"Protecting what is left of my father's pack," she told him. Nafarius stood towering over her, trying to intimidate her with his size. It was working.
"I have no quarrel with them," he told her. Nafarius could feel his beta's distress as he squared off with the male's mate.
Roland shifted, struggling to put his wolf back in the bottle and pushing his way through the transition. Standing, he tried to get a read on his mate. She refused to look at him, fixing all of her attention on Nafarius. Heart sinking, he focused on the mate bond but found it locked down tight.
"Maybe not," Natasha said. "But we both know what would happen if I allowed you inside."
The pack wouldn't stand for another alpha in their den, swarming Nafarius in an attempt to protect what was theirs. If it was just Nafarius, Natasha might think they had a chance, but Roland would never let his alpha inside alone and the two males would cut a bloody path through the pack.
"I want Dimitri," Nafarius growled, fists clenching at his sides.
"He's not here," William said, stepping out of the house to stand with Natasha. "He rarely comes home anymore."
"Tell me where to find him," Nafarius ordered, his voice saturated with power and rage, demanding that the lesser male obey. He was surprised when William looked down at Natasha, waiting for her nod before turning back and addressing him.
"I don't have a specific location," William said. "But he always comes from the north. There's a series of small caves up there, I suspect that's where he's been staying."
Nafarius nodded to William. Turning to address Natasha, he said, "You and I are having words when this is over."
Natasha nodded silently, watching as Nafarius turned and spoke quietly to Roland, his words too low for her to hear.
Roland nodded, staying behind as Nafarius strode into the trees.
Natasha clasped her hands behind her back, lifting her chin as Roland finally looked at her.
"You're leaving me," he said, searching her face, his eyes begging her to tell him it wasn't true.
"No," Natasha said softly, the tension leaving her shoulders. She hadn't meant for him to think that. "But I didn't think you would want to see me just now."
Her father's scent had been all over the death scene leaving no question as to who was responsible for Marcus' death. Roland's fury had been understandable, she was just too weak to withstand that much rage boiling over and onto her.
"You belong with me," Roland said.
"She belongs here," William said. The pack had been surprised when Natasha showed up, her arrival unexpected but welcome.
"You can't protect her," Roland growled, taking a step forward and lowering his head.
"We can - " William stopped, Natasha's hand on his arm silencing him.
Roland snarled at his mate's hand on another male. "If you don't want him dead, you'll take your hand off of him."
Natasha slowly lifted her fingers but stepped between William and her mate. "This is...was my father's pack," she reminded him. "I grew up here and no matter what has happened, they're still mine to protect."
She felt it then, the bond with her father's pack snapping back into place. No, not her father's pack -
her
pack.
Over Natasha's shoulder, Roland watched William's eyes grow wide, the male's body shuddering as he made a move towards Roland's mate. Snarling, Roland took another step forward.
"Don't," Natasha said, stopping Roland's charge with a hand on his chest. Opening herself up, she let him feel her pack, her joy spiking along the mate bond. "He's mine, Roland. They're all mine."
Roland's relief at feeling his mate back along the bond was short lived. Natasha was alpha, the bond to her old pack having snapped back into place when she'd stepped up to protect them. "What about us?"
"I don't know," she said. All three bonds were still in place, each one running along the next. "I thought it was crowded in my head before..."
William quietly slipped inside, closing the door behind him. Inside, the rest of the pack pushed forward, eager to know what was happening. "Not now!" William hissed.
"Come home with me," Roland said, he couldn't lose her.
"They need me," Natasha said, her eyes darting over her shoulder. She could
feel
them behind her, the pack anxious to greet her as alpha and fearing that she would leave with Roland, turning her back on them.
"I need you," Roland whispered. Ringing had started in his ears, his heart pounding against his chest leaving him short of breath. "I'm sorry I yelled - "
"I know," Natasha said, smiling softly. "But this isn't about that. This is my pack. I was born here..."
"You promised me a thousand years," Roland reminded her.
