to leave her but he had to talk to Caleb immediately, just in case Loretta's illness had to do with his venom inside her. He had to believe that Caleb would know something if that was the case.

Alexei's face took on a concerned expression. "Why didn't she go see Luke?" he asked in a puzzled tone. He had a feeling there was more going on that just Loretta's illness.

"Because she can't," Andrei admitted with a weary groan. "This has to stay between the three of us, Alexei. You can't even mention it to Cedar, not for a couple of days at least."

That brought a frown to his brother's face instantly. Even though he was no longer playing his game with Cedar, Alexei still expected total honesty between them and he wasn't happy about being asked to keep a secret from his woman, especially when it related to her friend in some way.

"I bit Loretta this morning," Andrei announced and Alexei felt as if someone had just walked up and sucker punched him.

He stared at his brother in shock, his mouth dropping open as the full import of his words hit home. "You fucking did what?" he ground out hoarsely, anger quickly boiling up inside him. "You bastard! You've killed her!" Even as the words left his mouth, he suddenly digested the 'this morning' part of Andrei's statement and took a step back from his brother.

His eyes widened as he stared at his twin in shock. If Andrei had bit Loretta this morning then how could she still be alive, albeit it sick at the moment?

"Will you calm down," Andrei sighed wearily, running a hand through his tangled hair. "I didn't bite her deliberately, it just sort of happened. She was fine after I did it, no sickness or anything. She didn't drop dead. We agreed to keep it quiet for a couple of days while I looked into it but she called me this evening to say she didn't feel well. She didn't want to go see Luke so I brought her home. Now I want you to sit with her while I go and talk to Caleb. I'm sure he knows something he's not telling us about the whole Vamp/Were mating thing."

Alexei couldn't believe that Loretta had lived after Andrei's bite. Their venom was lethal to Weres, it always had been. "Where is she?" he heard himself asking, anxious to check on the wolf himself. His thoughts whirled madly in his head. If Loretta could survive Andrei's bite then maybe Cedar could survive his? There was nothing he wanted more than to taste his beautiful wolf, to fully join with her the way she craved for them to be joined.

He followed his brother upstairs to his bedroom. Loretta was sleeping and looked a little pale but her heartbeat was strong. She appeared to be running a bit of a fever too but nothing too dangerous.

"Will you look after her for me, Alexei?" Andrei asked quietly.

Alexei turned to look at his brother's concerned expression, knew that he didn't want to leave his mate but felt he had to. "You know I will," he answered just as quietly. "Go find out what you can from Caleb." He knew the level of trust his brother was placing on his shoulders.

Andrei crossed the room to bend down and gently kiss Loretta's forehead. "I won't be long, my Rose," he whispered tenderly as she murmured slightly in her sleep and sighed softly.

"If she gets any sicker, take her to the pack and tell them everything," he told his brother. He wanted the extra time Loretta was giving him but he wouldn't take it at her expense. If her health deteriorated then she had to come first. "Keep her safe for me, Alexei," he added softly.

Alexei nodded, not even surprised at the open vulnerability his brother was showing with regards to his mate. He knew he would react the same if it was his Cedar lying sick in the bed before him

He pulled the overstuffed armchair over beside the bed and picked up a book which was lying on the bedside table as his brother quickly left the room. He settled down beside the sleeping wolf and began leafing through the pages.

*****

Rhianna was just settling down to a cup of coffee and her book when the doorbell rang. She blinked in surprise and wandered into the entrance hall. No one ever visited apart from Demetri and Mara or Rafe and Lacey and they just let themselves in.

She opened the door, her eyes widening further insurprise as she looked up at Andrei Romanov. He was probably the last person she ever expected to see standing on her doorstep, particularly as Caleb was so pissed at the other vampire. 

For a moment she wondered what to do and then she realised that technically Andrei was one of her leaders, being a member of The Council. She supposed it wasn't the done thing to leave someone of such importance standing on a doorstep even if she didn't like him very much. And she was very curious as to why he was there.

"Caleb's not home yet," she said curtly even as she stepped back to allow him to enter which he did without a word.

Andrei wanted to growl with irritation at finding Caleb not home. He entered the house and looked down at the Ancient's Youngling. Rhianna Armand was a bit of an anomaly among their kind. She was two years Sired to the life of a vampire and yet not one of his people seemed capable of putting the little redhead firmly in her place within their social hierarchy. 

Hell, even The Council had had to accede to Caleb's little show at the ceremony where the Ancient had made it more than plain that his Youngling would be treated with respect or else. The unspoken threat was explicit.

"Annie," he said by way of greeting. If he wanted Caleb's help then it made sense not to alienate his woman. "Do you know if he'll be long?" He kept his tone polite and respectful even though she should be the one being respectful towards him, not the other way around.

Rhianna stared thoughtfully at Andrei, her lavender gaze taking in the lines of strain he was struggling to hide. He was managing quite a credible job of it but she always managed to see past what most people were trying to hide. Something was wrong with Andrei Romanov and it was something serious.

"Fancy a coffee?" she asked with a small smile tugging at her lips. "It will only take me a couple of minutes to rustle one up." She turned to head into the kitchen sensing the other vampire's frustration building.

"Caleb?" he repeated slightly tersely as he followed her into the other room.

"Will not arrive home before I've made the coffee," she answered lightly. "Cappuccino?" She started making one even as she contacted her vampire.

"Caleb, Andrei's here to see you at the house and he seems upset, love. Can you come home? I think something's wrong and it could pertain to the Weres, most probably Loretta judging from the level of anxiety he's throwing off at the moment."

She heard Caleb hiss loudly in her head, fury rolling down their bond. "Why the fuck did you let him in, Annie? You know damned well I don't want him in my home and I sure as hell don't want him alone with you at any time." 

She sighed inwardly, finishing up the coffee and handing it to Andrei who took it automatically. "There's sugar in the bowl if you want it," she told him before she turned her attention back to her vampire.

"Andrei happens to be a Council member and I'm a lowly little Youngling," she explained patiently. "It would have been improper of me to slam the door in his face, Caleb, and quite frankly I didn't want to. If something's wrong with Loretta then I want to know about it. She's my friend. Now, stop yelling at me and get you backside home. I'm going to see if he'll tell me anything but you know what he's like. He'll most probably blow me off and wait for you to arrive."

She listened to Caleb curse loudly and then he gave a deep weary sigh. "So, suddenly you want to show some respect for your vampire hierarchy?" he asked archly. "Doesn't seem to apply to me most of the time."




The Council Ch. 11



She laughed mentally at the peeved note in his voice. "I respect you all the time, love. At night when we're in bed do I not lavish enough love and respect on your sexy body?"

His loud laughter told her she'd picked the right tack to soothe her irate vampire. "You do that, sweet one," he sighed softly, his tone softening and turning slightly husky as his love rolled down their bond and wrapped her securely in a quick mental hug. He sighed again. "Are you doing your Annie thing on Andrei? Am I going to have to cut him some slack when I get home?" 

The weary tone in his voice had her laughing again. "I'm not sure yet, love. I'll let you know when you get home."

The end of their conversation had taken only a handful of seconds. She smiled up at Andrei. "Why don't you join me in the sitting room?"

She preceded him from the kitchen almost hearing his teeth gnashing together. He must want to keep Caleb sweet if he was fighting with himself so hard not to lose his temper with her.

Andrei was struggling not to growl at the little redhead as she made coffee and chattered away as if he was a friend coming to visit. His concern for Loretta was rising, Caleb's absence starting to grate on his nerves. He needed to talk to the Ancient and being made to wait was not sitting well with him.

"Rhianna, it's important that I speak to Caleb." He tried to keep his tone as civil as he could even though he was fighting the urge to wring the little woman's neck until she stopped pissing about and called Caleb.

Lavender eyes connected with his and he blinked slowly at the deep intensity in her scrutiny. For a moment it was as if she was looking right into his very soul and it was almost impossible to look away from her.

"Caleb's on his way, Andrei," she said softly, a faint smile on her lips. "I was letting him know you were here while I was getting your coffee. Have a seat. I suspect he won't be long. I'm sure he'll be able to help with whatever is troubling you so much when he arrives."

He was sitting down on her sofa without even realising what he was doing. There was something just not quite right about the little redhead. It was almost as if she was able to compel people to like her even when they didn't want to. He found himself softening towards her even when he was striving hard not to.

"It's Loretta isn't it?" she asked after taking a sip of coffee. "Is something wrong with her, Andrei?"

He was able to stop himself from reacting to her unexpected question even though it caught him off guard. How the fuck had she known there was something wrong with Loretta? The longer he spent in her company the more uneasy he felt being around her.

"Loretta's fine," he lied smoothly. "She's at home sleeping at the moment." At least part of his words were true. He didn't think that he was fooling her though, not the way her eyes narrowed thoughtfully at him.

He was saved by the front door opening and a furious Caleb Cullen arriving home. The dark scowl on his face was enough to make Andrei suck in a deep breath. Ever since the night in the forest during the war he had kept out of Caleb's company as much as possible. Now he needed his help and it wasn't sitting too well that he had to come to the Ancient for that help.

"Caleb," Rhianna smiled, rising gracefully from the other sofa and crossing the room to greet her vampire, trying not to laugh at how fast he had managed to get home. His over protectiveness when it came to her well being was legendary and often the catalyst to their few disagreements. She would have liked a little more time to try and find out what was bothering Andrei but it appeared her man wasn't willing to leave her alone with the other vampire.

Caleb picked her up automatically, tearing his piercing gaze from Andrei to concentrate on his woman. He took in her radiant expression and his anger quickly dialled down a couple of notches as he bent his head to capture her lips in a slow, drugging kiss. His Annie always soothed the beast within him, no matter how angry he became. He often called her his redemption and she surely was.

He loved her sweet lips leisurely, growling his pleasure as she responded with her usual enthusiasm. Kissing his woman was the most intoxicating thing in the world. He could do so endlessly and probably would have if only Andrei's snort of annoyance hadn't seeped through his distracted thoughts and forced him to reluctantly stop kissing her.

"Be gentle with him, love," Rhianna sighed softly inside his head. "Something's wrong with Loretta and he's really struggling with it. Seems even the meanest of our kind can find a heart somewhere deep inside them."

She saw him roll his eyes but he kissed her lightly on the lips once more and then set her down. "I'm heading over to Mara's," she smiled at him. "Play nice now! If I come home to a wrecked house you're on a month long sex ban."

Caleb shot her an irritated glare for embarrassing him in front of Andrei but his lips did twitch in a little smile and he couldn't help responding. "You couldn't last one day let alone an entire month," he laughed softly as her eyes twinkled with humour and she laughed back at him.

He waited until she had left and then turned his attention back to the Elder watching him with a closed, guarded expression on his face. He regarded him intently for a long moment and then moved to sit down where Rhianna had previously been seated.

"I don't want you ever coming to my home unannounced, Andrei, and I certainly don't want you alone with Annie," he growled softly. "I'll overlook it this time but make sure it doesn't happen again."

Alexei bristled immediately, fighting back the retort on his lips. He had to remember that he needed the Ancient's help. If he lost his temper and they got into an argument it could hurt Loretta. He swallowed down his anger as tried to keep his mate firmly in the forefront of his mind. He managed to nod his agreement.

Caleb had been particularly harsh with Andrei, pushing him to see how he would react. The fact that the Elder had allowed his disrespect was a sure sign that Rhianna was on the right track with her guess. Andrei had the right to slap him down by the fact he was a Council member and Caleb should concede to him. That he hadn't spoke volumes.

"You appear to have achieved the impossible," Caleb said after a brief pause. "My Annie is championing you. Considering she was quite happy at the thought that I would kill you last year, that's quite an achievement." His tone was mocking and his smile widened as he saw irritation sparkle in the other man's eyes. 

He couldn't help needling Andrei and he had no real reason why he liked doing so. It wasn't that he disliked the other vampire. He didn't mind the Romanovs really, though he thought they were a bit on the wild side. He wasn't as friendly with them as Demetri was but he still didn't actively dislike them. They could be counted on if they were ever needed to supply some back up, as they had done so in the war with Graves.

Andrei was beginning to think coming to see Caleb had been a mistake. He didn't know if he was going to be able to hold his temper with the Ancient. At the moment it was all he could do not to fly across the room and smack Caleb Cullen in the face. He tried to soothe his rage at the other man's taunting. He thought of Loretta, how pale she was, how weak she sounded and his rage quickly started ratcheting down.

"Why are you here, Andrei?" Caleb asked as he watched the other vampire carefully. Rhianna had asked him to be gentle with him so he would try his best to do as she asked. Truthfully he was starting to feel a little concerned at the fact Andrei was not reacting to his taunts at all. It was so out of character for him to just sit there and take any kind of verbal abuse from anyone, no matter who they were.

"I need to know what you know about Weres and Vampires mating," Andrei answered, his voice clipped and to the point. "Specifically about what happens when the vampire bites the Were."

Caleb's eyes narrowed instantly and his big body became tense, his eyes flashing amber as he regarded Andrei shrewdly. "What makes you think I know anything about that?" he countered smoothly.

"Because you seem to know everything, Caleb," Andrei bit back, some of his anger starting to show. "You knew things that were impossible for anyone to know last year. You're the oldest of our kind. I'm under no illusions that you know more than you're letting on and I need that information now."

Caleb's thoughtful expression deepened further. Now this was the Andrei he knew, the one that demanded answers and refused to be ignored. He wondered why he desperately needed the information so quickly. There was no doubt in his mind that if Andrei didn't find out what he wanted to know then he was going to hit the roof in a spectacular fashion.

He sat back and steepled his fingers, tapping them against his lips. "Are you asking this of me as a friend, Andrei, or are you demanding this of me as a member of the Council?" he asked in a dangerously soft tone, his expression completely smooth.

Andrei blinked slowly. It was on the tip of his tongue to demand the information again, to order Caleb to submit to him as a Council member. Something in the sudden stillness of the Ancient and the way his voice had become so soft made him wary of taking that tack though. Caleb appeared to have lost all respect for the way the Vampire nation ruled themselves. It certainly appeared so from the way he was reacting to The Council.

He took a deep breath, Loretta's pale face coming to mind again. He could swallow his pride for her, to make sure she was safe. "Loretta's sick, Caleb" he said quietly, letting his usual carefully controlled mask drop to show his concern. 

"This morning something happened when we were together. It wasn't intentional but I bit her. She seemed okay. My venom didn't appear to have done any damage, quite the opposite, she said she felt amazing. But she called me to come get her this evening. She's pale, running a temperature, being violently ill. I need to know if she's going to be okay, Caleb. I need to know whatever you know about this interspecies mating thing."

To say Caleb was shocked was an understatement. He had seriously doubted that any of the vampires would have attempted to bite their Weres so soon without having more information. He knew he should be furious with Andrei for biting Loretta but the expression on the other man's face was giving him pause.

He couldn't remember a time he had ever seen Andrei Romanov look so unguarded, almost vulnerable. He knew it would be hurting the other man badly to have to come to him and ask for his help. 

He pondered on what to do. Andrei was the first person to actually ask him outright what he knew. He hadn't planned on sharing his knowledge just yet, not until everything was in place for what he wanted to achieve. 

The longer he stayed silent the more concerned Andrei's expression became and he actually felt a twinge of pity for the other vampire. If it was his Annie who was sick and he had no idea what was happening to her he would be going out of his mind with worry.

"Your venom is not the reason for Loretta's illness," he finally said with a small sigh. "I don't know why she is currently sick but it is not because you bit her."

Relief swept through Andrei and he couldn't stop a muffled groan from escaping his lips. Loretta wasn't dying because of his bite. She was still sick but he hadn't hurt her. "Tell me, Caleb," he said quietly. "Please."

The plea in his voice was enough to make Caleb's mind up. It was plain that Andrei was head over heels in love with Loretta. He couldn't hide his concern for his wolf, not that he was even trying to at the moment.

"Vampires and Weres can mate, Andrei," he answered with a small smile. "It's not the most easiest of things to do but it is possible. A fact that you know because you are now fully mated with Loretta. Don't think to rush to tell Alexei and Nors they can start biting their wolves though because the mating is only possible for you and Loretta at the moment."

"Why are we different?" Andrei asked perplexed. He couldn't think of anything he'd done with Loretta that would make them special in anyway. All three wolves had bitten their mates and passed the wolf gene on so it couldn't be that.

"Because you healed Loretta last year, Andrei," Caleb explained. "And I don't mean you fed her your blood. It takes more than that to make a Were immune to vampire venom. It was the manner in which you healed her. You mixed your blood directly with hers when you healed her damaged spine. Your vampire DNA was absorbed into her body thereby making her immune to the toxicity in your venom."

Andrei's mind whirled as it flashed back to the night in the forest, when he had punctured a hole in Loretta's back and then ripped his finger and pressed it inside her body to heal her broken spine. She had been immune to his venom ever since then?

"So for a Were to become immune we have to physically hurt them and then heal them by mixing our DNA directly into their body?" he asked, disbelief in his voice even though his wolf was a walking, talking advertisement for just such a thing being viable. "We have to almost kill our mates to be able to join with them completely?"

Caleb nodded. "It's not so very different to taking a human mate and Siring them," he said. "We take our mates to the point of death by drinking their blood and then we bring them back by feeding them ours."

For some reason his statement angered Andrei and he growled loudly. "It's hardly the same, Caleb. The human feels no pain at all only pleasure because they react differently to the vampire venom. In our case we have to cause severe pain to those we love. Do you seriously think Alexei and Nors are going to agree to hurt Cedar and Ashleigh in that manner just so they can bite them?" His tone was incredulous.

Caleb merely smiled and rolled his eyes at Andrei's naivety. He didn't understand wolves at all and it was amusing to see him so outraged on behalf of the two other vampires. He even sounded concerned about the pain required to be inflicted on the Weres.  

"I think you'll find that both Cedar and Ashleigh will demand it of them once this becomes public knowledge, Andrei. They will not be tolerant of their mates refusing to complete the mating ritual with them, just because they will have to suffer a bit of pain for it to be possible. They are wolves and they are very resilient."

Andrei still couldn't get his head around it. He could have been with Loretta for the past year and hadn't even known it? This new knowledge probably explained why it had taken her so long to heal from her injuries too. Her wolf DNA was slowly being subtly changed by his vampire DNA which would have slowed up the healing process because her injuries had been so severe.

Her back injury had healed instantly so that seemed to indicate that should Alexei and Nors need to perform something similar, they would probably be able to mate almost instantly with their wolves because there would be no other injuries bar the one required to allow their DNAs to mix.

He frowned deeply. "This still doesn't explain what's wrong with Loretta," he sighed deeply. "She's still sick and if it's not the venom then what is it?"

"There are other changes that occur once the mating is fully complete," Caleb answered slowly, his golden brown eyes intent on Andrei's. "Did you notice anything different about yourself once you had bitten her?"

Andrei's frowned deepened. He couldn't remember anything that struck him as too odd, just the wolf knot thing happening when they'd made love. He didn't particularly want to share that with the Ancient though but he rolled his eyes and did so.

"I grew what Loretta called a wolf knot," he sighed. "She said it was a sign that we were properly mated, that it only occurred between true mates."

Caleb frowned and bit his bottom lip, concern suddenly starting to bubble up inside of him at the news. His mind was suddenly whirling madly and he felt as if he was about to run out of time way quicker than he wanted to.

"Did she also mention that the wolf knot aids in conception?" he asked Andrei drolly, seeing puzzlement cross the other man's face. "Andrei, the wolf knot keeps the couple joined to ensure that the male's seed remains inside the female's body to enhance the possibility of pregnancy occurring." He suddenly felt like he was giving a 'Birds and Bees' lecture to a young adult rather than talking to an Elder who wasn't that far off becoming an Ancient.

Andrei's puzzlement remained for a second longer and then he snorted loudly and burst out laughing. "Well that hardly pertains to us, Caleb," he laughed. "Vampires can't have children."

Caleb smiled slowly. "But you're something more than a vampire now, Andrei," he countered softly, watching the laughter drain from the other man's face to be slowly replaced by complete shock.

"No fucking way," Andrei hissed out, jumping up from the sofa and staring wildly down at Caleb. He couldn't really be serious could he? He couldn't just have implied that it was possible for a Vampire and Were to conceive a child together? Dear God, their people would riot at the very possibility of it. A mixed breed? It was completely intolerable. 

"Caleb, tell me you're not seriously implying that I could impregnate Loretta," he ground out through clenched teeth, his mind whirling madly. The expression on Caleb's face answered his question without the other vampire needing to say a word. 

"This can't be allowed to happen, "Andrei said, a wild note creeping into his voice as he started to pace up and down. 

He couldn't believe it was possible for him to father a child. He didn't know the first thing about children and he didn't particularly want to. He knew that wasn't very fair on Loretta. Weres liked to breed; it was their method of ensuring their line went on. She had probably resigned herself to the fact she would never have children when she mated with him.

Now it appeared that she could physically have children and yet he couldn't allow it to happen. If they had a child together, if they created a mixed breed there was no telling what would happen. "Our people won't accept this, Caleb," he finally said in a quiet tone as he stopped pacing and turned to look at the Ancient. "There will be a total uproar. Tell me how I can ensure this doesn't happen?"

Caleb stared at Andrei with a rueful expression on his face. He had expected this kind of reaction from him. The look of panic in Andrei's eyes was almost amusing despite the direness of the situation. Andrei was right. Their people would not accept a mixed breed child. It was more abhorrent than the actual matings which were taking place. 

Andrei was smart enough to realise just what the fallout would be when this became known. Which was why Caleb had needed time to get his plans in place before it became common knowledge. Time he now didn't have because he suspected that Loretta's sudden illness was a sign that it was too late to stop what the Elder so desperately wanted to stop.

"You expect me to solve this problem, Andrei?" Caleb asked incredulously. "Forgive me, but you were the one who decided it was prudent to mate with a wolf. You were the one who bit Loretta. Now you want me to give you advice on contraception?" 

He laughed loudly but there wasn't much humour in it. "The only way to ensure you don't make Loretta pregnant is to give her up completely, Andrei. From the sounds of things you made love to her after you bit her and managed to successfully pin yourself to her. She's now throwing up quite violently. I think you may be trying to shut the stable door after the horse has already bolted."




The Council Ch. 11



The colour drained completely from Andrei's face as Caleb's words sank in. His knees buckled and he sat down heavily on the sofa. "No way," he denied shaking his head wildly. "That was just this morning. There's no way Loretta could be......" He couldn't even say the word. If he said the words it would somehow make it more of a possibility. 

"From what I was able to dig up it would appear that it is not only possible but has happened in the past, the very distant past I hasten to add," Caleb told him quietly. "It's not a pretty tale but there was one previous Vampire/Were mating about three thousand years ago. The female Were became pregnant almost instantly once the full mating took place and she was pinned. 

Symptoms began showing almost immediately because for some reason the wolf gene inside the Were becomes more dominant and their gestation rate reverts to that of a normal wolf, usually around sixty three days. The Vampire Council at the time discovered it and they were all put to death, including the vampire involved. That was the start of the separation between Weres and Vampires. Our people decided this knowledge was not to become public ever again."

Caleb didn't think Andrei could become any paler but he managed to do so, the wildness in his eyes becoming more pronounced.

"They killed them?" Andrei whispered hoarsely, his hands tightening unconsciously into fists. His entire world felt like it was caving in on top of him as he struggled to come to terms with everything he was hearing. Loretta could be pregnant with his child. If she was, if it was really possible then her life was in danger from his own people. They would kill her and their unborn child. They would kill him too because he would defend his wolf to the death no matter who he had to take on.

"Caleb, what can I do?" he asked desperately. "How do I protect her? How do I protect them?" 

He was long past caring that he was turning to the Ancient for help, that he was submitting to the other vampire. He wasn't too proud to get down on his knees to save Loretta's life and the life of their unborn child if she was in fact pregnant. 

Becoming a father may not be something that he particularly wanted but he knew his wolf would be overjoyed at the news, that she would want their child and would love it unconditionally. He would learn how to love it too, for Loretta. If he could change enough to allow his wolf into his heart then he could adapt to becoming a father.

Caleb felt the last of his antipathy towards Andrei Romanov vanish as he stared into his anguished face. The arrogant man was gone to be replaced by someone who was so much more than he ever had been. His fear for Loretta was etched on his face, his willingness to protect her and his child clearly signalling that the vampire had come a long way in so short a period of time. 

He was oddly jealous of Andrei and also Nors and Alexei. They would be able to have what he would never be able to achieve. They would be able to become fathers, to know the perfection of giving their mates the one thing that they wanted most in the world. 

Since he had held Jared's children he'd had a deep ache within him to know the bond of a parent and a child. Since he had watched his Annie hold little Alicia so reverently, her face glowing with love he had known that he had taken something so beautiful and precious from his woman that he could never replace.

He sighed deeply and then he gave Andrei a reassuring smile. "You didn't think I was going to leave you pissing in the wind, did you?" he asked slightly drolly. "No one will hurt Loretta, Andrei. I have plans in motion to prevent that happening. I protect my family and to do that I have to protect the entire Hanlon pack. This information needs to be kept quiet, about the possible pregnancy at least. You can't mention it to Loretta yet. I need a little more time."

Andrei was starting to pull himself together again, the shock of all the revelations starting to wear off. The Ancient's unknown plans were getting his attention, dragging his mind back to what he needed to do with regards to The Council. 

He frowned at the prospect of having to keep quiet with Loretta though. If she was pregnant then she had the right to know what was happening to her. He was amazed that he wasn't even stumbling over the thought of her being pregnant anymore. He knew he had to spend some time figuring out just how much he had changed physically to enable him to father a child but he didn't have time for that at the moment.

"What plans?" he asked quietly, his expression turning slightly suspicious even as he felt relief wash over him. Just knowing that Caleb had something up his sleeve soothed his worry a little. If he didn't have to deal with this alone then all the better. 

"I can't divulge them just yet," Caleb answered with a little smile tugging at his lips because he knew it would annoy the hell out of Andrei not knowing. "For the moment, we need to organise a meeting with all the mated couples, the Ancients and also Jared and possibly Rafe too. It's time I explained about the matings so at least that is out of the way."

"But if you say Loretta will be having the child in around about sixty three days then it's not leaving a lot of time, Caleb," Andrei argued. "That's if she really is pregnant," he tagged on under his breath.

The Ancient regarded him intently for a long moment and then sighed softly. "Fine, I'll tell you what I'm planning, Andrei. But it is between you, me and Demetri. If you breathe a word of it to Alexei or anyone else I will personally gut you. Are we clear on that?"

Andrei blinked in surprise for a moment and nodded slowly. He shouldn't be surprised that Demetri was in the know with whatever Caleb was planning. Those two were as tight as him and Alexei. 

He suddenly realised that he hadn't seen Demetri since he came back from wherever he had been with Mara. Just that one occasion at the Ceremony. Usually his friend dropped by to touch base every once in a while. Still, he had been busy recently with Loretta and he wasn't actually talking to his friend for screwing him over. He looked expectantly at the Ancient.

Caleb smiled slowly. "It's very simple, Andrei," he said in a dangerously quiet voice. "I'm going to bring down The Council." 

There was a moment of stunned silence and then the breath whistled out of Andrei's throat in a harsh ragged sound. "I am the fucking Council," he hissed loudly. "You think getting rid of me is going to resolve this problem?" He couldn't believe Caleb was actually going to do what he'd threatened the year before. It would mean civil war for their people. 

The cold, hard expression on the other man's face told him that he intended to do just what he had announced he was going to. "A civil war, Caleb?" he ground out. "You're seriously going to do this? It's madness! Thousands will die!"

Caleb rolled his eyes and snorted loudly. "You exaggerate, Andrei," he said softly. "Yes, I intend to bring down The Council. It is more than obvious it isn't working in its current form. But I intend to replace it with a new, improved Council. There may be some bloodshed but it won't be on the level you think. If I can do this right, the only vampires who will lose their heads will be ones you'll be perfectly happy to have do so."

He paused briefly to let his words sink in. "Your position on The Council is safe, Andrei. I will need Council members who will be willing to put the safety of the Weres first and foremost. I suggest you start looking for a new Enforcer though because Alexei will be becoming a Council member whether he wants to or not. I know both of you will be very diligent in ensuring your mates are kept safe."

Andrei swallowed hard and then swallowed again, his thoughts whirling madly in his head. Alexei would go mental at being ordered onto The Council against his will. He didn't have the same political leanings as Andrei did. But then, his brother would want to ensure Cedar's safety at all costs. Maybe he wouldn't be as reticent about it as he had first thought.

"That's all I'm prepared to tell you at the moment," Caleb was saying standing up. "Until I say otherwise, keep quiet about everything I have told you. Arrange with Alexei and Nors to come over to my house tomorrow night. I'll liaise with the Weres. They will be told about the matings being possible and how to achieve it and nothing else at this point. I'm sure I can trust you to do as I ask, Andrei?"

It was posed as a question but Andrei knew Caleb wasn't expecting any confirmation from him. He did nod though because he couldn't trust himself to speak. He had too much to take in, both on a personal and also a professional level. And he couldn't talk to anyone about it other than Caleb. He supposed he could talk to Demetri about whatever plans related to The Council but he had a feeling his friend would be just as tight lipped about it as the Ancient before him was.

Caleb was clearly dismissing him. He should have felt angry about it but he wanted to get home to Loretta. He wanted to see her so badly, to try and find out if there was anything different about her which would lend credence to what he had just discovered. He wanted to scent her deeply to see if he could detect anything different about her body, to see if he could detect a new life growing inside her.

He left the Ancient's house almost in a daze. Caleb was going to bring down The Council and Loretta could possibly be pregnant with his child. When he had come to Caleb for answers he had never dreamed he would have received the answers he had and would be leaving with more questions than he had when he first went there.

He was more in control by the time he finally reached his house. He hurried upstairs to find Loretta still sleeping and Alexei engrossed in a book. His brother looked up with an inquiring expression on his face.

"Was Caleb any help?" he asked with a touch of concern in his voice. "She hasn't woken since you've been gone but her breathing sounds easier now and she isn't as flushed as before."

Andrei crossed the room to stand beside the bed, staring down at his sleeping mate. She did look a lot better. His gaze roamed slowly over her and he tried not to allow his eyes to linger on her stomach.

"Caleb's called a meeting for all the mated couples tomorrow night at his house along with the Weres," he answered his brother in a distracted tone, his brown eyes finally settling back on Loretta's face. "Will you let Nors know?"

Alexei frowned slightly as he stood up and put the chair back where he'd gotten it from. "I take it you have no intention of sharing anything with me?" he asked in a disgruntled tone. He could see Andrei had a lot on his mind, that he was distracted with his wolf as well.

"Tomorrow," Andrei said quietly not even turning his head to look at his brother. He couldn't answer any of the questions that he knew he would see in his face. "Thanks for sitting with her for me, Alexei."

His brother's subdued tone of voice was actually concerning Alexei a lot. He wanted to ask again what Caleb had said but he knew he wouldn't tell him anything. When Andrei decided to keep something secret, wild horses wouldn't drag it out of him. Alexei had a feeling that Caleb had instructed his brother to remain quiet so it would be pointless to push him.

"Let me know if you need me again," Alexei sighed, rolling his shoulders to try and release a little of the tension which had crept in. "I'll take care of her for you anytime, Andrei. You know that."

Andrei turned then and managed a smile. "You always have my back, Alexei," he smiled. "You know I'd do the same for you."

Alexei smiled back at him and nodded his head. His brother turned back to his mate almost immediately so he turned and left the room knowing that his presence was no longer needed. He suddenly wanted to be with Cedar very badly. Andrei's behaviour was unsettling and he knew it related to the wolves and their mates. He just wanted to hold her close and make sure she was safe.

Andrei let out a slow breath as he heard his brother leave. He knew he wasn't being fair to Alexei but he had to keep quiet for now. That he couldn't tell the two people he loved most in the world what was troubling him made him feel very alone, something he wasn't used to at all. Always he could tell his twin anything. Now he had to keep secrets.

Loretta sighed softly and rolled onto her side, her eyes flickering open for a moment and soft dreamy smile crossing her lips. "Hey asshole," she said sleepily. 

His heart thumped loudly as he lowered himself onto the bed beside her and pulled her gently into his arms. "Hey Rose," he breathed softly running a hand quickly over her brow and relaxing slightly at how even her temperature felt. "How are you feeling?"

She snuggled into him, brushing her lips against his neck and sighing contentedly. "Much better. That sleep has done me a world of good. Don't feel sick anymore." She pulled her head back to look up at him. "Were you talking to someone?"

"Yeah, Alexei was here for a bit," he smiled stroking the side of her face gently before brushing his thumb against her lips. She kissed him automatically and his smile widened. "I had to go out and didn't want you left on your own so he came and sat with you until I came back."

"You didn't need to do that," she groaned her face flushing with embarrassment at the thought of having someone looking after her in his absence. "It was just a little bug, Andrei. Nothing life threatening."

He hugged her tightly, burying his head in the crook of her neck as he inhaled deeply. "Yes, I did," he whispered against her skin. "You're too precious for me to risk your health, Loretta." He inhaled again, scenting her on a deep level, running his hand gently down her side, pausing at her hip before sweeping lightly across her stomach.

"Stop it," Loretta laughed loudly. "You're seriously ruining your reputation as a badass vampire here, Andrei." She snuggled against him smiling, secretly loving this tender side to her vampire.

"Only with you, my Rose" he answered lightly raising his head and tilting hers back so he could brush her lips gently with his. The hand on her stomach stroked lightly before it paused and tightened ever so slightly. 

He kept kissing her as shock rocked through his body. Her scent was different. The sweet cinnamon scent was still there but it was enhanced with a subtle hint of lilac which hadn't been there before. He stifled down a deep groan, clutching his wolf more tightly as his kiss turned slightly desperate.

Loretta was pregnant. He was sure of it.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 12



Nors was running late and was in a foul mood. His day had been a complete washout and his emotions were all over the place. He was really struggling to hold onto his temper and the only reason he could come up with for this unexpected turn of events was it had something to do with the wolf gene within him. He usually had a lot better self control than he was currently displaying.

His disagreement with Ashleigh had started his day off on a sour note and even though they had kissed and made up, the issue wasn't fully resolved. She still hadn't agreed to move into his bedroom and that fact alone was pissing him off big time. Add in Freya's little temper tantrum and Caleb's aborted visit to the office and Nors' patience was just about at an end.

His cell phone rang and he literally barked into it when he answered. Hearing Alexei Romanov's amused voice on the other end only served to annoy him even more.

"What do you want, Alexei?" he growled irritably. Did the stupid Elder suddenly think they were best friends just because they'd had one conversation and shared the commonality of having Were mates? He would disabuse him of that notion very quickly.

Alexei laughed loudly. "Bit grouchy there, Nors?" he asked still laughing. "I think you need to have a little chat with Aaron Alexander of the Hanlon pack. Sounds like your wolf is starting to act up on you."

The scathing retort on Nors' lips died completely at the other man's words, his body tensing as surprise took over. "What does that mean?" he heard himself asking in a slightly more reasonable tone.

"It means we all have to learn how to deal with the wolf gene within us and its reaction to our mates," Alexei answered with a hint of laughter still bubbling under his tone. "It usually hits us bad when we're angry about something to do with our mates. Something to do with our need to protect them. I almost killed Aaron for hurting Cedar so that's how I found out about it. I couldn't control the rage within me."

Nors thought of his sudden rage towards his sister, of how he had almost hurt her when she had disrespected Ashleigh. He blinked slowly and then let out a long deep sigh. If what Alexei said was true then that explained his reaction. "What next?" he growled loudly. "Do you have any other little pearls of wisdom to share me?"

"Only that Caleb's called a meeting at his house tomorrow night," the other vampire responded. "Seriously Nors, set up some time with Aaron. He's not so bad for a wolf and he does know what he's talking about. If you want things to go smoothly with your mate, taking the time to work on handling the more aggressive instincts of your wolf is most definitely the way to go."

Nors sighed deeply again and worked on getting his irritation under control. "Do you know what Caleb wants?" He was perturbed to hear there was a meeting called, especially as Caleb had aborted his own visit to the office. He would have expected to hear this from his friend rather than have it conveyed by one of the Romanovs.

"No idea," Alexei sighed quietly. "Andrei went to see him and came back saying there was a meeting. He didn't elaborate. All the mated pairs and the Weres too so it must have something to do with the current situation."

"Fine, I'll be there," Nors said ending the call and running his hands tiredly over his face. This was just what he needed on top of everything else, a bloody wolf gene creating havoc within him and a meeting at Caleb's house.

What he did truly need was his wolf. He craved to be with her so badly and yet he was afraid to go home because he couldn't get his emotions under control. Which was why he was still at work after seven pm. Ash had made plans to go to the compound so he was giving her time to go out before he returned home. Hopefully by the time she came back he would have himself under more control.

With a weary sigh he left the office and headed home. Why he'd ever thought claiming his wolf would have been an easy task he had no idea. He had assumed their deep bond would work in their favour and it did for the most part. He just hadn't factored in that the wolf gene would impact on him so greatly and that he'd have a hard time dealing with it. He would need to ask Ashleigh to set up a meeting for him with Aaron so he could work through his issues.

He didn't even find it strange that he was meekly accepting that he would need to go to a wolf for assistance. He'd been around the pack long enough in the last year to be reasonably comfortable with them. He wasn't on the same level of friendliness with them as Caleb and Demetri but he liked the Alphas well enough and he'd even met Aaron a few times and he seemed okay too.

He was home before he knew it, sensing immediately that his wolf wasn't home and sighing with relief. He'd have a couple of hours to unwind and work on his erratic emotions before she came home. He would try and avoid the topic of bedrooms as well so no further disagreements arose.

He headed upstairs and stopped in the middle of his doorway, his entire body going still with shock. Ashleigh's robe was lying on the end of his bed and a quick glance around the room showed subtle little differences. His heart beat loudly in his chest as he saw her little bottles of lotions and perfumes gracing the dressing table and a few photographs tacked onto the mirror in a line down one side.

Forgetting how to breathe he walked slowly over to the dressing table and sat down on the stool. Ashleigh smiled out of the photographs on display, her face radiant with happiness as her parents cuddled her on either side in the top one. The next one down she was surrounded by her sisters and they were striking silly poses as they laughed. The last photograph her brother had his arms wrapped around her from behind, a wide smile on his face as he rested his chin on top of her head and she laughed towards the camera.

Nors felt a lump in his throat and his eyes grow moist as he stared at Ashleigh's precious photographs of her family. She looked so happy in them, her effervescence caught forever in those perfect moments that had filled her with such joy. That she had suffered such heartache not long after the photographs were taken broke his heart. 

To the other side of the mirror was a lone photograph and Nors blinked slowly in surprise as he looked at it. When has she taken that one? He was caught sitting in the study, engrossed in one of his favourite books, a faint smile on his face as he was reading. He had no memory of her taking the photograph, couldn't even remember what night it had been but at some point in her stay with him she had taken a photograph to add to her collection.

He reluctantly tore his gaze away from the dressing table and rose to open the closet doors and peer inside. His heart thumped harder in his chest, a wide smile crossing his face as he saw her clothes nestled beside his. He reached out tentatively and touched the delicate items, joy overwhelming him. 

His little wolf was taking that final step. Whatever had been holding her back she had finally worked through it and was completely accepting him. The rage within him suddenly subsided completely, the wolf part of his new nature finally satisfied that he had his mate forever. 

It was all he could do not to head straight to the compound and bring her home. He should have come home earlier. He should have trusted in Ashleigh's love for him more than he had done. He had just been so scared of her rejection that he had hidden from her because he didn't know how to deal with it.

No, he would wait for his wolf to come to him and when she did he would show her just how much her love and trust meant to him. Smiling, Nors turned and headed into the shower. Suddenly the day was not such a bad one after all.

*****

Ashleigh couldn't get home fast enough. She'd had a great time at the compound with everyone even though her mood had been a little bleak when she'd left to go there. She had waited as long as she could for Nors to arrive back from the office but he must have had to work late because he hadn't shown up or called before it was time to leave.

He would have found her things in his room by now. She wondered what he thought when he had noticed it. He hadn't called so she was feeling a little nervous even though she knew she didn't have any reason to feel that way. Nors was adamant that she move into his room so she wasn't expecting him to be angry that she had. Still, his complete lack of response to her doing so was a little disconcerting.

She took a deep breath and entered the house. "Nors?" she called loudly, pausing to hear where his reply came from.

He was at her side in an instant, so quickly that she didn't even see what direction he came from. She gave a startled squeak as he wrapped his arms around her and picked her up, burying his head in the side of her neck.

"I thought you'd never come home," he breathed softly, his grip tight around her, his lips brushing her soft skin gently.

Her slight apprehension vanished instantly and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I waited for you as long as I could," she answered slightly breathlessly because he was holding her so tightly.

His grip immediately gentled and he raised his head to stare intently into her eyes, a sheepish smile in his lips. "I was having a bad day," he admitted. "I didn't want to bring my bad mood home to you. But I wish I had, Ash, because I would have felt so much better being with you. I'm sorry I stayed away, love."

His expression made her melt, his eyes shining with such happiness that she had to reach out and touch his cheek gently. "It's okay, Nors," she whispered. "I just wanted to be here when you got home and went upstairs. You don't need to stay away because you're not in a good mood. I'm here for you no matter what. We're mates, love. We're here for each other, through the good and the bad times."

Her easy acceptance of him made his heart swell and also made him feel even more foolish than he already did. He was just so new to the whole relationship thing and being in love. He didn't have any experience to draw from so he invariably made mistakes. His wolf very generously forgave him those little mistakes and he was so thankful for it.

"I can't begin to tell you how happy you've made me, Ashleigh," he breathed softly, his eyes shining brightly. "When I went upstairs and saw all your things in our bedroom I thought my heart would burst it was thumping so wildly in my chest. Thank you, my beautiful wolf."

"Oh Nors, I'm sorry I was being so silly about moving in with you," Ashleigh sighed hugging him tightly. "I was just scared about taking that last step. I didn't mean to hurt you or make you feel rejected. I just kept worrying that something would go wrong, that I'd lose you as I lost everyone else and I was trying to protect myself."

She pulled back, staring into his deep green eyes, her heart beating erratically as she looked at her mate. "I love you so much I couldn't survive if I ever lost you, Nors," she whispered tremulously. "Promise me you won't ever let anything bad happen to you. I couldn't stand it if it ever did."

Nors groaned raggedly and hugged his wolf close to him. "I'll never leave you, Ashleigh," he groaned, his voice thick with emotion. "I swear I'll never let anything bad happen to either of us. You're my world now, little wolf. You're the reason I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, ready to greet each new day because I have you in my life. I'll be here for you forever, my love. Believe in me."

Ashleigh felt tears of joy fill her eyes and she didn't stop them falling against his neck. Believing in her vampire had never been an issue for her, believing in herself had been but Nors' love and constant support had worked its magic on her. 

She was vaguely aware of him moving, carrying her upstairs and laying her on their bed. He dropped down beside her, moving to lean against the headboard and cuddling her between his legs so her back was resting against his chest.

"When did you take that photograph?" he asked softly, their positioning giving them a good view of the dressing table.

"A few months ago," she smiled through her tears, wiping at her face as she leaned against him. "I don't know what you were reading but you seemed to be enjoying it so much I couldn't resist it. It was a perfect addition to my collection of most treasured photographs." 

There was a little hint of sadness in her voice but nothing as bad as she used to sound like when she'd talked of her family before. With Nors it wasn't so hard to talk about them, to remember the happy times she'd had as she was growing up. She suddenly sat forward turning to face him.

"I have more if you'd like to see them?" Her tone was slightly querulous. She wanted him to know her family even though they were no longer around. They were a part of her life and she wanted to share everything with him.

Nors' heart melted as he stared in her lovely eyes. There was such a look of vulnerability in her expression but also a hint of excitement too. He could see her slowly opening up. It was almost as if he could witness her heart mending in real time as she shook off her sadness and replaced it with happiness. That she wanted to share her past with him filled him with a joy he'd never experienced before.

"I would love to see them, Ashleigh," he smiled softly. 

She was off the bed and into one of the drawers, pulling out a leather bound album before jumping back onto the bed smiling broadly. She settled down between his legs once more and opened her life to him.

He listened to her explaining every photograph, narrating her memories of each instance of family life. Her excitement and happiness enthralled him as he travelled her own personal timeline and felt as if he had actually been with her the entire time. God, he didn't think he could love her anymore than he already did but he fell deeper under her spell as he listened to her.

She stopped talking at one photograph, her finger tapping against it lightly.

"Who is that?" he asked, sensing her stiffen slightly. He knew one of the men was her brother David but he didn't recognise the other man from the compound. The stranger was tall and broad as most Weres were. He had longish dark brown hair and a twinkle in his blue eyes. He was very handsome and Nors knew he would have recognised him if he had been around the compound.

"That's Dayton," Ashleigh answered in a sadder tone. "He's one of the Alexander brothers. You won't have seen him around because he left the pack a long time ago, long before I was born. He was David's best friend. They were inseparable, always getting into mischief from what David used to tell me."

Nors was surprised to hear the dark haired man was an Alexander. The rest of the family were all blond so he seemed a complete oddity compared to them. He hadn't heard anyone speaking about a missing member of the family either and then there was Ashleigh's reaction to him too. If he had been gone from the pack for such a long time then she would never have met the man. There was a definite feel of mystery about Dayton Alexander which piqued his curiosity. 

"Why did he leave the pack?" he asked softly, stroking her arm soothingly as she shivered slightly.

"It was all very sad from what I was told," she sighed. "Dayton was well loved among the pack and almost a permanent fixture at our house. Ma used to joke she had an extra son he was around so much. Then he met his mate, Faith and naturally he wasn't around as much after that though they still visited a lot."

She swallowed and closed the album turning into Nors' embrace and leaning against his chest. "David told me that he found Dayton crying in the forest one day, holding Faith so tightly he had to fight to prise his fingers from her lifeless body. She fell awkwardly when they were running, breaking her neck instantly. Dayton blamed himself and was beside himself with grief. It took Jared and Aaron months to pull him back from the brink of insanity, to stop him going Rogue."

She shivered as she spoke, imagining Dayton's anguish so well because it so closely mirrored how she had felt when her family died. "He survived the loss of Faith but he was never the same again. He withdrew from his family, became hard and bitter. Eventually even David couldn't get through to him anymore and he left the pack to wander alone. He still called David every now and then. Their bond was really strong and I suppose he found it easier to keep up with pack news from someone other than a member of his own family."

Ashleigh smiled sadly up at Nors. "I thought he would have come to the memorial," she admitted forlornly. "I hoped he would care enough about David to at least come and say goodbye to him. I know I've never met him but I so badly wanted to talk to someone who had meant so much to my brother. But I guess it was just too hard for him. I can kind of understand why he didn't come, that it would have been just one more heartache on top of everything else he had suffered. It would have been nice to finally meet him though."

Nors kissed the top of her head lightly, holding her close. His first instinct was to be angry at this Dayton character for making his wolf so sad but her soft acceptance of the other man's pain made him stop and think. How would he feel if he lost his Ashleigh? Would he ever be the same again if she was no longer in his life? 

Just the thought of anyone harming one hair on his beautiful mate's head was enough to make him want to commit murder. He would rip apart anyone who even thought of hurting his Ashleigh. She was his world and he would protect her with his very life if need be. No one would ever hurt her.

He sighed deeply and struggled to calm his sudden rage. A part of him could understand Dayton Alexander's actions because he knew he would probably react just like him given the same set of circumstances.

"Maybe you're right, love," he said softly. "Maybe his pain was still too raw at the time. I'm sorry it's made you sad though." He felt her take a deep breath and then she pulled back again and smiled up at him.

"All memories are either happy or sad," she answered quietly. "It's all part of life, Nors. You have to take the good with the bad. Without the bad bits, you never fully appreciate the good parts. I'm sad for Dayton because I understand his loss. But I'm happy for me because I have you in my life now and I know that I have so many wonderful happy moments ahead of me."

He stared into her face, gently brushing her soft blonde her back. "You do that my beautiful little wolf," he whispered softly. "I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure you never know another moment's sadness." He leaned forward and kissed her lightly, drinking in the soft moan she gave him as his lips moved slowly over hers.

Ashleigh sighed softly and rose up on her knees to wrap her arms around his neck. Nors gathered her in tightly, pressing her against his hardness as he deepened the kiss slightly before pulling back and cradling her face tenderly.

"I love you," he breathed softly, his heated gaze travelling over her exquisite face.

"I love you," she smiled tangling her hands in his long hair and pulling his mouth back to hers for another kiss.

Nors wanted to make love to her so badly but the moment didn't feel right so he contented himself with some loving kisses and gentle teasing strokes against her soft skin. There was just something so wondrously magical about the night that he didn't want it spoiled by lust.

"Oh, we need to go over to Caleb's tomorrow night," he sighed softly breaking his kiss and burying his head in the side of her neck so he could gently run his tongue against her soft skin.

"I was going over to the compound after work," Ashleigh sighed, giggling as he tickled her with a gentle nuzzle. 




The Council Ch. 12



"You can still go," Nors smiled moving up to nip at her earlobe. "You can ask Loretta to drive you over. It's a meeting for all the mated couples. Think Jared will be there too."

His words piqued her curiosity but his lips were piquing something completely different. She wriggled against him, sighing again. "Are you going to tease me all night, Nors?" she asked breathlessly.

His lips stilled and he raised his head to look down at her. He could see the deep need in her eyes, the scent of her arousal starting to fill the room. He was trying to be romantic and loving but it would appear his wolf had other ideas for how their night was going to progress.

"You make it shockingly difficult to do the right thing, my Ashleigh," he laughed softly, his eyes twinkling as the blood started pounding in his veins. Her desire instantly sparked his and he was quickly changing his mind about lust not having a place in the night's entertainment.

