Fated for the Alphas: The Complete Collection (Nine Book Paranormal Romance Box Set) (29 page)

“Look, Alpha,” Viper said, putting far too much derision into the title, “either tell us your message, or buzz off. We have better things to do than natter on all day.”

Ronan seethed. But he couldn’t afford to lose his composure, not now. “Tell Shade that he, along with his pack, is invited to a feast at our den. Tomorrow, midday.”

“Why would you invite us to a feast?” Crossbones squinted his remaining eye.

“Our packs used to be allies, many moons ago,” Ronan said. “We’d like to strengthen our bonds once more.” He didn’t mention that “many moons ago” was before Shade’s family had darkened their southern border.

“You have enough stores to prepare a feast? Tomorrow?” Viper asked wistfully. Looking closer, Ronan saw that he was rather lean. It seemed winter had been hard on the Shadow pack.

“We could do it, too. If we wanted,” Crossbones said loyally.

Ronan hid a grin. They would have to, to maintain their pack’s honor. Still, he felt his heart softening a bit toward the two guards. He would be happy to give them some well-deserved food.

“Feast. Tomorrow. Midday,” he repeated. “You and your packmates are invited too. Join us, and eat as much as you want. Your Alpha can howl his response, or he can send one messenger to our den. I trust at least one of you knows the way.” Nodding again, Ronan shifted and loped the way he had come. There was no use in lingering here. He doubted Viper or Crossbones would like to chat.

Looking back, he saw two wolves, one dusky blue, one gray, running south. He smiled. They must be hungry. At least there would be two guests who would be glad to be there.

Putting his head down, he began to run in earnest. He had to get back to the den. Back to Lia.

***

“Seriously?” Ivy asked icily. “A feast? We just had a feast. We’re not magicians, you know.”

“I can help,” Lia said, hoping she’d be denied. She didn’t want to render their remaining food inedible.

Ivy looked her over, as if she didn’t trust Lia to wash a turnip. “I’ll keep that in mind… if I get desperate.” Stoking a fire, she set bunches of herbs on a counter. “The Alphas will hear about this. They need to give me notice. I can’t just whip a seven-course meal out of thin air.”

She continued complaining, banging around pots and pans. Lia huddled in a corner, trying to stay out of the way. Maybe she could offer to help with the dishes, or the fire, anything to make Ivy less irate. Lia didn’t know what else to do. Ivy was growing angrier by the minute. Though Lia wanted nothing more than to escape the kitchen and its oppressive heat, she had to stay. Ronan had given her this task, and she would see it through. Hopefully…

“What’s all this racket?” Della poked her head into the kitchen. “Ivy? Are you making dinner, or trying to wake the dead?”

“They want me to prepare a feast,” Ivy said. “A feast! Which I just did. Stores are running low. How do they expect me to work under these conditions?” Her voice strained.

Lia felt for her. Maybe Ivy was only being so cold because she was stressed.

“I don’t know what you’re so worried about,” Della said. “There are three whole deer in the cold stores. Our supply of roots is fine, and there are still six casks of birch beer. They’re newer than I’d like, but they’ll do. We’re going to be fine. You can even make some loaves of bread, there’s plenty of flour in the pantry. We’ll have to restock soon, though. I’m sure a trader will come through some time this season.”

Ivy twisted her apron, her eyes glassy.

“Well?” Della barked. “Are you the head of our kitchens, or aren’t you? No one is more resourceful than you, or more creative. That’s why you were assigned this post. Prove to us that you deserved it.”

Lia expected Ivy to lash out, but instead she took a breath, straightened her spine, and began methodically looking through the cupboards.

“Clove, Violet, Rain!” Della called into the mess hall. “Get in here. Ivy needs your help.”

“What is it?” Clove asked.

“Another feast,” Ivy said.

“Another?” Clove put a comforting hand on Ivy’s arm. Sharply, she looked at the others. “We’re going to make this the best one yet, you hear?”

Della pulled Lia into the hallway. “Don’t worry, chickpea. This isn’t the first time Alphas have handed down impossible orders. We’ll handle it, like we always do. Why are we having another feast, by the way?”

“Ronan is inviting Shade to the den.”

Della’s nose wrinkled with distaste. “Say no more. I know how he schemes. I assume he claims it’s all for the best.” She shook her head. “I hope he knows what he’s doing.”

