A Wolf's Duty Page 16

  “Her majesty Queen Yvonne and her highness Princess Alexandria.” Upon being announced, Alex trailed behind Yvonne and Maria and walked into the audience chamber, apprehension filling her every step. Her eyes immediately sought Tobias, her body relaxing and a smile appearing on her face at the mere sight of him. Standing behind the chair in the centre of the Council’s semi-circle where his father sat, she instantly noted that Tobias’ jaw was clenched tightly and his hands were balled into fists.

  What happened? Is he ok? Her legs began to speed up, determined to reach him. Quickly overtaking the slower, more graceful Maria and Yvonne, her surroundings blurred, her vision focused solely on Tobias. A hand gripped her arm tightly causing her to stop and she winced at the unexpected pain, turning to look at the person who had halted her movement.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Lucinda demanded; the smile fixed on her face a stark contrast to the tight hold she had on Alex’s arm and the harm her ice blue eyes promised.

  Not you again, Alex groaned, instantly remembering the feel of the woman’s hand against her throat. This woman needs to learn to stop touching me like this, otherwise I might be forced to do something she’ll regret. A quick glance at Tobias told her that he wasn’t happy with Lucinda's treatment of her either. Well put that in your pipe and smoke it. She chuckled amused. Looks like Tobias will be taking my side but then again he is my Tobias, not yours.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  A low growl filled the room and all eyes turned to Tobias. The storm grey of his eyes was quickly being overcome by a wild amber while his usually smiling mouth twisted into a menacing scowl. “Remove your hands from her Lucinda or I’ll remove your hands from you.”

  The pressure on her arm disappeared as Lucinda reclaimed her own hand. “Tobias, I don’t understand why you’re doing this,” she whined, stepping forward. His threatening snarl stopped her.

  “I’m doing this because she’s mine,” he yelled.

  Watching the interaction between Tobias and Lucinda, Alex felt herself become increasingly confused. If this is another ‘human moment’, I swear it’ll be the last straw. “Tobias?” Her voice seemed very small after the loudness of Tobias’ roar.

  His eyes snapped towards her, instantly calming as he watched her. “Don’t worry dearest, I’ll take care of this. Trust me.” She nodded her agreement, trusting him implicitly to resolve the situation.

  “Tobias, I can’t let you do this,” Lucinda snapped. “I won’t stand for it. I’ve waited patiently these last few decades for you to come to your senses and this is what you present us with?” she screamed, pointing accusingly at Alex, causing her to take a defensive step back.

  “She’s what I’ve been waiting for,” he answered simply.

  “That’s impossible.”

  His eyebrows rose mockingly and his tone was gentle as he spoke. “Really?”

  “Yes, it’s impossible because what you have been waiting for has always been right in front of you. I have always been here Tobias.”

  “You aren’t what I’ve been waiting for.”

  “Why are you doing this Tobias? We’re mates, you know this as well as I do.”

  Alex gasped, turning to Tobias for confirmation or denial of the claim, her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. I knew there had been a mistake. Her eyes began to water and she could feel the imminent tears ready to spring forth. Tobias and Lucinda would look perfect together. She’s real Princess material; I’m no match for her. Her heart stuttered at the thought and she had to resist the urge to clutch at her chest in a vain attempt to try and abate the pain.

  The scent of Alex’s tears reached his nose and the wolf within him broke free of its confines in her defence. “You and I aren’t mates Lucinda!” he roared, his calm façade shattered and the sound reverberating off the walls. “How you think that you can spout such nonsense, not just in front of me but in front of my real mate, and expect to escape unscathed is beyond me. Do you want to die? If that’s your wish then I’ll grant it for you.” No one makes my Xandria cry.

  “I dare Tobias because it’s true!”

  “I’d heard you were spreading these lies but to bring these falsehoods before me, my parents, this Council and my mate is unforgivable.”

  “No Tobias, what’s unforgivable are your actions towards me. I’ve waited for you to return to me and see me for what I am, your mate. But instead you bring this human among us,” she spat the word, making it sound like an illness. “And on top of that, you bring her here claiming that she’s your mate! A human as our Queen! I can’t stand by and do nothing anymore. I’m here to take what’s rightfully mine. You belong with me Tobias, not her. You’re my mate and I demand that you accept it and acknowledge me in front of everyone here!”

  His now fully amber eyes regarded her for a moment before he stepped around his father and descended the short flight of stairs that separated the Council and royalty from the audience. The predatory movement of his steps made her feel as though she was being hunted and Lucinda took a step back. He continued past her to stand in front of Alex, smiling down at her before gripping her shoulders to turn her to face his father and the Council.

  “This is my true mate. I’ve waited longer than any of our kind and was rewarded with the perfect mate, more than I could ever have hoped for. Your claims are lies, Lucinda and I should have you severely punished for them.” The smell of her tears still filled the air, and he could feel her body trembling within his grasp. “Calm down dearest, don’t worry, there’s only you for me and I for you. I swear,” he whispered in her ear, rubbing his rough cheek against hers before standing to his full height to address the council and his parents. “My mate and I are leaving.” Gripping Alex’s hand within his own, he turned and headed towards the door, before Lucinda’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

  “I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this Tobias and I want you to remember that you forced me to do this. I invoke the right of Challenge.”