"Sometimes doing the right thing is so overrated," she countered with a sultry smile, her hand tugging at his belt buckle as she sought to free him from his jeans.

"God, Ash, are you trying to kill me?" he groaned as she wrapped her hand around his throbbing length and stroked him boldly with long hard strokes. He was instantly under her spell, his hips moving to meet her strokes as he growled loudly with pleasure.

Ashleigh loved the way Nors surrendered to her. It made her wolf howl with glee that their mate was helpless when it came to them. The deep throaty sounds he made spurred her lust and she stroked him harder, loving the feel of him in her hand.

She moved away slightly so she could lean forward. A guttural roar left his mouth as she took him in hers and began to feast on his amazing body. She slid her wet mouth up and down his length, sucking gently at the tip before laving his entire shaft with her tongue. He tasted so good, so hard and yet so soft at the same time.

"Ash," Nors ground out hoarsely, pulling her from his cock before he lost all control and emptied himself into her mouth. As pleasing as that idea was he wanted to bury his cock inside her sexy body more. He kissed her wildly as his hands stripped her clothes off eagerly. She was pulling at his shirt just as frantically.

Ashleigh giggled as they fell about the bed in their haste to get each others clothes off. "You do yours and I'll do mine," she laughed, giving up on trying to get him naked when it interfered with him trying to get her naked. It was almost like a race to see who finished undressing first before they were back in each others arms.

"You're so beautiful," Nors whispered, staring down at her before he leaned forward and caught her mouth in a breathtaking kiss.

She moaned and rubbed sensuously against him, running her hands down his back and squeezing his ass hard, trying to get the message across that she wanted some hot lusty action and wasn't prepared to wait.

"My, you're impatient," he chuckled lightly a second before he flipped her onto her stomach and then pulled her up on her hands and knees. He lined his cock up with her wet pussy lips and teased her with a long strokes against her slickness. He wanted to hear her moan loudly. He wanted to drive her wild with lust so he teased her ruthlessly, sliding a hand forward to toy with her breasts and tweak at her nipples.

"Nors, for the love of God will you stop teasing me," Ashleigh ground out through clenched teeth, a long throaty growl issuing from her throat signalling her wolf was very close to the surface and very impatient. "Fuck me," she demanded hoarsely.

For a moment Nors thought he hadn't heard her right, his body stilling all movements. Had his sweet little Ashleigh just demanded that he fuck her? He'd never heard her utter a curse word in his life and the shock of it stunned him for a second and then his base instincts took over.

"You want me to fuck you?" he growled softly, teasing her clit once more with the head of his cock. "Not only are you impatient but you're also very demanding, my little wolf." He plunged deep inside her as he finished speaking, taking her with a long, hard stroke that ripped the breath from her body. If she really wanted to be fucked then who was he to refuse his woman?

"Oh God," Ashleigh moaned pressing back against him. She loved the way he filled her, the way he completed her. He placed one arm around her stomach and rested the other on the bed beside her. Then he withdrew and thrust back inside her in one fluid stroke.

Liquid fire rushed through her as Nors stroked into her in hard, relentless movements. He knew exactly what to do to her body to give her the maximum amount of pleasure and he was giving her exactly what she craved. He rode against her hard and fast, spearing her throbbing pussy over and over again until she was breathless with pleasure, her moans joining together into one long breathy sound.

A loud growl ripped from Nors' throat. His wolf felt so good wrapped around his aching cock, her body thrusting back hard to meet each thrust. Lord, she made such sexy noises that drove him completely insane. Just knowing that he was the cause of those sounds was enough to make his blood boil.

He was usually more gentle with her. At times he forgot she was a wolf and had an animalistic lust buried deep within her. She rivalled him with her need, pressing him on to take her harder and faster. His vampiric nature rose up and he surrendered to it, fucking into her ruthlessly but maintaining enough control to ensure he wasn't too overzealous with his woman.

He could feel Ashleigh trembling, knew she was close to her climax, that soon his beautiful wolf would be soaring the heights of her pleasure. He loved it when she soared, when every painful moment of her life was forgotten and she rode the total bliss of her physical release. He loved bringing her that one perfect moment of total ecstasy. 

He plunged harder and faster within her sexy body as he felt his own release approach, the tension in his stomach coiling higher with each thrust. "Fly for me, Ashleigh," he growled leaning forward to graze her collarbone with his lips. "Cum for me, beautiful one."

Ashleigh flew for him as if on command. She was almost at the point of peaking when his lips touch her skin, his words growling softly in her ear. The sweet tension within her body broke as he thrust hard into her body and she cried out loudly as she exploded in mind numbing pleasure.

"Nors," she moaned, her body shaking wildly as she felt him thicken inside her and then he groaned loudly and jerked into her with short hard strokes, emptying his hot seed deep within her body. Her own pleasure enhanced with his release and she ground herself back onto his cock hard as they shattered together in erotic bliss.

"Fuck me?" Nors chuckled deeply as they lay wrapped in a jumble of tangled arms and legs, both their breathing laboured as they came down from the height of their passion.

Ashleigh flushed pink and laughed lightly. "I'm not a china doll, Nors," she teased gently. "You don't have to be so careful of me all the time."

"So I'm starting to notice," he laughed back hugging her tightly and dropping a long, slow kiss on her delicious lips. "There is something so very erotic about hearing such vulgar language coming out of these sweet lips," he murmured again her mouth.

She giggled and rubbed herself against him stroking her hands down his back lovingly. "Then I may need to indulge in some more eroticism again sometime soon," she whispered huskily.

Nors groaned and kissed her again. "Anytime, little wolf," he breathed softly, gathering her close and pulling the covers over their tired bodies.

*****

The two vampires enclosed themselves in one of the private rooms off the main Council Chamber. The room was completely soundproofed and also surrounded by a faint static buzz which was barely audible even to vampires' keen hearing. The static ensured no vampire could 'listen' in with their mental abilities and the soundproofing kept any vocal conversations completely private.

Daniel paced up and down, pausing to circle the tiny table and two chairs which were all the furniture in smallish room before striding the length and breadth again. His long black braid swayed as he paced, his beautiful face hard and wearing a dark scowl.

"This is fucking outrageous," he suddenly growled turning to face his companion. He pierced Roberto with a hard gaze, frustration clearly evident in his eyes. "I told you to get Cristoph onside. How fucking hard can it be to bribe the bastard? If Andrei can do so then why the fuck can't you?"

He was furious that every attempt to convince the other Council member to side with him against Andrei had failed so far. The vampire was as corrupt as they came and sold himself to the highest bidder. But for some reason he wasn't willing to accept any of the bribes Daniel had thrown his way. 

Without Cristoph switching sides he would never wrestle control of the Council away from Andrei. There was no hope in hell of ever convincing Stephan to switch allegiance. Any attempt to approach him would lead to Andrei finding out instantly.

"He's scared of Andrei," Roberto snorted with a sneer of disgust on his face. He shook his head and rolled his eyes. "I think he's ready to wet himself over Alexei too. The word is Alexei has been visiting some of Cristoph's business interests. He hasn't done anything, he just lets him know that he's been there. So Cristoph is watching his back from both of the twins. Apparently he's factored in that they're so friendly with Demetri Bozic too so he's not willing to shift an inch away from supporting Andrei."

Daniel hissed in frustration and clenched his fists tightly. "Fucking Romanovs," he growled. "They think they're untouchable as do those fucking Ancients. WE are the Council. WE hold the power. Just because less than a handful of our people have managed to keep their heads for over two thousand years it does not give them any power. It's time to hammer this message home, Roberto. It's time our people came to understand just who has the real power."

The other vampire's eyes widened fractionally. "You want to go up against the Ancients?" he asked in a surprised tone. "Caleb has some serious backing, Daniel. You know what Demetri is like too when someone fucks with him or his. You just need to look at what happened to Janick and Graves. Add Nors and Freya into the mix and we're talking a sure fire civil war if you mess with them."

"Of course I'm not going to take them on," Daniel growled loudly giving his friend a hard glare. "I don't need to take on the Ancients. I just need control of The Council. If we can't get Cristoph on board then we need to neutralise Andrei somehow."

Roberto sighed and closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. "And how do you intend to neutralise him? He's a fucking psychopath, Daniel. They don't give a shit about anything other than themselves. The only weakness Andrei has is his brother and he's as much of a psychopath as he is. Together the two of them are formidable." He didn't know why he was telling his friend this. He already knew it.

Daniel suddenly smiled and sat down in the chair across from Roberto. "My spies tell me otherwise," he said quietly, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Apparently Andrei is seeing a woman at the moment, not just any woman either but one of the Hanlon pack. He appears to be quite attached to her. If word got out about this disgusting relationship it would seriously weaken him and any support he has." 

His smile widened even further. "If we hinted at something particularly abhorrent, like a mating or something then our people would want to stamp it out. We'd be killing two birds with one stone. Taking down Andrei and also getting retribution against the pack for killing our people last year. Hell, it would be three birds because those fucking Ancients would lose face too, having defended the dogs against their own kind."

Roberto blinked slowly and then started to laugh loudly. "You're fucking evil, Daniel," he laughed, even as he sat forward intently, his mind whirling quickly. "You know what would make this work even better? If we got this dog he's fucking and made her lie in front of a Council meeting. I'm sure we'd be able to 'convince' her to say whatever we wanted her to say." He watched his friend's eyes light up.

"That's a wonderful suggestion," Daniel smiled softly. "If the bitch admitted she was mating with Andrei in front of everyone then there would be nothing the Romanovs or the Ancients could do about it. Andrei would be kicked off The Council. Once I had full control I could then bring in new laws that effectively cut the Ancients off at their knees, rendering them completely powerless."

He rubbed his hands together and sighed softly. "Pick up the bitch and do it quickly," he ordered. "I want to be able to call a meeting within the next twenty four hours. Make sure neither Stephan or Cristoph get any wind of this. Use some out of town vampires to do the collection. I don't want Andrei to know what's going to hit him."

Roberto rose swiftly a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "You know this might actually be the one thing that could sway Cristoph," he mused quietly. "If he believed that Andrei was mating with a dog it would be a step too far for him. It may even sway Stephan too though I'm not so sure about him."

Daniel tapped his lip with one long finger and then nodded slowly. "When you have the bitch take Cristoph down with you to the holding area. Convince him of the lie. It will strengthen my position when we bring Andrei to his knees. Don't involve Stephan though. He can't be trusted. He will side with the Romanovs no matter what the truth really is."

Nodding Roberto left to do as Daniel bid, leaving his friend alone in the room.

"Your time has come, Andrei," Daniel laughed softly. "I'm so going to enjoy cutting your balls off you arrogant bastard."

*****

Loretta yawned and rolled over to peer at the clock. She was immediately engulfed in a pair of strong arms and pressed tightly against a hard, warm chest, a deep sigh escaping her.

"How are you feeling?" Andrei rumbled softly, his lips brushing the top of her head.

"I keep telling you I'm fine," she answered, her tone slightly peeved. He had been acting very strangely ever since she'd woken up from her sleep the night before. The stupid vampire had practically hovered over her when she'd gotten up to go to bathroom. She'd had to slam the door in his face to get some privacy.

It had been kind of endearing in a way at first but then it had started to become truly irritating. Her stomach bug had passed quickly, yet he had watched her every move, been overly solicitous and attentive. He had most definitely not been the Andrei she knew and loved and it had freaked her out a bit.

She had eventually growled at him and threatened to go home if he didn't stop his weirdness. That had appeared to have worked until it was bedtime. She could only imagine the look of disbelief which had crossed her face when he had refused to make love to her. She had actually thought that he'd been joking at first. Andrei refusing sex? That surely had been a joke, right? But he had mumbled something about being tired and kissed her lightly before folding his arms around her and going to sleep.

Loretta had lain there for a moment waiting for the punch line but all she'd gotten was the sound of Andrei's deep even breathing. Frustrated she'd had no option but to close her eyes and go to sleep herself but she wasn't very happy about it.

Now it was morning and despite still feeling a bit put out that he hadn't wanted her the night before, she had to concede that the full night's sleep had done her a power of good. She felt rested and refreshed. She also felt incredibly horny and the feel of Andrei's hard body against hers was exciting her unbearably. She sighed softly and rubbed herself against him sensually.

Andrei inhaled deeply against Loretta's throat, stifling down a yawn. He'd barely slept the night before, spending most of it just staring at his wolf and scenting her over and over again. If he'd hoped the new scent of lilac would have disappeared at some point during the night he was sadly mistaken. The scent was still there only it was slightly stronger now.

He'd spent hours trying to wrap his head around the fact that the lilac scent was a new life he had helped his wolf create. It was just so staggering, so shocking that it was even possible. He didn't know what to do about it. He ached to tell Loretta what he knew and yet he couldn't, not for a few days at least, until Caleb decided it was safe enough to do so.

He wanted to go against the Ancient but the tale of what had happened to the first mated Vampire and Were couple was still ringing in his head. If the news got out that Loretta was pregnant with his child before The Council could be taken care of then her life was forfeit. Her life and the child's. While he had to honestly admit to himself that he found it hard to be as concerned about the child's well being, he knew he couldn't allow anything to happen to his wolf.

He hugged Loretta tighter and stroked her back lightly. He felt like a bastard for caring more about her than the child she carried. He knew when she found out about the baby it would bring her a level of joy he may never be able to understand. He wanted to be able to feel that too but at the moment he was still too stunned at the news.

Would she hate him when she learned that he had known about the baby and hadn't told her right away? Would she understand why he had to keep quiet about it? Would she leave him if she found he couldn't love their child the way another mate would? He prayed he could adapt to this new change. He didn't ever want to let his wolf down and he was terrified that he was going to and she would hate him forever for doing so.

He felt Loretta rub against him and he stifled down a deep groan. Her arousal was scenting up the room in a very appealing manner and his body was automatically reacting to it. He tightened his arms around her to halt her movements before she drove him insane and he ravished her delectable body the way he had ached to do the night before but had denied himself.

"So you're going to squeeze me to death now?" Loretta groaned softly, frustration tingeing her voice as she realised he wasn't going to do anything about her morning arousal. She waited until he released his grip on her and sat up. "Seriously, Andrei, what on earth has gotten into you? So I was a little sick yesterday. I'm fine now. I wish you'd calm down and stop acting so strangely." 

She was horny and frustrated and really starting to feel irritated that he didn't appear to want her this morning anymore than he had the night before. She wasn't a morning person at the best of times but this morning her moods felt particularly volatile and her anger level was rising a bit unpredictably. 

She glared down at him waiting for a response but he just stared back at her his expression smooth, giving no hint of what he was thinking. With an irritated snort, she crawled over him and got out of bed to head into the bathroom. 

He was seriously driving her nuts at the moment. It was almost scary the way he was acting. If he had something on his mind she didn't know why he didn't just come right out with it and say so. He wasn't usually so reticent about telling her what was on his mind. 

With a sigh she turned on the shower and stepped under the hot spray. Ashleigh had called the night before and asked if she could get a lift to the meeting at Caleb's house as she'd be at the compound later. Andrei had already told her about the upcoming meeting and what it was about.




The Council Ch. 12



She was looking forward to seeing Ashleigh. She had hoped to see her yesterday when she stopped by the compound but her illness had put paid to that. Cedar had reported that Ash was doing great and Loretta was looking forward to seeing that for herself. Now she was mated to Nors, the little blonde would be so much more balanced and well on the road to recovery.

Loretta expected her shower to be invaded by Andrei and was surprised when it wasn't. She frowned as she dried off. What the fuck was wrong with him? Had he suddenly gone off her or something? He was insatiable when it came to sex and suddenly he didn't want to touch her? 

She felt a moment's unease. He hadn't touched her since they had fully mated. Was he fighting the mating again? Did he think he could change his mind about it? Her concern quickly changed to irritation again as her anger rose swiftly. She was going to have it out with him. He would tell her what was on his mind whether he wanted to or not. 

She was vaguely aware that her emotions seemed to be all over the place at the moment but she ignored it. Andrei Romanov had some explaining to do and if she didn't like what she heard he was going to be in serious trouble.

Andrei threw an arm over his eyes and lay in bed listening to Loretta shower. He didn't have the first clue what to do and it was driving him insane. He always knew what he was doing or if he didn't, he quickly worked it out. This situation was just so alien to him he was floundering and he had no one to talk to about it. Usually he would discuss things with Alexei but he couldn't this time.

He ached to be with his wolf. Denying her the night before had almost killed him and knowing she was naked in the shower was sending a whole host of erotic imagery running through his mind. He was hard and aching for her and yet, he was terrified to touch her. 

Would he hurt the baby by making love to her? He didn't know anything about pregnancies and what the 'dos and don'ts' were. He would need to look it up because he wasn't going to last being without his woman. He needed her. He wanted her. God, he had to have her or he'd go mad. And yet, he denied himself and her for fear of inadvertently doing any harm to the child.

He muttered a frustrated growl and got up. Lying in bed imagining the water cascading down Loretta's lithe form was too much. He needed to get dressed and out of the bedroom before he gave in to his needs and ravished her sexy body. He was just pulling his jeans on when the object of his painful erection walked back into the bedroom, her hair wet and tangled, a towel wrapped around her body.

His mouth watered at the sight but he finished buttoning his jeans and reached for a shirt. He would contain himself if it was the last thing that he ever did. If felt like it was going to be. His woman could bring him to his knees just by looking at him. 

"Where are you going?" Loretta growled irritation lacing her tone. "I don't have to be at the compound for another couple of hours. I thought we could spend some time together before I had to leave."

He knew exactly how she envisioned they would spend some time together. It was written all over her lovely face and her eyes were dark with desire. Her expression made his mouth water even more and his body strain against his jeans. He pulled his shirt on and looked away.

"I've got some things to get done this morning," he lied. It was only a little lie. He knew he could easily find a mountain of things to do. The first was finding out about pregnancies and babies so he could be prepared for what was to come. Maybe if he had some knowledge then he wouldn't feel so off balance about everything.

Loretta felt her temper spark as her mate turned away from her. She couldn't believe he was actually going to blow her off again. She had seen the lie in his eyes before he looked away. He didn't want her! "This is because you saw me vomit yesterday, isn't it?" she snapped angrily, though her voice quivered slightly as she suddenly felt unsure of herself. "It turned your stomach, didn't it? Made me unattractive to you."

His head whipped around and he stared at her in surprise. "Where the fuck did that come from?" he asked in a puzzled tone, a spark of anger flaring in his eyes. "Of course I don't find you unattractive. I've seen a lot worse than someone throwing up too. I don't know where you got that stupid notion from." He was genuinely puzzled. Understanding the way a woman's mind worked sometimes was an impossible task.

"Well if it's not that then you explain to me why I'm suddenly so repulsive to you," she bit back jabbing a finger hard against his chest to emphasise her words. His rejection of her was confusing and also hurtful.

Andrei sighed deeply and caught her wrist, almost groaning out loud at the contact. "I do not find you repulsive," he said slowly, spacing each word to make sure she got the message. "I told you I had things to do this morning." He saw a brief flash of hurt cross her face and he felt his heart twist hard in his chest. Why was doing the right thing so hard?

"If I'm not repulsive to you then why the fuck haven't you touched me since yesterday morning?" she demanded, her eyes flashing furiously. "You have barely kissed me since we mated in the forest. It's as if I'm suddenly abhorrent to you. Why don't you want me anymore, Andrei?"

Her ridiculous claim angered him and he dropped her wrist and turned away from the fury in her face. He didn't want to react to it. He didn't want to see the hurt in her eyes either. He had to do the right thing until he was certain he wouldn't harm her or the baby.

"You're being ridiculous," he said, his words coming out sounding cold and hard. He grimaced as he heard his tone. He should be reassuring her, comforting her but he was afraid to touch her. He'd lose control if he did.

Loretta stared at his back feeling a lump in her throat. His coldness hurt. The way he had stiffened at her accusation terrified her. She must have guessed correctly. He didn't want her anymore.

She swallowed hard against the lump, blinked against the sudden moisture in her eyes as her fear started to mount. He was withdrawing from her and she didn't know why. "That's it, isn't it?" she demanded hoarsely. "You don't want me anymore. You've decided you don't want to be mated to me, haven't you, Andrei?"

Andrei spun around, his eyes flashing furiously as he pinned her with a hard glare. He couldn't believe she actually thought that was true, that she trusted him so little it was easy for her to think so. 

His control snapped and he reached for her, pressing her hard against the wall and grinding his aching body against her. "Does that feel as if I don't want you?" he growled loudly, picking her up so he could press his cock hard between her legs. Fury blazed through him and also desire. His hard aching need for her pushed him to the edge.

He ground against her, threading a hand in her wet hair and tugging sharply so he could tilt her mouth for a hard, punishing kiss. He moaned against her soft lips, his lust soaring high as she whimpered against his mouth, her arms fastening around his neck. Her words kept ringing in his ears, fuelling his anger and heightening his lust.

He forgot all of his good intentions and lost himself in her sweetness. His touch gentled slightly but he was still close to the edge, still so fired up that he knew their coming together was going to be swift and so incredibly satisfying. 

He ripped the towel away from her body and freed his cock from his jeans. His heated gaze trailed down her naked, wet skin and he growled loudly and fastened his lips on one hard nipple, sucking the nub into his mouth and pulling hard on it. A part of his mind was telling him to be gentle but it was small part. The rest of him was on fire for her as he tugged and pulled at her tender peaks ruthlessly as she cried out and pressed her delicious body wantonly into his mouth.

"Look at me," he growled softly, waiting for his wolf to open her eyes and meet his as he raised his head and pressed his cock firmly up and down her soaking wet slit. Her glazed eyes met his and he felt his lust soar higher as he stared into their smoky depths. 

He thrust into her honeyed warmth in one swift move, riding up hard until she was impaled on his cock. "Say that to me again, Loretta," he demanded hoarsely. "Open your mouth once more and tell me I don't fucking want you." 

He withdrew and thrust hard again, slamming into her and dragging a loud cry from her lips and a louder one from his own as her beautiful body wrapped around his aching cock and welcomed him home.

Loretta couldn't catch her breath. Andrei's assault had been so swift it had taken her by surprise. Her wolf growled happily as their mate joined with them in such a primal fashion. It felt glorious and she could only shudder as his cock slid deep within her and his eyes glittered with lust as he kept her gaze pinned with hers.

"Andrei," she groaned softly, holding on as he pulled back and thrust into her again. Sweet bliss shuddered through her body as he stroked into her with hard, forceful movements. He was letting her know with his body and his words how much he wanted her, how much he desired her. And she loved every moment of it.

Andrei tried to get some semblance of control, tried to remember that he should be gentle with her but she was responding to him with a need as fierce as his, egging him on to take her deep and hard. He trust into her again, her silken walls caressing his cock and making the breath hiss out of his mouth.

His woman was spectacular, so lusty and sensual and he couldn't stop riding her sexy body with fierce strokes as he pushed them both quickly towards their completion. His body was on fire for her. His soul craved her very essence as they rode together in sweet bliss.

He could feel her shaking around him, her sweet moans ringing in his ears as he felt the tension build within him. His fangs elongated and he pierced her neck swiftly, groaning as her sweet blood filled his eager mouth.

Loretta screamed when Andrei bit her, her body exploding in white hot pleasure as the combination of him feeding and stroking deep within her tipped her over the edge. She shuddered wildly her heart hammering in her chest, her breath coming out in harsh pants as she rode her climax.

Andrei followed her almost instantly. She could feel his wolf knot forming but he didn't press for entry into her body, instead his strokes turned shallower as he licked the side of her neck to close her wound and threw his head back and growled his release loudly.

He held her trembling body for a long moment as he gathered his wits about him and then he slowly lowered her to the floor, his quick gaze checking that she was okay. The guilt began to sink in immediately. He had taken her like an animal, with little care for her well being or the child's. What kind of a bastard did that make him?

His expression closed off and he quickly stepped away from her, fastening his jeans and grabbing his boots, keys and jacket. "Don't ever say I don't want you again, Loretta," he said quietly, his tone sounding harsh because of his conflicted emotions. He strode out of the room without a backward glance.

Loretta stared after his retreating back, the warmth she had just been feeling quickly evaporating. She felt tears start to gather in her eyes again and she shook them away angrily, wondering why the hell she suddenly wanted to cry every five bloody minutes or so. She would not cry over the stupid asshole. She refused to. She didn't know what the hell was wrong with him but he was bloody well going to tell her tonight after the meeting or she'd beat the crap out of him.

Uttering a deep sigh she turned and headed back into the shower to clean up again. She couldn't stop the little smile that suddenly curved over her lips. At least she knew he still wanted her. He had been quite forceful with that little lesson and it had been truly glorious. Her wolf concurred and Loretta sighed again as her mood shifted once more and she was suddenly trying to balance being happy with feeling sad and also wanting to kick the shit out of her vampire. Being with Andrei really was a complete minefield at times.

*****

Ashleigh could see that Loretta was upset about something but was trying to hide it. She wanted to ask what it was but figured her friend would tell her if she really wanted to. She decided to grab a book and read a little while she waited for the Beta to finish changing.

Ashleigh felt good. Everything appeared to be going well in her life. She was thriving being back around her own people, enjoying the communal aspects of pack life once more. She didn't even falter when she passed the memorial anymore. Sometimes she even stopped and laid a hand on it for a brief moment before continuing on her way to wherever she was going.

Something had changed within her. Maybe it was working at the Bookstore or her mating with Nors, she wasn't sure which one it was but life felt good. She felt happy for the first time in a very long time. She was smiling quietly to herself when Loretta returned to the sitting room having changed into jeans and a button down sweater, her hair freshly washed and dried.

"I know that look," Loretta laughed softly. "Let me guess? You're thinking of Nors?" Her laughter increased when she saw the faint pink blush cross the younger woman's face even as her smile widened further. It was so wonderful to see the changes in Ashleigh, how much freer she was around the compound, how she quite literally glowed whenever her mate's name was spoken.

Her own lips tightened as she thought of Andrei. He'd called a couple of times during the day but she'd been pretty abrupt with him, claiming to be busy and unable to talk. Her lack of communication had irritated his already bad mood and both calls had ended rather frostily.

Loretta stifled down a sigh and smiled at Ashleigh. "You ready to go?"

They headed out to Loretta's car, the younger woman glancing sideways at her Beta. It was so obvious Loretta was unhappy about something. "Did you and Andrei have a fight?" she finally asked as she settled into the passenger side and pulled her seatbelt on.

Loretta sighed deeply and rolled her eyes. "He's enough to try the patience of a saint sometimes," she admitted but her lips twitched in a little smile as she spoke. "Life certainly isn't dull when he's around." Her tone was warm and her smile widened a bit more.

Ashleigh found herself smiling too. She didn't know Loretta's mate. Tonight would be the first time she would meet him. She had heard a lot about him though and was a bit worried about the meeting. 

Her friend's ill humour hadn't really been settling her nerves any either. Now she could practically sense the hum of excitement rushing through Loretta at the prospect of being with her mate soon. Despite her annoyance with him she still couldn't wait to be with him. That settled Ashleigh's nerves slightly and she settled back in her seat as Loretta pulled out of the compound.

Caleb didn't stay that far from pack lands but they had left a lot later than everyone else mainly because Loretta had been tied up with a pack member for longer than anticipated. They would most probably be the last ones to get there but Ashleigh had called Nors and let him know they were going to be late and to start the meeting without them and they'd catch up with whatever was going on.

Loretta had just pulled onto the main road which cut through the forest when the car suddenly rocked violently and veered to the side. Ashleigh let out an involuntary scream as the car fishtailed and there was a loud bang from the rear and also on the roof. A second later the scent of vampires filled her nostrils and her eyes widened as she turned to look at her friend.

Loretta was fighting to maintain control of the car but she knew she was fighting a losing battle. The vampires were wresting the control from her and sending them ploughing toward the line of trees on her right side. Her heart hammered loudly in her chest as the car swerved again and the steering wheel was wrenched out of her hands.

"Ash, DON'T shift!" she had time to grind out before the back of the car connected with the trees with a sickening crunch. The roof of the vehicle was peeled back as if it was a tin can and long talons reached inside.

There had to be at least three vampires from the speed they were dragged from the vehicle. The seatbelt dug into Loretta hard before it snapped from the sheer force used to hoist her from the car. Fear shivered through her as she felt the hands on her body and memories of Sandro returned and the way he had tossed her body about as if she was nothing. Were they about to die? Was she never going to see Andrei again?

She pressed down the fear, trying to find Ashleigh and make sure she was okay. She wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all. The little blonde had been through so much already. She didn't deserve to have to go through any more anguish, not when she was just recovering from the last confrontation with vampires.

Ashleigh was almost paralysed with fear. The vampires were everywhere and it was like her nightmare coming to life. They were so beautiful to look at and so evil to their very core. She shivered and whimpered as hard hands held her around her throat. She wanted to shift to wolf form but Loretta had said not to. She wanted Nors to come. He always came when she needed him. Where was he now?

"There's two of them?" one of the vampire's ground out in a bored tone.

"Which one is fucking Andrei?" Another bored voice asked. "We're just supposed to bring that bitch. We don't need the other one."

Loretta felt her fear escalate at the words. She was being held so tightly she couldn't get a good look at any of the vampires but she could catch a glimpse of Ashleigh's frozen form just off to her left. The vampire holding Loretta leaned down and scented her neck.

"This is Andrei's bitch," he announced, disgust dripping from his tone.

"Fine. Take her," the first bored vampire said. "Kill the other one."

A whimper escaped Ashleigh's lips as she tried to twist out of the painful grasp holding her still. She could hear Loretta struggling furiously beside her. She knew she was about to die, that Nors would be beside himself with grief at losing her. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was that she was going to be responsible for so much pain for him.

"No, you can't," Loretta screamed at the top of her voice, struggling furiously in the vampire's grasp, her heart hammering wildly. She had to get free somehow to help her friend.

"Andrei!" she screamed mentally even though she knew they were too far away for him to hear her. Shifting to wolf form wouldn't help either because the pack were too far away. She managed to turn her body in time to see talons closing around Ashleigh's neck, the little blonde's face white with fear, her big brown eyes full of unshed tears.

"Tell him I love him," Ashleigh whispered softly her eyes meeting Loretta's frantic gaze. "Tell him I'm so sorry."

Loretta struggled harder, tears streaming down her face as she tried to save her friend as the vampire's grip tightened. A deep groan of anguish escaped her in a long tortured breath. "Ashleigh!"

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 13



"Stop!" Loretta screamed out hoarsely as she struggled in the painful grip of the vampire who held her so effortlessly. "She belongs to Nors Eriksson! The Ancient! He'll gut you all alive if you hurt her!" She clutched at the only thing she could think of which would protect her friend, Nors' status among his own kind.

All three vampires appeared to freeze for a second and then the one who was holding Ashleigh suddenly released her as if she was burning his hands. She collapsed to the ground, her hand going automatically to her throat where blood trickled down the side of her neck from the vampire's talons. 

Loretta pulled against her own abductor and he released her to round on his companions. The Beta immediately reached for Ashleigh, pulling her close and urgently checking her neck. Her wounds were shallow thankfully but she appeared to be in a daze, almost catatonic.

"Ash," Loretta whispered urgently against her ear holding her close. "Lean on the strength of your wolf. Don't shift but let her come forward to help you. I'll tell you when it's time to shift. If our wolves think we may have a chance for freedom they'll take over and we'll only get ourselves killed. Be strong, honey. You know you have it in you. Do it for Nors."

Her Beta's urgent words sank into Ashleigh's terrified mind. She took a deep shuddering breath, amazed that she was still alive and could do so. She had to be strong, for Nors. She didn't want to let him down. She was alive and she needed to stay that way. She wanted to see her vampire again. 

She took another deep breath and then called her wolf forward until she was hovering very close to the surface. She immediately felt less frightened, her eyes clearing as she met Loretta's and gave her a shaky nod.

The vampires were arguing furiously, not the least concerned that their captives were unguarded. They knew if the wolves ran they would hunt them down in an instant.

"He never said anything about fucking with the Ancients!" the blond vampire who had been holding Ashleigh was exclaiming loudly. "If the wolf belongs to Nors then I'm not touching her. One of you kill her!"

"The bitch is probably lying to save her friend," the first vampire argued. "Have any of you even scented Nors? How the fuck would any of us know if what she's claiming is the truth or not?"

The last vampire turned to look down at the two women kneeling on the ground. "I was at the Council ceremony," he said in a cold voice walking over and hauling Ashleigh unceremoniously to her feet. His foot shot out and kicked Loretta in the ribs when she tried to intervene.

Loretta gritted her teeth as the blow landed and managed not to cry out. The kick had been hard but not enough to do any significant damage. Obviously they had been instructed to bring her back alive and undamaged for the most part. She watched the vampire scent Ashleigh deeply before he dropped her back to the ground and turned back to his friends.

"She bears the Ancient's scent," he growled in irritation.

The blond one hissed loudly. "Fucking great," he muttered angrily. "What are we supposed to do now? We can't let her go. If we kill her we're going to have an Ancient on our ass. I'm not even going there!"

"We'll just have to take her with us too," the vampire who had scented Ashleigh said. "Let Roberto decide what to do with her. We can't piss about here all night, someone will come along and then we'll have to kill them to keep them quiet." He appeared bored at the thought rather than concerned that they'd need to kill someone else. The dark haired vampire at his side strolled over and pulled the two women up. "Get rid of the car," he said tersely before he hauled the wolves further up the road towards a waiting van. 

He hissed loudly at them. "If you run I'll kill this bitch no matter who she belongs to," he warned Loretta in a cold voice. It was obvious the brunette was the higher ranking of the two women and the one that really needed to be watched.

Loretta tried to call to Andrei again mentally but received no response. She would never run and leave Ashleigh to her fate and there was nothing they could do to escape together so the only option left was to resist as little as possible. They had to stay alive long enough for Andrei to realise something was wrong and come looking for them. She had no doubt that he would; she just didn't know how long it would take him.

Her heart twisted in her chest as she remembered how abrupt she'd been with him when he'd called her. She had still been annoyed at their fight and not quite ready to kiss and make up. She didn't want Andrei's last memories of her to be of them fighting. She didn't want him to think that she had died being angry with him.

The vampire forced them into the back of the black van and snapped chains tightly around their ankles and wrists. Ashleigh's face was pale but determined, her eyes meeting Loretta's and only showing a little of her inner fear.

Loretta managed a reassuring smile even though she was just as frightened and worried as the younger woman. They both knew there was a very good chance they weren't coming out of this encounter alive. The vampires wanted them for something; once they had that something there would be no need to keep the wolves alive any longer.

"Ash," she whispered urgently when the vampire closed the door and disappeared briefly. "When I tell you to shift do so immediately. They want me to get to Andrei which means they'll probably try and get me to reveal secrets we don't want revealed. They're not going to be gentle about it either. The only way to ensure we don't talk is to be in wolf form so we can't talk."

Ashleigh swallowed hard and nodded her understanding of what her Beta was explaining. She knew she was surplus to requirements, that the vampires would most likely use her to get to Loretta to talk. They couldn't reveal anything about the matings; they couldn't endanger Nors and Andrei.

She swallowed again and felt her wolf lend her some of her strength. She didn't want to die but, more importantly, she didn't want anyone to use her to hurt Nors. The vampires had taken everything from her already and there was no way in hell she was going to allow them to take her mate. She felt an almost serene feeling of calm suddenly overcome her.

"No matter what they do to me, Loretta, protect them," she said fiercely, her eyes flashing with determination. "Don't let them use me to make you talk. I'd rather be dead than have anything happen to Nors."

Loretta felt tears well up in her eyes, a huge rush of pride for the younger woman overwhelming her. Ashleigh understood exactly what was about to happen and she was standing strong, her love for her vampire giving her the strength to meet it head on. "They'll come, Ash," she managed to get out through a long shaky breath. "Just keep remembering that, honey. They will come and when they do, they'll rip these bastards to shreds for even thinking about laying a hand on either of us. They'll come."

Ashleigh nodded through her own sudden tears, closing her eyes as they spilled over down her cheeks. Nors would come. He always came when she needed him. She would be strong for him until he did so, no matter what the vampires did.

*****

Rhianna looked around her sitting room marvelling at how many people were actually fit into it. It was so strange to see so many people in her home but she found she kind of liked it. It made her think about maybe having a proper gathering once the issue with the matings was all sorted out.

Her gaze slid to Caleb who was off to one side with Demetri talking quietly. Her lips curved in a little smile as she imagined his reaction to her suggestion for a formal party of some kind. He wouldn't like that idea at all but she was sure she could talk him around. 

He usually liked to keep his home private, somewhere where he felt safe and inviolate. Which was why he was announcing the news of the matings being possible here, he was confident that there was no chance of any eavesdropping occurring in his home.

He looked up suddenly, his gaze connecting instantly with hers as his lips curved into a slow smile, his golden brown eyes losing their intense look to become softer, gentler. She felt her heart skip a beat as it always did when her vampire shared a moment with her. He didn't try to hide the love in his eyes; he wanted the whole world to know that she was his without a shadow of a doubt.

Rhianna heard Demetri snort an amused laugh and broke her gaze with Caleb to turn to look at the dark haired vampire. His beautiful face was full of amusement as he rolled his eyes at her in mock exasperation but she could see his love lurking in the depths of his gorgeous green eyes. She adored the mercurial vampire and returned his smile before turning her gaze once more around the room.

Her brother Rafe was standing with Mara and Jared at the table Caleb had added to the far wall to house food for those who ate and various drinks for those who didn't. She didn't listen in to their conversation, merely watched for a moment with a soft smile curving her face. 

They were all her family in one manner or another. She may only share a blood link directly with Rafe but she loved them all as if they had been family for all their lives.

Finally she turned to the newer members of her immediate circle, the unknown quantities. Well, Cedar was hardly an unknown. The blonde wolf was sitting beside Nors and his sister Freya on one of the large sofas. Alexei was hovering at her side, perched on the arm of the sofa with one arm draped along the back of it. Cedar was unconsciously leaning back into his embrace which wasn't exactly an actual embrace.

Nors had finally given up on trying to work out whether or not he liked or disliked Rhianna. He'd settled on liked after she had helped with Ashleigh, giving the little blonde wolf a job in her bookstore to ease her back into living again. Their friendship was growing on a daily basis now and she was sure that soon she would look on him as another member of her extended family.

Freya she didn't know at all and was quite happy with that circumstance. Caleb didn't like the other woman which automatically made her feel some antipathy towards Nors' sister. Freya was here under sufferance and it was obvious for all to see that. Nors wanted her here as did Caleb because she was an Ancient. Her expression said she wanted to be anywhere but there.

The last person in the room was the one that concerned Rhianna the most. Andrei was standing with his back to the room staring out the French windows into the garden. His entire body language screamed piss off and everyone was leaving him to his own devices, including his twin.

Andrei had barely nodded to Caleb, glared at Demetri was a dark scowl, and shared a few quiet words with his brother before he took his stance at the glass doors and proceeded to ignore everyone else. 

It was obvious his mood was not good and Rhianna could understand why. The changes he was going through were happening too fast for him. He'd gone from being his normal self to mated to a wolf and an expectant father quicker than he could blink. She suspected Loretta and he had had some words too which probably wasn't helping his mood any. It was going to be a very interesting meeting.

Caleb suddenly moved to face the room and Rhianna gravitated to the large armchair beside him. Her vampire stood behind the chair and placed his hands on top giving everyone a quick glance to make sure he had their full attention.

"Ashleigh and Loretta are running a little late but we'll start anyway," he said firmly. "They can catch up when they get here. The object of this meeting is to discuss the interspecies matings and to impart information which I have discovered fairly recently."

He shot a quick look at Jared and gave him a slightly sheepish smile. "It wasn't my intention to hold this back for any length of time," he said speaking directly to the Alpha. "I only found out when we were in Europe which was why it took us a little longer to get back than I'd intended."

Jared pierced him with a hard gaze and then rolled his eyes. "It never is your intention to withhold information, Caleb, but you always manage to do so," he rumbled in a slightly aggrieved tone. "I'm getting tired of you doing so when it concerns my pack though."

Caleb nodded, conceding his point. "It concerned my kind too, Jared," he answered. "The pack will adapt to this a lot better than the vampires. I had to weigh the ramifications of it all and also start to work towards finding some way to stop a bloodbath when this comes out. You know this will tear apart my people. Silence was necessary for a period of time." 

He didn't want to be at odds with his friend and hoped Jared would see his point. The lessening of the tension in the Alpha's body and the brief nod of his head told him that Jared understood.

"I wanted more time but certain 'things' have occurred which means we've effectively run out of time and need to be working proactively from now on," Caleb continued after a brief pause. "Vampires and Weres can mate fully but it's not a particularly easy thing to accomplish."

The room was completely silent for a moment as stunned faces stared at the Ancient. 

Cedar turned to look at Alexei, excitement shining on her face as he looked down at her with a little frown. He felt a thrill of excitement too but Caleb's words also gave him some pause. His eyes turned to his brother who hadn't moved from his stance at the glass doors. Andrei had known this and kept quiet about it. That only served to enhance his disquiet.

"Explain," Nors said, breaking the silence. He was sitting forward alertly, his green eyes intent on Caleb's face. He wanted to mate with his wolf so badly but he was worried about what it would involve to achieve it.

"Andrei inadvertently bit Loretta yesterday morning, effectively mating with her fully," Caleb announced as there were loud gasps in the room and Rafe and Jared automatically growled loudly. 

He held up his hand for silence. "Thankfully, the conditions were already in place for them to be able to mate and his venom didn't harm Loretta," he added quickly. "So please don't go biting your mates, Alexei, Nors, or you will kill them. The set of circumstances that need to take place for a mating to be possible are very extreme."

Alexei watched the Ancient and then looked at his brother again, his mind whirling frantically as he tried to piece it all together. He had read so much about Weres that surely there was something in what he'd read that could point to why Andrei could fully mate with his wolf while he couldn't?

"Andrei healed Loretta," he said quietly, watching his brother stiffen slightly at his words. "It's something to do with that isn't it? That's the only difference they share with the rest of us."

Caleb nodded. "To mate, the vampire has to heal their intended mate in a very intrusive manner," he announced. "Ingesting blood will not do so. There has to be a direct, internal blood to blood transfer and like 'normal' human/vampire Siring, the wolf has to be close to death at the time."

The room was silent for another long moment before Alexei finally spoke again. "So what you're telling us is that if Nors and I want to be able to fully mate with our wolves then we have to hurt them to the point of death first and then heal them?" His tone was devoid of all emotion as he felt Cedar stiffen beside him slightly.

"That's exactly what he's saying," Andrei said quietly, his back still to the room. "In my case Sandro had already done the damage and I just did the healing part. You will need to all but kill Cedar to be able to mate with her."

"But we will be able to fully mate," Cedar interrupted, excitement in her tone as she looked up into Alexei's scowling face. "It's not so different from other vampire matings, Alexei. It won't hurt for long and we'll be fully joined." God, she wanted that so much but she could tell from the expression on her vampire's face that he was going to be difficult about it.

"This is something that we all need to consider, Cedar," Jared said quietly. "Don't get me wrong, I don't want to deny you your mate but we have to think about this rationally. What if something went wrong? What if Alexei was too late to save you? As Alpha I have to put the welfare of my pack members first so until such times as we've all had time to think this through then I'm afraid I have to forbid you from attempting a full mating." He didn't use his command tone but it was clear that he would if it was necessary.

Alexei was in quandary. Part of him wanted to mate with his wolf so badly and yet another part automatically rejected the possibility of hurting her in anyway. He didn't want to deny her either and her Alpha's edict irritated him too. 

He wanted to tell Jared to fuck off and stop ordering his woman around. He could see Cedar's disappointment in her eyes. She would obey her Alpha's command even though she didn't want to. He felt no such compunction to do so. But if he argued with Jared then he was effectively agreeing to hurting his Cedar and he couldn't agree to that no matter what the end result was.

"There is more," Caleb said somewhat dryly, interrupting the little pack debate going on. He hadn't intended to announce the last remaining bombshell but Jared's words had touched a chord. The Alpha deserved to know everything that affected his pack.

Andrei turned slowly from the window to look at Caleb with a hard glare. He knew the Ancient was about to reveal everything, that everyone would know that Loretta was pregnant. Fury exploded inside him, the wolf part of him rearing up as well as his vampiric nature. 

Loretta wasn't even here and Caleb was going to tell the others about the child before his mate even knew about it? He had held his peace, kept secrets from his wolf and hurt her all for nothing? What right did the Ancient have to discuss his business with others when his own mate didn't even know?

"Caleb!" he growled loudly, feeling rage surge through him wildly. His sudden fury seemed to be mitigated with something else which was fuelling his anger. Something was gnawing at his gut, a deep wrenching ache which was driving him insane. He unconsciously clutched at his stomach, his eyes burning with his fury. 

An urgent need to be with Loretta overcame him. It was violent and left him feeling nauseated in a way he had never felt before. Where the fuck was Loretta? Where was his mate? Why wasn't she here by now? Andrei hissed loudly, fighting not to change to full vampire mode.

Rafe stared at Andrei his eyes narrowing at the wild expression in his eyes. Something sparked deep within him, a sudden feeling of unease. "What's wrong?" he asked, breaking the vampire's gaze from Caleb. "Tell us what you're feeling, Andrei." There was a quiet command in his tone. As Jared's second in command he was used to being obeyed.

Andrei glared at Rafe, fighting the urge to cross the room and rip the wolf to pieces. "Rage," he suddenly ground out, hissing loudly. "Panic, anxiety, the need to kill." His eyes turned wilder as the emotions within him escalated. "Loretta," he growled. "Where the fuck is she? Why isn't she here yet?"

Immediately the three wolves became alert. Cedar stood reaching for her cell phone and dialling the compound without anyone saying anything.

"Jared?" Caleb asked quietly, tensing as Andrei appeared to become even wilder before his eyes. Alexei was rising and crossing the room to his brother concern etched across his face, Demetri close behind him. 

Freya was looking at Nors with a slightly worried expression on her face but her brother appeared to be fine, not reacting the way Andrei was to his mate being absent.




The Council Ch. 13



"He's reacting to his mate being in distress," The Alpha answered, his expression dark and his voice concerned. "He can sense something is wrong and his wolf side is fighting for dominance. He needs to protect her but he's too volatile to be able to handle it. He's not had any instruction from Aaron like Alexei has."

Nors suddenly growled loudly and jumped to his feet. "Ashleigh is with Loretta," he bit out harshly. "If something is wrong with her then Ashleigh is in danger too." He wasn't fully mated with his wolf and didn't feel the anxiety that Andrei was suddenly exhibiting but he was full of cold, hard vampiric fury. If Ashleigh was hurt in anyway, he would rip apart anyone to get to her.

"Fuck this!" Andrei hissed lurching forward only to come up against the hard wall of his brother's chest. He snarled furiously, pushing hard against his twin. He was in his way, stopping him from getting to his mate. If he didn't move he was going to rip him to fucking pieces, brother or no brother.

Alexei wrapped his thick arms around Andrei and tried to pin his struggling twin. He'd seen his brother in many emotional states before but this one was new. "Control, Andrei!" he bit out urgently. "Fight it!"

Andrei's eyes turned black and his fangs dropped. Alexei hissed in pain as sharp talons suddenly dug into his sides. "Demetri!" he ground out through the pain.

His friend immediately assaulted Andrei from behind, forcing his arms away from his brother and holding them far enough away that his talons couldn't connect with Alexei. 

"Loretta!" Andrei screamed mentally, struggling against the arms holding him down, his only thought to get to his mate. He was enclosed tightly within the steel bands of both Alexei and Demetri's arms, pinning him down and preventing him from finding his woman.

In response Andrei head butted his brother hard, rocking Alexei's head back though he managed to hold onto the struggling vampire. "Andrei, think!" Alexei ground out hoarsely. "Calm yourself! This won't help Loretta! She needs you thinking clearly and rationally!" 

He could see his words were not getting through. Andrei was beyond any rational thought at the moment. He wasn't even fully vampire because his wolf gene was interfering with even that. Alexei didn't know how to reach his brother and for the first time in a long time he actually felt afraid.

"Andrei, listen to your brother," Demetri growled loudly, managing to avoid the back swing of his friend's head as he tried to break free. "Loretta needs your brain not your brawn right now." It had no effect but the two vampires tried to get through to Andrei as he fought to shake free of their grasp.

Andrei's frantic struggling was beginning to transmit to Nors. The wolf within him was fighting to break free and join the other vampire. Their mate was in danger somehow. His growling increased and Freya placed a restraining hand on his arm.

"Nors, be calm," she said firmly though her eyes flew to Caleb, full of concern. Nors was ready to explode and she didn't think she would be able to contain him if he did. The other Ancient immediately moved over to their side, Jared following him as Rafe headed over to help Alexei and Demetri.

Cedar would have followed Rafe but Rhianna shook her head quickly. "Alexei needs to be completely focused on his brother," she said quietly by way of explanation. 

The blonde wolf understood her logic but she wanted to be with her mate. The wounds Andrei had inflicted were healed already but she still couldn't stop feeling anxious about Alexei being hurt. Still, if Andrei hurt her then Alexei would lose it so staying back with Mara and Rhianna made sense.

Caleb spoke quietly and urgently to Nors, trying to maintain a level of lucidity in him. Thankfully some measure of reason remained in the huge vampire's eyes and Caleb could only thank God that the other man hadn't fully mated with Ashleigh. If he had then Nors would have been impossible to contain.

A loud roar sounded across the room as Andrei bit hard into Alexei's neck and ripped savagely. The pain caused Alexei to lose his hold and his brother would have broken free if Rafe hadn't managed to enfold him in a band of steel, his big body bracing for the inevitable pain he was about to feel. 

Rafe tried to stay away from Alexei's fangs. If he was biting his own brother he wouldn't think twice about biting him and he'd be killed instantly.

"Get out of the way!" Demetri hissed furiously at the wolf at the same time Rhianna screamed in anguish, "Rafe, look out!" 

