“Have you and Decebel been building a bromance?” Jen asked.
Alice smiled as she glanced at the Romania beta’s mate, then looked back at him. “I’m good.”
He held her gaze a little longer before giving a nod and turning his attention back to the room. “It is good to see that Alexsey hasn’t allowed you all to turn into a pack of wild dogs.” Maxim used English on purpose. He wasn’t about to be rude andkeep their guests from being a part of the conversation. Though he imagined Decebel, Crina, Ciro, and Adam had been around long enough to learn multiple languages.
“We might not have turned into wild dogs, but it appears you’ve brought some with you.” Katya, a slender she-wolf with piercing yellow eyes and long, straight, dark hair, eyed Jen and Stella warily. Had Katya been in her wolf form, her gray hackles would have been raised. Even now, her human lips curled back slightly, revealing sharp white teeth. As one of the few females in the pack, Katya had always been suspicious of any new females that came around. Maxim knew she feared being replaced or losing status within the pack’s hierarchy. She worried that one of the males would mate with them, leaving her the last wolf standing. Maxim had never understood her feelings. It was apparent that she wasn’t the true mate to any of the males in their pack, and none of the males would have any kind of relationship with her other than family. Still, Katya was hostile toward new females.
“Katya.” There was a clear warning in Maxim’s tone. His eyes moved to the Romania pack beta when he heard Decebel growl, his eyes glowing as he stared at Katya.
Jen set her hand on his thigh and looked at the other female, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Kitty Katya has claws.”
“Oh no,” Crina muttered. “She’s given you a nickname.”
“Even I’ve learned that’s not a good thing,” Stella added.
The she-wolf lifted her lip in a snarl. “You left with a high fae and a wolf without so much as an eff-you.”
“You forget yourself, female,” Alexsey warned.
She ignored him and kept going. “And then you return mated to a gypsy healer who also smells of something else.” Katya shot a look at Alice, her yellow eyes glowing. “Something that sucks blood. And you’ve brought others into our territory. These Irecognize as belonging to the pack of the most powerful alpha in history. Did you expect us to be overjoyed?”
Maxim’s irritation grew as he looked at the others in his pack, trying to gauge if they felt the same way as Katya. He could tell the majority of the pack were simply curious. There were a couple, Dimitri and Boris, who felt similar to Katya. But then some of his most dominant, like his beta, Alexsey, Ivan, and Sasha, felt something more than curiosity. They felt hope.
“I will address your comments.” Maxim stood up slowly from his chair, releasing the hold he had on Alice. “But before I do that, you will apologize to my mate, who is now your female alpha.”
Katya’s eyes narrowed on him, but they dropped immediately, unable to hold his gaze for longer than a second. Her eyes glowed as she looked at Alice.
“Remember who you are, Alice,”he told her through their bond. “An incredibly intelligent, accomplished scientist who discovered a way to merge two supernatural races. You endured being raised by a tyrant and still wound up as a caring, compassionate human being. You’ve faced trial after trial, and you’ve not crumbled under any of the pressure. Stand next to me, where you belong, as my equal.”
It was only a few heartbeats before she stood up next to him. She slipped her hand in his, and he saw her pull her shoulders back as she lifted her chin.
“I know you don’t know me.” Alice addressed Katya first and then looked around the rest of the room. “And you have questions as to what, exactly, I am. I will be?—”
“We,” Maxim interrupted her. “Wewill be happy to explain things.”
Alice nodded. “We,” she reiterated. “I’m not sure what about me threatens you,” she said directly to Katya. “But I’m not yourenemy. I love Maxim. I want what’s best for him, and that extends to those he loves and cares for, which is all of you.”
Maxim watched Katya as she stared at Alice, and in less than a minute she dropped her eyes, which meant Alice was dominant. That was a good thing. Though neither Maxim nor Alice knew exactly what she was capable of through the acquired vampire blood, it was nice to know her healer magic provided some self-defense. But that didn’t mean Katya couldn’t hurt her if she took a mind to. The female was a lethal fighter.
“I apologize”—Katya hesitated for a moment— “alpha. It’s hard to trust outsiders. We’re a rogue pack.”
“How does Fane Lupei feel about that?” Dimitri tossed his head to the side to get his long, jet-black hair out of his dark, brooding eyes. His muscular frame was tense. His arms were crossed over his broad chest. Maxim knew that chest was covered in scars from the wolf’s tortured past. Dimitri’s chiseled jaw was clenched tightly, and his intense gaze focused, radiating a quiet intensity as he awaited Maxim’s response.
“We will get to that,” Maxim answered. “I’m going to address the things Katya spoke of first. As far as me leaving without saying anything, this is not a democracy,” he bit out. “I am your alpha. I keep this pack in order. With as many dominant males as we have, you all would be constantly fighting and killing one another without my leadership. I left Alexsey in charge and, as my beta, it was up to him to decide how much to share. I knew little about my quest, which means he knew little. If you don’t want me as your alpha, then challenge me. Until then, feel free to question me, but do it respectfully. You want my respect. I expect the same from you.” After a moment, thoroughly chastised, Katya gave a sharp nod. Maxim looked at Dimitri. “As for your question, Fane will not force us to come under his leadership. But we’re going to.” There were murmurs around the room, and Maxim waited for it to quiet down. “This is Fane’sbeta.” He motioned to Decebel. “I’m going to let him explain exactly what we, and the entire supernatural world, are facing. Hopefully, you will see why we need to be a legitimate pack. The rest of these newcomers are Ciro, alpha of the Italian pack, and his mate, Stella.” Ciro bowed his head and shifted his body so it was slightly in front of Stella. “This is Adam. Many of you have heard of the fae warrior, and his mate Crina.” Adam grinned and lifted his chin at the wolves. Crina just smiled. “Now, Decebel.” Maxim motioned to the room. “If you will?”
The large wolf stood, and his assertive mate stood with him. Jen slipped her hands into her back pockets as she looked around the room, completely unfazed by all the other wolves staring at her.
“As he said, my name is Decebel, and this is my mate, Jennifer.” Jen lifted a hand and waved her fingers, winking one of her large, blue eyes. Decebel rolled his eyes. “If she flirts with you, your best course of action is to pretend she doesn’t exist.”
Maxim bit back a smile. Damn, he did not envy that male’s plight.
“She’s your true mate?” Sasha brushed a lock of golden blonde hair behind her ear as she spoke, revealing a delicate face framed by loose curls. Her hazel eyes, flecked with shades of green and brown, gazed intently at the response. Though petite and slender in build, Sasha carried herself with a quiet confidence. Thanks to Adam, she was dressed casually in jeans and a long-sleeved burgundy top.
Decebel nodded.
“And she still flirts?” The she-wolf’s eyes widened.
“You’re not safe either,” Decebel warned, his eyes narrowing.
