Find a mate

Dominic had been pouring drinks in the glasses when the glass slipped from his hand. He grabbed tissues and attempted to keep the drink from damaging his pristine white shirt but the damage was done. He asked her, "Are you accusing me of trying to kill your pack?" as if one might ask how they found the weather to be.

Valencia leaned forward, "I am only stating the obvious. Hycwen population is the highest near your territory and they rarely cross it."

Dominic said resolutely, "I may be many things Val, but I will be the last person to hurt the ones you love."

Valencia had meant to reprimand him for calling her Val but she saw the softness in his eyes and decided to let it go. She was the alpha of the alphas, but Dominic always made her feel ordinary- that she was a normal girl without a thousand responsibilities on her shoulders. 

They had known each other before they had turned and he was the only connection to her life before becoming a lycan. In fact, she wasn’t supposed to be a lycan, her cousin had been destined to be at her place. She tolerated Dominic just for that.

Dominic managed to get back to his unruffled demeanor and quipped, "There has been a rise in the attacks on your pack since the day your nephews and niece were born. If I'm not wrong this was the third in the last fifteen days."

Valencia smiled, "I thought you were on a vacation to the North Pole."

Dominic waved his hand, "I had wanted to challenge my inner werewolf, but God, the cold is too much. I prefer to keep myself hot."

So, he had been keeping tabs on her. Even though he had been gone for a month.

Valencia tied her hair in a bun and Dominic's eyes were drawn to her plump lips. Even in that ragged clothes, she looked ethereal to him. She said to him when she was done, "Stop gawking like an idiot."

Dominic looked elsewhere. "The conclave is ecstatic to welcome the newborns in our world. They hope that your bloodline will help in securing the werewolves' progeny."

She was unimpressed, "You want me to attend a kitty party?"

He looked in her eyes directly, "The Lycan council thinks that the children of the Archon Alpha would be far more powerful than those of her Beta. Our population is dwindling. They want you to choose a mate and soon."

She matched his gaze, "You want me to choose you."

He was steady though his voice faltered just a little, "Yes, for the greater good."

She laughed mockingly, "Oh, you would do anything for our community, wouldn't you? Like, hitting on a female of every species, as long as she could give you an heir to the pack"

Dominic smiled, "My reputation precedes me."

She pressed on, "Do you deny that?"

He left it unanswered. "I will accept anything you ask me to do to extract a yes from you."

"God, you are one desperate alpha. Maybe, I should name your beta as the new leader."

Dominic caught the hint of supremacy in the Archon Alpha's voice. He could only behave like this with her until her patience waned. And, she was beginning to grow frustrated as her wolf itched to be let out. It was not wise for any werewolf, especially an alpha to offend her. She could rip him apart to pieces then and there.

Rugor arrived at the right time to diffuse the tension with a tray of food. He bowed low and began to hurry away when he caught a glimpse of a cut on her left foot. "Alpha Valencia madam, you need to check that shoulder of yours."

Before she could reply, Dominic had jumped on the table by performing a somersault and bent down on one knee, placing her feet upon it. 

Valencia muttered, “Show-off”

He ignored her comment and observed the cut after slowly taking away her shoe. The smell of her cologne hit his nose though he controlled to keep his hands stubbornly close to his body. His voice was concerned, "This cut wasn't there when you had walked in and it doesn’t look normal."

She was touched at his affection though she had threatened to rip him off of his title, his respect, and virtually everything of being a fearful alpha only a minute ago. She managed to say, "It will heal as usual."

It wasn't healing. On the contrary, it was deepening at a very slow pace. His werewolf eyes could see her skin being unable to stitch on itself.

"Do you feel the pain?"

Dominic's eyes went a furious shade of dark green as he roared, "Rugor, I am going to kill you."

A pale-looking Rugor hurried at the sight and put his hand on his mouth, "Rugor done nothing, master Alpha."

Dominic asked through gritted teeth, "Who else knew of the meeting? I chose this sick place because it was far away from the other hideouts."

"No...nobody except we three. I swear on me diner"

Valencia looked at the poor man cowering under Dominic's rage and patted his back affectionately, "It’s nothing, Rugor. Off you go." After ensuring that Rugor was well out of earshot, she turned to Dominic, “Stop distracting me, Dominic. What was it about werewolves not protecting each other?”

Dominic’s voice turned grim, “Well, it’s not only your pack that has been attacked lately.”

She waved away his concern, “Werewolves tend to bicker and fight like little children, it’s pathetic.”

“Nobody got killed in a long time due to a fight. They may be stupid enough to fight but not stupid enough to kill each other when our numbers are low already.”

Valencia turned to him, “Why has nobody informed me of a death?”

Dominic rubbed his forehead, “Well, everybody is scared of you. That is why I want you to be present at the conclave and order everyone to look out for each other. Your word would mean a lot against all of the other alphas combined.”

She considered his offer and knew that though she found meetings boring and generally asked the alphas to report to her after the meeting, this time she had to make her presence felt.

She stifled a yawn as she suddenly felt drowsy and managed to say, "Fine, I will attend the conclave. But, I don't need a mate and we are not discussing this again."

She attempted to walk before her feet wobbled under her weight. Dominic caught her graciously as she struggled to keep her eyes open. She surrendered to the darkness that engulfed her. Dominic held her close, breathing in her scent, "But, I need you and I am not letting you go."