The Werewolf's Mate (9 page)

“Oh, she noticed my eyes are
blue.” He fluttered his lashes. “I’m sooo flattered.” He laughed, quickstepping
when she swung her fist.

“Hey,” Drake said. “Can we
take care of this before you two continue your courtship dance?”

“This isn’t a courtship, wolf
face,” Mari said as she stepped up. “It’s him getting on my last nerve.”

He smiled. “Well whatever it
is, just take care of our little problem here, will you?”

“What makes you think I can?”

“You’re a witch.”

“Why, because you said so?
What if I’m not a witch? What if I’m something else, but I don’t tell anyone
what I really am so they label me as witch?”

Drake’s brows lifted. “Do you
know what you are?”

“Of course.”

“Can you take care of this?”

“Yes.”

“Then why in the hell are you
giving me such a hard time, woman?” he growled, listening to Kalana’s tinkle of
laughter. “This isn’t funny, Kay! Someone sent the Golem in to go after our daughter!
They purposely removed their tag to let this thing go into a wild frenzy! I
want the bastard found!”

“I do too,” Kalana whispered.

“It’s my fault I got him so
riled,” Mari stated. “I’m sorry. I’ll make sure there are no underlying tags,
and tag him to your clan; to Evan as Alpha. He’ll have to answer all questions
you pose to him at Evan’s direction, alright?”

“Do it,” Drake grumbled as he
stood back and let her work. Wrapping his arm around Kalana when she stepped up
to his side, he brought her close. He noticed Rhys’ gaze narrow as Mari worked
and wondered why until he picked up a slight scent he hadn’t caught before. She
was right, she wasn’t a witch, but who else could do this kind of magic or know
of it? “Rhys!” he yelled.

The moment Mari was done she
started falling. Rhys caught her before she went down and swept her up into his
arms.

“Kalana, do you know?” Rhys
asked as he turned.

“Drake told me,” she
answered.

“Other than that, had you any
inkling?”

“No.”

Drake smiled. “She’s not
going to like waking up in your home, never mind your room.”

“She has no choice.” Rhys
grinned before quickstepping out of the cove.

“Oh I hope he knows what he’s
getting himself into,” Kalana said as she chuckled.

“I’m sure he does.” Drake
turned to the Golem who was standing there unconcerned, his eyes droopy as he
listened to Evan’s orders. Golems were creatures made by magic with the sole purpose
of serving their masters by doing everyday chores. They weren’t a danger unless
they had their tag removed. Drake’s face started to turn serious again.

“But there’s that frown
again.”

“We need to find out who sent
it here and talk to our daughter about her actions.”

“I think we also need to
reward Tommy for trying to protect her little ass.”

Drake called Galen over. “I
think Tommy needs to be punished for not notifying us of Livi’s dash into the
woods.”

“I agree.” Galen nodded.

“Starting tomorrow he’ll be
enlisted into the security branch to start training.”

“I thought you said
punishment; he’s been hounding me daily to get him in.”

Drake smiled. “Oh, I’m not
done yet, and if you agree, I think it may just bring my wayward daughter
around.”

Galen chuckled as they headed
back to the manor. “Let’s hear it.”

* * * *

Drake stood in the library, with
his feet apart, arms crossed over his chest as he eyed the two Lyken pups.
Evan, Galen, Kalana, Sophie and Gwil were standing on either side of him or
near the back. “Shift now,” he ordered, watching as Tommy did so immediately.
His eyes narrowed when Livi stayed in wolf form. “Don’t even tell me you can’t,”
he growled.

Evan shifted and went up to
Livi. He growled quietly, letting Drake hear what he was saying.
“You will
do as your father says and shift.”

Drake knew Evan’s words as
Alpha and his stature were overwhelming her, as they should if she continued to
be defiant. He could sense her fright, her eyes were wide, her head lowered and
she automatically went to her belly before shifting back. He waited until after
Kalana tossed a robe around her and Tommy before speaking. “You both disobeyed
direct orders.”

