The Elf's Royal Match (Book 4 The Wolves of Winter Valley)

Chapter 24 - A King's Mate

Colt POV

Leaving Sinead in that shed after the way she’d ravished my body and left me hungering for her was even harder than pretending that I didn’t want a mate. My entire being was shaken by the aggression she’d shown. I knew she was passionate, but not to that degree. There was something almost primal inside her that I expected from an animal shifter, not an elf. Elves were known to be very stoic and serene beings. Even in war, they fought without the level of violence my love had lurking beneath her angelic appearance. Perhaps living among wolves had awakened a beast she was unaware existed within her. Well, whatever the reason, however that beast came to be, I liked it and I was looking forward to seeing it again.

Kai paced and grumbled in response to the surge of lust my thought had provoked. His hunger for Sinead was even greater than mine. He had yet to experience our sexy mate because I knew he would mark her, and I couldn’t allow that to happen, not yet. When I claimed that exquisite creature as mine, it would be as Colton Tanner Nagy, not Faiza Jamila Yasser. My panther didn’t believe that there was any way to change the fact that in the eyes of the Gods we were female, and therefore would forever cosmically be identified by our dead name. Waiting was pointless he said, but I refused to give up hope. Natasha was determined to find a solution and I was confident she would succeed. She was chosen by the Moon Goddess to carry amazing powers, surely that gave her an edge in magical matters.

A familiar odor caught my attention just as I reached my bike. It was the same scent that struck fear in me so deep it made my soul shiver since the day I was born. Lifting my eyes to the sky, I sniffed the air, searching for the source and praying that it was only my imagination. How could my father find this place? He wasn’t a wolf and Natasha would never issue him an invitation, knowing that he presented a threat to me. My father’s motorcade of three custom, metallic, gold-colored Broncos came into view as I lowered my head, escorted by a large, black Suburban bearing the flag of the Circle of Elders.

Colt

Natasha’s voice was edged with steel as it came through the channel.

I see it. I’m on my way.

“Colton!” I heard Sinead shout as I started to mount my bike. “Leave the bike, we’ll get there faster through the woods!” She said, reaching out her hand to me.

While I wasn’t looking forward to facing my parents, I knew that my father wasn’t above dirty tricks to get what he wanted. That meant I had to get to the packhouse and Natasha’s office before his car even came to a stop. His men would undoubtedly be under strict orders to apprehend me if I crossed their paths outside. I clasped Sinead’s hand and together we sprinted for the trees separating the packhouse and the cabins from the training pitch.

We cut across terrain littered with tree roots and fallen limbs, keeping in step with each other the whole way which was surprising given the difference in our heights. There was a path, but it ran along the back edge of the woods and would take us well out of our way.

My father’s motorcade was just pulling into the circular drive when we arrived at the administrative entrance of the packhouse. Sinead yanked the door open and ushered me inside ahead of her.

“We can’t let him see you outside. There’s probably a capture order in place,” she said as she reclaimed my hand and led me down the “L” shaped hall to Natasha’s office.

I paused outside the door and gaped at my brilliant mate. “How did you know that?”

She grinned and kissed me lightly. “It’s a common tactic used by bounty hunters. Gain access to the grounds so quickly and unexpectedly that the target can’t be warned before teams are in place to apprehend him,” Sinead said, opening the door and dragging me into the office behind her.

Natasha rose. “Colt, I am so sorry. I didn’t know they were here until they passed the gate.”

“It’s alright, Alpha. I would expect no less from my father,” I answered with disgust.

“Yes, I see he doesn’t exactly follow proper protocols,” she grumbled just before her eyes clouded over, answering a channel. When they cleared again, she motioned for me to join her behind her desk. “They’re coming in now. Come stand back here. We don’t know what your father’s intentions are and I don’t want to take any chances.”

Sinead and I did as the Alpha requested and took up positions behind her. I was careful to avoid the window just in case. My father wasn’t a stupid man, but he’d never lost millions before, so I had no idea how far he was willing to go. As if sensing my unease, Sinead stepped back and took my hand, threading our fingers together.

The door opened, admitting Gammas Adam Keller and Megan Clay followed by Senior Elder Yuri and two other men whose names I didn’t know but I knew were Elders. My parents strode in behind them, along with another man I didn’t recognize, and The Grand Master of Prides, Nial Morris. Last in line were Beta Seth Quincy-Raymond, Luna Harmony Quincy-Raymond, and Drake and Isabella Lawrence.

After closing the door behind them, Seth guided Harmony behind the desk while the others sat where they could or found a spot to stand along the wall. My father and The Grand Master of Prides claimed the two visitors chairs without invitation, both glaring daggers at me without acknowledging any of the pack’s leadership standing between us.

The tension in the air was palpable and grew heavier with every passing moment of silence. Finally, Elder Yuri spoke up.