Andrei's fangs flashed towards Rafe and he tried to move out of the way of deadly fangs coming at him but the vampire was too quick for him. He had a moment to think of Lacey and how devastated she would be when he died when an arm shot between himself and the vampire and Andrei's fangs connected with Alexei's body.

"Move, dog!" Alexei ground out, his eyes flashing wildly as he punched his brother hard in the head to get him to release his fangs which were viciously tearing into his arm.

Rafe released the vampire and then hissed in agony as Andrei's talons managed to connect with his stomach, scoring a deep gash against his flesh. The pain was excruciating and he left out a loud roar. "ENOUGH!"

Rafe's roar echoed around the room loudly as he stepped back clutching at his stomach to stem the blood flow from his wound. His breath hissed in and out in short, hard pants as he fought off the queasiness that threatened to overwhelm him.

He opened his eyes to see Andrei glaring balefully at him, his eyes once more resuming their deep brown colour. The vampire was still snarling but there was a hint of intelligence within his gaze, as if he were waiting patiently for the next words to leave Rafe's mouth.

To the side of him Alexei too was looking at Rafe with an expectant expression on his face. He still held his brother firmly but it was apparent he didn't need to restrain his twin in the same manner as before.

"What?" Rafe growled angrily taking a step away from them as the tension level in the room appeared to ratchet down a notch. He turned as his sister approached his side, catching sight of Jared frowning in his direction before the Alpha's expression smoothed out. 

Nors was staring intently at him, as well as Caleb, though his brother's expression was more thoughtful than the deep intensity in the flame haired vampire's gaze.

"Let me heal that," Rhianna said biting into her finger and tracing it lightly across Rafe's wound. Her touch was gentle and instantly soothed the pain he was feeling.

Caleb met Jared's gaze with a raised eyebrow. The Alpha pursed his lips thoughtfully and then smiled slightly and shook his head. Now was not the time to discuss what no one else seemed to have noticed. He would deal with it later.

Rafe stared down at his stomach as he watched his sister's healing blood close the slash marks instantly. "Thanks, Annie," he breathed softly, kissing the top of her head to take away the anxious expression on her face. He still felt some discomfort from the wound internally but he knew his own healing abilities would settle that down shortly.

The room was now deathly silent again as everyone stood around with slightly stunned expressions on their faces. The sudden fury that had escalated from nowhere had taken them all by surprise, as had the equally as sudden quelling of the violent emotions within the room.

It was Caleb who broke the silence, letting out a deep breath and releasing it slowly. "Now that everyone is more in control of themselves perhaps we should turn our attention to finding out what's happened to Loretta and Ashleigh?"

His words seemed to free everyone from their shock. Cedar frowned and bit her lip. "According to Brody they left the compound over half an hour ago," she said quietly. "He and Connor were going to scout around but they should have been here by now. It's only a ten minute drive." 

As if on queue her phone rang and she answered it quickly, listening intently before she thanked her brother and turned to look at Jared. "Brody said there's no sign of the car within a ten mile radius of pack lands though there is a damaged tree and skid marks on the main road running through the forest."

"Fucking bastard!" Andrei hissed loudly. "It's Daniel! I fucking know it is! There was a hint of smugness about him all day today, more so than usual. It was enough to alert me that something wasn't right and I asked Stephan to keep an eye on him and Roberto. I should have known he was up to something. My gut told me he was." 

He was livid with himself. If he had been less full of self pity and self recrimination over his fight with Loretta earlier he would have paid more attention to what the other Council members were up to. He would have done something about it instead of sulking like a child. Loretta would have been safe with him if he had acted sooner.

"You don't know that, Andrei," Alexei argued seeing his brother's wildness starting to escalate again. "Stephan hasn't called to warn you about anything. Keeping calm and thinking this through levelly is the way to go, not flying off the handle. Call Stephan for an update."

Nors' eyes flashed dangerously as he turned to Caleb. There was a huge ache inside him as well as a fury he was barely able to control. He felt exactly as Andrei did. He wanted to kill everyone that stood in his path to Ashleigh. "I swear, Caleb, if The Council have Ashleigh and they harm her in anyway I'm going to take those bastards down and no one is going to stop me. Not even you. I will take down every fucking vampire that stands in my way and to hell with the consequences."

"Peace Nors," Caleb rumbled softly. "There are already plans in place for The Council. If they have the girls then they will be taken care of. We need to ascertain the facts first. We need intelligence. Does Daniel have them and if so where are they being held? Why does he have them? What are his aims and objectives? We need to think like Daniel to work out a plan of action that not only results in the wolves being extracted safely but The Council taken down as swiftly and smoothly as possible." He turned to look at Andrei who was just finishing his call with Stephan. 

"Stephan said both Daniel and Roberto have been at the Council chambers all evening but there is a feeling of something going on. Some out of town vampires have been around. He's sending someone to check down in the subbasement area." Andrei's tone was brusque, his eyes cold and hard. 

One moment he looked as if he was ready to flip out and then his eyes would sweep the room quickly, landing on Rafe for a brief moment and he would take a deep breath and calm slightly.

"I know it's hard for everyone but we need to wait for confirmation," Caleb said quietly. "If we start rushing around in the wrong direction it isn't going to help either Ashleigh or Loretta." He kept his gaze on Andrei as he spoke, knowing he was the wild card, the one they all needed to watch.

Andrei growled, fear pulsing through him as well as fury. He was certain Daniel had his mate. He knew he had taken her to get to him. Daniel would try and get information out of Loretta and she wouldn't give it to him. He would hurt her to try and find out what he wanted to know.

Andrei had promised his Rose that no one would ever hurt her again as Sandro had and he was already failing her. The longer Daniel had her, the bigger likelihood there was that Loretta would be hurt. 

He thought of their child growing within her body. The child he had been denying only hours before, worrying that he wouldn't be able to love as he loved his wolf. The threat to his child sent a red hot fury pulsing within him. A fierce, protective love bloomed deeply as he thought of the life he had miraculously been able to create with his woman. If he lost either of them he would go insane.

"We can't wait, Caleb," he growled harshly. "I won't risk Loretta and I sure as hell will not risk our child either!"

His revelation had everyone staring at him in stunned silence again. It almost appeared as if everyone had stopped breathing at the same time for a fraction of a second. Andrei gave a tortured groan as he realised just what he'd revealed, what he had tried to stop Caleb revealing only moments before.

"That's impossible," Jared bit out hoarsely, his eyes automatically seeking Caleb's for confirmation that Andrei was wrong in his announcement. His friend met his gaze and then shook his head slowly.

"It's not impossible, Jared," Caleb answered. "Once the mating is complete a child can be conceived, which was what I was about to reveal when Andrei lost it just then. It's not a normal human or Were pregnancy either. The wolf gene asserts dominance and gestation reverts to a wolf's, around sixty-three days. Loretta is not only pregnant but she will have a very short pregnancy too."

"But they only mated yesterday morning," Cedar said in a confused tone. "How can you even know that she's pregnant?" This new piece of news set her heart racing and she wanted to be able to examine it from a personal perspective but she knew she didn't have the luxury of time to do so right now. They needed to be concentrating on rescuing Loretta and Ashleigh.

Alexei let out a loud growl and glared at his brother. "That's what last night was all about?" he demanded angrily, piecing everything together. He turned to look at his mate. "Andrei called me last night to sit with Loretta because she was sick, some kind of stomach ailment. He came and spoke to Caleb but refused to tell me what was said. You've known this since last night, what was wrong with Loretta." His gaze had swung back to his twin who met his eyes unflinchingly. 

"Yes, we worked out last night that Loretta was pregnant," Andrei answered in a cold hard tone. "We needed to keep quiet about it until we could neutralise The Council. Caleb found information that revealed this happened once before millennia ago. The Council killed the mated couple and child and covered up everything so it couldn't happen again. It was safer for Loretta and the baby for us to remain silent until the situation was handled."

A deep, anguished gasp escaped Cedar's lips and her eyes automatically flew to the other Weres in the room. She saw the shock and sorrow start to cross Rafe and Jared's faces as they met her gaze. Her eyes filled with tears as she turned to look back at Andrei. "So Loretta doesn't know she's carrying a child?" she asked in a shaky whisper, closing her eyes when the vampire nodded.

"What, Cedar?" Alexei growled softly, his arms automatically coming around her to pull her tightly against him, his need to comfort her obvious distress overcoming him completely.

"She'll shift, Alexei," Cedar groaned hoarsely. "She doesn't know about the baby so she'll shift to wolf form to make it more difficult for the vampires to get any of our secrets out of her."

Alexei nodded a confused expression on his face. He skipped the parts about breeding when reading up on Weres. It hadn't appeared relevant to him at the time. "So she'll shift," he said slowly trying to work out what the significance of that was.

Cedar turned her eyes back to Andrei and bit her bottom lip hard. " Weres can't shift in the first trimester of their pregnancy, Andrei," she breathed softly, sorrow lacing her tone as she met the vampire's already troubled gaze. "It aborts the child!"

Andrei stared at Cedar as her words sank in. What she was telling him was if Loretta shifted she would lose the baby and the probability of her shifting was high given the current circumstances. His silence could effectively kill their child. If he had told Loretta last night or even this morning then she could have made an informed choice on what to do. When she found out that his silence was directly responsible for their baby's death she would hate him.

He was aware of Alexei watching him carefully. Everyone was watching him, waiting for him to explode as he just had. Instead a deep, mind numbing grief coursed through him and threatened to bring him to his knees. In an attempt to save Loretta he had killed their baby, the child that he suddenly found he wanted almost as much as he wanted his precious wolf.

Andrei turned away from the room, back to the French doors and stared sightlessly out into the garden, his reflection in the glass tortured as silent tears fell down his cheeks. Was this payback for every bad thing he had ever done in his life? Was his punishment to find the most precious thing in the world and to lose it because of his bad judgement call? Maybe one day his Rose would forgive him but he would never forgive himself, ever.

*****

Ashleigh groaned as she tried to stretch her tired body within the confines of the small cage. She could move around a little but it was very tight. Thankfully she wasn't as tall as Cedar was. If her friend was in the cage she would only be able to curl up in the foetal position.

"Loretta, are you okay?" she whispered softly to her Beta in the cage beside her. None of the vampires had questioned them yet, merely locking them in separate cages and leaving them in the dank, smelly subbasement room with the lights turned out.

"Pissed as hell but apart from that, not too bad," Loretta sighed softly. She was relieved that they were at least getting a respite from the vampires. It would buy a bit more time for Andrei to track them down. Her certainty in her mate was unwavering. He would come for her as Nors would come for Ashleigh.

"I'm sorry I lost is back there," Ashleigh said quietly. "For a moment it was like that day in the forest during the war. I just sort of shut down for a moment."

"You don't need to apologise or explain yourself, Ash," Loretta answered fiercely. "You've been through hell and back again. It's understandable. I'm so proud of how well you're coping with this situation. You're so much stronger now, honey, a credit to our pack and I'm proud to call you my friend." 

She was proud of the younger woman. It would be so easy for her to give up and let her terror defeat her but she was proving to be so much stronger than that. 

She shivered slightly in the coldness of the room. It was a large space and appeared unfinished, as if the vampires were still in the processes of renovating the area. Some of the walls were bare stone as was some of the floor though the part the cages rested on had been tiled with plain white ceramic tiles. The bleakness of the room only added to the bleakness of their situation.

The sound of the door opening a brief second later startled both woman as it squeaked slightly and the light from the corridor flooded the cages, temporarily blinding the wolves for a second. The main light turning on had both wolves squinting to peer at the female vampire standing in the doorway. She had shoulder length brown hair and a pretty face. Neither recognised her as someone they knew as she stared solemnly at them. 

The vampire continued to stare for what felt like an eternity but must surely have been only a second or two, then she put a finger to her lips. Be strong, she mouthed soundlessly before the door closed and the light blinked off again.

Loretta felt a spark of hope at the strange woman's appearance. If she was a friendly vampire then there was a good chance Andrei would be coming very soon. She tried not to let her hopes become visible. If the vampires came back and she couldn't master her expression then they would know something was afoot. 

Soon it would be time to allow their wolves to come forward and take control. She was holding off as long as possible to do so. It would enrage the vampires so she didn't want to shift until there really was no option left but to do so.




The Council Ch. 13



Ashleigh had the sense not to talk about the vampire who had just looked in the room, or about anything else that might be incriminating. They had no idea if the room was being monitored or not. They had to think not with the woman's quick appearance but it was always better to err on the side of caution.

She closed her eyes and thought of Nors. The others would be looking for them by now. They would know their lateness was something out of the ordinary and a search would have begun. She hoped Nors wasn't too upset about her disappearance. She didn't want him to be worried about her but she did pray that he would come soon, hopefully before the other vampires came back.

Being stuck in a cage in a dank, smelly subbasement room was not a very pleasant experience but she had been through a lot worse and she knew she could endure it. She thought of her family, her reaction to their deaths and then her love for her vampire. 

When she got out of this current mess things were going to be different. Bad things happened but life had to go on. Whatever was coming her way she could not only withstand it, but become stronger because of it. She'd withstood worse and survived. She could survive this. Ashleigh felt a new determination settle deep within her. 

Life had tried to grind her down and she had survived. No more would she give in to the terror and the misery. If she learned anything from this experience it would be what she was truly made of and what she had waiting for her if she remained strong and determined.

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as the lights turned on and the vampires slowly began to file into the room. She tried not to look at them, meeting Loretta's gaze and finding some additional strength in having her friend near. Her Beta mouthed the words the vampire woman had mouthed such a short time ago, be strong.

"Which one is Andrei's bitch?" Daniel asked as he stared into the cages containing the two women. His eyes were on the brunette who was glaring at him with pure fury in her eyes. For some reason he imagined that this one was the one Andrei would pick to bed. There was a spark of wildness about her which would appeal to the other Elder. The blonde looked much too tame.

The blond vampire from earlier pointed at Loretta. "That one," he answered respectively. "Patrick said the blonde bears Nors Eriksson's scent. I haven't been in the Ancient's company so I can't say if she does or doesn't."

Daniel and Roberto stepped closer to the cages, Roberto dropping down to look in at Ashleigh who glared back at him as he scented the air noticeably. "Yeah, Nors is all over her," the brown haired vampire agreed rising to look at Daniel as he spoke. "I thought we weren't going to fuck with the Ancients, Daniel. We talked about this and the consequences of what would happen."

His friend hissed loudly, his head whipping around to spear him with his icy gaze. "What would you suggest? Should we let her go to run along and tell Andrei and Nors where we're holding the other bitch?" Sarcasm dripped from his tone. "The damage is done, Roberto. She's here now and we're just going to have to live with it. It would appear fate wants us to deal with the Ancients in a more forthright manner than I had planned. We'll just adapt accordingly."

Roberto's expression was still doubtful but he held his peace because there really wasn't anything they could do about it. The collection team should have waited until Andrei's bitch was alone before snatching her. They had fucked up and caused the issue. 

He met Daniel's eyes and saw the slight narrowing of them. Wordlessly Roberto moved behind the blond vampire and ripped his head from his shoulders in a swift, brutal move. His two companions reacted immediately but they didn't stand a chance against Daniel's crew who had silently entered the room behind them. There was a brief scuffle, some cut off screams and then the three vampires lay dead on the floor.

Daniel sighed in a bored fashion and examined his fingernails nonchalantly. "Good hired help is so hard to come by these days," he drawled, shooting Loretta a little smile which was full of malice.

"I want to know everything about your relationship with Andre Romanov," he continued in a bored tone. "I have a feeling that you're going to be very stubborn about it which, quite frankly, I feel weary of even though we haven't started our little game yet. So I'm going to cut right to the chase, wolf. Talk or your friend is about to enter a world of agony. I know there's no point in starting on you but she doesn't appear half as strong as you are. I'm sure we'll have her screaming in no time."

Loretta stared mutinously at him, not daring to turn her head to look at Ashleigh. If she looked at her friend and saw terror on her face she didn't know if she would be able to keep quiet. She was afraid that she would start talking to spare Ashleigh any pain.

"Do your worst, vampire," Ashleigh hissed softly, a core of steel in her voice. "I am stronger than I look and nothing you do to me will make either of us talk." She felt afraid at what was to come but she felt strong too. Her new determination lent her the strength as did her wolf. They would endure what was to come.

"Oh, how very brave of you," Roberto laughed leaning down to unlock the cage. "Shall we test how long your bravery lasts, dog?" He turned to his friends even as he reached down and grabbed Ashleigh by the arm and pulled her effortlessly from the cage. "Shall we wager on how long it takes to make the bitch howl?" he asked with another loud laugh.

"Ashleigh!" Loretta groaned hoarsely as Roberto suddenly moved swiftly catching a hard blow across the younger woman's face. 

Ashleigh crumpled immediately to the ground and received a sharp kick to the ribs. She uttered a deep groan and curled up into a ball trying to protect her body from the blows she knew were coming.

"If you talk, her pain will end so much quicker," Daniel said quietly, his eyes cold and hard as he stared down at Loretta in her cage who was staring at her friend being beaten with an anguished expression on her face.

"Andrei will fucking kill you!" Loretta screamed at him, her hands gripping the bars of the cage as she fought to find a way out. "You are dead, you bastard! You're just too fucking stupid to know it!" 

Ashleigh's groans were turning into harsh cries as she was surrounded by vampires who alternated kicking and punching her body. Each blow was agony and she could hear bones snapping in her arms, maybe even a few ribs too. She wanted to shift to wolf form but Loretta hadn't given the command yet so she maintained human form and tried to withstand the pain being inflicted on her body.

She screwed her eyes closed and tried to block everything out by thinking of Nors. He was coming to rescue her, she knew he was. All she had to do was stay alive until he arrived. He had never let her down before and she knew he never would. Nors was coming and she would be strong for him.

It took a moment to realise the blows had stopped. Her body was a sea of agony, her head throbbing painfully in tune to the steady pulse of pain which seemed to radiate everywhere within her. She gagged when something hot and sticky invaded her mouth. She tried to spit it out but her jaw was held shut until the thick vampire blood slid down her throat.

Coughing and gagging she was let go as the blood ran through her system rapidly healing the damage just done to her. She wanted to vomit but part of her was actually grateful that the pain was abating slowly.

"This is how it will play out until you talk," Daniel was saying to Loretta when Ashleigh opened her eyes. "We will heal her and then we will start again, over and over until one of you tells me what I want to know. How much do you think she'll be able to stand before she starts screaming for death, bitch?"

Loretta stared tearfully at Ashleigh, her eyes begging her forgiveness and finding that forgiveness given instantly. They both knew they couldn't talk. If they talked they were both dead and countless others too.

Ashleigh pulled herself up into a sitting position and spat at Daniel's feet, blood spraying his shiny black boots. "You know fuck all about wolves, dickhead," she grated out firmly, a second before he kicked her hard and she fell back with a deep groan.

"You're a fucking coward," Loretta screamed at him. "You know I'm too strong for you so you pick on Ashleigh, taking the coward's way out. No wonder Andrei has all the power. You're an embarrassment to all vampires!"

Daniel merely laughed at her attempt to engage him and turned to Roberto. "Make sure you don't damage her beyond repair," he ordered softly before he walked out of the room and left the two wolves to his friend's mercy.

Roberto waited for the door to close and then turned to the brunette. He really didn't like her and didn't see why she should get away without any pain. He signalled for her to be released and had her stripped naked. His cold eyes raked over her body as she stood glaring at him defiantly. So this was what Andrei was fucking? Her body was okay for a dog but nothing special.

"She smells funny," one of the dark haired vampires who was holding Loretta tightly by the throat said. "It's almost as if she has two scents." His tone was puzzled as he voiced the comment but his words piqued Roberto's interest.

Roberto stepped forward and inhaled deeply. There were two scents to the bitch. A slow smile suddenly crept across his face. Oh, this was just priceless! Andrei was fucking a dog who was breeding with another man's seed in her belly. How totally disgusting and also highly amusing.

He reached out and stroked the bare flesh of Loretta's stomach causing her to flinch and try to move away from him. "Does Andrei know you fuck around on him, bitch?" he asked in a deceptively quiet tone. "Does he know you carry some other man's bastard in your belly? I am so going to enjoy informing him of just what a fool you've made of him. He'll never be able to show his face again."

Loretta had stiffened instantly as Roberto's words seared into her brain. No, it couldn't be possible! He had to be wrong! His hands were on her stomach, almost caressing her and making her skin crawl with revulsion. 

Was she really pregnant? Her mind whirled frantically. She could only become pregnant by her mate but Andrei was a vampire and couldn't father children. Even if he could they had only mated fully yesterday. There wasn't time for her to become pregnant! Was there? Their mating was something unknown, the consequences of it impossible to gauge. 

She shuddered as the vampire's hands touched her again, straining to get away from his touch and being unable to do so. Her mind kept whirling, remembering how ill she had felt the day before, the nausea, the vomiting and Andrei's strange behaviour after going to speak to Caleb. 

What had The Ancient revealed to him? Oh God, had he known last night and hadn't told her? Was Andrei aware that they could have children, that she was probably already pregnant? That would explain his strange behaviour towards her, the fact he had been reluctant to make love to her. She wanted to be angry with him for keeping silent but a part of her knew he must have had a very good reason to. He would never deliberately hurt her, she was sure of that. But he should have told her, if she was in fact pregnant.

She couldn't halt the whimper that escaped her as she closed her eyes trying to deny the truth. It wasn't that she didn't want a child, that she didn't crave to be able to carry Andrei's baby. The timing was just impossible. If the vampires realised her child was also Andrei's child they would kill her instantly, kill Andrei too. Then they would descend on the pack and destroy them and anyone associated with them.

She opened her eyes, looked past Roberto into Ashleigh's stunned face, seeing her friend had also registered the enormity of what had occurred between her and Andrei. 

Ashleigh's eyes filled with tears as she read the determination on Loretta's face. She shook her head mutely at her, silently trying to stop her Beta even though she knew she wouldn't be able to. "Loretta," she whispered tearfully a split second before Loretta barked out her order. "Shift!"

Ashleigh shifted instantly, following her Beta's command and howling loudly as she shimmered and changed into her wolf form. She cried inside for her friend, for what she was about to do, knowing that it was probably the worst thing Loretta would ever do in her entire life.

Ashleigh's shifting brought angry curses from the vampires as she snarled furiously at them and proceeded to try and bite any who came close to her. They descended on the wolf in a frenzy to restrain her.

Loretta stared into Roberto's eyes, hating him with every single fibre of her being. He was watching her carefully, ignoring the snarling going on behind him, safe in the knowledge his people would take care of the wolf. 

If only he had kept his mouth shut then she would never have known, would never have been forced to make the decision she now had to make. Loretta closed her eyes as tears slowly started to fall down her cheeks. 

"Forgive me, Andrei," she whispered inside her head, a deep throbbing pain enveloping her body as she urged her wolf forward. Her beast protested, fought her furiously but she forced her human side further and further inside herself. "Forgive me, little one," she whispered again, aiming a anguished shaft of love towards the tiny being growing inside her body.

With an agonised howl, Loretta shifted to wolf form, dropping forward to charge as the vampires lost their grip on her. She howled again and dived for Roberto's throat, an agonised whimper escaping her as he easily batted her aside with a sharp blow to the head. 

She wanted to kill him, she wanted to rip him to pieces for making her have to choose between her child and the hundreds, if not thousands of lives that were at stake. But she was helpless against him, helpless against the other vampires as they fought to contain her, reigning blow after blow against her head and body.

She tried to protect her stomach even though she knew it was most probably a futile gesture, that the baby or babies were most likely already gone when she shifted. She howled over and over, fury and agony battling for dominance within her as the vampires meted out their frustration at no longer being able to communicate with either of the two women.

*****

Emily hurried through the corridors of the building, trying not to look like she was hurrying. Her brief glimpse of the two women was enough to tell her that they were the reason Stephan had sent her down to the subbasement. He hadn't told her what to look for, just asked her to see if there were any areas that looked to be guarded.

She probably shouldn't have investigated the room. But the scents inside had piqued her curiosity and she'd had to look inside. She knew instantly they were Weres though she hadn't recognised them from her time at the Hanlon compound during the war.

She hoped Stephan wouldn't be too angry with her. He had graciously agreed to mentor her when Alexei had kept his word and found her a new mentor to help her through the turbulent stage of being a Youngling. The Elder had set up a meeting for her with Stephan and he had appeared to be nice enough, speaking gently with her and not dismissively like most other Elders did.

The past year had been so much better than her early introduction into the life of a vampire. There was no violence, no one trying to force her to be something she wasn't. 

Truth be told, Emily probably was one of the worst vampires ever to be Sired. She didn't have the killer instinct of most vampires or the personality to even get mad at most people. Sometimes she wished the Weres had found her first. They seemed to be a much more peace loving kind of supernatural being.

But things had been better lately. Stephan was very patient with her, teaching her the right way to behave within their hierarchy. He very seldom lost his temper with her and appeared genuinely sorry when he did. Sometimes it could take him a few days to get around to apologising but he usually did eventually.

Emily finally made it to Stephan's office within the main architectural building that housed The Council chambers. She knocked quietly and slipped inside, her heart thumping painfully hard in her chest as her mentor looked up at her, his hazel eyes intent.

"Stephan, I know you said to just look but there were no obvious signs of any activity in the subbasement," she began breathlessly, the words rushing out of her mouth at high speed. "Please don't be angry with me. I scented something and opened one of the doors. What you seek is there. Two of them. In cages."

Stephan's beautiful face twisted in a black scowl and he flew around the desk, catching her around her upper arms and hissing loudly in her face. "I didn't tell you to open any doors," he hissed loudly, his displeasure washing over her and making her wilt noticeably.

He knew he had taken a risk sending Emily down to investigate, that she was completely the wrong choice but he'd had no one else to send. He had made his instructions clear to her, making her repeat them back to him so he was certain she understood exactly what he wanted from her. And still she had disobeyed him. 

The girl was hopeless! He was trying to teach her how to keep her head firmly attached to her body and she seemed incapable of understanding just how dangerous her erratic behaviour was to her well being.

"Stephan, you're hurting me," Emily whispered softly, bring him out of his furious thoughts to realise he was gripping her too hard. He released her immediately, stepping back and running a hand through his long, wavy black hair.

"If you cannot obey simple instructions then you are of no use to me, Emily," he ground out angrily. "What if you'd been seen, caught even? I would have been unable to help you and the information I needed would have been lost to me. You have to listen to what I tell you."

"But I wasn't caught and you have the information," she replied stubbornly, frowning at his censure. She knew she had acted rashly but it had turned out okay. 

He shot her a disgusted glare and then worked on his temper, reaching for his cell phone to call Andrei. "They were alone in the room?" he asked as he quickly changed his mind and dialled Alexei's number instead.

"They were but I saw Roberto and Daniel heading down in that direction as I was coming up. They didn't noticed me, Stephan, but I'm sure they were going to the lower levels. Whatever you're going to do you need to do it quickly."

Alexei answered his call and Stephan quickly imparted the information and listened for a long moment before he hung up. He turned to look at Emily, his eyes intense. She was watching him expectantly, waiting for his next instructions. 

She was pretty little thing, always smiling and very exuberant. It was a wonder she had survived as long as she had. She was an accident waiting to happen, so completely unsuited to the vampire world she now lived in. She was waiting for him to tell her how best she could help with what was about to go down. 

He smiled slightly, his anger waning as he reached out a touched her cheek gently in silent apology for hurting her. He knew she was only trying to help but his fear that she would end up dead had made him overreact. He cared greatly for the Youngling and took his role of mentor seriously.

"I'm sorry, Emily," he said softly. "But you really do need to listen to me when I give you instructions. I want you to leave here immediately but do not attract any attention to yourself. Head over to The Dive and speak to the bartender there. His name is Pietro. Make sure it is he you are talking to and no one else. Tell him I sent you there and that he is to protect you until I arrive to pick you up."




The Council Ch. 13



Emily opened her mouth to protest but Stephan placed a finger over her lips, his eyes hardening again. She stared at him mutely, unhappy with his instructions but knowing he wouldn't be swayed from them, not when he had that expression on his face. 

Something bad was about to happen. It had to be bad because he had called Alexei and there were two Hanlon wolves in cages downstairs. Whatever it was Stephan was going to be in the thick of it and she wanted to fight at his side. She could see he wouldn't let her though. "Stephan," she whispered when he took his finger away, her voice trembling slightly.

"Everything will be fine, Emily," he said soothingly. "I just need to know you are somewhere safe so I can concentrate on what I have to. Do this for me without fighting me on it, please." He really would be distracted if she stayed and he needed every ounce of his attention to be on the coming fight.

"Yes, Stephan," Emily finally sighed unhappily. "You will come for me though, won't you?" She couldn't keep the plea out of her voice. If she lost him as her mentor then she didn't know what would happen to her.

His expression softened again and he stroked her cheek lightly once more. "I will come for you, I promise," he said gently. "Now go, Emily. There isn't a lot of time and I want you safely out of here before the others arrive."

He watched her leave and then dialled his phone again. His words were quick and terse before he hung up. He frowned thoughtfully as he finished the call and stared into space. If anything happened to Loretta or Ashleigh there was going to be a civil war and no one would be able to stop it. 

He had no idea exactly what was going on apart from the fact that Andrei and now Nors were quite attached to the wolves. He had a feeling it was something pretty momentous though and it was time to pick a side.

He already knew which side he would come down on. He would stand with the Romanovs and the Ancients and just hope that there would enough of their people left at the end of the bloodshed to pick up the pieces and start again. One thing he knew for sure. Daniel and Roberto were walking dead men. There was no way Andrei or Nors would allow them to live after this night.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 14



Stephan's call to Alexei confirmed what Andrei already knew. Daniel had Loretta and Ashleigh. Nors' face had darkened with rage and it was only Freya's constant murmuring to him and tight hold on his arm which was stopping the flame haired vampire from flying out of the house.

Andrei was conscious of his own lack of reaction to the confirmation. He had expected to feel the red hot fury again, the wild impulse to detach from humanity completely and kill everything in his path. Instead he just felt cold and numb inside. 

Every emotion within him felt as if they had turned to blocks of ice. His child was most probably already dead, his mate close to joining that fragile little spark of life. He was losing everything that mattered to him as each second passed and he couldn't even react to it. He was aware of Alexei approaching him, saw his brother's eyes meet his in the reflection in the glass.  "Don't give up hope," Alexei said urgently inside his head. "We'll get her back, Andrei, I swear we will. Hopefully the baby will be fine too. Should the unthinkable have happened, there can be other children as long as you have Loretta at your side." 

Alexei's heart ached for his brother, for the anguish he couldn't quite hide from him. The others probably weren't aware of the depth of agony Andrei was currently languishing in but he knew because he was his twin and he always knew what he was feeling.

Alexei's words shattered the ice encasing Andrei's heart and pain well up inside him. "I should have known, Alexei," he whispered, his mental voice thick with emotion. "I spent so much time fighting her that I never took a moment to find out about her life, what it means to be a Were. I thought I was protecting her and the child when instead I was only hurting them both."

"None of us knew that Daniel would act so soon," Alexei argued fiercely, trying to alleviate some of his brother's pain. "Even Caleb thought we had more time and you're always saying he knows everything. You thought you had enough time and acted accordingly. Loretta won't hold that against you, Andrei. She loves you and will understand."

He watched denial flit across his brother's face and held back a slightly irritated growl. He couldn't even begin to understand what Andrei was feeling. He tried his hardest to put himself in his shoes, to imagine that it was Cedar in Daniel's grasp, that it was his child whose life hung in the balance. He just couldn't imagine it because he couldn't bring himself to think about his woman being hurt in any way.

Andrei didn't answer his brother. Part of him knew that what Alexei said made sense but he couldn't allow himself any absolution for his actions. Maybe when he had his Rose back. Maybe then he would be able to start forgiving himself when she was safe once more in his arms. Until then he would do what had to be done to get his wolf back.

They turned at the sound of raised voices. Jared was shouting furiously at Caleb, a dark scowl on his face as he stood toe to toe with the Ancient vampire. Caleb appeared unfazed by the wolf's anger, his expression completely bland.

"Jared, I understand your feelings but this is something you're going to have to back down on, my friend," Caleb said when Jared paused for breath. He kept his tone calm and even despite the fact that he was irritated that he had to have this conversation. He understood his friend's need to do something but he surely had to know that he couldn't help in this instance.

"They are my pack members," Jared grated out through clenched teeth. His wolf was howling angrily, wanting to go and retrieve Loretta and Ashleigh from the clutches of the vampires. He was so angry he was having a hard time not shifting.

"And they are in our territory," Caleb sighed patiently. "We can't take the pack into the Council chambers, Jared. Loretta and Ashleigh are mated to vampires too so that makes them part of our people just as much as it makes them pack. It's our responsibility to take care of them just as much as it is yours." 

He paused keeping his gaze fixed on his friend's for a long moment before he sighed softly again. "I'm asking you to trust me, Jared. Trust that I will do everything to bring the girls home safely."

The Alpha fumed silently his blue eyes almost black with anger and then he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He knew there would be all out war if the pack tried to enter the vampires' sacred headquarters. He knew Caleb spoke sense but it didn't make it any easier having to stand by and do nothing to help his pack members.

"You know Andrei and I will not leave until we have them," Nors said in a cold, hard tone, spearing the wolf with a hard gaze. "This is internal vampire politics, no business of the pack. We will deal with it, wolf."

Caleb wanted to groan out loud at Nors' choice of words. He waited for Jared's fury to spark again and was relieved when it didn't.

Jared stepped away from them and turned to look at Rafe who was keeping silent but watching his Alpha carefully.

"They have a point," Rafe rumbled quietly. He understood Jared's fury because he felt the same way but he knew they would only be in the way if they tried to storm the Council chambers. "Let them deal with the situation, Jared. Nors and Andrei have their mates to protect. They will die doing so if need be. You're always telling me to use the correct tools for the correct job."

Jared breathed out deeply again and then nodded abruptly. He wasn't happy with being denied from taking part in the rescue but he couldn't really argue with the logic being presented to him. He just wished Millie was there. She was always able to soothe him down when his anger took hold of him and refused to let go.

Caleb then turned and smiled apologetically at Rhianna, reaching for her and pulling her into his embrace. He dropped a slow, loving kiss on her lips. "That goes for you too, love," he said softly. "You and Mara are to return to the pack with Jared."

Rhianna automatically frowned, her mouth opening to protest and then closing again when she realised that it would be pointless to argue with him about it. There was a certain expression that crossed Caleb's face, a darkness within his eyes that usually told her when his limit had been reached. It didn't happen often but she was learning to heed it.

Mara had other ideas though, blinking slowly at Caleb for a moment and then turning to look at Demetri. "I don't think so," she said dryly, shaking her head. "Last time I looked we were vampires and this is vampire business. I'm not hiding out at the compound while you're taking down The Council."

A slow smile crossed Demetri's beautiful face at his wife's words and he felt his body start to hum with pleasure. His woman was so glorious when her eyes flashed angrily and her lips set in that wonderful stubborn line. He watched her swallow hard as she took in his curved lips and the way his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. 

Still, she let her head tilt stubbornly to the right as she was wont to do and his smile broadened even as he tilted a finger under her chin and brushed his lips slowly over hers. "Be a good girl and do as you're told, wife," he murmured softly against her luscious lips. "You're only wasting time arguing; time that Loretta and Ashleigh don't have."

Mara let out a frustrated groan and then sighed against his mouth returning his gentle kiss. He always knew how to get her to acquiesce to him when she didn't want to. He knew she wouldn't do anything that would jeopardise the other two women. Added to that he was giving her that smile he usually reserved for someone he was about to get seriously annoyed with. Her husband had a smile for just about every occasion, not always a good thing either.

"There is no way in hell Caleb or I are going through last year again, Mara," Demetri added stroking her cheek lightly. "So you will go to the compound and you will both stay there until we come back. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Mara sighed softly, giving him a quick hug before stepping back to join Rhianna beside the wolves.

Alexei had crossed to Cedar and was kissing her soundly, his arms wrapped tightly around her. He didn't want to be away from his mate but he knew that she was safer at the compound. He was about to do things that he didn't ever want her to see. "We'll bring them home," he promised quietly. He knew how close she was to Loretta and Ashleigh.

"Make sure you do," she answered with a small smile tugging at her lips. She was frightened for her mate but she knew he was formidable and he knew what he was doing. "Just make sure you do come home, Alexei."

He grinned at her brushing back an errant blonde curl. "Wear that little red lace ensemble you have and I'll be back before you know it," he laughed lightly, kissing her once more and then reluctantly letting her go.

Jared asked Cedar to drive Mara and Rhianna to the compound while he signalled Rafe to travel with him in his Jeep. They said quick goodbyes and then left Caleb's house. The sooner the vampires were left to their task, the sooner Ashleigh and Loretta would be home safely.

Caleb made a quick phone call and then gathered everyone around him. "Andrei, can you hold it together?" he asked quietly looking at the usually very volatile vampire who seemed pretty subdued at the moment. The revelation about their child seemed to have temporarily sucked the fire out of him.

Andrei met the Ancient's golden brown eyes and slowly nodded, raising an eyebrow, "What's the plan?"

"I don't want Daniel getting wind that we're going to act tonight," the Ancient answered with a thoughtful expression on his face. "If he has time to gather his forces then more people are going to die than is really necessary. I need you and Stephan to call a Council meeting as if nothing is wrong at all. Can you do that?"

Andrei tried to imagine walking into the Council chambers and not killing Daniel and Roberto on the spot. It was a very tough ask because he wanted nothing more than to rip both of them apart bodily. But he could see Caleb's logic. If Daniel thought he was clueless about him having Loretta he would let down his guard and get sloppy. It was a good call by the Ancient.

"I can do it," he answered slowly, hearing a low growl coming from his brother.

"You expect them to walk into Daniel's trap?" Alexei growled angrily. "I cannot agree to that, Caleb. I will not let Andrei stand against them alone. I don't know what you have planned but whatever it is you can factor me out of it. I will be with my brother."

Caleb considered for a moment and then nodded slowly. There was no point in trying to separate the twins. "Just try and stay out of the way as long as possible, until we're in position. It will take a while for all of my people to be in place and also any of yours that I assume Stephan has already alerted?"

It made sense so Alexei agreed readily. He was glad he didn't have to fight Caleb on this. Nothing could convince him to let Andrei walk alone into that Council chamber.

Nors was amazed that Andrei was being so meek and agreeable with Caleb's requests. He was barely being able to contain himself from rushing from the house to go to his Ashleigh. A small part of him found it kind of ironic that it was his wild sister's touch that was the only thing holding him at bay at the moment. Usually their roles were reversed.

He saw Caleb's gaze alight on him, his friend's expression firm as his golden brown eyes locked with his green ones. He knew immediately that he wasn't going to like what came out of the other vampire's mouth.

"Nors, I know every fibre of you wants to go to Ashleigh but we need you in the Council chambers," Caleb said quietly, his gaze intense.

His words snapped the fragile hold on Nors' self control and he snarled furiously, his big body tensing immediately. "No fucking way, Caleb," he growled furiously. "I don't care what you have planned. The only place I am going is to the subbasement to get Ashleigh. And Loretta," he tagged on, his eyes quickly flickering to Andrei in a silent promise.

"We need to contain the fighting to the minimum," Caleb argued firmly. "The more Ancients in the room, the more chance a large number of the vampires, called to assist the Council, will back down and not enter the fight. I'll make sure Ashleigh and Loretta are freed, Nors."

"I don't care," the flame haired vampire spat lividly. "Every single vampire in the room can die and it means nothing to me. They all deserve to be ripped to pieces for taking what is mine. My only goal is to get to the wolves. They have them in cages, Caleb! My Ashleigh is in a fucking cage!"

Freya could see that Nors was about to lose it completely. He was barely in control of himself as it was and if Caleb pressed the issue any further he would snap completely. It was obvious that the other Ancient was going to continue to press the issue too. Her promise to her brother came back her and she stepped between the two men.

She turned to face her brother, placing both hands on his arms until his furious gaze met hers. "I will retrieve her for you," she said quietly, keeping her gaze securely fastened to his. "I promised you I would treat her as my sister, Nors. She is family because she is your mate. I am not needed in the Council chambers. I am also underestimated by most of our kind because they don't know me. I will take care of Ashleigh for you when you are needed elsewhere. I will bring both wolves to safety."

Nors' nostril flared and his breath hissed out furiously as he stared into Freya's eyes, reading her face intently. He saw her determination to do this for him, her need to prove to him that she could be trusted with his mate's safety. Could he leave Ashleigh's fate up to his sister? Could he trust Freya?

"I know what she means to you, Nors," Freya said mentally. "Let me prove to you that I am ready to accept her into our family. I will protect her as I would protect you, brother."

Some of the tension left Nors' huge body and he nodded abruptly, accepting Freya's offer. He knew she was genuine, that she would do as she said. It was hard to surrender Ashleigh's fate to her hands but Caleb was intent that he had to be in the Council chambers and the longer they argued about it the more time was wasted.

"Now that is agreed it is time to go," Caleb announced quietly in a cold, determined voice.

Alexei was already moving towards the door. "I'll meet you there, Andrei," he nodded to his brother, disappearing outside.

The remaining vampires looked at each other and then they silently headed outside to begin the take down of the Council.

*****

Stephan had called a meeting of the Council as per Andrei's instructions. He was in the Council chambers with the others, awaiting the final member of the Council to show up. Alexei was close. He could feel him but he didn't know exactly where he was. He could only feel his friend because he was allowing him to do so. What made Alexei such a good Enforcer was his ability to mask his scent from anyone he wanted to hide from. 

This made Stephan feel reasonably relaxed as he sat in his customary chair at the dais and chatted about something inconsequential with Cristoph, noting the slightly perplexed expression on his face. The black haired vampire looked particularly smug which told Stephan that he was certain he had the upper hand in the upcoming confrontation with Andrei.

Cristoph was the unknown quantity among them. Would he side with the other two or would he remain in Andrei's camp. Stephan would have to watch him carefully for signs of betrayal. He didn't think the other Council members had been able to get to him but there was always a chance that they had.

The sound of the doors opening had all heads turning to watch Andrei stride causally into the room, his light brown hair flowing around his shoulders and down his back as he walked. 

Stephan looked for the signs of his friend's impending implosion and was surprised to see none of the small tell tale signs that only someone who was very close to Andrei would notice. The blank mask that was his expression was impenetrable. 

"Good, everyone's here," Andrei said quietly as he reached the dais and took his seat. For the moment it was only the five Elders in the room. Well, the five Council members and Alexei somewhere close by.

"I'm surprised at this unexpected meeting," Daniel remarked in a cold voice. "Usually a little notice is given. What was so important that we had to drop everything to attend, Andrei?"

Andrei met Daniel's eyes and stared intently at him for a long moment. Before Loretta he would have killed the other Elder were he sat, not even batting an eye at ridding the world of the piece of offal who met his gaze calmly, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

Now he sat there, hiding his true feelings, restraining himself from inflicting the damage he so badly wanted to because there was more at stake than his personal needs. Daniel held Loretta's life in his hands and until everyone was in place, Andrei had to pretend that he didn't know anything, that he wasn't about to dismember the vampire he was currently locking gazes with.

"My informants advise me the Ancients are holding secret meetings," he lied smoothly. "Ordinarily I would have spoken to Demetri about it but it appears our friendship no longer exists as he demonstrated with his disruption of The Council ceremony. The Ancients behaviour that day was troubling. These secret liaisons even more so. It is my belief they intend to overthrow the Council and take power for themselves."

For a moment no one spoke and then Roberto snorted loudly. "I think you're yanking our chains, Andrei," he answered with a pointed look. "Why would the Ancients be even remotely interested in power? They could have had it any time they wanted it but have always shunned it. Also, you and Alexei have run with Demetri for well over a millennium. Why would he suddenly cut you loose now?"

Daniel nodded his head in agreement, his eyes fixed on Andrei waiting for his reaction to the challenge. The tension in the room was palpable as Andrei sat there unmoving for a long moment and then his lips suddenly twitched in a little half smile and a sparkle appeared in his deep brown eyes.

Roberto instantly stiffened at the expression on Andrei's face. It was the expression that most people who knew the other Elder shuddered at seeing. He looked so congenial, so approachable and reasonable, but he was far from it. Andrei Romanov was on the edge and someone was about to be seriously hurt.

"Are you calling me a liar, Roberto?" Andrei asked in a deceptively pleasant tone. "Are you seriously challenging my word here?" He raised an eyebrow inquiringly, his fingers tapping idly against the hard wood desk as he spoke.

Roberto swallowed slightly nervously, not liking being under such intense scrutiny. "I am merely asking for clarification of how you came to this conclusion, Andrei," he answered carefully. "I'm sure all the Council members would be interested in hearing that too."

Cristoph shifted uncomfortably as he was seated directly between the two Elders who were locked in a silent battle with each other. If either of them flew for the other then he would need to get out of the way pretty quickly. "Roberto has a point, Andrei," he said quietly. He had no idea what was going on at the moment but he knew it was something serious.

Andrei's amused gaze slid from Roberto's to connect with Cristoph's. "Is this your subtle way of telling me you've decided to switch allegiance?" he asked drolly, seeing the other man's face pale instantly as he became his next victim.

Cristoph was shaking his head in the negative even before he consciously realised he was doing do. "Certainly not, Andrei," he replied quickly. "The questions raised by Roberto are valid ones though. Is there actual proof that the Ancients intend to disband the Council or is it just your gut instinct that tells you so?"




The Council Ch. 14



"I suppose that depends on what the other members of the Council consider proof," Andrei drawled smoothly, leaning back in his chair and briefly closing his eyes as he fought a wild need to open his mind up to his mate and call to her. He knew she was close by, that she would hear him if he called. But he also knew that the instant he heard her voice he would lose all control. He had to buy more time for the others.

He opened his eyes again and slowly met each Elders' eyes one by one. "Caleb Cullen told me himself that he intended to bring down The Council and install one more fitting to his liking."

His gaze was on Daniel as he made his announcement. His words were completely true and he dropped enough of his mask that his nemesis could see that he spoke the truth. Just like that he hooked Daniel completely. Despite the Elder's hatred of him, his thirst for power was more dominant. If Andrei were to agree to wipe out the Ancients in that moment, Daniel would surrender Loretta back to him instantly.

For the briefest of moments the thought actually crossed Andrei's mind to do so. For that one insane moment he contemplated just what he would be willing to do, to become, to have his mate safely with him once more.

"Andrei," Alexei sounded soothingly in his head and the moment of insanity passed and he was once more in control of himself, grateful to his brother for being there and stopping him from making what would have been the worst mistake of his life. Loretta would most definitely never have forgiven him if he had been the cause of the deaths of those she counted as family.

"This is intolerable," Daniel hissed furiously, his eyes glinting almost manically. "The Ancients need to be dealt with instantly. They cannot be allowed time to gather enough support to attack The Council."

It was all Andrei could do not to laugh out loud at Daniel's words. They almost mirrored Caleb's words earlier about not allowing Daniel to gather his forces. Surely the others had to be in place by now. It was all he could do to sit there with the two men he wanted to kill most in the world.

"Check with Demetri," he said mentally to Alexei. "I can't sit here much longer without acting."

He kept his gaze on Daniel as he briefly conversed with his brother. "So suddenly this meeting isn't such an imposition, Daniel?" he asked in a silky tone. "Now there is a threat to your seat on The Council, you are suddenly interested in being here? Does preserving your power negate the needs of our people so easily?"

His last question had all eyes on him. Cristoph was puzzled and showed it. Stephan could see that Andrei had reached the end to his limits. Roberto and Daniel both knew their initial suspicions were not so far off the mark.

"They're in place," Alexei whispered quietly in Andrei's mind.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Cristoph finally ground out, anger beginning to cross his face. "Everyone seems to know something which I am not privy to. Anyone care to share?"

Andrei rose slowly from his seat, walking silently into the centre of the Council chambers before turning to survey the dais. The other Elders stood too, Stephan moving off to the left putting distance between himself and the others, his big body tense and ready for what was to come.

"Do you want to explain, Daniel?" Andrei asked in a deadly quiet voice, his eyes like chips of ice as he speared the Elder with his gaze. "Would you like to explain to Cristoph how you took something that belongs to me? Something that I want back very badly? I hope its intact for your sake because if it isn't, you will breathe your last this night."

He said the last for dramatic effect and no other reason. It didn't matter to him if Daniel produced Loretta and his child with not a mark on them. He would still breathe his last because he had taken what was Andrei's in the first place. 

Andrei watched Cristoph swing his gaze between the others and then he moved towards Stephan, declaring where he stood silently even though he didn't know what was going on. He knew enough about the Romanovs that he wasn't willing to stand against them.

Daniel merely smiled slowly, pleasure dancing across his face as he watched Andrei intently. "You are very attached to the dog," he laughed softly. "Who would have thought it? Andrei Romanov fucking a pathetic little animal. It was my intention to have your dog lie to our people about mating with you but I do believe it wouldn't be a lie, would it, Andrei? You've mated with her! A filthy, stinking dog of all things." He threw back his head and laughed loudly.

Stephan blinked slowly and then let out a loud sigh. Well, he had guessed that whatever was going on with Andrei and his wolf would be something huge. Mating with her hadn't been an option that had come to mind but he could read Andrei pretty well and could see that Daniel had guessed the truth. Vampire and Weres? What a bloody minefield that was going to be.

Cristoph's eyes widened in shock and he shook his head in denial. Interspecies matings? There would be a war over this. The Council would become a mockery when it was learned that one of their own had mated with a Were. He almost crossed back across the room to Daniel's side. His face twisted in disgust at the very thought of the interspecies mating. 

But he was a survivor and he knew that the Ancients were involved heavily with the Hanlon pack. They would be aware of the matings. Going against the Romanovs was suicidal. Going against the Ancients? He stayed where he was. 

