Stolen Birthright Ch. 21-25

Richard Darling was the best find. A semi-retired country lawyer, he was excited by the prospect of using his experience to get justice for me. His mate Doris planned to join him. Alpha Roman Peters of the LaCrosse pack even offered to pay his salary, but I told him that money was the least of my problems. They were going to pack up and head my way in two weeks, and I needed to get a home ready for them.

I also got lucky when Nadine Andersen volunteered. She was a member of the Rochester pack, and made her living as a Private Investigator. She was young, only twenty-six, and had been a police officer in Rockford, Illinois before meeting her mate and moving to his pack. Sadly, he had been killed by a drunk driver when she was pregnant with their daughter. She was looking forward to the change in scenery, and Marge assured her we could take care of Natalie while she was working. The great part about her was her experience in tracking down information through social media and other sources.

The final person hired was Melanie Schefter, from the Chippewa Falls pack. She was a whiz with relational databases and analyses, perfect for the work we were doing. She was almost painfully shy, though, so the idea of working in a remote place with only a few people appealed to her.

Her Luna in the Chippewa Falls pack pulled me aside and filled me in on other reasons why. She had been drugged and raped by wolves from a rival pack when she was fifteen; although the attackers were caught and executed, she still struggled with being able to trust men. Her mother was going to drive her out after Christmas.

She, Nadine and Natalie would all be staying in extra rooms at our house; they were more comfortable living with other women than on their own. I was paying for their room and board, and giving them a cash salary. I didn't want any records left behind of our activities, not all of which were going to be legal.

As we approached home, I looked at my phone again. I couldn't have my Craig on the cover of my phone, because Mark would be around. Of course, I couldn't put Mark there in case Craig showed up.

My love life, summed up in a simple exercise over home screens. I selected a photo of me with my parents and made that the home screen instead.

Marge and Mabel handled all the work in getting ready for our new help, while I studied for and took my final exams. By the time Christmas Vacation rolled around, I couldn't wait to get out of town again. I had done all my shopping online, so on Saturday morning we loaded everything into my truck and the three of us headed back to the Johnson Pack.

It felt great to be back with their Pack, and I ran to Remi's arms as they greeted us outside the Pack house. Since it was late, I spent an hour catching up with friends in the recreation room before heading to bed.

I had just put my PJ's on when there was a knock on the door. I told the person to come in, silently cursing the lost ability to tell who it was by smell, and laughed when the door opened. A quart of Cow Tracks ice cream and two spoons appeared as the door was partially opened. "Care to talk?"

"Sure, Aunt Remi. You know me too well." I piled the pillows up against the headboard and we sat back, eating that mint chocolately goodness, until it was time to talk again. "I know who he is now. My mate is Craig Anderson, the twin brother of my ex-friend Olivia. You know, the one who tackled me and held me until my rapist arrived." I showed her his picture on my phone. "He wasn't there that weekend, he had stayed home for a soccer tournament."

"He's good looking, a strong male. Luna gave you a worthy mate." I knew Remi didn't believe in human love, she believed in the bond just as I had once.

"Sure, but is he a good man? He's been raised by his father, he probably thinks women are just trading pieces for what you want. What if he doesn't want me now because I can't be Alpha?"

"You ARE alpha, Ella. We keep telling you that, maybe someday you'll believe it." She dug out a big chunk, I frowned as I saw how many chocolate pieces she had in her spoon. "You know, you've made quite a reputation for yourself. I can't even count how many phone calls I've taken from other Lunas, even Alphas, who are amazed at what you did. You just made a tour of a dozen packs, and walked away with allies, help and universal respect. If he can't see what you are, how strong you have been despite everything that has happened, he doesn't deserve you."

I dug my spoon in the corner and was rewarded with a bounty of little chocolate chunks. Jackpot! "My gut is telling me to go to him, to break up with Mark and be with my mate. I think deep down I always knew that Mark was a life preserver, not a boat." I took another bite. "I feel terrible for him, especially since I'm probably carrying his babies. No matter what, we are tied together for life now."

"Yes, you are. You're going to have to find a way to make it work. If you are destined for your mate, you can believe he too is destined for another. He is still young."

