Authors: Kassanna
He’d arranged for his sister to infiltrate the Blaidd compound over a year ago, yet she fed him very little information. Didn’t she realize he was taking down Volkshire for her benefit as well as his own? Those damn wolves were a blight on the shifter society. For a few months their mother, Greta, was Ian Blaidd’s mistress. Colin’s father was the Alpha of the Volkshire pack and head of Council at the time. His mother waited in vain for Ian to claim her, even giving him a bastard son. She died blaming Heinrich until the end that Ian, her great love, had rejected her because of him.
To his knowledge his mother had been Ian’s secretary and when Ian’s wife died in childbirth, his mother became Ian Blaidd’s solace for a brief span of time. It wasn’t short enough considering his conception. For the duration of his life with Greta all he heard was it was his fault Ian never claimed her.
He swallowed the rage that threatened to overtake him. The day he’d discovered Ian Blaidd was his father was etched deeply on his mind. One day out of the blue, his mother told him they were taking a short trip and it was a surprise. Heinrich snorted. He’d been so happy and for once his mother was being nice. He was eight and it was his first time to the Council building. That building was currently under renovations to update it. Matos’s office had also been Ian’s and when his plan was complete it would be his workplace.
Heinrich focused on the seat Colin had left empty seeing his past in vivid color. Up until his mother had taken him to the organization, he’d only imagined what the shifter administrative center looked like. The sights, sounds, and smells of that day assaulted him. Not bothering to hide her impatience, his mother had tapped her shoe on the marble floor of the lobby while they waited for the elevator. She’d dragged him by the arm down a hallway that stunk of old paper so fast he had to run to keep up. He had no clue where she was taking him but to be around shifters that were warriors was a dream come true. These men were his heroes. The tales of how they lived and their battles were spoken in hushed tones with unmitigated reverence. When he read the name on the door where she stopped, he was giddy with excitement. Ian Blaidd, the Great White Wolf.
Ian was a legend in shifter circles, a large and imposing man with a mane of pure white hair. Greta urged him through the door. Even then, as he stood in front of Ian it felt like he waited for a judgment from God. Heinrich rubbed his chest over his heart, lost in the memories. Ian had looked down at him and smiled inquiring who he was. Greta insisted he was Ian’s son and he should be publicly acknowledged as such. She shoved him before Ian and grabbed his small chin demanding that Ian look at him.
Hot tears had run down his face from her harsh treatment as she jerked him about. In that moment the great wolf became his savior, tugging her off him and moving her to the side. Ian then took out his billfold and pulled out a few dollars. He pushed them in his hand and gently urged him out the office, telling him to go downstairs to the café. Heinrich snorted. He’d never been so glad to get away from his mother, and he practically ran from the room.
His mother found him in the small restaurant, sipping on his second milkshake. Black smudges circled her eyes while white streaks trailed her cheeks. She said nothing, yanked him from the seat, and marched him through the rotating glass doors. After that she took to her bed, leaving him to fend for himself. When she finally emerged from the bedroom, it was to tell him he was the reason Ian Blaidd never wanted to see her again. That if she’d been able, she would have terminated the pregnancy since he didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as his father. Right then he made the connection and it hit him like a thunderbolt of understanding.
He was Ian Blaidd’s son and the Great White Wolf wanted nothing to do with him. It shouldn’t have surprised him, after all neither did his mother. She ignored him after that and married a coyote. He wasn’t an Alpha but he treated her well and actually tried to be a father to him. The man even adopted him so that they shared the same last name. His mother’s indifference and the way she doted on his half siblings hardened his resolve to wipe the Blaidd line out by any means necessary. The only sibling he had a relationship with was his sister Amelia. The others took their cues from their mother, treating him with disdain.
Amelia, she’d given the only unconditional love he’d ever had or known. As a pup, she followed him around, ignoring their mother’s constant put-downs. Lately, she’d been avoiding him. Fear lifted its ugly head and yawned into a bottomless abyss, cutting through him like a sharp blade. Was it possible he was losing the only constant in his life to that shit pack in Volkshire?