The tension in the room escalated further as Andrei fought to control the wolf gene within him. He wanted to attack Daniel so badly but he contained himself until Caleb gave the signal. The filth Daniel spewed out of his mouth about his mate was enough to drive him insane with rage but he held still and took a long deep breath.

"Do you know what an immoral little slut your dog is, Andrei?" Roberto laughed softly joining Daniel with his own smug amusement. "She whores herself to other men, opening her legs for all to ride her dirty little body. You do know she's breeding with some other man's bastard inside her?"

Andrei felt something die inside him. The red mist of his fury evaporated instantly and a cold, hard blackness filled his soul. His rage sank downwards. It hardened into something almost physical and consumed every fibre of his being with an icy grip. Never had he experienced the emotions he currently was wrapped in.

They knew Loretta was pregnant! He knew they would have baited her with it, that she would have found out. Did she find out before she shifted? Did she have to make that decision? Did her heart break as he knew it would have if she'd had to make the conscious decision to shift knowing she was pregnant? 

For that alone they would die. For touching her, for hurting her physically, for breaking her heart they would die a long, slow agonising death. Everyone who got in his way would. 

Andrei was rooted to the spot, hope and fear warring inside him. Roberto's words implied that their child still lived. He couldn't stop himself from reaching out to her any longer.

"Loretta," he called hesitantly, afraid he wouldn't get an answer. Would he somehow know if she were dead? Would he feel it deep within himself now they were mated?

A muffled sob sounded in his head, full of pain and anguish. The sound tore at his heart but it also filled him with joy. His mate was still alive and she was close. Then emotions rolled over him which didn't belong to him. The agony and despair in Loretta's heart that seeped through their bond almost had him sinking to his knees. His wolf was raw, suffering intensely, self loathing filling her as well as a deep anguish. He wanted to weep for the pain his beautiful woman was languishing in. He wanted to kill everyone who had done this to his precious Rose.

"Andrei," she answered so quietly he could barely hear her. "Andrei! I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I had to shift. I didn't want to but I had to." The plea for forgiveness in her voice cut him deeply, his heart breaking at her words.

"Shhhh, my sweet Rose," he whispered tenderly, pouring all his love through their bond, wishing he could be there to hold her and soothe her pain. "You have nothing to be forgiven for. We are here, love. Freya is coming for you and Ashleigh. Just keep yourself strong until she gets there. I'll come as soon as I can but I need to destroy these bastards first."

"But the baby..." Loretta's mental voice trailed off in another anguished sob and Andrei wanted to go to her so badly. He knew he couldn't and it killed him not to do so. It was another black mark he added to the growing list of just how much he had failed his mate. He did the only thing he could at the moment, he sent her his love and support and his deep devotion to her through their link, mentally holding her as tightly as he could to ease her suffering.

"I know, my Rose," he whispered soothingly, letting her know that he understood what she was trying to tell him but couldn't find the words to say out loud.

 "If we have lost our child we will adapt somehow," he told her, his mental tone sad at the prospect but also strong and supportive too. "What is important right now is that you stay strong until we can free you. As long as we have each other then we can make as many beautiful little babies as you want. If we never know the joy of our first child then the fault does not lie with you, love." 

The fault would lie squarely with him if their child was gone. He would bear the brunt of that guilt for his precious mate. He would not allow her to suffer for the untenable decision she had been forced to make.

He must have given something away, some small flicker of his eyes or something because Daniel suddenly smiled and crooked a finger ever so slightly.

"Kill the child," Roberto said loudly, his eyes narrowing slightly signalling that he was speaking mentally too.

A vicious snarl erupted from Andrei at his words and he flew forward towards Roberto as a side door opened and at least forty vampires were suddenly in the room between him and the two Elders. Stephan and Cristoph immediately came to Andrei's side before the wall of vampires.

Alexei dropped agilely from the wooden rafters high up in the vaulted chamber ceiling, to land beside his brother, causing Cristoph to step back startled, having been completely unaware that Alexei was close by. Even Stephan was slightly startled and he had known his friend was somewhere within the room.

"That probably was your worst fuckup ever," Alexei growled softly, his brown eyes hard, his expression one of barely contained fury. He really liked Loretta a lot. She was good for his brother. While he knew nothing about children, he knew that the life she carried, or had carried, was part of his brother which made the child part of his family too. "It will also be your last," he added in a cold deadly voice.

"Alexei, so nice of you to join us," Daniel drawled jumping onto the wooden table so he could view the others past his personal little army. "It saves me coming to look for you when I've finished taking your brother's head."

Alexei snorted and spared Andrei a quick glance. His brother was beyond reason now. He had no idea what was holding him at bay at the moment, why he wasn't scything his way through the wall before them. He turned his gaze back to Daniel to see he had been joined on the table by Roberto. He snorted again and rolled his eyes. True cowards always showed their metal when they had expendable soldiers before them.

"You think your little band of friends here is going to be enough to take us, Daniel?" he drawled softly, amusement lacing his tone though his eyes were hard and unflinching as he met the other Elder's gaze. "We brought our own friends too."

The Council chamber doors slid open and Caleb, Demetri and Nors strode in together, their faces cold hard masks. They moved fluidly, with a grace that belied their huge stature. Behind them poured vampire after vampire, mostly Elders with a few Youngling thrown in. They outnumbered Daniel and his crew but they stopped once fully inside the room. They knew Daniel was in silent communication with his people downstairs. Until Freya gave the word they had to hold back.

*****

Loretta's heart was filled with hope as well as anguish after speaking with Andrei. His love had overwhelmed her. His unwavering support for her alleviating a little of the ache deep within her. 

She knew she would always bear the scars of the decision she had made. That Andrei didn't hold her at fault eased the pain a little but couldn't take it away completely. She had known what she had been doing as she did it. She had known the probable consequences of her actions.

The vampires had stopped the beatings and healed both herself and Ashleigh for what felt like the hundredth time but probably was only the fourth or fifth. She whined softly to attract Ashleigh's attention, to make sure the other woman was okay.

"They're here, Ash," she communicated mentally. "Try not to give any reaction but Andrei has just told me that Freya is coming to release us. We just need to be stronger a little longer, honey."

Ashleigh didn't have the strength to react to Loretta's news. Her body felt tired despite the vampire blood flooding her system. The last beating had been particularly vicious and she wondered if the vampires had done more damage than they could actually heal. 

Freya was coming which meant Nors was close too. He was sending his sister to rescue her so things must be pretty bad if he couldn't come himself. He had kept Freya away from her deliberately so if he was sending her now then he really couldn't come himself.

The vampires suddenly moved coming towards them again.

"Is the dog still breeding?" one of them asked. "Roberto said to kill the child if it still lives."

Loretta howled loudly, springing to her feet with a strength she didn't know she had, snarling viciously as she did so. Ashleigh dragged herself wearily to her feet too, in defence of her friend.

"Yeah, she still has two scents," another vampire was saying with disgust lacing his tone.

Loretta's heart crashed loudly within her. Her baby was still alive! She hadn't killed the child when she'd shifted. Her momentary joy turned to anguish again as one of the vampires wrapped a large hand around her throat and lifted her bodily from the floor. She tried to rake her claws down him as his talons came out aiming for her stomach.

"NO!" Ashleigh screamed in anguish darting forward as fast as she could. Her own elation at hearing Loretta's child still lived despite her shifting to wolf form crashed down as the vampire went to murder the precious little life within her friend. Her mind went back to the previous year. She was once more in the forest, listening to Richard Graves imposing death sentences on the children of the pack.

She was back in the endless nightmare that had plagued her since then, the smell of blood everywhere, the harsh cries as vampires ripped each other apart, the stink of death and decay making her howl in terror.

No more! She couldn't take anymore death and destruction. Fate had somehow saved Loretta's child and now the vampires sought to murder it in cold blood for no other reason than they could. They had taken everything from Ashleigh. She knew the pain and suffering her friend would feel for the rest of her life if she lost the child she carried.

Ashleigh had had to save the babies so very long ago and she had to save Loretta's child now. She didn't stop to think of the consequences, she only knew that she was pack and her friend was in danger. She wouldn't hide or stand idly by while a pack mate was murdered before her eyes. She wouldn't let them hurt the baby if it was the last thing she ever did. She flew threw the air, her body blocking the downward movement of the vampire's talon.

"Ashleigh!" Loretta screamed as the wicked talons ripped easily through the golden wolf, piercing her fur and skin as if they were tissue paper and burying deep inside the little wolf.

Freya was almost at the door to the room that held the wolves when she heard anguished howling coming within.

"Now, Nors," she said urgently inside her brother's head. "I'm at the room. Do what you have to and then come quickly."

She threw open the door just as a ball of golden fur streaked through the air and was impaled by one of the vampire's talons. There were only three vampires in the room and she took out the first one before they were even aware she was there.

The wolves were howling mournfully as the other two vampires turned to face her. "Hello, boys," she smiled softly. "I think you picked the wrong side." She was moving even as she finished speaking, flying gracefully through the air in a high leap. She cleared the two vampires agilely, landing behind them to stand protectively in front of the wolves. A slow, evil smile crossed her beautiful face as her green eyes narrowed intently.

"Who's first?" she taunted, crooking a little finger at the two men. "Oh, I'm Freya by the way. Freya Eriksson. You may have heard a little about me?" 

She watched their faces pale as they realised who stood before them. She was centuries older than both of them and twice as deadly. It appeared her reputation preceded her. Would they run? She really hoped not. It had been a while since she'd had any fun that was actually sanctioned.

The dark haired vampire appeared to decide he was willing to fight. He went for her moving swiftly but she dropped low sweeping her leg out swiftly. Her movement kicked his legs out from beneath him effortlessly and he tumbled backwards, falling heavily and cracking his head hard on the tiled floor. 

He hit so hard Freya heard bones crunching and her smile widened even more at the sound. Lord, she loved the sound of bones breaking. It fed her feral nature, amused the beast within her. 

She immediately turned and leapt onto the blond vampire who seemed rather stunned by how quickly she had rendered his friend temporarily incapacitated. He punched her hard in the face, breaking her nose instantly and splitting open her bottom lip. One of his talons raked down her cheek leaving a ragged scar in its wake. Freya felt her blood dripping onto her neck and it only served to make her more angry.

She rode through the pain, gathering her fury up and driving her talons into both of his eyes with a feral snarl escaping her lips. There was a sickening popping sound which sent a thrill of glee through Freya and a light tinkling laugh to bubble up inside her. Blood erupted from the vampire's damaged eye sockets, streaming down his face as he shrieked in agony and fell to the floor. 

She rolled with him, coming back to her feet to drive her talons into the stomach of the other vampire who was back on his feet and in the process of charging them both. She sank her hand in deeply and twisted hard, scoring his insides viciously so he wouldn't have time to heal too quickly. As he fell to his knees she decapitated him quickly, dragging one long talon in a smooth line over his exposed throat and then twisting his head sharply to remove it from his shoulders. 

Freya then turned to provide the same service to his friend as he writhed blindly on the floor. Her blood lust at fever pitch she ached to draw out the other vampire's pain but she was aware that she needed to concentrate on the wolves. She had satisfied her need to kill with the other two so she made the blind vampire's end quick and relatively painless in comparison to his recently departed friends.

Giving her nose a little wiggle to make sure it had set correctly; she turned around to face the wolves, her injuries already completely healed. Dread filled Freya instantly as she looked down at the sight before her. A pretty brunette woman was holding onto the golden wolf, tears streaming down her face as blood poured from the ragged hole in the wolf's side.




The Council Ch. 14



"Help her," Loretta whispered brokenly. "Please help her." She buried her face in Ashleigh's fur and wept softly as she cradled her friend. "Ashleigh," she moaned through her tears. "Why did you do it, honey? I told you to be strong, that Nors was coming for you. You shouldn't have sacrificed yourself for me."

Freya's heart dived as she realised that the wounded wolf was her brother's mate. It was obvious to see the wolf was mortally wounded. Nors would not survive this loss. With a loud groan she dropped to her knees before the wolf.

"Make her shift to human form," she said tersely, her voice brusque as her fear for her brother's sanity overwhelmed her. There had to be something she could do for the wolf. She had promised Nors she would protect her.

"Shift, Ashleigh," Loretta whispered softly. "I know it hurts, honey, but you have to shift."

With a tortured whimper Ashleigh obeyed her Beta. She screamed loudly as she lost the strength of her wolf and agony raced through her body. She couldn't stop the cries of agony or the tears falling as pain engulfed her entire body. She knew she was dying. The last beating the vampires had given her hadn't been healed by their blood. The talons ripping through her had gotten to something vital deep within her.

"Baby....safe?" she managed to whisper through tortured breaths.

Loretta's tears were dripping on her face as her shaky hands stroked her cheeks lightly. "You saved the baby, Ash," she wept quietly. "You were so strong and brave, the bravest little wolf in the entire Hanlon pack. Jared and Millie will be so proud of you, honey."

A faint smile crossed Ashleigh's pain filled face and her eyes fluttered opened. "I'm glad the baby's safe, Loretta," she sighed in a very quiet voice. She took a deep shuddering breath.

"Tell Nors I'm so sorry I had to leave him." She took another deep painful breath, a small groan issuing from her lips as tears streaked down her face. "Will you tell him how strong I was, Loretta? Will you make sure he knows how much I love him and how much I want him to be strong too? Don't let him hurt himself. Tell him I want him to live and hopefully one day find love again." Her words trailed off as if she had used the last reserves of her strength to get them out.

Freya listened to the little blonde woman speak and felt something twisting deep within her. The wolf was dying and instead of being concerned for herself she was more concerned for an unborn child and that Nors would live and not succumb to his grief at losing her.

If someone would have told her that she would find herself respecting a wolf of all things she would have laughed until she was hoarse. Freya Eriksson looked down at her brother's mate and found herself not only respecting the other woman but also feeling some liking towards her too.

"You will tell Nors that yourself, wolf," she said gruffly ripping into her wrist and holding it to Ashleigh's mouth. "This will not heal you completely but it will give you enough strength to hold on until Nors can arrive. Drink, Ashleigh."

Loretta moved out of the way, scrubbing at her cheeks even as more tears flowed down her face. She prayed with everything within her that Ashleigh could hold on until her vampire came. Her wounds were grave but Freya seemed to think Nors being there would somehow save Ash. How, she didn't know. She could only keep praying that he could do something to bring her friend back.

Freya helped Ashleigh drink, listening intently to her heartbeat as she did so. It sounded stronger with each passing moment. Her blood was Ancient and would sustain the wolf a lot longer than the weak Elder blood that had been fed to her but she needed proper healing internally and for that Nors needed to be there.

From what Caleb had explained at the meeting, if Nors shared a direct blood to blood contact with Ashleigh then he could fully mate with her. It did cross Freya's mind that she could let the wolf die. She could keep Nors sane enough that he could finally move on with his life and there would be no need to have a wolf in the family.

But then she remembered what her brother had done for her, how he had put himself through such pain to save her life all those centuries ago. Caleb's words also came back to her as did her promise to Nors. Lastly the bravery of the little wolf actually impressed her enough to wonder what she was like as a person. Nors found something of worth within her. Perhaps she would try very hard to hold to her promise to accept the wolf as part of her family.

Freya's gaze switched to the brunette, who she now knew to be Andrei's mate Loretta. She scented the other woman deeply, curious about all the fuss being made over an unborn child. 

Personally, she couldn't see the appeal to having something growing inside her but Andrei was ready to kill to protect the child and Ashleigh was ready to give her life in its defence too. Loretta's arms were wrapped protectively around her stomach as if holding something very dear to her. It made no sense to Freya but it did pique her curiosity.

She scented the cinnamon scent that was the mother and then the scent of lilac which had to be the child. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she inhaled more deeply, stretching out her mental abilities and aiming a shaft of conscious thought towards the lilac scent. A faint echo came back at her and she blinked in surprise.

"What?" Loretta croaked out, her voice cracking and her arms tightening around her stomach as she watched the vampire staring intently at her body. "What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice full of suspicion.

Freya looked up at her fighting the urge to roll her eyes. What did the stupid wolf think she was doing? Mentally harming her child? As if that was possible. "I was merely checking that the child still lived," she answered drolly. "Though why you were all so concerned is beyond me. It is perfectly fine."

Her dismissive tone angered Loretta and she snarled slightly caught between the urge to move back from the vampire or stay close to Ashleigh. "You may not understand our love for our young, vampire, but know that we will fight to the death to protect our children," she ground out through clenched teeth.

Freya did roll her eyes then and let out a weary sigh. "I was alluding to the child's heritage," she retorted waspishly. "You are all so intent on your child being Were that you never once stopped to consider its father. You just assumed it would perish. Vampire physiology is much stronger than Weres." Her tone was coldly arrogant, her expression smug as she turned away to check on Ashleigh again.

Loretta sat there stunned for a moment, her thoughts in turmoil. The vampire was correct, she had just assumed her child was a Were. She hadn't considered that it was a vampire who had fathered it. If she had only stopped to consider that possibility then maybe she and Andrei wouldn't have had to suffer the agony of thinking their baby was dead.

She swallowed hard and moved closer to Ashleigh, stroking her hair gently and feeling a little relieved that her friend didn't appear to be in as much pain as before.

"How did you know about the baby?" she asked the vampire without looking at her.

"That was what the meeting was about," Freya answered in a bored tone. "Caleb was explaining how Andrei was able to mate with you. It was because he healed you with a direct blood to blood contact when you were dying. Once the mating was completed he was able to procreate with you as you now both share the same hybrid physiology. You are stronger and will heal from more grievous wounds than other Weres. Andrei can now father children when no other vampire can."

Loretta's eyes widened as the news sank in. No wonder she had been able to withstand the beatings better than Ashleigh had. No wonder her child had survived them too and also survived her shifting to wolf form. Another thought came to her and she gasped loudly.

"That's why you're waiting for Nors to come," she whispered softly. "So he can heal Ashleigh as Andrei healed me and then they will be able to complete the mating."

Freya nodded. "I can keep her alive for a time but she needs Nors. If he doesn't come soon then I may be forced to heal her myself to keep her alive. If that happens, I don't think she will be able to mate fully with my brother. It may still be possible, we would need to ask Caleb if he knows, but I personally believe that Ashleigh would become immune to my venom only and her physiology adapted to me. Once this adaptation occurs I don't think it can be changed."

Loretta felt her heart sink at the news. Ashleigh appeared to be resting, her face pale and her eyes closed. Her breathing was laboured but the wound in her side wasn't bleeding as badly. "Can't you call Nors to come right now?"

The vampire's cold green eyes met hers. "They are fighting a civil war up there for you, wolf. Nors is a bit busy at the moment trying to ensure that those you love stay alive until the battle ends."

Closing her eyes, Loretta tried hard not to call out to Andrei. The thought of the fighting above them scared her witless. Vampire against vampire and all because they had found their mates within the Were community. She swallowed hard and bit her bottom lip. They could only wait and hope the fighting ended soon and their people were victorious. Stroking Ashleigh's hair again, Loretta settled down to wait for the outcome of the war above them.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 15



Rafe watched his Alpha out of the corner of his eye as he drove them towards the compound. The girls were in Cedar's car in front of them and Jared's gaze was intent on the vehicle as if expecting something to happen. There was a tension in the car that confused Rafe. He knew his Alpha was worried about Ashleigh and Loretta but the tension felt as if it related to something else.

Once the vehicle crossed the compound boundary, Jared pulled the Jeep over and stopped. "Walk with me, Rafe," he said in a quiet voice, stepping out of the car and surveying the surroundings quickly, scenting the air to ensure there was no one around.

Rafe uncurled his big body from the Jeep and followed his Alpha into the trees until they stopped in a small clearing. The night was warm with a faint breeze rustling the leaves in the large oaks surrounding them. The sounds soothed his unease a little as he waited for Jared to tell him what was on his mind.

Jared took a deep breath and turned to face Rafe. The big man had become invaluable to him over the last two years. He knew he could count on his adopted brother to do anything for him. Anything but the one thing he was about to ask of him. But there was just no avoiding it any longer. Tonight had proven that. Rafe was just going to have to accept the inevitable whether he liked it or not.

He wondered if his Beta would lose control of his wolf, if they would fight over what he was about to tell him. They had come close a few times in the past as Rafe's latent Alpha abilities instinctively warred against his command. He hoped not but it was a possibility which was why he had wanted to do this alone, somewhere quiet.

He ran a hand through his long black hair and sighed deeply. "Rafe, we need to talk about what happened at Caleb's," he said in a quiet but firm voice. He knew his tone was telling the other man that he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.

Rafe's brows drew down in a confused line, tension filling him at the determined expression on Jared's face. "About which part?" he asked carefully. A lot had happened at Caleb's. It was difficult to tell what Jared wanted to discuss.

"About how the mated vampires reacted to you," Jared clarified. "You did notice how they reacted, didn't you?" He raised a querying eyebrow as he watched his brother intently.

A trickle of unease started to invade Rafe's mind and he looked away from his Alpha, trying to recall the events of the last hour. His wolf prowled within him, satisfaction roiling from his beast as his human side tried to block out what he didn't want to remember. His wolf was having none of it though, becoming more forceful within him.

Rafe remembered Andrei flipping out, remembered the fury that had gone through him when the vampire had injured him. He had shouted out in pain and anger. The mental image of Andrei's snarling face came to him, the expectant expression in his eyes. Alexei wearing that very same expression and also Nors.

He felt his heart begin to thump wildly as denial ripped through him and he started shaking his head, backing up from Jared. "No," he ground out loudly. "Don't even go there, Jared. We've had this conversation a hundred times before and the outcome is always the same."

Jared's blue eyes hardened and his lips tightened in a straight line. "Yes, we have and always I've conceded to you because the time wasn't right," he answered firmly. "All that has changed now, Rafe. You can't run from this any longer. You can't deny what you are. You are an Alpha and it is time for you to step up and take care of your responsibilities." 

Fury blazed through Rafe, fury and denial. His big body quivered with rage and it was all he could do to hold his wolf back and not shift and attack his brother. He held on precariously as he fought to get some control, fought to deny the truth. "I am not an Alpha," he roared out furiously.

Jared's lips quirked in a little smile as he stared at Rafe. There was no one who was more of an Alpha than the man before him. In that very moment his command tone was ringing through his words, his whole stance telling any Were who was in the vicinity that he was an Alpha. He could deny it all he wanted with words but he couldn't deny his sheer presence. He gave him a moment to work on his temper and then he sighed softly.

"You can say those words until you're blue in the face, Rafe. You can utter the denial over and over again but it will not change the fact that you are an Alpha and you always have been," Jared said quietly. "You've had your own little mini pack within my pack for a long time. Hell, before the war you had half of my Betas following you." He smiled sadly, remembering the friends they had lost during the war. 

Rafe too remembered his friends, Ben, Mike, Pete. They had died protecting Lacey, his mate. They had always been at his side along with Aaron. He had always just put it down to friendship even when Jared had joked that they would answer Rafe's command before they answered their Alpha's. Thinking of his friends soothed his fury a bit and he was able to control himself.

He took a deep breath and then sank down onto a fallen tree stump and buried his head in his hands. He didn't want to be an Alpha. He had never wanted it, had always fought it. The arguments he and Jared had had over this very issue had been legendary. He just wanted to be with his mate, be part of the Hanlon pack where he now felt as if he belonged. He didn't want to lead like Jared did.

"You can't fight what you are, Rafe," Jared said soothingly coming to sit down beside him. "You have always been an Alpha and up until now it has been convenient to allow the status quo to remain while you adapted to your new life and found stability. But that's changed now. We have vampire hybrids among us. They don't follow my command but they do follow yours as we witnessed tonight. You are their Alpha, Rafe. They may hate it and you may hate it but the wolf part of them recognises you as their Alpha." 

The big man groaned and shook his head again in denial even though he knew he was denying the truth. He had seen the look in the mated vampires eyes, he had known what it had meant at the time but had ignored it. All three vampires had been waiting for his next words, his next command. His one bellow of rage had managed to halt Andrei's madness, contained the mercurial vampire as he tried to rip everyone apart to get to his mate.

"I don't want this, Jared," he finally groaned raising his head with a tortured expression on his face. "I have never wanted this."

Jared smiled sadly at him. "I know that, my friend," he sighed softly. "And that is why you will make a good Alpha. You will always think your decisions through carefully to ensure that you reach the right one for your pack rather than your own needs." He really felt for Rafe, but he was also extremely confident in him too. He would probably make a better Alpha than he was at times.

Rafe wanted to argue more, wanted to keep denying it but he knew Jared's words were true. The time for fighting was over now. He had to accept the inevitable. He thought of his mate and wondered how she would react to this when he told her. Lacey had almost been killed by one vampire and beaten endlessly by another and now he had to go home and tell her that she was to become an Alpha Bitch to three vampires? He didn't know if his mate could handle it.

Jared stood up and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We can talk more about this later, about how we're going to work it out," he said. "I'll give you time to let it sink in. Come find me when you're ready, Rafe." He could sense the other man was at the point of accepting what he really didn't want to accept. He knew Rafe needed time to come to terms with all this would mean to him.

He turned and headed out of the clearing, a small smile crossing his face as he scented the delicate fragrance of lavender and jasmine. He stopped when he reached the little redhead standing just within the trees. She always seemed to know when her brother needed her. 

Rhianna looked up at Jared and then gave him a quick hug which he returned silently. He dropped a quick kiss on the top of her head and then released her and headed back to the car. If anyone could help Rafe reach inner peace with himself it was his sister.

Rafe looked up and stared at Rhianna with troubled eyes as she stood just within the clearing. He smiled a sad smile at her and dropped his eyes again to stare at the forest floor. He felt his sister approach even though she moved so silently.

"It will work out for the best," she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck and climbing onto his lap as she was wont to do when he was struggling with something. The physical contact always eased him slightly and he wrapped his arms automatically around her slender frame.

Rafe groaned and cradled his sister against his chest, leaning his chin on the top of her head and resting back against the tree behind him. He felt a feeling of peace wash over him. He always felt that in Rhianna's presence. She was the only other person who could soothe his soul as Lacey could.

"You heard everything?" he asked quietly, even though he knew she probably had. Vampire hearing was so much more acute than even Were hearing was.

"I knew it at the house," she answered quietly. "Caleb did too. I think everyone else was too shocked at the time to notice." Rhianna tilted her head back to look up at her big brother. His expression was so sad that she had to stroke his cheek gently to try and ease his sadness.

"You shouldn't doubt yourself so, Rafe," she smiled gently. "You will be a fabulous Alpha. Instead of looking at this as something bad you should look at this as something positive."

Rafe snorted, scowling blackly. "How can there be anything positive to this, Annie? I don't want it. I don't want to leave the Hanlon pack. I don't want to be an Alpha to the bloody Romanov twins. And what about Lacey? How do I go home and tell her that she now has to lead vampires after all that species has put her through in the past?" His burst of anger waned as he spoke of his mate, his tone turning more anguished. He wanted to protect his Lacey at all costs. How could he do so by subjecting her to vampires?

Rhianna sighed and climbed out of his lap to stand before her brother. He really was going to go into full self pity mode if she didn't do something about it. She could see him talking himself down into a spiral of doom and gloom. She loved Rafe so much but sometimes she wondered which one of them was supposed to be the grown up between them.

She smiled fondly at him. "You don't have to leave the Hanlon pack, you just need to branch it out a little. Jared wanted a compound closer to Wicked after what happened to Aaron and the length of time it took to get him medical help. You can just go with that initial idea. You may not be able to call it the Hanlon pack because there is one here but how about the Armand-Hanlon pack? That way you are still affiliated with this pack and you can even still call Jared your Alpha if you really want to. You could run the satellite pack but turn to Jared if you need any help."

Rafe blinked slowly at his sister, surprised by her suggestion. It had merits he supposed. If he could still count Jared as his Alpha and come to him if needed then it would help ease some of his negativity towards being an Alpha himself. It would keep the ties with the current pack too and allow the two to mingle easily. His lips twitched in a little smile. "Armand-Hanlon pack?" he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Rhianna blushed a light shade of pink and grinned back at him. "Okay, so I'd get a certain amount of pleasure out of our family name being used," she answered with a tinkling little laugh. 

Rafe had adopted the Hanlon name after he had technically 'died' to the human world. He had to admit to himself that being able to use Armand again held a certain pleasure for him too. His little Annie made sense and it really was a good suggestion. One he could put forward to Jared later on.

"Okay, Einstein, solve the rest of my issues for me," he remarked drolly but his spirits were starting to lighten at his sister's enthusiasm and smart suggestions.

Her grin widened and her lavender eyes sparkled. "You don't want to be an Alpha like Jared? So don't be," she said simply as if it was the most logical thing in the world. "Jared's style of leadership works for him and that's fantastic but it doesn't mean it has to be the stance you take too, Rafe. You've always been more of a subtle type of leader. You point out the obvious and let people find their own way. You can be that kind of Alpha with your pack. 

People follow you because they want to, not because you demand it of them. You might have a few issues with the vampires at the start but once they realise that you're not going to be forcing them to do what they don't want to, they'll adapt pretty quickly."

Again he sat there stunned at how easy Rhianna made it all sound. It was as if he had placed a brick wall between them and she was knocking each brick out with her wisdom, breaking down every obstacle he set in his own way. "What about Lacey?" he asked quietly, his eyes clouding with worry.

Rhianna sighed and rolled her eyes, her hands on her hips as she peered down at him. "You really should have more faith in her, Rafe," she answered with a slight edge in her voice at her brother's stupidity. "Lacey is one of the most amazing women I've ever met. She is so strong and adaptable. You should give her more credit, brother. Talk to her before you decide how she's going to react to this. Let her tell you how she feels about it, don't anticipate her feelings as being negative."

It was Rafe's turn to flush a light shade of pink at his sister's words. He knew she was right, that his mate was one of the most amazing women to walk the planet. Lacey's capacity to love and forgive were two of the qualities he loved most about her. The level of compassion she exuded rivalled even that of the little redhead standing before him.

Rhianna moved to hug her brother again to take the sting out of her words. He pulled her back into his lap and hugged her tightly.

"You pack will be a mix of people who have suffered greatly from one thing or another, Rafe," she sighed quietly. "Lacey, you, Ashleigh, Loretta, the vampires. You will all have something in common which will bind you together and make up a new pack that will be different from other packs. That doesn't make it a bad thing but a good thing. Change has come Rafe, and you have it within your power to make something special out of that change. There is no one more suited to do so than you."

He felt his heart swell with love for this precious little woman he held so tightly in his arms. His Annie, his beautiful little sister, the daughter he had claimed in every way except biologically. Always she spoke with such wisdom that was far beyond her years. Always she helped him see things from a completely different angle.

"I can't begin to tell you how much I love you, baby girl," he whispered softly, his voice thick with emotion. He was so proud of her, so constantly amazed by how wonderful she had turned out.

"I love you too, Rafe," she whispered back, clutching him tightly and smiling as she felt the last of the tension leave his big body. She knew he was going to be okay now. Sometimes he just needed pointing in the right direction. Once he was, he picked up the reins and moved forward. Her brother was going to be an amazing Alpha, the best Alpha to walk the planet in her eyes but she knew she was pretty biased about it.

"Can I join your pack too?" she asked with a little giggle escaping her as Rafe threw his head back and laughed loudly.

"Well we can't have an Armand-Hanlon pack without the last remaining Armand being in it, can we?" he chuckled when he got his laughter under control. "Though what Caleb will have to say about you suddenly becoming pack, I have no idea."

Rhianna snorted delicately, her lavender eyes twinkling with amusement. "I've always been pack and he knows it," she laughed softly. "I'm just switching packs to one with my name in it."

Rafe smiled fondly down at her and dropped a quick kiss on her forehead. "Come on then, Annie, let's go tell Jared what you've coerced me into," he smiled, his own eyes twinkling with amusement as he stood up swiftly and lowered his precious little sister to the forest floor.

"Race you!" she called, laughing as she took off at supernatural speed into the trees.

He growled and rolled his eyes, taking a more leisurely route back to the compound. There was little point racing his vampire sister, she won every time. He didn't see the point in ruining another set of clothes just so she could kick his ass again.

His thoughts turned once more to Loretta and Ashleigh and his eyes flickered to the left, towards the city far off in the distance and the building that housed The Vampire Council. A worried scowl crossed his face and his wolf growled ferociously deep inside him. He wanted to be with the vampires. He wanted to be helping to take down The Council, to rescue his pack mates. To rescue his pack members! 

His eyes widened at the thought. If he was Alpha to the vampires then that meant he was Alpha to their mates too. Loretta and Ashleigh were his pack now and he was stuck at the compound unable to help them. His wolf howled mournfully inside him and he swallowed hard. He would make it up to them somehow when they were brought home safely. 

Had the fight started yet? Had their friends been able to rescue the two wolves? He trusted Caleb with his own life, knew his brother would move heaven and earth to secure the girls' safe release. He knew that Andrei and Nors would fight to the death to free their mates. He knew all that and yet he still ached to be there to help his friends. 

Sighing deeply he reached the central compound. He put his arm around his Annie who was waiting patiently for him with her own concerned expression on her beautiful face as if she could sense where his thoughts were leading him. Together the siblings headed into Alpha's house trusting that their loved ones would come safely to them.

***** Freya's words whispered in Nors' mind and he turned his head to nod briefly at Caleb. His gut clenched hard, every part of him wanting to be with his sister at that moment. He wanted to see Ashleigh, touch her, scent her, and know that she was all right. Instead he had to stand with the other Ancients.

He had always had a strong sense of responsibility when it came to the welfare of his people as a whole. He knew that what was about to happen in the Council chambers was momentous and would change the vampire nation forever. He knew it was his place as an Ancient to ensure that the change came about as smoothly as possibly. 

His little blonde wolf blew that all away though. She usurped everything and everyone. It took ever ounce of self control for him to remain standing beside the other Ancients.

Daniel glared at the Ancients and their followers. His fury knew no bounds as he stared at them with a vicious glint in his eyes. "You have no right to be here!" he hissed loudly. "This is Council business. Leave now!"

In answer to his demand, Caleb walked forward slowly to come and stand just in front of Andrei and the others. His cold amber gaze connected with Daniel's and his talons lengthened on their own. He pointed one long talon at the Elder.

"I thought I had warned you all what would happen if you proceeded to fuck with the Hanlon pack," he said in a cold deadly voice. "Did none of you learn from Graves' mistake? Did you really think that because you were Council members that you could take what was under my protection and get away with it?"




The Council Ch. 15



He didn't wait for Daniel to respond; instead he turned his gaze to the vampire army in front of him. His eyes ran slowly over the assembled group, recognising a few of them. "This Council is declared void," he said in the same deadly tone. "Stand with them and you will die here this day. Leave now and I will forget all who stand before me. The choice is yours."

"You don't have the power or the authority to declare anything void, Caleb," Roberto snarled softly his body quivering in fury. "We are the Council. We are the ruling body of the vampires."

Caleb snorted loudly, a feint smile tugging at his lips. "No, you are cowards hiding behind your own people for your own petty ends," he retorted acidly. "The remaining Council members stand before you, three against two. They side against you. Their vote defeats yours and they stand with me. It is you who should back down if you truly follow our ways. Instead you will incite a civil war among our people."

Daniel's face flushed red with fury. "Andrei mates with a wolf, a stinking dog! He is no longer a Council member. He has broken all our laws. His vote counts for nothing. Is he even a vampire anymore? What has this mating turned him into?" There was a low murmur among the assembled vampires at his words.

Caleb ran his eyes slowly around the room. Some of the vampires shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, some wore hardened expressions as he and Daniel used a war of words to claim their allegiance. It was unfortunate that the Elder had guessed about the matings. It would have made his task a little easier if he hadn't thrown that fact out there. 

"The time for change is here, Daniel," Caleb said quietly. "You can either try to stop it or you can embrace it. Think about what you do here this day. Vampire against vampire when it isn't required if we come together as a people. It's time to re-join the rest of the world and stop holding ourselves apart as if we're somehow superior." 

A few of the vampires peeled away from the group as Caleb spoke, moving to sit on the benches surrounding the main audience chamber, declaring themselves as spectators from that moment on. Daniel was hissing with fury at their defection while Caleb was trying not to show his relief. A full dozen had declared themselves neutral, strengthening the odds in the Ancient's favour.

"Mating with Weres is an abomination," Daniel declared loudly, his tone dripping with disgust. "Andrei Romanov is no longer a vampire, he's been infected by the dogs. Nors Eriksson has a dog too in his home. Most probably he has mated with her. The Ancients have betrayed our people. We must cleanse our ranks of this infection and ensure it never happens again."

There was a loud roar of support from the vampires standing with him, fangs bearing, talons clicking together loudly.

Demetri turned to look at Caleb and rolled his eyes. "Can we get this over and done with?" he asked in a loud mock whisper. "He's really starting to piss me off and I've got better things to do with my time." He let his glacial green eyes travel over the line of vampires before him, settling on the largest and most belligerent vampire he could find.

"He's mine," he smiled softly, his eyes flashing with barely concealed excitement. It had been a long time since he had been able to let his more feral side loose and he was looking forward to putting the vampires in their place. 

Caleb met Daniel's gaze for a moment longer and then sighed in resignation. "So be it, Daniel. Anyone who wishes to change their mind need only remove themselves from the fight. Be clear on this though, if you stand with Daniel you will die here today."

There was a moment's hushed silence as both sides faced each other off. 

"Just in case anyone's interested, I'm 'infected' too," Alexei growled softly, an unrepentant smile on his face. "So anyone who wants to 'cleanse' me can go right ahead and give it a try."

He turned to grin at his brother who had stayed remarkably silent throughout the entire conversation between Caleb and Daniel. Their gaze met and they nodded silently at each other.

Andrei had held his peace through the war of words. He had let the insults and baiting wash over him. Any other day he would have been furious, incited to kill whoever was disrespecting him. Today he put aside his own feelings as he concentrated on what his Loretta was going through. Her pain and anguish was a thousand times worse than any insult he could take at the petty words being banded about the room.

He had only two goals in mind. Kill Daniel and Roberto and then go get his mate. He would have preferred to get his mate and take her home but there was work that was required to be done first, bloody, murderous work.

The twins moved first, quickly, deadly and in perfect synchronisation. They both leapt high into the air, flying across the heads of the assembled vampires, directing themselves straight at Daniel and Roberto. Their bodies sailed gracefully through the air, talons out, eyes as black as death, hair flowing wildly at the speed of their movement.

Andrei targeted Daniel, Alexei went for Roberto. A split second later they were both blocked by others throwing themselves between them and the Council members. Bodies intersected them, talons flashing towards them as they started their downward arc like angels of death.

Andrei instantly decapitated the first vampire within his reach, blood spraying high into the air as the body fell lifeless to the floor. He was immediately knocked off balance by two other Elders crashing into him, sending him straight down into the heaving mass of vampires beneath him.

Alexei spun to see his brother go down, kicking out at the Elder that was almost on top of him. His kick increased his momentum and he shot up higher, his keen gaze quickly searching the area below him until he spotted Andrei. With a feral snarl, he angled his body towards his twin and dived into the swell of vampires trying to contain Andrei.

The room erupted in sound as the two side clashed together in a flurry of speed and feral snarls. Demetri found his target, talons slashing viciously to rake down the Elder's face. He spun to the left, his foot lashing out to catch the vampire in the stomach even as he moved behind the disorientated man. 

The vampire was only momentarily stunned though and quickly turned to face him, his talons raking down Demetri's chest. The Ancient hissed in surprise more than pain. He really must be slowing down if he allowed an Elder to get the better of him.

Still, this Elder was the largest vampire in the room bar Nors. That was the reason Demetri had singled him out. He wanted a challenge. He flew at the Elder, catching him squarely around the chest and pushing him backwards with the speed of his attack.

They crashed into some unoccupied benches, the wood splintering easily and sending lethal shards around the room. One larger piece pierced straight through the neck of one of Daniel's vampires and he dropped to the ground in agony.

Demetri wasn't paying much attention though; he was too busy with the Elder he was fighting. He could feel his temper rising, he could feel himself dancing the fine line between his feral side and his humanity. A sharp stab of pain in his stomach alerted him to the fact he had underestimated his opponent.

He raked his talons down the Elder's face again, slicing through the side of his mouth. The other man shrieked loudly and hurled Demetri away from him. The move was unexpected and the Ancient connected painfully with the wall, tiles and plaster raining down all around him.

"Fuck!" Demetri roared, his temper snapping completely. He heard an anguished cry and saw Stephan go down under a pile of vampires. Cristoph was wading in to help him; the twins were surrounded by half of Daniel's army. Caleb and the rest of their crew were tearing vampires limb from limb to the sound of agonised cries and the scent of hot dripping blood on the air.

The scene was carnage and he'd had enough! Demetri crossed over to the dark side. A chill ran through his body, his eyes black, and his talons longer and sharper. His gaze trapped the huge Elder he had been fighting with and he pointed one long talon at him and smiled a slow, dead smile. "Time to die," he hissed quietly.

The Elder tried to defend himself but he was stunned at the death that slowly walked towards him. He'd never see anything like it before in his long life. A hum seemed to go through the room, a hum of unchecked dark power. It was the last thought he had. The Ancient moved so impossibly fast that not even the Elder saw him move.

Demetri smiled slowly, holding his prize in his hand as he watched the body before him crash to the bloody tiles beneath them. He opened his fist and let the head land on top of the body. "Yours I believe," he whispered softly, his black eyes flashing wildly as his black hair swayed as he turned to find his next target.

Caleb felt the hum of dark power, turned his head to see Demetri had transformed. The darkness pulled at him and he let it overtake him, let his humanity fade away to be replaced by the monster that lived within him. He turned to see Nors transform too, his friend appearing more wild and manic than he'd ever seen him.

Nors too was trying to reach the Council members. He wanted them just as badly as Andrei did but he had a wall of other vampires to get through. Not that they were going to stop him from reaching his target. He had barely any control left though he tried to hold onto his sanity. He had changed to the dark side but the wolf gene within him was interfering with his feral nature. He couldn't fully cross over because the wolf part wanted control too.

It sparked a wildness within him that he didn't know how to contain. His age and enhanced speed and strength gave him an advantage. His fury at his mate being taking from him turned that advantage into an almost homicidal rage. 

He scythed through the vampires before him as if they were nothing. He didn't even stop to see if he had killed them. He just wanted them out of his way so he could reach the Council members. They had taken his mate from him. Had they hurt her? Had they laid their hands on his Ashleigh? He couldn't call to Freya. He couldn't asked the question of his sister. If she told him Ashleigh was hurt then he would lose the tenuous hold on what was left of his sanity.

He needed to stay lucid. He needed to kill Daniel and Roberto. Only then could go to Ashleigh. He couldn't go to her until he could devote all of himself to taking care of her. He couldn't be divided in his goal right now and it broke his heart to have to wait to save his wolf. His only consolation was Freya was with her and would look after her as she had promised him.

The wolf inside him raged at not going to their mate. It howled in fury but the vampire within him was so much stronger and easier to contain. Nors swallowed down the cold, hard rage inside himself. He would achieve his goal and then he would recover his wolf and God help anyone if even a hair was harmed on her head.

Caleb took the head of another Elder, quickly running his eyes over the room. Nors was unstoppable, pressing closer and closer to the two Council members. Andrei and Alexei were paired up with at least five other Elders surrounding them. He was about to go to their aid when he saw Demetri drop down beside them. 

All around them there was the scent of blood, the screams of the wounded and the dying, body parts littering the once white marble floor. He turned to face two Elders as they approached, prepared to kill them even though he didn't really want to. They paused, staring impassively at him for a long moment, and then they peeled away and removed themselves from the fight by joining the other spectators. 

The fighting was ferocious, bloody and very brutal. It was plain that it wouldn't last long either. Already a significant part of The Council's army was either dead or had declared themselves out of the fight. The sight of the Ancients in full vampiric mode, as well as Andrei and Alexei joining them, seemed to halt most of the surviving army before them.

Shocked, stunned faces watched as the Ancients danced a macabre dance of death almost effortlessly through the remaining fighting vampires. The power coming off them was tangible, the ease with which they took each life frightening.

Daniel was screaming orders at his army, fighting back some of Caleb's crew as his army disintegrated around him. They were boxed into a corner almost, Nors coming from one side, the Romanovs and Demetri from the other. The sheer power exuding from them was like nothing he had ever witnessed before.

"Sweet Jesus!" Roberto hissed at his side, his voice both awed and terrified as they watched death creep ever closer. "What the fuck are they, Daniel?" 

"We are the Ancients," Caleb answered from just in front of them. He included Andrei and Alexei in his words. They were so close to Ancient status that it didn't really matter anymore to define them as Elders. They were as powerful as any of the Ancients in the room.

"You seriously should have listened to me, Daniel," Caleb continued though he didn't approach the Council members any closer. "Your death would have been quick and painless and others would have been spared. You were always destined to lose. You were just to stupid to see it."

Demetri reached Caleb's side and inclined his head slightly towards his friend. "You're not going to intercede?" he asked, his voice cold and lifeless.

Caleb's cold gaze swept over Andrei and Alexei as they finished despatching the last stragglers who refused to concede defeat. "Andrei deserves justice," he answered quietly.

Demetri snorted, letting go of the dark side and reverting back to his normal state. "Justice or vengeance?" he laughed softly, his green eyes hard as he regarded the Council members before them.

"Sometimes they're the same thing, Demetri," Caleb sighed, letting go of his feral side too. "I will not take away from him what he needs to do. He and Loretta have been wounded gravely by these two, as have our people. They made their decision. Now they get to deal with the consequences of it."

He turned away just as Nors stiffened and dropped the vampire he was holding. Agony blazed across his face as his head turned wildly, searching anxiously around the room. Caleb blurred over to his friend immediately.

***** Loretta stroked Ashleigh's hair gently as Freya continued to feed her blood to her. It was painfully obvious that with each passing moment the little blonde was fading further and further away. The blood wasn't working anymore. Whatever damage was done inside was just too severe to be healed by merely ingesting vampire blood.

"Can't you do anything else?" she asked the vampire, fighting back more tears. She'd never been one to cry but she found herself unable to stop as she gazed down at Ashleigh. Her friend had sacrificed herself to save her baby. She was so young and had been through a world of hurt already. She didn't deserve to die like this. She had so much living to do.

"I'm doing all I can," Freya ground out through clenched teeth. She could feel herself becoming weaker by giving up so much of her blood. What more did the stupid dog want her to do? She couldn't heal Ashleigh internally. Only Nors could do that. They would never be together if she intervened and that would wound her brother so much.

Ashleigh pulled her mouth weakly away from the vampire's wrist. She knew she had all but run out of time. The pain was starting to abate now. Her body was going numb and beginning to shut down.

"Freya," she whispered weakly trying to raise her hand to touch the vampire but being too weak to do so. "Keep him safe. Keep him alive." Her voice trailed off as her breath caught in her throat. She struggled to take the next breath. It was painful and almost impossible but she managed to drag more air through her lungs.

The vampire stared down at the fragile wolf in her arms. Even now as she struggled for breath, Ashleigh's first thought was for Nors. The love for her brother was etched on the dying wolf's face. Her heart softened a little bit more for the brave little wolf she cradled close.

"Nors, get down here now!" she called urgently with her mind. "Hurry! There is no time left. I can't save her, Nors. Only you can!"

"Ashleigh!"

Nors' terrified cry sounded loudly in Freya's head. His pain and anguish ripped through her and she had to hunch over as it pierced her so strongly. Tears gathered in her eyes as she pressed her wrist back to the wolf's mouth, forcing more blood into her. She would keep the wolf alive somehow until he could get here. She couldn't let him down. There would be no saving him if Ashleigh died.

"Nors comes," she crooned softly to the wolf. "You have been so strong and brave, Ashleigh. Stay with us a little longer. Hold on for him. He needs you so much!"

"Stay with us, Ash," Loretta sobbed brokenly. "Please, little one. Don't leave us." She brushed at her tears whispering words of hope to her friend, urging her not to give up her fight for life. She prayed to God that Nors got there soon. If he arrived too late...it was just unthinkable.

Nors eyes clouded with anguish as he dropped the vampire he was holding and spun around wildly. The vampire who was just about to attack him from behind was stopped by Caleb as he appeared from nowhere. He despatched the vampire quickly and turned to his friend.

"Ashleigh," Nors whispered in a haunted voice. "She's dying."

"Go to her," Caleb said brusquely. "Save her!" He was particularly fond of the little blonde wolf and didn't want anything to happen to her. It would kill Nors and it would hurt his Annie too as she had adopted the wolf into her family.

Nors needed no second urging. He was gone streaking from the room at supernatural speed, down into the basement rooms. He ignored the dead vampires, ignored everything but the sight before him.

Ashleigh had no colour in her face at all. Her heart barely beat; her lips were covered in blood as Freya tried to keep her alive. A loud feral cry of anguish ripped from his lips as he dropped to his knees beside his precious woman.

"No, no, no, no!" he groaned over and over, pulling her from Freya's embrace and cradling her close. "Ashleigh," he whispered brokenly. "Don't leave me. Please don't leave me." He was crying and he didn't care. His wolf was dying, barely breathing anymore. He was losing his beautiful Ashleigh and the pain was unbearable.

Ashleigh smiled softly, feeling Nors' strong arms around her. He'd come! He always came when she needed him. Her beautiful vampire. She felt wetness on her face and slowly opened her eyes to see his face above hers, tears streaming unchecked down his cheeks. He looked so frantic, so anguished.

"Don't cry, Nors," she whispered softly, taking a deep shuddering breath. "I was strong and brave for you. I didn't tell them anything and I saved the baby." Her voice trailed off again as she fought for her next breath.

"You were always strong and brave, my Ashleigh," he whispered through his tears. "You just didn't know it. I'm so proud of you my wolf, so very, very proud of you. Now you have to be stronger and braver than any other time you've ever been. Forgive me for this but I can't let you go, love. You have to stay with me."

