My Mate's Embrace (9 page)

Anton walked over and tousled Illarion’s blond hair.

“Are you not supposed to be in school?” Anton asked.

“Teacher let me leave. She said I wouldn’t be able to think with Katya crying and to come back when she was better.”

Anton put his hand on Illarion’s shoulder and gave him a pat. So the teacher thought they were bonded too. Did everyone in the pack know?

“Well, Katya is fine now,” Anton said. “I guess you will have to head back. You cannot be missing your classes.”

“Ah, can’t I stay just a little while? It’s almost lunchtime anyway.”

Anton glanced at the clock. It was almost lunchtime. He and Laurel had slept late today.

“Alright. Laurel and I were getting ready to eat. You can join us.”

“If you want to, you can help me get the girls their lunch,” Violet added.

Anton escorted the whole group into the kitchen. He was glad to see his mother standing at the counter, preparing plates of food for the little girls. He went over to the pantry to get the high chairs.

“Illarion, you are joining us for lunch I see,” Yelena said, winking at the little boy.

“Yes, please Yelena,” Illarion answered .

“Sit down then. I will fix you a plate in a moment. Laurel dear, you must be hungry. Do you have any food allergies I should know about?”

“No, Ma’am, not that I know of,” Laurel answered meekly as she helped place Katya into a high chair.

“Please call me Yelena,” Yelena said, bringing over the two plates of food for the little girls, now sitting in their high chairs. “Do you want tea, Laurel? I have hot water on the stove.”

Anton held out a chair for Laurel, and then sat in the chair next to her, while Violet and Illarion pulled up chairs across from them.

“That would be great,” Laurel answered as she sat.

“Do you like apples? I can make some pancakes and put stewed apples over them.”

“That sounds wonderful. I’ll eat most anything, so please fix whatever is easiest,” Laurel replied.

“My mother is a great cook,” Anton said proudly. “Everyone in the pack thinks so.”

“Do you like to cook, Laurel?” Yelena asked.

“I enjoyed it while my mother lived. We used to cook together. I don’t know how to cook any traditional Russian recipes, though.”

“I would be happy to teach you,” Yelena said, bringing the tea over to the table.

“If you stay here at the lodge, we could really use your help when we cook food for the elderly shut-in pack members,” Violet added.

“If we stay? I thought this was Anton’s home,” Laurel said.

“Yeah, sis. Are you trying to get rid of me?” Anton asked. Did Violet think he should move out now that he had found a mate? She had never said anything like that before.

“Of course this is Anton’s home, and you are welcome to stay as long as you wish. I thought . . . well you have family in America.” Violet faltered, looking over at Yelena for help.

“Some couples like to have a house of their own,” Yelena added. “But there is no rush on that. Whatever you and Anton decide will be fine by us.”

Laurel looked troubled and bit her lower lip. Anton reached over and took her hand.

“Whatever
we
decide Laurel. That means you and me,
Malyshka
. Do not worry. They are not trying to get rid of us. Besides, they would not know what to do without me.”

“That’s true. Anton is such a big help around here,” Violet said. “Oh, which reminds me. Dmitry said he would take you off security detail until you and Laurel . . . well, cement your bond, should we say. So you are free to show Laurel around and stuff.”

“Great. I did not think of that. I will have to thank Dmitry tonight,” Anton said.

It was nice of Dmitry to remove him from the duty roster. Anton didn’t like the idea of leaving Laurel alone while he worked in the new security building. A new security system had been installed after the problems they’d experienced with rogue pack members. Now, the whole perimeter was marked with laser sensors that showed when someone entered pack territory. Closer to the actual village, cameras had been added as well. That allowed fewer patrols around the property, and only a couple of people were needed to man the computer systems. This had been another of Violet’s ideas. Having her as the Alpha female had helped the pack come into the twenty-first century.

But Violet’s comment about him staying at the lodge still bothered him. Did they want him to leave? Now that Violet was having children, the lodge would fill up. What would Laurel want to do? Did she want to stay here in Siberia?

