Alpha's Mate (17 page)

Violet will not know of this.  No one is to tell her.  She suffered through me getting shot.  I have closed down my side of the mating bond to ensure she doesn’t feel my pain.  There is no shame.  The danger was to both of us.  Let it go, Andrei. 
He couldn’t let Violet suffer his pain.  As she was human, he wasn’t sure what it would do to her.  If she was a Lycan, he would still have tried to shield her.  He hated the fact she shared his pain of getting shot.  It shamed him that he was unable to protect her, in his weakness.  Never again.

Kolya, where is Violet?

She is with Alena, cleaning up my cabin.  Since I haven’t heard a whisper from them, I assume you are keeping her shielded.  Now cover your faces, we are getting ready to move this last boulder.

With the boulder moved, there was just enough room for them to slide out.  Andrei went first.  Dmitry could hear him coughing on the other side.  Pushing his way forward, Dmitry felt dizzy from the pain in his shoulder.  He reached out with his good arm, and felt Kolya grip his hand and start to pull him out.  Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and focused on keeping the pain away from Violet.  He was coughing and hacking as Kolya helped him sit up.  Then Kolya lifted him into his arms and carried him to the entrance of the cave.  The rest of the pack members followed with Sergei supporting Andrei.

“What are you doing?”

“Rescuing you, of course.  Now shift.”  Kolya lowered him to the ground and kneeled at his side.  “Your pain is radiating off you in waves.  You won’t be able to keep Violet shielded if you don’t shift immediately.  It’s a wonder you’ve managed it this long.”

Knowing his friend was right, Dmitry called the shift to his body.  Light danced in front of his eyes and he felt his muscles and bones change.  Hair and claws grew from his skin.  What was left of his clothes shredded.  With Kolya’s help, they fell away from him.  There was a hot energy around his shoulder.  When he thought he couldn’t stand another moment, it was done.  He stood in front of Kolya.  A huge black wolf, his head down, he panted.  Kolya smiled and buried his hands in his friend’s fur.  “I am glad to see you are back to normal.  With all the dust you looked like a ghost.”

The black wolf got a mischievous look in his eyes and then started to shake.  Dust flew everywhere.

“Hey, that wasn’t nice.” laughed Kolya, as he jumped back.

Soon all of them were laughing and patting each other on the back.  The Alpha was safe, and a disaster averted.  Kolya took charge, sending Sergei home with Andrei.  The others were put into groups to continue the search.  Now they needed to watch out for traps.

With his hand resting on Dmitry’s head, they turned towards the lodge.  The path was narrow going down the mountain.  But it opened up once they reached the valley floor.  The trees and breeze helped shake the last of the fear and pain from Dmitry’s mind.  He walked companionably next to Kolya, who continued to rest his hand on Dmitry’s back.

“You are taking too many chances, Dimka.  As your Beta, I would ask you to keep yourself safe.  You should not be searching for Lenka and going off alone.”

Dmitry in his wolf form snorted and shook his head.

“You have been shot and now caught in a trap.  You have to admit you are in danger.  I will assign a guard detail to you.”

Dmitry growled and showed his teeth.  He wasn’t going to put up with a guard detail, and Kolya would know it.

“You can growl all you want, my friend.  I think you should spend time with your mate.  She seems sad and lonely, when surrounded with the pack.  I think she is missing you.”

Dmitry flushed with embarrassment.  It was a good thing he was in wolf form and no one would see.  Was he neglecting his mate?  He felt a sudden inpouring of love coming from the mating bond.  With it shut down, Violet could still reach him.  She continued to amaze him with her telepathic abilities.  Not wanting her to know what transpired, he shut the link down further.  He needed to shield her.  It was unbearable to him that his pain hurt her.

Chapter Thirteen

Violet longed to have this crisis over and her old lover back again.  Last night, the report came in that Lenka and Igorek must have left pack lands, since no one could find them.  Dmitry became angry and ordered the women from the front room.  Violet left with Yelena and Alena, but in her room upstairs she heard raised voices going on into the night.  Dmitry came to bed after she was asleep. 

She sat on the edge of the bed, a new day before her, and thought about leaving.  Dmitry said he needed her, but he was never around.  But it wouldn’t really fix whatever was wrong?  She loved him.  She didn’t want to live without him.  Why did she put herself in this position?  Dmitry shouldn’t have to choose between her and his duty to the pack.  There must be a way to make this work.

If Dmitry couldn't be with her, then she would stay with his family.  She didn't want to become an added burden on him, when he was already so stressed.  Being Dmitry’s mate was like being married to a prince.  Affairs of the state always came first.  Is that what she wanted for her life?

Violet was making her way downstairs, when she heard sobbing coming from a room down the hall.  Her first thought was Sonya was suffering from her grief.  She quickly made her way to the door.  But, when she looked in, it was Alena who was crying her heart out on the bed.

“Alena, what is it?  What has happened?”  Violet rushed over and smoothed the hair away from Alena’s face.  Alena cried harder as Violet grabbed a tissue from the box on the table and held one out.

“Come on, Alena.  I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong.  Do you want me to call Yelena?” she asked.

“No....” said Alena between sobs.  “He doesn't love me....”

Violet felt more confused than ever.  “Who doesn't love you?”

“Kolya.”

“But you’re being silly, of course he loves you.”

“No, he doesn't want me....”   Alena mumbled, still crying.

“Why do you say that?”

“We did all the work on his cottage, but he won't let me move in.  I don't think he really wants me as his mate.”  confessed Alena.