She stared up at him in confusion, not understanding his words or the sudden steely determination in his beautiful green eyes.

"Freya," he said quietly, flicking his eyes towards Loretta. His sister nodded imperceptively and rose to stand behind the other wolf.

Nors kissed Ashleigh gently, his hands roaming quickly over her broken body, searching for the site that he needed to reach inside her. "I love you, Ashleigh," he breathed against her lips a split second before he lengthened his talons and dug ruthlessly into her abdomen.




The Council Ch. 15



He held her tightly as she screamed in agony, trying to minimise the pain and quickly find where she was bleeding out inside. He had detected the liver wound but it appeared her spleen was also bleeding out too. He quickly pulled his hand free, ripping his fingers open and pressing back inside.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry, Ash. This is the only way, love. Be strong for me. Stay with me a little longer." He stroked against her wounds as gently as he could, feeling inside for every little nick and scratch he could find on her internal organs, blending his blood with hers. He couldn't miss a thing because he couldn't do this to her again, not ever. His heart broke as he drank in her pained cries.

Ashleigh was so weak she couldn't even struggle against the pain. Nors was hurting her and she didn't know why. His tears fell on her face, his whispered words tumbling from his mouth as he declared his love for her over and over again.

She couldn't even cry. She had no tears left, no strength anymore. Nors was torturing her insides and all she could do was utter some pained cries against his lips. She knew deep down that he had to have a pretty good reason for hurting her but that didn't negate the agony travelling through her body. She remembered vague words about mating being spoken between Freya and Loretta but she couldn't gather her thoughts together to understand what they meant.

Loretta was growling, trying to get to Ashleigh but Freya had positioned herself well, holding back the irate wolf.

"Stop it, Loretta!" Freya hissed as she held the struggling wolf. "He's healing her. I know it's hard to listen to her pain but it's the only thing that will save her."

The vampire's word sank through the fury surrounding the wolf and her struggles abated as she stared down at Ashleigh. She knew Nors was trying to save her friend but it was so hard to listen to Ashleigh's agony and not try and help her. Ashleigh had to be strong enough to get through this. She had to fight to live.

Nors slowly removed his fingers from his wolf's body. He was almost certain he'd found every tear inside her but she was so pale, her heartbeat so weak he didn't know if he'd been in time. He repositioned his wolf in his arms, quickly closing the wound in her abdomen to stop any more blood loss, then he ripped into his wrist and began to feed her his blood.

"Drink, love," he urged softly. "Stay with me, Ashleigh. I need you so much. Fight for us." He rocked her gently as he held her fragile body close, trickling his blood down her throat. If he was too late, if she died...he would die too. He didn't want to live a moment longer in a world that his Ashleigh didn't exist in.

"Don't die, Ashleigh. Please don't leave me."

*****

The others moved from the Council floor to find seats among the non damaged section of the seating area. Coldly, curiously, all eyes turned to the four vampires left standing among the death and carnage within the Council chambers.

Andrei couldn't make up his mind which one of the Council members he wanted to kill. Daniel had orchestrated everything while Roberto had issued the command to kill his child. It was a moot point really as Loretta had already shifted to wolf form by then but he hadn't known that when he'd ordered the death of the baby.

"He issued the order," Roberto suddenly blurted out, his voice shaking with fear as he stared death in the face. He knew he was going to die. The only option open to him was whether his death was going to be quick or whether Andrei was going to make him scream for hours.

His former Council colleague was smiling at him. It was a cold smile even though Andrei's eyes were twinkling away. He'd seen the other Elder use that expression, right before he committed one of the most horrifying acts he had ever seen.

"But you laid hands on her, didn't you, Roberto?" Andrei asked softly taking a step closer. "You touched her, didn't you? Tell me what you did to her. Tell me how you hurt my Rose."

Roberto backed away coming up against the hard wall at his back. "It was all Daniel's doing," he cried out terror starting to cross his face. "It was his idea. I told him not to do it. I told him it was madness."

Andrei's smile widened as he finally reached his decision. He turned towards Daniel, watched the colour leech slowly out of the other man's face as he was speared him with a cold gaze, then his hand shot out and he gripped Roberto by the throat and dragged him struggling into the middle of the blood soaked room.

He forced the vampire to his knees and turned to look at the assembled audience. "This is what will happen if any of you decide to fuck with my family again," he said softly. He thrust his talons into Roberto's neck scoring deeply. Blood arced into the air from the wound but he ignored in as he knelt down beside his victim.

He grabbed Roberto's hand in a death grip and held it up for all to see. "This hand touched my mate. This hand hurt my sweet Rose." He paused staring at the hand for a long moment and then he slowly, and very painfully, began snapping off each finger to the loud screams of Roberto.

When he was finished he turned to the vampire's second hand and proceeded to remove the fingers one by one with a smile on his face. "Did Loretta scream this loudly, Roberto?" he asked in a conversational tone. "Did Ashleigh?"

The screaming vampire writhed in agony as his hands were shredded mercilessly and with deadly precision.

"Damn, he's good," Demetri muttered with a small smile tugging at his lips. He remembered the satisfaction he'd felt the year before when he had killed Sandro and then ripped off Graves' limbs for their hand in Mara almost dying. He could fully relate to what his friend was feeling. 

"Very cruel," Caleb answered slightly drolly but his eyes were fixed on the scene before him. He was glad he'd made Annie stay at the compound. While this was necessary, it wasn't something that he wanted his woman to see. She would most likely give him a hard time about it if she was there. Sometimes, the beast within just had to be satisfied no matter how stomach churning it was.

The vampires watched on in silence as Andrei took Roberto apart piece by piece, all the while never losing his smile or the glint of madness in his eyes. He managed to keep the Elder alive for almost fifteen full minutes before his brother stepped over dragging a trembling Daniel with him.

"He's dead, Andrei," Alexei said quietly, kicking away the limp corpse. He shoved Daniel down to his knees before his brother, holding him in place. "But I have another one for you," he added with his own smile.

Andrei turned to face his nemesis, his expression bordering on complete madness. He smiled softly at Daniel reaching a hand up as if to brush his cheek gently.

Daniel whimpered, struggling wildly against Alexei's grasp, trying to get away from the insanity he saw in Andrei's face. 

"You took my child from me, Daniel," Andrei chanted softly. "My little girl." He watched a stunned expression cross the Elder's face, heard the gasps of shock reverberate around the room.

"That's right," he continued to croon in a soft voice, pain lancing through his body like hot fire. "My little girl. A miracle created between me and my sweet Rose and you took her from me. She smelled of lilac, so beautiful and fresh. That's how I knew she was my daughter, because of her sweet scent. You took the most precious gift I could ever give to my wolf and you destroyed it with your actions. You broke my Loretta's heart today. That's worse than what Roberto did to her body. The physical pain can heal, the mental anguish she has to live with for the rest of her life will never heal."

He watched terror cross Daniel's face as his own pain reached epic proportions as he thought of the child he had lost, of Loretta's pain and anguish. His need to make Daniel scream for hours overwhelmed him and he reached for the object of his fury.

"Andrei!"

Loretta's sweet voice filled the air, halting his movements, cutting through the madness that was consuming him. He smelled the sweet scent of warm cinnamon, turned his head slowly to see her standing just inside the Council chambers, Freya and Nors beside her. The flame haired vampire was bare-chested, his wolf cradled in his arms, his shirt drowning her fragile body.

Loretta was wrapped in another overly large shirt, this one had blood on the collar and there was some bruising on her legs and her face. The bruises already looked old as if she'd had them a while. Her face was tear streaked though she wasn't crying; her hair was wild about her face and shoulders. She looked perfect to him, the most beautiful sight in the whole world.

"Be with you in a moment, Rose," he smiled gently turning back to Daniel, his eyes hardening instantly, his talons reaching out once more.

"Hey asshole," Loretta called walking slowly towards him. She could see the wildness in her mate's eyes, she could feel the chill of insanity running through their bond and it terrified her. 

She knew what Andrei was capable of. She also knew that she had to draw him back from the brink of madness he was currently teetering on the edge of. She was terrified she would lose him completely if he continued on as he seemed intent on doing.

He stiffened as she approached, halted his actions once more but he didn't turn around this time. "Don't walk through the blood, Loretta," he said in a quiet voice. For some reason the thought of her walking through the taint of Roberto's blood filled him with a rage so strong he wanted to scream out loud.

The rage consumed him completely, threatening his tenuous hold on his sanity. "Don't come near me right now." It was a guttural whisper, a plea for her to stay away. He was barely in control of himself. He was terrified that if she came too close he would forget everything and inadvertently hurt her.

Alexei stiffened at his words, shaking his head at Loretta in warning but she continued on until she was standing beside her mate. "Scent me, Andrei," she whispered softly. "Really scent me." She reached out to touch his shoulder, her hand sliding into his hair as he groaned softly and turned his face into her stomach, inhaling deeply.

Tears filled Andrei's eyes as the heady scent of lilac filtered through Loretta's own sweet cinnamon scent. He raised a shaky hand touching her stomach lightly through the white shirt, pressing his face against her body as he inhaled the scent of the life within her.

"The baby's alive, Andrei," Loretta whispered shakily. "Its strong. A fighter like its father. Our child doesn't deserve to be born into all this death and destruction. Our child deserves to know only love. Don't let yourself be consumed by this hatred and insanity. Let this be over with. Stay with us. We need you,"

Andrei groaned harshly, his arms wrapping around his wolf as he wept silently against her stomach. Loretta's words crashed over him, drawing him back from the brink of madness, soothing him as no other could. His child lived. His mate lived. They were all that matter to him, all that was important.

Loretta cradled Andrei's head tightly, meeting Daniel's eyes. For a moment hatred pulsed through her, her own need for vengeance taking hold as her vampire wept against her body. For Ashleigh and for Nors, for her own pain, but mostly for the pain her love was going through, she turned her eyes to meet Alexei's intent gaze. They stared at each other, a silent message passing between them. Loretta nodded her head slowly.

Alexei gazed at the brave woman standing before him cradling his brother so tightly. He saw the signs of pain in her eyes, the deep anguish she was experiencing at Andrei's distress. Pride welled up inside him for the strength he also witnessed on her face. It was time to end this and the responsibility now fell on his shoulders.

With an audible snap Alexei broke Daniel's neck, his eyes never leaving Loretta's. He twisted hard, no sign of exertion crossing his face as he ripped the head from the body and let it fall to the ground. He knew it was a mercy kill, that Daniel had deserved everything Roberto had received and more but he also knew that this was what Loretta wanted. The decision taken from Andrei so he could retain his sanity.

He smiled gently at the wolf, reaching out and caressing her cheek lightly for a brief moment. He opened his heart to her in that instant, accepting her into his family. "He is lucky to have you," he breathed softly, respect shining in his eyes.

She gave him a small smile before stroking her hands tenderly through her mate's hair. "It's over now, Andrei," Loretta said softly, raising his face to meet her gaze. "Everything's okay now."

Caleb rose from the benches moving down to stand beside the Romanovs. "Stephan, Cristoph, liaise with Alexei to get this mess tidied up. I want a full meeting of our people called within twenty four hours. Make sure everyone knows they have to attend."

He turned his gaze to Loretta and brushed her hair lightly back from her face. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Loretta smiled weakly and nodded as Andrei rose to stand beside her, his arms like bands of steel around her. "You know me, Caleb. Tough as old boots," she quipped with more humour than she really felt. "I'd like to head home now though and take Andrei with me."

Andrei was once more in control, feeling the weight of his pain slowly leaving his body. He couldn't believe their child had survived. He couldn't believe that Loretta was not only safe but being so strong and brave too after her ordeal. He had felt her pain and anguish earlier. He knew just how much the night had taken out of her.

"We're going back to mine," he told Caleb. "If you need me, don't call me. I have other priorities tonight." He expected to see annoyance in the Ancient's eyes but instead he saw understanding. Caleb nodded and walked over to Nors and Ashleigh.

Nors was holding his wolf close, having sat down on the nearest unbroken bench. Ashleigh was pale and obviously very weak but her breathing sounded almost normal as Caleb sat down beside them. She was asleep, resting securely in her mate's arms.

"She's healing," Nors said gruffly, his gaze never leaving his mate's face as he stroked her hair gently. "I was almost too late, Caleb. A few minutes more..." He let the words trail off, feeling his friend place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze gently.

"But you weren't, Nors," Caleb said firmly. "Ashleigh is strong and she will recover from this. The mating?"

Nors nodded slowly. "I had to heal her internally," he admitted still feeling the guilt of the pain he'd caused his woman. "Once she recovers fully we should be able to mate completely like Andrei and Loretta." His tortured gaze turned to his friend.

"I would rather never have mated with her than see her go through all this, Caleb," he whispered hoarsely. "She didn't deserve any of this. She's never deserved any of the heartache she's been through."

Caleb smiled sadly and squeezed his shoulder a little harder. "I know, my friend," he answered quietly. "Sometimes bad things happen and we just can't stop them. We can either succumb to it or we can grow stronger from it. Ashleigh has already walked through fire and survived with you at her side. She can overcome anything as long as you are with her."

"Listen to Caleb, Nors," Ashleigh murmured softly, her eyes still closed. "He's very smart, love."

Nors' breath caught, his heart thundering painfully hard in his chest as Ashleigh opened her eyes. She smiled gently at him, managing to raise a hand to press against the side of his face. He turned his head and caught her hand, pressing his lips tenderly against her skin.

"Take her home, Nors," Caleb said softly leaning forward to brush his lips lightly against Ashleigh's forehead. "Unless she needs to see the pack doctor?"

"No, rest is all I need," Ashleigh sighed as her vampire rose with her in his arms.

Nors turned to his sister, giving her a soft smile. "Coming, Freya?"

She stared at him startled. He had banned her from his home, told her never to come there now that Ashleigh lived there. Was he rescinding that order now?

"Freya, please come home with us," Ashleigh said quietly. "I'd really like you to. You saved my life and I will always be grateful to you for doing so."

Caleb's eyebrow shot up in surprise, his lips pursing as he watched Freya carefully. It appeared his little talk with her had yielded some benefits though he wasn't quite ready to concede she was a changed woman. Still he relaxed slightly as he watched the new family walk slowly from the Council chambers.

"Well, that was an entertaining evening," Demetri chuckled lightly at his side. "Nothing like a good little tussle to get the blood pumping. Talking of tussles, do you need me here anymore? I've a wife I want to go pick up and take home."

Caleb shook his head in mock exasperation and rolled his eyes at his best friend. He really was incorrigible at times but there was no one he would rather have watch his back than Demetri Bozic.

"Tell Annie, I'll be along shortly," he answered. "I just want to make sure everything is being taken care of here. Let Jared and Rafe know the girls are going to be okay too."

He stayed for another half hour, watching all the vampires who weren't part of the cleanup operation start to disperse. He knew the matings and Loretta's pregnancy would be common knowledge by the time the meeting came around tomorrow night. He wasn't worried about any kind of retaliatory action occurring overnight. Not after word of what had gone down in the Council chambers also circulated. 

He didn't hold with cruelty in any form but he had let Andrei loose on the two Council members anyway. It was the only way to ensure that the message got out to their people. They had to understand that he would tolerate no more wars against the Weres. Maybe now they would finally get the message.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 16



Freya hovered in the bedroom doorway, watching Nors gently lower his sleeping wolf onto their bed. He covered her and then stared down at her with a deep frown on his face.

"Tell me," he said quietly and she knew what he wanted to hear but she didn't think it was necessarily a good thing for him to hear it.

"Nors, she's going to be fine..." she started to say but his head whipped around and his deep green eyes bored into hers. She sighed and entered the room, moving to sit on the bottom of the bed.

"She was fatally wounded by the time I got there," she said quietly. "The vampires knew the other wolf was with child. They went to kill it and Ashleigh protected her friend. I did everything I could to keep her alive until you could come and heal her."

Nors was stiff, fury rolling off him in waves, but his tone was cold and hard when he next spoke. "Why didn't your blood heal her?"

Freya swallowed hard and bit her lip, not wanting to answer him but knowing her brother would not stop until he knew everything. "From everything Loretta told me, the vampires beat Ashleigh numerous times to try and get them to talk. They saw her as the weaker of the two and the one most likely to break. They also saw Loretta's protectiveness towards her and thought she would break eventually if she watched her friend's suffering. When Ashleigh became too damaged they healed her with their blood and started again. By the time the fatal blow happened your wolf probably had sustained so much previous damage that even my blood wasn't strong enough to heal her."

A deep shudder went through Nors' big body and he sank to the bed beside his Ashleigh and stared at her with tortured eyes. She should have talked. They both should have. They should have told the vampires everything and then neither of them would have suffered the brutality of what his kind had done to them. 

A little voice inside his head whispered that they would have died as soon as they did talk. He tried to ignore it, tried to be furious with Ashleigh and Loretta for holding their silence but deep in his heart he knew they would have been killed if they had. It didn't dull the ache in his heart at the thought of his wolf being beaten endlessly by the vampires. He had failed her. He should have ignored everything else and gone to her immediately.

"Nors, this isn't your fault," Freya said fiercely, knowing her brother so well. She just knew he would find some way to blame himself for what had happened to his wolf. She may not understand how he could love a Were but she could clearly see how much he adored Ashleigh and how much the little wolf loved him too.

"It is," he hissed through clenched teeth. "If I had left her with her pack last year, if I had never brought her home in the first place then she would never have been a target for Daniel. She would never have had to endure what she's just been through." His voice was raw with pain, his eyes moist as he tried not to think about what she'd suffered. He knew his kind well, and just how cruel they could be.

"She would be dead if you hadn't brought her home and you know it," Freya answered in a hard tone, striving to break through the wall of misery Nors was building up against the world. "You told me she was going Rogue after the death of her family."

Nors didn't answer her, couldn't take his eyes from his precious woman lying sleeping in his large bed. He couldn't deny his sister's words but he couldn't reconcile them either with the deep well of guilt that invaded his body to battle with the fury and the pain rushing through him.

Freya moved then, wrapping her arms around Nors from behind and holding him tightly as she felt his big body shake and heard the pain in each distraught breath he took.

"Don't do this to yourself, Nors," she whispered softly. "Don't torture yourself like this. I know you. You'll do something crazy like send her away when she's healed and tell yourself that it's for her own good. You'll only hurt both of you by doing so. Don't overreact."

He stiffened in his sister's embrace, wondering if she was inside his head reading his mind or if she really did just know him that well. He was under no illusions that everything would be okay with his people despite what had happened tonight. If protecting Ashleigh meant sending her away he would do so. He never wanted her to experience what she had just been through again. He never again wanted to know the agony of seeing her lying in a pool of blood, her life slipping away .

Freya could see she wasn't getting through to him so she twisted around until she blocked his view of his wolf and took his face in her hands. Her deep green eyes met his and she hissed fiercely at him, anger and concern warring for dominance within her.

"Don't you dare do this to her," she said harshly. "She was so brave and strong tonight. She knew she was dying and all she could think of was you. She begged me to keep you safe, Nors. To keep you alive. Don't you dare disrespect her like this. She's been through so much to protect you, to protect the baby. Don't make it all for nothing. If you truly love her then respect who she is as a person and allow her to make her own decisions."

Nors stared into his sister's fierce eyes, pride rippling through him as he listened to her words. They hit him hard, breaking through his guilt and pain. The first time he had met Ashleigh she had been racing through a war zone trying to save the children of the pack. She had been strong and brave that night too and had lost everything she'd held dear at the time.

Now she had sacrificed herself for those she loved again and he was thinking of sending her away. She would lose everything she loved if he did that. Freya was right and he knew it. He would be punishing Ashleigh if he sent away and he'd be ripping out his own heart too.

The pride he felt for his wolf almost overwhelmed him. The same pride rushed through him as he looked at his sister. "You champion her," he said quietly, amazed at Freya's turnaround, how she could go from hating Ashleigh for being a wolf to now fighting so fiercely on her behalf.

Freya swallowed again and turned her head to look briefly at the sleeping woman and then turned back to her brother with a serious expression on her face. "You were all she thought of," she answered softly. "Her love for you shone through her pain and suffering. How can I hate someone who loves you as much, if not even more than I love you, Nors? She was willing to give her life for you. That alone earns my respect."

She frowned slightly, an almost irritated expression crossing her beautiful face. "I feel some affection towards her," she admitted as if it was being dragged out of her. "In time I am sure I will come to love her as fiercely as you do. I accept her as my sister and I accept her as your mate. I admire her strength and courage. I would stand at her side and protect her because I know I would be protecting your heart and she is worthy of being saved. That's the best I can do at the moment, Nors."

Nors stared at his sister in amazement. He'd never heard her speak so warmly of another person before, not even one of their own kind. In Freya's world there was only him , everyone else meant nothing to her. He knew this was a huge step for her and he folded his arms around her tightly and held her close.

"Thank you, Freya," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for keeping her alive for me, for standing up for her when she couldn't do so herself. I know this isn't easy for you and I love you so much for trying so hard to accept this. You will come to love her, I know you will."

She hugged him back just as fiercely. She was surprised at the passion she had felt when she spoke of the little wolf. She hadn't meant to say any of the things she'd said but they had tumbled out and they had felt right at the time. There was more to Ashleigh than just being a wolf. There was something special about the little blonde beauty who had captured her brother's heart. That she had brought such joy to Nors in such a time of sorrow for him filled her with pleasure.

"Ashleigh is my family now, Nors, just as much as you are. I will protect her and I will come to love her. She will not be alone again now that she has both of us to take care of her. We will not let anyone hurt her ever again." 

Her words were fierce and she smiled against his neck as they embraced tightly. She was surprised to find that she really meant every one of the words. The wolf had earned her respect and her protection. No one would ever hurt Ashleigh again if she could prevent it.

Ashleigh woke slowly feeling the warm heat of Nors' big body lying beside her in bed. It was still dark and she turned slightly to cuddle into his embrace. She could feel how sluggish her body was, how weak she still felt but the pain was completely gone now and she could move without agony shooting through her body.

"Ash?" Nors whispered sleepily as he gathered her into his protective embrace.

"I'm fine," she whispered back. "I'm home safe with you. Everything will be okay now."

His grip tightened around her, his head burying in the crook of her neck and she felt wetness there as a hard shudder went through his body. "Don't cry, Nors," she whispered softly. "Please, love. I'm fine now. I'm safe. I knew you would come for me and it made me so much stronger knowing that."

"I should have been there sooner," he groaned in despair. "I could have stopped you being hurt so badly. I could have..."

She silenced him with her mouth, stroking his cheek gently as she rubbed her lips softly over his. He trembled and then he kissed her back, desperation warring with the need to be tender with her.

"I learned last year that ifs and maybes and could haves mean nothing, Nors," she said softly as she pulled back from their kiss. She continued to stroke his wet cheeks, staring into his haunted eyes. 

She smiled gently. "Bad things happen but it's how we deal with them that's important. I learned tonight that I'm strong and brave. I learned that I have the capacity to love so deeply that I would gladly give my life for those who deserve my love and loyalty. I'm a wolf, Nors, a strong, courageous wolf who will fight to protect my loved ones and my pack. My family would have been so proud of me."

He groaned deeply and kissed her reverently, amazed at how accepting she was of everything when he was still struggling so hard with it. "I'm proud of you, Ashleigh," he whispered. "You're the strongest, most beautiful wolf in the world. I wish this hadn't happened to you though. You didn't deserve it and you didn't need it to find yourself. You've always had all those wonderful qualities you've just described."

"But I never believe that," she answered gently. "I always felt I was weak because of my grief last year and the way I couldn't deal with it. Tonight showed me just how strong I really am. It was bad, I'm not denying that but I will not dwell on the negativity. I'll take the positives from it and I'll live a good life because of it."

"God, you're amazing," he groaned, holding her even closer, stroking a hand slowly down her back more to settle his own erratic emotions than soothe her. She was so much calmer than he was. "I love you so much, Ashleigh. I thought I was going to lose you tonight and I wanted to die too."

Her heart clenched with fear as his voice broke and she felt more tears against her skin. "Don't you ever say that, Nors," she said fiercely. "I want you to live, no matter what happens to me. Promise me you'll live should anything ever happen. I can't stand the thought of a world without you in it. I want to know that one day you will find happiness again with a new mate who will bring you nothing but love and joy."

He was silent for a long time, merely holding her as his body shook against her. She soothed him with little touches, feeling his anguish and pain, knowing he had to let it out or he would bury it deep inside himself where it would fester and turn into something destructive.

"Do Weres find new mates if they lose theirs?" Nors finally asked when he was once more in control of himself. He felt ashamed that he was going to pieces when she was the one who needed him after all she had been through. He wasn't used to being this vulnerable, to having the roles reversed between them. It felt wrong and yet he couldn't deny the comfort he found in his wolf's strong embrace.

For some reason Dayton Alexander crept into Ashleigh's mind at his question. She felt a stab of sadness deep within her. "That depends," she finally answered with a little sigh. "Sometimes they do, if they're young enough and can survive the agony of losing their mate without going Rogue. Sometimes they just don't want to and close themselves off completely. But some do, Nors. Some have the courage to keep going on and they're rewarded at the end of it by finding happiness again. I know you have that courage deep within you, love."

He doubted that he did but she had such faith in him. He knew he couldn't live without her, that he didn't want anyone else but her. She was everything to him, his very reason for existing. But she asked this of him and he couldn't deny her. If anything happened to Ashleigh he wanted her to know that he would try to fulfil her last wish so she would be at peace.

"I will try, Ashleigh," he breathed softly. "I'll do my very best, my love but I can't promise you just in case I fail. I would hate if the last thing I ever did was break my word to you."

Ashleigh sighed softly kissing him gently on the lips and tangling her fingers in his hair. "It's a start," she whispered against his mouth. "At least you will try, love. At least I have that."

They were silent a long time, Nors cradling his beautiful wolf against his chest, his hands moving restlessly over her body, surreptitiously checking that she was healing properly. He could feel her weakness ebbing by the strength of her arms around him and he felt relief wash over him as he finally accepted that the danger point was past and she would make a full recovery.

"I'm sorry I had to hurt you to heal you," he finally said quietly in the darkness, his fingers running soothingly through her soft hair. "It was the only way to save you."

Ashleigh snorted delicately and brushed her lips against his chest. "And to mate with me," she added onto his last sentence. She felt him stiffen in surprise and laughed softly. "I wasn't so far gone that I didn't hear Loretta and Freya talking, Nors. If your sister had healed me as you did then we would never have been able to mate. I worked it out. Andrei healed Loretta internally and now they can mate and have children. It will be the same for us now, won't it?"

He chuckled loudly, giving her a tight squeeze and kissing the top of her head. She truly did amaze him sometimes. "Yes, my Ashleigh, we can fully mate now," he sighed softly. "But only once you're fully healed and I've checked with Caleb if he knows the length of time required between the healing and me being able to safely join with you."

He felt her start to squirm slightly in protest but he held her securely until she ceased her movements. "I won't be swayed on this, Ashleigh," he said firmly. "We have to be sure before we try this. If we move too soon then the outcome just doesn't bear thinking about."

"But we will be able to mate, Nors," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "We'll be able to have babies. I never thought I would be able to being mated to a vampire."

The thought of becoming a father should have shocked Nors but he actually found himself looking forward to the prospect. Of course he had no idea what being a father meant and would probably mess it all up but the hope he could hear in his wolf's voice was enough to make him smile at the thought. 

She would be a wonderful mother. She had so much love to give. Any child they had would be blessed to have her and if he could give her the family she so desperately needed to fill her life then she could have as many babies as she wanted. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his Ashleigh.

"We'll need to talk to your doctor," he smiled against her hair. "I want to give you all the babies you want, Ash, but you've been through so much recently. Maybe it would be best to wait a little while, just until you're fully recovered and some time has passed. Loretta fell pregnant instantly once she fully mated with Andrei. I think we need a little time together first, love, just the two of us."

Ashleigh bit her bottom lip, denial immediately rocking through her. She wanted to have Nors' babies and she didn't want to wait to have them. But his words made sense and she couldn't argue with them. Her whole world had changed in just over a year. Her relationship with Nors was new and still growing. They had both been through a very traumatic experience and they did need a little time together to get over it.

She suddenly started to laugh softly and then she laughed harder. "I can just imagine Luke's face," she giggled. "A vampire and a Were turning up at his door asking for contraception advice. How he's going to answer that one I have no idea!"

Nors laughed too, relieved she wasn't going to press the issue. It made sense to wait a little while until everything had calmed down. He was glad she was seeing the wisdom of it. "I'm sure he'll cope," he laughed softly. "I guess he's going to have to now that there are vampires in his pack."

He held Ashleigh as she continued to laugh and then she abruptly stopped laughing and pushed herself up on his chest to look down at him. Her eyes were dancing with silent laughter.

"Oh my God! I've just thought of something," she gasped, starting to laugh again.

Nors stared at her in puzzlement. "What?"

"Well, you and Andrei got it easy with me and Loretta," she managed to get out through peals of laughter. "Someone else hurt us and you got to save us. I so want to be a fly on the wall in Cedar's house when she demands that Alexei does the necessary to allow them to fully mate! That will be absolutely priceless!"

He stared at her puzzled for a moment longer and then her meaning sank in. Cedar would insist that Alexei hurt her so he could heal her! He could only imagine the denial the other vampire would go through at just the thought of hurting his mate. Cedar was one determined lady when she wanted something badly. The ensuing eruption between those two would be of epic proportions.

"Ashleigh, that's mean!" he said sternly even as he tried to hold back his own laughter. It would be priceless to watch that little drama play out. He had no doubt that Cedar would be the victor in the end and it would be nice to see Alexei Romanov brought to his knees by his woman. 

He started to chuckle as he pulled Ashleigh back down against his body, stroking a hand down her back as they laughed together.

"Sleep, Ash," he finally said softly when they'd settled down. "The more rest you get the quicker you will heal."

Ashleigh stifled down a deep yawn, snuggling against Nors' chest as her eyes fluttered closed. "Where's Freya?" she asked sleepily.

"She went home but she'll be back tomorrow," he whispered quietly. "She's trying hard, Ash. You've already earned her respect with your bravery. Give her time. I'm sure you two will become great friends."

"She's not so bad," Ashleigh sighed softly. "She just needs to find someone to love her as much as you love me. I might need to work on that." Her voice trailed off as she slipped into much needed sleep.

Nors wanted to laugh at the thought of anyone loving his sister the way he loved his Ashleigh. Freya would never let herself become vulnerable to anyone in that way. His love for his wolf overwhelmed him at the thought that she wished that for his sister. She was an amazing woman his beautiful wolf.




The Council Ch. 16



He closed his eyes and tried not to think of the upcoming conversation he had to have with Freya. How the hell he was going to talk her around to having babies in the family, he had no idea! 

Sighing softly, Nors let his mind drift into sleep, content to have his wolf home safely and to know that they had so much to look forward to in the future.

*****

The wait at the compound had been excruciating. It had seemed as if many hours had past when in fact it had been a little under two hours before Demetri had appeared with news. The whole room had let out a collective sigh of relief to hear that Loretta and Ashleigh had been saved and the Vampire Council had been taken down with as little loss of life as possible. 

A large number of Daniel's army had eventually withdrawn from the fight, shocked and stunned by the power of the Ancients. Despite being held in awe by most of the Younglings and quite a few of the Elders, none of the Vampire Nation had every truly understood just how powerful the Ancients really were until tonight. They were completely lethal and they had the numbers to follow them if they truly needed an army to back them up.

Demetri had initially decided to take Mara home immediately but ended up staying. His wife was cooing over Millie's children along with Rhianna so he sat in a comfortable chair beside Jared and simply watched his woman's face shine with love as she tenderly held one of the babies. 

She looked so beautiful, so radiant that he felt a stab of regret that she would never know the joy of being a mother. Was that why his Mara had taken so long to decide to join him as a vampire? Had she been coming to terms with the fact of what she would be truly giving up by allowing him to Sire her? 

If he had truly loved her then maybe he should have let her go. He could have found a way somehow. They could have taken down the last Council as they had taken down this one. He could have let her go to become a mother, to find love with someone who could give her everything he couldn't. 

And yet, he knew he would never have managed to be that selfless. He loved her too much. She was the very air that he breathed and he couldn't be without her. Last year had taught him that much.

She looked up at him, frowned slightly and then turned to pass the child back to Millie. She rose and crossed the room to slip onto his knee and he felt instantly complete as he wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you thinking?" she asked quietly, leaning close to brush her lips against his ear. "You feel sad through our bond, Demetri. What's troubling you?" It was so unlike him to let her feel anything other than his cockiness or his incredible sensuality through their bond. It disturbed her to feel this regret.

"Do you ever wish things had been different?" he murmured quietly, his lips tracing lightly over her slender neck. "Do you ever wish you could have been a mother, Mara? You look so natural holding that child. You have so much love to give to a little one. I've taken that from you."

Mara raised her head and rolled her eyes though her smile was soft and loving. "Is that what's worrying you?" she asked softly, leaning forward to rub her lips gently over his. "Do you seriously think I would ever give you up, Demetri? You are mine, my arrogant vampire. I wouldn't trade you for anything in the whole world. I'm more than content with the decisions I've made in my life."

He tightened his arms around her, feeling her love rolling through their bond, hearing the truth in her words and relaxing. He smiled up at her secure now that she didn't regret a single thing, that she truly wanted to be with him no matter what. "I love you, my Mara," he whispered, his deep green eyes glowing with the wealth of emotion rocketing through him.

"I love you, Demetri," she sighed against his lips, kissing him gently before she snuggled down against him and rested her head on his shoulder. She met Rhianna's eyes and rolled hers again in mock exasperation, bringing a smile to her friend's lips.

Rhianna smiled down at little Mina in her arms and kissed her gently before she relinquished the child to her father's arms. The relief that everything had worked out fine was welcome but she wouldn't feel any real peace until Caleb returned from the Council chambers. 

She knew how much tonight had taken out of her vampire despite the necessity of it. He didn't want their people to lose their lives needlessly. He wanted to bring them together but to do that he first had to break down the old ways which was never an easy thing to do.

She was concerned about Rafe too. He had disappeared into Jared's study with him when they had arrived at the house. She knew that he had been telling the Alpha what his decision was regarding the new pack. 

She also knew that Rafe had realised that Loretta and Ashleigh were now his pack members rather than just pack mates. Her brother was very smart. It wouldn't have taken him long to work that out and then his strong sense of responsibility would have kicked in. He didn't speak of it to her when they had come out of the study but she knew his increased tenseness was because of that fact.

This was why she had slipped away a little while ago and called Lacey to come to the compound. Rafe needed his mate but he wouldn't impose on her while she was busy with her studies. So Rhianna had done it for him. He might be annoyed with her for doing so but she'd deal with that. Sometimes her brother really didn't know what was best for him.

She watched Rafe stiffen slightly as he stared out the window, hearing the sound of the approaching car. She smiled softly as his head whipped around to stare at her, his brow drawn down in irritation. She shrugged her shoulders innocently, her eyes twinkling with amusement as he scowled more darkly and then suddenly smiled ruefully at her, shaking his head.

Rafe didn't move from the window though his eyes were fastened intently on the doorway, waiting for his mate to appear. His breath caught as it always did when the door opened and Lacey entered the room, closing followed by Jen and Aaron.

He had eyes only for his mate. She was stunningly beautiful to look at, long platinum blonde hair tumbling down her back, her light green eyes concerned as she quickly scanned the room until she found him. Her face lit up in a beautiful smile as she found him, her love rolling through their bond as she quickly made her way over to him.

"Rafe," she breathed softly, wrapping her arms tightly around him. She was almost as tall as he was so she didn't need to stretch too far to give him a light kiss. She gasped when he crushed her tightly to him, surprised as he deepened the kiss into something that bordered on desperation.

"What's wrong, baby?" she whispered when she could catch her breath again. "Annie said you needed me. Why didn't you call me, Rafe?"

"Annie should mind her own bloody business," he retorted loud enough for his sister to hear but there was no heat in his words. He had needed Lacey and he knew it. Just having her in his arms was enough to soothe some of the turmoil going on within him. He kissed her gently and stroked her perfect cheek. She was so incredibly perfect she took his breath away every time he looked at her.

"Lacey, something happened tonight," he said, his tone slightly nervous. Rhianna said to trust in his mate but he knew what she'd been through at the hands of Graves and Sandro. He didn't want her to be afraid again, to be worried about anything.

"Talk to me, Rafe," she urged softly. "It doesn't matter what it is. As long as we have each other we can face it together. Let me help you, baby."

He rested his forehead against hers, cupping her face tenderly between his big hands. "I'm an Alpha, Lacey," he groaned, closing his eyes. "Not just any Alpha either. I'm the Alpha of the mated vampires." He held his breath as he waited for her response, felt her stiffen slightly against him. Slowly he opened his eyes to look at his mate.

Lacey digested his words slowly. Her first thought was to laugh out loud. Of course he was a bloody Alpha. He always had been, he'd just been denying it to himself all this time. But she held in her amusement because he was struggling so hard with it. 

It took her another moment to realise what that meant for both of them and she sighed softly. Alpha Bitch to the Romanov twins? She didn't mind Nors so much as she knew him from visiting the compound and her friendship with Ashleigh. But the twins? That was going to be a complete pain to deal with until things fell into place.

She met Rafe's concerned gaze wondering why he was so tense. He looked so worried, as if he was holding his breath waiting for her reaction. It suddenly occurred to her why he was so anxious and her heart swelled with love for him. "Oh, Rafe," she sighed softly. "You're not worrying about how I'd take this, are you?"

Lacey saw the truth in his eyes and wrapped her arms tightly around him, feeling him let his breath out slowly. "Don't be worried, baby. I'm not. They need you, Rafe. Lord only knows how confusing it must be for them having to deal with the wolf gene and all the extreme changes going on in their lives. I can relate to that because it wasn't so very long ago I had the same changes happening to me. I don't hold all vampires responsible for what Richard did to me. I never have and I never will."

"You're amazing, my Lacey," Rafe whispered against her neck. "Annie told me to trust in you and she was so right. I should have had more faith in you, but it's so hard when all I want to do is protect you and keep you safe." His relief at her easy acceptance of the situation overwhelmed. Her capacity to love and forgive defined her as a person and made her the perfect mate for him.

"Thought you'd learned by now not to argue with your sister," she laughed softly, giving him another tight squeeze and then stepping back. She turned to smile at her sister, silently thanking her for calling her to come ease her mate's mind.

"It could be worse," she added with a wicked smile. "I could have to be Alpha Bitch to Demetri!"

"Hey!" Demetri growled in mock indignation while everyone laughed loudly and the atmosphere within the room lightened noticeably.

"So, what does all this mean?" Aaron asked with a frown on his face. He'd sat down on one of the sofas, pulling his heavily pregnant mate down beside him. Jen was frowning slightly too, her hands resting on her stomach.

"Are you starting your own pack now?" she asked quietly. If Rafe and Lacey left the pack then she'd be without her best friend just as her babies were due to be born. Luke had told her they were having triplets and she had been relying on Lacey to help her out. It was a scary prospect becoming a mother so soon after becoming a Were. Three babies was a lot to deal with.

Rafe pulled Lacey across to the sofa and sat down on the edge as Lacey sat down beside them and took Jen's hand in hers to give her some support. She could see her friend's anxiety and automatically wanted to soothe her.

"Jared and I have talked about it," Rafe said quietly. "We're going to set up a satellite pack in the forest close to Wicked. The pack owns the land there so there will be no obstacles and it makes sense to have our new compound close to the city where quite a lot of us are now living."

"So who is going to be in this new pack?" Aaron queried, his face still wearing a frown. "Obviously if you're Alpha to the Weres then that means Loretta, Cedar and Ashleigh are part of your pack now."

"I am!" Rhianna smiled, her eyes twinkling with delight.

"You are what?" Caleb asked from the doorway, his golden brown eyes glinting with amusement as he headed into the room to gather up his mate and drop a quick kiss on her lips. He'd heard every word but he liked to tease her when he could. He sat down beside Millie and settled his woman on his lap.

"Joining Rafe's pack," Rhianna grinned up at him. "I have to, Caleb. It's the Armand-Hanlon pack."

Caleb pursed his lips in mock thoughtfulness and then grinned back at his mate. "Well, in that case, I suppose we're joining Rafe's pack," he laughed lightly. "Can't be having an Armand-Hanlon pack without an Armand in it. It will help ease the vampires into pack life too."

He turned his gaze to his brother. "You probably are going to need a bit of help getting the twins in line at least," he smiled. "Nors shouldn't be too much of a problem."

Rafe gave him a grateful smile. Having Caleb's backing would be as much of a help as knowing he could still come to Jared if he needed to. His former Alpha had refused point blank to remain his Alpha but had offered to be there for him any time he needed it. They were brothers after all.

Mara shot Demetri a teasing smile and he growled loudly at her. "Don't even think about it!" he ground out. "We're vampires not bloody Weres!"

"But Caleb and Annie are going pack," she laughed, her big brown eyes glowing with amusement.

"Rafe is Annie's brother," he countered frowning down at her.

"You adopted Annie," she shot back, her whole body nearly shaking as she tried to contain her laughter as his face turned darker. "And you adopted Rafe as your brother too," she reminded him.

"I am not joining a pack of bloody wolves," he growled softly. "And that's the end of the subject, Mara." His tone brooked no argument and she couldn't contain her laughter anymore.

"Yes, Demetri," she said meekly resting against his shoulder and meeting Rhianna's lavender gaze. They grinned at each other as Demetri snorted loudly in irritation. 

He certainly had no intention of joining Rafe's pack but he was equally as certain that his wife wasn't about to give up trying to convince him otherwise. He smiled at the thought of the delicious little battle they would have over that one. His Mara was a very determined woman when she wanted something but he was just as determined to not let her have her own way. The ensuing battle of wills was going to be so much fun.

Aaron was still watching Rafe intently with a frown on his face. He was pleased that his best friend was finally accepting his Alpha status and starting his own pack but he was saddened by it too. Rafe was like a brother to him and he would be leaving soon. He was losing Cedar too as she was joining the other pack. He was closest to Cedar of all his siblings, losing both of them at the same was a huge blow.

Jared looked at Millie and shook his head and rolled his eyes. He was going to miss having Rafe around and he would miss the girls too. It was a blow to lose three Betas from his pack. Now he turned to look once more at Aaron and Jen's anxious faces and he let out a deep sigh.

"Oh, for goodness sake stop looking so bloody miserable," he barked out with a short laugh. "You didn't seriously think I would try and split you lot up did you?"

Startled glances flew to him and he laughed at the shocked expressions. "Aaron, Rafe has been your Alpha for a very long time now, just no one has ever vocalised it," he said ruefully. "I was actually amazed that you responded to my command at all during the Beta meeting."

Rafe cleared his throat slightly and grinned sheepishly at Jared. "Actually he might not have," he admitted quietly. "I was so angry at the turn of events during the meeting that I think I mentally projected my own command at the time. I didn't mean to. I just wanted Aaron to stop hurting Cedar because I knew he would regret it. I was trying to will him to stop."

Jared stared at Rafe for a long moment and then burst out laughing. "I don't even want to know if anyone else in the room responded as well. You're taking three of my Betas as it is, Rafe. Let me keep the rest of them please. At least until I can train up new ones to replace anyone else you're going to steal from me."

Everyone laughed at his peeved tone, Millie rising and settling her babies in their crib before she headed over to her mate and wrapped her arms around him. "We'll manage just fine, love," she said soothingly. "Yes, we'll miss our pack mates but they're still part of us. We'll never lose the close bond we have."

Jared wrapped his arms around his mate and kissed her softly. "I know, baby," he sighed. "It's just going to be a pain the ass until it all gets worked out."

Aaron couldn't believe the relief that swept through him knowing that he could join the new pack. He could feel Jen trembling against him and he knew she was just as relieved as he was. She didn't want to be separated from Lacey and he knew that. She was worried about giving birth and being a good mother even though she didn't need to. Having Lacey's support meant everything to his mate.

He grinned at Rafe, at his new Alpha. It felt a little strange thinking of his friend as his Alpha but it also felt right too. This probably explained why he had been so anxious at the thought of being parted from him.

Rafe was smiling too, suddenly feeling more content than he had in a long time. Starting a pack didn't feel half as daunting knowing he had his mate at his side as well as his sister and his best friend. "Guess you're stuck as my number two after all," he smiled at Aaron.

His friend laughed loudly. "What a chore," he teased, his pleasure evident on his face.

Caleb cleared his throat slightly drawing all eyes to him. "I need to resolve the issue with my people," he said quietly. "I've called a meeting for tomorrow night. I'd like the mated pairs, and the Alphas to be there too. I understand if you want to leave your mates behind but I'd appreciate them being present. I promise you I can keep Millie and Lacey safe."

There was a stunned silence at his words, Jared and Rafe automatically frowning deeply. Their mates looked at them and then sighed in unison.

"You've always trusted Caleb's word, Jared," Millie said softly. "Are you going to start doubting him now? If it helps to ease this enmity between our people then isn't it worth taking a risk?"

"There will be no risk," Demetri smiled slowly. "Not after what our people witnessed tonight. No one will dream of attempting to harm any of you, Jared, especially not your mates." There wasn't a hint of doubt in his voice.

"Then we should all go," Lacey said firmly holding her mate's angry gaze. "Rafe, Caleb and the others risked their lives today for our pack members. They risked their lives for us last year too, so we could be together. They have proven their trust and loyalty to us over and over again. Now they need our help. They need our trust and loyalty. I don't let my friends down, baby. Not ever."

He wasn't happy about. He couldn't be. He would be taking her into the heart of the Vampire Nation. But her words cut through a lot of his reluctance. Caleb had always stood by them. He would never do anything that could hurt Rhianna. If he was confident he could protect her family even within the heart of his own people then he had to trust him. He met Caleb's intent gaze and nodded his head in agreement.

Jared agreed after another moment's pause. "Very well, Caleb. We'll be there."

"Thank you," Caleb answered. He turned to Rafe. "It's late tonight but I suggest that you get the mated pairs together before the meeting and let them know about the new pack and what it means for them. You can use our house for that if you want. I'll be happy to sit in to run any interference for you." 

He suddenly looked around the room, noticing for the first time that they were one missing. "Where is Cedar anyway?"

"She went home after Demetri arrived and let us know the news," Rhianna answered. "Said she'd call Alexei and let him know where to meet her. She didn't see the point in hanging around the compound if he was going to be a while."

Caleb rolled his eyes at the news. "You do know what's going to happen don't you?" he asked Rafe with a pointed gaze.




The Council Ch. 16



His brother smiled even though he was feeling worried inside. "World War III," he grinned back.

***** Cedar waited impatiently for Alexei to come home to her. She knew he was fine because Demetri had told her so but until he stepped through the door her wolf wouldn't settle.

She had planned what she would say to him. She knew he would be resistant but she was determined to have her way. She wasn't expecting it to be easy but it had to be done. She was prepared for the pain. At the end of it she would be able to mate fully with her vampire, she would be able to have the children she'd always dreamed of. It would be worth every second of pain she experienced.

Her heart thudded wildly inside her as the front door opened and Alexei stepped into the house. Her keen gaze took in that he had changed his clothes. He had most probably showered too to clean himself before coming home. The fight must have been pretty bloody to have prompted him to do so.

She stared at him silently, drinking in his intense expression, the sheer power and sensuality that rolled off him with ease. God, he was so spectacular and he was all hers, forever. Now they could truly be together.

Alexei let his gaze roam over Cedar's beautiful face. He was still pumped up from the fight, his feral side still close to the surface though he had worked hard to suppress it. He could see the determination in his mate's stunning blue eyes. He knew what was coming and he could feel the wolf part of his nature becoming agitated inside him.

His expression hardened instantly as he moved across the room towards his wolf, coming to stand in front of her. "No," he said quietly. He didn't need to say anything further, didn't need to elaborate what he meant. She knew and her expression set into an even more determined mask.

He reached for her as she opened her mouth to argue with him, as he knew she would, pulling her abruptly against his body and silencing her instantly with a hard kiss. The moment their lips touched he groaned deeply. She tasted amazing as she always did, her sweet scent wrapping around him, tempting him and teasing him until he was hard and aching for her.

He kept kissing her, sucking her deeper and deeper into her desire so she couldn't think straight about anything except the feel of his body against her, the touch of his hands roaming down her back to cup her ass and pull her hard against his straining shaft. 

He groaned against her mouth, his tongue diving inside to taste every delicious inch of her. He wanted her. His lust was rising sharply, the need to lose himself in her beautiful body to escape the death and destruction that had occurred such a short time before burning through him. He had initially kissed her to stop her from asking the impossible of him, now he craved her to soothe the savageness inside of him.

Cedar tried not to succumb to him. She knew what he was doing, that he was ruthlessly using her passion against her but she was quickly sinking beneath the onslaught of his incredible sensuality. He fought so dirty when he was determined to win. For a moment she almost gave up the fight before it had even started but then she wrenched her mouth from his and pushed hard against his chest.

Her sudden movement surprised him and he took a step back, naked hunger still burning in his smoky brown eyes. "Alexei," she breathed unevenly also taking a step backwards to get more space. She watched the hunger die from his eyes to be replaced by coldness.

"I said no, Cedar and I meant it," he said harshly. "Don't even bother asking me to do it because I won't." Didn't she understand that he'd seen enough blood and pain already tonight? He took no pleasure from killing, well most of the time he didn't. There had been the odd time when he'd had a personal axe to grind and he had enjoyed the pain he'd inflicted on others. But mostly it was a necessary evil that needed to be done.

Tonight had been a culmination of both. The Council had to be taken down so they had done so. The only pleasure he had taken was watching Andrei take apart Roberto. He had felt his brother's agony at the thought of losing his child. Andrei had deserved to have his retribution for what had been done to Loretta. 

Killing Daniel had been the only other pleasure he had taken but he had been merciful about it. He had done it for Loretta and for his brother. The Elder had hurt his family so had to die. It was a simple as that. 