  His steps faltered while a collective gasp could be heard from behind him. “You don’t want to do this Lucinda.”

  “You’re right I don’t. Accept me as your mate and I’ll rescind my Challenge.”

  “I’ll never do that Lucinda, never.”

  “Then my Challenge stands.”

  “Tobias, what’s going on?” Alex whispered aware of the increased tension that filled the room at the mention of a Challenge.

  “You’re sure you want to do this?” A council member inquired, her head turned and Alex recognised the speaker as the man that had interrupted her and Tobias in the garden yesterday.

  “I am,” Lucinda responded.

  “Tobias, I don’t understand what’s happening,” she whispered, becoming increasingly agitated as confusing conversation continued to flow around her.

  “The clans will need to be gathered,” another council member added.

  “How long will that take?” Her eyes darted to the next unknown speaker, her heart pounding faster in her chest.

  “They can probably be gathered in three days.”

  “Then that’s when the challenge will take place.”

  The whispers began to respond to her increased anxiety and the ground beneath their feet rolled. Ssshh, she yelled. I need to concentrate if I’m going to understand what’s going on, give me a minute, then you can throw as many tantrums as you like. The voices quieted and she exhaled a sigh of relief before turning to face Tobias. “What the hell is going on?” she bellowed, tired of her questions being ignored and unanswered.

  “Come with me Xandria and I’ll explain everything.” Her hand tightened within his grasp and she moved to follow him out of the room.

  “Where do you think you’re going Tobias?” Lucinda demanded; her beautiful face twisted into a mask of anger and hatred.

  “I’m going to explain things to my mate.”

  “You know the rules regarding the Challenge Tobias, you can’t be with her before the challenge is complete.”
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  “You’re right Lucinda, I do know the rules and I’m sure they state that I can’t be with her after the Challenge has been announced to all the clans and before the Challenge itself takes place. As neither of those have happened I’m free to spend as much time with her as I please.”

  Kill her now. She’ll harm our mate. Kill her! The demands of his wolf pressed against his mind and he found himself fighting not only the wolf’s instinct but also his own desire to rid the earth of Lucinda.

  Tugging on his hand, Alex began guiding him towards the exit. “Let’s go Tobias, from the sounds of it we don’t have long and I want you to explain what’s going on.”

  He allowed himself to be led outside, the loud sound of the door closing behind them bringing him out of his state of confusion. Turning to her he gently stroked the side of her face. “Xandria,” he sighed before easily lifting her into his arms and running back to their rooms. They soon emerged at the door of his bedroom and he lowered her to the ground, opening the door and leading her inside.

  “What just happened, Tobias?”

  He sighed, content to simply look at her for a few moments before she waved a hand in front of his face in an attempt to attract his attention. His eyes wandered to the bed they had lain on that morning, briefly noting that the dishes had all been removed. He grasped her hand and pulled her towards it, sitting on the edge of the mattress and lowering her to sit on his legs.

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or am I going to have to start yelling again?”

  “No yelling dearest, I just need a minute.” He pulled her closer, nuzzling his deep into the curls of her hair and breathing deeply. “If you understood what had just happened…”

  “I’m trying to understand Tobias, but I need you to explain it to me. I’m not from here so everything is new to me. What exactly is this Challenge?”

  “It’s a fight, sweetheart.”

  “Ok, a fight, that kind of makes sense. Who’s fighting? And what are they fighting for?”

  “The fight is meant to be between the challenger, that would be Lucinda and the one they challenged, in this case that’s meant to be you.”

  “Right, me and Lucinda go for one another, I can understand that. What exactly are we meant to fight over?” He groaned, desperate to avoid answering the question. “What are we fighting over Tobias?” she repeated, her tone demanding an answer to her inquiry.

  “You’re meant to be fighting over me! The challenge is done to see who would be a fitting mate for a male and in this case that would be me and if you lost, not only would you get hurt, I’d have to take Lucinda as a mate.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Her jaw dropped and she waited a moment, hoping that he would tell her he had been telling a lie, but the seconds ticked by and he remained silent. “You’re not joking are you, Tobias?”

  “I wish I were, dearest,” he groaned, nestling deeper into her hair seeking relief from the stresses the last few minutes had caused.

  “So I’m expected to fight Lucinda, is that basically what you’re telling me?”

  “No dearest, that isn’t what I’m trying to tell you.”

  “I could swear that’s what you just said.”

  “No, what I said was that you were meant to be fighting Lucinda. That isn’t what’s going to happen.”

  “Really? So what exactly is going to happen then?”

  “You aren’t going to be fighting Lucinda, I won’t allow it to happen.”

  “So the Challenge is optional? Because from what I heard it didn’t seem that way.”

  “It isn’t meant to be, but I know what she wants.”

  “I got that bit loud and clear. She wants you Tobias, she wants to separate us and take you from me.”