Laurel glanced at Anton’s family. Everyone seemed so nice. But what was Violet’s comment about? If they stayed? Didn’t they want her here? She chewed on her lower lip as she thought. Did she even want to stay? Where could she go? Anton said whatever
they
decided. She looked pensively over at him as he ate. When would he grow tired of being with her? She had wanted to get away from her stepfather. She never really thought about what she would do after that. Well, now was the time. Her mother had told her there were decisions to make. What did she want?

Taking a bite of the pancakes and apples, Laurel found she didn’t really know what she wanted. Anton said they were mates, but she had never considered getting married before. The last two years were so horrible that her only thoughts had been of escape. What would she be doing if her mother still lived?

Laurel and her mother talked once of her going to college in Virginia where her grandmother lived. But now with her grandmother’s medical expenses, there was no money to go to school. What would she study? She was smart. She always got good grades in her courses. She enjoyed reading and learning. But you couldn’t get a degree in learning. She didn’t know.

You have time to figure these things out, Malyshka, as well as get to know me better, as I will you. Do not get so frustrated.
Anton’s voice came flooding into her head.

Laurel looked around the table, but nobody except Anton seemed to hear the conversation. Everyone else was busily eating. She looked down at her plate and found it half empty. She had been so deep in thought, she hadn’t realized how much she was eating. She blushed in embarrassment, and Anton chuckled.

“Don’t laugh at me,” she said, glaring at him.

“I am chuckling because you are so cute. I am not laughing at you, Laurel. Please eat some more. You are very thin.”

“I can’t. I’m stuffed. It was delicious,” Laurel said.

“I am glad you enjoyed it,” Yelena said. “Anton, will you and Laurel walk Illarion back to school?”

“Ahh, do I have to go back?” Illarion asked.

“The twins will need a nap,” Violet said. “They won’t sleep if you’re here.”

“Alright. Can I come back after school?” Illarion asked. “I drew a picture for Katya.”

“For a small visit, before dinner,” Violet said.

Anton took Laurel’s hand as Illarion said his goodbyes. Then, Illarion took her other hand, and they were out the back door and heading down the path to the school.

Illarion skipped along beside Laurel, swinging her arm as he held her hand. She felt warmth in her chest and realized she liked being with the little boy. He pointed out various trees and flowers, naming them as they walked past. Once he identified a common swift as it went flying by, screaming for its mate. Soon, they were coming out of the forest into a clearing where there was a large log building. Beside it stood a playground with a jungle gym, and several children could be heard laughing and squealing as they went down the slide.

“Thanks for walking me back to school, Laurel. I like you. You feel nice to me,” Illarion said before running up to the building and in the door.

“You feel nice to me, too,” Anton said as he wrapped his arm around Laurel’s waist. “Come, I will give you a tour of our property. This, of course, is the school. I want to show you the security building where I work, though I sometimes fill in as a substitute teacher for the pups. We only have five boys who are school age right now. They are a great group. Illarion is, of course, an Alpha and the oldest. There are four boys who finished school last month, all around seventeen. Sometimes I take them out hunting. We work on survival skills and living as wolves. I also give classes on what it means to be an Alpha and his place in the pack hierarchy.”

“What does that mean, being an Alpha?”

“Well, an Alpha is a natural leader. They are normally strong-willed and able to make quick decisions. We also have Omegas, who are calmer and do not need to be leaders. The Beta’s are the enforcers of the Alpha’s decisions. They could be Alphas in their own right, but decide to support someone they love and respect. Kolya is Dmitry’s Beta and best friend. They are a good team and work hard to lead the pack into the future.”

Laurel shook her head, so much to learn and so much to remember. Anton took her hand and turned down a path leading in a different direction. The trees weren’t as thick here, and she could see small cottages and gardens interspersed between the trees.

