23. Vivianna
VIVIANNA
The book was filled with different entries written by advisors, family, and even Agnes herself.
I was absorbed into her story about keeping her pack alive during the witch trials and fighting claims of her wolves dealing in dark magic.
They moved constantly, hiding themselves since they didn’t age the same as normal humans, trying to find a place to call their own.
Finally, they had landed in Norway, where they were revered yet feared for being great warriors and children of the Norse god Fenrir.
They helped defeat Russia in the Livonian War, creating a powerful treaty with the country.
Agnes was killed in a skirmish defending her pack lands when Russian werewolves retaliated.
Okay, I feel like Agnes would totally have been best friend material.
She was a true Dama, that’s for sure. Everything she did was for her pack. I know she had two mates, but I don’t think she ever had kids.
I wouldn’t want to have kids in a world where I feared for my life. Makes sense to me.
Do you think it’s possible she couldn’t have any? I didn’t really see much mentioned about any special powers, either.
Guess we need to keep reading. This is closer to the end of the timeline for alpha females, when magic started to fade.
True.
The next Dama that took over after Agnes was Britt, but she wasn’t the selfless warrior that Agnes was.
Britt felt if they were going to preserve our kind and way of life, then we needed to be hidden away, so she started looking to relocate.
Peace in Norway was short-lived, followed by many more wars, during which many wolves died.
Knowing that her pack was in danger, Britt finally discovered the island that is now our home, Kursar.
As I read through the rest of her life, I could see the decline in the wolves’ genetics.
During their time in Norway, they didn’t hide from the humans and mated with them.
This seemed to cause a huge spike in miscarriages and death for female werewolves in labor.
Britt only made it thirty years as Dama before she passed away from mysterious causes.
There was one other alpha female to succeed her, who closed off the island and turned it into a nation unto its own, resulting in the pack I am a part of today.
Pulling father down from the stack, I opened to see it was about a Dama from another pack—the Dark Moon Pack.
Sasha was the name of this particular Dama, and she ruled somewhere around 600 A.D.
She had seven mates and ten children. They were hunters in all aspects of the word, pillaging other tribes and towns, taking what they wanted.
Her mates could half shift, making it easy to decimate small tribes.
So, I feel like they were much more primal way back in the day. Although, you have to admit that half shifting is kind of a cool ability.
I pulled my laptop off my desk and did some Googling of names and places, trying to locate where this pack was.
Would you look at that? It seems Russian werewolves have always been assholes.
Could this maybe have something to do with why Vadik is so keen on getting alpha females back?
Well, we have a whole history book of happy stories of rape, murder, and destruction of other tribes. What other reason could there be? Does it say they have any other special tricks?
Here it talks about how one of her mates could heal the others, or at least that’s what I think it means. He could somehow stop the pain and ease the wounded.
Look, look, look, did that just say that one of them saw visions? Like of the future?
No, I think it’s saying he could see through another wolf’s eyes as if they were his own.
Okay, that is kinda creepy. I wouldn’t want to look through someone’s eyes. Who knows what you could find them looking at.
“Dama,” someone called from the other side of my office door, followed by a knock.
I rolled off the couch and opened the door to find one of the castle staff along with Tristan.
“Lady Astrid asked me to escort Alpha Griffiths to you for help with the financial report,” the woman said, bobbing her head and stepping aside.
The Tristan that I had seen before was not the man who was standing in front of me now.
His hair was cut, still long on the top but much tighter on the sides, and swept away from his face.
His beard was trimmed so it was much closer to his jaw, showing off his masculine features.
I had no idea who cornered him into the grooming, but I wanted to give them a raise.
God, just when I thought that man couldn’t get more attractive.
Shaking myself out of my surprise, I pulled the door open wider. “Come in, please.”
“Astrid asked me if I might be able to help you. I’m a contract accountant for large companies when they need to bring someone in to fix things,” Tristan explained, taking a seat on the couch.
That woman is an angel. I could kiss her on the mouth for this.
I don’t think that Astrid would see that as a positive, but we should totally do something for her.
I grabbed the tablet off my desk and sat down next to him on the couch. As hard as it was, I kept a professional distance from him—he was here to offer me help that I desperately needed, not get mauled by a horny wolf.
“Apparently, they had different people in charge of several areas that the pack money was being used in. For at least the last three hundred years, this pack has been self-sufficient with hardly any outside income. I am trying to make a trade deal with The Collective, but we need to get our ducks in a row before we involve outside money,” I explained.
Tristan just nodded and took the tablet out of my hand, his fingertips brushing mine as he did. That one touch sent shivers down my spine, and the itchy, hot feeling crawled under my skin as it had this morning.
