30. Vivianna
VIVIANNA
Having blood drawn wasn’t my favorite, but I had the easy part of this deal.
I knew nothing was going to happen to me.
None of us really knew what was going to happen next with the guys, though.
We’d already completed the blood exchange—now it was time to activate the bond by unleashing a large amount of my alpha energy.
“I don’t think it’s smart to do it here in the castle with so many wolves around. They would be able to feel it, and that would cause them to start asking questions. Why don’t we go on a run and head into the city? I haven’t left this place since we found the lab,” I suggested.
Girl, you read my mind. I’m getting so bored with all this adulting going on.
“I could use a run,” Koit said, his eyes glowing with excitement.
“You just went out yesterday, didn’t you?” Tav questioned.
Koit shrugged his shoulder. “Yeah, but it’s not as much fun going by myself. No one will play with me.”
I stood up, walked over to Koit, and bent over, placing a kiss on his lips. “I’ll play with you anytime.”
That’s what she said…
Koit grinned at me, heat filling his eyes. “Promise?”
“Promise. Now let’s go do something fun for a change. It’s been one crisis after another since we arrived. Time to do something normal,” I said, pulling Koit out of his seat.
“Viv.” Darius’s tone alone told me what he was going to say.
“Nope. We are going to put everything else on hold. We can hunt down the wicked witch after lunch. If we act like nothing’s wrong, what’s there to tip her off?” I challenged, hands on my hips as I looked at all the guys.
I was surprised to see that even Tristan wasn’t in favor of ignoring what was happening. It seemed Darius now had someone in his corner when it came to being overprotective of me.
Heaving a heavy sigh, I resigned myself to their suggestion. “If you guys really think this isn’t a good idea, then fine. We can deal with this now.”
Darius looked like I’d just slapped him, confusing me even further.
He walked up to me and cupped my face in his hands.
“My queen, all I want to do is keep you safe, but I don’t want to take your freedom from you.
We might be overly cautious about this, but if all of us go with you, I think we can manage anything that might come up.
Promise me that if I tell you we have to leave, you won’t question me. ”
I smiled up at him, darting in and kissing him. “Yes sir.”
Koit grabbed my hand, and we hurried out of the room before they could change their minds.
Dashing through the halls, we made it outside and to the building where we would store all our clothes.
Koit and I both smirked at each other as we ditched out clothes and shifted, barreling out the door and almost knocking each other over.
“Seriously, you two are acting like pups,” Rik said, shaking his head.
“Come on, old man, live a little,” I teased, loving that I could now talk to him as a wolf.
Rik let out a growl and narrowed his eyes at me, but I just bowed and wagged my tail at him playfully.
Look who’s turning into a tease. My job here is done, my young Padawan. There isn’t much left for me to teach you.
I couldn’t help but laugh, the thrill of being in my wolf form after so long settling something inside me.
The urge to tease my mates and mate prospects, wanting their attention, was something I’d never experienced before.
It was almost like I was in high school where all the girls flirted shamelessly with the boys, doing whatever they could to garner their interest.
Koit, of course, took the bait and pounced on me.
I managed to wiggle out from under him and darted off, letting out an excited yip.
Not one to be left behind, Koit was hot on my heels, letting out a howl that sent chills through my body.
The rest of my guys answered the howl, and I could hear their swift paws in pursuit.
I let out a few barks in challenge, darting through the trees.
This time, instead of avoiding the town, I headed right for it.
I caught a glimpse of white fur darting past me and guessed it had to be Darius.
He was trying to cut me off, but I wasn’t going to fall for his game.
Instead, I headed right for him, willing to take down his ass for a third time.
Yet when I reached the wolf barring the trail, it wasn’t Darius.
This white wolf had an amethyst hue to his fur.
I took a deep breath, scenting moonlight and freshness after a rainfall. Orion.
Looks like we have a chance to get some payback for marking us without our permission.
I could feel my lips pull back in a wolfish smile.
Orion was roughly the same size as I was, but I’d been training to take down assholes bigger than myself for years.
Picking up my speed, I darted in low, wanting to grab one of his legs and knock him off balance.
