Arctic Bound (32 page)

“Baby, it's not that. It's just, this is a meeting of sorts.”

“Oh, a boys only meeting?”

“Ms. Simpson, this doesn't concern you.”

“If you're discussing my future, it does. Plus there's the issue about my father. He's going to come back. When he does, he's going to hit us hard. I'm the only one here that knows how my father operates.”

“She's right.” Blue said standing and offering her his chair.

“I'm glad to see some men haven't lost their manner's.”

Nerina took the seat Blue offered. Daar came to lie at her feet under the table. Demon came to her other side and sat so that his head was well above the table. It was like he was there as an active participant in the meeting.

“So what's the plan? I hope to God you guys have something in mind, because once Roman Civiti has set his sights set on a target, he's relentless.”

“We're moving to the den.”

“The den?”

“Yes, we can defend ourselves better there.”

“Okay, I'll accept that. But we need to go back to my cabin. I need to grab some things that will be of use in warding off my father's men. The human ones anyway. Not sure about Hunters. Will guns kill them?”

All the men at the table shook their head.

“Only taking their heart or removing their heads.”

“Right. Vampires.”

Nerina explained how her father would attack. Since his original plan hadn't worked, his next step would be to try and reason with them with any means necessary. The only thing they had in their favor was the den. Hopefully her father hadn't discovered its location. But if he did, he would hit them with every arsenal at his disposal.

“Colin, Theo. We'll go with Nerina to her cabin and grab what she needs. Blue, get word out to the Packs that we're moving to the den. Father, lets load up the trucks with all the supplies from the store and start getting the woman and children to the den.”

“We still have unfinished business, son.”

“If the unfinished business you're referring to is me, I'll remind you it's between me and him. It's no one else's business.”

Other men at the table she didn't know, bristled at her words. They began making a noise that didn't sound like a growl, but it didn't sound friendly either.

“That's where you're wrong. Victor is next in line to lead this Pack. What he does affects the entire community. Something you need to consider when you open your mouth, speaking to things you know nothing of.”

That put her in her place. She didn't like the way his words made her feel. Was she wrong to want her and Victor to deal with their problems alone? She didn't think she could handle the whole of the Pack in her personal life. She looked to Victor for some feedback, but he only shook his head.

“On this Nerina, he's right. It's the way it's always been. The way it will remain. Let me handle this thing between us, with my father and the Pack. For now, we will tackle one obstacle at a time.

“Fine.”

Chapter 22

 

It took two days for them to get everyone to the den. So far there were six Packs. Three from Alaska, and three from Canada. The call had gone out to all Packs west of the Rockies, but only six had responded. Of the six Packs, Sasha's pack was among them, and they weren't making things any easier. Elaine, Sasha's mother was causing trouble, as was her father. They still were of the mind that the two of them would be mated. His mother and sister had been doing their best to make Nerina feel comfortable and Victor appreciated their efforts.

They were all in the main dining room having supper when it happened.

“Victor,” Sasha said shyly as she sat to his left. A place reserved for the Alpha's mate.

“What are you doing Sasha?”

“I'm having supper, like everyone else. What?” She said innocently. But he knew. Nerina wasn't fully immersed in their customs, so when she walked over to where they sat, she took one look at the other woman and dismissed her. She was going to sit on his right. If she sat there it was like she was accepting her order in things. As his second mate.

“Move.”

Nerina walked up to Victor's right side. She was about to place her plate next to his when he stood, cursing.

“I said move, Sasha.”

It wasn't common knowledge to everyone who Nerina was in relation to Victor. All they knew was that she was here as a guest of Pack Canidae and that she had intimate knowledge of their enemy the Hunters. No one save for his Pack. Newly made Hunters were hard to distinguish from humans. He saw no reason to share with them Nerina's status until it was absolutely necessary.

“Victor, its fine. She's just trying to get under our skin.”

“No, she's making a statement. The Alpha's mate sits to his left. Always.”