Now his wolf wanted him to hurt her. She wanted him to take her to the point of death so he could then heal her and he didn't want to do it. It wasn't that he didn't want to mate with her fully, that he didn't crave to taste the sweetness of the precious life's blood which ran through her veins. He wanted it as much as she did but he couldn't bring himself to cause her any pain. 

He watched disappointment cross her face and then her expression settled into that stubborn look that he'd quickly come to recognise meant that she had no intention of losing this fight. He stifled down a groan and took a deep breath.

"You won't?" Cedar echoed in a dangerously quiet voice. "So, you think this a decision that only you get to make, Alexei? You don't think that I get to have a say in what happens in my life?" Her hands came to her hips, her head tilting slightly to the left as her eyes narrowed with irritation.

Alexei snorted loudly, frowning at her. "This isn't about who's being the most dominant here and you know it, Cedar, so don't even try that one on me," he ground out, a hint of anger creeping into his voice. He could feel his temper sparking and worked to contain it. Losing their temper wasn't going to make the situation any easier. 

"I am not going to hurt you and that's the end of the matter," he continued in a more even tone, moving away from her to sit down on the large sofa. Maybe if there was some distance between them they'd be able to calm down a bit before things escalated into a real fight. He knew his wolf wasn't going to let it go so he had to ensure he maintained control.

Cedar watched him silently for a moment, struggling with her own temper and also the deep feeling of disappointment washing over her. She tried to dampen it down. She had known this wasn't going to be easy. If she was too confrontational with him then she'd only anger him and they'd get nowhere. She could see that he was already struggling with his temper as it was.

"Alexei, you know what this means to me," she finally said in a quiet tone. "What it means for us. We both know it's not going to be easy for either of us but the trade off is so worth it." She kept her tone reasonable, moving to stand before him.

"I know you crave to taste me," she said softly. "Every time we make love you have to hold back your very nature when all you want is to taste me in your mouth. You'd be able to do that, Alexei. No more abstaining, no more bottled blood. I'd be able to give you what you need, what you crave so badly."

Her words were like a siren's song. They tempted him unbearably, teased him with his heart's desire. She deliberately appealed to his blood lust, using it as a weapon against him. He wanted to curse at her as he fought to stop his mouth from watering at just the thought of sliding his fangs into her fragile skin, of feeling her hot blood flow into his mouth and down his throat.

"Enough, Cedar," he growled softly, his eyes burning with fire as he looked up at her. "I can control my urges. I don't need you offering yourself as food to me." His voice was harsher than he intended it to be but that was because he was fighting hard with the need she had suddenly stirred inside him. She was very good, his wolf. She knew just where to hit him where it would tempt him the most.

"What if it's what I want, Alexei?" she breathed softly kneeling down between his legs, placing her hands on his upper thighs and stroking him gently. "What if it's what I crave too? I'm a wolf, love. Biting is second nature to us, being bitten the greatest aphrodisiac. Do you know how much I long to feel you bite me? How much I long to join with you as you bite me that first time and mate completely with me?" She teased him mercilessly, rubbing her hands closer and closer to the rigid hardness in his jeans.

With a muffled groan, Alexei grabbed her hands, peeling them away from his body and bending down until he was eye level with her. "I will not do this," he said firmly, spacing his words to get his point across. "No amount of tempting will make me change my mind so just drop it, Cedar. I've had a hard night and I don't want to fight with you. I need some peace, sweetheart. I need the peace that I can only find when I'm with you." 

His voice dropped an octave or two, a slight plea in it as he touched her cheek gently. He needed her to stop now while he was still able to hold onto his temper. His feral side was slow to abate tonight and anything could set it off. He truly did need the peace she could bring to him.

Cedar was torn. She could see the effects the night had had on him. She could only imagine what had happened in the Council chambers. She knew he would have been in the thick of it, that he would have stood beside his brother unflinchingly. But their mating was equally as important. If they didn't do it soon, before he could really think about it and harden his heart against it then she was certain that it would never happen.

"I want to mate with you," she breathed softly. "I want what the others have. I've been willing to give up everything for you, Alexei. My pack, my chance of having children, my family. Everything that I've ever loved I've been willing to turn my back on so I could be with you. This is all I ask of you, Alexei. Please don't refuse me."

He felt his heart wrench painfully in his chest. He couldn't deny her words because he knew they were true. She had been willing to give up everything for him. But he still couldn't give her what she wanted. He couldn't even make his talons come out thinking about hurting her. It was an impossible situation. He couldn't grant her request and it cut him deeply that he couldn't.

The wolf within him howled. His feral side rebelled. The two sides fought within him, the feral side the victor as it strove to protect him from the duality going on inside him. He felt it rise up sharply and he struggled to maintain some control.

"This subject is over, Cedar," he bit out. "Drop it now or I won't be responsible for my actions. I won't hurt you!" His voice was harsh with the strain of holding onto his temper. He shouldn't have come here. He knew what was waiting for him and he knew he was still too pumped up from the fight. He should have stayed away until he was in better control of himself.

He watched disappointment cross her face and then he saw her eyes flare with anger and he growled loudly, standing up abruptly. He had to get out of there before things escalated any further. Cedar wouldn't stop, she would keep pushing at him and he needed to put distance between them.

Cedar couldn't believe the autocratic stance he was taking. She knew he was angry but she was starting to feel angry too. If she didn't know any better she would have thought Alexei didn't want to fully mate with her. She couldn't believe that was the case because she had no idea how her wolf would react to that. 

At the moment she was irritated deep within her but not particularly concerned. But if her wolf started to believe that their mate didn't want to complete the mating? The prospect was frightening. 

It hadn't been an issue before because neither of them had thought a complete mating was possible but now that they knew it was...her wolf could conceive this as their mate rejecting them and the possibility of turning Rogue was suddenly going to become an issue.

Cedar's heart thumped painfully hard in her chest, a little shiver of fear taking root. It was now doubly important that she convince Alexei to mate with her as soon as possible but everything she had tried so far had failed. She swallowed hard as she felt her wolf stir again in agitation.

"Alexei, you can't refuse me," she whispered a hint of panic creeping into her voice. "You can't refuse the mating. Remember what you researched about Weres!" She saw fury blaze across his face and she reached for him but he pulled out of her grasp, heading towards the front door.

"You should clarify what you meant about not hurting me, Alexei," she called after him, desperation in her voice as her wolf howled loudly at his retreat. "You meant you don't want to hurt me physically. You don't appear to mind hurting me emotionally." It was a cheap shot and she knew it the instant she said it but she stood her ground tilting her chin up defiantly.

"Fuck!" Alexei roared furiously, his control snapping. He couldn't believe she'd said that to him, that she'd even think that he would do anything to hurt her in any way. He glared furiously at her before turning to leave the house. The wildness within him was unbearable. He had to get out of the house immediately

"Running away?" Cedar taunted, her pain ruling her in a way she'd never experienced before. She wanted to be with him so much but he didn't appear to want the same as she did. Her wolf howled mournfully. "Is that what you do when situations get too difficult for you to deal with?"

She was tumbling backwards before she knew it, being pressed hard against the wall by her furious mate. He hissed loudly in her face, his eyes sparkling wildly for a moment before his expression smoothed out and he leaned down to scent the side of her neck.

"No, I usually just kill whoever's pissing me off," he whispered in a deadly tone, his breath hot against her ear as she shivered against him. "But I can't do that with you, Cedar so I'd rather walk away until I calm down." He released her immediately turning to leave once more. 

"Alexei, don't go," she called after him as he reached the door. "We need to talk about this!" There was a hint of a plea in her voice but he continued out the door slamming it hard behind him.

He didn't go far. He prowled angrily around the side of the building, staying within hearing and scenting range. His thoughts were in turmoil, his feelings hurt. The wolf within him paced in agitation. He growled loudly when he realised he was pacing in unison with the imaginary animal within. The wolf was a mental beast not a real creature as Weres possessed. The wolves the Weres turned into were living, breathing creatures, all animal instincts and vicious when challenged.

He paced up and down, listening to Cedar move about within the house as he struggled for control. He kept replaying everything in his mind trying to work out a way around the problem. He couldn't hurt her, that was a given. Not physically anyway, his feral side whispered to him. He had seen a wildness enter her eyes. He knew his refusal was hurting her emotionally. He cursed at himself for being so weak.

If he hadn't let her bite him then he would still be the way he used to be. Hurting her then wouldn't have been an issue. He would be able to do so without any problems.

Liar, the wolf barked inside his head. He hadn't been able to hurt her in the meadow last year and he had been fully vampire then. He had been his normal self then, not this confused mixed up hybrid he now was.

Alexei groaned and leaned against the building. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to make this right and he felt afraid. Would he lose his mate? Would his beautiful wolf leave him if he couldn't give her what she needed. He didn't think so. Wolves mated for life, he remembered reading that.

He stiffened suddenly, going completely rigid. Cedar's words tumbled over and over inside his head. What had she meant when she'd told him to remember what he'd researched about Weres? There was a hint of panic in her voice when she said it. What was it she was so desperate for him to remember. He closed his eyes and wracked his brain for the answer.

"Shhhh," Cedar whispered to her wolf, trying to soothe the agitated beast. "He does want to mate with us. He just doesn't want to inflict the pain that's required to do so. He loves us and wants to be with us. You know that."

She was resting her head against the sofa as she talked her wolf down, calming her until she settled once more. She swallowed hard as her wolf subsided back into a more even temper, rising slowly from the floor. She could scent Alexei close by.

A shudder of relief went through her that he hadn't left completely. They needed to resolve this but she was starting to think that maybe she should have waited to do so. Until they could come up with some way to get around the need for him to hurt her before healing her, nothing could be achieved.

She wandered into the kitchen area, intent on getting herself a glass of wine but her gaze fell on the wooden knife block instead. She froze as she stared at the sharp implements, her mind whirling. Alexei couldn't bring himself to hurt her but what if she was already hurt? He would have no choice but to heal her then.

A few steps was all it would take to reach the knives. Was he watching her? Would he be able to guess what was going through her mind right now? She swallowed again and took a tentative step forward.

Alexei's eyes opened his expression frustrated. He was still no nearer to figuring out what Cedar had meant about the Weres. The sudden silence within the house unsettled him. What was she doing? Had she gone upstairs and he just hadn't noticed it? He moved silently until he was in sight of one of the kitchen windows. His blood froze in his veins.

"Cedar!" he roared furiously moving so fast he was at her side before she had successfully managed to pull the knife out of the block. Fear pulsed through him, fear and then unimaginable fury.

"You stupid bloody fool," he yelled, shaking her hard as he pulled her away from the knives. "What do you think you were doing, Cedar? Are you so bloody intent on dying that you want to do it yourself?"

"One of has to do it," she yelled back at him, her face red with anger though her eyes were haunted. "You won't so that leaves only me, Alexei. You are my mate. I want to be with you fully. I want your babies! I want to feel you taste me and know that I'm nourishing you with the very essence you need to exist! I want to be joined with you completely." 

A muffled sob escaped her as the sudden anger drained from her and she collapsed limply against him. "I need you," she whispered forlornly. "I need this."

Alexei held her tightly fear still racing through his stunned mind. If he had been a fraction of a second later. If he had been even a little bit further away than he had been. She could have died. The fear replaced his fury and he shook as he clutched his stubborn mate tighter.

"Promise me you won't try that again," he ground out hoarsely, unable to keep the fear out of his voice. "Promise me, Cedar. Please!"

His fear transmitted to her and she realised how foolish she had been, how pointless it was to try and force him to fully mate with her. She had to accept the fact that there was a high probability they would never mate. Her wolf howled loudly inside and she shivered. She would find a way to come to some compromise with her wolf. Turning Rogue wasn't a given. She usually had good control over her.

"I promise," she echoed, her voice sounding dull and lifeless. "I'm sorry I frightened you, Alexei. I won't do it again."

Cedar swallowed hard and pulled out of his embrace keeping her gaze averted from his. She swallowed again to try and dampen down her pain and disappointment. She had to accept that what they now had was all they were going to have. She had to be content with having what she could with him. If she pressed any harder then he could walk away forever. She walked out of the kitchen and headed upstairs.




The Council Ch. 16



Alexei stared after her retreating back wondering what knew trick she was about to get up to. He didn't trust her sudden capitulation. It was too out of character for her. His heart was still racing at finding her with the knives. Did she really need this so badly that she was willing to take that kind of risk to force him into healing her? 

It didn't make any sense. His wolf was so much more level headed than that, way too intelligent to want to harm herself. It was too impulsive for Cedar, something her wolf would do rather than her human side.

A deep groan ripped through him the moment he thought of her wolf. Remember about Weres she had said to him. He had forgotten all about how her wolf might perceive his reluctance to mate with her.

Alexei silently followed after her, hearing the shower turn on in the bathroom. He pushed open the door and watched silently as his mate stood under the hot spray. Her shoulders were slumped, her entire body language crying out defeat. He felt his heart twist painfully in his chest. 

He heard a muffled sound and his heart twisted harder. He was moving without thinking, sliding into the shower fully dressed and wrapping his arms tightly around her.

"I'm sorry," Cedar wept turning in his arms and burying her face in his neck. "I'll be fine in a moment. I can be happy with what we have, Alexei. It doesn't matter that you don't want to complete the mating."

He stiffened instantly crushing her tightly to him. "You think I don't want to mate with you?" he groaned hoarsely. "Oh, Cedar, I want nothing more, sweetheart. I just can't stand the thought of hurting you, of you being hurt at all. It isn't that I don't want you, my wolf. I want what Andrei has, what Nors now has too. I just can't do it to you."

"Why not?" Cedar asked through her tears, raising her head to look at him. "It's the same as any other Siring a vampire would do, only it will hurt a bit more. I don't care that it will hurt, Alexei. The pain is such a small price to pay for what we can have for the rest of our lives." Her eyes pleaded with him.

He swallowed hard as he gazed into her eyes. "It's more than just wanting what the others have, isn't it?" he asked quietly a frown on his face. "If we don't mate what will your wolf's reaction be?"

"I can control her, Alexei," she answered softly. "As long as she knows that you do want to mate with us, that the possibility is there, I should be able to keep her contained."

His frown deepened, his hands threading in her wet curls to keep her gaze locked with his as he searched her face intently for any sign of a lie. "And if she believes I don't want to mate with you?" he pressed, his eyes boring into her.

Cedar swallowed hard, pinned under his scrutiny. "Then there is a possibility I could go Rogue," she whispered so quietly it was only his enhanced hearing skills that allowed him to catch the words.

Fear raced through him. Fear and anguish and searing pain. If he didn't mate with her she could die. If he tried to mate with her and was unsuccessful then he could kill her. Either way stood the chance of losing his precious wolf.

Alexei searched her anguished face, her pain ripping right through him. He tried to open his mouth to explain to her how he felt but her eyes haunted him. He tenderly brushed her wet curls back from her beautiful face and kissed her trembling lips.

"Forgive me," he whispered softly and then he plunged his talons deep within her abdomen.

Cedar stiffened in pain, her hands clutching tightly at Alexei's shoulders as her legs trembled and then started to give way. A moan of sheer agony ripped from her as he gently lowered her to the tiled shower floor, following her down and cradling her gently against his body.

The pain was like fire burning all the way through her. She could feel steel knives raking about inside her and she bit her tongue hard to stop the shrill screams that wanted to erupt from her throat. If she screamed he would stop and he couldn't stop now. He had to complete this while he could still bear to do so.

She could feel the hot stickiness of her blood pulsing out of the wound he'd created. Her head dropped forward as she stared down at herself. The blood was thick and bright red and then the hot spray of the water diluted it and it turned lighter, thinner, before it washed away to be replaced by the next pulse of blood flowing from her body.

Cedar wanted to tell Alexei what a waste it was for her blood to just disappear down the drain like that. It could be feeding him, sustaining his life rather than trickling away. But she couldn't speak. If she opened her mouth the screams would come out and he wouldn't be able to continue. 

It felt like hours that his talons had been inside her body doing their bloody work but she had a feeling it had been merely seconds. How much longer did he need to do this? How much longer she did need to withstand the agony without screaming? She didn't think she could hold back much longer. She didn't think she was strong enough to endure the searing fire within her body.

Alexei held his mate tightly as she shuddered and moaned in his arms. He couldn't believe how quiet she was considering the agony he knew she must be in. She should be screaming but all that escaped her were hoarse moans. He was thankful for that at least. 

His eyes filled with tears as his talons did their deadly damage inside her beautiful body. His hand was coated in her blood, her vital organs pulsing against his skin. His heart shattered with every moan she made. He kept his eyes fastened on her face, tilting her head back when she looked down to see what he was doing. 

He memorised every moment of her pain, tears sliding silently down his face as her eyes dulled with pain, her beautiful eyes leaking tears. He carefully removed his talons, kissing her so gently as her precious life's fluid flowed out of her body. How long did he need to wait before he could heal her? She had to be close to death but how close?

"I want beautiful little girls just like you," Alexei whispered softly against her lips as he listened to her breathing getting shallower and her heartbeat starting to falter. "They have to have long blonde curls and beautiful cerulean blue eyes," he continued to whisper as she trembled in pain. "They'll be sassy and wild, opinionated and stubborn, just like their mother." 

Her breath caught in her throat and a trickle of blood leak from the side of her mouth. He moaned in pain, ripping his fingers open and pressing them deeply inside her, quickly searching for the damage he had caused so he could heal her with his blood. He soothed the ache inside her and then rubbed his bloody hands across the wound he had made.

Cedar cried out and coughed up blood, trying to stay awake, trying to picture the little blonde girls Alexei had described. She fought to stay with him, strove to ignore the searing agony and picture them with their daughters, laughing together as a family. It was such a beautiful image, so perfect.

Alexei had done something else to her. The pain was lessening and her limbs didn't feel as weak as they had. Her breathing felt a little easier too. Had he healed her? She wanted to look down but she couldn't drag her eyes from his tear streaked face. His tortured gaze trapped her, telling her that his mental agony had been just as bad as the physical agony she had just experienced.

She took a deep, shuddering breath, moaning softly once more and trying to utter a little laugh. "You must be a glutton for punishment then," she managed to whisper through shaky breaths as the pain began to recede within her and her body started to calm slightly.

"No, I'm a lover of perfection," he answered softly, tears rolling down his cheeks as he let the warm water cleanse his hand so he could reach up and cup her cheek tenderly. "I'm sorry, Cedar. I'm so sorry for hurting you."

"I'm not," she breathed softly, feeling her strength returning slowly. She reached up to wipe away his tears, pulling his head down towards hers. "Thank you, Alexei," she breathed against his lips. "I know what that cost you, love."

He groaned hoarsely, kissing her gently, his lips trembling against hers. "I don't think you'll ever truly know what that just cost me, sweetheart," he whispered. "Don't ever ask me to do anything like that again because I don't think I ever could. Not even for you."

He sat down with his back against the wall, pulling his wolf tightly against him. He wept silently as he hugged her tightly, waiting for the healing to complete. He'd done many things in his long life, some that had been truly unforgivable but none of them compared to what he had just done to his precious woman. 

It would take centuries for him to ever forgive himself for the pain he had just put her through.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 17



Andrei didn't speak the entire drive home to his house. Loretta watched him from the corner of her eye, wondering what was going on in his head. She tried to feel his emotions through their bond but got nothing. He was either able to block her completely or he just wasn't feeling any emotions at all. She didn't know which one unsettled her the most.

He pulled up outside his house and was out of the car and around to her side before she could step out. His eyes roamed her face quickly before he slipped an arm around her waist and picked her up in his arms.

"I can walk, Andrei," she said quietly, not surprised when he ignored her completely and headed into the house. She wanted to be annoyed with him for treating her like something fragile but she was uncertain of his emotional state so she let him have his way. He appeared to need to be taking care of her.

He took her upstairs walking straight into the bathroom. "Take it off, Loretta," he said in a low voice, lowering her to the floor gently before turning to start the bath running.

The sight of her in the dead vampire's shirt was killing him. It had been necessary at the time because his clothes weren't any better so it had been pointless putting his shirt on her. But they were home now and he wanted the offending garment off her body.

He turned to see she had complied immediately and he swallowed hard against the rage that was swiftly building up inside him. Her body was marked just about everywhere. It reminded him of the night he had first met her only this time the bruises where so faded, as if they were days, instead of hours old.

He reached out and slowly traced each mark with his fingers, his touch so gentle he was barely grazing her skin. He counted them, memorised every moment of his failure.

"Andrei," she whispered softly, feeling his sorrow through their bond, which he appeared to have stopped blocking now they were safely home. "Don't do this to yourself. This isn't your fault."

His eyes met hers and there was denial in them but he didn't speak. Instead he ripped at his wrist and wrapped an arm around her, cradling her gently as he pressed it to her mouth.

Loretta suckled at his wrist, not because she really needed it to heal but because he needed the marks to be gone. Her changed DNA had healed her almost completely as it was. She knew the marks would be gone in the morning but he needed them to be gone now, so she did it for him. She could feel the tension in his big body, knew he was struggling badly with everything that had happened. They needed to talk about it but she was afraid to push him because he was so on edge she didn't think he could handle it at the moment.

Andrei held her close, brushing his lips against her hair as she healed that last little bit with the help of his blood. The marks faded completely but they were burned indelibly into his mind. He would never forget them, ever. He had promised his wolf that no one would ever hurt her again as Sandro had. He had failed her. He didn't deserve the peace of having those memories erased. He deserved to see them every day as a constant reminder of his failure.

When she had healed completely, he released her and silently finished preparing her bath, pouring in her favourite bubbly stuff that she loved so much and then picking her up and lowering her into the tub. "Relax," he whispered. "When you're finished get into bed. I'll be back soon."

"Where are you going?" she asked a hint of worry in her voice. She had no idea what he was thinking and it was concerning her a lot because he wouldn't open up to her.

"I'll shower in one of the other bathrooms," he said with a slight grimace, looking down at his bloody clothes. They weren't too bad considering the amount of killing he had done tonight but he felt defiled just having Roberto's blood on him. He picked up the shirt from the floor and left the bathroom.

Once alone, the rage he had been barely containing swept through him and he tore the shirt apart with a low, vicious growl. His talons came out as he shredded the garment furiously. His wolf had worn a shirt of someone who had hurt her. It was an outrage that she'd been put in the position of having to do so.

He satisfied his rage, tossing the fragments of the garment in the nearest bin he could find. Then he showered quickly, throwing away his own clothes too. Loretta was still in the bath when he returned to their bedroom. He dressed quickly and headed downstairs.

He knew she wouldn't have been fed when she was being held by Daniel. He was no cook but he set about fixing her something from the refrigerator. He found he couldn't stop moving. If he stopped then he would have to deal with everything that had happened and right now he couldn't do it. So he kept moving, kept himself busy taking care of his wolf. It was the only way to keep the rage at bay.

Loretta closed her eyes and rested in the bath. She could feel the turmoil racing through her mate and her heart broke for him. He was struggling so hard to deal with all the conflicting emotions running through him. She could feel his love for her pulsing through everything but the feelings of self loathing, remorse, guilt and fury were so strong that she didn't know how he was coping with them all.

She knew her own emotions must feel just as erratic to him too and probably wasn't helping him any. She had to come to terms with being kidnapped, beaten, watching her friend almost die, and believing she'd killed her own child. All that weighed down on her soul and she wanted to surrender to the awfulness of it all but she couldn't. If she did so, she had no idea how Andrei would react to it.

He had forgiven her for shifting. He had told her so at the chambers but she hadn't forgiven herself for doing so. How could she? She hadn't known that her child would survive the shift. She had been thinking like a Were at the time, completely forgetting that her baby would have some of Andrei's vampire genetics and could possibly survive the shift. 

Rightly or wrongly she had made the decision to shift to protect their secret, to protect Andrei and her pack. It was something she was going to have to live with for the rest of her life. She could deal with the kidnapping and the beatings. It hadn't been any worse than what Sandro had done to her and she had survived that. She was tough as old boots, just as she'd told Caleb. But shifting when she knew she was pregnant? That was unforgivable. 

She bit back a muffled sob, her hands resting on her stomach under the water. "I'm so sorry," she whispered forlornly. "It wasn't that I didn't want you, little one. Don't ever think that I didn't want you."

"Don't, Rose," Andrei said quietly from the bathroom doorway. "Don't do this to yourself." His expression was concerned, his eyes intent on hers as he grabbed a towel and pulled her out of the bath, wrapping her securely in it. "You did want needed to be done. Sometimes the right decisions are the ones that are the hardest to do. Punishing yourself for having to do them isn't going to change anything."

"But I didn't know the baby was strong enough to live, Andrei," she sobbed.

"Any child of ours is strong enough to deal with anything," he said softly. "Do all Were babies die during an early shift?" He was gently rubbing her dry as he spoke, trying to find some way to soothe her anguish which was slowly killing him inside.

Loretta hiccupped. "A few have been strong enough that the shift hasn't hurt them. But the instances of loss are so great we don't shift to protect them."

"So in the back of your mind you must have known there would be a chance, even if it was a small chance?" he pressed as he dried her hair and wrapped her securely in another dry towel. He framed her face in his large hands. "Somewhere inside you, you believed that she had some chance of survival?"

"I hoped," she breathed shakily. "I prayed that the baby would be one of the lucky ones but I didn't truly believe it, Andrei." She had to be honest about it, she couldn't lie to him.

"But you knew there was a chance and you made your decision with that in mind," he said gently. "It was an informed decision and a very hard one." He wrapped his arm around her and led her into the bedroom, settling her into bed and sitting down beside her.

"Loretta, if you had to make the same decision again I have no doubt that you would do the same and I would stand by you then as I do now. You did what you had to do. I know how hard it was for you and I don't fault you for it. The situation was impossible. If we had lost the baby we would have coped with it. But we didn't lose her. She's still here with us and that's what we need to be thinking about now."

Loretta stared into his eyes, seeing nothing but love and support there. He truly didn't fault her for what she had done. "You don't hate me." It wasn't a question, more a stunned statement.

"I could never hate you, my Rose," he groaned softly leaning forward to kiss her lightly. "You may drive me to insanity sometimes but hate is an emotion I could never feel where you're concerned. I love you." He gave her a little smile and tenderly brushed her cheek.

"Just as you don't hate me for keeping the baby a secret," he added gently. "I wanted to tell you but I only found out what was wrong with you last night. Caleb told me things which shocked me so badly I didn't know what to do. There was another mating like ours millennia ago. The Vampire Council killed the mated pair and the child. I wanted to tell you about the baby, Loretta, but Caleb needed time to get things in place to take down The Council before it became public knowledge. I thought I was protecting you both by keeping silent."

His eyes pleaded with her for understanding and she leaned forward to wrap her arms around him. She was now beginning to understand his reluctance to touch her last night and again this morning. She couldn't even begin to imagine the turmoil he had been going through trying to deal with all the sudden changes going on in his life. She couldn't be angry with him even if she wanted to.

She shuddered at the thought of what the Vampire Council was capable of. She could understand the need for time to try and neutralise the threat and she could also see where both of them had gone wrong in the decisions they had recently made.

"This maybe could have been avoided if we hadn't kept secrets, Andrei," she sighed against his chest. "We should have told Jared straight away when we mated. He would have told Caleb and then Caleb would have shared what he knew about the matings. We could have had the pack and our vampires protecting us if only we hadn't kept it secret."

She raised her head and looked into his troubled face. "I'm not blaming you, Andrei. We both did this. I know a vampire's instinct is to keep things hidden but a Were's instinct is to share with the pack. We do that because we are stronger as a pack than as individuals. We come together to protect each other. I know you don't really understand that concept right now but you're pack whether you like it or not. You're going to have to start learning to trust others, not just Alexei and me. You need to let the pack into your life, Andrei."

He could understand the logic, could understand where they had gone wrong. Maybe she was right and they could have avoided what had happened if they had been more open about what had happened between them. His gut instinct was Daniel would have still acted as he had, that the situation would have played out just the same, but he could see the wisdom in her words when it came to learning to trust. 

His mate was a wolf and his daughter was going to be some kind of hybrid. He carried the wolf gene within his body so he was now more than just a vampire. Loretta needed pack life. She lived and breathed it, it was who she was to her very core. He couldn't ask her to leave that so he had no choice but to join her. He had to embrace the pack mentality somehow. He had no doubt that he wouldn't find it an easy transition but he was willing to try, for his Rose.

He gave her a rueful smile. "Can't believe I have to join a bloody wolf pack," he grumbled half-heartedly. "You do know I'm going to fuck this up spectacularly?"

His light tone and mock pained expression lightened a lot of the heavy burden on her soul. She smiled softly and tightened her hold on him. "I'll be there to help you, Andrei. You don't give yourself enough credit. You have so much love and loyalty deep within yourself which you guard so zealously, only giving to those you think deserve it. You've just never reached out to others and learned that there are so many more people out there that are equally as deserving of it."

Andrei snorted and kissed the top of her head. "I think you credit me with way more than I'm really capable of, my Rose," he said in a derisive tone.

Loretta pulled back to look into his face, cradling him gently in her hands. "I know you, Andrei," she breathed softly. "I know what you're capable of and I know what you can achieve if you set your mind to it. You just need to want to do it, love." Her voice rang with total conviction. She knew he could do this. He had a reason to want to succeed and when he had a reason he had the power to make anything happen.

A little frown crossed her face as she thought of the reasons he would want to succeed at this. Her and their baby. The baby that had almost died because of her actions.

"Don't, Rose," he whispered, his voice anguished as he gathered her back into his arms and crushed her tightly to his chest. "Don't keep going there. Our baby lives and soon we will know the joy of having her in our lives. She will be the first of many and she will be treasured by both of us. Stop thinking of what might have happened. Think of what we have here and now. Forgive yourself."

She struggled to do so but she knew she had to let it go. If she kept thinking of it then her emotions would disturb the baby and it would keep reminding Andrei of what had happened. He'd never adjust to pack life if she was constantly agitated about her decision. She knew it would be a long time before she truly forgave herself but she pushed away most of the guilt, burying the last little bit deep inside her. One day she'd be able to let that last little piece go but today was not that day.

Her expression was clearer as she looked up at him, a feint smile on her lips. "You keep saying her," she said softly her hands caressing her stomach. "It's a girl?" Her tone was awed.

A wide smile crossed his face and his eyes lit up with joy. "Can't you scent her, Rose?" he whispered, moving further onto the bed and pulling her onto his lap so she rested against his chest and he could rest his hand over hers on her stomach. "She smells of lilacs. It's the second most wonderful scent in the whole world."

Loretta inhaled deeply, feeling mildly disappointed that she couldn't scent the lilacs he spoke of. "I'm amazed you can scent anything yet," she remarked. "I'm only just pregnant. There's ages to go yet."

Andrei stiffened slightly and then shot her hesitant smile. "Actually, there's something else you need to know about this pregnancy," he said softly. "It's more like a wolf pregnancy than a human one. The reason I can scent her is because she's due to be born in sixty odd days or so."

"What!?" Loretta shrieked clambering out of his arms to kneel on the bed, staring at him in shock. She looked down at her stomach, stunned, her thoughts whirling madly. Sixty days? She was having a baby in two month's time? Two months! She shook her head in denial. "You're kidding, right?" she ground out. "You're not serious, Andrei. Tell me I'm not having this baby in two month's time."

He burst out laughing, climbing off the bed and quickly stripping off his clothes. "You're the one with the wolf gene, my Rose," he laughed softly. "I'm sure you'll find some way to blame me for this shorter pregnancy thing but it's the wolf gene within you that's driving it, not my vampire DNA."

He pulled her back into his arms, reaching over to grab the food tray he had made up earlier and placing it on the bed beside them. She was so stunned that she let him do as he wanted. 

"Eat," he growled, pushing the plate of cold meat sandwiches towards her.

Loretta took a sandwich and chewed at it mechanically until her stomach growled at her in pleasure and she realised just how hungry she was. "I can't believe this," she groaned between bites of food. "We only have two months? You know what this means, don't you? In thirty days time I'm going to be fat!"

Andrei laughed harder at her disgusted tone. "From what I've read up about pregnancy, yes you will be, my Rose," he agreed smugly. He stroked her stomach lightly. "I, for one, can't wait to see our baby growing inside you. You'll be so radiantly beautiful that I'll be fighting to keep my hands off you all the time."

"I'll be fat!" she half wailed, throwing the last of her food onto the plate and drinking down the glass of milk he'd poured her. "I won't be able to do my Beta duties. No training or anything. Jared will make me do desk duties!" 

Andrei kept laughing as he removed the tray and pulled his wolf back into his arms and snuggled them under the covers. "You'll be beautiful, my Rose," he soothed, his love for her radiating in his tone. "You'll be nurturing our child inside your gorgeous body. You can teach me about pack life while you're out of commission, so I don't make a bigger ass of myself than I usually do. It will be fine, Loretta. It will be perfect because we'll be together."

The shock was starting to wear off, Andrei hands soothing her until her heart started beating a bit more normally. His joy was seeping through their bond, transmitting to her and she smiled softly as she pressed herself against him. He was so happy about the baby. He couldn't fake his feelings. She could feel them through their bond and by the way his hands touched her so reverently. The love and joy in his voice was unmistakable. Andrei wanted this baby so badly.

Loretta's smile widened, peace washing over her and she shot a shaft of love towards the precious little life within her. 'You are wanted, little one, so very much. Mummy and Daddy are waiting for you, our precious little daughter.'

"Yes, we are," Andrei echoed with his own mental touch, leaning down to kiss his wolf, slowly and very thoroughly until she was breathless.

"We need to think of a name," Loretta sighed softly. "We don't have a lot of time to do so." She giggled slightly at the thought. Two months to prepare for a baby? That was no time at all. There was so much they had to do. Maybe she'd ask Jared if she could take her maternity leave early.

"Can I name her, Loretta?" Andrei asked softly, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. He'd gone from not knowing how to deal with the thought of having a child, to thinking he had lost her. Now his heart swelled with love for the tiny little being he hadn't even met yet. The strength of that love overwhelmed him completely and made his voice husky with emotion.

"Whatever you choose will be perfect for me," she whispered, her own heart full of love for her beautiful vampire. The way he was totally embracing their child told her so much about him. He had such hidden depths of love within him. He was probably only just discovering that fact himself. If he wanted to name their child then she would gladly let him.

Andrei swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat and tears gather in his eyes. He thought of the only other woman he had ever loved. It had been so long since he had thought of her, so long since he and Alexei had even spoken of her but she had always been in his heart and had been for over fifteen centuries.

"Liliana," he whispered shakily. "Liliana Rose Romanov."




The Council Ch. 17



Loretta heard the emotion in his voice, felt his body tremble slightly and she raised her head to look at him. She rose up slightly so she could wipe his wet cheeks, her own eyes filling with tears. "Your mother?" she asked gently.

"Our mother," he answered quietly. "She would have loved you so much, my Rose. She was gentle and sweet and so loving. She devoted herself to me and Alexei, loved us even when we were turned to this life. Others hated us for what we had become but not our mother. We were always her little boys no matter what."

"She sounds like an amazing woman, love," she breathed softly. " I would be proud to have my daughter carry her name on. It's beautiful."

"You're the one who's beautiful, Loretta," Andrei whispered. "Beautiful inside and out. I don't deserve to have you in my life, not after everything I've done in the past. But I can't let you go. You complete me. You soothe the beast within me and make me dream I can be so much better than I truly am. I promise I will do everything I can to be worthy of you, my sweet Rose."

She leaned down and kissed him gently, rubbing her lips softly against his. "Just love me, Andrei," she murmured against his lips. "Love us and everything else will take care of itself."

"I do, Loretta," he groaned clutching her tightly against him. "I love you so much tonight I thought I would go insane at the thought of losing you."

"I love you too, Andrei," she whispered back, burying her head against his neck. "I knew you would come for me. I never doubted for one moment that you would come."

His arms crushed her but there was tenderness there. "Always, my Rose. I will always come for you no matter what. For you, for our precious little Liliana and for any other beautiful babies we have in the future. No one will ever take my family from me again. Not ever."

The steely conviction in his voice told her he meant every word of it. No one would ever come between them again, he would make certain of that. This would probably lead to quite a few fights between them as he tried to smother her by being over protective but she'd deal with that as it came.

For now, Loretta settled in the comfort of her mate's embrace, closing her eyes and luxuriating in the feeling of being safe. There was nowhere in the world more perfect that being with her mate.

Andrei smiled as he felt Loretta drift off to sleep. She was so much more relaxed now, more at peace with herself. He knew she was still going to have some moments when her guilt reared up to haunt her but he was confident that together they could get through it.

He'd been through a torrent of emotions tonight, some truly evil and some so amazingly beautiful they took his breath away. He had always felt as if something was broken inside of him. Insanity had always lived somewhere deep within , surfacing every now and then but he had always managed to defeat it though it was such a struggle to do so.

Tonight one touch of Loretta's hand had tamed the insanity. That was all it had taken, one tiny little hand touching his shoulder and then threading into his hair. For the first time he had hope that maybe that broken piece of him could be healed. His mate appeared to have the power to do so. His daughter could only increase the feeling of peace his mate brought to him.

With a contented sigh Andrei Romanov closed his eyes and let sleep claim him. He could take on anything, adapt and change and become something so much better than he was, as long as he had his girls. His Rose and his Lily.

*****

Alexei rested on one elbow, toying gently with a long strand of blonde curls as he watched Cedar sleeping peacefully beside him. It was early, the sky just beginning to lighten but he'd been awake for ages. He'd managed to get some sleep but it had been broken, full of fear and guilt. He'd woken almost every half hour, checking that Cedar was breathing, that she was healing properly.

He had been wild in his former life; still had that wildness within him. Many times in his long life he'd done things so bad without giving any thought to his actions. All that paled into comparison to what he'd done to his precious wolf the night before. He had hurt her, something he had sworn he would never do. Not only that, he had almost killed her, taken her to the very edge between life and death before healing her. If he lived for another two thousand years he would never erase that memory from his mind.

Nor would her incredible bravery ever leave his thoughts. He knew the agony she had suffered must have been excruciating. Yet she had stayed strong, held in the cries that she knew would kill him if he heard them. He had always known she was strong. It was her strength, her bravery that had caught his interest, initially luring him to the woman who would become his mate. He could never have chosen a weak woman, someone he could easily dominate. He needed a woman with steel in her veins, who could challenge him and keep his attention.

He had known Cedar was that woman right from the very start. She was full of steel and strength and a tenacity that took his breath away. But she was also soft skin, sleek curves, pale blonde curls and sweet, tender love too. She was perfection to him, his entire life now. And he had almost killed her. 

Pain lanced through him, so overwhelming he didn't know how he could stand it without crying out loud. He was raw inside, hurting on a level he'd never experienced before. He could almost understand the depth of Andrei's anguish the night before now.

"Aaron was just fifteen when we were out for a run one day in the forest," Cedar suddenly murmured quietly, her eyes still closed, her voice husky with sleep. "I adored him from the moment he was born, couldn't stop myself falling in love with the little scamp. I was supposed to be protecting him, teaching him how to fend for himself. We were intercepted by a Rogue Were. He attacked Aaron and I reacted instinctively. I almost died that day but I saved my baby brother and I killed the Rogue."

Her eyes opened slowly to meet his, clear and irresolute, full of her love. "I would die in a heartbeat for those I love, Alexei," she whispered softly. "I've given everything to the pack and my family. Pain hurts but it's fleeting. The reward at the end is what is most important, whether it's saving Aaron's life or finally being able to mate with the man I love so much that I don't know how to exist without him. Forgive yourself. You have nothing to feel guilty for. You're giving me the most precious thing in my life."

The emotion in her voice tugged at his heart, the shining brightness of the joy she was feeling at being able to complete the mating making his breath catch in his throat. She was truly stunning in every way and she was his. He would never let her go, never allow her to feel another moment's pain for as long as he lived.

He leaned down and traced her lips tenderly with his own, unable to speak through the lump of emotion deep within him. She was asking a lot of him, asking him to let go of the terrible guilt he felt but he would try. For her. Because it would make her happy and that was all he wanted for her.

"You're incredible, Cedar," he breathed against her lips, stroking a hand gently through her curls. "So beautiful and loving, so strong and resilient. I don't know how I lived before I met you." Her soft throaty laugh had him raising his head to see amusement sparkling in the glittering blue of her eyes.

"You managed just fine," she chuckled lightly. "You're almost an Ancient so you must have gotten along pretty well on your own." Her hand reached up to tuck his hair behind his ear, resting there and stroking through the silky blond strands.

"But I can promise you it will be a different kind of living with me," she whispered softly. "When you mate with me, I'll never let you go, Alexei Romanov. I will hold you to all the promises you made me last night. I want those little girls with long blonde curls but I also want fierce little boys too, with their father's intense eyes and serious little faces. I want it all, my love. And I'm tired of waiting for it."

She pressed her body against his, her eyes darkening with the strength of her emotions, her wolf rising to the surface, growling with possessiveness. It was time he made her his completely. It was time for their bond to be irrevocably completed so no one could ever tear them apart. Cedar's heart pounded wildly in her chest, her gaze intent as she searched his face, looking for any sign of doubt, any hint that he would try and refuse her.

Alexei met her gaze, his own heart drumming loudly in his chest; pride, love and intense desire washing over him. She completely stunned him, completely brushed away any doubts about what he was about to do. 

Part of him felt they should wait a little longer, just to make sure it would be safe to bite her. It warred with his vampiric need to finally taste the sweet essence that flowed through her veins, to feast on that precious fluid that would sustain his life from this moment on. 

The wolf part within him warred with the need to be cautious too. It demanded the completion of the Were bond. It was weaker than his vampiric nature but it was there constantly, demanding what was its right though he was better able to master it now he had spent a little time with Aaron.

He knew Cedar was waiting for him to refuse her, to counsel caution. His lips curved in a little smile as he stared into her feral gaze, knowing she would fight any attempt he made to wait a little longer. His deep brown eyes twinkled as he traced a perfect cheekbone slowly with one finger.

"You've got your 'bossy' face on," he breathed softly, laughter colouring his tone. "Getting ready to fight me, Cedar? Do you think because I caved last night that every time you want something I will concede instantly?" His questions were rhetorical and he silenced whatever she was about to say with a kiss.

"I'm not that easy, little wolf," he rumbled after he'd kissed her breathless. "Don't mistake my compliance for weakness. Last night your life was in danger because of your wolf. I acted in the only way possible to alleviate that danger, not because you 'forced' me into it. Just as you won't force me into doing anything I don't want to do right now. I hope we're very clear on that, Cedar."

He had to fight to contain his laughter at the outraged expression on her face. She truly did think all she had to do was crook a little finger and he'd melt instantly. Maybe he would, but she could never know that. If she achieved too much dominance in their relationship it would be disastrous for her. She was a strong woman and used to getting her own way. She would never tolerate a man who meekly agreed to everything, her wolf would lose all respect for a man like that.

And Alexei had never promised her he was that kind of man either. He, too, was used to getting his own way. While he might let her win sometimes, his nature wouldn't allow him to become submissive to her. So he held her gaze until he saw her wolf slowly start to subside, backing down in the face of the sheer force of his personality.

His smiled widened as he threaded his hands through her curls and kissed her slowly and very lovingly. "I've no intention of denying you, Cedar," he laughed softly when he could calm his racing heart a little. His desire and his need to taste her was overwhelming him. "I need this as much as you do."

The admission was torn from his very soul. He needed her so badly it was a physical ache within him. He could no more deny her this than he could walk away from her and never look back. She belonged to him just as surely as he belonged to her. He'd just needed to set the balance back in their relationship first because it had become slightly skewed due to the recent events.

Cedar's eyes flared with irritation and then her wolf rumbled its satisfaction deep within her. She liked the little display of dominance from their mate, was urging her human half to roll over and bare her neck for their beautiful vampire. Her wolf's sudden submission almost made her snort out loud. She was sure the animal would have a much stronger reaction if Alexei tried that too often.

Still, he wasn't going to deny them. His admission was so full of longing, his eyes intense as he watched her. He needed this completion as much as she did. That was the most important thing at the moment. They could fight over who was in charge another time.

She smiled slowly up at him and pressed her body once more against his hardness, feeling his need pressing into her soft skin, hearing his breath hiss out in a long, tortured sound. "What are you waiting for then?" she asked huskily, laughing when he bore her back to the bed and settled himself completely on top of her naked body. Now this she would never complain about.

His kiss was savage, full of need and lust before it slowly gentled and turned tender and loving. She couldn't work out what she loved most about him, his feral side or the tender part of him which surfaced when least expected. All she knew was he took her breath away constantly, sucking her into a heady pleasure that no one else was capable of taking her to. She moaned and flicked her tongue against his, fire spreading instantly through her veins at his touch.

Alexei would never be able to sate himself with the woman in his arms. He could take her ten thousand times and still it would feel like the first, sending his heart racing with such joy his head spun. Cedar's sweet lemongrass scent engulfed him as did the scent of her arousal. Her tongue mated with his, making his cock throb so deliciously against her soft curves.

He growled and trailed his lips down her fragile throat, nipping lightly against her soft skin until she moaned loudly and clutched his shoulders tightly. His tongue snaked out to taste her skin, rasping roughly as he made his way down to the tempting valley of her breasts. He kissed and nibbled her body, searching out the stiff peaks of her breasts which he feasted on greedily.

Hunger raced through his body, hunger for her touch and her taste, hunger for the sweet blood that flowed through her veins teasing him mercilessly. It was all he could do not to bite her breasts, not to give into temptation to taste her sweetness. But he controlled himself, contented himself with pleasuring her succulent body first.

Alexei wanted this to be so special for her, for both of them. He wanted it to be a memory that lived forever in his wolf's mind, taking away the pain of the previous evening. His mouth moved lower, sliding between her legs to taste that other delicious essence she gave him so readily.

He teased her with light touches, ignoring his own deep ache of want as he slowly licked against her wet flesh, adding to her wetness, drinking down the honey she gave him. He truly could feast on her endlessly, bringing her to one shattering peak after another so he could reap the rewards of his actions but she was becoming impatient, her body bucking wildly as her hands dug painfully hard into his hair.

Cedar was about ready to explode, both with her climax and also her frustration. Alexei kept teasing her, drawing her to her peak and then leaving her hanging as he backed off. Any other time she would have loved playing his game but she needed so much more right now. She tugged hard at his hair, a rumble of deep hunger ripping from her throat.

"Damn you, Alexei, enough of this teasing," she grated pulling him back up her body and grinding herself urgently against him. Her hand snaked down and gripped his pulsing erection, squeezing him hard and making him grit his teeth in pleasure pain. 

"You want to play at teasing?" she asked with a husky laugh. "Should I tease you a little more?" She stroked her hand firmly up and down his hard length, dragging a deep growl from his throat and a sharp narrowing of his eyes.

Alexei latched his hand around her wrist, squeezing with just enough pressure to make her release him. He didn't let her go though, instead he caught her other hand and pinned her wrists above her head. "You should learn to play nice," he drawled softly, positioning himself between her thighs. "One day soon I'm going to teach you patience, woman."

He thrust hard into her body, impaling her on his cock, keeping her completely pinned beneath her. She cried out, rising to meet him, pleasure dancing across her exquisite face. Her expression made his breath catch, her sweet sounds echoing in his ears as he joined with his mate. 

A feeling of coming home descended on him as she wrapped her legs around his and strained to pull him deeper inside her. Home was Cedar Alexander, whether it was her breath on his hot skin or her body sheathing his so delectably. She completed him in every way and his next kiss told her so, his mouth slanting gently across hers in sharp counterbalance to his hard thrust inside her.

Alexei wanted to groan out loud as he melted for his exquisite little wolf, gentling his touch, releasing her wrists so he could frame her face in his hands as he began to stroke inside her slowly but forcefully. Her pleasure was paramount. It would always be that way and he knew it.

He loved his woman with every fibre of his being, stroking her soft skin, pushing her relentlessly towards her completion with hard, powerful strokes of his body. Her wet heat gripped him tightly, giving back the sweet bliss that he knew he was giving her. 

He kissed her feverishly, struggling for breath as his own release approached swiftly. He controlled his need ruthlessly suckling against her taut nipples, using his teeth to grate against the tender nubs and drag more deep, breathy cries from his woman. His blood lust was rising, causing a deep ache within him as he fought to contain his fangs.

He needed to taste her so badly. He didn't know how long he could hold off from breaking her fragile skin and feeling her hot, sweet blood fill his mouth. 

Cedar could feel the urgency within Alexei, knew he was holding back waiting for her to reach her completion. His body was doing such delicious things to hers, making her see stars as he rode against her so exquisitely. She could barely breathe at the sheer intensity of their joining, her heart hammering wildly in her chest as she felt her climax approach and knew she would soon be soaring. It was time.

"Alexei," she gasped, clutching him tightly as she pulled his mouth to her neck. "Now, baby! I need you so badly. Please."

Her words shattered the last of Alexei's self control. He licked against her skin, thrusting hard and fast inside her, feeling her shatter completely, her sweet cries pushing him over the edge. His fangs elongated and with a muffled groan he pierced the side of her neck at the same moment his own release washed over him.

Alexei's entire body exploded in pleasure, his climax surging through him as Cedar's sweet blood filled his mouth. Never had he tasted anything so wonderful, so deliciously intoxicating that it was hard to pull slowly at her neck. He wanted to gorge himself on her flavour, to suck endlessly but instead he was gentle, taking only what was required and savouring each addictive mouthful.

Cedar moaned and held him to her, fierce joy flooding her body knowing that their mating was now complete and she was nourishing her man with more than just her mind and her body. She was feeding him part of her very soul as her climax peaked blissfully as he fed from her. It was amazing, so completely spellbinding that she knew he would have to rein her in because she would want to do this every time they made love and that would be very dangerous for her.

It was almost a physical ache when he closed her wound, healing it instantly as both their hearts raced hard as they tried to regulate their breathing and come down from the intense climaxes they'd experienced.




