Wolf of Stone

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

“We can make plans for our life. We can schedule appointments, pencil in vacations, fill our calendars with important dates, and even set long-term career goals. But the reality is all our planning amounts to nothing. There is no guarantee, no contract promising the outcome, no dotted line where we can sign our names to guarantee the outcome of these plans. Truly we are at the mercy of the chaos around us. We can choose to bend when our plans take a sudden turn, or we can stand rigid and risk being broken.” ~Sally

Present day

“When will the males begin arriving?” Dillon Jacobs stood holding his cell phone to his ear, waiting for the Romania pack Alpha’s response. He stared out into the forest that surrounded Peri’s home, wishing he could enjoy the beauty of the place. But there had been too much ugliness, too much death in their lives recently for him to be able to notice the beauty in anything. All he could hope for at that moment was a measure of peace, but he knew it would not last long.

“I am leaving that up to you and Peri. I imagine that regardless of what I say, she will do whatever she wants. So if she wants them to stagger their arrival, then fine, if she wants to flash them all in at the same time so that they land in a big heap on top of one another just so she can get a laugh, then so be it. Frankly, I don’t care, as long as they all show, and they behave,” Vasile answered. “Regardless of the unity between the packs that has been established, we are dealing with dominant wolves. They are coming into a situation that is dangerous and potential mates, not to mention gypsy healers, are caught in the middle. The protective nature of the men will be very high.”

“Let me guess,” Dillon nearly groaned. “All the males coming happen to be unmated Alphas and Betas.”

“They are the ones that most need to come. Can you blame them?” Vasile asked. “Kale, Beta of the Ireland pack, and Banan, the pack’s Third—both unmated—will be the ones Peri goes for first. She should be getting them this evening.”

The Colorado pack Alpha pinched the bridge of his nose as he considered the consequences of what they were willingly walking into. There was no doubt that the help from the other packs would be beneficial. He just wondered if it was worth the possible blood that might be spilled within their ranks.

“I have spoken with each of the wolves coming, Dillon,” Vasile interrupted his thoughts. “They know the repercussions of their actions if they do not conduct themselves with control. It has been explained that when they initially arrive, the healers will not be paraded in front of them like meat for the taking. As much as we rejoice in males finding their true mates, that is not the intention of this gathering. If they find their mate while there, so be it. They are still to assist in finding Volcan. I do not think you will need to worry about the males fighting.”

“I hope you are right.”

“Perizada will have no problem putting any misbehaving wolves in their place if need be,” Vasile added. “Not to mention my brother is dominate enough to put most in their place, even Alpha’s.”

Dillon chuckled. “That is true. We might actually need to worry more about Peri’s patience with the males. Knowing Peri, if she gets too irritated with them, she’ll make good on any threats to turn them into rabbits.”

“Do I even want to know why she threatened to turn them into rabbits?”

“Let’s just say that the old adage, going at it like rabbits, had something to do with it and leave it there.”

Vasile let out a tired breath and Dillon could tell that though the Alpha had not been present for the horror that had taken place, his worry for his wolves and the healers was taking a toll on him. “Keep me posted if you do not mind, Dillon, and please keep them safe.”

Dillon knew that Vasile cared for everyone in Farie, but he was truly asking Dillon to look out for Crina, Sally, and Costin. Though Sally and Costin were technically members of the Serbian pack, Vasile would always consider them his own. “You have my word.”

Dillon disconnected the call and continued to stare out into the forest. He knew his Beta, Dalton, was out there roaming in his wolf form. Two days had passed since he had informed Dalton that he would be allowing the incoming males to meet Jewel. He was hoping that it would provoke some action in Dalton and that it would drag him back from the dark place that he had lived in for so long. Dillon felt in his Alpha bones that Jewel Stone was indeed Dalton’s true mate. But just as you could lead a horse to water and not make him drink, so you could also lead a male to his mate and not make him claim her.

He had to believe that Dalton would accept her, but he wondered how many lives might be in danger of being lost before that finally happened. If Dalton saw another male touch her, there was a very real possibility that his Beta would not be able to control his wolf’s reaction. Dalton had already proven to be an incredibly strong wolf. If he went feral while other male wolves were around his unclaimed mate, he would become virtually indestructible. He knew that if that happened, he would have to do whatever was necessary in order to destroy his Beta. He could not have a feral wolf running lose while they were in the middle of dealing with a diabolical villain as well.

“Isn’t my life just a ray of sunshine,” he muttered as he turned back towards Peri’s home. He needed to inform the others of the visitation schedule Vasile had laid out. Hopefully, it would give the other pack members time to prepare for being around eleven dominant males all hoping that one of the precious healers would be theirs. He released another tired sigh. “Yep, a freaking ray of sunshine.”