“Alena, you worked so hard on the cottage.  Did he say why he won't let you move in?” Violet didn’t know what was going on.  She knew Kolya loved Alena.  What was going on with these two, and how could she make it better for them?

Just then, Yelena came in the door, and Violet let out a sigh of relief.  She didn't realize how much she depended on Yelena's help in situations like this.  She wasn’t used to being part of someone’s life.  She wanted to help but felt so inadequate.

“Come, Alena, you know Kolya loves you.  He is worried about Igorek and Lenka.  You would be alone and unguarded at the cottage.  He is trying to protect you.”  Yelena assured her.

“Really, Mama?  Then why doesn't he say so?  He just said ‘No’, and ran out the door.”

“Men are often gruff when they are worried about their women.  You would think they would be kind.  But they get aggressive, even with their mates.”

Just then all three women heard the front door bang open and the frantic voice of Kolya calling for Alena.

“See, he has felt your distress, and has come running.  Is that the act of a man who doesn't love you?” asked Yelena.

Violet gave Alena a quick hug and then followed Yelena out into the hall.  She smiled in encouragement as Kolya came running past them and into Alena's room.  Violet knew now they would work things out.  If only her problems with Dmitry could be fixed so easily.  Why didn’t he come running, anymore, when she was upset?  Of course, it did make her feel ridiculous when he did.  But it also made her feel cared for.  Tonight, they needed to have a talk.

Dmitry shifted into wolf form and nose to the ground, was hot on Lenka's trail.  He felt Violet wake up, her confusion and pain coming through the mating bond.   But he couldn't stop now.  Sergei and Grigori followed after him, fanning out.  Unfortunately, Dmitry lost that battle last night.  Kolya assigned a guard detail to the Alpha.  Dmitry hated taking resources away from other duties.  But Lenka and Igorek were a danger to the pack and needed to be found.

Violet would have to understand pack business would always be top priority.  But Dmitry felt his heart clench with guilt.  Shouldn’t Violet be his top priority?  She gave him her love and support.  She didn't deserve to be treated this way.  But the decision was already made.  He would try and make it up to her tonight.  He could bring her flowers.

Dmitry followed the trail up into the mountains, but lost it at the river’s edge.  He knew they entered the river but where did they come out?  Knowing the water would be cold, he jumped in.  The current was fast here.  With a burst of strength he swam across.  After crawling his way out, he shook off the excess water.  He searched the ground with his nose and eyes.  But there wasn’t a paw mark or scent trail to be found.  He moved farther and farther up the river bank, but still found no trace of them.  Finally frustrated and tired, Dmitry turned back down the river.  This wasn’t getting them anywhere.  With Grigori and Sergei following, they made their way down the trail, to the bridge at the base of the mountain.  It was time to find his mate.

Dmitry walked into the lodge and up to his room in wolf form, a bunch of wild flowers clenched in his teeth.  He could hear the women talking in the kitchen.  But before he looked for his mate, he wanted to shower and put on clean clothes.  He needed to look his best for her.  He walked into the bathroom and shifted.  Turning on the hot water, he put the flowers in a glass on the sink.  He could see the trail of mud he tracked into the room.  Yelena would not be happy with him for the mess.  Shrugging his shoulders he jumped into the shower and pulled the door closed.  He couldn’t wait to hold Violet in his arms.  He wanted to taste every inch of her.  To let her know, without words, how very important she was to him.

When Dmitry walked into the kitchen half an hour later, flowers in hand, he found only Alena and Sonya in the kitchen.

“Where are Violet and mother?”

“Taking a basket of food over to Kiryl and Dasha's house, their young son Vasya fell and broke his arm.  He is only four, and in a lot of pain.  He can’t control his shifting yet, so the injury isn’t healed.  Mother took over soup and pain medication.  Violet went with her.”

“Did they take someone with them?” asked Dmitry stiffly.

“Anton escorted them.”

Dmitry was irritated to realize Violet wasn't sitting around waiting for him.  If she was confused and hurt, why did she go out with his mother?  How could he comfort her, or give her flowers, if she wasn't home?  Putting the blooms on the table he stomped outside.  He was so angry.  How could this have happened?  Then he walked off towards the meeting hall.  There was so much to do, and only one person to do it.  The beauty of the forest around him could not change his bad mood.  He chided himself as he walked.  He couldn’t afford to be angry.  He ignored Violet all this week.  What did he expect?  Kicking at a branch across the trail, he admitted he was being unreasonable.  Something needed to change, and he was very much aware it was probably him.  His parents always shouldered the problems of the pack together.  They were a team.  He needed to include Violet, not shield her.  He was going about this all wrong.

Reaching the large metal building, housing the meeting hall, he went inside.  He needed to see if the chairs were set up, and meet with the elders to receive their blood oath.  All of his seconds and their men gave their oath and accepted the bonding.  Dmitry feared several of the elders would balk at the idea, including Lenka's uncle.  But now the decision was made all pack members would give the oath, or have to leave pack lands.  The ceremony for the elders would take place before the general meeting tonight.  Dmitry wanted to give them a little privacy out of respect for their age.  He approached the group with confidence.  He would talk to Violet tonight after the meeting.

Violet was sitting next to Dasha, while Yelena inspected Vasya’s arm.  She felt Dmitry’s irritation like a slap to her face.  He was angry with her, because she wasn't home where he wanted her.  Violet felt the tears start to come and excused herself to go outside.  Anton seeing her distress followed her.  He put his arms around her and let her cry.