19. Vivianna #2
I started shaking my head as she talked.
“Nope, not gonna happen. I don’t want to be the queen in a tower distant from her people.
This dinner is about them getting to know me and who I really am.
I’ve always wanted a family that is there for each other, and all I got was the cold, austere version of a family that didn’t even want me.
They need to know that if I come strolling into their shop, it doesn’t mean that they’re in trouble.
I want them to see me as human—well, as human as we get. You know what I mean.”
“Dama,” Astrid started, then paused, pursing her lips.
“I understand where you are coming from, but we have fought to preserve the old ways and traditions of Kursar and our pack. It’s why we cut ourselves off from the outside world.
To do something so against tradition would not only unsettle the pack, it would make you look weak. ”
Viv, trust her. We asked her to be on our council for a reason. We need to listen to her advice. We can do another event that isn’t so stuffy later. You need to be established as Dama to make any of the changes you want.
I sighed, running my fingers through my hair before saying anything.
“Very well, Astrid. We will do this coronation dinner according to tradition. But I’d still like to do more informal pack events so that I can mingle with them and get to know the people I’m in charge of.
I don’t want to just have them send petitions to the castle, not knowing who they’re asking for help. ”
The tension in the room dropped at my words, and everyone let out a breath. It seemed my mates hadn’t thought I was going to take the news well.
“Thank you, Dama. And I think the pack would enjoy doing more activities together with you. All but a few of our pack have never lived under a Dama’s care, so they will be more open to small changes.
I would highly suggest taking the time to read the past memoirs of the Damas before you make any changes, though, so that you may learn how and why things were done in the past,” Astrid said before excusing herself from the table.
“Don’t tell me I just chased away the one woman I trust to help me figure this all out,” I groaned, leaning against Rik, who kissed the top of my head.
“That battle axe? No way,” Koit said, tossing a roll at me.
“I think it’s more that she sees that some things do need to change for the better of the pack, and she didn’t see it before now.
Astrid has been a part of this pack for over three hundred years, and she’s only had her daughter and son-in-law to help the past couple centuries.
The more you keep digging into how things work, the more she sees the things that slipped through the cracks. ”
I hummed in response, agreeing with him. If someone came into my hospital, went through every patient file, and pointed out every mistake I made, I wouldn’t be so graceful about it. They had been doing the best they could, following the rules they believed were right.
“I think the best thing to do tonight is have some fun and relax,” Tav suggested.
“Why don’t we do another movie marathon… without the drinking game. I don’t trust you with those anymore, missy,” Koit said, glaring at me, but he could only hold it for so long before his playful grin came out.
I grinned back before bolting out of my chair and racing into the hallway towards our quarters.
Focused on getting away from who was chasing me, I didn’t see the large body until I’d crashed into it.
The scent of cedarwood and crisp paper surrounded me as we landed on the floor in a heap, his arms tight around me to make sure I was protected as he landed on his back.
Embarrassed, I tried to push away from him, but he held tighter as Koit, Rik, and Tav arrived and started growling. The man under me replied with his own deep growl of warning, causing the others to quiet. Intriguing.
God, why does he smell so mouthwatering. It’s almost as intoxicating as Rik, or hell, even Tav. I just want to roll all over him and bathe in his scent.
“Viv,” Rik snapped, anger in his voice.
Is he upset with us?
Don’t care at the moment. I’m busy burying our nose in his neck.
You’re what?
My eyes popped open, and sure enough, there I was, face smashed against this stranger’s neck as I started to murr. Freezing for a moment, I collected myself and slid off the man pushing myself into a sitting position.
The delightful-smelling man in question looked like he could have taken the role in Castaway from Tom Hanks.
His brown hair was wavy and pushed back from his face, almost brushing his shoulders.
His dark, thick, full beard that reached down to his chest had splashes of silver in it.
It was wild and seemed to have never faced off with a brush, or even a comb.
His steel-gray eyes watched me with a blend of curiosity and surprise.
I mean, I would be surprised too if a woman tackled me and then shoved her face into my neck.
Rik walked over and helped me to my feet in a way that put me behind him slightly.
Holy shit, he’s the hottest silver fox I have ever seen.
I don’t think he has enough silver to be called that.
What do you call an older guy then?
Okay, fine, we’ll go with it because I can’t come up with anything better.
“Do not fear for your mate around me, I’m not the one to watch out for,” the man said, his voice so deep I could feel it in my bones.
I think I just came with the sound of his voice alone. Can we keep him?
“The mate prospects are not supposed to be on this side of the castle,” Tav said, walking up to my other side.
“I was on my way back from going on a run and got turned around. I wasn’t intentionally trying to stumble my way into meeting the Dama before the coronation dinner.” He bowed to me awkwardly and headed off in the direction that he’d come from.
“Wait,” I called, pulling away from Rik before he could stop me.
The bear of a man stopped, giving me a patient look that an adult would give a child.
“What did you mean when you said you’re not the one to watch out for?”
He looked between me and my mates with a frown growing on his kissable lips. “That is a question for your mates to answer, but I would question why they haven’t told you this already.”
Now it was my turn to frown at him. Is he saying that my mates are keeping things from me?
Okay, he might smell like a wet dream, but he has no right to question our mates.
“What’s your name?” I asked, planning on looking up his file from the data Darius had pulled together.
“Tristan Griffiths, originally of the Welsh Moors Pack but currently a lone wolf,” Tristan said with a slight bow before walking off.
Spinning on my heel, I crossed my arms and looked at my three mates present. “Anyone care to explain what the fuck that was all about?”