Wolf of Stone

Chapter 1-2

“Well, I know that we are dealing with some pretty heavy stuff now that Volcan is again on the loose,” he began. “But the fact remains that we have five newly discovered, unmated gypsy healers here, three of which are of mating age.”

“They are sending only unmated males?” Sally snapped and tried to stand but Costin would not relinquish his hold on her.

Dillon met her eyes and waited until she dropped them to continue. “Having the strength and power of more dominant males is something we need, especially in order to protect such precious pack members. These females,” he motioned to the four women sitting on the floor and then towards the room where Jewel lay, “are precious to us, as all our females are, but they are healers and that makes them more vulnerable than others.”

“Mated males can protect them just as well as unmated,” Crina pointed out as murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

“And what mated female is going to want her mate around a group of unmated gypsy healers?” Dillon challenged. “You? I’m sure wouldn’t have any problem if Sorin was assigned to their protection. How about you, Sally? Let’s let Costin follow them around twenty-four-seven and see how you like it.”

“Enough of this.” Lucian stepped forward. The power in his words had the room silenced before his next breath. “There has to be a solution to this that will benefit everyone. If we stop arguing long enough to think like a pack, then I am sure that we can come up with something. So, unless you have something useful to say, do not speak.”

Dillon didn’t take offense to Lucian’s command because he felt none of the wolf’s power ripple over him. But he did give the male a sideways glance as he was surprised that Lucian was able to control and direct who his orders would affect. But then he was the brother of Vasile and as such came from a line of strong Alphas.

“Think,” Dillon encouraged. “We have to allow these males to help us and allow them the opportunity to interact with the healers. But we also have to keep from having them tear into one another?”

“Oh, is that all you are wanting a solution for?” Crina muttered. A low growl from both Dillon and Lucian had her dropping her eyes and clamping her mouth shut.

Heather sat with the other girls, quietly contemplating the dilemma before them. Not being able to see gave her the benefit of being able to really listen to the tone in a person’s voice when they spoke. As she had been listening to Dillon, she heard the compassion that he felt towards the men that were coming to help, but she also heard the very real worry that something bad would happen. She still didn’t fully understand the whole true mate thing. From the way everyone talked about it, it sounded more like a burden than a blessing. However, she could not deny longing to be loved in such a way as Sally and Peri had described the way the males loved their mates. As she considered all the things Dillon had said, she remembered that Peri had said something about the mate signs not appearing until the healers were eighteen. Would that mean that the males could safely be around the two girls that weren’t yet eighteen?

“If I may,” she spoke up into the quiet room. Everyone else was obviously taking Lucian’s words seriously and trying to come up with a feasible solution.

“Go ahead, Heather,” Dillon told her.

“If I remember correctly, Peri said that for gypsy healers the mate signs did not appear until the female was eighteen. That raises the question, can the males be around Jewel and Kara without knowing for certain if the girls were their true mates? Or at least not feeling it to the extent where they want to kill anyone who gets near her? Sally has told us about how she and Costin met and how he felt a pull towards her before she turned eighteen, but it wasn’t that all-consuming need to claim her.” No one responded immediately and Heather took that to mean that her question had merit.

“You may be onto something, Helen,” Peri spoke up. The girls gave an exasperated sigh nearly in unison at the ridiculous nickname that Peri was hell-bent on using for Heather. Heather wasn’t bothered by it and she knew that just aggravated Peri more. Peri continued after a few moments of thought. “We could take the three females that are of age to another location, giving some of the males currently present the responsibility of protecting them. The unmated males could come here, without worry of mating signs with Jewel or Kara, and be briefed on our situation. From there we can decide how to proceed in our pursuit of Volcan without allowing Anna, Stella, and Heather to come into contact with the males.”

“That could work,” Dillon agreed.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Heather that Dillon and Peri were both totally avoiding the whole Dalton–sized elephant in the room when it came to Jewel. If they were going to ignore it, then it seemed like so could the rest of them.

“You do realize that when the males get here and find that there are no healers for them to meet that could possibly reveal the mate bond, they are going to be a tad upset, right?” Elle asked Peri.

Peri shrugged. “What is new about a male werewolf being a tad upset over females?”

“She has a point,” Sally agreed as she nodded.

“Where will you take us?” Heather asked drawing the attention back to the girls on the floor. She waited as Peri clucked her tongue, obviously lost in thought, considering her question.

“I have a certain Pixie King that owes the wolves and I a debt,” she began. A collective groan from the males had Heather wondering just how much trouble Peri was about to get them into.

“Pixie King?” Anna asked hesitantly.

Peri narrowed her eyes. “You have discovered that fae and werewolves exist, and yet you are surprised there are pixies as well?”

“I try to refrain from making assumptions,” Anna admitted.

“Wise little healer.” Peri nodded approvingly.