"And you promised me forever," Natasha said. "Come with me."
Roland blinked.
Natasha ignored the wall of shock that came from the pack. With his scarred face and body there for the pack to see, not to mention his reputation as Nafarius' beta, it was no wonder her pack was suddenly uneasy and restless at her back.
"I can't leave Nafarius," Roland said. The male had rescued him, seen something in Roland worth saving. He couldn't repay him by abandoning him.
Natasha gave him a knowing smile. Reaching for him, she cradled his face in her hands. Drawing him down, she brushed a soft kiss across his lips. "I love you," she said. "We don't have to decide anything right now."
Roland allowed himself the pleasure of wrapping his arms around her waist, and pulling her close. "I've already lost so much," he whispered. "I can't lose you too."
"You're not losing me," Natasha said, her smile widening. "You're gaining a pack."
Roland groaned, feeling himself ready to capitulate and give her whatever she wanted, just so long as she stayed his. "Because that's just what every werewolf needs, two packs."
Natasha laughed, knowing that everything would work out, one way or another.
Roland gave himself another moment just to hold her, his forehead pressed against hers. "I should go," he said quietly, hating it when she stiffened.
Natasha nodded, her throat tight.
"I'm sorry," Roland said, brushing the hair back from her face before taking it in his hands and kissing her. "This will all be over soon."
Natasha nodded. "Promise me you'll bring my father back," she said.
"Tasha..." Roland wasn't sure that was a good idea.
"I don't care," Natasha said fiercely. "I don't care what he's done or what condition he's in, he's still my father and I would see him buried and properly mourned."
Roland hesitated, but eventually nodded. "Alright, I'll bring him back."
"Thank you," Natasha whispered, reluctantly letting him go.
****
Natasha closed the door behind her, leaning her head back against the aged wood to catch her breath. Jesus, what had she done? Eyeing the waiting pack, she estimated she had about three seconds before they were on her.
"What happened?"
"Are you really back?"
"What about Nafarius?"
Questions came at her from all sides, all of them deserving answers. "Wait, wait!" Holding her hand up for silence, Natasha scanned the crowd looking for one face in particular.
"Craig," Natasha said, addressing her father's beta.
Craig slithered forward, his hands tucked into the front of his neatly tailored pants. "Welcome home," he sneered. There was no way he would bow before this bitch. If she thought -
"Get out." Natasha ordered.
Craig's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Natasha said. The pack shifted nervously, most of them moved away from Craig and lined themselves up around her. "Get your stuff and get out."
"I don't know what you think happened out there," he said. Like everyone else, he'd felt the pack bond snapping into place, but he'd be dead before he stood as second to a female. "You have no right to order me out."
"This is
my
pack," Natasha snarled. "And it's been clear to me that wherever your loyalties lie, it isn't with us."
"I've served Dimitri well," Craig said. He'd come too far, put up with too much from the crazy old alpha to lose it all now.
"You serve yourself," Natasha said, her hand cutting the air when he went to interrupt. "You could have put my father down, spared him and everyone else the horror of this past year. There is as much blood on your hands as my father's."
"Perhaps," Craig's smile was slimy, Natasha suddenly wishing for a shower. "But if that's true, then there is no way you're strong enough to take this pack from me."
"Not on my own," Natasha admitted. Her skin crawling as she forced herself to step closer to Craig, shoving her face into his. "But you've met my mate," she said, drawing on some of Roland's power through the mate bond and letting it fill her eyes. "It won't be me alone you have to deal with."
Craig saw the knowledge swimming in the bitch's eyes and felt her power through the pack bond. It may not be her own, but the well of power her mate provided went beyond anything Craig could summon.
"Fine," Craig capitulated. He didn't need this bitch or her pack of backwoods wolves. He had enough information to buy his way into the Agency. No longer on the inside of Dimitri's pack, Jones would have no excuse for denying him clearance. "Keep 'em, I certainly don't want them."