Are you doing this?
Why are you blaming me?. I told you why I think you’re all pent-up. We haven’t gotten laid since you angry banged Darius.
Reminding me isn’t helping the situation.
Then don’t start a fight you can’t win.
I huffed at her, getting a raised brow from Tristan in return.
“Sorry, my wolf and I were having a disagreement.” I shrugged.
“If you will allow me to take this so I can look over it first, that would be helpful. There is a lot to cover, and I don’t want to give you the wrong strategy because I don’t understand the whole situation,” Tristan said, letting my comment slide.
I wasn’t sure why I told him my wolf and I talk. No one had said that I should keep it a secret, but I didn’t like to give too much away. Especially to someone I didn’t really know, even if I did want to hump him. Physical attraction aside, I needed to keep the whole picture in mind.
“I would prefer not to let that information leave this office, given that you are sharing space with so many other unknown men. Also, before I have you dive deeper into this, I will need you to sign a non-disclosure agreement,” I said, knowing that Darius had Bentley sign one as well.
“Of course, that’s a good business practice. If you are comfortable with me working in this office, then I am more than happy to do that. I just didn’t want to disturb you or get in the way,” Tristan explained.
I thought about that and the meetings that I would have going on in here. “I’m sure Darius wouldn’t mind sharing his office if mine isn’t free.”
Tristan surprised me when he let out a chuckle. “Oh, I’m sure that he would do anything right now to be in your good graces again.”
“Oh?” I didn’t think it was common knowledge about what’d happened between us. Bentley had left before the real fight happened, and I didn’t think he was the type to gossip.
“Dama, do you know what I am?” Tristan asked, catching me off guard.
I tilted my head to look at him from head to toe before I answered. “You mean do I know you’re a Dire wolf? One of the last—if not the last—of your kind?”
Sadness filled Tristan’s eyes for a moment, but it was quickly blinked away. “Yes. As a pure Dire wolf, I haven’t lost all abilities like the common werewolves of this age have. When I touch someone, I can see their intentions.”
My mouth fell open in shock.
You don’t think…
That he knows we lust after him—yeah, I think the ship has sailed on that secret.
I cleared my throat to give me a moment to collect myself before I asked my next question. “Would you be willing to explain that further?”
A smile played at his lips, drawing my eye to them like a horny teenage boy. Catching me in the act, a full smile graced his face. I could only guess, but I got the feeling he didn’t smile like that often.
“I usually keep my ability locked up tight so that I don’t see something every time I touch a person. When I do use it, I can tell if a person is lying, telling the truth, if they mean harm, or if they are sincere.”
So maybe he doesn’t know. Oh well, just means we’ll have to tell him the old-fashioned way we want to jump his bones.
Will you quit.
“That must have been hard to deal with when you didn’t have as much control,” I said, realizing the implications of knowing the truth behind everyone’s actions.
“It has its downsides, but it also has its perks.” Tristan grinned, giving me a knowing look.
I couldn’t help but blush, knowing that he definitely was aware of how he affected me.
“Your wolf was broadcasting very loudly when we first met. I was more concerned with making sure you didn’t get hurt than blocking your reaction to me.
It has been a long time since I let myself slip like that, and your emotions were so overwhelming.
Certainly an ego boost, for sure,” Tristan said, his eyes alight with humor.
“Anything else I should be warned about with you?” I asked, only half joking.
Tristan shook his head. “Nothing that you need to be warned about.”
Just as it dawned on me to ask him questions about what I read earlier, Sarma knocked but didn’t wait for an answer before walking into the office.
Yup, she’s really wanting to die today. Can’t handle this fucking shit anymore.
“Dama, we need to start getting you ready,” Sarma stated.
I glanced at the clock in my office, and sure enough, it was two p.m. “I will be up in a moment.”
Ignoring her, I turned to Tristan and held my hand out for the tablet. I could feel Sarma’s gaze on me and knew that if looks could kill, I would have daggers in my back. Holding firm, I waited until I heard her walk out of the room before I said anything.
“Sorry about that. The two of us just seem to be rubbing each other the wrong way these days,” I shared.
“It’s hard to give up power when you’ve held it for so long,” Tristan murmured as he stood. “I will leave you to get ready, Dama.”
“See you later?” I asked, resting my hand on his arm.
I knew he was going to be there, but I didn’t like how he’d seemed to shut down again. Catching a glimpse of the man behind the wall was all it took for me to want more of that side of him.
“Of course, Dama. I wouldn’t miss it,” Tristan said with a twitch of his lips as he left the room.
Damn, he totally read our feelings again.
Yeah, but do you really care?
No, not really, just makes things more interesting. I do love a good hunt.