A Wolf's Duty (31 page)

“Are you ok Xandria?”
Tobias whispered into her ear while continuing to guide her further
into the room.

“As good as I’m
going to get.” Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for the
task ahead. “Well why don’t we get started?”
The quicker I’m introduced to people the faster I can get out
of here.

“Ok, well, why don’t we
start with something easy?” he suggested.

“Easy is good,” she
concurred.

“Seeing as you already
know Ryan and Sebastian why don’t we start with them?”

She nodded and allowed
herself to be led to where they stood. Her brow furrowed in
confusion as she noticed that they weren’t alone. Instantly
recognising Thomas and Yvonne she felt a measure of relief before
her eyes turned to take in the two strangers that stood among them.
A tall man with dark blonde hair and deep brown eyes smiled warmly
at them and Alex felt herself become slightly confused.

Do I know
him?
The question floated through her mind
before her gaze turned to look at the woman who stood beside
him.

The woman’s smile was just
as warm and welcoming as the man’s bringing her features to life.
Her vibrant red hair was cut short, barely skimming the nape of her
neck and familiar grey eyes stared intently at her. The woman was
slender despite the protruding bump on her stomach.

“Tobias,” she beamed,
rushing forward to envelope him in a hug. Releasing his hand, Alex
took a step back, content not being the centre of
attention.

“Aunt Elaine, you get more
beautiful every time I see you.”

“There’s no need to lie
Tobias, I know what I look like.” She grinned, rubbing a hand over
her stomach. “The only one that needs to tell me such lies is
James.”

“How are you today uncle
James?”

“I’m wonderful, but how
could I be any other way when I’ve such a perfect mate and we’re
expecting?” The blonde man stepped forward, wrapping an arm around
Elaine's waist and placing a light kiss against her
neck.

“Pregnancy does seem to
suit you sister, you’re glowing and I can’t wait to have some
little ones around. It has been so long since there were any
children here,” Yvonne inserted.

“Yes, it has been, but
there will be plenty of children around here soon enough
sweetheart.” Thomas smiled, looking pointedly at Alex and making
her blush.

“Tobias, aren’t you going
to introduce us to your mate then?” James inquired. “We’ve all been
waiting to meet her and now that we finally have the chance you’re
not doing anything about it.”

“Sorry uncle James.” He
grasped her hand in his once again and pulled her forward.
“Xandria, I’d like you to meet some of my family. My uncle James
and aunt Elaine, you already know Ryan and Sebastian.”

“It’s nice to meet you,”
she murmured.

“No need to be shy
Alexandria, we’ve all been looking forward to meeting the Warrior
Princess.” Elaine smiled.

Alex groaned at
the title.
There goes any hope I’d had
that they’d all forget that ridiculous name. I swear if I find out
which idiot started that…

“I’m not really a
warrior.”

“Nonsense,” James scoffed.
“We were there, we saw everything and you deserve that title. You
fought well.”

“Thank you.” A thought
occurred to her and her shyness momentarily vanished as she turned
to Ryan. “Ryan, I’d like to say thank you for helping me
train.”

He grinned. “No worries
Alex, someone had to make sure that Tobias ended up with the right
mate.”

“Right,” she began, “I’d
also like to say thank you for being able to keep a secret, but you
blabbed to Tobias. I thought you said you wouldn’t tell him
anything.”

“Don’t blame me Alex, it
was all Sebastian's idea,” he floundered, apparently having decided
to share the blame.

“It’s true, Alex,”
Sebastian inserted. “Ryan was worrying himself too much when you
wouldn’t wake so I suggested he tell Tobias and get it all off his
chest. I’m sorry,” he apologised.

“If that’s what happened
then I suppose it’s alright Sebastian.”

“What!” Ryan spluttered.
“You were ready to take my head off a minute ago, but as soon as he
says he’s sorry then everything’s ok?”

She smiled at him. “Maybe
you should take lessons in humility from your brother.”

“Well said Alexandria,”
James beamed, “unfortunately we’ve been trying to get him to do
that for almost two centuries and nothing seems to have stuck. We
just have to live with him the way he is.”

“Well, if that’s what you
guys think then I suppose I should just leave so you won’t be
forced to endure my presence anymore.” Ryan turned, leaving the
small group and disappearing into the crowd.

“I should probably go and
check on him.” Sebastian smiled, before departing.

“We should probably go as
well, Xandria needs to meet as many people as she can tonight.” The
pair turned and left, Tobias leading her into the crowd to
introduce her to his clansmen.

The night passed in a blur
of introductions, the majority of which she was sure she wouldn’t
be able to remember the next morning, but they ploughed
on.

“We’re nearly done
dearest, there’s just one more clan to meet and then you’ll have
met the representatives from all of them.” His head turned as he
tried to scan the crowd for the members of the last clan. “I can’t
see them Xandria, do you mind just waiting here while I go and look
for them or do you want to come with me to look for
them?”

Her mind was flooded with
the various meetings she would be forced to endure before they
found the last clan representative and her decision was made. “I’ll
stay here.”

“Are you sure dearest? I
said I wouldn’t leave you alone tonight.”

“I know that,
but I’m perfectly fine where I am. You go and find the last clan
and I’ll just stay here.”
And hopefully no
one will bother me.

“Ok dearest,
I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He placed a light kiss against her
cheek before disappearing into the crowd. Alex sighed, relieved
that she wouldn’t have to go with him. Her eyes wandered to the
door, narrowing as she saw a tall dark haired woman rush through
the doors with Sebastian leaving moments after her.
I wish I could just leave like that,
she sighed leaning back against one of the stone
walls.

“Your highness?” A
familiar voice had her turning and a smile crept across her
features.