I would forever regret that I was so weak, so needy, as to seduce Mark and not even use protection. All I wanted to do was to feel whole again, to feel love, and the price of that was in my belly. I didn't even realize my hand was rubbing where my bump would be soon. She looked at my hand and her shoulders sagged. "How is your morning sickness?"

"Off and on. It's annoying when the smell of some foods makes me nauseous, even if it is something I like. I'm starting to get cravings, too."

"I can imagine, twins will make everything more. I loved being pregnant, though. Just wait until you feel them move, or when they get the hiccups."

I rested my head on her shoulder as I tossed my spoon into the now-empty container. "Can I do this? It is all so much," I said. "Maybe I should give up my revenge, let Luna deal with them."

She put the ice cream down on the table and took my shoulders in her hands. "No, you are doing the right thing. You swore a blood oath to your parents, and you should keep that." She looked deep into my eyes. "That doesn't mean you have to do everything right now. You're assembling a team, actually a Pack that will be there for you. Part of becoming a leader is realizing you shouldn't do everything, because eventually you can't. Pick good people for your team, tell them what you need and set them loose. Only then will you have the time for school, for your babies, for family."

I hugged her tight to me. "Thank you so much, Aunt Remi."

"You're welcome. Now, you get some sleep and we'll talk in the morning."

Morning came way too early for me, especially since I threw up right away and then lost my breakfast an hour later. As I was sitting in the living room, nursing a pregnancy headache, Doc came in and handed me a glass. "Smells funny," I said.

"I expect that, it's a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of honey. It will help with the headache and nausea."

I made a face as I tasted it. "And I'm supposed to believe the man who didn't even see the second baby?"

He laughed. "No, actually it's your grandmother who gave this tip to me. It works, so drink it slowly and relax. You're on vacation." We talked for a while about prenatal care and what I could expect; although I was human, pregnancy in humans and werewolves was remarkably similar. I felt better by the time Doug asked Marge and I to join them in his office.

We spent about an hour, going over the results of each Pack visit and the events since I left. Marge pitched in with her impressions, which were surprisingly insightful since she wasn't in on the talks. She talked to the wives and mothers instead, and had a good pulse on what the Packs thought, not just their Alphas.

I showed them the people I was planning to hire, and we talked about how best to use them. I also talked about the research firm of humans I was planning. They were a little less excited about this, as it increased the chances of werewolves being exposed, but they could tell I was being careful. When I was done, I looked around for questions.

"You're missing something big, Ella. I'm surprised you didn't pick up on it." Beta Mike looked at me, but I didn't pick it up. "Security. It scares the hell out of me, Ella, that a wolf was able to get right into your front yard and none of you picked it up." He was right. "You only have Marge and Mabel there, and the wolves you are bringing in aren't suited for patrols or fighting. What if one of the other Alphas decides to take you out? You're a sitting duck."

I was going to answer with how I had guns, knives, a safe room, even that I had already fought off a few attacks, but it wouldn't do any good. A single warrior wolf could rip my throat out before I even knew he was there.

"What do I do? Even when I had the full Pack, we only had a couple warriors. I can't even do patrols without at least four, preferably six." My shoulders slumped. "Do you think I should stay here instead?"

"That would be easy, but there are advantages to where you are as well. As much as we love you, you have your own home." Doug put his hand on my shoulder as I shot him a glare. "I think the real question is how we can provide some security for you while you still keep your independence."

"I have some ideas, let me talk to a few people and I'll get back to you." Beta Mike looked at Doug and I could tell they were mentally communicating.

"If you send your people, I insist on paying them," I said. Doug started to say something, but I put my hand up. "It's only fair, they are helping me, they aren't my Pack and I'm paying the others who are helping. I'll put them up in a house, too."

"We'll make sure it's a complete unit, used to working together. I think it would be good experience for some of the younger warriors and future Betas, but I will make sure someone with experience is in charge." With that out of the way, we went over a few more things before lunch.

The days flew by and Christmas had arrived. Werewolves do celebrate, even though they aren't Christian. It is a chance to eat and be with family, plus it helps them fit in with the humans.