“But, Daddy, I…” Livi
started.

“Olivia Teresa Roven! You
will be silent.” While he didn’t yell at her, the tone of his voice had her
mouth clamping shut and her head hanging. “Rules are made for a reason. The
pack follows the rules and our Alpha. Don’t you ever disrespect him again. Uncle
or not he is your Alpha and you will obey his command. Do you understand that,
daughter?”

“Yes, sire.”

“What you both did was
reckless and could have resulted with your deaths. That Golem was detagged and
sent in purposely to attack you, Olivia, because you are my daughter and Evan’s
niece. You are a high member of this pack, which makes you a target for our
enemies. You know of the danger that is surrounding Alston right now and you
take off with no care to anyone. Did you even think of how your mother felt
when she saw the Golem going after you? Did you think about how your
recklessness would hurt her or me?”

Taking a breath, he felt
Kalana’s hand on his lower back and the calming streak that ran up his spine.
“From now on, you will follow pack rules, both of you, although your
punishments will be very different indeed. Olivia, you will be under Sophia’s
guide. She will mentor you, as she is your Alpha female. If you disobey her,
she will punish you and she has our permission as your parents to dole out any
punishment she deems necessary.” Drake held back the smile as she glanced at
Sophia. “Oh it’s not going to be easy, I can tell you that. Sophia came from a
strict family and while she loves you as her niece, she will make sure you
understand pack law. As for your mother and I, you’re grounded for a month.
That means after you’re done with your schoolwork and studies with Sophia, you
will go to your room, sit on your bed and think about what you did wrong,
unless any of us yanks you out to do extra chores. That means no television, no
games, no friends and no shifting.” Drake turned his gaze to Tommy. “Tommy,
your parents will be determining your punishment at home. However, for pack
punishment, you’re enlisted into the security branch to start training. You
start tomorrow after school, and I wouldn’t go smiling yet, pup. You’ll be
training under me, so I suggest you start talking to the first-year juniors so
you make no mistakes. I don’t tolerate mistakes, do I make myself understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

Drake nodded and was ready to
dismiss the pups when Tommy spoke.

“Sir, may I say something
quickly to Livi?”

“Granted.” He gazed on the
both of them as they turned to look at each other.

“Livi, I like you and want to
be your friend, but I can’t until you learn from Ms. Sophia. You wouldn’t
listen to me as your friend when I tried to teach you our ways and to keep you
safe. So, I guess until you learn and treat me as your friend by listening to
me, I can’t be around you. So please don’t talk to me until then.”

Drake’s gaze followed the pup
as he ran to his father and turned when he heard sniffles to see tears running
down his daughter’s cheeks. His lips thinned with the urge to gather her in his
arms and tell her it would be all right, but knew if he gave in to her now, she’d
never learn her lesson. “Go to your room, Olivia,” he ordered softly, grabbing
Kalana’s hand when she stepped forward. He shook his head.

“Drake,” Kalana whispered.

“She has to understand that
her actions just caused her to lose her friend. We can’t coddle her even though
we want nothing more than to take her in our arms and give her comfort.”

“I know, but it’s just so
hard.”

Drake drew her to him as she
wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged his mate trying to give her solace
as Galen left with Tommy, and Evan flash-stepped out with Sophia.

* * * *

Amias grinned. “Did he have
to send a security detail with you?”

“He’s worried,” Kalana
chuckled as she swept the floor.

“How’s Livi liking her
punishment?”

“Ha, not very well, but the
thing that bothers her most is losing Tommy as a friend. He’s walked right by
her following Drake, which I think he does on purpose,” she grumbled. Stopping,
she leaned on the broom handle. “She’s said ‘hi’ real softly and he just walks
right by, without looking at her or anything.”