Natasha's smile had teeth as she severed the pack bond, cutting off the contact with Craig. "Good, now get out. There's enough daylight left for you to make it out of my territory before dark."
Craig growled low in his throat, his stronger wolf answering the challenge thrown down by a weaker female. "Don't push me, bitch."
Natasha stepped into Craig's space, William's hand on her arm a subtle reminder. She could draw on Roland's power through the mate bond but even that may not be enough to defeat Craig if the male decided to attack.
Craig watched Natasha, the female holding her ground. She didn't push him but she didn't back down either. Shrugging, Craig flashed Natasha a smile that never reached his eyes. "You'll never be able to hold this pack, not even with that scarred beast by your side."
"Maybe not, but it's no business of yours," Natasha said.
Craig looked around at the pack. All eyes were on him and there wasn't a friendly one among them.
"Well, as you say, there's still some daylight left," Craig said, slipping past Natasha and reaching for the door. "Good luck," he said, his smile knowing. "You're going to need it."
Natasha waited until the door closed firmly behind Craig to sag against William, the male catching her up into a bear hug that had her squealing in surprise.
"Woohoo! Girly, you did it!" William bounced Natasha in his arms. His new alpha was a little slip of a thing, but there was time enough to get some meat on her bones. "I never did think he belonged here."
"Good," Natasha said, smiling down at William, her hands resting on his shoulders. "Because you're my new beta."
William dropped Natasha to her feet, lifting his hands as if touching her had been the problem. "Oh, no."
"Yep," Natasha said. She could feel the pack's power and knew where they all fit and how they would meld together. William was perfect for the role of beta, the male quietly loyal with a backbone of strength that most missed upon first sight.
William looked around for help.
"You held them together," Natasha said quietly, her eyes on her new beta filling with thanks. "I wouldn't have a pack to come back to if it wasn't for you."
"I couldn't take care of your father," William whispered, still shamed by the fact.
"That isn't on you," Natasha told him. She didn't want to think about what was taking place north of the pack house. Sadness for her father warred with fear for Nafarius. Both males were strong, her father had age and experience on his side, while Nafarius had strength and youth to protect him. And Roland.
Natasha's eyes closed briefly.
Please let her mate be safe
. She didn't want him pulled into the battle between Nafarius and her father.
The pack picked up on their alpha's distress, Kate coming forward and linking her arm with Natasha. "Come, let's get you settled back in."
Natasha let herself be led, Kate mothering her into sitting down and having a bite to eat. Looking around, Natasha realized they had a lot of work ahead of them. The house had fallen into further disarray in her absence, everything old and worn. For too long the place had existed under the fear of her father's illness, no one really living.
Rising, Natasha helped clean up the dishes, smiling her thanks to Kate before slipping back outside. Thankfully, no one followed, everyone understanding that she needed to keep this vigil alone.
****
"DIMITRI!!" Nafarius bellowed, stalking through the forest. He didn't bother to hide his approach, he wanted the other male to know death was coming for him. "Dimitri!"
"Ah...Nafariusssss..." Dimitri stepped out from behind a tree. Hunched over, his arms hanging loosely by his sides, the old alpha's body was as bent as his mind. "I see you got my invitation."
Nafarius's heart hammered in his chest as images of Marcus' mangled body flashed before his eyes. There would be no mercy given, and none expected. An alpha would die today.
Nafarius stood crouched, ready to strike. Dimitri circled around, but Nafarius spun on the balls of his feet to keep the insane male in front of him. Better to wait, and let him make the first move. What mattered was who made the last one. The memory of Marcus spurred Nafarius to attack, to rend, to kill. It was making a fine argument. Then Dimitri's half smile sent him over the edge. Snarling, Nafarius abandoned caution and charged at the mad alpha.
Although he was old, Dimitri's reflexes were still sharp. He surged forward to meet his nemesis. Closing the distance, Dimitri met him halfway, his eyes lit with an unnatural glow and a chilling smile carved on his lips.