The Great Wolf: A Legacy of Kilkenny Novel Book Three (The Legacy of Kilkenny Saga) (14 page)

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Bryon went with me to help Violet and Brianna with their
bags.  Philip didn’t seem to mind at all that I want to marry his daughter.  He
gave me a hug and said he’d be honored for me to marry his daughter.  Her Aunt
Rosalie jumped around and clapped her hands together like a schoolgirl. They’re
going to get their passport to come out next month for the Handfasting. 
They’ll come back for the wedding whenever we set the date.  I refuse to get
married without Oakley as my best man. 

Before we left, Philip asked to talk to me privately. 
Everyone goes outside to load up the car.

“Abel, I received some disturbing news earlier this
morning.  Your inn-keeper, Kane, was spotted last night in a pub in Dublin.  My
source is reliable and happens to know MecKenzie and Kane very well.  I don’t
know if he was with anyone or if he was part of the attack on Pru.  I’ll try to
find out more information.  I’ll keep you in the loop.”

I lean back in my chair, unable to reply.  What in bloody
hell is going on here in Ireland?  So people who were friends of the packs are
now enemies?  MecKenzie acts genuinely upset over his kidnapping.  “Wow, that’s
a twist I didn’t see coming.  Will you keep your ears open for any information
about Kane?  I’ll talk with MecKenzie to inform her he’s alive.  Damn, Ireland
has been eye-opening.”

“Things like this have never happened before.  The Olympics
are usually calm with a bar fight here and there.  Nothing so dramatic as
killings and kidnappings.”

“Thank you sir for telling me about Kane. I’ll talk with
MecKenie when I get back to the hotel.  Are you going to be at the rally
tonight?”  This is the final part of the Olympics.  All the wolves who met
their mates will be announced.  They’ll tell us what they decided about the
Seeker game.  Tonight’s the night, I’ll step forward as The Great Wolf.

“I wouldn’t miss it son.  I’ll come and say goodbye to
Brianna in the morning.  Keep her safe and thank you for taking Marc.  He’ll be
a huge asset to your pack and will be there for Brianna as she adjusts.  Good
luck with Violet, she’s a handful.”  We both stand as he says handful.

I hold my hand out to him to shake.  He pulls me in for a
hug.  His cologne tickles my nose as he holds me tighter than I’m comfortable
with.   He holds me for about five seconds too long.  Now to gather up the
courage to stand in front of a couple thousand werewolves as their alpha.

****************

We’ve changed our mode of transportation to a Hummer limo. 
It’s all black with shiny chrome accents.  The first time I ever rode in one
was at my junior prom.  It’s hard to imagine life before I was a werewolf.  I
was a scrawny boy at sixteen, now I have trouble finding shirts big enough to
go over my biceps.  Working out with Parker does that to a guy.

 Brianna and I lean back in the seat.  We easily hold hands without
it feeling forced.  Nothing about being with her ever feels forced, it’s as
natural as breathing. 

“What’s the first thing you want to do when we get to
America,” I ask Brianna.

She grins up at me, her eyes sparkle with excitement.  “This
might sound silly, but I want to go to one of those stores that sells cowboy
boots and get a pair of boots.  Do you have horses on your farm?”

I laugh and give her hand a light squeeze.  “We do have
horses.  Sapphire is our horse whisperer, she can teach you how to ride.  Her
sister, Ruby, is another one of our trainers.  She’s not a were, but she knows
our secret.  I’ll have them give you lessons.  What else do you want to do?”

“Disneyland,” Brianna giggles.  “We all should go to Disney
and wear the silly Mickey Mouse ears.”

Her smile is infectious, everything about her is addicting. 
“I bet we can make that happen too.  You’ll love the farm.  There are woods to
run in and the farm is huge.  We have a good life there, I hope you like it.” 
I lean over and brush my lips across her hair.  She smells like summer
honeysuckle and fresh mint. 

We have to be at the arena in two hours, just enough time
for me to freak out a couple of times before we get there.  Everyone, including
Brianna is sent to get ready for the final Olympic event, closing ceremony.  I
want to talk to Dolly for a few minutes before I talk with MecKenzie.  Her
reactions have been so real, it’s hard to think she knows her husband is part
of the kidnapping.