“You will entrust their safety to the pixies?” Lucian asked his mate.

“I’m finding it hard to have a whole lot of faith in my own race right now. Having two high fae turn to the dark side tends to have that effect.” She turned back to Dillon. “I suppose Vasile told you that I would be gathering the hounds instead of them flying in?”

Dillon nodded. “Vasile left it up to you in regards to how and when, but he mentioned you would begin with the Irish wolves tonight. Are you sure you want to exert yourself?” His tone was slightly patronizing but Peri seemed inclined to ignore that fact as she answered.

“It will be easier than listening to them complain about long flights. I’ll flash them here starting with the Irish pack,” she said as if Dillon hadn’t already mentioned it. “Might as well start tonight and end tonight because honestly, they aren’t going to get along any better if we bring them in a day at a time. Better to just get it over with quickly.”

“So soon?” Kara blurted out after having successfully kept quiet throughout the meeting.

Dillon’s eyes softened as he looked at the young girl. “Unfortunately, evil does not wait for those willing to fight back to be ready. Every day that we aren’t pursuing Volcan is a day that he can gain strength.”

Kara nodded her understanding but the apprehension in her eyes did not abate.

Peri clapped her hands together and began speaking in her no-nonsense tone. “Dillon, I think it would be best if you stayed here to welcome the newcomers along with Lucian. We will need dominant males to deal with any lack of control they might have.” She turned then to look at Costin. “Sally will need to stay here to take care of Jewel. I imagine that it is your desire to stay with her?” Peri knew it was a stupid question, but she didn’t miss an opportunity to goad the cocky bartender.

“Naturally,” Costin replied dryly.

“Sorin and Adam, along with their mates, will also accompany the healers. I realize that isn’t very many males to protect such precious cargo, but Crina is no lightweight, and Elle has no problem holding her own in a fight. I will do my best to keep tabs on both groups, but I also need to get in contact with some of the other supernaturals. Any questions?”

Stella raised her hand. “Yeah, is there any way we can get off this crazy train?”

A wicked grin spread across Peri’s face. “You can try. However,” her face suddenly serious, “you are a gypsy healer, unmated, and out there in this big wide world is a male who has the other half of your soul. Can you honestly tell me that there is something back in your old life that’s worth walking away from that?”

Stella shook her head as she let out a long, deep breath. “No, honestly I cannot. I can, however, tell you that living with pixies in order to keep the peace among a bunch of possessive, controlling, albeit no doubt incredibly good looking, werewolves doesn’t seem like much of a step up from dancing on a bar.”

“If it makes you feel any better, when this is all said and done, I’m sure Costin would be willing to let you dance on his bar.”

The room erupted into chuckles at Peri’s words. Costin stood helping Sally up to her feet as he shook his head at the fae. “That just sounded wrong on so many levels.”

∞

Dalton slipped quietly into the room where Jewel Stone lay. She was still as death and yet just as beautiful as the last time he had been in to see her. Regardless of all that had been done to her, all the marks she bore because of those things, to him, she looked like an angel. He could hear Dillon’s voice from the main living area as he discussed the new wolves that would be arriving soon. Dalton didn’t want to care, didn’t want to feel as though he needed to feel flesh between his teeth at the thought of one of those males near Jewel, but he did. In his long life, he had never felt such possessiveness or jealousy toward another, and the lack of control it ignited in him left him rattled.

He took a seat in the chair next to her bed knowing he would at least have a few minutes while the others were distracted. He tried to stay away. He lasted all of one night before he was slipping unseen back into her room. He had to see her with his own eyes to know without a doubt that she was still holding on. His eyes roamed over her small form, noticing that she had lost even more weight, not that she had any to lose to begin with. Her strawberry locks seemed dull as they fanned out around her. The porcelain skin that was covered in scars that she would bear for the rest of her life appeared even paler than it had the day before. He wanted to do something. His wolf, caged inside of him, snarled, imploring the man to take their mate and protect her.

He dropped his head forward as the memories—the reason that he could not touch her again, could not be what she needed—rushed through his mind. His stomach rolled at the images that played out like a horror movie that would not end. He saw all the things that had happened to him beyond his control. Worse than that, however, were the things he had done in order to cope with those atrocities. Jewel deserved better than the likes of him. He would not condemn her to live with one who had truly become a monster, caged though he may be. He knew that if she was his, if he claimed her, if he took her and bound her to him, then the monster would be set free. For if she accepted him with all of his ugliness, if she pardoned him and bestowed grace and love upon him, he feared he would never let her leave his side. He would shackle her to him so that he could keep her safe. He would want her all to himself and the life of a gypsy healer was the complete opposite of that. She would be needed by others. Her life would be one of service and sacrifice. He would have to share her and even the sanest of their males did not share well.