A Wolf's Duty (43 page)

Locating his jeans, he
quickly donned them, returning to Alex and lifting her into his
arms as he made his way back to the estate. Holding her close
against his body, he ran, careful not to jostle her too much in
case she woke. Although he refused to run as fast as his body was
able lest she woke, he was still moving fast enough that they made
it back to the estate’s entrance quickly.

Upon his
arrival the large doors swung open and a crowd of people rushed
forth.
Good thing I got us both
dressed,
his mind chuckled before he
frowned, his wolf’s instinct beginning to pound at the temples of
his mind. Scanning the crowd he easily spotted his mother and
father leading the group along with several members of his
Council.

“Well?” Thomas demanded,
his loud voice carrying across the distance that separated them
even as his quick strides brought him closer.

His wolf’s mind was still
close to his own so soon after the full moon, its impulses and
thoughts easy merged with his, grabbing hold of his mind and
clouding it red with anger. The idea of so many people gazing upon
his mate’s almost naked form had his wolf’s hackles rising as it
paced angrily at the back of his mind and Tobias felt himself
agreeing with its actions. A low growl slipping past his lips as
the throng of people continued their approach. Shifting restlessly
in his arms, Alex turned her head further into his chest breathing
in deeply. The simple action, showing the trust she placed in him,
turned the low growl into a louder one and he bared his fangs to
the gathered crowd.

They think to
look upon what’s ours? Never!
He wasn’t
sure whether the thought had originated from him or the wolf and at
that moment he couldn’t find it in himself to care, roaring loudly
at the mass of people as they continued their approach.

“Wait!” Thomas shouted,
throwing his hands up to stop the progress of the crowd.
“Son?”

“What?” Tobias snapped,
his feet itching to simply turn around and take his mate back into
the forest.

We don’t need
to be here,
the wolf whispered seductively
to him.
We could live comfortably back
there. We can protect her and provide for her, we’ve proved that
over the last two nights. There’s no need to expose her to these
people. We don’t need them. We finally have our mate. Let’s
go.

The urge to listen to the
wolf’s demands was strong after having let it have control of his
mind so recently and he found himself turning away from the crowd,
his body tensing for another run, this time in the opposite
direction, as the desire to return to the sanctuary of the woods
rode him hard.

“Tobias?” Thomas called.
“I’m sorry there are so many people out here, I know it must be
difficult for you.”

You have no
idea,
the rational side of his mind
groaned.

“We all just wanted to see
if everything had gone well, everyone is very anxious for both you
and Alexandria.”

“I don’t need anyone to
worry about her, I can take care of her myself,” he snarled,
increasingly angry at the idea that others thought him unable to
provide for and protect his mate.

“We know that,” Thomas
chuckled as Yvonne came to stand by him, clasping his large hand
within both of her smaller ones. “You’ve proved that to us all. You
know that none of us would do anything to hurt her or make her feel
uncomfortable, Tobias. You’re my son, I only want you to be
happy.”

Forcing the wolf further
into the cage at the back of his mind, he could feel his ability to
reason and understand the consequences of his actions returning to
him. “I know you do father, but I don’t want all of you here. It’s
hard on me,” he grumbled.

Yvonne’s eyes finally took
note of Alex’s state of undress. Her legs were bare, the large
shirt that she presumed was her son’s, only just covering the bulk
of her body and understanding dawned on her. Turning to her side,
she was pleased to note that Maria had managed to stick close.
“Maria,” she whispered urgently, “run into the estate and get a
large robe, one that Alexandria has previously used if you can
manage it. Then bring it back to me, be as quick as you
can.”

“Of course your majesty,”
she replied, vanishing into the crowd as she sped off along the
halls of the estate.

With most of the estates’
residents outside, she was able to make her way to Alex’s room in
next to no time, easily locating a large bath robe the Princess had
used before she had left before speeding off to make her way back
to Yvonne’s side. Nothing seemed to have changed in the few minutes
she had been gone, the crowd were still standing stationary near
the estate while Prince Tobias stood a fair distance away from
them, Alex still held tight against his chest.

“Your majesty.” She
pressed the garment into Yvonne's outstretched hand.

Releasing Thomas’ hand,
Yvonne stepped forward as though to leave the large crowd and head
to her son’s side but her mate’s hand on her wrist stopped her.
“What are you doing Thomas?”

“Stopping you sweetheart,
you can’t go to him. He’s not thinking straight, can’t you see
that?”

“There’s nothing wrong
with my sight love. I’m going to help our son and there’s nothing
wrong with me doing that either,” she murmured sweetly.

“Sweetheart, his wolf is
likely still at the front of his thoughts, he could see you as a
threat and attack you.”

“No
honey,
I’m
his
mother and
I’m
female, he’s not going to see me as a threat. You and this
crowd on the other hand…” She trailed off allowing Thomas’ wolf to
fill in the blanks.

“Yvonne, sweetheart, I
don’t want you to do this.”

“Thomas, you’re going to
let me go aren’t you love?” she purred, moving closer to him as she
rubbed her cheek against his.

“Yvonne,” the King
groaned, his eyes sliding shut as his mate’s scent wrapped itself
around his senses. The restraining hand on her wrist loosened and
the Queen slipped away from the crowd, striding across the distance
that separated her from her son.

“Tobias love, I’ve brought
something for Alexandria.” She stopped moving a few paces from him
and held out the blue robe.

The scent of vanilla
reached his nostrils and he walked towards his mother, snatching
the garment from her.

“Do you want some help
son?”

