Wadim was speechless. The Great Luna wanted him to share the most important information in the history of their kind. This would forever alter the course of their species. And he had been complaining about being bored. Guess that would teach him to complain.
“I trust you to do this, Wadim. You have proven to be a very accurate and truthful keeper. I know that you will tell all that I have imparted to you. Do this as soon as you awaken. Tell my wolves how very proud I am of you all.”
Wadim felt his eyes grow heavy and close against his will. Seconds later he sat up in his bed with a gasp, alone in his dark room. He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the sleep and looked around to see if he really was back in his room. He pinched his arm.
“Ow,” he grumbled, but quickly forgot the pain as the Great Luna’s words filled his mind.
He jumped up, making a bee line to his computer. After pulling up a blank document he began to type everything she had told him. Once he was finished he picked up the phone and dialed Vasile’s cell number.
“Vasile,” the Alpha's deep voice rumbled.
“We need to talk,” Wadim panted breathlessly.
“Pack your things. You will go with us to the Serbian pack’s mansion. We have a meeting tonight.”
Wadim hung up and realized that he must have slept the whole night even though it only felt like a short time. Shaking his head to clear it, he began to pack. His mind was racing over the possibilities and the consequences of the Great Luna’s decree.
He smiled to himself when he thought of the poor wolf who would be the first paired with a Fae.
This is what happens when you complain about being bored, he thought to himself. He pulled the strap of his bag over his shoulder and grabbed the flash drive upon which he had saved the documentation of the Great Luna’s words. As he began to climb the stairs he muttered under his breath,“Just sitting around, minding my own business, whining about archiving, and then BAM, 'your species will be able to mate with a totally different species. Oh and by the way, Wadim, it’s your responsibility to relay this information'. That'll teach me to complain.”
Chapter 8
“Once you’ve been to one bonding ceremony, you’ve been to them all. The Blood Rites, however, are a whole 'nother bag of tricks…literally, if you’re creative. I’m just saying.” ~Jen
“Where are you, my Alpha?” Alina spoke to her mate, who had a far-off look in his eyes. They were waiting for the others to arrive in the meeting room of the Serbian mansion. Vasile and Alina had shown up just before dusk and the others in Vasile’s pack were getting settled in the rooms that Jen and Decebel had prepared for them.
“I’m just wondering if we will ever see days of peace in my time as Alpha. Will we ever have grandchildren dancing around our feet? Will I hold you at night and not worry if we will be fighting for our lives the next day?” Vasile pulled Alina into his arms. She laid her head on his chest as he stroked her hair lovingly.
“All you can do is what is right. Fight the evil and the ones who would use it to devastate the weak with those who are pure of heart and have the will to stand against it. You lead them, you give them your strength, and you trust that not one of us will rest until good prevails.” Alina pulled back to look in his eyes. “We might not see days of peace, or play with our grandchildren.” She choked back on her words as she spoke of the little ones. “We might never go to sleep knowing that we will wake up and open our door to a bright morning. And that’s okay, because I have loved and been loved by you. I have fought by your side, I have borne your child, I have laughed, cried, hurt, rejoiced, and mourned with you. Those things are my peace.”
Vasile placed his hands on either side of his mate’s face and gently pulled her toward him. Their lips touched, and even after two centuries, the passion that started as embers burned bright and strong. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up on her tiptoes to get closer. Vasile growled softly and Alina laughed lightly as she pulled away. He looked into her eyes and saw the man she believed him to be. A man can go to his grave with pride when he has seen in his woman’s eyes that he is her hero, her lover, her friend, and her confidant.
~
Jen, Jacque, Sally, Rachel, Crina, and Cynthia all sat around the coffee table in one of the many sitting rooms. Each held a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
“Do we know if Peri has been able to get Legolas’ brothers and sisters to join our cause?” Jen asked as she took a sip of her hot chocolate, cringing as it stung her tongue.
Crina and Cynthia, who had also been taking sips of their drinks, immediately began choking as they laughed at Jen’s words. Rachel was smiling, beginning to understand some of Jen’s humor, even if she didn’t understand the reference.
“Jen, just because they are Fae doesn’t mean they are anything like the Lord of the Rings characters,” Sally pointed out. "Not to mention, Legolas was an elf."
Jen shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s so much more fun to refer to them as Legolas' cousins or baby’s daddy than just calling them Fae.”
Jacque nodded. “She does have a point.”
Cynthia was shaking her head. Once again the three girls were trading banter like the world wasn’t coming to an end.
“To answer your question,” Sally said, “Peri told me during one of our little…”
“Potions classes?” Jen blurted.
“Harry Potter!” Jacque yelled out.
“Point.” Jen nodded at Jacque.
“Seriously? You guys are going to play 'what’s it from?' now?” Sally asked. She crossed her arms across her chest, attempting to look intimidating.