The Council Ch. 17



"Cedar, you're okay?" Alexei's voice was a mere whisper, fear lacing it as his eyes searched hers anxiously.

She smiled the smile of a very satisfied woman, moving sensually against him and raising her head to kiss him lightly on the lips. "I feel perfect," she breathed softly. "So amazing. That was the most beautiful experience of my life, Alexei." 

His heart began to calm down, his expression lightening as he confirmed that she was fine and it started to sink in that they were now fully mated. Smug male satisfaction lined his face as he smiled down at his wolf. She was his forever now, nothing could separate them. 

"We're truly mated now," he sighed deeply. He couldn't contain the joy he felt at being joined completely with her. It was all he wanted. Now he could give her what she craved, the babies she so yearned for. He kissed her softly and whispered that against her lips, promising her that they would have as many babies as she wanted.

Cedar had to laugh at his words kissing him deeply to take the sting of her laughter away when he was being so heartfelt about it. "This sudden need to become an instant father? This has nothing to do with Andrei getting one up on you and already being on the way to fatherhood?"

He frowned darkly at her, opening his mouth to refute her words and then closing it again sheepishly and giving her a rueful smile. "Maybe a little," he admitted. "He's going to spend the next thousand years crowing about how he became a father first. He's never forgiven me for being born three minutes earlier than he was. Always thinks he should have been the eldest."

He settled down beside her, cuddling her close and stroking her soft skin as he smiled into her hair. His need to be a father was partly because of Andrei but it was mostly because of his woman. He wanted to have children with her. He wanted that bond of family that he could only vaguely remember he'd shared with his mother and his twin all those centuries ago.

What he did remember was they had been good times, full of love and happiness before things had changed and he and Andrei had become what they now were. It was another lifetime ago but now he had the chance for it again and he wanted that chance with everything inside him.

A sudden thought struck him and he stared into Cedar's eyes intently. "Jared ordered you not to do this," he said quietly, frowning a little as he spoke. "You've gone against your Alpha. Does that mean he'll try and punish you because I swear if he does I'm going to have to kick his ass, sweetheart."

Cedar stopped breathing, staring wide eyed at Alexei as the full import of his words sank in. She shouldn't have been able to mate with him. She had never once disobeyed Jared, not even when he didn't use his Command on her. She searched deep within her and went completely white, shock ripping through her.

Alexei was on his knees instantly, pulling her up and wrapping his arms around her. He had been half joking about kicking Jared's ass but the expression on her face chilled him to the bone. If the Alpha tried to hurt her he would kill him. "What?" he growled fiercely. "What will he do?"

She was shaking her head, trying to speak but fear crippling her vocal chords. She swallowed hard, almost choked on her fear and then swallowed again. "Not that," she managed to say, her eyes full of anguish. "My bond to Jared is gone, Alexei! He's not my Alpha anymore! Someone else had taken over the bond!"

The low rumbling growl from Alexei turned into a wild, ferocious sound. "Who?" he demanded, his voice hard. "Who thinks they can take my mate from me?" When he found out he'd kill the wolf dead on the spot.

"I don't know," Cedar moaned softly, holding onto him tightly. "I'll know as soon as I see him but at the moment, I couldn't tell you who my new Alpha is."

Alexei cursed loudly, holding her trembling body tightly as her cell phone began to ring. He cursed louder and reached for it, seeing Loretta's name and putting it on speaker so they could both hear it. Cedar wasn't letting him go anyway to take the call. 

"Cedar!" Loretta's tone was almost shrill, panic invading it. Andrei could be heard growling loudly in the background. "I can't feel Jared," Loretta cried. "He's gone!"

"I know," Cedar said swallowing loudly and sitting up a little bit straighter. "We have a new Alpha, Loretta. I can feel the new bond in place but I can't tell who it is. Can you?"

The sound of Cedar's voice seemed to calm Loretta and she took a deep breath, whispering quietly to Andrei to try and calm him down before turning her attention back to the call. "I don't know who it is but he feels familiar," she finally answered, the panic leaving her voice. "I feel 'reassured' by the bond, not frightened of it."

"Oh my God!" Cedar all but squealed as her brain started working now the initial shock had begun to wear off. "Loretta, you don't think it's.....?" she couldn't finish, her stunned brain trying to process it all. For this change to have happened then he would have had to accept that he was an Alpha. She couldn't believe that he had finally done so, not after all this time.

Loretta's stunned gasp could be heard as she came to the same conclusion. The instant she considered the possibility she knew they were right. She started to laugh softly, amazement in her voice. "I think you're right, Cedar," she laughed. " Our new Alpha is...."

"Rafe!" they both said at the same time.

To be continued...



The Council Ch. 18



 So we reach the penultimate chapter! I seriously thought this would end at chapter 15 but I got a little carried away LOL! It's been quite a rollercoaster ride with this one and I'd like to thank all of you for being along for that ride. You've been brilliant! 

The Epilogue will post in approx 3-4 days time! It's a longish chapter and the last I will post in 2010! 

Enjoy! 

*

Rafe watched the slow gathering from the comfort of one of Caleb's very comfortable sofas. He was tense but more in an excited way than a nervous way. This morning he had woken to the feel of the Alpha bond stretching inside him, reaching out almost like tendrils and wrapping around the members of his newly forming pack.

He was astounded to realise that the tendrils were already in place with Lacey, Aaron and Jen. He had never noticed them before, never realised that his deep feelings for the three of them was actually the Alpha bond already in place.

He had lain beside his mate, searching the links within him, feeling first the three mated vampires though the bond there was fragile, not the same as the full Were bond. Then slowly he felt Loretta join him, then Ashleigh and finally Cedar. It had felt amazing and also very humbling. He was now responsible for all these people. It was now his job to take care of them, to ensure their safety above everything else.

At some point during the night he had finally surrendered to the inevitable. Instead of just saying the words, that he was an Alpha, he had finally accepted it and believed it allowing the pack to start forming. It didn't feel half as restrictive and frightening as he had always believed it would be. No, it felt right.

The meeting at Caleb's had been convened for five o'clock. That would give them enough time before they all headed over to the Vampire Council chambers at Caleb's request. So far Caleb's sitting room was filled by Mara and Demetri, Caleb and Rhianna, Jared and Millie and himself and Lacey. 

Aaron had wanted to come too but Rafe had told him to stay with Jen. There was no sense in taking his mate into a situation which could become dicey very quickly. She didn't have the protection in pregnancy that Loretta did.

Rafe was still stunned at the news that Loretta's child had survived. It was a miracle and opened up many questions about just what a hybrid child would be. Questions no one had any answers to because it was all so new. It would be an added challenge to his new role as Alpha but it was one he was willing to take on.

Nors arrived just then, shaking him out of his reverie. He was cradling Ashleigh in his arms, Freya a mere footstep behind him. Rafe's keen gaze took in Ashleigh's face as he rose, striding over to meet them half way. She was pale but her eyes shone with brightness, her breathing sounding strong. She was healing it was obvious to see and his concern immediately lessened.

"Alpha," Ashleigh breathed softly, confusion but also delight shining in her eyes.

Rafe smiled gently, reaching out to stroke her cheek lightly. The little blonde had followed Lacey around after the death of her family, keeping apart but always in her shadow somewhere. Before Nors had come to claim her and heal her mental wounds. He had always felt a special connection with her and he was overjoyed to see the life and vitality in her eyes. He knew what she'd been through, not once but twice now.

"There is no greater honour than to have you in my pack, Ashleigh," he answered gently. "You bring strength and bravery, love and great joy. The pack is a better place just having you in it."

Ashleigh smiled tremulously, tears filling her eyes but they were tears of joy. She felt as if she was finally coming home. Rafe's love surrounded her, soothing the need of her wolf as Nors' love soothed the need of her soul. She was part of a family once more, a new family that would love and cherish her forever.

Rafe's eyes turned to Nors, seeing a frown on the big man's face. It had been decided not to say anything to the vampires until all were present. The Weres would know of the change because they felt it inside but the vampires would need careful handling.

"Is her healing going well, Nors?" he asked quietly, allowing his voice to convey his respect and gratitude for saving Ashleigh's life.

Nors' frown smoothed out and he nodded slowly as he turned his adoring gaze on his mate. "She's strong and resilient," he rumbled deeply. "She is doing just fine."

"She is right here and can answer for herself," Ashleigh remarked with a little snort of annoyance but she smiled too knowing they were both just concerned about her.

"Men," Lacey laughed softly, coming to join them and kissing the other woman's cheek lightly. "We're so proud of you, Ash. We're so lucky to have you in our pack."

The emotions almost overwhelmed Ashleigh but she smiled through her tears, stroking Nors' chest soothingly as he started to get agitated. He wasn't quite adept enough at discerning the difference between happy and sad tears.

Loretta and Andrei arrived just as Nors was settling Ash down on the sofa beside him, Freya flanking her other side protectively. Rafe took one look at Loretta's face and smiled widely as she stared at him with a rueful smile. She bounded across the room and threw herself into his arms.

"Don't you ever do that to me again, Rafe Hanlon!" she barked out though she was laughing as she said it. "You just about gave me heart failure this morning. Andrei was ready to commit murder I got into such a state!" 

She pulled back to smile up at him her eyes shining brightly. "About bloody time you stopped all this 'I'm not an Alpha' nonsense. Though what I've done to deserve being drawn into your pack, I have no idea!" She was teasing with the last, excited about the prospect of being part of a new pack.

He threw his head back and laughed loudly, ruffling her hair in the way he knew annoyed her so much. She looked amazing, full of health and vitality, not a sign of what she'd been through the night before. "You'd have bitched like hell if you'd been left out," he countered still laughing.

His face sobered and his intent gaze met hers. "You're good?"

She smiled widely nodding her head. "I'm good, Alpha," she answered softly, her eyes alight with joy as she turned to look at Andrei hovering close by. He shared a smile with her so full of love that it was almost painful to watch.

Loretta detached herself from Rafe and hugged Lacey tightly. Her new Alpha Bitch returned her warm greeting whispering quietly in her ear, "You will bring the first child into our pack, Loretta. A treasured gift for all of us."

Beaming under the approval of the Alphas Loretta rejoined her mate, laughing when he chose a chair to sit in and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her slowly, his hand resting against her stomach and then he settled her against his broad chest and waited for his brother to arrive.

It didn't take long for Cedar and Alexei to complete the meeting. Like Loretta, she immediately raced to Rafe, hugging him tightly as she all but hummed with excitement.

"You've completed the mating," Rafe said with a rueful expression on his face, remembering when he had been told not to mate with Lacey but had done so anyway. He remembered Jared's fury that day and his rebellion against it. He could understand Jared's position now but he couldn't really fault Cedar's disobedience when he had done the same himself.

She grinned cheekily at him, her expression totally unrepentant. "You can't say anything about that," she quipped lightly. "My Alpha told me I couldn't mate but Jared's not my Alpha anymore."

Lacey burst out laughing. "She's got you there, Rafe."

"I wasn't going to say anything anyway," he grumbled softly, his face splitting in a wide smile. "I take it everything went well though." He knew that Cedar would have been in a lot of pain during the process and he ached for that but she appeared fine, positively glowing in fact.

"Rafe, I'm fine so chill out," Cedar laughed, giving him another hug and then returning to Alexei who had chosen to sit on one of Caleb's oak tables. He pulled her up until she sat between his thighs, her back resting against his chest.

The others had remained quiet, giving the new Alphas time to greet their pack members. Once everyone was settled Jared rose from his seat beside Millie. "I don't have a lot to say so I'll just get it over and done with," he began, feeling Millie reach up to take his hand. She knew how hard this was for him and her touch soothed the ache he felt inside.

"It's been my honour and privilege to be your Alpha. The Hanlon pack will be greatly diminished by your loss but the Armand-Hanlon pack will be strengthened by your gain. We will miss you all greatly. You will always be welcome at the compound, always welcome on pack lands with no questions asked." His deep blue gaze took in the three women and then included the three vampires.

The wolves knew the trust he had just given to their mates. They nodded silently, smiling at the man who had lead them for so long, kept them safe from harm, gave them direction and love, support and protection. It was sad to leave the Hanlon pack but it was also exciting to be starting something new.

Jared returned to his seat, wrapping his arms around Millie and kissing her lightly to soothe his sorrow a little. He knew they would be fine but he loved the three women so much, was so used to being their Alpha that he wondered if the little hole he felt inside himself would ever fully heal.

Rafe turned to them again, eyeing up the three vampires with an intense expression on his face. "Loretta, you asked what you'd done to deserve being a member of my pack," he said keeping his gaze fixed on Andrei. "Stand up," he ordered quietly, his voice laced with command.

Startled gasps filled the room as all three vampires immediately rose to their feet, a look of confusion crossing their faces.

"Oh my God!" Cedar gasped loudly, understanding instantly crossing her face a split second before Loretta and Ashleigh came to the same conclusion.

"No way!" Loretta laughed, looking up at Andrei's irritated expression. "It's his fault?" She started to laugh harder as Andrei's scowl deepened and a low growl came from Alexei beside her. 

Nors was the only one who appeared not to be ready to lose his temper. He met Rafe's gaze levelly, pursing his lips slightly and then nodding his head. "The wolf gene within us responds to you as a wolf responds to their Alpha," he guessed correctly.

He turned to look down at Ashleigh and smiled gently at her. He had no idea just what kind of restriction this new development would place on him but one look at his mate's shining face was enough for him. He would deal with whatever was to come because his Ashleigh was now completely healed. 

The serenity coming from her was obvious to see. Joining this new pack was the last link she needed to ease her pain. He would endure whatever indignity he had to just to witness the joy in her eyes.

"Alpha," he nodded once and then sat down, pulling Ashleigh onto his lap and cradling her close.

"Thank you, Nors," she whispered against his neck, knowing that this was hard for him but that he would do it for her just as he was willing to do anything for her.

"You seriously expect us to obey you?" Alexei growled loudly, fury wafting from him in waves. He turned to look at Cedar, frowning at her as she rose to stand beside him.

"It's not like that, Alexei," she said soothingly, sliding her arms around him. "An Alpha doesn't go around issuing stupid orders every five minutes. You don't lose your free will, love."

"Forgive me for being rather sceptical but I appear to be standing up because he ordered me to," he answered drolly, a long talon pointing in Rafe's direction even though his gaze was still locked with his mate's. It was a testament to how furious he was that he hadn't even noticed his talons had come out.

"It was the quickest way to explain without all the denial and arguments which you would have given me," Rafe said with a touch of amusement in his voice. "Believe me; I'm going to have a lot more important things to be doing than trying to control you vampires like puppets. That is what you're thinking, isn't it, Alexei?"

The derisive note in his tone had Alexei looking a little sheepish. It had been his gut reaction once Nors had announced their predicament. He knew enough about Weres from his reading and also his recent observations to know that wasn't the case. Still, the fact was there that if Rafe chose to order him to do something then he would have no choice but to do it.

Rafe could see the conflict on his face, could understand his confusion. He smiled gently. "You're pack now, all of you. All that is required is you protect the pack. That means protecting your mates, your children and all other vulnerable members of our family. Is that such a lot to ask? Would any one of you not be willing to defend those who need you? I don't think so. I have faith in you. Have faith in yourselves too. And I will have no need to ever use my command on anyone."

Alexei relaxed slowly. He could hear the truth in his new Alpha's voice. He was adept at picking up lies. There was a quiet strength about the man, a feeling that he could be trusted. Looking into Cedar's concerned face finally decided him. 

He had been a Council Enforcer for so long, used to having to protect his people. Now it was a new group of people he was being charged with protecting. It wasn't that much different. He nodded at Rafe. "Alpha."

He then turned his gaze to his twin, to see how Andrei was coping with this revelation. Would he go off the deep end or would Loretta be able to keep him calm enough. He hadn't missed the way his new sister had soothed the madness from his brother the night before.

Andrei was struggling with his emotions. His instinct was to fight, to retain his independence. It was ingrained in him and not something he was able to easily let go. He didn't look at Loretta. He didn't need to because he knew what he would see in her face. She was a wolf and she needed pack life. She would want him to acquiesce, to agree as Nors and Alexei had. He didn't know if he could surrender his life into another's hands though. 

Closing his eyes he tried to gather his thoughts, tried to reason out the logistics of it in a way he could live with. If he joined the pack he would be giving his Rose what she needed. He would be surrounding her with a family that would protect her and his Lily when he couldn't be there. All that was being asked of him was to protect the pack as they protected his family.

He sighed deeply, slowly opening his eyes again and turning to look into his mate's anxious gaze. He had to admit that he had been protecting the Hanlon pack ever since she had come into his life, just not on such a hands on basis before. 

Last night he had lain there wondering if Loretta had the power to heal the broken piece inside him. She had already reached in and pulled his emotions to the surface, teaching him how to love, how to care about others not of his own species. Joining the pack could teach him so much more, maybe even be the final thing that healed him completely.

"Will you die for her?" he asked quietly, his gaze never leaving Loretta, watching the small spark of hope begin to cross her beautiful face.

"In a heartbeat," Rafe answered his voice full of sincerity.

Andrei smiled softly, reaching out to press a hand gently against his Rose's cheek. "Alpha," he said quietly seeing the hope bloom into such radiant joy that he knew instantly he had made the right decision.

Rafe smiled slowly, the tension fading from his body as all three vampires accepted him. It had been a lot easier than he had imagined it would be. He knew it was the strength of the feelings the vampires had for their mates which had eased the transition. He also knew that his pack would be stronger for the additions they now had. 

"Welcome to the pack," Lacey said softly a smile shining on her face. "We are honoured to have you."

Andrei turned, remembering her from the war against Graves. He hadn't interacted with her much but he knew she was a strong wolf just from the little he had seen of her at the time. He suddenly grinned, "We'll see how long that sentiment lasts."

"Andrei," Loretta growled, slapping him lightly on the chest to behave. He gave her a wide grin, his eyes twinkling. "When did I say I was going to turn into a saint?"

"As if that could ever happen," Demetri snorted loudly, amusement lacing his tone as his eyes twinkled.

Andrei scowled darkly at him. "I'm not talking to you," he retorted, still irritated with his friend for disrupting the Council ceremony.

Demetri merely laughed loudly and shook his head. "I'm mortally wounded," he teased holding his hand over his heart. It amused him no end that his friend was still pissed at him. He knew he'd calm down eventually but it wasn't going to be any time soon. Not after the next meeting which they were due to leave for.

"Are we finished here?" Caleb asked, raising an eyebrow. "We do have another meeting to get through tonight. I want this enmity put to bed as soon as possible. I suggest we get moving."

Receiving no objections the group began to move outside, towards the various waiting cars. None of them were under any illusions that the meeting they'd just sat through had been a walk in the part compared to the one they were about to face.

*****

The Council chamber was packed. The destruction from the night before was repaired, no sign of damaged benches or broken tiles, no blood marring the white marble floor. But the smell of cleaning products hung heavy on the air. There was a hint of adhesive and the scent of new wood where the benches had been repaired.

All the assembled vampires could detect the subtle scents, all of them had heard in detail about what had occurred. The Council had been attacked by their own, taken apart, some of the members killed. Just the thought of it was shocking, to find out it had actually happened left most of them stunned.

They had always believed any attack would come from outside. To find out that the attack had come from within left most of them reeling. The Ancients had risen up and taken control of The Council and they didn't know how to react to it.

There was other shocking news too. Matings between vampires and Weres. It was repulsive, disgusting, and completely unacceptable. The Council had objected to it and had been taken apart. There were enough vampires present that they could overpower the Ancients, the question was, would they attempt it?

The tales of just what level of power the Ancients actually had confused them. The Elders knew that the majority of the Younglings wouldn't rise against the Ancients. Hell, probably some of the Elders wouldn't either. They were indecisive, confused about how to react to the attack against all they knew. For the moment they merely sat and waited to see what would happen.

During normal Council meetings, those who wanted power, who were the eldest of the Elders, jockeyed to sit as close to the seats reserved for the Ancients. Today there was a sizable gap to that seating area, a full fifty odd vacant spaces from the ten reserved for the Ancients. People chose to stand along the back walls instead. The vampire nation was in disarray.

The doors leading to huge glass building opened and the odd assortment of vampires and Weres strode confidently into the closed reception area.

Caleb ran his eyes quickly over the area, seeing only four vampires in attendance, Stephan, Cristoph, Pietro and Emily. Everyone else appeared to be waiting in the Council chamber. 

"Did you do as I asked?" His tone was clipped and cold.




The Council Ch. 18



Stephan stepped forward and nodded. "Everyone is assembled and the security measures are disabled." He was alluding to the complicated entry system to get down to Council chambers. The retinal scanner had been neutralised to allow for the wolves to be able to pass through their defences.

"Good," Caleb answered, reaching out a hand to take Rhianna's firmly in his. "I'm done pissing around with this. Let's go." He led the way down to the Council chambers. Stephan and Cristoph slotted in behind Andrei and Alexei, Pietro and Emily brought up the rear behind the Weres.

They entered the Council chambers with none of the fan fair or theatrics of the last two times the Ancients had entered the chambers. They arrived as a group and marched straight down to the Ancient seating area, ignoring the growls of fury that erupted around the room due to the presence of the wolves.

Ashleigh walked slowly beside Nors, taking her time while his arm supported her. She had insisted on walking on her own two feet. Nors had been going to object, tell her she was still too weak but one look at her stubborn face had made him subside. She didn't want to be seen as weak and he could understand that. 

He felt such pride as his wolf held her head high and walked through the gauntlet of the people who had tried to kill her the night before. He still felt fury that they had almost succeeded. He scowled blackly as he glared all around him, letting everyone know in no uncertain terms what would happen if anyone ever tried to touch his woman again.

The growls remained in the room and were continued to be ignored. The wolves sat down, tense and alert, ready to shift at a moment's notice. Andrei spared a moment to search Loretta's eyes intently and then he smiled slowly when she shooed him away. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, handed her off to Alexei and then peeled away to go and sit beside Stephan and Cristoph at the dais.

Everyone sat with the exception of Caleb. He turned slowly surveying the room, meeting all eyes that glared balefully at them. His people were furious at the wolves presence, furious at their Council being attacked. They would be more furious by the time he had finished; he had no doubt about that.

He didn't give a shit. They would adapt or they would die. He was tired of them never listening; of thinking they could act anyway they wanted to and threaten those he considered under his protection. It was time to end this once and for all. They would bend and obey or they would no longer walk the planet.

"Enough." The word was spoken quietly but it had an instant effect. The growling stopped and silence fell on the room, though the glares remained directed at the sitting group.

Caleb strode into the centre of the audience chamber. His bearing almost had a regal hint to it, his movements graceful and purposeful, and his stride confident and full of intent. He slowly walked the entire room, taking in each irate glare, meeting every look until the eyes slid away from his. His expression was hard and deadly, his amber eyes almost glowing with the power that had lain hidden and dormant within him for so long.

"These Weres are here for a reason," he finally said in a quiet voice. "They're here to ensure that there are no misunderstandings. Scent them, take a good look at them but most importantly remember them because your lives depend on it."

He paused and surveyed the room with cold, hard eyes. "Each and every one of them is under my personal protection. Any vampire who does anything to harm them in any way will be executed on the spot immediately. There will be no questions asked, no appeals for mercy, no listening to any attempts to justify your actions. You will die instantly. I'm tired of fucking around. You didn't learn from Graves' folly, some of you won't learn from The Council's folly. Tonight you will have no excuses. I will not repeat myself again on this topic."

The silence remained in the room, some of the vampires wearing slightly startled expressions. Caleb kept his gaze on the more implacable ones until they slowly looked away from him once more. 

He could feel confusion through his bond with Rhianna, disapproval warring with approval. She didn't like his cold blooded words and yet she wanted her family to be safe. He turned his head to look back at her and raised an eyebrow and she rolled her eyes and smiled a little smile. His expression said it all. She couldn't have it both ways. 

Rhianna watched him carefully, hiding the little frown which threatened to cross her face. She knew he was pissed and she understood that because she was too. But there was something different about him tonight. There was something radiating through their bond which she couldn't quite place her finger on. It was powerful, frightening even and she had to contain a little shiver of trepidation.

For an instant she felt that something was lurking inside Caleb that she had no knowledge of, something so powerful than when unleashed it would stun the world. It appeared a fanciful idea but she knew that she was right. She was never wrong when she read someone's soul. As she read her beautiful vampire's soul in that moment she realised that there was something within him that she had never seen before and it frightened her.

He appeared to sense her confusion because the feeling dampened down within their bond and she experienced a wave of love so intense she had a hard time not gasping out loud. She searched his eyes intently and then slowly relaxed. Whatever she had sensed they would talk about later.

Caleb turned back to his people. "I brought a handful of those under my protection tonight. Just so there are no misunderstandings my edict stands for all Weres, not just the Hanlon pack and the newly formed Armand-Hanlon pack. Any pack or pride is now under the protection of The Ancients. No Were of any description will be fair game to any vampire ever again. 

This enmity stops now, this very instant. I don't give a fuck whether you like it or not. From this moment on you will endure it, learn to cope with it and stay the fuck away from them if you're unable to abide it. This is your one and only warning so heed it well."

They didn't like it. He hadn't expected them to but he did expect them to take note and do as he commanded. He waited for objections, targeted those he knew would the most resistant. If Caleb had to start taking heads he would do so to make his point. Perhaps there was something in his expression, he didn't know but no vampire spoke as they looked at him. He smiled with satisfaction.

"You will all have heard what happened here last night," he said in a more even tone though his presence was still cold and hard. "The Council has been broken. Daniel and Roberto are dead. We are here to choose a new Council but we're going to do this my way. You've proven time and time again that the old ways don't work. It's time for a change."

He turned to the dais and walked slowly towards it. "We have three remaining Council members. They will retain their seats as they have proven that they have the brains to adapt to the changes which are coming."

He reached the dais and walked to stand behind Andrei's chair. "We Ancients have failed our people," Caleb announced, his tone sounding a little weary. "For too long we've held ourselves apart. This was an error in judgement and not one which will be repeated. We begin with the formation of a new Council. But first know this, Andrei and Alexei Romanov will no longer be considered Elders. From this moment on they are Ancients."

That statement did bring a ripple of sound throughout the room. The Romanovs were just under fifty years shy of reaching the vaunted two thousand year old mark which separated Ancient from Elder status. Caleb couldn't just announce that someone was an Ancient like that. Could he? 

Startled glances were centred on the Romanovs. If it surprised the twins neither of them gave any outward sign of it, though they did look at each other for a moment before Andrei smiled a little smile and turned away.

"Alexei you are now a member of the Council," Caleb continued as if he hadn't heard the disquiet at his words. 

Alexei stared at him for a moment, shock and anger quickly rippling through him, and then he turned to look at Cedar. She was smiling slightly and he could feel a strong rush of pride through their newly created mating bond. He wanted to refuse Caleb. He didn't want to be a bloody Council member. But his woman was so proud of him that he felt his initial resistance melt away almost instantly. 

He leaned down and brushed his lips lightly over hers and then he rose and headed to the dais. Cristoph moved seats instantly and he sat down beside his brother and regarded the room with cold eyes daring anyone to object. He may not want to be a Council member but if he was given the role then he would do so to the best of his ability and God help anyone who tried to interfere.

"Two Elders and two Ancients now sit on the Council," Caleb said calmly, walking back to main audience chamber. 

He knew what he was about to do would infuriate and rock his people to the core but it was necessary if they were ever to change and evolve. He knew Demetri was going to be furious too and he tried not to smile at the thought of his friend's expression when he had completed this part of his plan. 

"We are unbalanced though because our Nation is made up of three distinct groups." He continued walking until he reached the far end of the room.

"Emily," he smiled gently at the rather startled looking Youngling who sat close to the chamber doors. He held out his hand which she took tentatively in his, fear rushing through her that one so Ancient would single her out in any way. 

"Do not be nervous, little one." Caleb's tone remained gentle as he pulled her down the room with him and came to stop in front of Mara. His smile for the brunette was wide and full of affection. "Coming?" he teased lightly.

Demetri growled as Mara's eyes went wide with surprise but she stood slowly and followed him as he led the two women to the dais. Stephan had provided the extra chair which Caleb had asked for earlier and it was already in place beside Cristoph.

In deathly silence The Ancient seated the two women at the table, Emily beside Stephan who was rigid with shock and Mara beside Cristoph who had a slightly wild expression in his eyes.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," Demetri hissed in Caleb's head, his words full of fury. His friend had not mentioned anything of this to him and for good reason. He would have refused and Caleb knew it.

"Calm down," Caleb laughed softly. "She's going to have a ball and you know it. No one would dare touch her as she's under your protection. Mara's way too intelligent to be running a bloody nightclub. If she can keep you in line then she can keep any vampire in line."

Demetri settled slightly, catching Mara's eyes and seeing the confusion in them but also the excitement too. Caleb was right. She would be formidable on the Council once she got over the shock of it. Still, his friend could have warned him about his plan so it wasn't such a shock. They would most definitely be having a little 'chat' about this later.

"From here on in the Council will have a core membership of six which will represent each section of our people, two Ancients, two Elders and two Younglings," Caleb said firmly, a quiet authority in his tone which brooked no arguments. 

"This Council will choose another six vampires to complete the new Council of twelve. It is obvious a Council of five is too small to rule our people wisely. It is too easy for an individual to grab control and steer our people in the wrong direction. This way it will be harder to have a power struggle as occurred between Andrei and Daniel and led to the fiasco of last night."

His eyes met Andrei's and they locked gazes. His words were meant for the new Ancient as much as they were meant for everyone else. While he didn't blame Andrei for what had happened, he had only been trying to protect his mate and the Weres, but his actions had been what had triggered Daniel to act. 

Andrei glared furiously at Caleb for a moment, incensed with the changes he was bringing and the not so subtle slap he had just given him. He could feel his rage building quickly and was ready to react when he suddenly blinked slowly and turned his head to look at Loretta who had raised an eyebrow in his direction. He relaxed back in his chair as his mate soothed him through their bond. 

"You have a daughter to bring up, Andrei," Loretta laughed softly. "She'll be much more challenging than any Council business."

She was right. His priorities had shifted. He was still in a position of power to protect what was his but he didn't need to do it all on his own now. He had others to help him. His need for power evaporated in an instant, his fury melting away.

"A Council of twelve can be deadlocked," a voice said from the gathered vampires. Everyone turned to look at Philippe who had stood up and was watching Caleb intently. He was a member of the previous Council and appeared to be the only one brave enough to speak. "What happens when a decision cannot be reached, Caleb?"

It was a valid question and one the Ancient had been expecting. "Then the Council will ask the Ancients to decide," he answered coolly.

That brought another startled murmur of sound from the room. The Ancients had never gotten involved in politics before, they had always held themselves apart. Now they were going to be actively involved?

Philippe looked surprised and pursed his lips. "By my reckoning there will be four Ancients not on the Council," he remarked dryly. "What if you can't agree and become deadlocked?"

Caleb smiled slowly, but the smile never met his eyes and his expression turned deadly as if he anticipated disagreement with his next words. "Then my vote will be final," he answered quietly. 

"Outrageous!" a voice called, a blond Elder standing up and glaring at him. "You would set yourself above all others, Caleb? This is unacceptable! We rule by Council, not by an individual. You are not our King!"

Others stood and shouted their agreement with the Elder. Caleb merely watched them calmly until they stopped speaking then he smiled slowly. 

"Have you finished?" he asked coldly when they had subsided. He didn't wait for their agreement his amber eyes turning hard. "Then sit the fuck down and shut up! This is not open to debate. This is how it will now be. Live with it."

He ignored them and turned to survey the room slowly. "I said we Ancients had failed you and I meant it. We will not do so again. We will drag our people kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century whether you like it or not. Accept it or you will inevitably lose your heads, the choice is entirely yours. The time for change is here. I strongly suggest you all embrace it willingly."

His eyes met Rhianna's and he suddenly felt exhausted. He just wanted to take his woman home and lie in her arms as she soothed him as only she could. Her lavender eyes were shining so brightly that for a moment he thought she had tears in them but then he realised they were full of love and such pride that he felt his resolve strengthen in an instant. He crossed the room to her and touched her cheek gently.

"The final thing I have to say on this matter refers once more to the Weres," he said quietly. "Vampires and Weres have mated. This brings new challenges to both our people. We are all learning what this means for us. Once a month the Vampire Council will meet with representatives from the Were population. I leave it up to our new allies on how they draw up their own Council. Any issues can be discussed at this meeting; any joint accords can be reached. The Ancients will be available if we are required to mediate any discussions."

He was greeted by silence though his gaze slid from Rhianna to look at Jared and Rafe. They were both watching him intently, slightly stunned by his announcement. 

Jared suddenly rolled his eyes and nodded once at his friend. Caleb's words made sense. If the Weres and vampires could come together then maybe, just maybe, the enmity would stop. 

He thought back over his friendship with Ancient. It had taken time but they had becomes friends by initially learning to respect each other. Rhianna and Rafe's entrance into their lives had enhanced that friendship to what it was now. Interacting with the vampires was the best way forward. He didn't think it would be easy but he was willing to give it a try.

"You forgot one thing, Caleb," Demetri said with a small smile teasing at his lips. He was already getting used to seeing his wife sitting at the Council dais. Instead of kicking the shit out of his friend, maybe they would just sit and have a proper discussion about what he expected Caleb to tell him before he blithely went ahead and did things his own way.

His friend looked at him with a little frown. "Did I?"

Demetri turned to look at Loretta who blinked slowly back at him and then looked at Caleb.

"Ah, yes, I did," Caleb smiled as he looked at the pretty brunette. He turned back to the room. "Mated vampires and Weres can produce young," he announced. "Naturally none of us know what the outcome of that will be as it's something new. Whatever the children will be, they will be protected at all costs. No Were or vampire will harm any child born of the matings. Any who tries will be executed."

Shock rippled around the room. There had been muttered whispers that Andrei had sired a child with a wolf but most of them had disregarded it, sure it was made up. Finding out that it was indeed fact was too shocking to comprehend. Vampires couldn't have children. None of them even wanted to.

When no one spoke at that revelation Caleb continued. "I believe that covers just about everything," he said firmly. He turned to the dais. "I trust you can take it from here?"

"I think we can manage," Andrei answered drolly. Caleb had thrown him so many curve balls he was still trying to wrap his head around them all. It was going to be a nightmare sorting it all out. It would take days just to finalise the Council. Then they would need to ensure records were kept to document the matings in case any other vampires were so inclined. The list of things to do was endless.

"Then I'll leave the Council to their work," Caleb said with a small smile. He had no illusions that things would be in an uproar for a while. He had complete faith that the six he had installed in the new Council would be able to handle it.

"Be assured that this is the last time I will speak of this," he finished up slowly, looking around the room. "If so much as a hair is harmed on any Weres' head, if any mated pair or their children come to any harm, I will personally hunt down the culprits and end your lives."

He let his words sink in around the room. He knew there would be some opposition but it wouldn't be done openly. No, there would be secret meetings, plots being put in place, plans hatched to try and halt the change which was coming. The Council would know too and they would work on rooting out any dissent. Or so he hoped.

Finally he'd had enough. He just wanted to go home. He turned to Rhianna and held out his hand. She was at his side in an instant as she always was. The smile she gave him shone with such adoration that he couldn't resist smiling back at her or leaning down and placing a light kiss on her lips. 

"Let's go home," he breathed softly, wrapping an arm around her and striding purposefully out of the room.

The Weres followed, though Loretta and Cedar stopped briefly to speak to their mates. 

"We'll be a while," Andrei told them. "It'll probably be best if you stay at the compound until we get finished up here. We'll come and get you."




The Council Ch. 18



Alexei agreed and after brief goodbyes they left with others. The only one of them who stayed was Demetri. There was no way in hell he was leaving his wife's side while she did what was required as a Council member. 

He didn't get involved but he stayed in the room and watched all the vampires slowly leave, keeping an eye on who left together so he could get a jump start on any factions which may be building.

Emily was sitting rather shell shocked at Stephan's side. She turned to look at him and saw he was watching her with a very neutral expression. Was he angry with her? She hadn't asked for this. She was the worst possible choice to be a Council member. "Stephan, I don't know what to do."

His expression softened slightly and his lips curled in a small smile. "I will help you," he answered quietly. He had been stunned when Caleb had placed her on the Council, completely perplexed at the Ancient's choice. Emily was too human in her thought processes to be able to cope with being on the Council. 

And then he realised that was why Caleb had chosen her and also Mara. The Council needed that humanity so they could remember what they used to be. The Ancient was very shrewd.

Mara didn't feel any intimidation at all. Demetri was lounging in his chair as if he was bored but she knew better. He was alert and ready to kick ass if it was required. Caleb had shocked her by choosing her. She would have thought he would have chosen Annie to sit on the Council as her gift for always knowing the right thing to do would have been invaluable.

She met all the eyes at the dais, eyed up the vampires she didn't know well to try and get a feel of them, and then she looked at the Romanovs and gave them a mock glare. "Don't you two think you can bully Emily and me because we're Younglings and you're now Ancients. We're Council members just like the rest of you and our opinions count just as much."

It was Alexei who laughed loudly and shook his head. He was coming to like Mara immensely since they had first met. She was so suited to Demetri and it was funny to watch her take his friend to task as she did. 

"We wouldn't dream of it, Mara," he replied still laughing. "I don't want my ass kicked by your husband for one thing but most importantly, age counts for nothing on the Council. Intelligence and a keen, smart mind is what gains you respect here."

A snorted laugh came from the bench where Demetri sat. "You'll regret saying that," he drawled with a soft smile for his wife. "She's a piranha when she gets going."

"Shut up or get out," Mara growled softly though her eyes were twinkling with laughter at his words. She knew he would back her up completely even though she didn't need it. Just knowing he was there for her was enough to give her the courage to take on this new task which has suddenly landed in her lap.

"Yes dear," Demetri laughed lightly, his eyes promising retribution for her smart mouth. She shivered with delight and turned her attention back to the other members of the Council. It was time to do some work.

*****

Rhianna was quiet on the drive back home, so quiet that Caleb was starting to feel a little concerned. He couldn't sense anything negative through their bond but he was aware that he had shown a lot more of his more feral side recently and it had concerned her in the Council chambers. 

Was it a side of him that perhaps she wouldn't like so much? He had done what was necessary to ensure that their family and friends remained safe. He wouldn't apologise for it but he didn't want it to be an issue between them.

He followed her into the sitting room, his gaze never leaving her face. Whatever she was thinking had her so engrossed she all but threw herself down on the sofa. Then she looked at him and smiled. He relaxed instantly. It was her usual smile, the one that sent little shivers of pleasure through him and made him think all sorts of erotic, lustful things.

"Why are you looking so sheepish?" she asked with a little laugh. "You were really quite magnificent tonight, Caleb. You even managed to frighten me at one point and that takes a lot." Her tone was rueful as she spoke.

He was at her side immediately, frowning as he gathered her up onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't ever be frightened of me, Annie," he said in a tortured voice, crushing her tightly to his chest. "Not you. Never you. I would die before I ever did anything which would harm you."

She laughed softly and cuddled into him. "I know that, silly," she sighed relaxing against him with such trust. "Stop overreacting to my words. I was just trying to tell you how impressive you were. Hopefully our people will have been in equal awe of your performance."

Caleb relaxed once more, his hold on his woman becoming more tender and his concern evaporating a bit. "Don't hold your breath on that one," her remarked dryly. "The Council are going to have to be on their toes keeping an eye on everyone."

Rhianna tilted her head back to look up at him. Her breath caught as she marvelled once more at how lucky she was to have this wonderful man love her so unconditionally. 

Had it really been less than three years since they had first met, when her life had suddenly changed so completely and she was thrown into a world of vampires and werewolves and all manner of crazy stuff? She felt as if she had been with him forever, that he had always been a part of her very existence.

"Why didn't you choose me for the Council?" she asked unexpectedly, catching the faint flicker of unease that crossed his face before he quickly smoothed his expression.

"I chose the right people for the job," he answered his tone slightly evasive and his eyes not quite meeting hers.

"I would have thought I was the right person for the job," she persisted feeling a slight trepidation come over her. "Everyone's always telling me I know the right thing to do all the time. I should have been first choice when it came to selecting Younglings."

"Annie, leave it," he answered quietly, his eyes finally meeting hers fully. His expression was closed and guarded, his feelings wound tight within their bond. "Just trust me that I made the correct decisions tonight."

She didn't want to let it go. He was hiding something from her and she didn't like it one bit. They had no secrets between them. The only time Caleb got like this was when he was foolishly trying to protect her from something. 

She opened her mouth to argue with him but he silenced her with a kiss. She tried not to succumb to his hot mouth slanting over hers so deliciously but it was a hopeless fight so she gave up with a bit too much alacrity. He was obviously not going to answer her tonight so she would have to try again in the morning.

Caleb almost sighed with relief when his woman stopped pressing him. He knew the time was coming when he would have to answer her questions but he wanted more time with her, to relax and love her and have a moment's peace before he had to do the inevitable.

Keeping his mouth firmly attached to hers, he rose with her in his arms and carried her upstairs to their room. He then spend the next two hours showing her just how much he loved her, just how much he couldn't live without her in his life and most importantly, in his arms.

He couldn't get enough of her soft skin or the warmth of her beautiful body embracing his. He made love to her almost in desperation until he was finally sated and she lay exhausted in his protective embrace.

"You're going to have to tell me at some point," she sighed sleepily running a hand lightly over his sweat slickened skin. "I will be patient for a little while, love, but I'm not going to wait forever."

He tensed slightly and then relaxed, a rueful smile crossing his face as he brushed her tangled curls from her face and kissed her lightly. "I know, sweet one," he breathed softly. "We will talk soon. I promise you."

He kissed her again, deeply this time, and then he settled her against his chest and closed his eyes. For the moment he still had time but he knew it wouldn't last long. He had every intention of taking that time and spending it in peace and quiet with his woman before things changed. He needed this time with his precious Annie, because he didn't know just what the future would hold for them when the truth came out.

To be continued... 



The Council Ch. 19



 And so it ends :-)

WorldHistoryBuff you have been amazing! I can never thank you enough for all your time and hard work editing for me this year.

Special mention to my friends from the Guild too. Without you all, I would never have sharpened and honed each chapter to make them so much better than my first draft.

Not forgetting my Tweeters! You guys ROCK! LOL! I've had fun chatting with all of you so much.

And finally to everyone who has read, voted, commented and emailed! Whether you loved it or hated it, you all kept me writing this year. Thank you! 

Enjoy! 

*

Epilogue

Ashleigh flopped onto the bed and listened to Nors lock up the house below. Excitement buzzed through her entire body and it was hard not to squirm on the luxurious silk sheets beneath her. The speed she had taken her clothes off would have made Nors die laughing. She was sure she had ripped her top in the process.

She could hear him walking slowly upstairs and couldn't prevent the little smile which tugged at her lips. He was dragging his heels. Luke had given them the all clear but she knew he was still hesitant. Her wonderful, silly vampire. She had waited long enough. She wasn't going to wait any longer.

It had taken her longer to heal than anticipated. So long that Loretta was due to give birth any day now and Ashleigh still wasn't completely mated to her vampire. But tonight Luke had finally declared her back to full health and nothing would get in her way. If Nors thought he was going to argue with her he could forget it.

Nors reached the bedroom door and hesitated before entering. He longed to mate with his little wolf, had been given the go ahead by Luke tonight and yet he felt fear about doing so. What if she wasn't ready? What if he hurt her without meaning to? He couldn't live without her and the thought of her suddenly being gone from him life was too much for him to contemplate.

He entered the room and let his gaze run slowly over the most beautiful woman to walk the planet, in his eyes anyway. His lips couldn't fail to twitch in an appreciative smile as he saw her deliciously naked body lying against the black satin sheets of the bed. His own body reacted instantly to the glorious sight before him, as it always did when his mate was close to him.

The look of determination on her face had his heart thumping wildly in his chest and he knew he was fighting a losing battle against her. She would have this mating completed or she would hand him his head on a platter. 

His smile widened as he silently crossed to the bed, shedding his clothes as he went. Who would have thought that someone so tiny and innocent looking could have such a stubborn streak in her? His Ashleigh was a force to be reckoned with when she wanted something badly.

With a feral grin, he surrendered completely and crawled slowly onto the bed, stalking his way over her body until he loomed over her. The smile she gave him made his heart kick up a beat and his breath catch in his throat. She was simply stunning.

"You're not fighting me," she laughed softly, reaching up to stroke her hands slowly over his chest. Her soft touch had him growling low in his chest, his muscles rippling under her fingers.

"Is there any point?" he asked in a voice deep and husky with need and also full of resignation.

"No," she laughed in delight as she realised she wouldn't need to convince him of anything. 

"Ashleigh." It was a whisper so full of love, his deep green eyes glowing as he ran his gaze over her soft curves. His head bent and he caught her lips in a gentle kiss which quickly turned hard and possessive when her little hand wrapped around his straining shaft and slid agonisingly over his heated flesh.

In an instant he was all fire and passion, gentleness forgotten as his wolf drove him crazy with her touch. He trailed kisses of hot fire down her neck and across her shoulders, searching out the soft swell of her breasts and then torturing her swollen, aching nipples with long licks of his tongue.

He suckled at her soft flesh, delighting in the feel of the hard tips of her nipples pressing against his tongue. She moaned loudly and writhed beneath him, sinking her fingers into his long auburn locks and holding him firmly to her body. She tasted like nectar, her excited moans sweet music to his ears. She belonged to him and tonight he would make her irrevocably his.

Ashleigh was burning up with need, pressing hard against Nors' body. He was driving her insane as he always did when he made love to her. She never quite knew whether she would receive tenderness or a rough tumble of a more earthy kind of loving from him. He liked to keep her guessing and she loved finding out what he had planned for her.

She was ready for him in an instant. She always was. Tonight she was desperate for their joining and wasn't willing to wait any longer. She wrapped her legs around his waist, bringing his aching, hard flesh in line with the molten heat between her legs. She rubbed against him until he growled loudly and raised his head.

"Impatient," he ground out, his expression harsh with the strain of holding back through his eyes danced with pleasure at her lustiness.

"Always," she breathed, moving against him once more and watching his jaw clench before he growled again and wrapped his big hands around her hips.

"Witch." It was a tortured laugh the word ended on as he thrust forward and entered her sleek, wet tightness in one fluid movement. "Ashleigh," he groaned, beginning to move instantly, unable to stop himself from loving her the way he ached to.

Ashleigh moved with him, holding onto his shoulders and crying out as he sank into her over and over again with such delicious torment. Pleasure engulfed her as they rode together in perfect harmony, loving each other as they had done countless times in the past. Home was with Nors, here in their bed. Being joined with him this way was everything.

Nors rode his beautiful wolf, shuddering with the exquisite pleasure she gave him, knowing he was returning that pleasure to her as he drove into her body relentlessly. He could feel his bloodlust rising, feel his fangs wanting to break free and pierce her soft skin. He didn't fight the feeling, allowing himself to brush the side of her neck gently without breaking the skin.

Ashleigh shuddered beneath him, her cries turning to a long wail as she began to crest the height of her pleasure, pulling him along with her. With a muttered cry he exploded deep inside her beautiful body and then his fangs bit down on the tender flesh of her neck.

Her hot blood filled his mouth with the sweetest, more intoxicating flavour he had ever experienced. He drank greedily, pulsing deep within her as ecstasy consumed him and her body writhed beneath him. Perfect. That was what she was, so totally perfect.

Ashleigh sighed with pleasure, holding Nors close as he closed the wound in her neck and shuddered one last time in her arms. He was hers now, forever. No one could ever take him away from her.

"I love you," she whispered softly, a muffled laugh escaping her as he twisted on his back and settled her completely on top of him. His strong arms embraced her tightly, his mouth kissing her neck gently.

"I love you," he growled softly, moving to kiss her mouth in a long, slow, drugging kiss, listening to her strong heartbeat intently and relaxing as it beat hard and fast. His bite had not harmed her. They were finally completely mated and nothing could tear them apart.

He stroked her gently as their breathing slowly calmed, feeling a contentment like never before. The wolf part of his nature was satisfied. His woman was blissfully happy in his arms. He couldn't ask for any more than that.

They were just dropping off to sleep with a cell phone rang.

"It's yours," Ashleigh groaned rolling off him to bury herself under the covers.

"No, it's yours," Nors argued cuddling into her back and kissing her shoulder. "Get up before it irritates me enough to destroy it."

"You get it," she laughed wiggling against him until he groaned in defeat and got out of bed to search for the offending piece of technology. 

He found it in the pocket of her jeans lying in a heap on the floor, an eyebrow raising as he saw the identity of the caller. "It's Rafe."

Ashleigh immediately sat up, excitement glowing in her eyes. "Loretta," she gasped jumping out of bed and reaching for her clothes. "Don't just look at it, Nors. Answer the call. The baby's coming, I just know it is."

*****

"I will rip you to fucking shreds if you don't get out of my way!"

The words were growled gutturally, hatred lacing every word. They had no effect on the tall blond man standing irresolutely in front of the bedroom door on the first landing of the large, wooden house deep in the heart of the forest. 

His deep brown eyes remained fastened on the speaker unflinchingly for a moment and then his lips curled in a little smile. 

"Do I seriously have to kick your ass?" he drawled in a dangerously soft, deep voice. "I mean seriously, you want to go there? You know it will only start a family feud. The girls will start fighting; we'll start fighting because they're fighting etc, etc, etc." His tone sounded almost bored though his gaze was intent.

"Get out of my fucking way." Cold, lethal words uttered so low they were almost unheard, or would have been if the object of the speaker's fury hadn't been a vampire and had such acute hearing skills.

A loud, tortured wail came from within the room and even the blond tensed at the sound. The man standing before him blanched, flinched in a deep shudder and his dark brown eyes turned wild.