They passed one of the rooms that lined the hall.

“Duke, Sequoia,” Della said. “Perfect. I need you to stand guard outside.”

“But Briar and Cage—” Duke began.

“Tell them that they’re relieved of duty, and they’re to check the snares in the lower meadow.”

Lia expected Sequoia to protest, but she followed silently behind Duke. To be fair, Della didn’t seem in the mood for arguments.

In the mess hall, Della flagged down Fox and Dash. “Can you two try to catch some birds or rabbits? There’s a feast tomorrow, we don’t want it to be sparse.”

They saluted. “Can do.”

“Huck, Dove.”

The two of them trotted up at Della’s words. “Is this for the feast?” Huck asked.

Dove grinned. “You’d do anything for a feast, wouldn’t you?”

“Will there be birch beer?” Huck asked wistfully.

“Six casks,” Della said.

“Then tell us what you need,” he said.

“Form a hunting party. See if you can get us some fresh meat. A big buck would be ideal. We’re hosting our favorite neighbor, so let’s show our strength.”

Huck grimaced. “We’ll do our best. One buck, coming right up.”

Lia watched them leave the den.

“Maybe we should hunt Shade,” Dove said, “for sport.”

“We’ll suggest that after he leaves,” Huck replied. “Any earlier, and it probably wouldn’t be diplomatic.”

Lia smiled. At least they managed to retain a sense of humor about all this.

“That should do it.” Della sank onto a bench. “Now we just have to mentally prepare. A feast’s never just a feast with someone like Shade.”

“Is it going to be all right?” Lia asked.

“You don’t mean the feast, do you?” Della stared at the rock wall. “Shade won’t hurt you here, chickpea.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I’ll be here.”

Lia sat on the bench beside her, feeling light as a feather. Not only had Della lifted a huge burden off Lia’s shoulders, she had snatched the feast from the jaws of chaos. Della was a lifesaver.

***

Everyone sat at the long table, which had been moved outside. The morning had been a flurry of activity as pack members put the finishing touches on roasts, stews, and other dishes. The hunters had outdone themselves; along with venison steaks, they were to be thanked for the rabbit stew and stuffed grouse.

No one had had time to eat more than a few bites the night before, and everyone’s stomachs growled at the spread in front of them. Steam curled up from the food, but no one moved to touch it. It was midday, but their guests had not arrived. So they waited.

“He didn’t howl,” Kane grumbled beside Lia. “He sent no messenger. What makes you think he’ll show at all?”

“Shade will come.” Ronan sounded confident, but the nervous way he kept squeezing Lia’s hand betrayed him. “He won’t be able to resist.”

They sat silently as seconds stretched into minutes. At the far end of the table, Cage and Duke murmured quietly to each other, jumping every time someone tried to talk to them. That morning, Lark had told her why they were acting so strangely. Shade had Bitten both of them, though he hadn’t been able to keep them in his pack. Neither of them was fond of their former Alpha.

At the other end of the table, Sequoia sat in stony silence. Flint and Clove were both trying to cheer her up, but it didn’t look like they were having any success. Lia’s heart twisted. At least Shade wasn’t her blood.

Lia felt slightly better knowing she wasn’t the only one dreading a visit from Shade. Even though Ronan said it was for the good of the pack, she wouldn’t be too disappointed if Shade didn’t show up.

Of course, he chose that moment to arrive. From the heights, Briar gave a warning howl. As one, the pack stood, jostling the table and plates. Shade made his way forward at a leisurely stroll, nodding to some of the men, and winking at some of the women. He was met with tight smiles or glares.

“Ronan! Kane. How marvelous to see you.” Shade took a seat across from the Alphas, putting his feet up on the table and narrowly avoiding kicking a jar of blueberry jam.

“We’re so glad to see you’ve accepted our invitation,” Ronan said.

“Oh. Are you mad I didn’t send word?” Shade asked innocently. “I didn’t think you’d mind. We’re old friends, after all.”

His henchmen sat down, one on either side. Lia didn’t know which one she liked less, the powerfully built one with what looked like a permanent sneer, or the leaner, but still intimidating one who seemed a little too calculating for her liking.

“Ah.” Shade had noticed her staring. “Allow me to introduce you. This is Raid.” He nodded toward the sneering man, who had grabbed a whole grouse. “Raid enjoys crushing people’s skulls, especially those of humans who wander into our territory. Raid, this is Lia.”

