1. Vivianna
VIVIANNA
“Viv, we’ve landed,” Tav whispered against my hair.
I nuzzled into him, not ready to leave this cocoon of safety, breathing in his earthy scent. Knowing that no one could attack us while we were in the air allowed me to rest peacefully. I knew it would come to an end, and I feared the reality of it might turn into one of those hysterical women.
Right, like I would ever let that happen. We are not that weak, my wolf huffed.
Smiling at her words, I opened my eyes to see Tavas’s chocolate gaze waiting for me.
Within my mate’s eyes, I could see no trace of judgment at my need to be comforted.
He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead, letting it linger as the hum of our mating bond settled my nerves.
I was still amazed that I had such an understanding, gorgeous man as my mate.
It wasn’t that long ago that I found out I was a werewolf—the first alpha female werewolf in two hundred years, to be exact.
Tav’s golden skin shone next to my pale, translucent complexion that hardly ever saw the outside sunlight.
Being an accident and emergency doctor in the foggy town of London didn’t provide much in the way of adding color to my skin.
I also envied the way he looked so effortlessly handsome with his tousled dirty blonde locks that fell to his shoulders.
I’m sure after the harrowing escape from the safe house, I wasn’t looking nearly as put together.
“What’s wrong?” Tav asked, a frown line creasing his forehead.
Shaking my head, I looked away from his much too observant eyes.
“I don’t even know where to start with what’s wrong.
So much has changed in the past few weeks, and I feel like it’s just sinking in that I almost lost you.
” I looked back up, meeting his gaze. “Once we get off this plane, it’s all real again, and I’m enjoying being in denial. ”
Tav took my hand and stood up, waiting for me to stand with him. “You’re not alone this time, Viv. You have your mates, along with Rik and Darius. We’ll keep you safe and walk through this with you.”
I wanted to cry at the beauty of his words. They were a balm to my soul after having been alone for so long.
Don’t you dare forget about me, missy. Now let’s get off this plane so we can figure out a plan to kick that wannabe-fiancé’s ass.
She was right. As I considered my options, I realized I honestly didn’t have many.
My choices were to get out now with people I knew would have my back or take my chances on my own.
Like Tav said, now that I had mates, I would never be alone anymore.
That gave me the courage to pull myself to my feet and let Tav guide me as we disembarked.
I wasn’t ready for the massive crowd of people gathered in front of the stairs on the tarmac.
Three strangely dressed people, two women and a man, stood in front of the throngs of people waiting for us.
Darius, Rik, and Koit guarded the bottom of the stairs, making sure no one encroached on the plane till Tav and I made it off.
“Please tell me you know what’s going on,” I whispered to Tav as we reached the other guys.
“I wish we could have prepared you for this, but it was one of the conditions of coming here,” he answered, giving me an apologetic look.
I wanted to be angry about the fact they’d been keeping things from me, but my fear won out.
My guys separated, putting me in the middle as the strangers approached.
I studied them, taking in what they were wearing, because it was so at odds with the way the rest of the crowd was dressed.
The older of the two women wore a long, full skirt that was red and green plaid with a matching vest. Her white hair was twisted up on the back of her head, neat and orderly.
The younger woman wore a skirt of green and gold stripes running from waist to toe along with her matching vest. The gray streaks in her braid that fell over her shoulder gave me a clue she might not be as young as she looked.
The gentleman wore what looked like cream wool pants with a matching long-sleeve coat that hung to mid-calf and a wide-brimmed, Amish-type hat shading his face.
“Welcome home, Dama. Your people have been waiting for the return of an alpha female,” the man said, bowing to me.
I felt my jaw hit the ground. What the fuck is going on? Did we travel to an alternate dimension while I was sleeping? Wait, am I still sleeping? I should pinch myself just to check.
Don’t be an idiot, you’re awake. You should probably say something so he’ll stop bowing.
I shook myself back to the present, and sure enough, the man was still bent at the waist, waiting for something to happen. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you… all.”
Good lord. You should just turn around right now and leave. Save these people from your overwhelming charisma.
Shut. Up.
