The High Alpha

How Do You Know Zane?

Catalina’s POV

My first day of councilman training, Eric spends most of the morning showing me around the Sanctum. He shows me the very extensive library. The library has shiny marble floors and large wooden bookshelves that reach all the way to the ceiling. Vines hang down from the top of the bookshelves and there’s a large spiral staircase. There is a second level balcony with more books. The ceiling is painted and decorated with golden embellishments. Nothing in the Sanctum is small or ordinary. He shows me the meeting hall and trial room. We finally end up in the training auditorium.

“Here is the training auditorium. Each councilmen will train you here based on their specialty.”

“And what is your specialty?”

“The law of course. Kao is war and history. George is myth, legends, gods, and folklore. Jason is fighting styles and pack trainings. Ryan is economic infrastructure, the boring one. Together we make up the foundations of all our packs.”

“Do I need to have a specialty?”

“Well that depends. We pick subjects that already interest us. What are you interested in?”

“Art?” I say. Eric thinks.

“That could work.”

“Really?”

“Sure, culture is very important to all societies.”

Over the next two days Eric teaches me the laws of the lands. It reminds me of being back in school. School wasn’t my favorite place. Back then my bothers made school hard. But here is different. Fayne wakes me up in the morning with coffee. I get dressed, eat breakfast, then go to training. It is just Eric and I in the training auditorium. After training we eat dinner together. Lisa has been helping me at night when I come back from training. As promised, I have been sending Andrew pictures daily, and we’ve talked every night. Over the last few days I have been thinking about what Dolus offered. I do need to talk to the rogue leader, but I’m concerned about doing it while I’m pregnant. I need to talk to Dolus.

After training I decide to call on Dolus to talk about the meeting and see if it’s still a good idea. I wait until Lisa leaves and get the opal from the night stand. I take it to the bathroom and pause for a moment. I think back to what Lilith said.

“Be careful with him. As much as the wording you used seemed air tight, there might be a loophole we can’t see. He is tricky.” What loophole? Is that why he is helping me, because he found a loophole and is intending to use it? What has he done that makes everyone think he is tricky? I mean, yes he’s the god of deception, but how did he get that title? When I work with George I will have to ask him about the Gods. Just do it Lina, you can’t avoid it forever. I turn on the faucet and plunge the stone under it.

“Bathroom again? We’re going to have to stop meeting like this. What will your mate think of it?” I hear Dolus’ deep voice. I see him in the mirror behind me and I shut off the water.

“We could stop meeting if you prefer?” I say quickly.

“You know I wouldn’t. There’s something I would prefer more if you would like to know.” Dolus’ eyes trail down my body. I can feel his gaze like a hot wave traveling down. I snap out of it and walk quickly into my bedroom. I hear Dolus chuckle.

“I would not like to know. That is not why I called you.” Dolus slips into the room. His movements are always smooth, like he’s flowing on air. He seems so sure of himself, so confident. Maybe it’s his tattoos or his long black hair always pulled back in a bun. He just seems like he knows everything.

“And why did you call on me Catalina.” The way he says my name is like butter melting on toast.

“It’s about the rogues. Im concerned about meeting with them under my condition.”

“Your pregnancy?”

“Yes. I don’t want anything to happen to me or my baby.” My hand goes to my belly. No bump yet, but I can just imagine how big I’ll get. A look flashes over Dolus’ face, but I can’t read it. It was almost too quick to notice.

“I would never let any harm come to your child. Since I am arranging the meeting, based on your spell no harm can come to you. Or I will lose my true form and pass on.”

“Have you found a loophole?” Dolus looks shocked by my bold question. He starts to laugh.

“If I had, why would I tell you?” He asks. His laugh is deep and shakes my core with the vibrations.

“I don’t know. But I have to be more cautious now. It’s not just my life anymore.” Dolus stops laughing and takes a step towards me.

“I have not found a loophole, because I am not looking for one. I don’t not want to hurt you or anyone you love. And I would sacrifice my life to protect the life of your child’s.” The intensity in which he says this to me, almost makes my knees buckle. All I can do is stare at his eyes.

“Set up a meeting.” Is all I can seem to say, softly. Dolus smiles.

“Can I ask you something?” I add. Dolus gives me a slight nod.

“Why are you known as the God of deception?” Dolus’ face changes. Not anger, it looks like pain.

“That was a long time ago. And names stay with you. I made a piece of art that was a replica of the original. Well it was so good, it fooled people into believing it was real. So I became the god of trickery.”

“Just from that?”

“I won’t lie, once I was given the title it is hard to go against it. It is like they gave me permission to trick and deceive. It becomes who you are. It’s how I lost my physical form in the first place.”

“How did you lose your physical form?” I ask. He looks away and puts his hands in his pocket. He is ashamed of it.

“That’s a story for another time. If I tell you all my stories now, you may never call on me again.” Oh he is definitely ashamed of it, he doesn’t want to tell me.

“Everyone says I shouldn’t trust you.”

“So you have told people of us working together?”

“How do you know Zane?” His eyes dart up to mine.

“How do you know Zane?” Dolus takes a step towards me.

“I asked first.”

“We used to be close. A long time ago. But he changed. He’s a bad guy Lina, you need to stay away from him.”

“He was at a party a few days ago. He knew you were helping me with the rogues. He tried to bait me into an argument. He seemed to have something up his sleeve.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“Why? Why are you helping me?”

“You already know the answer to that.” Ugh he is so aggravating.

“Let me know when the meeting is.”

“Goodnight Catalina.” Dolus is gone. It’s so exhausting talking to him. I crawl into bed and go to sleep.

A short time later

Dolus’ POV

I need to find out what that vampire is up to. I hope he’s still in the same place. I pop into Zanes old mansion, and have a peek around. It looks like someone is still living here. There is a fire going in the living room. The mansion is old, but well maintained.

“Zane!” I yell.

“I wondered when you would show up. I thought she would have told you sooner, it’s been a few days.” Zane walks into the room. Zane’s always been trouble, but then again so have I.

“And what are you going on about?”

“Your little she wolf. That’s why you are here isn’t it? Oh and congratulations on getting your body back. Such a shame you lost it in the first place.” He grins at me.

“Actually she is why I’m here. And don’t give me that, you are the reason I lost it in the first place.”

“Come now, I didn’t make you do anything you didn’t already want to.” Zane walks over to the bar and pours two drinks. He walks towards me and holds one out. I don’t take it.

“What? Can’t share a drink with your older brother?” I take the glass from his hand. “To the High Alpha, may she forever reign.” He holds his cup up to cheers.

“Cut the crap Zane. What is this about?” I say.

“You.”

“Me?”

“You think you can go back to being God Dolus. Have you forgotten your family? Have you forgotten what you did? Well I’m just here to be a reminder to you. You don’t get to forget. You don’t get a happy ending. You don’t get to be the good guy.”

“Catalina has nothing to do with this. She has a mate.”

“Oh little brother. I have known you for hundreds of years. You think I don’t see, you might be a God, but I have eyes everywhere. You can’t trick me.” I need to get him to leave Catalina alone.

“What do you want from me.”

“Come back into the fold little brother. And I can think of a few things we could do.”