“Our ancestors decided to return here after the revolution,” Anton said. “Our history says we were originally from this part of Siberia. But many lycans moved west and served royal families as advisors and military leaders. When times changed, we returned to Siberia to a place that was less inhabited and safer. Many of our families go back to the first Tsar of Russia. It is said that lycans were rewarded with marriages into royal families for their service to the country. Many traveled to other countries when marriages were arranged between the royal houses that ruled Europe. We found a small pack in London. But that pack seems to be having the same problem with birthing only boys that we have.”

“It sounds like you have interbred with humans for a long time.”

“I suppose so, at least in times past. But not for the last three generations, and only if a mating bond snapped into place. Lycans mate for life and can bear children only with their one mate. If I married just anyone, my seed would not take hold. There would be no pups from such a union. After the revolution, we kept to ourselves and found mates within the pack.”

“How do you think the mating bond knows who your perfect mate is?”

“I do not really know. Violet has some theories about it. She mentioned something about genetic compatibility to the sperm from the lycan. But I think it has to be more than that. We are connected mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart. That is more than physical compatibility.”

“Sounds like you need a scientist to figure it out.”

“But the scientist would have to be a mate to one of our males. We cannot take the risk of becoming a science experiment. If people knew we heal when we shift, they might try to study how. I am sure someone would pay a lot to know what causes it.”

“Wow, I never thought of it like that. I guess there are people who would want to know how I heal. I don’t think I could tell them. Becoming a science experiment doesn’t sound good.”

Laurel shivered, imagining being strapped to a table while someone ran tests to see what she could and couldn’t heal. Fear rushed over her, and she began to tremble. Sobbing, she looked around in confusion. Were they coming for her?

“Laurel. What is it,
Malyshka
? Why are you so scared?” Anton said, grabbing Laurel’s shoulders to turn her and embrace her. He sniffed the air and looked with all his senses, but there didn’t appear to be anyone nearby. Running his hands down her hair, he sent her reassurance through the mating bond.

Laurel grabbed at his waist and held on with both hands. She sobbed quietly in his arms her face buried in his chest. He reached for her mind and found that she was in a panic. Her mind whirled with confusion. Pictures of her stepfather’s face contorted with rage, as well as flying fists, rushed at her from all sides. Anton reached with his telepathy, inserting himself into her mind. He shielded her from her own thoughts, holding the essence of her spirit in a bubble of safety made of the light of his love.

You are safe with me, Laurel. See only me. Hear me, Malyshka
.

Laurel felt Anton push the frightening pictures away, and her fear started to subside. He surrounded her mind with a soothing calming light. Finally, she could think again. She stood in the forest. Anton held her gently. She held his shirt in her fists. Her stepfather wasn’t around. There was nothing to fear. Catching her breath, she forced her hands to open, finger by finger, until she dropped them at her sides.

Anton pulled her closer and nuzzled her head with his chin. “I will always keep you safe,
Malyshka
. You can depend on me.”

“I am such a weakling. I’m sorry to be such a burden,” Laurel said.

Never are you a burden, Laurel. You are my other half, my love. You are my treasure, my everything,
Anton sent into her mind, purposely using the more intimate form of communication, hoping she would believe him.

“Let us go back to the lodge. I will show you the rest of the village later.”

“No. I’m fine. Show me the security building. I want to see where you work.”

“Are you sure,
Malyshka
?” Anton asked, secretly pleased that Laurel refused to give up.

“Yes, I’m sure,” Laurel said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

Anton leaned down and kissed her on the nose before taking her hand and walking down the trail. He wanted her to see the security measures in place so she would feel safe. No one crossed on to pack property without someone knowing about it.

Laurel looked around, as the trees thinned even more, and she was back to the main area of the village. Several people called out a greeting to Anton, which he returned with a wave, while wrapping his arm around Laurel’s waist and pulling her into his side. Looking at the arm securing her to his side, Laurel remembered what Alena had said earlier. As long as they hadn’t mated physically, Anton would be feeling anxious about her being around other males. It was silly. She wasn’t interested in any men. It surprised her that she was kind of interested in Anton. But having sex with him didn’t excite her. Would she ever feel excited about it?