*****Edited by krisgee*****

 2011 © All Rights Reserved

Chapter 26   (Steven) 

            I peeled my lips back and bared my canines in warning as Amy’s father started to slowly circle   me.  This was it, I thought to myself.  This was for my right to have Amy as a mate.  In the background I heard her scream aloud the word "No" and I had to struggle to not run back into her arms.  I needed to remain focused on my opponent.  It was my duty to prove my worth to her father or there would never be any hope for us to be together and remain in her family’s pack.

            A growl escaped her father’s lips and I responded in kind.  Hoping to catch him off guard I sprung forward unexpectedly.  Damn, that man can move.  He quickly side stepped out of my way and we returned to circling and snarling at each other.

            The next move was his.  The Alpha was definitely the more experienced fighter.  He lunged and before I could react he was easily able to latch himself securely to my back.  I felt the sting of his bite when his jaws clamped down and his teeth instantly broke through my skin.  Drawing on my wolf strength I bucked wildly finally throwing him off of me.

            An agonized howl erupted in the distance and for a moment I turned to see a grey wolf watching us with a deep sadness filling her eyes.  I wanted to go to her then but the warning growl coming from behind had me whipping my head around to brace for another attack.  

            I was prepared for his quickness this time and jumped backwards.  His teeth chomped air and it was then that I decided to take the advantage.  With his back turned I leapt and sunk my teeth into his back leg.  My mouth instantly filled with the metallic taste of his blood and I held fast.  I had him and I wasn’t about to let go until he conceded the victory to me.  

            “ENOUGH!”  

            That one word echoed through the room with such authority causing both of us to pause and turn our heads.  Standing in our wake was Amy’s Grandpop and he no longer looked like the feeble old man that had greeted me when I first walked through his door.  He seemed much taller and much more alive.  Strength illuminated from him in spades.  His eyes had turned obsidian black and he was furious.

            “Change,” he ordered. 

            The authority in his tone booked no arguments.  I instantly returned to my human self and stood before him in the buff with my head bowed. 

 “I said to change, Will,” he spoke harshly again with his eyes narrowed on his son's wolf.  “If you do not change then I will be forced to challenge you for the Alpha position and with the mood I am in, I will kick your ass all over this place.”

            Father and son stared at each other for several moments before I felt the familiar crack of electricity humming in the air.  The tension filling the room was thick, making it hard to breathe. 

 “Submit, son,” Grandpop ordered sternly.

            I didn’t dare turn my head to observe what Amy’s father was doing, but I was aware the instant that he had submitted.  The air seemed to thin and I no longer felt as if I was being smothered.  The strength that came from Grandpop was unreal.

            Grandpop’s frame suddenly seemed to slump and in that single moment I knew he had used every bit of energy that he had to stop the fight.  I watched on in horror as he fell to his knees and collapsed on the floor.

            “Dad!” Amy’s father called out and ran to his side.  He cradled his father’s head in his lap and for the first time I was able to see a side of the Alpha that I had yet to see. 

            “Dad, please,” he said while wiping the sweat that was beading on Grandpop's forehead.  Grandpop eyes fluttered closed and the fear on Amy’s father’s face was visibly disconcerting.  “Please, hang on dad.  I’m so sorry,” he continued.  “Oh God, what have I done?” he cried aloud.

            Tears slipped down the Alpha’s cheeks and I knew the situation was dire.  I was at a loss for words. Unable to move or speak, all I could do was stand there and watch.

            “Will,” Grandpop croaked out. 

            “I’m here,” he said from above him.

            “Steven,” he called out to me in a hoarse whisper.  At the sound of my name I ran to his side only sparing a quick glance at Amy’s father.  He looked up at me and our eyes connected for mere seconds.  We both turned our attention back to Grandpop.

 “Both of you give me your hands.”  Grandpop spoke weakly with his eyes losing some of the sharpness that they glowed with earlier.  Unsure of his intentions, I hesitantly obliged.  He took my hand in his right and Amy’s father’s hand in his left.  Pulling them both to his chest he clasped our hands together.        

“Will,” he spoke softly and licked at his dry lips.  “Promise me that you will accept Steven as your daughter’s mate, the same way that I accepted your precious Raven.  Please, you must do this for me so that I can rest.”