Nerina's eyes widened before narrowing on Sasha.

“He said move, bitch.”

This was normal behavior for women to posture for the attention of the next Alpha in line. No one at the table paid attention. Not really, but Blue was smiling and so were his brothers. Victor knew Nerina could handle herself, but the thought of the two of them fighting seemed pointless and childish. Normally this would be the only way for a female to secure her place beside the next Alpha, especially if more than one female was involved. Only the strong survived.

“I'm not moving, Nerina. My place is by Victor's side.”

“Seriously, if he wanted you why isn't he sleeping in your room? The last two nights where do you think he's been? Huh? Are you that stupid, trying to hold on to a man that doesn't want you?”

“Bedding rights,” as if that summed everything up, “he can bed whomever he chooses. Even human trash like you.”

Nerina turned fiery eyes on Victor.

“Is this bitch for real? I thought you were done with her. Is it going to be a constant fight with her, because I gotta tell you, I like you Vic, really like you, but I don't do drama.”

“And therein lies your problem, human. Victor needs a woman who will fight by his side. Not complain about, drama
.
Once he's come to his senses and had his fill of you, he'll be back. No one leaves me. Not until I say they can.”

“Sasha shut your fucking mouth. You don't know the first thing about what you're talking about. Nerina was by my side. She was fighting alongside the Pack, and me when the Hunters came for the Bow. Where were you?”

She started and then stopped, but started up again. “I was where you told me to be. Safe, out of harm's way. You told me to leave.”

“Yeah, but as you can see Sasha, it's ride or die. He needs a woman that's down for him in all things. If my man needs me, I don't care if he tells me to stay home like a good little woman. I'm there, by his side. No matter what. Now move the fuck out of that seat, or I'll move you myself.”

Sasha looked up at Nerina. Her mouth in a grim smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her claws lengthening as she placed both hands on the wooden table.

“You think those scare me?” Nerina hissed. Her fangs lengthened right in front of everyone at the table. Victor tried to step in between Sasha and Nerina but failed when she pushed him out of the way. Her eyes were swirling with anger, as sparks of silver and something else he hadn't seen before flashed bright.

“She's a HUNTER!” Someone yelled.

Sasha took that moment to feign ignorance. She scrambled away from the table, eyes wide with mock fear.

“Don't fuck with me, or I'll drain your bitch ass dry. Feel me?” Nerina said, taking a step toward Sasha.

“She can't be here! Kill her, KILL HER!” Another person from one of the other Packs roared.

The others at the table were all growling. Some had even shifted into the their wolf form, while others displayed their claws and teeth. Nerina still didn't back down when more than half the room stood against her.

“Everyone calm the fuck down. Nerina, your fangs.”

She turned angry eyes on him, shaking her head no.

“Neri, baby, please. You're scaring the children.”

She looked then at the woman and children who were also at the table seeing their faces. The children unable to defend themselves looked to their parents for protection. Her fangs retracted and she went to stand next to him, her head automatically going to his shoulder.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“Nerina is not a threat.” Victor said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “She is here to help us. She knows more about Roman than we do. She's his daughter.”

That was the wrong thing to say. Everyone began yelling out threats against his woman. Threats he didn't take kindly too. Blue and Colin stood and went to their aid as did Teak and Theo.

“What Victor says is right. You all need to listen. It's because of her Teak is still alive. She also saved Colin and Victor when people were sent people to collect and kill him because of the Bow.”

Someone in the crowd yelled, “give them what they want. Give them back the Bow.”

“We can't do that, and you know it. If given to Roman, he'll use it to control us. I know, I used to fight in his army, back when he was called Ambrogio.” Blue said.

There was shocked silence now among the room. Everyone knew about the Varangian guards. Berserker wolves. Strong powerful creatures that fought in the war against the human race.

“Nerina stays. She has the backing of Pack Canidae. If anyone so much as touches her, they will have to deal with me.” Blue growled. Victor's brother's nodding in agreement.

