“You're not mad?” The Wolf was at my back; half an inch away from me.
I leaned back into him—banishing the space between us—and pulled his arms around my waist.
“No, Wolf,” I whispered. “I'm not mad. I'm very, very happy.”
I turned in his arms and kissed him. The Wolf shuddered against me in relief and sank into our kiss. The desire rose up again and with it came images. Me straddling the Wolf's face; his glowing eyes staring up at me as he growled and licked. His sex heavy in my hands and then my mouth. My head thrown back as I rode him. I shivered and eased out of the kiss. I couldn't let myself fall back under.
The Wolf was tense with desire; his breathing rapid. But he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and laid his forehead against mine.
“You will keep your word, Mate,” it was a command, not a question.
“Of course, I will,” I said as I took his hand. “Come on; we'll tell them together.”
We went down to the main floor of the cabin and found Fenrir standing with Ty, a handful of Froekn, and my other mates—I mean my husbands and boyfriends. I shook myself. I was so wrapped up in the Wolf that I was beginning to think like him. That happens when you share thoughts for days on end, I suppose.
The Wolf's hand was in mine as we faced them. Fenrir and the Froekn were beaming at us, but my lovers were watching us warily.
“Are all of you okay?” I asked softly. “I'm sorry if we worried you.”
“Are we okay?” Azrael asked in shock. “Are you okay, Carus?”
“I am,” I said serenely. “He healed me of all my emotional wounds. My past doesn't bring me pain any longer. The nightmares are gone.”
“You did that for her?” Odin's eyes widened in surprise.
Odin had tried numerous times—with magic and psychology—to heal my psychological pain. And he had never succeeded.
“I did,” the Wolf said.
“Thank you,” Odin murmured.
“Don't thank me, Oathbreaker. You won't like what I say next.” The Wolf smirked. “You've all forgotten what Vervain promised me in the beginning; I am her alpha.”
“Oh, come on, Trevor,” Azrael huffed. “Are you seriously pulling this bullshit? We all love her, and we're a family. There is no alpha.”
Fenrir snorted, and Az glared at him.
“There is always an alpha,” Fenrir said. “You know it, Death Angel. It's not you.”
“I am her alpha,” the Wolf growled again. “And I've been disrespected for too long.”
“This is Trevor's wolf,” I said to them softly. “Trevor has let him take over for awhile; to get the things they both need.”
“You're saying that he needs this so we should have to put up with it?” Re scoffed.
“You were not even supposed to be with her!” The Wolf snarled as he pointed at Re. “So, if you want to stay, Re of the Egyptians, you will shut your damn mouth and fall in line.”
Re gaped at the Wolf as if he'd sprouted another head.
“If you need to be in charge, that's fine with me,” Toby said casually. “I'm happy to be a part of Vervain's life; I don't need—or want—to rule it.”
“I'm not ruling it,” the Wolf said calmly. “I'm taking my rightful place at her side. I will have what's been promised to me; the last say in matters of mates, the position of alpha among all of you, and my son.”
“What does; the position of alpha among us, mean?” Odin asked quietly.
“It means that when I want my mate, I'll have her,” the Wolf said. “None of this scheduling of when I can be with her. I will sleep in her bed every night because it is my bed too.”
“That's just...” Azrael shook his head and looked at me. “You agreed to this?”
“I promised him this a long time ago. It's just gotten pushed aside,” I said gently. “When I first received the lioness magic, I was with Trevor. I only wanted Trevor, and I would have stayed with him forever if it had not been for the Intare magic. Trevor accepted that he'd have to share me because he loved me, but he made me promise that he would come first. He's right; I've forgotten that. I've mistreated him, and he never said a word about it. He respects and loves all of you. So, he gave up his position to make the rest of you happy. But his Wolf has suffered because of it, and I won't stand for that anymore.”
Azrael scowled and looked at the other men.
“You are alpha,” Kirill said with a nod of finality. “I accept and acknowledge.”
The men looked at Kirill in shock. At one time, I wouldn't have been shocked by Kirill's rapid response, but right then, I was just as surprised as the others. Kirill had changed from the beta he'd been. Like the other men in the room, he was now a leader.
“I made agreement too,” Kirill said to them. “I made vow to Trevor so I could be vith Vervain. I must uphold it, even if I don't like it now.” He looked at each man and then pointed at the Wolf. “Zat is his volf. Do you understand how much it took to bring him forth? Ve hurt our brother; Vervain is not to blame. Now, fucking man up and let him have vhat he vas promised!”