  “What she wants is my crown. She’s not interested in me; she’s well aware that we aren’t mates but she’s desperate for power and will go to almost any lengths to get it. I won’t make you fight Xandria. I’ll give up my crown and we’ll leave here, we’ll go far away. It’s not often that a wolf leaves the clans but it’s not unheard of either. I’ll take care of you.”

  “Now I’m sure you’re kidding.”

  “No I’m not, I’ll tell my parents and we’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

  “Tobias you can’t do that.”

  “Why not? If I allow you to go through with the Challenge you’ll be hurt. I’ve let you be injured enough while under my protection. If I can prevent you from coming to harm this time and I’ll do it.”

  “How can you be so sure that I’ll get hurt? I might not you know.”

  “Lucinda will fight you in her wolf form, she’ll stronger and faster than you can even imagine. She’ll have lethal claws and teeth at her disposal as well as animal instinct and won’t hesitate to hurt you. You’ll be injured if I don’t give up my crown and I let you do this. It’s a small sacrifice to make for you dearest.” He grinned, kissing the side of her neck.

  “Tobias, I won’t let you do this.” Her mind reminded her of his fair and kind judgment regarding Ilyanna and her children and her resolve solidified. “You’re going to make a great King. I can’t screw that up for you.”

  “So what do you want me to do then? Be a good King but live the rest of my life without a mate? Without you? I can’t do it. No, I refuse to do it. I’ve spent too long searching for you to give you up now. I’m very selfish when it comes to you, I would rather they be without a Prince and heir than give you up!” Turning her so that she faced him, he framed her face with his hands before placing a punishing kiss on her lips. Gentleness fled as he bit at her lips and forced her mouth open, brushing his tongue against her own before sucking it into his mouth. “I love you Xandria, you’re the bravest, most courageous person I’ve ever met. Kind, stunning, loyal to an unreasonable fault, you’re perfect for me. You will stay with me and that’s the end of this discussion. I’ll tell my parents we’re leaving.”

  “Tobias, I don’t want you to do this.” She whimpered, her mind reeling at his confession. He loves me! He loves me! Take that Lucinda, he loves me! “I want you to trust me.”

  “I do trust you Xandria, with everything that I am.”

  “Then let me fight her.”

  He growled, “No.”

  “I thought you trusted me.”

  “I do, but I’ve already told you, I’m not going to let you fight her.”

  “Look Tobias, I’m willing to fight for us, are you?”

  “Xandria –”

  The tone of his voice told her he was going to try and mollify her into agreeing with him but she had decided on her course of action and was determined not to stray from it. “No Tobias,” she interrupted, “don’t Xandria me. I don’t care if I get hurt, it’s not like it’s something new.” Tobias cringed at the reminder of his failure to protect her. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  “You’ve never fought a wolf before Alexandria, it won’t be like it was with your father.”

  “Damn right it won’t. I intend to fight tooth and nail to stay with you. I’m not going to just lie there and take the beating like I did with Fred. Besides, I might never have fought a wolf before but I bet she’s never fought a witch like me before either. And don’t you remember what Ryan said when we were all still in England?” He frowned, the exact words clearly having escaped him. “He said that when I told him to do something, he didn’t have a choice but to obey me. There’s no way she’ll win.” At the reminder, the merit of her desire to fight increased within his mind but he chose to remain silent. “Besides, that bitch needs to be taken down a peg or three, she thinks far too much of herself and I owe her one for the last time we met.”

  “Xandria, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Yes I do Tobias, I’m ready to do this.” A woman in love will do anything. She gasped, shocked as the thought came unbidden to her. Oh man, from falling to fallen in under a day, I’m sure that’s got to be a record. I’m in love? With Tobias? Her
mind debated the questions for a moment before it settled, the questions answered. I’m in love with Tobias. She chuckled to herself, the statement feeling right. I’m in love with Tobias and Lucinda thinks she can take him away. “Not in this life, bitch,” she mumbled aloud.

  “What was that Xandria?”

  “I’ve decided that I’m doing this Tobias so you had better explain the rules of this challenge to me.”

  “You fight until one of you submits or dies.”

  She gulped at his calm delivery of a death sentence. “Dies?”

  The fear in her voice caused his reservations to re-emerge. “I told you, you can’t do this. We’ll leave as soon as possible.”

  “No Tobias,” she shouted frantically. “It just wasn’t what I was expecting, that’s all, but I’m fine now. I’m going through with this Tobias so I think you should just accept it. I’m not going to make you give up everything for me.”

  “You don’t seem to have understood what I’ve been saying. You’re everything to me. There’s nothing outside of this room. Only you and me matter.”

  “It doesn’t change anything Tobias, I’m fighting her and I’m going to win.”

  He sighed, apparently resigned to accepting her decision. “I’ll let you do this on one condition.”

  “What is it?”

  “Your abilities are new, untested. I can’t just send you into a fight with an experienced wolf on the basis of something you managed to do once. If you insist on doing this then I’m going to have you do some work with Ryan, just to be sure you can do it again. You’ve got the rest of today and all of tomorrow to be sure of your power. If he tells me the night before the Challenge that you can’t do what you’ve just told me then we’ll run. I’ll be coming to get you in the middle of the night so have a bag packed with anything you consider to be important; I don’t want to make that mistake again.”