Only I didn’t get the chance. He gracefully leapt over me and landed behind me, peering over his shoulder at me.
From his body language, I could tell he was laughing at me.
“Dearest, do you really want to pick a fight with someone who has been alive for four hundred years?” Orion asked.
Oh, it’s on, pretty boy.
Slowly, I circled him, watching for an opening, but Orion didn’t move but to watch me with his head.
He was totally confident that he was going to mop the floor with me.
I growled, hunching down and stalking closer as I rounded him.
Then I made my move, darting for his back leg but pouncing on his back at the last second.
Orion rolled his jaw, latching on to my ruff and pulling me with him until we landed with him on top of me.
He bent down and nuzzled my face, licking my snout.
“I vote we continue this fun game on two legs in your bedroom. Somehow, I don’t think you’re ready to be taken in your wolf form just yet. That will come with time and trust, my dearest,” Orion said, nipping at my ear where his mark was, sending a shiver through my whole body.
“Fuck, that is so not fair to turn me on like that and then just walk away.” I grumbled.
Orion paused and looked back at me, violet eyes heavy with lust. “If you wish for me to take you here and now with the others around, I am more than happy to accommodate you, my dearest. You only need to ask.”
I huffed, got to my feet, and shook out my coat before I trotted off to join the others. Orion followed after me, nipping at my tail playfully before he ran ahead, laughing.
Lord, that man knows how to turn a girl on. Why did we say no to bumping uglies just now?
Because I am not having my first time having sex as a wolf be spectator sport. If it ever happens, that is.
Oh, if that man has anything to say about it, it’s gonna happen.
The rest of the journey to town went uneventfully, besides a few games of tag between me and Koit. The others just watched and tried to stay out of our way as I used them as body shields. Mates had to be good for something, right?
Once we hit the cobbled streets of the town, we settled down and took in the sights.
Each store had a set of robes and a changing stall so that people could shift and shop.
All the shop owners were more than happy to deliver the items we bought to the castle for us, which I thought was very generous.
I made sure to stop by the glassblower, who was very pleased to show off his workshop.
“Dama, I am so honored that you would take the time out of your busy day to come see me,” Gerald said, clutching my hand in his large ones. “Please let me show you the latest piece I am working on.”
Laying out on a large work table was a bunch of broken glass waiting to be melded together. Gerald handed me a sketch pad, showing me what the final result was going to be. It was a mesmerizing piece of wolves running under a full moon.
“This is absolutely going to be stunning. Let me know when I can get on your schedule to have something made from you.” I smiled, handing back the book.
Gerald blushed and looked down at the table. “This one is for you. It’s your coronation gift from my family.”
Shocked, I gasped, reaching out to place my hand on his arm. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, Dama. It is customary for all the shop owners to give a gift, if they can. I was hoping you would like what I picked out,” Gerald explained.
“I am humbled by your gift. Thank you,” I said, giving him a bright smile.
Gerald nodded his head, a grin on his face. “When it is finished, I will have it sent over to you.”
I hugged the large man goodbye, and we headed off to check out a few more shops. We entered into what looked like an apothecary filled with herbs, spices, and other natural remedies. A lovely looking woman walked out of the back to greet us, but I didn’t recognize her from the greetings last night.
“Welcome, Dama. I’m Sofia, the shop owner. What can I do for you?” Sofia smiled, licking my neck. When I returned the greeting, I knew for sure I hadn’t met her—her scent wasn’t familiar to me either.
“It’s our first time checking out the town, and we wanted to greet all the shop owners,” I answered, watching her wearily as she took in the men that were with me.
“So, the rumors are true. You do have seven mates,” Sofia murmured, like I wouldn’t be able to hear her standing so close to me.
Why is it we either get on great with other women or we want to murder them in their sleep? What is wrong with us?
What’s wrong with us is this tramp just low-key called us a slut. Forget waiting until she is asleep, let’s handle this now.
Take a breath, we don’t know this woman. She could just be a prude or something.
My wolf huffed but let me handle things. “What rumors might that be?”
Sofia flushed bright red, her eyes wide in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Dama, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
Tav shocked me by letting out a low growl. “We both know that isn’t true, Sofia. She heard you, just like you wanted her to.”