My Mate's Embrace (19 page)

Anton didn’t bother commenting. He lifted his shirt over his head and slipped off his shoes and socks. Once the car stopped, he was out the door and divesting himself of his pants. Throwing everything into the car, he called the change. White and rainbow lights sparkled around him as his bones transformed and hair rose through his skin and rolled down his body. When the shift was complete, he started running.

He reached for Laurel with his mind, but she wasn’t answering. He could feel her near, but they were cut off. She must be in the sacred circle. The ceremony was underway.

Anton pushed his wolf form to go as fast as possible. Soon he was jumping over logs and dodging tree limbs. As he ran, he prayed he wouldn’t be late, that he would make it on time. He still needed to get his clothes from the cottage.

If he wasn’t so afraid of messing up Laurel’s ceremony, he would have enjoyed running full out, the wind blowing by his face, with his tail straight behind him and the strength and agility that emerged with being a wolf. He would have enjoyed the sound of the earth singing to him, as she recognized one of her own, and the smells of the trees and flowers, as he rushed past them, mingling with the smell of cooking fires and his brethren up ahead.

Anton ran through the village and took the path across the creek bridge and up the mountain to the high meadow. He could smell meat cooking and hear his pack members chatting. Breaking to the left, he ran up the short path to the little cottage prepared for his evening with Laurel. Rushing up to the door, he pushed it open and called on the change.

He didn’t even take a moment to see what the women had wrought, but grabbed the shirt and pants off the table and put them on as quickly as he was able. He slipped his feet into his shoes without bothering with socks. Closing the door behind him, he ran down the path.

As he rushed into the meadow, he saw Dmitry and their father standing near the cave entrance and made his way to them.

“You cut that awfully close. Here let me fix your shirt. You missed a button,” Dmitry said, reaching out to fix Anton’s shirt as he stood panting, trying to catch his breath.

“I have a comb. Quick run it through your hair,” Vikenti added.

Anton handed the comb back to his father, his heart rate starting to slow, when a voice boomed out from the cave mouth. Everybody stood frozen as the voice was heard both in their minds and with their ears.

I am Asena, mother of all Lycans. I choose Laurel to be my handmaiden, shaman to the pack. I call her mate to be my warrior and protector of my handmaiden. They are without equal and answer to no one but me. I charge Laurel with finding out why my people aren’t bearing young and to bring them back to prominence once more. Because this is a daunting task, I bless her with these gifts.
As I have chosen her, I adopt her as a daughter. She will have all the gifts of my own children. Furthermore, any language will be recognized and understood, so that she can read the
B¯¯E, M@ ¯3, and understand my ceremonies. So it is declared and so it is. Let all pack members bear witness.

Laurel lifted her head to the wolf goddess before her. She understood that to be chosen by a goddess was a great responsibility. Could she do what the goddess tasked her with?

“Have no fear, little one. You will do your best, which is all I ask of you. I give you one more gift. This amulet will allow you to contact me if you need guidance. It is a symbol of my grace. Keep it on at all times. You will find it will come in handy from time to time. I hear your doubt, but know I would never ask this of you, if you were unable to accomplish the task I set. Be at peace and know you are loved.”

Laurel looked down at the silver wolf amulet now lying around her neck. When she looked back up, the goddess was gone.

“Wow, does Asena show up for every ceremony?” Violet asked, walking up to Laurel to look at the amulet around her neck.

“I have not known her to do so during my lifetime,” Yelena said, helping Laurel rise. “You are blessed, child, and my son with you. Have no fear, the whole pack will help you in any way we can. But now we must get on with the rest of the ceremony. Are you ready to dance?”

“Did Asena just appear and speak to us?” Anton asked in amazement. “When was the last time that happened?”

“I believe she appeared to the Alpha and his mate to tell them to return to Siberia back during the Revolution. It would be written in the pack history book,” Vikenti said, looking at Anton intently. “You did hear that you are no longer a part of the pack hierarchy, right?”

“What does that mean?” Anton asked, suddenly afraid. He looked at his older brother and father, wanting—no needing—an explanation.