With such a large Pack, there were a few things different. Christmas morning and the big lunch meal was held by the families. In the late afternoon, the whole Pack would gather around the big tree in the dining room for "grazing, gaming and shaming" time.

The 'grazing' was when every adult or mated pair brought an appetizer and a dessert, and placed them on a long table; over the course of the night, people would take a plate and walk down the line, snacking on their favorites. 'Gaming' time was just that, there were tournaments for Bridge, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit on one side, while computer gaming setups on the other had tournaments in Mario Kart, Madden 15 and Halo. And 'shaming'? Well, that was the focus of the Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest. Everyone attended in their worst sweaters, hoping to win the $500 grand prize. If you were judged "not ugly enough," you were fined $25 and forced to wear a sweater of Luna's Choice- after she got everyone's attention and there was open season on your fashion sense. It was all in good fun.

The day after was spent mostly outdoors, it had snowed heavily and the deep powder made it tough for even the wolves to get around. We did pull out the toboggans, and I had a fun afternoon playing with the young children on the hill out back. All too soon, it was time to leave again. I had to get back home and get ready for my new team members.

My thumb was much improved, so I split the driving with Marge on the way home. I was still wearing the Luna's Choice sweater I had paid for- red and white and green, with reindeer making baby reindeers as the pattern. We met Mabel in town for dinner, so she didn't have to cook, then we went home.

When the headlights swung past the front of the house towards the opening garage door, I caught the movement on my front porch. A large black wolf, with a white streak on his chest, was thumping his tail as he sat up in front of the door.

"Is that?" Marge was staring at the wolf as I pulled into the garage.

I nodded. "Can you take the stuff in, I'm going to talk to him."

"Will you be safe?"

I smiled. "He's my mate, he won't hurt me." I walked out of the garage, grabbing some sweats from the cabinet on the way. Werewolves kept lots of extra clothes around because of the shifting. I walked onto the porch, and he moved up to greet me, his tail wagging furiously as I ran my fingers through his fur. The tingles were addicting, and the mate pull was making itself known.

"Come on, let's go where it's warmer." I opened the door and walked into the foyer, leaving the clothes on the table by the door. I didn't look back as he shifted and pulled them on, I just sat on the couch in the living room and waited for him. My eyes widened as I saw him walking in, pulling the sweatshirt down over his well-defined abs.

"Ella." He walked over and sat next to me. "I'm sorry."

Ch 25

"You didn't call me," I said as I looked down at his hand, which was moving towards my leg. "I thought you had rejected me."

"I... I had a lot to think about. I didn't want to do this over the phone, you deserve this in person." Oh Luna, here it came. I steeled myself to the rejection, hoping it wouldn't hurt too much. I had seen what it did you shewolves, and it wasn't pretty. "I wanted to apologize for being such an ass before. I didn't know, and when I found out, I had to recognize the truth and what it meant. Now that I know what I want, I had to do this in person."

"I'm sorry, too. I gave up on you, I listened to the doctor and I reached out to a friend instead of waiting. My heart broke when you came to me and I knew what you smelled on me." Tears started to flow down my eyes as I looked down, my hand protectively moving over my babies. "And then to know that I'm pregnant, with twins none the less. I understand, really I do. Please, just do what you came here to do before I lose any self-respect I somehow retained."

He got off the couch and kneeled in front of me, taking my hand in his. "I, Craig Robert Anderson..." Here it comes, I thought to myself. I closed my eyes, anticipating the pain as my heart would be ripped out and stomped on in my own living room. "Accept you, Ella Grey, as my mate."

"I accept your rej... wait... WHAT?" My eyes flew open as the words made their way through my head. "You want me?"

"How could I not want you, Ella? You're my other half. You're amazing. I am the luckiest wolf in the world." I couldn't think, I couldn't talk, I couldn't move. I just sat there, jaw down at my chest, as I looked at this man, this wonderful man who had just given me his heart. I was still frozen when he picked me up and sat back on the couch, holding me on his lap with his strong arms pulling me close.