“Well you know, it’s not only
what he said to her, but with Drake as his mentor, he probably doesn’t want his
ass bit off if he disobeys an order. And I’m pretty sure, by the look on your
shadow’s face over there, that Drake ordered him to not speak to Olivia.”

“What?” Turning quickly she
caught Jonas losing his smile. “Is that true? Did Drake order Tommy not to talk
to Olivia?”

“I can’t say, ma’am.”

“Oh, Jonas Tremont, you
better spill right now before I dust you.”

“Now come on, Kalana,” he
said, backing up as her wings opened. “You know I can’t go against one of Drake’s
orders. Amias, please!”

“Kalana, he’s just doing his
job.” Amias laughed. “Take it up with Drake.”

“Oh I will.” Going full Fae,
she had the store cleaned in minutes and then flew out the door like a
whirlwind.

“Oh crap,” Jonas muttered.

“You better hurry up, boy, if
you want to keep up with her.” Amais chuckled.

* * * *

Kalana was mad and she knew
dog face behind her would be mind speaking with Drake that she was coming in
hot and fast. She was so mad she didn’t even sense the danger until Jonas
yelled at her to look out. Turning her head to the left, her eyes widened as a
red fireball came right at her. Terror streaked through her, goose bumps rose
on her flesh, knowing she didn’t have time to get out of its way; a scream
erupted from her throat as it hit, sending her tumbling through the air.
Wrapping her wings around her body right before she hit the ground hard, she skidded
and slammed into a parked car, wincing at the pain ricocheting through her body
as Jonas yelled her name.

“Drake’s coming but you have
to get up!” Jonas yelled as he grabbed her around the waist.

“I’m trying,” she cried as
she looked down. “My leg’s broke!”

“Get her to safety, Jonas, we’ll
cover you!” Rhys yelled as he appeared with two vamps and Mari.

“Too late!” Kalana yelled as
another fireball came at them. Lifting her hands, she concentrated hard,
sending it flying back the way it had come. The moment the fireball went back,
Rhys and his team headed toward the threat. “Jonas, go with them, Mari will
help me.”

“My job is to protect you.”

“And I’m ordering you to go
help them; I’ll shimmer if I have to.” He nodded and he was gone. Lowering her
hands to her leg, she glanced up at Mari. “It’s bad.”

“Can you heal it here?”

“I don’t know. I’ll try but…”
Glancing up, she saw Drake and his team flash-stepping in and out of time and
pointed to where Rhys had gone. “Go there, they need your help!”

“Damn they’re fast.”

“Yeah,” she breathed heavily.

“Almost as fast as Rhys, damn
that made me sick. You guys and your flash-steps, shimmers and whatever make me
nauseous.”

“If you’re not used to it—oh
damn this really hurts.” Running her hands over her leg, she pinpointed the
location of the break and started healing it as
Other Kin
came out to
join in the fight two hundred yards away.

“Kalana?” Amais said as he
shimmered next to her in warrior robes. “The alarm went up and they told me you’d
been injured. How bad are you?”

“Getting better by the
moment,” she gasped. “I just need to concentrate.”

“I’ll get another healer to
help you.”

“No, let them tend to the
wounded. I can finish this; I just need help home after.”

“I need to go; one of the
elders is down.”

Kalana let him go, knowing
the need to have all elders in attendance. They were strong apart, but
together, they were unstoppable. “Have you seen Drake?”

“No.” Mari shook her head.
“Or Rhys. The fighting is heavy and knowing those two, they’re right at the
front lines. I will say this: I’ve never seen so many people run out of their
stores and homes to go fight for something.”

Chuckling, Kalana laid her
head back against the car she’d crashed into. “That’s the difference between
Alston and the human world. Out there, people will watch someone get beat up or
robbed and look away. Here we jump in if one of us is threatened by the
outside.”

“Hey, are you alright?”

Kalana knew Mari had slapped
her cheek gently, but it didn’t faze her as she listed off into blackness.