2. Vivianna #2
I pulled away from Tav and looked over at Koit, who was holding a tray full of snacks and drinks, pouting with his bottom lip poking out.
I laughed at the sight of him, bringing a smile to his face.
He set down the tray and walked over to me.
Cupping my face in both his hands, he captured my lips with his own.
My body hummed with delight as Koit had his way with my mouth and Tav’s hand traveled up my thighs.
Just as Tav’s fingers curled around the thin band of cloth daring to cover my center, the bedroom door burst open, and Darius marched into the room, followed by Sarma.
How dare he bring a stranger into our den. He has no right to make that call.
Before I could say anything, Koit was already up in his face.
“What the hell, Darius? You can’t just barge in here without warning, especially with visitors,” Koit snarled.
“Fuck off, beta,” Darius barked back. “After you hear what we have to say, you’re going to be glad we didn’t wait longer. At least you all have your clothes on.”
Sliding off Tav’s lap, I stood and smoothed out my dress before walking over to Darius, fuming at the way he was treating my mate.
Please tell me we’re going to kick his ass.
Patience. I will deal with him, but it won’t be in front of her. We’ll deal with our personal issues in private—we are still British.
“You have our attention, Darius. Feel free to share what you know,” I said, trying to keep the snark out of my voice.
“There was a leak somehow, and The Collective knows about you being here and that you’re Dama. They’ve sent an envoy, and they’re waiting for your response from Rikkart’s pack lands,” Darius divulged.
Rik shot to his feet, tossing the side table in his way across the room as he stalked up to Darius.
If I didn’t know Rik for the gentle romantic that he was with me, I would’ve been scared of the hulking angry werewolf before me.
His green eyes flashed with his wolf, letting me know he was holding on by a thread.
“How could there have been a leak, Darius? That is your job,” Rik fumed, jabbing a finger at Darius. “Werewolves all over the world come to you because you make sure shit like this doesn’t happen, and now you come in here and tell me that our mate is in danger, and they are on my land?”
“You better back the hell down, Rik, or you’re not going to like how I make you,” Darius snarled, leaning in to Rik so their noses almost touched. Both breathed heavily, trying to control their wolves.
I might suggest that you do something, or one of your potential mates might end up dead on the floor.
“Enough,” I yelled, walking over to the two of them.
When they ignored me, I took Rik’s arm and twisted it behind him, then shoved him away from Darius as he growled at the pain.
Darius lunged to attack Rik, but I gave a swift kick to the back of his knee, sending him crashing to the ground.
Both men turned on me, eyes wild, teeth bared, their humanity all but gone.
A surge of power I’d only felt in the clutches of Vadik rose in me, and I lashed out with it.
“I said enough. If you want to pick a fight with me, then by all means, do so, but don’t get upset when you both lose.
If we’re going to deal with this situation, then we need to do so with level heads and not let our emotions get the best of us,” I commanded, then took a deep breath, backing off my alpha power.
“Now why don’t we have a seat and let Darius and Sarma explain to us what's going on.”
“God, I think I just came in my pants. That was fucking hot,” Koit groaned from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder at him and gave him a wink, knowing he was trying to help break the tension in the room.
“Sarma, if you don’t mind, we will meet you in the living room in a few moments,” I said with a small smile.
“Of course, Dama.”
Once the door was closed, I turned my attention back to the two idiots standing before me.
Rik, I could tell, felt bad about how he’d handled things.
Darius, on the other hand, stood rigid and ready for battle.
It was like he was trying to get me to send him away.
That if he screwed up enough, I wouldn’t want him by my side, and he could leave and watch over me from afar.
“Darius, would you care to share with me why you felt it was appropriate to allow someone we barely know into my personal den?” I asked, deciding to start with what pissed me off the most.
“Sarma is no threat to you or us. She is part of the council that will be advising you on issues within the pack. If we can’t trust her or her family, then we’re not safe anywhere on this island.”
Err, try again, pal. That was the wrong answer.
“Then allow me to set some rules for my personal rooms. Outsiders will never be allowed in my personal quarters. Ever. Those that are advisors or others that we work closely with will be allowed in the living room downstairs—no further. The only ones permitted up the stairs are those that are my mates or mate prospects. The only people who are allowed in this room are the ones I allow. If you have not been personally invited in, you are not welcome,” I announced.
I hated to do this, but if this was going to be my home, there had to be no question of my safety. I needed a place that I knew I could retreat to, a place that was a safe haven from all that would be going on around me.
“Any questions?” After a pause, I continued. “No? Good. Let’s head down so we can figure this shit storm out.”