Surviving the Pack (9 page)

Chapter 11

After sharing her cinnamon buns with Bailey, and only Bailey, because of the pups; they all sat and attempted to come up with a plan for the accused murderer.  The general consensus was confusion due to the lack of knowledge regarding the murder.  Apparently Dante was being accused of killing Mr. Simmons but they all knew Mr. Simmons was released with outcast status from the pack.

The doorbell rang and while Dante leapt up to answer they continued to chatter about the whys and how’s this could be happening.  At Dante’s shout they all ran to the door in time to catch Dallas and Dante clasped in a man hug thumping each other on the back. 

Gone was the awkwardness between the two, the feeling of solidarity, teamwork and unity had replaced it.  Lacy was behind him with her head down, she smelled of fear and anxiety; tar.  Dante released Dallas, only then seeing Lacy behind him looking deflated.

Dallas shifted and placed his hand on Lacy’s lower back pulling her forward to stand next to him.  “Dante, Please allow me to introduce you to the woman I’d like to mate.  I hear you’ve heard the story so I won’t bore you with the details.  I will ask for her hand in marriage and mating.”

Noticing the change in Dallas brought a smile to Dante’s face.  “I’d be honored if you we’re to mate.  I’m so sorry about your previous problems; I hope you’ll consider this a new beginning as I do.” 

Leaning into Dallas Dante took a tentative sniff, “Wow, you’re fast.  Back in town a couple hours and you’ve claimed your mate.  Well done.”  Lacy had a slight flush to her face and Dallas’s smile lit up the room.  

Dallas inhaled, “Huh, I must have been gone longer than I thought because you smell different too.  Do other peoples scents change when they’ve mated?”

“You have no idea.”  He was secretly pleased that he’d taken on Katarina’s scent.  Was it too soon to become so involved?  Dallas and Lacy have known each other for years.

They turned after hearing a delicate cough from the other room.  Dante sighed and rolled his eyes.  “Come on.  Let’s get you both updated on the inner workings of our pack.  Welcome home.”

Bailey and Paul were already packed, anticipating Dallas’s return.  Leaving their bags at the door they congratulated Dallas and Lacy.  “We’re so happy for you and Lacy.  Dante’s mating is the first official mating acknowledged by the Pack in a long time and we’re so pleased you’re mating is the second.  Alpha Jake said he’d officiate on the day of the next full moon.  In fact he said he was honored.” 

At Bailey’s babbling Dallas and Lacy stopped in the hall and eyed each other.  Dante watched the light bulb over his best friends head click on.

“Uh…Mate?  Who did you mate?”  Dallas was seriously in the dark, “You weren’t even dating anyone, or interested.”

The shit eating grin Dante wore spoke volumes.  “Remember that sexy, sassy badass bear I told you about?”

Dallas smirked, “No way.  The one that’s standing behind you?  Yep, I remember.”  He inhaled deeply and chuckled, “She smells like candy, now you smell like candy too.”

Katarina beamed over at Dallas, “Good day, I’m Katarina.  The, what did you say alpha, sassy bear?”  She laughed at his blush, “Apparently, I’m mated to Dante.”  She shot Dante a look of annoyance.

Lacy giggled, “You don’t know or you’re not convinced?  Maybe you should go back to bed and figure it out.”

It was Katarina’s turn to flush, “Touché.  Well…he bit me and won’t leave me alone so I’m pretty sure we’re in it to win it.  Hope you guys are strong because your pack needs a group ass kicking.”  She sent an evil grin Bailey’s way, “I can’t wait.  Oh, the power.  Muahahaha.”

* * * *

Paul and Bailey said goodbye while congratulating the happily mated couples.  Only, after a long discussion regarding ‘the plan’ for the pack meeting called by the elders.  Bailey hugged her brother, “Stick to the plan.  I love you, Dante.  I want the best for you so if you ever need anything, call.”

“Yeah yeah, sis, ditto.  Keep in touch okay?  I want to know if I’m having a niece or nephew.”  Silly grin, “Or both.”

“Bite your tongue brother.  I’ll update Jake on what’s going on.  See you soon.  I’m coming for the mating.”

Dante’s heart warmed at the love his sister was sharing.  After all the trials of their upbringing it was amazing to finally feel her support and love.  “Stay outta trouble.”

After seeing his sister out Dante finalized ‘the plan’ and began for the ceremony circle his people used for the last two hundred years.  His pack was present, as well as the elders, excluding Mr. Simmons of course.  The elders were in place and he took position in the middle of the gathered elders, pulling Katarina to his side he nodded at Dallas.  “Let us begin.”

