Helena Harris is the daughter of the Black Dane Pack Alpha. They've kept it secret that her father is dying. He's called the St. James brothers to his side. One of these men will be the next Alpha, but her father surprises her by informing Helena she'll continue the family's legacy of running the Black Dane Pack by mating with the twin who becomes the next Alpha. There's no time for Helena to process this fresh development before when the pack's attacked. Her father's found dead, and his Beta's missing. Now, the St. James brothers vow to help Helena restore stability to the pack and find the missing Beta. After that, they'll work out who will become the Alpha of the Black Dane Pack and her mate. Who attacked them? Will they be back? What happened to Nathan, the Beta? Who will become the next Alpha? Can Helena accept her lot in life for the sake of her pack and her family's legacy?
View MoreHelena Harris was doing what she did every time to make sure her pack had what they needed. Whether it was a cup of tea for old Mrs. Danielson, mediation for the Grimes brothers, or help with meal prep for young Angel Horton, who’d just given birth to a pup.
Nathan Graden, the pack’s Beta, found her hanging laundry close to the pack house. His grey hair tussled with the wind, resisting the eventual truth that he was losing it. Something odd in a wolf shifter at any age and something he was sensitive about.
He came to a stop before her petite form. Helena looked up at him tiredly. She wore her chestnut hair up in a messy bun at the base of her neck.
“Hi, Nathan. What do you need?” She sighed and reminded herself this was her father’s most trusted and loyal friend on the earth. As the Alpha of the Black Dane Pack. Helena’s father, Vincent Harris, controlled it for over forty years. Even after her mother passed two years prior, he stood strong against anyone who came looking to take over his pack. Helena took up the reins as his Luna now.
“Have you seen your father today?” He inquired guardedly. She could tell that he didn’t approve of something just by the tone in his voice. Was he going to berate her like a child again for not seeing her father often enough?
“No, he was resting, and before that, Dr. Jacobs was in there seeing him. Is everything alright?” Helena immediately felt her earlier concern multiply at how Nathan reacted to this news. Her father took ill several nights ago after dinner and hadn’t left his bed since. This wasn’t unusual for him lately, but she knew he wouldn’t want her to change her pattern for fear his weakness might get out to a rival, and an attack on the pack ensue. Helena’s life and freedom hung in the balance. Kidnapping and murder were just a few potential outcomes.
“Then come with me. He’s asking for you now.” Nathan’s voice sounded grave, and he almost choked up on his words. This wasn’t the man she knew, and Helena went on alert immediately.
“He’s calling for me. Alright. Jillian, can you finish up here for me? When I’m done with my father, I’ll meet you in the kitchen to start dinner.”
“Give my best to the Alpha. I’m sure I can finish this. You go on.” Helena’s equally tiny friend waved her off before adjusting her blonde ponytail.
“Will do.” Helena waved Nathan onward to lead the way. Once she was sure they were out of earshot. “What’s going on? Is everything okay with my father? What did Dr. Jacobs have to say?”
“It’s not my place to say. I’m sure your father will inform you when he feels it’s appropriate.” Nathan always got tight lipped if he had bad news, he knew would be unfavourably received. If he didn’t have to deliver it, then he wouldn’t need to deal with anyone upset with him.
Worry bubbled up inside Helena and her pace quickened toward the back door of the packhouse. She needed to know that Nathan was exaggerating the situation with her father.
It didn’t take her long to climb the back stairs to her father’s apartments on the second floor. She barely knocked, and she had the door half open when her father’s voice instructed her to enter. He didn’t sound like himself at all. His voice betrayed his weakened state. The once vibrantly alive man lay in a darkened room. The sunlight leaked around the edges of the heavy curtains. A peculiar smell lingered in the air that Helena couldn’t place. It appeared to cling to the very air itself. It was sweet, bordering on sickly, and not at all pleasant to smell.
“Vincent, Alpha, I brought Helena here as you instructed.” Nathan made a beeline for her father’s bedside. He leaned over and announced this to her father as if he expected a reward for doing some great job of fulfilling the instructions.
“Thank you, Nathan. Helena, come here. Sit. I must tell you of my plans.” This surprised Helena as much as Nathan. Normally, she would find herself one of the last to know his plans. For her job was to look after the day-to-day needs of the pack, not what he looked after. He would handle everything political or outside of the pack, whether with the humans or other packs.
“Of course, father.” She sat on the edge of the bed once Nathan moved to the foot of the bed to allow her space to sit. Helena watcher her father in curiously. “What must you tell me that couldn’t wait until you’re better?”
“Several things, but we will start with that. I will not get better. Dr. Jacobs has informed me that whatever this is, medicine won’t cure it. I have days to live.” Vincent took a steadying breath, his strength not even enough for long speeches. “I have named my possible successor… I have summoned two… the St. James brothers… They’ll need to prove to me which is better… and that… that one will be your mate with… you will continue to be the Luna of this pack… and produce the next Alpha…”
Helena couldn’t believe what she’d heard her father say. This differed completely from his previous words. He’s always told her she could wait for her mate to appear. Now he drops these bombshells on her? He’s dying, and she’s mating whoever can best jump through some imaginary hoop to satisfy his whims.
