Bonded to the Pack (Born to be Were) (15 page)

“No, you’re right, she didn’t,” he said
in defeat.

“I get the impression she doesn’t like
what they are doing, but sometimes being loyal means doing something you don’t
agree with.” She took his hand and looked at him pleadingly. “Do you think your
pack members always agree with your father’s decisions? That they always want
to do what he tells them to. Do you always agree with him?”

Alec knew she was right. There were many
times he would have done things differently from what his father wanted, but he
was loyal to his Alpha and did as he was told.  “Maybe you’re right, but I
still can’t bring myself to trust one of their people.”

“I’m no tasking you to trust Jaden, but
could you at least trust me?” she asked softly.

Alec sighed. When she looked up at him
with her big green eyes, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her and she knew
it. “Just don’t make a habit out of spending time with her, she’s the enemy.”

Mercy smiled and shook her head. “She’s
not the enemy.”

“Mercy,” he growled.

“I know, I know,” she said taking his
arm. “Let’s go inside. I think I have had enough of the great outdoors for one
day.”

Alec took her arm, but looked back to
the wood line where he knew Mason dwelled. He allowed his senses to roam and
found him hidden deep in the branches of an old evergreen surveying the scene
calmly. Mason tipped his head to him and Alec nodded, turning his attention
back to Mercy knowing Mason would keep an eye on the Elders’ contingent for
him. He didn’t completely trust him, but he did trust that he would protect
Mercy. She had accepted him when no one else would and Mason had become
fiercely loyal to her because of that trust. 

“Whom do you think the council is
sending?” Mercy asked Gregory.

“There are five members of the council. Alaric,
who is the oldest, Gabriel, who is probably the most reasonable of them all and
our best chance to get them to reconsider this whole situation.” He sighed and
went on. “Olis, the newest of the members, is going to follow whatever the
others do since he is still trying to earn their respect; Valdus, a descendent
of one of the original Elders, is a wild card, he will vote where he can best
profit; and Ranak, the most stringent protector of our laws. He is the one we
need on our side. If he can be swayed then the others just might follow.”

Mercy marked each of the Elders’ names
and stored away the information he gave her. Once she met them it would be
useful for her to know how best to deal with each member and just his brief
description gave her some insight as to whom she would be dealing with.

“I have already spoken to Gabriel, but
he wasn’t willing to commit one way or the other. I am hoping when they meet
the two of you that it will become clear that you belong together and he will
help persuade the others to back down. Unfortunately, none of them have found
their Bond Mates so they won’t understand how special that connection is and
that could be a problem.” Gregory looked to his son. “You are easy to anger
where Mercy is involved and they might see any act of aggression as a challenge
to their authority. It will be imperative that you remain calm before them.”

Alec nodded, but he was very concerned
about what would happen when he faced the Elders. They were trying to take away
the only female in the world meant to be his and he wouldn’t tolerate it.  Mercy
squeezed his hand and he looked down on her, smiling as if nothing was wrong,
but he could tell by her frown she wasn’t buying it. Fortunately, she didn’t
call him on it and he refocused on his father and the conversation he was
having with Lucan.

“I met Alaric once when he came to see
my father,” Lucan said. “Even back then he possessed a power that was vast. I
can’t imagine how it has grown.”

“He can bring even the strongest Alpha
to his knees with just one look,” Gregory assured him, giving his son a look
that said to heed his words.

“It was Ranak who convinced them to
enforce the law,” Cade said.

Gregory nodded. “There must be something
on it for him, but I can’t figure out what.”  

“Why did no one seem to remember this
law until now?” Mercy asked, clasping Alec’s hand tightly, sensing his growing
upset as the conversation continued. 

Gregory looked to Cade, who shrugged. “I
don’t know how they found out, just that they did.”

“How did you find out?” Mercy asked
innocently. “Why wouldn’t they come here and tell Lucan, he is my legal
guardian.”

“Does it matter?  Either way they would
have come for you and we need to be prepared,” Alec said, earning a look of thanks
from her brother who was startled by her question. He knew they went to her
real father because pack laws were very different from human ones. Lucan could
have all the paperwork in the world claiming her as his own, but blood was what
mattered when you were a werewolf. 

“I tried to reach out few of the other
Elders, but they keep putting me off so I don’t see too much hope there,”
Gregory said as they walked into the kitchen and took seats at the table while
Lucan began to prepare dinner.

Mercy knew by her brother’s slow
movement he was thinking about what would happen when she appeared in front of
the Elders. “I’ll be back,” she said dropping a kiss on Alec’s lips before
moving to her brother’s side and taking the fresh salad greens from him. “Let
me help,” she offered, earning a wan smile.

They worked for a few minutes before he
stopped cutting carrots and turned to watch her rip the lettuce and place it in
the bowl. She felt his gaze upon her and turned to face him trying to smile
even though she wanted nothing more than to cry. “Everything is going to be
alright, Luc.”

“Yeah, I know,” he said turning back to the
carrots.

“If we can’t convince the Elders to
forget about this law, Alec will fight for me.” He looked at her sadly and she
placed her hand on his arm. “I believe in him, you should too.” He nodded and
looked back down at the massive quantity of carrots he had chopped with dismay.
“Don’t worry I will cook them with some brown sugar and butter,” she said with
a smile.  