It had taken him some time but it looked like his plan was finally coming to fruition. He needed to get Amelia back on board and inform Seri of his next step. He watched as the committee members started to take their seats. Heinrich sat down and half listened to the murmurs of his kindred clans. Colin made his entrance, a huge smile on his face.
Heinrich narrowed his eyes. The wolf looked smug. A quick glance at the other shifters revealed nothing. Even Jamison had his features schooled into one of nonchalance. He looked up in time to catch Colin looking at him. The bastard gave him a slow triumphant smile and nodded his head.
Colin cleared his throat. “Council chair, may I speak? I have information that will affect any future nominations and rulings.”
Heinrich turned his head and watched the farce unfold. Matos seemed to be enjoying whatever was happening. He lifted his chin and responded with a sharp bob.
“Thank you. I dispatched my youngest son on a diplomatic mission. Seems there are some clans out there that have not been counted by Council. Their numbers are large enough to qualify for seats at this table to be represented as is their right and according to our laws.” Colin pulled a stack of papers from his jacket. “Myka has secured an alliance with some of these groups and they’ve given the Volkshire envoy permission to act on their behalf.” He walked around the table and handed the papers to Matos. “You will find our paperwork is in order.”
Matos rubbed his chin. “These numbers must be confirmed.” He looked up and met the gaze of several men including Heinrich. “I’m tabling all action until this information can be verified. I am also going to put a committee together. This group will be our emissaries to…” Matos glanced at a sheet of paper. “Betaille for substantiation of these agreements.”
Heinrich choked back his anger and momentarily closed his eyes. When he opened them Colin was crossing the room. The wolf looked up and stopped, he cocked his head, turned on his heel, and headed Heinrich’s way.
Colin stopped on the other side of the table and placed his hand flat on its surface, leaning in. Heinrich rose. The men stood practically nose to nose. A guarded hush filled the room.
“What is your problem with my sons?” Colin asked.
“Who said it was with your kids, Colin?” Heinrich responded.
Colin’s head snapped back. He growled. “If you have a problem with me, issue a fucking challenge. Handle this like the shifters we are.”
“I won’t make it that easy for you, Colin. When it’s your time, you won’t see me coming.” Heinrich leaned in and whispered. “I intend to make sure you and your family go down like the rabid dogs you are.”
Colin snarled, snapping his teeth. His features changed and Heinrich knew a shift was imminent. He laughed and stepped away from the table as Colin’s allies scrambled to restrain him before he could vault over the table. Without a second glance, Heinrich sauntered from the room as he pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped redial.
“You must miss me,” Seri purred.
“Are you in heat, Seri?”
“No, why?” Confusion colored her voice.
“Then focus on the fucking business at hand. There will be time to satisfy our sexual needs later.” Heinrich barked.
“Fine. What now?”
“A change of plans. Roman needs to engage in a little battle with the Volkshire pack. As much as it saddens me it must be a fatal encounter for him, preferably by the hand of one of Colin’s bastard boys.”
“I’ll kill him with kindness.” A
click
, then nothing.
Heinrich dialed the next person on his list.
Sorry can’t come to the phone now leave a message…
He ended the call before her message was complete and squeezed the phone in a tight fist.
* * * *
Myka glanced away from the road for a moment to look at Tee. She was bundled up in his jacket fast asleep. Every now and then soft mewling sounds would escape past her lips. He rolled his shoulders. They’d been on the road for a couple of hours after getting a later start than he intended.
Contracts had to be signed, copies made and faxed to the appropriate parties. Tee’s mother had pulled him to the side, delaying them further. Myka wasn’t quite sure what to make of Loretta Cottons, dragging him away from the group citing that they needed to talk. He wasn’t certain but he swore he heard his brethren’s sniggers as she grabbed him by his biceps and pulled him outside. She released him to walk ahead to a picnic table resting on a sunny patch of grass. He followed her when he realized that she expected him to.
“I understand you’re not the Alpha of your pack.” She didn’t beat around the bush. Loretta sat down and motioned for him to do the same.
“No, ma’am. I serve as the diplomatic emissary of my pack,” Myka answered, unsure where the conversation was going.
“Will you ever be Alpha?” She looked up at him. “And will you please sit down?”