∞

Sally stared down at the battered–looking Jewel, frustrated that her patient was showing no signs of improvement. The wounds had closed, yes, but she could not get the scars to fade. The poor healer also remained unconscious, unable to communicate to Sally what she might need. Over and over Sally had used her healer abilities to push her essence into Jewel, searching for anything that would help wake her. But it was no use. The young healer had buried herself inside of her own mind. Sally couldn’t say that she blamed her. Anyone, especially a seventeen–year–old girl who had endured what she had, would want nothing more than to escape not just the torture but the memories as well.

“How is she?” Peri asked from the doorway.

Sally had to bite back the retort that gathered on her tongue because she knew it would do no good to take her anger out on anyone else. One by one the pack would stop by to ask about Jewel, and Sally would tell them each the same thing.

“No change.”

“Do not kick yourself, Sally,” Peri said as she stepped further into the room. “At this point, and after all the things you have seen in the past year, surely you know there will be no change until her mate intervenes.”

“He has not been to see her in two days. She has not had any more of his blood in nearly four days. Any male who could leave his true mate in this state does not deserve her,” Sally growled.

“Perhaps,” Peri said nonchalantly. “Or perhaps a male many centuries old has many demons with which to wrestle, and he does not want his young mate to have to face them. Remember also that she is a healer and not yet of mating age. The full emotions of the mate bond will not hit until she turns eighteen. Once that happens, he might not be able to fight it, no matter how badly he tries.”

“Do you know something of his past?” Sally asked as she turned to look Peri in the eyes.

“You know who I am, healer. Of course, I know, I was there. But, as much as I love a good wolf tale, it is not mine to tell. Let’s just say that Dalton Black has a past as dark as his name implies.”

“Is it too much to ask for a normal wolf, with no baggage attached, to come along and sweep our healers off of their feet?”

Peri smiled. “Did you just use the word normal and wolf in the same sentence?

“Poor choice of words,” Sally admitted. “I have a feeling that once she turns eighteen and those mating signs appear, Dalton will be even more dangerous. When did you say her birthday was?”

“Since they seem to lose what little sense they have when they see the mating signs, you are probably correct. But since her birthday isn’t for another month and a half, nothing can be done about it just now. Come,” Peri said and motioned her to follow. “Dillon has information to share and, as moody as he has been lately, I can tell he only wants to say it once. Jewel doesn’t look as though she will be sneaking off any time soon, you can step away for a bit.”

“Tacky, Peri,” Sally grumbled.

Peri shrugged. “I call them like I see them. She’s a healer trapped in a coma induced by torture at the hands and teeth of a possessed fae. She is in need of her mate’s care who refuses to give it—ergo, no sneaking off.”

Sally rolled her eyes at her couth-less friend. “Whatever, let’s just get this little meeting over with. I’m sure it is bound to be filled with encouraging tidbits and not in any way overflowing with the possibility of more things that could and probably will go wrong.”

Peri glanced at her from the corner of her eye as they made their way into the living room. “My, my, you are just a happy little Smurf, singing and dancing and raining on everyone’s freaking parade.”

Sally started humming the Smurf song quietly drawing an unladylike snort from the high fae.

“Just sit down and try to contain your jovial spirit, it’s getting on my nerves.”

“I make no promises, Peri Fairy. If Dalton shows his too handsome face, I may just dance the jig right up to him and spit in his eye.”

“Just one eye?” Peri asked as her brow drew together.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll stab a spoon in his other eye.”

“Good to know you are an equal opportunist when it comes to causing bodily harm.”

“Who’s causing bodily harm?” Costin asked as he wrapped an arm around Sally from behind and pulled her down with him to the couch so she was sitting on his lap.

Peri waved him off. “Never mind, just try to keep your bloodthirsty little healer under control.”

“Is everyone here?” Dillon asked as he stepped into the room.

“Everyone except your Beta,” Peri answered.

“Then everyone that matters is here,” Sally said.

Anna, Stella, Heather, and Kara had taken seats on the floor across from the couch where Sally sat. They were staring at the woman with wide eyes.

Dillon glanced at the healer wrapped in Costin’s arms, and pain rushed through him at the sorrow in her eyes. She was a gypsy healer, it was in her nature to take care of those around her, to nurture them, and it was obvious she felt totally helpless when it came to Jewel. She also knew that Dalton was partly to blame.

“I spoke with Vasile,” he began, effectively drawing everyone’s attention to him. “Four of the twelve packs will be sending males to assist us in capturing Volcan. Ireland will be sending the Beta, Kale, and third, Banan. Italy’s Alpha, Ciro is coming and bringing his Beta, Aimo. Spain’s Alpha, Gustavo, will be coming and bringing his Beta, Antonio, and the fourth pack is Canada. The Alpha Drayden will be coming and bringing his Beta, Nick. That’s eight new dominant males added to our group.”

“Why only three Alphas? Is Volcan not a threat that warrants the attention of all the Alphas?” Elle asked from where she stood by the stairs next to her mate, Sorin.

Dillon let out a long breath. This was the part that he had been dreading. Emotions were already high, and now he was asking them to accept a situation that might just push some of those emotions out of control.