“Alpha Quincy-Raymond, I apologize for interrupting your day without warning, but His Majesty King Yasser insisted…”

“I’ve come to reclaim what belongs to me!” my father snapped, cutting Elder Yuri off without apology. “You had no right to initiate my child into this wretched pack without my consent! Faiza has an obligation to her family and to her pride. I will not allow you or anyone else to assist her in this act of defiance against the Gods.” He slapped the arm of the chair for emphasis then growled when The Grand Master laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Alpha Quincy-Raymond. Please forgive King Yasser’s disrespect, he is quite distressed over this situation. I realize that you are likely woefully undereducated about the ways of the winged panthers, so we’re willing to overlook your misstep. In our culture, pride members cannot simply decide that they no longer want to belong to their pride. They can decide they want a change, but they cannot make that change without first receiving permission from The Pride Society of which I am The Grand Master. In order to obtain that permission, they must submit their request in writing, along with a letter of agreement from both parents and their mate when applicable. The Society then reviews the documentation and makes the final decision. Faiza Yasser never submitted a request nor did she obtain the permission of her parents or her mate,” The Grand Master stated casting his gaze toward the unknown man standing with my mother.

Sinead POV

An audible gasp escaped my lips, drawing everyone’s attention to me. They really did intend to take Colton and they were pulling out all the stops including a crown-chosen mate. Panic settled in my chest restricting my breathing. What if they succeeded? I was still fairly new to Winter Valley; I didn’t know all of the laws governing the werewolf community. Was it possible that Natasha had broken the law when she initiated him into the pack? Rage rose up, fighting the panic for dominance. It didn’t matter. Whether there were laws involved or not. Colton was mine and I would fight to the death to keep him. If they so much as attempted to take my match from me, I would destroy them all. Adrenaline surged, causing my body to quake with the need for release. Colton drew me closer, looped his arms around my waist and kissed the back of my shoulder.

“It’s alright, my love,” he whispered, the sparks from our match connection instantly calming me.

Natasha turned back to face The Grand Master. “Mister?”

“Morris,” the man supplied. “Nial Morris.”

“Mr. Morris. While I understand that your culture has its traditions in regards to mating, divine law supersedes those of any species,” Natasha said, straightening to her full height and projecting just enough of her aura to let the room know that she would not be swayed on this matter. “Colt is Sinead’s fated mate chosen for her by the God’s. This gentleman has no rightful claim to him.”

The man standing next to Colton’s mother stepped forward. “All due respect, Alpha. I beg to differ. My claim on Faiza was established over a half-century ago. The dowry was paid and the contract drawn. Not to mention Faiza is a female and females can’t be mated with other females. It’s unnatural and therefore this woman’s claim on her is invalid.”

Invalid. The word lit a fuse inside me and I exploded. Surging forward, I left the comfort of Colton’s arms and leaned over the desk. My body trembled with fury as I faced the man who was attempting to establish a claim on my match. “Colton is my match! We were paired by the Gods! Your contract is worthless!”

“Umm…” My eyes widened in horror as Elder Yuri stepped between me and the usurper. “Actually, in the eyes of supernatural law, His Majesty’s claim takes precedence because it was established prior to you and Colton finding each other and the fact that you’ve yet to mark each other only strengthens King Rohan’s claim.”

My eyes snapped to Natasha who looked just as dumbfounded as I was, then to King Yasser who met my gaze with the evilest self-satisfied smirk I’d ever seen on his face. Elder Yuri laid a hand on my shoulder.

“I am sorry, Sinead. There is little I can do,” he said as Colton stepped to my side.

I dropped my chin to my chest and took a deep breath. To maintain peace among the species, the governing bodies had gathered and established laws that would apply to all equally. Learning these laws had been part of my upbringing as a member of the Palachian Royal Family, but somehow this one had escaped me.

Colton ran a hand down my hair. “Is there nothing we can do, Elder? Sinead is my life. I can’t leave her,” he said, trying to sound strong—no doubt for my benefit.

“There is…,” I answered before Elder Yuri could reiterate the futility of the situation. When I lifted my head, I saw all eyes were focused on me. “I, Sinead Aine Elian, Princess of Palachia, challenge you, King Rohan for the hand of Faiza Jamila Yasser, Princess of The Cimarron Canyon Pride, now known as Colton Tanner Nagy of the Winter Valley Pack, in a battle to the death.”

Pandemonium erupted when that final word left my lips. Colton jerked me against him and held me so tightly I thought my bones would break from the pressure.

“No, Sinead, I won’t let you do this,” he said clearly distraught. “Leaving you will be unbearable but losing you to death will destroy me. Please, my love. Just let me go. I will reject you and you will find another.”

As gently as possible, I eased myself away to look into his eyes. “There is no one for me but you, Colton. It took me over one hundred years to find you and I’ll not give you up without a fight. I would rather die than spend another moment without you.” I poured every ounce of love I had for him into a kiss that seemed to strip the world away for a few blissful seconds, then stepped away and nodded to Natasha who was awaiting my confirmation.

“King Rohan, you have been challenged by Sinead Elian in a battle to the death. If you accept, your panther will be suppressed to prevent shifting and the utilization of his heightened abilities. If you refuse, you forfeit your claim on Colton Nagy, formerly known as Faiza Yasser. What is your decision,” Natasha asked with a very uncharacteristic scowl, twisting her features.

King Rohan straightened his posture and lifted his chin in a show of superiority, then said, “I accept.”