Dusty was the first to speak, “You stand accused of the murder of a pack elder.  He was last seen when you changed his status to outcast.  Your scent was in the clearing along with his blood.  How do you plead?”

Dante snickered acting carefree, “Obviously, I plead not guilty.  Where’s the body of the deceased?  Typically it is presented to the pack for a full inspection.  Not that I don’t trust the elders of this group but the pack has gone through some intense changes.  The rule of inspection was never changed and as alpha I demand the right.  If you don’t feel comfortable allowing me to examine the body, as the accused, you must provide it to the rest of the pack for evidence collection.”

Dusty attempted a reply when Dante cut him off, “As well as I would like to know who my accused is.  I was never provided with the name of the person who says I allegedly harmed Mr. Simmons.”

Dusty allowed one side of his lips to lift in a half smile.  That was the man Dante was familiar with, the one who told him to follow his dreams and taught him to be a man. 

“You are correct.  Travis-“the crowd erupted in chaos.  Hollering and spitting ensued followed by several of the pack pushing each other to get a closer look.  Dusty’s voice rose over the noise, “Pack, please, silence.”

The crowd remained rowdy with ear-splitting yelling and clashing of opinions.  Dante released his power and murmured, “Silence.”

The quiet was all encompassing.  You could hear the wind in the trees and twigs being snapped under restless feet.  “Your pack elder is speaking, show him the proper respect.”

Dusty inclined his head and continued, “Travis came to me and told me of Dante engaging Mr. Simmons in a fight.  I was told the fight ended with Dante ripping out the throat of Mr. Simmons.  Dante stands accused and must defend himself, providing witnesses.”

All eyes were on Dante.  He really didn’t want to have to go into the story, living it the first time was enough.  He always got sick to his stomach when he thought of someone abusing his beloved mate. 

“I witnessed several pack members assaulting Katarina.  She held her own, using non-lethal force to subdue her attackers.   I came upon the scene, casting judgment on Mr. Simmons as outcast while I was cursing the fact the others got away.  I stand by my decision.  When I left, Mr. Simmons was very much alive.  If your witness doesn’t show up I request that you let this matter rest and call off the trial.”  After a moment of silence which no witness came forward Dante asked, “Do you even have a body?”

With a shake of Dusty’s head and his ensuing smirks confirmed the obvious.  “Alpha Dante, you are hear-by cleared of all charges.  Thank you for your time.”

The elders all surrounded Dante clapping him on the back while praising his smarts.  “Yes, yes, things are set to rights.  Carry-on.”  Dante turned to introduce Katarina to Dusty, only then realizing she wasn’t there.

“What’s wrong?  You just turned pale and you’re sweating.  You’re clear of all charges.”  Dusty hugged him again seeking comfort.

Dante didn’t move.  His eyes scanned the crowd and he found nothing amiss.  He watched Dallas kiss Lucy and grin up at him shooting his thumb up.  When Dante merely continued to scan the area Dallas approached.

“What’s wrong?  I can feel your seething rage and worry.”

Dante felt like his world was closing in, his eyes misted and his vision became blurry.  “My mate.”

Dallas looked around the immediate area, “Well…where is she?”

“I don’t know.  I can feel her but it’s bizarre, numb-ish.  Does that make sense?  I don’t want to call out and alert others but I want to yell to the rooftop and threaten lives to find her.”  He clutched Dallas’s shirt, “We have to find her.”

Dallas took Dante’s face in his hands and looked into his eyes, serious, stoic.  “We will find her.  Focus on her energy.  We all have energy, follow hers, it’s unique.  Imagine her scent, her flavor, her aura.  She’s strong.”

Dante didn’t know what Dallas was talking about but he thanked God he’d sent him to American Canyon to learn this stuff with Jake.  He wanted to go into the woods, he felt compelled to go.  He closed his eyes and went with it.  “You’re my best friend Dallas but if you’re leading me away from my mate I’ll have to hurt you, badly.”

“Noted, now go.  The hunt begins.”

Chapter 12

Katarina woke with cotton mouth and a splitting headache.  She rolled to her side and dry heaved until it felt like her intestines would pop out of her mouth.  A cackling laugh sounded from her right side.  When she was able to speak again she sassed, “Shocking, we meet again Mr. Simmons.  And…ooh, you’re not dead.  Pity.”

The corrupt elder erupted in a string of curses and threats.  He told her she was useless and plain, not worthy to be alpha’s mate.  When he was done his breath was coming in great big gasps and he was pale and sweaty.

His rant gave her time to look at her surroundings and evaluate the possibility of escape.  Concrete block walls and a solid door that appeared to open from the other side.  Where the hell is this place?  Is there a bomb shelter on Dante’s land?