“Thank you my friend.”

“Anytime.” Blue said taking his seat back at the table.

“Nerina is to be my mate this coming spring, by way of the Reaping. You will respect her as if she were my mate now.”

“I don't think so.” Sasha screamed. “You can't take her. The Elders won't allow it. My family will not allow the disgrace. I'm going to be your mate. The pact has already been made.”

“The pact is null and void. She's mine by right and by fate. Nothing can rip that apart. Nothing Sasha. Do you understand?”

“Take her as the second. She can't give you viable pups.” Sasha said, trying another option. He could see the desperation in her eyes. She wanted to be Luna and was unwilling to cede to their laws.

“She can and she will. I'll have no other.” Victor looked to everyone in the dining room repeating what he said to the others. “Understand, no other woman will do. Nerina is to be mine in all ways. She is going to be my first and only mate.”

There were low murmurs across the tables and Victor ignored them. He grabbed his plate and Nerina's, and motioned for her to follow him. They would eat somewhere else tonight.



“Stay on your belly, Neri.”

She'd been like this for what seemed like hours. After they'd finished eating in their room, they'd started play wrestling. It started off harmless enough and then gradually things got out of hand from there. Now she was on her belly and Victor was effectively tying her up. Trussing her up like a damn animal. Where he'd gotten the rope she wasn't sure. He briefly explained what he was going to do, but he'd been talking her through the entire process as he begun.

“Good baby, just breath deep. If it's too tight, or if there is something that makes you uncomfortable just say the word.”

The safe word he'd chosen was
Gyakuebi.
What the hell it meant, she had no clue. Victor rubbed the rope softly over her skin a couple of times, making her wonder again the type of rope he was using. Back at the club it had been pearls, but here in the den it was rope. Their bed was made out a stone. With a deep enough groove that allowed for a king size pillow top mattress to fit in the center. Above her were notches in the wall where she could see rigging clips embedded into the rock ceiling above her.

“This some sort of kinky bedroom.”

“If you want to think of it that way, yes.” Victor said against the shell of her ear. He'd already tied her in what he called a crotch harness. The front of her looked like it was a fitted puzzle piece. Sections of her skin effectively knotted by rope intricately wrapped around her midsection and then further down to nestle in between her legs. The rope was secure in the crack of her ass. Nerina let him know how uncomfortable she was, so he adjusted. Tying the rope securely around her thighs instead. It was a good thing her body was flexible. She was being pushed to her limits. He was stroking her now, the backs of her legs, her ass cheeks, all while whispering against her skin.

“I crave your submission Neri. I'm not asking for much, am I baby?”

She didn't answer him at first, because her body was starting to adjust to the restraints from the rope. She was becoming aware of just how tight she was bound. The rope dug into her skin. Comprehension of words and time were becoming obsolete, as he continued to tie her.

“Answer me, Neri.”

“Please.”

It was a whimper. She couldn't help it. If she'd been able to she would have turned and pounced, wasting no time to get him inside of her where she ached the most. Victor moved her hair from her back. He kissed her along her spine up to her neck and her shoulders. He worked his way back down to her ass. His hand reached up to grab hold of her neck, where he lifted her into a sitting position. He rubbed her gently before releasing her to continue his task. Victor tied her arms behind her back. He'd left her legs free, though her mobility was very limited in this position.

“Stay like this.”

Victor moved quickly gathering another rope he used to tie around her already bound wrists. He pulled the rope through, knotting it a couple of times before securing her to one of the clips embedded into the wall. It kept her from falling forward. It also allowed her to lean at somewhat of an angle. He was in front of her again, gloriously naked. His hard shaft glistening with pre-cum, the veins thick and prominent along his cock. Victor cleared his throat making Nerina look up into his startling emerald eyes. So bright, the green glowed. His eyes half-mast travelled along her body like a lover's caress. Victor took his time perusing her until he zeroed in on her mouth.