As the heavy duty jeep trundled away from Five Lakes Jack and Caleb sat in silence together. They both wore relaxed jeans and button-down shirts in differing shades of blue highlighting their mossy brown eyes. Jack wore a black eye-patch, daring anyone to stare at his disfigurement. There had already been several instances where his rage had boiled over against those he felt were judging him. Caleb had almost not brought him along, but his father had insisted that they stick together.
Two strong Alpha Brothers would make a much better impression than one. Jack was still a physically impressive specimen, especially since they had spent the past month fully engrossed in physical training. Neither of them could put their fingers on what had caused the change in attitude but suddenly the urge to spar, attack and learn combination moves became an all-consuming focus.
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Alpha Romanov paced his royal suite unable to sleep. The commitment ceremony was only two days away and whilst Helena and Bram were putting on a good display, he knew it couldn't last. There had been dinners and meetings amongst the Beta’s and they certainly had everyone convinced now. However his youngest son was too volatile to truly treat her as an equal. He couldn’t put his finger on why Helena was persisting with the fruitless match, she didn’t seem power-hungry like some of the women he had seen dealing with Bram, but she undoubtedly had an agenda. His room was rich and luxuriously furnished with wooden panelling, ornate paintings, and plush furniture yet Alpha Romanov paced like a caged animal. His silvery eyes glinted in the candlelight as he tossed his cloak onto his sofa; his full muscular physique could be glimpsed through his shirt including the rippling lines of scars that he'd
It’s been a strange couple of weeks but finally I get to see Ivan and Kyra. I think two weeks of me being delightful and demure in his company has finally convinced Bram I’m not about to go telling them our arrangement. It had to be on his terms though, in the busy dining hall where my idiot bodyguards could unsubtly lurk if they thought the topic was veering away. I tried not to let it bother me as I trotted down the stairs. I was wearing a long tunic dress and leggings with boots, along with my gorgeous, red-lined cloak. I adored my cloak and as the red swished behind me alongside my bouncing brown curly hair it gave me an endless boost of confidence that nobody could take away. The dinners with his patronising Beta friends, the endless smiling and nodding at everything Bram said or joked about was wearing thin. To be myself was like trying to not scratch at an itch.
As quietly as possible I headed back to Bram’s suite minus Azalea who seemed to peel away separately without me realising. Between myself and Fyre we tried to rationalise what I’d seen. Bella knew the commitment ceremony was only days away, she believed Bram was my mate. Unless he’d told her the truth? Fyre bounced ideas round my head like a pinball. How long have they been seeing each other? How many times? Are they mates? I couldn’t describe the emotion, it wasn’t anywhere close to jealousy, instead a seething resentment raced through me. Why did I have to give up Alexander for appearances sake if he gets to carry on his playboy life? The prophecy clearly wasn't more important to him than some fling! My heart ached for Alexander to sweep me up in those big arms, wrap that huge black cloak around me and take the rest of the world away.
Just as Alpha Romanov finished speaking, half a dozen Beta's surged through the door, including Ivan. He wasn't in Brams squad which included the odious Klaus, but Alpha had added him to the council just before I arrived in Silver City. He was focused and serious, not a trace of the jokey older brother as he met my eyes and nodded politely. "Bram is not here but we shall start anyway. Five Lakes are planning war. The brothers Caleb and Jack are on their way now for the ceremony which takes place in two days. They arrive late tomorrow. They believe we are weak and underprepared, and I have to confess they are probably correct. I need ideas, strategy, information. Now". T
The next few hours were largely a blur as I thanked the servant profusely for her time, got changed and ran to Bram’s suite. Azalea was already at the doorway.“Can you see what is coming?”“I have tried, it is clouded to me, I can only see up to the ceremony and then confusion.” Her eyes seemed glassy with emotion as she stared at me.“So I get to the ball at least” rolling my eyes, “I don’t know what to do”“You can’t change the eventual outcome, you only change the mode of getting there ma’am” and she placed a hand on my arm in consolation. I had to try and see the vision as something to help me rather than scare me. I added
Caleb toyed with his glass of whisky and stared into the roaring fire of the drawing room; this was pointless wasting time on Bram and Romanov with small talk about the local area and their journey over. He knew Alle wanted him to focus on the necessities, to gauge whether White Forest knew of their intentions and network with the other Alpha’s, but he was hopelessly fixated. Through the darkened privacy window of the jeep he had seen her emerge through the arched stone entrance. That brown hair bounced and moved through the wind, her figure was as lithe and desirable as he remembered causing a growl to emerge from deep within. She was clearly enjoying her Luna status, entertaining the Alpha Romanov with her wit as they all arrived like a merry family through the arch.He noticed Bram gripping her hand tightly and his he
The group moved through to the royal dining room, where those previously tense conferences with Alpha Romanov had taken place a new dynamic was thriving. Lively happy conversation, filled with talk of romance, love, future pups was the result of the Luna’s arrival into the gathering. Silver platters laid out, chandeliers sparkling and huge platters to feast upon added to the merriment. It was almost possible to forget that White Forest and Five Lakes were on the very cusp of war. Excitement for the ceremony dominated conversation and the wine flowed merrily down the length of the large wooden table. Whilst Bram, Dexter and Jack happily drank away the evening Helena, Brandon and Caleb were more measured, eyeing the situation around them with caution.Helena sat between Bram and Alpha Romanov, remaining at the head of his table.
The morning sun had begun rising when I awoke with a start. Bram had followed me to bed much later in the evening, silently getting in without a word, his huge muscular back facing all I could see. The anger I felt towards everyone after the dinner was still ripely seething. Getting up silently, wrapping a long robe around my tank top and shorts I padded down the corridor in search of solitude. I headed back to the drawing room where I had finally felt Alexander's presence. I don't know what I hoped for but re-entering the room and sitting on one of the large leather couches I only felt the cold of dawn. That stunning wave of emotion that had washed over me when I stepped into the room had vanished. Adoration, attraction, and a tingling, head to toe wave of sensuality had raced up and down my body causing to stop in my tracks last night. He must have been so close last night so why was he n