He swung his legs over the bench and took a seat. “I doubt it. My brother Rhys is better suited for the position.”
“You act like an Alpha.”
“My father says my brothers and I are all strong-willed. Is there some reason you have a fascination with Alphas?”
“I want the best life for my daughter. I’d always hoped she would’ve mated with an Alpha. Preferably a snake, but we both know that ain’t gonna happen now.” She folded her hands in front of her.
“May I ask what’s the point you’re trying to make?”
“Gertrudis is my world, the best parts of me and her daddy and the last link I have to the most wonderful man I’ve ever known. I say this so that you understand if you hurt my baby or if your pack makes her feel unwelcome in any way, I
will
find you. I
will
lay in wait for you and at first opportunity I
will
fill you with enough venom to kill an elephant.” She smiled sweetly.
Myka looked her in the eye and saw the truth of her statement. So this was what it meant to deal with in-laws. He marveled at the idea while choosing his words carefully. “I don’t believe you will have to do anything so drastic. I say this with all honesty. I’d never let anyone hurt Tee and I have two sisters-in-law who would literally rip off my balls if I did hurt her long before you could get to me.”
“Oh, well I like your family already.” She rose from her seat and moved her legs from under the table. “I will be paying my little girl a visit once I think you’re settled. It was nice talkin’ to ya.” Loretta strolled away as if she hadn’t just threatened to kill him.
He’d watched the older woman move with ease through the throng of people standing around the community center. Soft fingertips touched his jaw and he took another look at Tee. In The darkness of the cab her eyes shone bright.
She trailed her digits over his bottom lip. “You okay? Do you need me to drive?”
“No I was just thinking.” Their vehicle’s lights reflected off a rest-stop sign. “I need to stop and stretch though.”
“Okay.”
He took the turn, navigated the curves, and drove toward a squat building away from the others. Streetlamps illuminated each side of the empty parking lot. And the vending machine area was gated and secured with heavy silver padlocks. Myka pulled into a spot shrouded by shadows and turned the key to shut off the truck. Tee pulled the lever and pushed the door open to jump out. She slipped her arms into the sleeves of his coat and zipped it up. He exited the vehicle and stretched, pulling his arms down quickly when he felt her cold fingers on his stomach. His cock hardened at her giggle.
Myka pinned her arms to her side, twirled her around, and pushed her up against the SUV. Tee’s mischievous smile made her eyes sparkle. He reached up and touched the headband, which held the riotous curls away from her face.
“You should wear your hair like this more often.” He wrapped a digit in an errant, springy curl.
“Why, Mr. Blaidd, I do believe you have some interesting idea’s going on in that sexy head of yours.” She wiggled her hips.
“Yeah.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. “You’re too distracting for me to concentrate. I had to stop or we may have ended up in a ditch somewhere.”
“So your plan is to seduce me in an empty parking lot?” She slid her hands beneath his T-shirt.
His belly contracted from her cool palms. “Maybe if you can keep quiet this time, we’ll go unnoticed if someone else decides they need a rest.”
“Are you saying I’m loud?” she whispered before licking the shell of his ear.
“Under normal circumstances its music to my ears but, umm, we don’t want anyone calling the state troopers on us, now do we.” He reached between them and slipped his fingers into the waistband of her jeans.
Her button gave with easy. He tugged at her zipper and the metal unknitting was loud in the quiet night. She moved her hands up and pinched his nipples. His cock jerked in his pants with each squeeze of her fingers. He jammed his hands into the back of her jeans, shoving them down to grab her ass. Tee tilted her head to give him better access to her throat. He flexed his pelvis grinding his groin against hers.
She started to whimper. Myka dropped minute kisses along her jaw, claiming her mouth with his when she started to moan. Her hands skimmed his ribcage and he laughed against her lips. He felt the tugs as she unbuttoned his button-fly jeans, pushed his pants down over his hips, and wrapped her hands around his member. Cool air flowed over his buttocks. She swallowed his grunts while sliding a smooth palm up and down his shaft. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, twinning it with hers. Myka pushed her pants as far down as he could without breaking the kiss. Tee stomped her feet to get the clothing to fall farther down her legs. He pulled her hand away, gripped her thighs, and urged her legs up.