“You’ll never get out.  It’s just you and me for the next couple hours.  I’ve had them lock us in together so I can finish what I started earlier.”

Katarina giggled, “Getting your ass whooped?”  His hand reached out to slap her across the face.  “Funny, it looks like I won’t have to kill you.  You’re having your very own shit fit.”  His face went from pale to bright red, “As alpha bear I should warn you; you’re having a heart attack and I advise you to settle down.  Your hearts too old to hatch these nefarious plots, didn’t anyone warn you?  It’s my duty to see to your best interests now.”

She knew the blow was coming, when it connected with her jaw she saw stars and began to dry heave again. 
That old motherfucker is going down. 
As she continued to heave she heard his manacle laughter and vowed he was dead before the night was over.  Everyone already thought he was dead anyway, now they’d have a body.

“Are you done?  I don’t have all night, bear bitch.  You should have never come here.”

Intentionally trying to appear weak she curled up in a fetal position.  A blow came to her back and she whimpered holding herself tighter, waiting for the perfect moment.  Another strike land on the back of her thigh, the whimper that she released was genuine and let her know she needed to end this charade before she couldn’t walk. 

Twisting when he kicked out again she pulled him toward her, released her claws, sinking them deep into his neck while she looked into his eyes and slowly ripped out his throat.  While he struggled to gasp in air she simply said, “You shouldn’t have fucked with me old man.  I never harmed you or your family.  I’ll pray for your soul.”

Katarina went back to her makeshift bed, blankets on a cold hard concrete floor and waited.  For more bad guys or the cavalry, whoever was going to show up first, she’d be ready. 

* * * *

After twenty agonizing minutes wandering the forest Dante couldn’t contain his howl of fury.  It echoed for miles and he hoped his mate knew he was looking for her.  He’d failed her in the worst way.  After all the promises of protection he let her get snatched.  God only knew what was being done to her.  Please…keep her safe so I can experience more than a day with my fated.  If she dies I’ll go with her, happy to meet her in heaven.

The voice of his second intruded, “Dante, are we still going the right way?”

The innocent question was the straw that broke his back.  He flipped his shit, “How the hell do I know?  We’ve only been mated a day.  I can feel her, strong and confident, but now she’s uncomfortable…and impatient.  She doesn’t feel as dull.  I feel useless and we’ve been circling the same spot for what seems like forever.”

“You’re doing fine.  Keep going.”

“Keep going where.  My Katarina GPS is obviously broken because I don’t feel the pull anymore.”  Dante was beginning to lose hope.  He rubbed the back of his neck and squeezed until it was painful.  His cell phone ringing broke the silence.

“Hello?”

Alpha Jake’s voice came over his line.  “Dante?  You okay?”

“No, I’m not.  My mate is missing and I’m losing it.  I can’t find her.”  He hiccoughed in a breath holding back tears.  “I feel so helpless.  I need to find her.”

There were whispers in the background.  When Jake came back over the line he sounded confident and in control.  “You’ve met my son Trevor?  You know he’s special?”

Random, “Yeah.”

“He won’t go to bed.  Says you need to look down, stupid.  Yes, I told him that wasn’t nice but he insisted I say it.  Call me if you need anything.”

The phone went dead and Dante pulled it away from his ear, gaping at the logic.  Duh, he felt her here so she must be here.  “Dallas, search the ground.  She’s here somewhere.”

* * * *

Katarina was getting impatient,
come on bad guys, I have stuff to do.
  In the middle of prioritizing her week; laundry, grocery shopping, help arrange mating ceremony, meet the new pack-and be nice, someone finally graced her with their presence.  A short man with thinning hair sauntered into the room like he owned the place, maybe he did.  When his eyes came to rest on the now dead Mr. Simmons his steps faltered and he halted mid-stride.

“Don’t worry, I’m harmless really.  That man was beating me and I had to defend myself.  Who are you?”  Katarina made it a point to use her sweet voice and curl up again to appear non-threatening.

At her insecure posture the man continued forward, stopping a few feet from her.  “It’s no concern who I am.  You are the important person.  An alpha’s mate, your parents must be so proud.”

Hunching in on herself she responded dryly, “My parents are dead.  The alpha of this pack won’t let me leave.  He mated me without my consent and the pack has already attacked me.”  What?  It’s true, kinda.

His look was questioning, like he didn’t believe her.  He tilted his head, coming in a little closer he scented her. 
Interesting, she’s not lying.

“Mister, I just want to go home.  This pack is sick and twisted.  Can you help me get home?”

The short stinky man came closer and leaned down.  “Sure, I’ll help you if you help me.”