"Please, Alexei!" Andrei's words were filled with anguish, his eyes leaving his brother's to turn to the door he so badly wanted through. He had to get to his Rose. She was in pain, crying out loudly every. He had promised her no one would ever hurt her again and they were torturing her in that room.

Yelling at Alexei hadn't worked; trying to hit him hadn't worked. He'd tried threatening him to no avail. Maybe pleading would be what finally convinced him to step aside so he could go to his mate?

"She doesn't want you in there until you calm down, brother," Alexei sighed deeply. Despite his tough stance, he really felt for his twin. Loretta's anguished sounds were quite haunting and he was hard pressed not to go into the room himself to protect her. But Cedar had told him to stand guard while she went and got Rafe and that was what he was doing.

Loretta herself had begged him not to let Andrei in until their Alpha arrived. There was no telling what his twin would do to the two doctors inside if he was allowed to get through the closed door. Andrei was almost completely out of control and reasoning with him was a complete nightmare at the moment. Maybe Rafe would be able to get through to him where the others had failed.

"She needs me!" Andrei hissed furiously, his talons coming out as he pointed at the door in agitation. "She's hurting, Alexei!"

The sound of the front door opening reached them though neither broke each other's gaze to turn to see who the new arrivals were. Alexei knew if he flinched even slightly his brother would be past him and then all hell would break loose.

Rafe Hanlon took one look at the standoff at the head of the stairs and bounded up them to the two vampires. He approached carefully, giving Andrei enough time to properly scent him before he laid a large hand on the other man's shoulder.

"She's having a baby, Andrei," he said soothingly, allowing enough authority into his voice without reverting to his command tone. He was treading very carefully with the Romanov twins, easing them into being pack members very slowly. 

It was instinctive of them to fight against being 'puppets' as they viewed the Alpha/pack mentality. To date he had only ever commanded them twice, once when Andrei had hurt him and he'd done so unconsciously. The second time was when he had revealed that he was their Alpha. 

At all other times over the last two months he had talked to them, convinced them of the course of action he wanted them to take. He had reasoned with them in an attempt to gain their trust and prove he wasn't the enemy. So far it had been working out well and he was determined to maintain this strategy when dealing with them.

Andrei Romanov fought the urge to shake his Alpha's hand from his shoulder. The duality within him wrought a furious battle as his vampire nature warred with the wolf aspect of his personality. Usually the vampire won most of these battles, unless Rafe was around. Then his inner wolf fought that little bit harder.

With a muffled curse he allowed his body to relax slightly, let the soothing influence of his Alpha help bury down the cold vampiric fury within him. He dragged his gaze from Alexei and turned to look at Rafe. "She's in so much pain."

"That's normal, Andrei," Cedar Alexander said with a hint of amusement in her voice. She had followed Rafe upstairs and now came a little closer despite the frosty look Alexei was shooting her way. She wasn't stupid enough to get too close to Andrei when he was so feral but she could see him starting to calm now Rafe was present. 

She took a step closer and raised an eyebrow when Alexei growled a warning at her to keep away. "Behave!" she laughed, rolling her eyes at him and turning back to his brother.

"Giving birth is a painful experience for a woman but one we gladly endure so we can have our children," she explained patiently. "Loretta may be calling you all the names under the sun right now but the moment your daughter is born she will forget the pain instantly. This is the natural way of things, Andrei."

He still looked doubtful but his tension eased a little more. He had read so much about babies and childbirth but nothing had prepared him for having to listen to his Rose's tortured cries. He didn't care how natural Cedar said it was. It was intolerable to him. 

And yet, Loretta refused to let him into the room until he calmed down and wasn't considered a threat to the two doctors inside. She was agreeing with everyone else. The only way into the room was to calm down and accept that this pain was necessary for their daughter to be born.

"What can I do?" he finally asked, his gaze sliding to each of them looking for some help.

"Now that you're calm you can go inside and be with your mate," Rafe decided. He made his tone a little more forceful without getting to command strength. "But if you even look like you're going to hurt either Luke or Mallen, you'll be kicked out so quickly your head will spin. And you won't be allowed back in until the baby is born."

Andrei met his eyes and for a second his vampiric nature rose in all its splendid glory and then it slowly subsided and nodded his head. "Yes, Alpha." 

It didn't hurt so much to acquiesce to Rafe Hanlon as it first had. Probably the fact he didn't have to do it often helped. That and the fact that his Rose was so happy being in this new pack, that she shone with an effervescence that took his breath away as they worked side by side to begin the building of the new compound for the Armand-Hanlon pack.

Loretta had wanted to have their child in the new compound but it was still under construction despite how hard they had worked to complete it in time. The decision to have the baby at the Hanlon compound had been a blow but one his mate had quickly come to terms with. She was comfortable with the environment and that was all that mattered.

She had argued furiously with Luke that she was having what she termed 'a homebirth'. The doctor wanted their daughter to be born in the medical centre within the compound. Loretta wanted her born at home, preferably her small apartment that she still kept there.

The compromise had been to have the child in the Alpha's house. It had satisfied Luke's need to be able to have enough room for his medical equipment and Loretta's need to have a homebirth. 

He had considered threatening Luke to concede to his Rose's demands and then decided against it. His daughter was an unknown, the first vampire/Were hybrid child to be born. She deserved the best possible care and this solution was the best compromise they could come up with.

Another long tortured sound came from the room and Andrei felt his anxiety levels increase a bit more but nowhere near as feral as they had been before Rafe arrived. He judged he was in control enough to enter the room and protect and support his mate.

He turned to look at Cedar and gave her a crooked little smile. "So, she's going to blame me for all of this?" he asked with a slightly resigned note in his voice.

His brother's mate laughed loudly. "Oh yes! This will most definitely be all your fault."

"Figures," he grumbled stepping around his brother and opening the bedroom door with a lightly trembling hand.

When he stepped into the room his fangs elongated instantly. Fury rolled through him, his talons clicking together, his eyes turning completely black. He was vaguely aware of Alexei and Rafe talking loudly behind him but his entire attention was fixated on the bed in the centre of the room.

Loretta was lying on her back, her face drenched with sweat, her hair sticking to her saturated skin. A grimace of pain was on her face, her beautiful brown eyes narrowed in agony as she groaned loudly. As if that wasn't the worst image he could perceive, the two doctors were what had him going feral instantly.

They had their heads buried between Loretta's bent legs!

A light blanket covered her pelvic area so he couldn't actually see their heads but it was more than obvious that they were looking at a part of his mate he seriously objected to. He didn't give a fuck why they were doing so. He was going to rip them to fucking pieces.

"If you can't control yourself, Romanov, get the fuck out of here. If you can, get your ass over here so I can hit you. "

Loretta's words, ground out through clenched teeth, startled him so much his head whipped round and he stared at her in complete shock. His woman was glaring at him as if she wanted to rip his throat out, her teeth bared as she all but snarled at him.

He blinked slowly, his feral side immediately subsiding as he continued to stare at her in amazement. Then his lips curled into a crooked smile and he cautiously headed across to the bed, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on her face and trying hard to ignore what the wolves were doing.

Loretta stifled down the sigh of relief as Andrei approached. For an instant she had been afraid he'd do something truly stupid and she'd have to waddle off the bed to keep him in line. Not something she had particularly wanted to do in her present condition. She'd chosen her approach carefully, deliberately challenging him with aggression to get his attention. It had worked, thank God!

Trust him to get all jealous at the doctors doing what was necessary. As far as she was concerned a hundred people could have their heads stuck between her legs right now if it meant Lily would stop pissing about and get on with being born. Dignity was the last thing on her mind at the moment. She just wanted her daughter to stop resisting and make her way into the world.

She didn't really want to hit Andrei. Well....maybe just a little. It wouldn't stop the pain but it would make her feel a bit better if he was suffering through it too. Then she looked into his eyes as he reached her and she could see the haunted expression in them and she gave him a little smile. He was suffering each and every time she was and there was nothing he could do to help her. It had to be ripping him apart.

"Asshole!" she grumbled through a wave of pain which threatened to take her breath away.

"My Rose," he chuckled softly, sinking down to the bed beside her. He wasn't sure what to do exactly so he did what felt naturally to him. He peeled off his shirt and his belt, socks and boots. He left his jeans on and very carefully eased Loretta's top half up so he could slide in behind her.




The Council Ch. 19



He braced himself against the hardwood headboard and settled his woman between his bent legs. Then he lowered her back gently until she rested against his chest. The moment their skin touched he felt a little less wild, reaching around her body to allow her to grip his hands tightly.

He kissed the side of her neck tenderly, feeling a measure of peace that she was wrapped tightly in his embrace. "Cedar said you'd blame me for this," he drawled softly, humour lacing his tone. "If you can manage not to crush every bone in my hands I'd appreciate it, darling."

Loretta snorted loudly, smiling as she rested against her mate. The pain didn't feel half as unbearable now he was with her. She'd been through worse and survived. With Andrei at her side she could cope with her stubborn daughter refusing to enter the world in a hurry. Something told her Liliana Rose Romanov was going to be a daddy's girl!

Luke glanced up and smiled at them, raising an eyebrow at how calm Andrei was being. Not that he was complaining, both he and Mallen were in one piece so that was all that mattered. That and coaxing this baby to be born.

"I can see the head," Mallen suddenly cried, looking up and almost laughing out loud at the glare Andrei shot him. He was the pack doctor for the newly formed Armand-Hanlon pack so he was used to being glared at by the vampire. He'd been doing it through every examination he'd performed on Loretta in the last two months.

"Hallelujah!" Loretta groaned, excitement shivering through her. Her baby was almost here, just a few more hard pushes and her daughter would be born. A wave of pain crashed over her and she heard Luke telling her to push. She strained hard, gritted her teeth and let out a tortured cry.

Andrei felt the bones snapping in his hands as the strength of Loretta's wolf rose to help her birth their child. He ignored the pain, tuning it out as he held his woman protectively as she pushed with all her might. His heart thundered, tears in his eyes at the sound of her pain. Any moment now his daughter would come into the world, his stunning, glorious mate easing their child into her new life. He had never been prouder of his Rose than he was in that moment.

*****

"You're certain that's normal?" Alexei growled as he listened to the sounds coming from the room. His was leaning against the wall, his arms wrapped securely around his woman as she leaned back against him. Lacey had arrived and was wrapped in Rafe's tight embrace, Millie and Jared hovering close to the bedroom door too.

"You should have heard me," Millie laughed softly causing Jared to growl loudly.

"No you shouldn't have," he countered with a little smile. "She called me every possible curse word you can imagine. I even learned a few that I'd never come across before. Believe me, Loretta's restraint is admirable."

The tortured sounds didn't appear very restrained to the vampire. He was trying to imagine how he would feel if that was his Cedar in there. It would drive him to insanity but he knew it would be something he would have to endure. 

His mate was disappointed that she wasn't pregnant yet. It wasn't for lack of trying either. For some reason they had just assumed that it would be instantaneous as it had been for Loretta and Andrei and also the first mated hybrid couple millennia ago. But so far, Cedar still wasn't pregnant and becoming more disappointed as time wore on.

No one really knew how it worked. Luke had hazarded a guess that the wolf gene within the couple had to be aligned in some way. He had even gone as far as to speculate that it could be the female had to be 'in heat'. That had produced an angry outburst from the Weres. 

Millennia ago the wolves had been ruled by the need to be in heat before they could produce young. It had kept their numbers low because not all mated couples produced young. Then there was the added problem of the Weres xenophobia which led to quite a lot of unmated wolves. Something had changed in their physiology at some point and Weres discovered they could have children at any time as long as they were mated. The thought of going backwards was immensely worrying.

Whatever the answer was, it didn't stop the fact that no matter how many times he loved his woman, pinned her to his body as they scaled the heights of their passion, he had so far been unable to give her what she truly wanted. A child.

Alexei's thoughts were interrupted as the door downstairs opened and people flooded into the ground floor. He had a moment's amusement as he watched them enter. Loretta and Andrei's child was something new but even so, it was almost as if everyone thought this was some kind of spectator sport the way the Alpha's house was filling up with vampires and Weres alike at four thirty in the morning.

"Is she here yet?" Ashleigh asked running up the stairs, her eyes shining with excitement. Nors was right at her back, Freya opting to stay down below. They were followed up by Caleb and Rhianna, Mara, and a very grumpy looking Demetri bringing up the rear.

"Almost," Rafe smiled, his gaze affectionate as he looked at the little blonde. Ashleigh was positively glowing, all hint of her previous weakness gone, and happiness shining in her eyes.

"Isn't it exciting?" she asked her mate, beaming up at him. 

"Thrilling," Nors chuckled softly, wrapping his arms tightly around his mate, his smile so full of love that it didn't take a genius to guess that they had finally completed their mating. Rafe couldn't help smiling in contentment at the glow coming from them, relaxing now that Ashleigh had found the happiness she deserved. 

"Exciting is not the word I'd use," Demetri grumbled, his tone acerbic as he scowled at his wife. "Explain to me again precisely why we're in a bloody wolf compound in the middle of the night?"

Mara laughed at his disgruntled tone reaching up to pull his head down for a quick kiss. "Council business, dear," she smiled. "This is the birth of the first vampire/Were child. The Council needs to be represented at such an auspicious occasion."

Demetri's expression darkened and he pinned her with one of his totally pissed off looks. "Second birth," he amended, "and the father is a Council member as is the uncle. Both, who I may add, are in attendance tonight."

"That doesn't count," she laughed softly. "Look at the state Alexei's in. Can you imagine what Andrei is like? They can't be counted on to give a precise account of anything to The Council."

Demetri's snort of annoyance only made her laugh harder as she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight squeeze. "Don't be so grouchy. I'll make it up to you later."

His expression lightened instantly and he kissed her hard. "Damned straight you will," he promised in his most intimidating tone though there was a hint of a smile on his face as he settled down to wait for the main event of the night to be concluded.

He didn't really mind being at the compound. It would have been preferable if Loretta had chosen to give birth during the day but he knew the events unfolding were of crucial importance to their people. It was also prudent to have the Ancients in attendance just in case there were any vampires who may have intelligence problems and attempt to cause some harm during the confusion of the birth.

He looked around suddenly and frowned in surprise. "No Aaron and Jen?" he had expected the new pack's second in command to be present for the birth. Aaron was fiercely protective of the pack despite his usual amiable personality.

"Jen's close to giving birth herself," Lacey answered with a smile. "Luke thought it wouldn't be wise for her to be in attendance in case she got the urge to 'push' herself. She has a few weeks more to wait before it's her turn."

A loud wail suddenly sounded from the room and everyone turned to look at the door. The cry was not Loretta's but that of a baby.

"She's here," Rhianna whispered breaking the silence, large tears suddenly overflowing and spilling down her cheeks. "The future is here."

Caleb looked down sharply at Rhianna who appeared unaware that she had even spoken. Her eyes had a faraway expression, brimming with moisture as she stared into the distance. He felt a little shiver run down his spine. His Annie was gone but only for a fraction of a second. He knew who had spoken and he knew his time had run out.

And then she blinked and a large smile crossed her face as she looked up at him. "Isn't it wonderful, Caleb?" she laughed softly, once more the woman he loved with all his heart.

He returned her smile, shielding his unease as he wiped at her wet cheeks. "It's wonderful," he agreed, sensing eyes on them and turning to see Rafe frowning slightly as he looked at his sister. No one else appeared to have noticed anything strange in Rhianna's words. No one except Rafe.

Caleb met his brother's eyes, saw the unspoken question in them and shook his head slightly. Now was not the time to be discussing this. There would be plenty of time to do so later.

Rafe dropped his eyes back to his sister, watching her face intently. For a moment he had seen something...he didn't know how to describe what it was. Maybe he hadn't even seen something, maybe it was more of a case of sensing something. For the brief period of time he hadn't recognised his sister at all. It was as if she had become someone completely different. 

Caleb's expression told him he knew something about it. It had also told him that whatever was going on with Rhianna was not to be discussed in front of the others. Rafe didn't want to let it go but he knew he could trust Caleb, that he wouldn't allow anything to harm his sister. For the moment he could wait but he had no intention of waiting forever. Caleb Cullen would explain to him what the hell was wrong with his baby girl or he would be severely pissed at the vampire.

Cedar smiled at the sound of the child's cry relief rolling through her that the birth had gone well. Excited chatter broke out of the landing, everyone talking at the same time, celebrating the new life that was now among them. 

She stiffened a moment later, feeling a sharp cramp in her stomach. A wave of nausea rushed through her body at the same instant Lacey stepped up to give Alexei a spontaneous hug as she congratulated him on becoming an uncle.

It was a testament to how much more at ease he was with accepting pack life that he returned his Alpha's mate's hug with barely any hesitance. He was adapting better than his brother was to being part of the pack as well as a vampire Council member. His time away accepting his fate had most probably something to do with that.

Cedar chose that moment to slip silently along the landing, her stomach cramping again as she hurried towards the bathroom. She'd barely made it inside when she threw up violently down the toilet.

She managed to drag in a couple of harsh breaths before her stomach heaved and she vomited again. A cold sweat broke out over her skin and her body heaved with the force of her retching. She felt like death, her limbs suddenly heavy and aching, her stomach roiling as she continued to vomit.

Alexei smiled at Lacey before he turned to Cedar only to find her missing. He was instantly alert, using his enhanced hearing and sense of smell to try and locate her. He was moving an instant later, tearing down the hallway and bursting open the locked bathroom door.

His woman was sitting on the floor leaning against the wall beside the toilet bowl, her blond curls plastered to her flushed face. "Cedar!" His cry was full of concern as he blurred fast to be at her side.

"Go away," she moaned turning back to the toilet and throwing up loudly. She couldn't believe he was there watching her being sick. It was so humiliating.

"I don't fucking think so," was his growled response as he dropped to his knees beside her and very gently gathered her hair back from her face as she vomited violently again. His heart with racing with fear as he watched his mate try to empty her stomach over and over again. She had nothing left to throw up but the horrible retching didn't stop.

"I'm going to get Luke," he announced but she gripped onto his arm and held him beside her.

"He's busy at the moment, and I'm only throwing up. It's nothing serious, nothing that compares to Loretta having a baby."

The instant she spoke, Alexei froze completely. He had a memory of Andrei's worried expression. Loretta had been throwing up violently, she had been running a temperature and was weak and fragile. His heart crashed loudly in his chest.

Cedar was throwing up, she sounded weak and disorientated. Her skin was clammy and she looked so miserable. Just as Loretta had looked. She couldn't be....?

Cedar sighed with relief as the last bit of nausea passed and she could tell that she would be getting a bit of a reprieve from throwing up. She rose unsteadily, flushing the toilet as Alexei watched her from his kneeling position of the tiled floor.

She turned to look down at him, irritation warring with relief that he was close by. "Wow, you can't make up your mind whether to look after me or sit there looking like a stunned rabbit," she grumbled moving passed him to head to the wash basin to rinse her mouth out and brush her teeth. She felt unsteady on her feet but not as bad as she had a few moments ago.

Her words broke Alexei out of his shock and he was at her side again in an instant. "Are you alright?" he asked concerned, running a hand gently down her back as she brushed her teeth and rinsed her mouth again.

"Just peachy," she growled, her displeasure evident in her tone. "You didn't need to break the bloody door down, Alexei. Jared's going to be pissed at the mess you've made. Anyone would think you'd never been around someone throwing up before."

Alexei growled low in his throat, turning her round to face him. "You have never thrown up before," he countered, his eyes intent on hers. "Where your health is concerned I'm prepared to demolish an entire fucking building to get to you so Jared can kiss my ass if he's pissed at his stupid door being broken."

"Alexei!"

"Shut up, Cedar," he interrupted her pressing her hard against the counter top, aligning his entire length against hers. He threaded his hands in her curls and brought her face to within an inch of his, never losing his connection with her eyes.

A slow smile spread over his face as he looked at her. "Remember the night Andrei called me to sit with Loretta?" he asked in a whisper. "Remember the meeting at Caleb's house the next night?"

For a moment she stared at him in confusion and then shock rippled across her beautiful face. Disbelief warred with hope as her eyes suddenly turned moist.

"Alexei," she breathed softly. "Do you think...?" She didn't dare finish the sentence, scared that they were on the wrong track.

"I don't know if it's too early yet," he sighed slowly working his hands down her sides to grip her hips. He knelt down, pressed his face against her stomach and inhaled deeply, scenting her sweet lemongrass fragrance which always made his head swim. He drew another long breath, searching hopefully.

A second later his hands tightened on her hips and his head tilted up to look at his beautiful mate. His eyes blazed with joy, his expression beatific. 

"Alexei?" Cedar's heart was thumping so hard in her chest she thought it was going to burst out of her. He looked so amazed, so happy. Could it really mean? Oh God how she hoped so!

"It's so faint I thought I had imagined it the first time," he whispered, tears shimmering in his eyes, "but it's definitely there, sweetheart. The sweet scent of caramel."

A choked sound escaped her, her hands moving to tentatively touch her stomach. "Caramel," she echoed breathlessly. "Is it..?"

He rose, wrapping her tightly in his arms, joy surging through him as he laughed happy tears as his stunning mate wept against his neck. "One of those beautiful little girls we talked about," he confirmed, knowing that they had created the first of many daughters that he had imagined for their future.

Cedar cried, happiness overcoming her as Alexei held her so closely. She was pregnant at last. Her family was coming together, a beautiful daughter soon to be with them, completing her happiness. "We're having a baby," she suddenly managed to get out, shock and delight in her voice. "Alexei, we're having a baby!"

"I know, sweetheart," he laughed loudly, picking her up and swinging her around in his excitement.

Cedar let out a tortured groan. "Wrong move!" she groaned as her stomach roiled again violently. Her mate had her back at the toilet, supporting her tenderly as she heaved once more. This being sick part was a complete pain in the ass but it would be worth it when they held their child in two months time.

*****

Andrei was about ready to start busting heads when everyone finally decided to leave the bedroom and he finally got to have his family to himself. It had been chaotic from the moment his daughter had been born. There had been shouts through the closed door, Loretta had to be attended to and the baby had been taken to the side to be carefully checked over.

He had felt like a spare wheel, not knowing whether to hover over Loretta or go and protect his daughter. His dilemma was solved when Luke had expressed some concerns about Loretta haemorrhaging a little too much after the birth. Andrei had stayed with his mate to feed her a little of his blood to assist the healing process.

Once everything had been tidied up, he had a brief moment to gaze down at the sleeping babe in her crib. She looked just like her mother. Her face was blissfully serene as she slept, a shock of light brown hair dusting her tiny head. She was the most perfect little being he had ever laid eyes on. His precious Liliana. 

Everyone had descended into the room at that point. He had given up his spot at the crib to let his Alphas greet the first member born into their pack. He had retreated to Loretta's side, placing an arm around her as she laughed and talked with her friends and her family.

Cedar and Alexei's announcement a little while later that they too were pregnant only increased the level of happiness within the room. The feeling of family, of belonging to all the gathered people suddenly hit Andrei like a sledgehammer. 

It took him a little while to realise it but he suddenly understood that they were there not just for Loretta and Liliana, they were there for him too. Their happiness was an extension of his. He was considered part of their family.

He met Alexei's eyes and smiled at his twin. He saw something flare in his brother's eyes, it looked oddly like peace.

"Took you long enough, Andrei." Alexei's mental words resounded in his head and he knew what his brother meant. For so long he had only trusted three people in his life. Now he knew he could trust others and they would never let him down. It was a huge step for Andrei but one that helped him towards that peace he had seen in Alexei's eyes.

"You don't object to us naming her Liliana?" They hadn't told anyone what they'd intended to name their daughter, not wanting to tempt fate.

Alexei smiled such a beatific smile, his eyes turning moist. "Mama would have been so proud, Andrei. She would have adored Loretta and loved Liliana as if she were her own child. It is only right that the first born daughter should carry Mama's name."

Having Alexei's approval meant everything to Andrei. He could finally relax and enjoy the moment, secretly wishing everyone would go away and leave him in peace with his family.

Finally they did and he was left alone with Loretta firmly embraced in his arms. She gave a sleepy yawn, contentment oozing from her. 

"Will you bring her over?" she asked softly.




The Council Ch. 19



Hesitantly, Andrei leaned into the crib and very carefully picked the sleeping child up. He was one of the most badass vampires to walk the planet. His very name made others of his kind quake in fear. But holding this fragile little bundle in his big hands terrified him as nothing else ever could.

"You would never hurt her, love," Loretta smiled tenderly. "Not even accidentally." She could feel his fear through their bond as he gently passed their daughter into her waiting arms.

He stared down at them for a long moment and then he crossed the room to the door and turned the key so they wouldn't be disturbed. He undressed on his way back to the bed and scooted Loretta into a sitting position so he could gather the pillows against the headboard.

He climbed into bed, adopting the position he had used before. He pulled Loretta against his chest, freeing her of the nightshirt she had slipped on to greet their visitors. Silently he pulled the covers over them and then wrapped his arms around her, adding his support to her cradling of their sleeping daughter.

Andrei rested his chin on Loretta's shoulder and stared into the face of the child they had created. The sleeping princess in her mother's arms wrapped herself so tightly around his heart, nestling right beside the place his Rose lived.

"How can someone so tiny make such a big impression," he asked in an awed whisper. "I would die for her in an instant and she's barely three hours old." He couldn't believe that there had ever been a time when he had doubted his ability to love his adorable little daughter.

Loretta laughed softly, her heart full of her love for her beautiful vampire. She knew he had questioned himself and his ability to adapt to all the changes in his life. She had never lost her faith in him, had always known that he would be the most overprotective father ever to walk the planet.

"That's because you're her daddy," she smiled resting against him. "She is part of you as she is part of me. Loving her isn't a choice, Andrei, it's a given. We couldn't not love her."

She stared into Liliana's sleeping face, overwhelmed with the depth of emotions she felt for her child. They had almost lost her. It had been the blackest moment of Loretta's life but somehow a miracle had happened and her daughter had been strong enough to survive her shifting into a wolf.

The guilt she still carried for that decision surfaced as she watched the baby sleep. If things had been different then this perfect moment wouldn't be happening. Liliana stirred as if sensing her mother's distress. Her eyes opened sleepily and she appeared to look right into her eyes.

Loretta new it was a fanciful idea but for a brief moment she thought her daughter was looking deep within her soul. Then her little eyes closed once more and Loretta felt a wave of peace come over her. It was almost as if in that brief glance her daughter was forgiving her for the decision she'd been forced to make.

She let go of the last remaining guilt and pain she felt deep inside. Liliana was alive. If she hadn't shifted then the probability was strong that she would have talked and the vampires would have killed her. If she had died that day so would her daughter. They had both survived. It was time to look to the future, not be mired in a past which couldn't be changed.

Andrei sensed his mate finally let go of her guilt. She had hid it well but he had caught her pain a few times over the last two months when she thought he wasn't around to see or was too far away that he wouldn't feel it through their bond. He had tried to talk to her about it but she wouldn't discuss it any further than the night they had talked after she had been rescued.

He didn't say anything now, merely tightened his arms around his girls and placed a kiss on the side of Loretta's neck. He held them both close and closed his eyes slowly before he looked once more down at his daughter. How could anything be more precious than his little princess?

He let down all his guards, opened his heart completely to the two women in his life, his Rose and his Lily. Something within him shifted and peace invaded his soul. The broken piece that had lived in his soul for so long slowly closed over until there wasn't even a hint that it had ever existed. 

Finally Andrei Romanov completed the healing which had started that night so long ago when he found a dying wolf in the heart of a war. When he had found his sweet Rose. Contented he closed his eyes once more and allowed himself to drift into sleep, his family firmly protected in his strong embrace.

*****

It was the early hours of the morning. Just about everyone had left though Alexei and Cedar had opted to stay over at the compound due to Cedar not feeling well enough to travel home.

Jared and Millie had returned to their bed, Demetri and Mara had left with Ashleigh and Nors. Freya had left at some point after Lily had been born. No one had seen her go. Babies and loving mates must have been too much for her to cope with. She was around quite often but always appeared uncomfortable around all the love that flowed so freely within the compound.

Rafe wanted to corner Caleb but the vampire was being his usual sneaky self. He was never away from Rhianna's side so there was no chance to pin him to the spot and ask the questions which were plaguing him. His sister appeared to be fine now, no hint of the strangeness which had occurred when the baby was born. Still, he was worried. He would always worry about his Annie.

He shot Caleb an irritated glare before he gave up and decided to tackle him later on. He kissed Rhianna goodbye, giving her a tighter hug than usual and causing her to frown slightly at him. He just smiled and headed off into the compound with Lacey.

"Did you and Rafe have a fight?" Rhianna asked as they headed home. She watched Caleb carefully, looking for signs of evasiveness. He had been acting strangely since the night of Council meeting. He had been keeping something from her and she didn't like it. She had tried to be patient with him but it was starting to get really irritating.

"No we haven't," Caleb answered carefully. He appeared calm but his thoughts were in turmoil. He was close. Very close. He could sense his presence as if it was a living thing. Caleb knew that his time was running out and he would need to act soon or The Guardian would act first.

Was it really only months ago that Caleb had finally pieced everything together? It felt like forever he had been keeping this secret from his mate.

He turned to look at her as he pulled the car to a halt at their home. He scented The Guardian instantly and he fought off a low growl. "Not now," he said on a tight mental shaft of thought. "It's my place to do this, not yours."

"You tried to hide her from me. You had no right! I am The Guardian and it is my role to protect her." There was anger in the deep voice that came back to him, a cold, hardness he hadn't heard directed towards him before.

"She is mine!" Caleb roared loudly. 

"She belongs to our people!" The answering roar was louder and more vicious that his own.

"Gard! Please!" Caleb's plea was from the depths of his very soul. He needed to do this his way. He felt the other man retreat and tried not to sigh out loud with relief. His relief was short lived.

"Do it now. I will give you half an hour, then I am coming in. I will wait no longer, Callain," were the last words he heard before the mental link was broken.

Caleb stiffened at the use of the long forgotten name, frowned at the implicit threat in The Guardian's words. He was stronger than The Guardian but the other man held a tie so strong to his Annie that he could never hurt him, not without hurting her. He would not fight Gard. Which meant he had truly run out of time.

Would she be angry with him? He stared into her face, seeing a slight frown begin to form on her expression as he sat there so silently. She knew something was wrong, had known for months he had been keeping a secret from her and yet she hadn't tried to force it out of him.

His lips curled in a little smile and he reached out and touched her face gently which only served to darken her scowl. He remembered her from their life before, his beautiful Anakatrine. She used to have a temper that could flay a man alive when she gave him the rough edge of her tongue. Thankfully she only did so on very rare occasions. But he had a feeling this was going to be one of those moments.

"Caleb," Rhianna sighed, her eyes flashing with concern as he just sat there staring at her. "Are you going to explain why we're sitting in the car outside the house doing precisely nothing? It's almost dawn and I'm exhausted. It's been a long night."

"We need to talk," he answered carefully, finally moving to get out the car. 

She followed him with a concerned frown on her face. He wanted to talk now? She'd been waiting for months for him to tell her what was wrong and he decided to chose this night, or morning, when she was so exhausted she just wanted to flop into bed and sleep for hours?

"Annie, do you trust me?" Caleb asked quietly as he took her hand and led her into the sitting room. He sat her on the sofa and then knelt on the floor between her legs, his hands framing her face gently as he looked into her eyes.

"With my life," she answered instantly, feeling a little afraid at his strange behaviour. She could read fear, trepidation and uncertainty in his eyes. Caleb was never like this. He always knew what he was doing and how he was going to do it. "What is it?" 

"I love you, Rhianna Armand," he whispered softly. "I love you so much that every second apart from you feels like a knife to my heart. Always remember that, sweet one. You will always be my Annie, no matter what happens."

"You're frightening me, Caleb," she whispered back, her heart starting to thump wildly at the impassioned plea she heard in his voice. Had he done something so bad that he thought he would lose her? Didn't he know by now that nothing he could ever do would drive her away?

"Trust me," he sighed leaning forward to brush his lips gently with his. "Relax your mind, Annie. Let me in."

She blinked slowly at him and then nodded. It was dangerous for vampires to enter other vampires' minds. She knew that but she trusted Caleb as she trusted no other. He would never hurt her, he would rather die than cause her a second's pain.

He slipped tenderly into her pliant mind. He searched carefully, following her mental pathways until he found what he was looking for. It resembled a little black doorway with an oddly shaped hole running down the middle. There were only two people in the world who had the key to that lock, the man outside and the man kneeling before her.

Caleb mentally shaped the key and slid it into the lock. "Wake, my heart," he whispered mentally and turned the key.

Memories cascaded inside her head instantly. Long, dormant ones which hadn't been thought of in countless millennia. Shock, surprise, and concern washed through her as she stared at her lover; the memories tumbling chaotically within her. 

A hidden part of her was now awake. It was exhilarating and also frightening. She felt the same and yet she knew she was different. Power flooded through her, a huge rushing torrent of energy that threatened to burn her up completely. She dampened it down with barely any difficulty.

Her eyes glued to Caleb's, she ran the gauntlet of new information quickly, understanding happening in a heartbeat. Her hand rose and she tentatively touched his face, trembling at the contact. "Callain," she breathed softly.

"Anakatrine," he answered, his hands shaking against her soft skin.

For a moment she stared at him in wonder. He had a different face than before but his hair was the same rich golden brown, his eyes the same beautiful hue which had captured her heart so long ago. She knew it was the same for him. She carried the same colouring but not the same face. It didn't matter though, their souls were the same, their emotions the same.

He was her King as she was his Queen.

The missing piece was The Guardian. The instant she thought of him she sensed him close by. She frowned then, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Caleb had known who he was for a long time now and he had chosen to leave her sleeping while he did what was required. He had been protecting her as he always had.

Caleb watched her expression change and stifled down a deep sigh. She was pissed. Gard was pissed too. He would have them both ganging up on him and it wasn't going to be pretty.

"Annie," he groaned softly, trying to head off the coming explosion.

"Don't you dare 'Annie' me, Caleb Cullen," she said tartly, anger starting to war with the wonder of re-discovering who she was. She had been walking the planet for twenty four years now. For the last three she had been a vampire and could have been reunited with Gard. She was angry that she had been kept apart from him.

As if summoning the man just by thinking about him, the front door opened and he was suddenly blocking out the sitting room doorway.

He was tall with broad shoulders and long flaming hair that matched the colour of hers. She had never seen him in the flesh until now and yet she knew him instantly. Her memories told her everything about him. It was mildly disconcerting that she could know someone so well without ever having met him before. Well, not in this lifetime anyway.

Even his eyes mirrored hers in colour. They glowed with an almost zealous love as he stared at her mutely for a long moment. Then he approached slowly, sinking to his knees and bowing low towards the ground. "My Queen."

The deep sound of his voice sent a wave of joy through her. How she had missed him, missed hearing his voice, scenting his sweet smell, laughing at his ready wit. 

"My Guardian," she answered softly, reaching out to touch his head gently. Power blazed within her again as she touched him, reconnected with this man who had been born her brother over six thousand years ago. It felt surreal almost and yet oddly comforting too. 

"You can get off your knees now," she added with a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Callain seems to be on his so I figured it might be prudent to remain on mine," Gard laughed softly, his eyes glinting with humour as he looked up at her.

"My name is Caleb and I'm not on my knees to bow down to a Queen," Caleb grated out through clenched teeth, shooting the other man a hard glare.

"From the expression on Anakatrine's face, you should be," Gard answered drolly, a hint of smugness in his tone.

"Stop it," Rhianna sighed, a hint of steel in her voice. "Both of you! We don't have time for this silly bickering."

She pinned Gard with a intense gaze, trying not to smile at the hint of chagrin on his face. "The old names belong in the past, brother. Stop irritating Caleb and call him by his correct name. You can call me Annie, most people do."

"He kept you hidden from me," Gard glared at Caleb as he spoke, his anger almost palpable. "Three thousand years I've been awaiting your return and he knew where you were and didn't say a thing."

"He's barely known anything himself," she argued gently, caressing The Guardian's cheek lightly to soothe his anger. "I assume it was in Europe that you pieced everything together?" Her gaze turned to Caleb as spoke.

He was watching her intently, seeing the signs of happiness and anger warring in her expression. Waking was confusing at best, it had been when he had realised who he was. Gard's appearance wasn't helping matters any. He had wanted to do this alone, to ease her into the shocking revelations of their past. But he had left it too late so now he would have to deal with whatever displeasure she may be experiencing.

"I went to see Gard about the Weres," he answered slowly. "I wanted to find a solution to the mating problem, so I could protect the pack and our people. I hadn't seen him in over a millennium. The moment I laid eyes on him his colouring instantly reminded me of you. Something appeared to crack open inside me and I remembered everything."

Gard had risen to his feet, moving to sit in one of the large leather chairs. He watched Caleb rise to sit beside Rhianna. He sat close to her but he didn't touch her, his eyes slightly anxious as he waited for her response. He felt it justified that the other man should feel discomfort. But he also knew how much he loved her and how he would die for her. He had already done so once before.

"I awoke you in Europe," Gard admitted quietly. They both turned to look at him and he smiled. "I scented something about him. It must have been you, Annie, but at the time I didn't know what it was. I became curious and slipped into his mind. I found the doorway and turned the key. I knew that once Callain was awake, I would find my Queen. I didn't anticipate he already had her firmly in his grasp. Which is why it has taken me so long to arrive here."

Rhianna rose and began to pace slowly around the room as she tried to deal with the torrents of information crashing through her mind. Caleb had known since Europe and hadn't told her. That irritated her immensely. Gard and Caleb had known each other a long time too and yet neither had recognised each other for who they were.

Everything had been moving towards this point in time, the point where their people required them to stave off the rot which was slowly killing them. And yet, neither of them had claimed their place as King and Queen and the rot was already receding. 

Somehow, the dormant power within her had reached out and set it in motion the events required to bring re-birth to their people. Her meeting with Caleb, Rafe's joining the pack, the familial bond which had grown between vampires and wolves to the point that matings had occurred and a new life had been born this very night.

Her ability to read souls, to touch even the most hardened vampire and ease them towards learning to love again had all been a part of her power working as she had slept. Caleb's actions had been a mirror of hers as he had worked to shape the Council into something which could learn and evolve and guide their people to help themselves.

The vampire nation didn't need a royal hierarchy, they had moved on from that period of their evolution. Not an overt one anyway, but a covert one working in the background could help them to stay on the right path. 

"Annie?" Caleb interrupted her musing and she stopped to look at him. She was annoyed with him but she bit her inner lip to stop herself lashing out in anger. She knew his actions were because he loved her and had this insatiable need to protect her. They had fought over this before and it appeared he still wasn't getting the message.

It hadn't been as much of an issue before but it would become one very quickly if he continued down this path now she was awake. She could sense Gard's smugness at knowing she was pissed at Caleb. She wanted to sigh loudly in weariness. They had always clashed over whose right it was to protect her. It would appear things hadn't changed despite the passage of time.

"So, how did you two manage to meet and not know each other?" she finally asked, trying to find a safer topic to discuss which wouldn't involve her temper fraying.

Gard grinned. "I am Caleb's Sire."

Her eyes went wide with shock even as Caleb grunted in annoyance at the hold the other man held over him in this lifetime. Her brother was her lover's Sire? The very thought of it made her head spin. If things weren't confusing enough trying to piece two lifetimes together into one.

Technically Gard was the oldest living vampire to walk the planet and yet, she and Caleb were the oldest souls. It didn't matter how long they had lived in this incarnation. The hierarchy when they had first walked the world had been a matriarchal one which placed The Queen above all others. 




The Council Ch. 19



But things had changed since then. They were completely different now. Age was considered everything which placed Gard as the eldest among them and therefore the one with the power. Being Caleb's Sire gave him a further hold over him. She could only imagine the endless grief this would cause. She had to put a stop to it before it became unmanageable.

"Tell me what you envision will happen next, Gard," she said quietly, her gaze intent on him as she read his expression very carefully.

He appeared surprised at her question, his eyebrow raising inquisitively. "You take your rightful place with Caleb and me at your side. Together we will drag our people kicking and screaming back onto the right path."

Rhianna did sigh then, a long weary sound that had Caleb frowning deeply. He could feel every emotion through their bond. She was angry and happy, exhausted and very confused. He wanted to go to her, to wrap his arms around her and keep her safe but he knew she wasn't in the frame of mind to allow him to do so at the moment.

She was his Annie but she was also Anakatrine, one of the strongest, fiercest women to ever walk the planet. He had to tread carefully until she came to terms with this duality within her, learned who she was meant to be in this life.

"Times have changed, Gard," she sighed softly, her beautiful face serious as she looked up at her brother. "Our people don't need me anymore." She saw denial flit across his face.

"You are our Queen," he said firmly, his expression turning fierce. "Your rightful place is to lead us. Have you seen the complete mess they've made of things? It's a wonder we've survived as long as we have." His tone was laced with disgust.

Which only served to make her smile more. The Guardian took his role so seriously. In the past it had been necessary but times had changed since the last time they were called to walk the world together.

"Have you seen how they have risen to the challenge to right the wrongs?" she countered, her thoughts drifting towards the last few weeks and all that had happened. "They don't need a Queen, Gard, or a King. They are doing very well by themselves."

He snorted his disbelief at her, shaking his head in denial still.

"Listen to me, brother," she said firmly moving to stand before him. "Caleb has already set us on the correct path. Rightly or wrongly, he did it on his own but it is done now. The changes are happening. They will be slow but there are so many people involved now who are dependant on those changes bearing fruit. The time for Kings and Queens are a distant memory. Caleb and I will act from the sidelines, guide with a gentle nudge. We will not raise a royal hierarchy again."

Gard stared at her thoughtfully and then his fierce expression melted away and he gave her a rueful smile. "As always, you know what is best, Majesty," he breathed softly. "Though if I am not required to be The Guardian then what is to become of me?"

"You could try living your own life," she laughed softly, feeling such a strong rush of love for this dynamic man before her. He had pledged himself to the old ways his entire life. She knew it would be hard for him to do anything else.

"Find some love to fill your loneliness. Know some happiness for once, My Guardian. It's a wonderful experience." She sighed softly and turned her head to smile at Caleb. She could feel his concern through their bond, his eyes never leaving her as she moved around the room. They had a lot of talking to do but it would wait until Gard had left.

Gard rose slowly, his expression unhappy as he looked down at his sister. He had been alone for such a long time, patiently waiting for her to return and now she was here she didn't need him anymore. "I have missed you so much and I can't stand to be separated from you any longer now I have found you again. Please don't send me away."

Rhianna swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. Gard was always so strong, so resilient. Never did he show the level of vulnerability he was doing so now. That he showed it in front of Caleb was another telling factor.

His loneliness pierced her soul like shards of glass, it echoed in his words. "We will think of something to explain your sudden appearance," she sighed softly. "Give me some time to work on it. There are people I will need to speak to first."

She thought of Rafe. He was her brother as much as Gard was and she knew he would have a hard time coming to terms with the changes within her. She wasn't sure if he would accept Gard as her brother from a long distant past.

She felt relief shudder through Gard as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She smiled against his chest, feeling as if she were coming home. He kissed the top of her head gently and then stepped back from her embrace.

"Call me when the time is right," he said simply. They stared at each other for a few more moments and then he turned and left the house with barely a nod to Caleb on his way out.

Rhianna watched him go, her thoughts in turmoil as she was finally left alone with her vampire. She turned slowly to face him, her irritation warring with her intense love for him.

"I know you're annoyed with me, Annie, but hear me out first," Caleb said in a tortured tone. He knew he had some fast explaining to do. Judging from her expression he didn't think he would get the opportunity to do so.

Her hands rested lightly on her hips as she scowled at him. "Oh, so you really think you can justify keeping me asleep for the last few months?" she asked archly. "You can explain why you felt it was necessary to act on your own, to keep me locked in sleep when our people needed me the most? Apart from being a male chauvinist pig, is there any other explanation you can give me, Callain?"

The use of his old name made him wince. While part of him was Callain, the majority of him was Caleb. Just as she was Annie and not just Anakatrine. He didn't want to go back to the old ways. He didn't want to live this life as they had the old one. They were so much more than that now.

He felt his temper spark as he realised she was deliberately using the past to set his teeth on edge. His expression darkened and he shot her a baleful glare. "My name is Caleb," he said coldly. "If you want Callain back then I'm going to have to disappoint you on that one. I am no longer that man, Annie. Just as you are no longer Anakatrine. I suggest you get that firmly into your head before we continue with this conversation."

"Don't you dare try and take the moral high ground with me, Caleb," she snapped back, incensed by his put down. She might be more than Anakatrine now but he had better get his thick head around the fact she was more than Rhianna Armand too. 

He didn't get to call all the shots in their relationship anymore. She was his equal in every way and he would damned well accept it or she'd make his life miserable until he did. 

"You had no right to keep me asleep," she said coldly. "There is no justification for it and you know it. The moment you awakened you should have done the same for me. Instead you kept me sheltered and that could have led to the deaths of people we love. The fact it didn't is a miracle in itself."

"I had everything in hand," he ground out angrily. "There was no need for you to be involved anymore than you were. I told you I would always protect you. I keep my word, Annie, and I won't apologise for doing so. Everything worked out fine."

"Loretta and Ashleigh nearly died!" she yelled furiously at him, rage swirling through her uncontrollably at what her two friends had been through. "Liliana almost died too!"

His expression turned cold, pain lancing through him that she would think he would ever do anything which would jeopardise the lives of those she loved. "And you think if you had been awakened you could have stopped that?" His words were like lashes of a whip against her skin they were so cold and hard. 

"Would you have been able to somehow guess Daniel's intent and stop him from kidnapping them? Do you consider yourself some omnipotent entity who can solve every problem which occurs, Anakatrine?" It was his turn to goad her with the past as he lashed out against the pain she caused him.

Rhianna felt as if a knife was burrowing deep within her gut. Caleb plunged it in and twisted it and she wanted to sink to her knees and weep for eternity. She knew he was hurting, that he didn't mean what he said but it didn't stop the agony from racing through her.

She stared at him, misery enveloping her as she realised they stood at a crossroads. Too much had happened in the past, too much had happened in this incarnation. If they took the wrong direction they would be ripped apart and never be able to come together again.

His words came back to her from earlier. He had asked her if she trusted him. His eyes had shone with adoration as he had told her he loved her and she would always be his Annie no matter what happened.

She pushed down the rage, dampened down the raw pain she felt inside. "Explain." It was a whisper, a plea for her to try and understand why he had acted as he had.

Caleb swallowed hard, fighting the urge to go to her, to hold her and beg her forgiveness. She was still too angry though, her posture rigid. She needed to understand his actions. So much had happened in such a short period of time.

"You died," he finally choked out, his expression haunted. He had fought at her side, battled against the very first Vampire Council which had overthrown their Queen to take power over their people. Gard had been away on some errand Anakatrine had sent him on. Callain had killed hundreds to protect her but eventually he had been overcome. He had failed her and she had died.

More pain lanced through Rhianna at his tortured words. "You died too," she ground out, her emotions raw. "Only you didn't see me die, Caleb. I re-lived every moment of your death a thousand times over until they finally killed me."

"Do you think I don't know that!" he roared furiously, his pain and rage at fever pitch.

His anguished roar rocked her to the core. In that instant she understood everything, why he had acted as he had. Tears spilled down her cheeks, her expression so full of sorrow as her heart broke for his agony.

"Oh Caleb," she whispered tremulously taking a step towards him. "That's why you didn't wake me. You didn't want me to have to remember the agony of watching you die."

His tortured gaze met hers, tears in his eyes as he asked for her forgiveness. "I knew it would kill you a million times over, my Annie," he said softly. "I didn't ever want you to remember that pain, the pain of my failure to protect you."

She threw herself into his arms, sobbing as she clutched him tightly. His arms were bands of steel around her, his body shaking with emotion as he wept with her. "I'm sorry, Annie. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you then that I let you down now too. All I've ever wanted is to keep you safe, to love you for eternity."

"You've never let me down, Caleb," she whispered softly. "Not then and not now. We fought together against impossible odds. We had no hope of winning then but we tried our best to the very end. You have nothing to fault yourself for, my love."

Caleb picked her up in his arms, sinking down into a chair and cradling her on his lap. He heard the forgiveness in her tone. His Annie always forgave him anything, even his failure to protect her so very long ago. "I'm frightened, Annie," he admitted. "I don't know how all this is going to end.

"Don't be," she breathed softly, reaching up to brush his wet cheeks. "What is set in motion will work out. As I said to Gard, we will work from the sidelines this time. I have no wish to be a Queen held high above all others, Caleb. Together we have set things in motion which are on the right path. There is no need for us to tell anyone who we once used to be. We are simply Caleb and Annie."

"Rafe knows something is wrong," he answered after a brief pause. "Tonight at the compound, when the baby was born, Anakatrine slipped through for a moment and he noticed it."

Rhianna sighed softly leaning up to place a gentle kiss against his lips. "Leave Rafe to me," she said quietly. "I have to try and explain Gard to him anyway. He will have to know some of it, if not all of it. But it is my place to tell him."

It was hard for him to let go and not try to protect her as he always had. He had to concede that she was so much more powerful now, that she could take care of herself. Caleb finally nodded agreeing to her request.

"This is going to take some getting used to," Rhianna smiled, her confused emotions still running riot within her though she felt a measure of peace beginning to sink in now she was in Caleb's arms.

"For both of us," he agreed with a rueful smile. "I have faith we can handle it, my Annie. As long as we are together we can do anything."

Her answering smile filled him with joy. She would always be his Annie, the other half of his soul. She completed him in every way.

He knew they had to talk more about what all this meant for them and their people. He knew that it would be an adjustment for both of them coming to terms with the fact that they had walked the world before in previous incarnations. 

He had almost come to terms with it but it was new for his beautiful woman. But he had faith in her and in them. Together they could overcome any hurdle and their people, both Weres and Vampires could only grow and be enhanced by their subtle guidance.

The End.