****************

Our pack is together in the building Pru and I went into to
check in for the Seeker game.  It’s nearly impossible for any of us to go
anywhere without questions about what happened.  If they’re not asking about Oakley,
they’re asking about me being the Great Wolf.  One reporter for Supernatural
Weekly, has been up my butt about Brianna.  The human world doesn’t know about
Oakley or the murders.  We don’t report such things to the human world when
supernatural elements are involved.  Supernatural Weekly is sold to humans but
they think it’s more of a fictional magazine in People Magazine style.

I see her across the room.  Her blond hair is still dipped
in pink and she’s chewing gum frantically.  She’s nervous about seeing me after
what she did in Paris.  She broke up with me to go be a part of a secret society
and left.  I haven’t seen or heard from her since then.

“Chrissy?”
I think to her.

“Hi Abel, I was wondering when you’d see me over here. 
Would your friend mind if I came over and said hello?”

“Not at all,”
I lie.  It isn’t as though Brianna will
flip out, but girls tend to dislike ex-girlfriends. 

Chrissy crosses the room to us, not giving me much chance of
warning Brianna.  “Hi Abel!  I was hoping to see you before you guys left. 
Dolly sent for me to come out and check out Pru’s injuries.”  She rambles so
fast, my ears have a difficult time separating the words. 

“Chrissy, good to see you.  This is Brianna, she’s my
girlfriend,” and soon to be wife.  “I hear you were able to help a few
competitors who were having a difficult time healing.  I’m so glad to see you,
but I need to talk to Dolly before we go outside.  So, if you’ll excuse us
we’ll try to catch up with you later.  Thank you so much for your help,” I say
curtly as we turn to walk away.  In the past, I always thought it would be
strange running into her again, but it wasn’t. 
“Are you all right?”
I
think to Brianna.

“I’m a little nervous.  Chrissy is so pretty!  You’ll have
to tell me about why you broke up when we have some alone time.”

Yeah, I want to be alone with my sexy werewolf mate and talk
about my ex-girlfriend who left me.  I let out a sigh.

Violet crosses the room to us.  She looks like a werewolf
badass in her zip-up-the-front leather mini-dress with over-the-knee-high
matching boots.  I think I just heard Bryon gasp at the sight of her.  She’s the
complete opposite of my classy girlfriend.  Brianna is wearing a royal blue
dress that looks like the go-go dresses from the sixties.  She has a blue satin
ribbon in her hair and a touch of blue eye shadow on her eyes.  She shows off
her sexy legs by wearing a white pair of pirate boots.  My wolf rumbles in my
chest whenever he looks at her legs.  I prefer Brianna’s outfit since she
doesn’t look so dominatrix.   I don’t have to worry about her going all 50
Shades on me.  Not that I’d mind, but it’s still sexier than the obvious
leather look.

“Hey you two lovebirds, are you ready for tonight?” Pru asks
me.

She’s put on a brave face to hide away her feelings about
Oakley being locked up.  It’s stupid how they won’t let him come to the ceremony. 
This will be one of the most important nights in werewolf history and he’s
stuck in a make-shift prison cell.  His flight leaves at eleven tonight.

“Yeah, I think so,” I reply.  “Don’t disappear on me, you
know you’re going outside with us.”

“He’s so bossy,” Pru says to Brianna with a grin.  “Good
thing he’s cute, or I would have to kick his ass for being such a turd.” 
Feisty Pru makes an appearance.

“You haven’t been drinking have you?”

“You know I wouldn’t drink on a night like tonight.  This place
is crazy, I’ve actually had other wolves ask for my autograph.”

“You’re a werewolf celebrity, Pru.”  Brianna grins at her. 
The two of them have bonded since the kidnapping.  Pru says she’s strong and
has integrity.  I know that without having to search her thoughts.

I put my arm over Pru’s shoulder and give her a light
squeeze.  “I have a car for you to go say goodbye to Oakley.  If you want me to
go with you, I will.  Parker and Sapphire will be going to protect you.  We’re
going to watch Storm.  Let me know and I’ll change the arrangement.”

She nods her head up and down to keep her emotions in check
before the announcements.

****************

ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THIS IS THE 2014 WEREWOLF
OLYMPICS FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS!  THANK YOU FOR TRAVELING TO IRELAND, WE PRAY YOU
HAD FUN.  WE ARE SORRY TO SAY THAT AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, THE SEEKER GAME
WILL BE REMOVED FROM ANY FUTURE WEREWOLF GAMES.  A MEMO WAS SENT TO ALL ALPHAS
TODAY.  THIS YEAR THERE WAS LOVE IN THE AIR.  TONIGHT WE’RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE
THE WERES WHO FOUND THEIR MATE HERE IN KILKENNY!   The announcer’s voice booms
over the PA system. 

