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

2011 Copyright All Rights Reserved

Chapter 30 (Steven)

            It was over.  After years of running and hiding, it was finally over.  With my mate nestled safely in my arms I took one final look at the Alpha that had ruthlessly hunted my family for most of my life and spat on his dead body. 

            “I hope you rot in hell you bastard,” I sneered while staring down at his lifeless wolf form.

            Turning around I walked towards the bed and jerked loose a sheet.  Using the sheet I carefully covered my blue eyed beauty that fought beside me so fiercely.  I was so proud of her.  She was nothing short of an angel to me.  I took one last look at the fallen Alpha and a low growl reverberated in my chest.  It’s was over.  Carrying my precious bundle I headed for the door without another look back. 

            The sounds of battle had quieted and when I emerged into the darkness I was instantly met by Zach and the other members of the pack.  Most were still in there wolf forms with the exception of Zach and his two cousins Jake and Leon.  They had piled the dead wolf bodies in the center of the yard to be burned.

            “Is it done?” Zach asked as he walked towards me.

            I gave him a sharp nod of my head and squeezed my mate a little tighter to me.  The mere thought of what they planned to do to her made my blood boil.  Fighting the blood lust was becoming an incessant struggle.  The only thing that kept me calm was the tiny bundle pressed against my heart.  Her warm breath fanning over my bare skin grounded me.

            Zach looked down at his twin and stroked the bruise on her cheek.

            “Is she okay?” he asked softly.  There was nothing but concern for his sister displayed on his face.

            Gruffly, I answered him.  “Yeah man.  She’s a little bruised and banged up but considering everything that could have happened she’s safe.”

            We both stepped out of the way as Jake and Leon brought the Alpha’s body out of the old cabin and tossed it onto the pile with the other dogs.  Jake pulled out a lighter and randomly walked around igniting different areas of the dead.  Within seconds flames danced through the night as I watched my nightmares start to go up in smoke.

            “You know what this means, don’t you?” Zach said knowingly from beside me.  For several minutes we had both remained quiet watching the flames flicker wildly in front of us.

            Not sure exactly what he was talking about I turned in his direction and furrowed my brow.  “What does what mean?” I asked him cautiously.

            He gave a haughty chuckle.  “You do realize that you’re an Alpha now, don’t you?”

            “Holy shit,” I mumbled to myself.  I hadn’t even thought about that.  But he’s right.  I glanced down at the sleeping bundle in my arms and I was at a total loss of words.  I understood the traditional laws of our ancestors and I knew what was going to be expected of me, but I wasn’t sure of what exactly I how I was going to do it.

            There was no way possible for me to remain an Alpha and still live here with my mate.  Would she come with me?  Shaking my head, I already knew the answer to that.  Her family would never approve and I can’t see her leaving them anyway.  There was no way that I was going to live anywhere without my mate.  She is my life, my world.  I refused to leave her behind.

            “So,” Zach stammered while peering into the flames. “Any idea on what you’re going to do Mr. Alpha?”

            I looked in his direction and a small smile curled on his lips.  Snorting, I shook my head.  

            “I have no damn idea.  Right now all I want is to take my mate home and hold her.  I want to assure myself that she is okay.  Everything else can wait.”

            Zach patted my shoulder as a sign of camaraderie.  “I hear you man.”  He pointed off to the left at a blue truck.  “Take her to the truck.  I’ll have Jake drive ya’ll to the house.  Mom and Dad are at the estate so I’ll head over there and you two can be alone.” 

            Zach looked down and I understood the sadness that was reflected in his eyes.  This was a tough time.  Grandpop’s death was going to be hard on everyone.  The rescue took its toll as well; at least we were victorious in that.  There was nothing that I could say to make things any better.  It was just going to take time for everyone to heal, the family, the pack.  Grandpop was a great leader and I can only hope to be half the man that he was.

            “Thank you,” I said to Zach and for just a minute he looked up at me and our eyes met and a new bond was formed.  We were brothers now - brothers by virtue of the pack and brothers through the bond that I share with Amy.  I would always stand by this man proudly.

            He inclined his head towards the truck.  “Take her home man and take care of her.  Other than my parents she is all I have left.  Treat her with care.”

            “I will protect her with my life,” I responded to him.  He gave me that same cheeky smile.

            “I know you will, but as her big brother it’s my job to make sure that you do.  Now, go on and get out of here.”

            Without another word I turned and headed for the truck.  Jake was already in the driver’s seat and the truck running.  I slid in beside him, not letting up in the least on the hold that I had on my mate.  She wasn’t leaving my arms anytime soon.

            We drove for about an hour in silence.  Jake pulled up into her parents’ driveway and the house was dark.  He hopped out and jogged up the steps.  I stepped out of the truck and followed him.  He opened the door and held it for us as I walked in still clutching my precious bundle to my chest.

            “Thanks,” I whispered to him.

            “No problem.  We’ll see you tomorrow at the estate?”  He said it more as more of a question rather than a statement.

            “Yeah, once she wakes and I tell her about Grandpop I’ll drive us up there.  She is going to need her family,” I replied knowing that was the honest to god truth.