Katarina acted ignorant about the whole situation.  She was almost positive this was Travis, the old pack alpha’s son.  She’d gotten the scoop on this pack before she’d come and is glad she had.  “What can I do?”

“I want to talk to Dante, it’s a private matter.  If you simply lure him here with your special bond I’ll be able to talk to him one on one.  Sound like a deal?” 

What did she look like, and idiot?  Sure, let’s lure the alpha here for a chat, dumbass.  “Alrighty mister, I’ll do it.  Then will you let me go?”

He squat down next to her, rubbing the back of his knuckles down her cheek.  She didn’t even flinch when he leaned in smelling her hair, creepy. 

“It’s a deal, Katarina.  That’s a beautiful name, for a beautiful woman.”

Seeing the bulge at his groin made her want to rip out his throat, but she had to be patient.  She needed witnesses to prove it was self-defense, or pack defense; was that a defense?  Oh well, she was using it anyway.  How did she get into these messes anyway?  Mated to the alpha barely twenty four hours and she’s drugged, bear-napped, and in danger. 

A faint howl sounded in the distance causing her to instinctively pull away from Mr. Stinky.  Odd, she hadn’t heard anything for the past half hour.  “Where are we?”

He smiled displaying a row of perfect straight white teeth, “Why, Goldilocks, we’re in the woods.”

Her brows came together in confusion, “Actually, wouldn’t I be one of the bears.”

“Touché, my beautiful bear.”  He took a few steps closer until there was a shout from the other room that had him looking back at the heavy door.

Attempting to hold his attention and give whoever was coming more time she attempted to engage him in conversation.  “When can we leave?  I’m beginning to get hungry.  Do you know how much bears can eat?”

Apparently Travis was too absorbed by what was going on behind the heavy closed door.  Weren’t they his men?  Why would they be screaming?

Travis began to back up, taking a very unmanly position behind Katarina.  He seemed to attempt to melt into the concrete blocks that made up the wall, causing her hackles to rise and a deep sense of betrayal to infuse her core. 

Her voice was only a whisper but enough for shifter hearing.  “Is that him, Travis?  Please tell me you didn’t tell him I’m here.”

Travis didn’t respond but when she turned she could see the truth written all over his face.  Travis was pale, sweating and he had a fine tremor wracking his body.

Katarina’s heart sank but she had to keep it together.  There was no other option when dealing with Tidus.  “I know that you don’t know me very well but if you think that either of us will be getting out of here alive, you’re mistaken.  Tidus will kill us, taking these lands and leaving us to rot in full view of the pack to serve as an example.”

Katarina made sure she didn’t mention that these weren’t his lands or his pack.  He’d been banished a long time ago after his father’s betrayal and his subsequent trouble with not only the Sacramento pack but also American Canyon pack.  He’d burned too many bridges; hooking up with Tidus was the most ruthless and ill-advised plan yet.

A murmur of sound came from Travis, “He said he’d help me get my pack back and get rid of the false alpha.  I want to lead this pack.”

A humorless laugh escaped her before she could stifle it.  “Tidus looks after himself and no one else.  He cares nothing of others with the exception of who he can control or possess.  You were led astray along with a great many others.  As you can hear,
your pack
is being slaughtered out there.  You, as their leader, should be out there protecting your people.  Instead you seal yourself in a room with a bear and hid behind her for protection.  Now would be the time to admit you are not a leader and give up.  And when this is over, if you’re still alive, I suggest you show your allegiance to Dante who is the true alpha of this pack.”

Her rant being over she was panting and breathless.  She needed to calm herself in preparation for dealing with Tidus again.  He’d probably not think very well of her after she escaped his attempted mating and killed several of his minions in the process.  Only after her parents were slaughtered in front of her, she was beaten within an inch of her life.  If he hadn’t waited for her bruises to heal before the mating ceremony she’d probably still be in Alaska mated to the monster. 

Remembering the past make her think of her friend Bernard, who was damaged by Tiduss' reign, never able to get over the violence.  He was her best friend and protector but somewhere along the way he developed the need for violence and his mind seem to leave him.  She was forced to end his life in American Canyon where he lost his connection to reality and the difference between right and wrong.  She took the heat for his aggression but knew deep down he was a lost cause after saving her in Alaska.

Ironic, she’d finally found someone who challenged her making her smile again, while revving her engine and she was being faced with her past.  Not only did she have to deal with her unlucky and violent past, but Travis had ensured that it had merged with her future.  Please let Dante be okay.  He didn’t deserve being exposed to her problems while his pack was already so broken. 

The memories being too painful she controlled her breathing along with her scent and waited for her worse nightmare to pop in for a visit.