That must’ve been good enough, because the man rose from his bow and nodded to the guys on either side of me. “It is an honor to host the Dama’s mates and suitors after having the castle empty for so long.”
Um, did he just say castle? Are we going to stay in a castle?.
Hell yeah, he said castle.
“Thank you for aiding us in our Dama’s hour of need,” Rik said, bowing back to the group in front of us. “As you know, my father always made sure I knew of the old ways, learning from you and your people. I feel blessed to be able to protect this way of life as well as protect the Dama.”
Damn, who knew Rik was such a smooth talker? When can we make out with him again? He is so attractive right now. I know his tongue does more than give good politics.
Lock it up, will you? I can’t be spacing out to talk to you while I’m already making an idiot of myself.
“Ah, our Dama’s wolf has much to say, I see,” the older woman said, giving me a comforting smile.
“You remember the days when our wolves talked to us?” Tav asked with wonder in his voice.
“Yes, my boy. I am almost three hundred and fifty years old. My memory is foggy but I remember many things of the last Dama who graced our lands,” she said, giving Tav a cheeky wink. “My own wolf once talked to me before our magic was lost.”
My wolf growled at that, but I shushed her. We have bigger problems than dealing with a three-hundred-year-old grandma flirting with our mate.
Grandma better not get handsy, or she won’t see her next birthday. I rolled my eyes at her words when Rik pulled me out of my inner conversation.
“Allow me to introduce the elders of Kursar,” Rik said, stepping forward. “The ever lovely Astrid, who used to advise my father on many matters. Sarma, her daughter, who has been given the burden of advising me on a few occasions, and Sarma’s husband, Juris, who keeps this whole island running.”
When the guys all bowed slightly to them, I followed suit. I was still reeling over the fact that Astrid was over three hundred years old. Her daughter, who I’m sure was no spring chicken herself, didn’t look a day over fifty.
“Elders, allow me to introduce Vivianna Beck, the first alpha female in centuries,” Rik said, walking over to me and taking my hand like they wouldn’t figure out which one I was.
“Accompanying her are her mates, Tavas of the Scarred Forest Pack and Koit, beta of the Silver Mountain Pack and my second. Darius, Alpha of the Moonlake Pack, and I are currently mate prospects.”
Astrid walked up to me and knelt on one knee, bowing her head.
Sarma and Juris followed suit, kneeling just behind her, side by side.
In a booming voice, Astrid spoke for all to hear.
“Dama Vivianna, we of the Imperial Dawn Pack of the island of Kursar, home of the last Dama Alpha, pledge fealty to you and those you claim.”
I looked up from the three elders to see a wave of people falling on bended knee. Holy fuck, what is happening? Did she just say ‘fealty’?
Looks like you finally found your purpose. It’s time to step up and rock this joint, alpha queen style.
Hell no, there is no way I can be queen alpha. Are you out of your fucking mind? I have no idea how to rule a kingdom.
That is what you have your mates for, stupid. You don’t have to do this on your own. You have four men around you who will help you through this. Apparently, they knew this was coming and still decided to come with you. Now don’t blow it.
Any suggestions on what the hell I’m supposed to do right now? How do I get them to stop bowing?
Do I have to figure everything out here? Just tell them you accept being their queen and see if that works.
I could feel my body begin to shake with nerves.
Just when I thought I was going to turn and run back to the plane, Koit and Tav took my hands and squeezed.
Instantly, I felt Tav’s steady energy fill me, calming me down off the ledge, and Koit’s confidence and challenging nature filled my heart with assurance.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward, knowing what I needed to do.
“I am honored by your fealty and acceptance of me and mine. I am no queen, but maybe, one day with your help, I can be worthy of that title,” I announced, and something in my soul settled with my words.
I had no idea what the hell I was going to do, but these people needed me, and I needed them.
I might have been created to bring the werewolves back from the brink of extinction, but I was going to do it my way.
Becoming a werewolf had changed everything, and I had a lot to learn about this new part of myself.
These people knew what it was like back when werewolves prospered, and I hoped, with their help, we could get back to those days.