“Thanks,” he said pulling her into his
arms and hugging her tight. “No matter what, we love you and we will figure
this all out.”

Mercy wiped a tear from her cheek and
hugged him back. “I never doubted it,” she murmured.

Alec looked to where Mercy stood with
her brother, her eyes filled with tears, and felt his heart breaking for her.
As upset as they all were, for her this would be incredibly life-changing if he
failed. Her easy acceptance of the Elders’ impending visit had been a shock to
him and a sign that she had indeed matured throughout the last year. She had
taken the news gracefully, and faced the challenge straight on, instead of
drowning in her own misery and hiding away from the world as she might have
done in the past.  If he had ever doubted her strength and determination the
last few weeks proved she had what it took to be the mate he needed by his
side.

“Alec,” Gregory said, noting that his
son was not paying attention.

“Sorry,” he said, turning back to face
Cade and his father. “What were you saying?”

“Cade was thinking a few of us should go
to some of the packs that are on the fence and  try and persuade them that the
law is wrong and should be changed,” Gregory explained.

Alec nodded. “It sounds good, but it
would have to be just the four of us. I don’t trust anyone else with this, it
is too important.”

“I agree,” his father said. “I will go
west since I am not needed here. Cade can take the areas in the central states,
and between you and Lucan you can cover the packs here in the east.”

Alec looked to Mercy, knowing she would
be unhappy that he would be gone so much.  It was a sacrifice, though, that he
had to make so they could have a future together.

“At least with the Elders, guard here we
don’t have to worry about Mercy’s safety,” Cade told him.

“Yeah,” he said looking to where she
stood at the counter putting the finishing touch on the salad as she laughed
with her brother. She was so beautiful, her long Titian hair tied back with a
ribbon, dressed in jeans that showed off every curve of her body and a tank top
that showed off her figure perfectly.

“Son, this is going to work out,”
Gregory said next to him. “One way or another, Mercy will be your mate.”

It felt good to have his father’s faith in
him confirmed. He didn’t doubt his ability to fight for his mate, but he hoped
it wouldn’t come to that. Mercy had never seen a fight between two male Weres, and
he didn’t want her to witness such violence for the first time being done to
win her. As if she knew he was thinking about her, she turned his way and
smiled, blowing him a kiss, which in turn made him smile. She was everything to
him and he would gladly fight anyone who wanted to take her from him to prove
that.

“Steaks are done,” Lucan said walking to
the table with two large platters of meat, setting them on the table. 

Mercy laid out the rest of the food then
sat by Alec’s side, taking his hand under the table and mouthing
I love you
before she began to graze on her salad, as the rest of them devoured the meat
portion of the meal. She finished long before they did and sat silently
watching them all exchange stories and joke with one another. It reminded her
of all the times in the past when she had enjoyed such evenings and she couldn’t
help wondering if she would ever again feel such joy, such a sense of
peacefulness.

“I love you,” Alec said pulling her
close enough so she could lay her head on his shoulder.

“I know and I love you too,” she told
him as he took her hand in his own, lacing their fingers together.

Alec lifted her chin and looked deeply
into her eyes. “Forever,” he said huskily. “You and me, together, forever,
right?”

“Alright, you two take it outside while
we clean up,” Lucan said good-naturedly.

He didn’t have to tell them twice. Before
Mercy could move, Alec had her in his arms walking through the backdoor. Once
on the porch he carried her to the swing and sat with her across his lap, kissing
her as he had been longing to do all evening long. “You seem oddly calm,” he
said as they settled back into the swing.

“There is nothing I can do to change
this, and hysterics certainly won’t help, so I decided to just wait and see what
happens,” she told him. “Besides I know that if it comes down to it, you will
move heaven and earth to be with me.”

“I would,” Alec, acknowledged nuzzling
her neck playfully. “For you I would do anything.”

“I know,” Mercy said, looking saddened
at the thought.

Alec felt her apprehension and tilted
her face so her gaze met his. “You have nothing to worry about, Angel. If it
comes down to it I will fight every male, in every pack across the United
States for you.” He kissed her gently and held her close. “You are my mate and
no one, not even the Elders are going to take you away from me,” he vowed, his
heart pounding in his chest at the idea of anyone trying to separate them.

“Forever,” she murmured, clasping his
hand over her heart trying to contain the tears that welled in her eyes as she
met his gaze. The love he felt for her was clearly reflected in his chocolate-brown
gaze and she felt like the luckiest werewolf in the world to have him for a mate.

Chapter Nine

No
one knew who was coming or when they would appear and everyone waited on pins
and needles to see which of the Elders it would be. To Mercy, it didn’t matter.
She intended to charm whoever came and hopefully sway them into her corner. Her
entire goal was to make sure Alec never had to fight for her. She didn’t doubt
his ability to win, but she didn’t want him to get hurt in the process, so she
was going to do everything she could to prevent that from happening.

Alec
had been spending all his free time on the phone and traveling, trying to
convince other pack Alpha’s that the law the Elders might try to enforce was
cruel and antiquated. Although most of them agreed, very few offered to stand
up before the Elders and go against their decision if that time came. He
wouldn’t admit it, but she could see he was growing more frustrated with
everyday that passed and she worried that he might snap given the wrong
circumstance.

“Is Alec inside?” Mason asked as he walked
towards the porch, his lean muscular body encased in jeans, his chest bare, and
his long silky black hair flowing freely behind him.