My heart is racing with anticipation.  In a few moments,
I’ll be standing in front of the entire werewolf community to take over as the
alpha of all alphas. 

PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE NAMES ARE ALL READ!

ARIES FROM GREECE AND ESTELLA FROM SPAIN

MAXWELL FROM ENGLAND AND JULIA FROM ENGLAND

RODNEY FROM AMERICA AND OLIVIA FROM AUSTRALIA

PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THESE FINE WOLVES.

The crowd goes wild with howls and applause.

EVERYONE PLEASE STAY STANDING!  WE’RE HONORED TO BRING YOU
ABEL CASEY FROM THE UNITED STATES.

My adrenaline is pushing me forward.  I meet the woman
announcer at the center of the stage.  I keep reminding myself this will be
over soon.  The entire crowd goes silent as I step up to the podium.

I’ve rehearsed this speech at least a million times with Pru
and Oakley.  It kills me to think he isn’t with me for this pivotal moment in
our lives.

My throat is tight and dry.  I take a sip of my bottled
water before saying anything.  Pru and Brianna are behind me and I can hear
them both telling me I’m doing great.  I haven’t even said anything yet, but
their encouragement coaxes me forward.

“As many of you know, I am part of the Phelan Pack from
Oklahoma.  Three years ago, I found out I’m a werewolf.  My entire life was
changed on a July afternoon.  I shifted for the first time and the guessing was
over…I am the Great Wolf.”  Sounds of gasping and whispers fill the auditorium. 
 “At the time, I was not prepared to take over as the leader of all packs.  My
pack and my advisors have trained me to step forward.  Tonight, I am doing just
that….stepping forward.  From this moment, I am your alpha!”  The crowd goes completely
silent, no more whispering or sounds of any kind.  I gather my composure to
continue talking.  I remind myself to keep going and stay centered.

“What does that mean for you and your pack, you may be
asking yourself.  If you’re an alpha of your pack, you will continue to be an
alpha….you’ll have protocol though.  Every alpha will be meeting with me once a
week until further notice.  My IT department has set up the equipment I’ll need
to do a live conference with everyone at the same time.”  I speak slowly so the
interrupters can repeat what I’m saying to the alpha in their language.  A memo
went out last year for all the packs to assure one member of their pack is
fluent in English for this day. “I expect everyone to cooperate with their pack
and be the best wolf you can.  Any wolf who decides not to obey this order will
be considered a
rogue wolf.
  All rogue wolves will be reported at each
meeting.  We have an encyclopedia of all rogues in the world for the safety of
humans and other supernaturals.   There is a rogue reform school in Kilkenny if
you know of a wolf who would like to pledge to your pack.  In order for us to
better track every wolf, we’ve initiated a DNA recording program.  As everyone
entered as a competitor or spectator to the games, you had a mouth swab done. 
The information is logged and will be tracked from this day forward.”  I pause
for the impact to wash over the crowd.

“Over the next few weeks, recruiters will be searching for
thirty wolves to join my pack as a direct member.  If you’re interested in the
position, please contact our assistant Jules.  You’ll find the information in
the welcome pack you’ll receive in the upcoming weeks.”  Dolly insisted I get
an assistant to help out with my transition to alpha.  Jules is a twenty-five
year old Harvard graduate.  Her credentials are impressive to say the least. 
She’s a bitten werewolf who Parker found and brought her to the farm.   Now
she’s best friends with Sapphire and my assistant.  I pause to take a drink of
water.  “Thank you all for your words of encouragement; I am truly humbled by
your love.”  I stop for a second and let the information sink in.

I motion for Brianna to come over and stand next to me. “I
have a few more announcements.  If anyone has any information regarding the
attack on my comrades during the Seeker game, please contact my pack
immediately.  I must thank everyone who helped with the rescue of Pru Phelan
and Brianna.  This is an ongoing investigation and we need all information both
big or small reported.  I have two more announcements.  First, I would like to
announce my intentions.  Brianna Coghlan has been chosen by both my wolf and
myself as our mate.”  I take her hand and lift it in the air with mine.    “You
will give her the respect she deserves as my mate and your female alpha.”  The
crowd is getting restless.  They want to ask questions and be assured that I
really am what the legacy has stated.  I open my mind to pick up a few of their
thoughts.  To my surprise, everyone is happy and are wondering when we’ll have
children.