“Father, that’s insane. I can’t just mate with whoever suits your whim. It doesn’t work that way. What happens if my mate comes along after that? It could become ruinous for everyone with the fighting and death. I can’t mate with just anyone.”
“Our bloodline founded this pack over two hundred years ago. I will not see this pack lost because it’s not protected by a strong enough leader. You will continue the Alpha line where I no longer can. You will sacrifice for the pack. Is this understood?” Vincent found a burst of strength to push just enough of his Alpha strength into his words to impress upon his daughter that he wouldn’t allow any argument about this matter.
“Yes, Father.” It hurt Helena to see him in this state. His eyes grew weaker with each day. Vincent’s skin lost its colour over time. She didn’t have the heart to tell him no when he’s was in this state.
“Be prepared. They will be here soon. Nathan will show them to me. You will prepare dinner for them and rooms. Understood?” Her father settled back in his bed and continued to tell her what he expected.
Hospitality was a right to any visiting wolf shifter. Once accepted onto the pack’s lands. They would receive shelter and a meal for the night, at the very least.
“I can’t believe you didn’t talk to me first. Father, this affects me and my future. What if I meet my mate?” Helena found her objections interrupted by the front doorbell peeling through the enormous building.
“Both are good men. You’ll see. You will just have to sacrifice your wants for the pack’s needs. Now go, that’s probably them. Nathan, afford them respect and bring them to me.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Nathan left the room without glancing at Helena. His back was rigid and his head held a little too high. Helena suspected this wasn’t what Nathan expected, and it didn’t sit well with him.
“Be careful. Nathan will not tell you. But I did this because I am aware of the lurking unrest within other packs. Those seeking power will come to take my seat. Failing that, they will come after you. The twins will look after both the pack and you. Nathan is too old to do that and too stubborn to admit it. Now go, greet your future mate and his brother.”
“Yes, Father.” Perhaps the twins would be more reasonable? No, she would have to leave. There was no way she’d mate with someone who wasn’t her fated mate.
Nathan opened the door and greeted the twins. When Helena got to the top of the front door, her flight stopped. There before her were the twins. Almost identical in every way, and still inseparable. Both were perfection in form and hardened now as warriors. Tall, both had shades of dark-haired, and broad shouldered. They wore uniforms as if they’d come straight from the field of battle.
Helena hadn’t seen them in years, and it showed. She stopped at the first stair and grabbed the banister with both hands, fearing she’d gracelessly fall down the stairs because of the shock of seeing both, together, back here, fully grown. That’s a lot of man on any woman’s libido. She barely avoided fanning her face as two pairs of eyes zeroed in on her. Then their scent wafted up to her on the breeze coming from the open front doors. A scent that did things to her scenes no woman dared voice. It wasn’t an ordinary reaction to a scent. This was the reaction of one first meeting their mate. But which one was her mate?
“Welcome home, Chris, Brian.” Her smile faltered as she self-consciously blushed under their intense gaze. The two men smiled a slow, sexy smile in unison. From those looks, she knew she was in trouble with both of them, and they wouldn’t be reasonable.
Life settled down for them after that, and a routine formed. Their pack understood their unique relationship. It helped when Alfred could come up with some documentation he’d found while doing his own study on their unique bond. It and Bethany fascinated the man became a friend to Helena and Jillian. Nathan and Asia eventually settled on a date to be formally accepted by their pack and to acknowledge their mating. It was something their pack needed to. Life for them soon became full of creating and building. Several of the lone wolves filtered in and requested a place within Nathan’s pack. Davis helped greatly with that because he could identify these lone wolves and vet their stories. By winter, there were enough homes to keep the Blue Mountain Pack safe from the elements. Money appeared out of the rambling and incomplete financial status. Helena didn’t look too closely, but she suspected several packs contributed funds and investments so that they could start agai
Asia now understood how much she didn’t know about wolf shifters and their society. The mating ceremony wasn’t elaborate, but there were meanings behind everything. Luck and good fortune were part of the reason everything was being done. Prosperity and abundance. She was told so many stories and traditions that her head spun from all of them. It was so different from what she’d learned in her time underground with them. The other women were afraid to speak of these things while Clarence was alive. Afterward, there were other things to think about. Now they were looking forward to the Alpha Acceptance Ceremony and their Mating Recognition Ceremony. It was so busy that most nights everyone went to bed exhausted to start again the next day. They could get the new packhouse built and several outbuildings so that they could winter with a roof over all their heads. They planned a school for the new year for all the packs in the area to send their pups, too. So the
The pack came alive with the discovery of the celebration. These were things they lived for. Births, matings, and all the little cornerstones of member lives. They were a close knit family and community. This was something they could sink their proverbial teeth into. Presents weren’t necessary, but someone would always find something to bring.They planned a nighttime ceremony as tradition dictated and that gave most of the day to prepare the simple things for the ceremony.Dusk was falling and Helena cornered Jillian in her apartment to get ready. Davis took an hour and greeted those attending. Jillian fluttered about in a distracted and nervous state. Helena couldn’t figure out what would calm her down. But she started out with some logic.“First off. Here’s the dress. Let’s get you dressed. Honestly, you’d think Davis wasn’t yours already. At least, your instincts were smart enough to catch him. Everything is already recorded and technically, this is just to get your sister to leav