“Ilyanna!” she beamed,
rushing towards the woman and giving her a tight hug. “I haven’t
seen you in days, I was beginning to wonder where you
were.”

“I’ve been settling in to
life here and I might also point out that you have been asleep for
the past four days so it’s no wonder you haven’t seen me. Are you
enjoying the party? It’s in your honour after all.”

Alex groaned at the
reminder. “Everyone has been nice enough, but to be perfectly
honest, I can’t wait to get out of here.”

Ilyanna frowned at Alex’s
remarked confused as to why she would be so eager to leave.
“Why?”

“Me and new people don’t
mix. I can’t get comfortable around them. I just keep thinking that
I’m going to make some sort of horrible mistake. I’ve never really
had pleasant interactions with people, so meeting all these people
at once is like my worst nightmare come to life.”

“I don’t understand. You
seem fine around me.”

“You’re different
Ilyanna.”

“Different how
exactly?”

“You’re my friend. These
people are strangers. But enough about me, how are you? Are you
settling in ok? How’s baby Alice and what about Annabelle, Stephen
and David? Are they all ok as well?”

“The children are all fine
thanks to you. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay your
kindness in letting them stay here with me.”

“Don’t be silly Ilyanna,
how could I separate you? A mother and her children should be
together.” For a moment her voice was saddened as she remembered
her own mother, but the smile soon returned to her face. “I’m can’t
wait to see them again; they’re all so adorable. Sorry, I’m being a
bit forceful aren’t I?”

“Not at all your
highness.” Ilyanna smiled.

“It’s just that I never
had any siblings so it’s sort of nice to know what it could have
been like.”

“You can see them whenever
you like your highness, after all we’re all here in the royal clan
because of you and I’m meant to be learning the estate and the ways
of this clan with you, so we will be spending a lot more time
together.”

“Yes, about that Ilyanna,”
A male voice floated to their ears from above them and Ilyanna
froze. Resisting the urge to turn around, Alex allowed the voice to
continue. “I never did get to give you my congratulations on you
managing to join the royal clan.”

“Lord Elijah,” Ilyanna
breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Frowning at the stark look
of fear that had imprinted itself on Ilyanna’s face, Alex spun
around determined to chase off the newcomer. “Who exactly are you?”
Her eyes did a quick scan of his face noting the short cut black
hair and practically sculpted facial features before they came to
rest on his eyes. The brown of his irises was so dark they appeared
black and he stared at her unblinking. Fighting off her body’s
impulse to shiver under his stare, she straightened her spine,
drawing herself up to her full height, before she realised that she
might as well have stayed how she was, he still towered over
her.

Don’t back
down.
Remember if it gets really bad, you
can always have him executed,
she chuckled
to herself.

“I’m Lord Elijah of the
Northern Clan.”

“Good, well now that we’ve
met, Ilyanna and I are headed over there.” She smiled, pointing to
the farthest corner away from him. “Girl stuff to talk about and
all that. It was nice meeting you though.” Turning away from him,
she began to move towards Ilyanna determined to get away before a
restraining hand on her arm stopped her. Her eyes narrowed further,
her head turning to regard the tanned hand on her skin before
Tobias’s voice caught her attention.

“Cousin, I’ve been looking
for you.”

Cousin?
she thought watching as Tobias bounded over to
them, clapping Elijah on the shoulder in greeting.

“So you’ve met my
wonderful mate then,” he grinned.

“I’ve not really been
formally introduced, will you do the honours cousin?”

“Of course. Alexandria,
I’d like you to meet my elder cousin Elijah, Elijah this is my mate
Alexandria.”

“Yes, the Warrior
Princess,” he smiled, and Alex couldn’t help but feel slightly
unnerved by the icy grin, the coldness reflected in his dark gaze.
“I was there at the Challenge. What an amazing gift you have, to be
able to control wildlife, you could get everyone here to do
whatever you wanted. Yes, that is quite something.” He smiled, the
assessment of her gift alarming her further.

“Where’s Amanda?” Tobias
asked. “I haven’t seen her about.”

“I’m sure she’s here
somewhere .”

“I don’t know how you can
be so lax about where your mate is.”

“I’ve nothing to worry
about Tobias, Amanda knows who she belongs to, she’ll find me soon
enough.”

“Belongs with,” Alex
corrected.

“Excuse me?” Elijah
questioned.

“You said, ‘belongs to’.
What you should have said is belongs with, otherwise it makes her
sound like a possession.”

“Your mate is very
observant Tobias.”

“Yes, she is.” He grinned
moving to stand beside her.

Her eyes wandered to the
large doors that were beckoning her, promising freedom if she could
reach them. The doors opened and she watched as Sebastian
re-entered the hall, a dejected expression on his face he
disappeared into the crowd before her gaze swung back to the man
beside her. “Tobias?”

“What is it
dearest?”

“Is he the last clan rep
that we were meant to meet?”

“Yes.”

“Does that mean I can
leave now? Ilyanna and I want to go and see baby Alice and the
triplets.”

“I guess it
does.”

Thank god, I
can finally get out of here.
“Come on
Ilyanna, let’s go.” She grabbed the older woman’s hand and sped
towards the exit, all the while conscious of dark eyes staring at
her retreating form.

Chapter
Thirty

A loud banging
woke Tobias and he sat up abruptly in bed, his gaze darting to
Alex, pleased to see that she was still asleep.
Last night certainly must have taken it out of her; I don’t
know how anyone could sleep through this racket.

“This had better be
important,” he grumbled, carefully extracting his limbs from Alex’s
before rising from the bed. Quickly reaching into a drawer, he
pulled out a shirt pulling it over his head before heading towards
the door. Opening it a little, he shoved his head through the
crack, staring at the two guards that waited for him
outside.