He nodded,
turning his back to the audience. Smiling, Yvonne walked towards
him and together they managed to get Alex into the robe, though she
still refused to wake despite the constant movement of limbs and
appendages.
I didn’t realise she was such
a deep sleeper; anyone else would have woken up by now,
Tobias sighed. Satisfied that she was sufficiently
hidden from the intense stares of the crowd, he felt himself calm.
“Thank you mother. I don’t know what came over me.”

“You’re more like you
father than either of you can see,” she chuckled. “Now, shall we go
and see what all these people want before you abscond with you mate
to your rooms?”

“It isn’t like I have a
choice,” he grumbled, moving towards his father and the gathered
crowd.

“Your
highness?”

His eyes landed on Adam,
the chairman of his Council as the man rushed forward. “What is it
Adam?” Tobias drawled, anxious to get inside.

“Is it done?”

“I don’t see how that’s
any of your business!” Tobias roared, angry at the man’s intrusion
into his personal life. “What I do with my mate is my
concern.”

Having spent years with
Tobias, Adam didn’t so much as bat an eyelid at his Prince’s tone,
instead continuing in his ever-composed voice. “Your highness, the
laws of succession,” he reminded calmly.

His eyes narrowed at the
reminder of his position. “I’m intimately acquainted with the laws
of succession.”

“Then you know why I
ask.”

“Yes it’s done.
Damn it, I don’t wish to deal with this right now. I have more
important things to deal with right now.”
I want to get Xandria somewhere warm, she’s not shaking as
hard but I want to check her over for any injuries I might have
given her. Damn it! I should have waited. I’m so much bigger and
stronger than she is, how could I not have hurt her?
The scent of blood assaulted his nose and his mind
flashed back to the dried blood he had seen between her thighs
earlier, though try as he might he couldn’t find it in himself to
regret totally the actions he had taken last night, the idea that
he had caused harm to his mate didn’t sit well with either him or
his wolf.
And I want to get her into a
shower.

“Your highness, you’re the
Prince of our people and you should take your responsibilities more
seriously.”

“I take them very
seriously Adam, as you should well know,” he growled, increasingly
angry with the man that stood before him.

“I’m sorry your highness.”
He paused. “May I see it?”

Tobias knew the man in
front of him was referring to the mark he had left against his
mate’s skin and his gaze was instantly drawn to it. His bite had
healed in that it was no longer bleeding, but the imprint of it
would be forever etched into her skin. The teeth marks were large,
reflecting the size of his fangs when he had created the mark and
dead in the centre was his initial etched into her skin. Deeper and
without the ink of a tattoo, any of his kind upon smelling her
scent now merged with his own and seeing his mark would know that
this was his mate.

Tobias was
vaguely aware that the council member meant well but he couldn’t
stomach the thought of him eying the intimate mark so early on. His
mind conjured up images of Adam’s hands against Alex’s skin, his
fingers touching the tender skin to check its permanency.
Never. I’ll never let someone touch her. She’s
mine!
Tobias’ tenuous control on his anger
snapped, but before he could lunge for the man despite his cargo,
Thomas had moved, grasping the man by the throat as he walked him
back into the estate.

“That was a very stupid
thing to ask Adam considering the state of the Princess’ attire.
You could have waited, it’s not as though the mark will fade,” the
King claimed, shaking his head as they entered the doors, his voice
fading away.

As though the departure of
the King was a signal, the crowd that milled around them began to
disperse, unwilling to further ignite Tobias’ anger.

“Let’s head inside Tobias,
you can make Alexandria more comfortable indoors.”

He nodded,
clutching her closer to his chest as he followed his mother into
the estate.
I should savour the time we’ve
got together. The council is filled with people like Adam and now
that I’ve claimed her they’ll all be pressing their demands for a
quick coronation.
He groaned, the idea
distinctly unappealing.

Chapter Thirty
Nine

A light knocking at
Ilyanna’s door diverted her attention from keeping an eye on her
boisterous triplets as they played in the wide expanse of the suite
they had been given. The heavy wood furniture had all been pushed
to the very corners of the front room allowing the triplets to
roughhouse on the wooden floor in their wolf forms. Holding Alice
to her chest as she gently rubbed the baby’s back, burping her
after her latest feed, she crossed the room, mindful of the flying
balls of fur that were her children.

“Who is it?” she drawled,
her voice sluggish as the fatigue of caring for four young children
set in.

“It’s me Ilyanna,
Alex.”

“Oh, your highness, come
in,” she gushed, turning the door handle to grant her
entry.

Smiling at the flustered
look on the older woman’s face, Alex walked into the room, noting
the haphazard rearrangement of the furniture before her eyes landed
on the small brown and grey wolf cubs. “I don’t want you to call me
that Ilyanna, my name is Alex. I’m not comfortable with people
calling me your highness. I still don’t feel that I’m right for the
part.”

“But your highness-” Alex
turned to glare at her and Ilyanna’s flustered features relaxed as
she calmed in Alex’s presence. “What is it Alex?”

“Nothing much.” She sat on
the floor in front of the dark green sofa that Ilyanna usually sat
on. Her hands reached out to hold one of the small cubs, caressing
it behind its ears. Receiving a friendly lick to the cheek as a
reward, she placed the cub back on the floor allowing it to
continue to play with its siblings.

I would have
thought she would be a little put off by the cubs,
Ilyanna thought, as she moved to sit on the
sofa.
But she has spent much time among us
now, I suppose our wolf forms are natural to her now.

Turning her attention back
to Ilyanna, Alex smiled though its warmth failed to reach her eyes
alerting the older woman that something was bothering her friend.
“I just thought that maybe we could spend some time together, I
mean it must get pretty hard looking after all these children by
yourself.”