            Jake nodded his head in agreement.  “You’re a good man, Steven.  You’ll make a good Alpha.”

            Without agreeing or disagreeing with him I simply said goodbye and walked into the house.  Turning I headed upstairs and went straight to Amy’s room.  Carefully, I laid my precious bundle on the bed and climbed in to stretch out beside her.  Skin to skin, this is what mattered, not being Alpha or fighting with her father.  This angel that I am holding in my arms is all that matters to me.

            I pulled her close to me and held onto her like a child holding onto their favorite blanket vowing to never let her go again.  I let my hand gently graze over her mark, my mark, the mark that I gave her.  Mine, my wolf whispered in my head.  With that last thought in mind and I finally closed my eyes and let sleep take me over.

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            Sometime later I felt movement against my body.   Slowly opening my eyes I looked down at the little temptress in my arms.  Her bright blue eyes were wide open and zeroed in on me. 

            “Hello,” I said, looking down at her and my breath hitched at the sheer beauty that illuminated from her. 

            Her answer was a sly smile as she moved her body sinuously against me again.  I could smell the pheromones rolling off her in waves and knew that the heat was in full effect.

            “Baby,” I said to her and grabbed her shoulders trying to force her attention on me.  I needed to explain to her about Grandpop before things got too far out of hand.

            She batted her eyelashes and stretched her body in a cat-like tease. 

            With an internal groan I muttered a curse.  Damn, how the hell was I suppose to fight something as tempting as that?

            Taking a deep breath and willing my self to calm down I tried again.  “Princess, I have something important to tell you.  We need to talk first.” 

            She momentarily stilled before that sly smile of hers returned.  Before I could react she leaned forward and with her sharp little teeth she nipped playfully at my chest.

            A hiss escaped my lips just as her tongue flicked out to smooth the pleasure pain away.  I couldn’t do this.  Jumping up and out of the bed I had to put some space in between us.

            Panting heavily, I looked at her confused face.  “Amy, I have to talk to you,” I told her pleadingly.

            My little mate frowned at me and slowly sat up.  It took everything that I had in me to not walk over to her and kiss the frown off her face.

            “Talk about what?” she asked me in a lazy voice.

            I watched her for several long moments before I went back to the bed and sat down beside her.  I took her hands in mine and met her beautiful blue eyes.

            “Princess, I- I don’t quite know how to tell you this,” I said, suddenly feeling like a coward.

            I sensed her body stiffen instantly and her mood change from sensual to alert.  Good.  There was still some fire left in my little mate.

            “Tell me what, Steven?” she spoke slowly with a cool voice.  I winced when she said my real name.  This wasn’t going to be easy to say the least. 

            There was no gentle way to say it so I decided just to bite the bullet and spit it out.

            “It’s your Grandpop, baby.  He- he didn’t make it,” I said and looked up at her to gauge her emotions.

            At first she was quiet and kept a blank look on her face free of emotions.  This I wasn’t sure how to handle.  Mad I could do, tears I could deal with, but this?  She just stared off into space not saying a word.

            After waiting several long moments I tugged at her hands, “Princess?” 

            She remained motionless staring off at the wall.  Now I was getting worried.  “Princess?” I called out again and gently tugged at her hands.  “Say something?”

            Then the ground crumbled beneath us.  Her eyes snapped at me and she went off in a fury.  Her tiny fist pounded on my chest and the tears came in torrents.

            “You,” she narrowed her eyes at me.  “You did this, you and my father killed Grandpop,” she screamed at the top of her lungs.

            I sat there helpless as she relentlessly pounded on me.  Her beating was a small price to pay for the pain that she was suffering because of me.

            “Damn you, damn my father, damn you both to hell,” she hollered as her fists continued their onslaught against my skin. 

            Finally, when I couldn’t take it any more I grabbed a hold of her and pulled her into my arms.  There I held her tightly to my chest restricting her movements.

            “You have to stop this before you hurt yourself, Princess,” I said with my lips pressed against the top of her head.  I just couldn’t handle seeing her so out of control anymore.  I let her rant and rage as long as I could take it. 

            She didn’t struggle in my arms.  She just rested against my shoulder and let the tears flow an endless river.

            “Why?” she asked me on a choked sob.  “Why now, why my Grandpop?”

            It damn near broke my heart to listen to the obvious pain in her voice.  There was nothing that I could do but hold her close and assure her that I would always be there for her.

            “I don’t know why, baby.  It was just his time to go.  He’s watching over us now,” I said and looked down at her red swollen eyes.  Tucking my finger under her chin I pulled her face up so that she was looking up at me.  “You know that don’t you?” I asked her, wistful of her answer.

            She remained silent as I read the acknowledgement in her eyes.  I continued to rock her back and forth and held her close to me.  The tears eventually slowed and her cries finally quieted.  We watched the sun start to make its daily climb into the sky in complete silence.  The array of oranges and reds slowly filled the room as we remained in each others arms.  There was an indescribable calm that swept through the room. 

            “He’s here,” she whispered into my chest.  “He’s with me,” she said as she stared out the window and clutched her hand to her heart.

            I understood exactly what she was saying.  I felt his undeniable presence too.  I bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.  “He will always watch over you, Princess.  Forever and always.”