There was no holding back the tears as I sobbed onto his chest. My right arm went around his chest, squeezing him tight, while the left went behind his neck, keeping the bad thumb safe. He didn't say anything, he just held me and stroked my hair as his nose was buried in my neck. We sat that way until my tears were finally gone and I could sit up again. He pulled some Kleenex from the box on the side table and handed them to me. I looked down, shocked at the size of the wet spot my tears had left on his sweatshirt, but he didn't care.

I blew my nose and wiped my face, all the while gathering myself to face him. When I was ready, I straddled his legs and put my hands behind his neck. "And I, Ella Grey, Alpha of the Belden Pack, accept you as my mate." We moved together as if rare earth magnets were in our lips; I pulled him to me and kissed him with all the emotion and love I could find.

It was the kind of kiss that made every kiss you've had before fade into nothingness. Mark's touch was a distant memory as our tongues moved against each other, as our bodies found new ways to become even closer. He made the blood rush to my loins, and the butterflies take flight in my stomach.

He was my mate, and this moment was everything I had dreamed of when I was younger. I loved the kiss, but I wanted more. I pulled back from him, panting in need as I looked into his green eyes. "Mark me," I said. "Make me yours."

He leaned forward, placing his forehead on mine as his hands ran down my sides to my hips. "I can't, Ella."

"Why?" My voice broke, making it sound more like a cry than a question.

"I have to wait, Ella. It's too dangerous for us right now." My body ached from the loss of contact as he moved me to sit next to him on the couch again. He turned slightly, so that our knees touched, never letting go of my hand. "If I do what I want, what my wolf is imagining right now, I'd claim you and mate you tonight."

"I want you to, Craig. I need you." I didn't understand the emotional rollercoaster I was on.

"I know, but my first responsibility is to protect you. I don't like it, but I don't have a choice. Let me tell you what is happening so you understand."

I realized that I had been drinking too much and I had to pee. "All right, but I need to take a quick break. I'll be right back." I got up and almost ran down the hall to the bathroom; finishing up quickly, I washed my face and tried to fix my hair before I went back out there. I opened the door, and froze when I heard Marge.

"So you're her mate."

I moved to where I could see around the corner. He stood up and moved towards her, his hand out in greeting. "Craig Anderson, pleased to meet you..."

"Marge. Marge McDonald." She moved closer, then faster than I could follow her right fist flew out and caught him on the right cheek. He went flying, his head leaving a dent in the wall behind the couch.

"Marge! What the hell?" I ran over to the couch, where Craig was sitting up, his fingers checking the back of his head for blood. I could see the reddening of his cheek, he'd have a nice shiner soon.

"That's for attacking my Alpha, the Luna and killing Beta Darryl." She picked up the magazines that had been knocked off the table, then clapped her hands together and smiled. "Now that we've got that settled, would you like any coffee?"

"No, thank you. I would appreciate some water, though."

I asked for some juice, and she walked off to the kitchen. "I'm sorry about that. Marge is very protective of me, always has been. You don't have to worry about her, though, she made her point and you're like family now."

He rubbed his face. "Good thing, she still packs a punch." He smiled as Marge walked back in with our drinks and a small tray of cheese and sausage. "Come here, I need to tell you my story." He had moved into the corner of the couch, moving his right leg to the back he patted the cushion between his legs. I walked over, sitting down and reclining against his chest, my head nestled on his shoulder. I'd never felt as safe as I did now.

"So, after that weekend conference, my Dad was furious. He came home yelling about how you had killed Tanner's youngest boy while your parents were negotiating a treaty. He said they were so furious, they killed your parents but you got away." He was rubbing his hand over my stomach, his thumb slipping under my shirt and spreading tingles all over. "He said Alpha Goodwin and Alpha Tanner were taking the lead on finding you and killing you. He and Alpha Lewis were making plans to take over your Pack."

"But Alpha Goodwin's people were the ones who took Marge and Mabel hostage."

"Oh, I know, and that really made him livid. When they finally sent me and a few others to this territory, his men were already here and your Pack members were gone. That he did that without the others... he thought he had a good alliance. Then he said you escaped after killing another Tanner son. Goodwin convinced us that we could put together a team and take you out, then he would let the three Alphas split the territory and the Pack assets. He didn't tell anyone that you had already lost your wolf. If we had known that, we would have known that the Pack wasn't coming back."