“It means little brother, you and your mate are the new spiritual leaders of the pack. No one is above you. You are outside pack law. You are treated as a treasured gift of the goddess.” As the last word left Dmitry’s lips, he knelt. Anton looked around, and soon the whole pack was kneeling. To him? He was a second son. He wasn’t a leader.

“Please, Dmitry, get up. Father, get up,” Anton said, grabbing his father’s arm and helping him rise.

Laughing, Dmitry clapped him on the back. “Don’t worry. We’ll help you figure it all out. We are still family, Anton.”

“My son, chosen by the goddess,” Vikenti said, hugging Anton to him.

Music started coming from the mouth of the cave, and everyone turned to see two rows of women walk out. They were dancing and throwing flower petals into the air as they made their way to the center of the meadow. There, the two rows broke apart and formed the beginning of a circle. Next, the women playing the musical instruments walked out and joined the circle. Finally, a group of women approached. Anton recognized Yelena and Violet in the front. At the edge of the circle they separated, and only one continued to take her position in the center.

Anton’s breath caught. Was this Laurel? Without thinking, he moved forward, unable to take his eyes off the vision in front of him. As her costume hugged her body lovingly, it showed off every curve. Her red hair was piled up on her head, jeweled clips and flowers woven through the tresses. If he could just see all of her face. But she kept her eyes down, and the golden fan blocked the rest of her features.

He made it to the edge of the circle when the music started again. Laurel looked up and their eyes met across the distance. Anton stood frozen, lost in her eyes, as she began to move.

Her movements were lovely as she dipped down and swayed to the music. Her eyes never left his face while she glided with such grace it took his breath away. She taunted and teased him. Anton felt his wolf rise to the surface. But even the wolf knew not to move. Soon, very soon, Laurel would be his. This dance was about being a woman and a woman’s power. Anton gladly rejoiced in it.

Their minds merged, and Anton felt Laurel dancing. He felt as if
he
were dancing. They were one, dancing for the goddess and dancing for each other. Pleasure and desire rose until they were drunk on each other.

She finished the dance, kneeling in her last pose, the fan coming to rest over the lower half of her face. She finally dropped her eyes to the ground. Anton didn’t know if she had danced hours or minutes. She was exquisite, and she was his. As the crowd started clapping and howling their approval, Anton walked forward. He lifted Laurel into his arms before claiming her mouth in a kiss.

The music started up around them, and soon they stood in the middle of the dancing pack members. But Anton didn’t care. All that mattered was Laurel and her taste on his lips.

“Let her come up for air, brother dear,” Alena said, patting him on the shoulder.

“If you dance with her, you can keep her in your arms,” Kolya said, whirling Alena away.

Anton looked down into Laurel’s blue eyes. He couldn’t get enough of her. He wanted to drown in her eyes.

“Would you care to dance,
lyubov moya
?”

“As long as I dance with you,” Laurel replied.

Smiling, Anton drew Laurel close and let the music lead them.

§

The high meadow looked beautiful as the sun started to set over the Siberian mountains. The candle lanterns in the trees flickered and danced while a light breeze blew through the branches.

Anton stood to the side, watching the pack members eat and talk as the evening drew to a close. Laurel stood near one of the lighted trees, talking animatedly to Sonya, who was handing her the golden book that kept the pack history. Now that Laurel wore the mantle of pack shaman, she would be responsible for the book and making new entries. Anton worried about Laurel being charged with finding out why the pack was suffering from a low birthrate and how to correct the problem. But no one said no to a goddess, and Asena had made it clear to the whole pack that she had chosen Laurel. As Laurel’s mate, Anton was charged with protecting and caring for her, a job he was only too happy to perform.

“Thank you for your service to the pack, Anton. You and your mate have given me hope for a future.”

Anton turned to find Jurek, the pack gardener. He was the man responsible for revitalizing the pack’s gardens and food supply. Anton smiled in welcome and held out his hand to the older man. Pleasure seemed to fill Jurek’s eyes as he took Anton’s hand. He had returned to the pack last year at Violet’s request.