“Pleasure,” Raid said through a mouthful of meat.

“Lia of the Twin River pack,” Ronan added.

“I thought that would have been too obvious,” Shade said with a smooth smile. “Over here is Cougar. He’s been with the Shadow pack for almost as long as I have.”

Cougar lowered his head, doing a good job of at least feigning politeness. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Lia lied. But, if she had to choose, Cougar was probably preferable to Raid. Raid had set the half-eaten grouse back on the table and was now eating jam straight from the jar. He also had a chunk missing from his upper arm, along with a nasty scar. Maybe from someone who objected to his skull being crushed.

Besides Raid and Cougar, it seemed Shade had only brought one other, a boy who looked no older than fifteen. He stood behind Shade awkwardly, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked like he was afraid of making any wrong moves. Though he seemed to be admiring the food from under a wave of light brown hair, he made no move to touch anything.

Lia turned her gaze back to the table. Surely it wouldn’t help the boy to draw attention to him, but she couldn’t help but wonder who he was. He looked too old to be Shade’s son. The Alpha wouldn’t have Bitten someone so young, would he?

“I hope my message arrived to you intact,” Ronan said. “We did invite your entire pack.”

“Oh, I got your message,” Shade said. “I brought the ones who deserved to come. The rest still need work. I can’t start going soft on them, it might ruin them. And then where would I be?”

Lia thought that he might be with a pack that contained at least one woman, but she kept it to herself.

“We have plenty of seats for everyone,” Ronan said. “Please sit, lad. There’s food enough for you, too.”

The boy swallowed hard and looked away.

“I appreciate your generosity,” Shade said, “but he’s fine where he is.”

“What’s your name, boy?” Kane asked. His voice had a soft rumble to it.

“It’s of no importance,” Shade snapped, “just like him.”

It was strange that Shade would bring the boy if he was as unimportant as he claimed. Lia looked to Lark, who nodded. Lark would make sure that, in the commotion of changing courses, a warm roll filled with meat found its way into the boy’s hands.

“Enough chatter,” said Ronan, who had to be straining to keep that grin on his face. “Let the feast begin.”

Lia glanced at Raid as she picked up a cooked root. He seemed to be on his third course already. The man must have never been taught manners. Or he might have been taught by Shade, which could be even worse.

She nibbled on her root, not looking at Shade. She could feel him staring at her. To him, she probably looked like another piece of meat that he’d like to be served on a platter.

“Tell me, Lia,” Shade’s tone forced her to acknowledge him, “how do you like being bound to Kane and Ronan?”

Lia looked down at her arms. In the days since her binding, the red bands had worn away. She wished she had thought to trace them with extra clay. She didn’t want Shade thinking he stood any chance of winning her away.

“I love it,” she said simply. “I can’t imagine being bound to anyone else.”

“I could teach you some things,” Shade said. “My mother always said I had quite the imagination.” He laughed at his own joke. Kane stared him down, spearing a piece of meat so hard that Lia feared he’d cut right through the table.

Ronan stepped in, remarking on how the rabbit population was booming this year. Lia put a hand on Kane’s leg, hoping that would keep him from launching himself fangs first at their guest. Glancing at the far end of the table, she noticed that Cage had disappeared, along with Blossom. Lia felt a bit envious. She wished she could escape so easily.

“We’ll have to arrange a time for you to visit my den,” Shade said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with a lump of rock sticking out of the ground, but my den is exquisite. There are caverns that go on for miles. I guarantee that once you see it, you won’t want to leave.”

Kane split the bone of a venison steak in half, rather noisily. He watched Shade as he did. The threat was silent, but clear.

“You could bring escorts, of course.” Shade’s silky voice grated in her ears. “But I insist that you visit. I’ve been told that I am a wonderful host.”

“I believe I’ll take you up on that offer,” Lia said. “I’d like to see if these caverns of yours are half as beautiful as you claim.”

“Trust me.” He gave a predatory smile. “I’m an expert at identifying beauty.”

Lia took a sip of birch beer, trying not to shudder. At least the feast hadn’t been a complete waste. Ronan’s plan was working.

“I brought something for you,” Shade said, reaching for his belt. “I hope you don’t mind. It is customary for a guest to thank his hostess.” He held up a leather necklace. Though it was made of fine materials, it looked rather small.