            Eyeing the Alpha closely I watched as his head dropped down shamefully and his eyes closed.  Grandpop then slowly turned his head to look in my direction.

            “Steven, promise me that you will always protect Amy with the same courage and valor that you have displayed here before me today.”  His breaths were slowing tremendously and instinctively I knew that we were losing him on this cold floor right before our very own eyes.

            Nodding my head to him and I said, “Yes sir, she is my heart and my soul, my single reason for breathing.  Her life will always be the most precious thing to me and I will protect her until my own heart beats no more.”

            A sliver of a smile appeared on his lips and I felt the small squeeze of his hand.  That one little squeeze meant the world to me.  It meant that he approved of me as a fitting mate for his granddaughter.

            "That’s my boy,” he responded feebly. 

            “Will, are you going to see my final wish through?” he asked as he tilted his head back in his direction.

            Amy’s father looked up at me and an unspoken understanding passed through us.  He nodded his head.  “Yes father,” he replied before looking back down at him.   “I will accept Steven as Amy’s mate; I will accept him into our family with the same grace and good will that you showed my Raven.”

            “Good,” Grandpop replied with his hand still hovering over Amy’s father’s and mine.  “Family means everything and without a strong family, you have nothing.  Now, I may sleep in peace.”

            At that moment his hands fell away from ours and his eyes closed.  I sat in place on one side of him, while Amy’s father sat on his other side, our own hands still clasped together.

            “Dad, Dad,” Amy’s father started to call out.  He released my hand and grabbed Grandpop by his shoulders.  He vigorously shook them and started to wail, “Dad, no, come back. Dad.”

            When there was no response we both knew that he was gone.  Sadness filled the room and the only sounds were the quiet sobs coming from Amy’s father.  I sat there quietly while he laid his head against Grandpop’s still chest and cried.

            Long moments passed in the stillness of the room before I finally spoke.

            “Sir, I need to find Amy,” I said tentatively.  He lifted his head and with red swollen eyes he nodded and said one single word.

            “Go.”

            I stood and bowed my head to him out of respect. Taking one final look at Grandpop I inhaled a deep breath of air and turned to leave the room.  As I was reaching for the door handle the Alpha called out to me.

            “Steven.”

            Halting with my hand on the door I answered, “Yes sir?”

            “I’m sorry,” he said simply.

            I waited a moment then responded.  “Thank you sir.”

            No more words were said as I opened the door and walked out of the room.  Amy’s grandmother was standing near the door and rushed in as I left.  I heard her scream of agony and it ripped at my heart.  To lose one’s mate is to lose yourself.  I dreaded telling my beautiful blue eyed beauty the news, but it had to be done.  I vowed that I would hold her and comfort her for however long it takes to mend her broken heart.

            Stepping out into the night air my focus was now centered on my mate.  It had been well over eight hours and I knew the heat had to be adversely affecting her by now.  I needed to find her.  I closed my eyes and tried to mentally call out to her.

            "Princess?  Amy?  Baby?”

            I was getting no response.   A prickle of unease flowed through me.  Swiftly changing into my wolf form I was easily able to track her scent.  I followed it all the way to the end of our territory and rage coursed through my system.  Her scent stopped here like a dead end.  What bothered me the most was that I also picked up eight other male wolf scents and I knew exactly who each and everyone was; they were from my father’s pack.  I paced furiously back and for along the territorial line.

            “Amy,” I called out in my head again.  Worry and fear were now my only companion.  Still no answer; it was like I keep hitting a brick wall every time I call out to her.  Where the hell is she?  Why did her scent just disappear?  What are they planning to do with her?  “Amy!” I screamed in my head once again praying for something, hoping for anything.  Frustrated and scared I call out once more, “Amy, answer me damnit.” 

            When still no answer came I dropped on my haunches and howled.  I howled for the absence of my mate.  I howled for the loss of family.  Finally I let out a howl as a clear warning, warning whoever dared to lay one finger on my blue eyed beauty to know that I was coming.  I was coming to get my mate and bring her home to her family.  Grandpop had it right all along; family is everything and without it you have nothing.  Without my Amy, I am nothing.  

            "I'm coming, Princess.  Some way, some how I'll find you."