Jurek had married a human who wasn’t his mate, something rarely done, but not against pack law. In order to be with his wife, he had left the pack and lived among humans, hiding his lycanthropy from all, even his wife. Several years ago, she had died suddenly in a car wreck on an icy road. Jurek did not return to the pack right away, afraid he would not be welcome. He started a nursery business and stayed in the village he had lived in with his wife.

When Violet became the Alpha female, one of her missions was to revitalize the gardens and make the pack more self-sufficient. She had searched out gardeners to consult, and finding Jurek had been a stroke of luck. She pleaded and cajoled and finally convinced Jurek to return to the pack and take on the project. He accepted but found his welcome somewhat strained with pack members his age. Some thought that by marrying a human, he had betrayed his mate. Some thought him a fool.

Anton was certain that Jurek didn’t care what people thought of him. In his own way, Jurek had loved the woman he married, even though the mating bond wasn’t present. When she died, he had grieved for her. Now he found solace in his work. Was Jurek saying that he now hoped to find his true mate? Being over forty, could he?

Anton looked around the meadow at his pack members. These people were his family and friends. A group of young single males stood off on the side of the field, playing lapta, a ball game. Anton felt his heart swell in gratitude that he had found Laurel so quickly while others still waited. While Dmitry performed the official acknowledgement of his and Laurel’s mating, Anton noticed jealous eyes and envious looks. These males still needed to find their mates. The task was daunting.

His eyes traveled toward his twin. Alena and Kolya were dancing to the music, holding each other tight. They looked into each other’s eyes, tenderness and love apparent on their faces. Alena was starting to show, her tummy round. Soon, a new baby boy would be added to the pack.

Dmitry and Violet stood close together on the edge of the dance area, each one holding a baby girl, while Yelena and Vikenti stood near. The family was still shaken from almost losing their father, and through him their mother. Thank goodness, Anton had channeled Laurel’s healing gift and saved Vikenti.

Where would Laurel’s quest take them? Would they have to leave their family to find answers to the breeding problems? Shaking his head, he let the thought go.

Tonight, he wanted to think only about Laurel. How he would please her, and how she would feel when they finally cemented their mating bond in place. Would she like the clothes his family members had ordered for her? Would she wear the lingerie he had picked out for her? Thank goodness, the little cottage they would use tonight was only a few feet down the path through the forest. When he could finally drag Laurel away from the party, they wouldn’t have far to go.

The few families with small children started to drift toward the path leading down the mountain to their homes. Stars began to twinkle in the twilight sky. A cool breeze heralding the coming of night blew across the meadow. After placing the golden book back into the silk bag and slinging the strap across her shoulder, Laurel took leave of Sonya and Matfei and moved toward Anton. He smiled in welcome and held his arms out to her. She walked into them, wrapping her arms around his waist. Anton stood for a moment, enjoying the feeling of having her in his arms. How he loved her! The smell of her skin filled his nostrils, and he drew the scent deep into his lungs. His.

“Are you ready to leave the party,
Lyubov moya
?” he asked, nuzzling her hair and ear.

“It’s been a whole week since we’ve been together. I can’t wait to be alone with you,” she answered with a sigh.

“Come, let us say our goodnight to our family,” Anton said.

He pulled her into his side as he turned to find Dmitry and the rest of the pack. Though he’d been impatient the whole evening, it wouldn’t do to cause hurt feelings. He walked across the meadow, weaving around dancing couples and tables and chairs. He reveled in how close Laurel was to him. How soft her skin felt under his hands. His body was reacting to her nearness, and the dress slacks he was wearing wouldn’t hide his arousal for long.

Of course, with a lycan sense of smell, everyone near Anton would know of his desire for his mate. He was tempted to throw her over his shoulder, and using his lycanthrope speed and agility, disappear from the crowd. But his pack members wouldn’t let him hear the end of it if he did. Besides he didn’t want to embarrass Laurel with such behavior.

Finally, they made it to Dmitry and Violet’s side. One look at Anton’s face must have told them exactly what kind of shape he was in. Lycans weren’t known to wait so long to cement the mating bond into place. The fact Anton did so was starting to wear on him. He wanted his mate. Now.