Nikolai’s Wolf: Chapter Eight

Two evenings later, Shannon paced the floors of her borrowed bedroom, waiting to speak with Alex for the second time that night. When they’d spoken minutes earlier, she’d been reluctant to share the private details of her battle with Rory. At the time, she’d only known Alex Wolfe was alpha of one of the most feared and respected packs around. She’d also believed the man was looking for a mate.

Now, she knew better. She’d met Kiesha, Alex’s true mate. According to Kiesha, Alex hadn’t settled for just any female shifter but had been willing to wait however long it took for the right one. In addition, his second-in-command, a female beta named Carol, was also mated to her true mate. This gave Shannon hope Alex would understand her stance on not mating simply because it was expected, and her refusal to submit during the hunt.

Unlike Rory.

As she walked back and forth, Shannon noticed she felt better and stronger than she had last night. The gouges in her hide and the chunk Rory had bitten out of her leg should have taken at least a week to mend. What was in the shot Alex had given her? She’d never healed this fast in her life.

A knock sounded at the door. “Shannon, it’s Alex.”

“Come in.”

Alex opened the door and stood just inside the entrance. Now that she knew Alex wasn’t considering her as a potential mate, she allowed herself to study him. He was handsome, with the kind of rugged good looks one expected in action-adventure movie stars. His eyes were a deep brown and his cropped black hair had just a touch of gray at the sides. Alex was about the same age as Rory, in his late thirties, early forties.

Alex crossed his arms over his chest and arched a brow. “Kiesha said you wanted to speak with me?”

Shannon took a deep breath. “Yes, there’s been a misunderstanding. I didn’t know you were mated when we spoke earlier.”

He looked puzzled. “I fail to see why that would make a difference.”

She grimaced. “Rory’s been pressuring me to take a mate. Last night, he called a hunt.”

Shannon could see Alex’s mind working as all the pieces fell together. “I think you’d better start from the beginning. You mind if I sit down?”

“No, go right ahead.” They both sat on the bed, and Shannon told him everything about the hunt and the events that led up to it.

When she was finished, Alex asked, “Will there be any repercussions for your actions within your pack?”

Shannon shrugged. “I don’t know. There might be some tension. Until the other night, no one except Rory really knew how strong my wolf was. Rory’s trying to bring the pack into the twenty-first century, but it’s been an uphill battle all the way. There are a lot of males who might take issue with what I did and how strong I am. It’s okay for me to be the strongest female; that just means my cubs have a better chance of being alphas. But to be the strongest wolf, second only to Rory?” She shook her head.

“Then there’s Caleb and Michael. I’m sure they’re not too happy with me right now. If our pack was more progressive, MacDougal would be right to fear for his position. He’s always been power hungry.” The more she considered it, the more Shannon began to dread returning home.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Shannon realized she was broadcasting her fear, and Alex could smell it. She made a conscious effort to tamp it down.

“I know from the dealings my father had with yours, and my own when I became alpha, that your father was archaic. Magnus followed the old ways faithfully. I still can’t believe he forced his own son to kill him to prove he was strong enough to lead. If your brother’s trying to bring the pack forward, he’s got his work cut out for him.” Alex paused, then asked, “How familiar are you with the inner workings of the Raven pack?”

“I know the Raven pack doesn’t have the dominance struggles most packs do. You have several alphas in your pack that have no desire to lead. Rory said he admired the way the Ravens operated more like a corporation than a pack of wolves.”

She leaned back against the headboard. While the Raven pack wasn’t an enemy of the Sparrowhawks, neither were they allies. However, Alex had helped her. Carefully considering her words, she said, “The first thing Rory did was change the way omegas were treated. When my father was alive, omegas were little more than slaves to the rest of the pack. Now they’re treated with much more respect. Rory also appointed the two strongest shifters in the pack as his second and third to help run things. They meet regularly to discuss leadership issues.”

Alex nodded approvingly. “That was smart, giving his closest contenders positions of power and then using their skills. Cuts down on discontent.”

Thinking of MacDougal, Shannon wasn’t sure how correct Alex’s analysis of the situation was. “Rory’s opened several business enterprises and put the pack to work, for the betterment of us all. He formed a council to give the elders a voice, banned dominance fights to the death, and got rid of the hunt. Well…until the other night,” she finished ruefully. “He also wants to garner equal opportunity for the women, but the males of the pack, particularly the council, aren’t ready for it. In their narrow minds, women are for mating and breeding, nothing more.

“The council watches Rory like a hawk. They’ve always been a thorn in his side, but he can’t simply disband them. A lot of them feel he’s much too lenient with me. That he should have put his foot down and put me in my place a long time ago,” she finished tiredly.