The work lunch was going well, but as the meeting came to an end, Chris noticed Jillian again adjusting the collar of her top. With a frown, he watched her for a little longer. “Is that a bite on your neck, Jillian?” Her response was to put her hand over the mark and blush. “It is! Well, I guess congratulations are in order for both of you. When are you planning to have your mating recognition ceremony?” “We’ll see. We’ve not set a date yet. There’s no hurry after all this stuff happening.” Jillian tried to take the pressure off of the subject, because she hoped they would drop it. “We’re going to have one as soon as it’s possible. No time to waste pretending things might change.” Davis interrupted Jillian’s uncomfortably nervous rambling to state the opposite of his mate’s words. “Davis! What are you talking about? We can’t do that. It’s too soon after all the deaths.” Jillian looked askance at Davis, unable to believe he’d said none of this to her
Nathan all but dragged himself back to the camp. He’d not fought all that much. It’d just been a long night. Too long if you asked him. But he represented the Blue Mountain Pack until the end. The witches would not all him to sit in and watch the trial. But he knew that witch and golem were now no longer a threat to the Blue Mountain. Now what would he do since the pack chose him to be their leader? Did he dare think of himself as the perfect candidate? He’d done a right fine job of being a roadblock to the current leadership there. Would he bring that blindness to this pack? Or could he be confident that he’d learned his lesson? If only he could see into the future and everything it held. Asia would see him as the stuff Alpha’s were made of. But he knew she’d read far too many romance novels involving werewolves, and they were far from correct in most things about wolf shifters. The camp was moving today, which meant he wouldn’t get much sleep, nor would the few peo
Jillian watched Davis make sure that her sister and mother, with her mother’s latest side piece, were settled in their cabin. Gods, the guy wasn’t much older than her sister. He’d be better suited to her sister. What did these men see in her mother? She had two adult daughters. She didn’t care if her mother found someone. Actually, Jillian would love her mother to find someone she had something in common with. This guy wouldn’t be able to keep up with her in a conversation and she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him in pretty much any physical activity. Jillian could see this becoming another crash and burn. She bet he’d not met his fated mate and when he did, he’d have a devil of a time removing her clinging mother from him. Or Jillian would have to deal with the high drama. At least, right now, Davis showed no interest in her sister’s advances. He’d spoken to her once already, and her sister acted like he must be mistaken. Now Jillian wasn’t sure if she m
“If we are going to return to some form of normal, we need to finish preparing the Alpha apartments for us. You know. Get all our ducks in a row.” Chris mentioned as they ate breakfast in their apartment. This was the first day of the rest of their lives together in his estimation, and he was becoming impatient at how must mess it left and the sheer number of strings that weren’t tied down. This wasn’t something he wanted to have happened again. “As long as those ducks don’t turn into raccoons or squirrels, I’ll be happy. I thought we setup for them to be renovated by now?” Helena pushed her plate away from her. How this would play out, she didn’t know, but she had to get it going or she’d get bogged down in her grief. “We did, but half of the work crew was called up to hunt. Which put the schedule back and I’ve not been given a revised schedule.” Brian added, and he clearly felt horrible about that. They didn’t need so many people to hunt down the golem or
Alfred walked from the room they used for their courts and formal audiences. It wasn’t used much these days, but it was never pleasant. The council agreed to punish Veronica with imprisonment and being stripped of her abilities. Not a simple thing to do. She’d never live a normal life if she finished her imprisonment. Veronica would have to stay hidden from the mortal world because of the knowledge she could spread. Basically, she’d just trade one prison for another and the identity she knew once would always be a faint memory. In the old day, they’d have just killed her, and Alfred believed that was a far more merciful thing to do. None of this gives her hope and then lets someone else deal with the fallout. Though he could wash his hands of her. She’d go with the elders of the council back to their homeland, which was secreted away. That’s where the sentence would occur. Their coven didn’t have the resources or place to keep her during her punishment. This was the end of th
Veronica didn’t know how long she’d been there. The light turned off and on several times. She could have been there for hours or days. She didn’t know. Finally, someone gave her food. Once she ate, it didn’t take long for a small group of people to come along and haul her out of the prison, she found herself in. She was prepared to celebrate her freedom until she found herself locked in a chair in another dark room. Veronica could hear the movement of people in robes on the edges of the large empty room. She wasn’t sure what to expect from these people. Veronica schooled herself not to give into the fear. She couldn’t quite achieve that, so she sat there attempting not to admit to anything incriminating or to give up on her very life. Finally, the lights came up enough within the room, that left little to the imagination of what they used this room for. It was a courtroom, and she was on trial. They dared to force their views and rules on her. That, alone burst her
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