A Wolf's Duty Read online

  “Tobias,” she beamed, rushing forward to envelope him in a hug. Releasing his hand, Alex took a step back, content not being the centre of attention.

  “Aunt Elaine, you get more beautiful every time I see you.”

  “There’s no need to lie Tobias, I know what I look like.” She grinned, rubbing a hand over her stomach. “The only one that needs to tell me such lies is James.”

  “How are you today uncle James?”

  “I’m wonderful, but how could I be any other way when I’ve such a perfect mate and we’re expecting?” The blonde man stepped forward, wrapping an arm around Elaine's waist and placing a light kiss against her neck.

  “Pregnancy does seem to suit you sister, you’re glowing and I can’t wait to have some little ones around. It has been so long since there were any children here,” Yvonne inserted.

  “Yes, it has been, but there will be plenty of children around here soon enough sweetheart.” Thomas smiled, looking pointedly at Alex and making her blush.

  “Tobias, aren’t you going to introduce us to your mate then?” James inquired. “We’ve all been waiting to meet her and now that we finally have the chance you’re not doing anything about it.”

  “Sorry uncle James.” He grasped her hand in his once again and pulled her forward. “Xandria, I’d like you to meet some of my family. My uncle James and aunt Elaine, you already know Ryan and Sebastian.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” she murmured.

  “No need to be shy Alexandria, we’ve all been looking forward to meeting the Warrior Princess.” Elaine smiled.

  Alex groaned at the title. There goes any hope I’d had that they’d all forget that ridiculous name. I swear if I find out which idiot started that…

  “I’m not really a warrior.”

  “Nonsense,” James scoffed. “We were there, we saw everything and you deserve that title. You fought well.”

  “Thank you.” A thought occurred to her and her shyness momentarily vanished as she turned to Ryan. “Ryan, I’d like to say thank you for helping me train.”

  He grinned. “No worries Alex, someone had to make sure that Tobias ended up with the right mate.”

  “Right,” she began, “I’d also like to say thank you for being able to keep a secret, but you blabbed to Tobias. I thought you said you wouldn’t tell him anything.”

  “Don’t blame me Alex, it was all Sebastian's idea,” he floundered, apparently having decided to share the blame.

  “It’s true, Alex,” Sebastian inserted. “Ryan was worrying himself too much when you wouldn’t wake so I suggested he tell Tobias and get it all off his chest. I’m sorry,” he apologised.

  “If that’s what happened then I suppose it’s alright Sebastian.”

  “What!” Ryan spluttered. “You were ready to take my head off a minute ago, but as soon as he says he’s sorry then everything’s ok?”

  She smiled at him. “Maybe you should take lessons in humility from your brother.”

  “Well said Alexandria,” James beamed, “unfortunately we’ve been trying to get him to do that for almost two centuries and nothing seems to have stuck. We just have to live with him the way he is.”

  “Well, if that’s what you guys think then I suppose I should just leave so you won’t be forced to endure my presence anymore.” Ryan turned, leaving the small group and disappearing into the crowd.

  “I should probably go and check on him.” Sebastian smiled, before departing.

  “We should probably go as well, Xandria needs to meet as many people as she can tonight.” The pair turned and left, Tobias leading her into the crowd to introduce her to his clansmen.

  The night passed in a blur of introductions, the majority of which she was sure she wouldn’t be able to remember the next morning, but they ploughed on.

  “We’re nearly done dearest, there’s just one more clan to meet and then you’ll have met the representatives from all of them.” His head turned as he tried to scan the crowd for the members of the last clan. “I can’t see them Xandria, do you mind just waiting here while I go and look for them or do you want to come with me to look for them?”

  Her mind was flooded with the various meetings she would be forced to endure before they found the last clan representative and her decision was made. “I’ll stay here.”

  “Are you sure dearest? I said I wouldn’t leave you alone tonight.”

  “I know that, but I’m perfectly fine where I am. You go and find the last clan and I’ll just stay here.” And hopefully no one will bother me.

  “Ok dearest, I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He placed a light kiss against her cheek before disappearing into the crowd. Alex sighed, relieved that she wouldn’t have to go with him. Her eyes wandered to the door, narrowing as she saw a tall dark haired woman rush through the doors with Sebastian leaving moments after her. I wish I could just leave like that, she sighed leaning back against one of the stone walls.

  “Your highness?” A familiar voice had her turning and a smile crept across her features.

  “Ilyanna!” she beamed, rushing towards the woman and giving her a tight hug. “I haven’t seen you in days, I was beginning to wonder where you were.”

  “I’ve been settling in to life here and I might also point out that you have been asleep for the past four days so it’s no wonder you haven’t seen me. Are you enjoying the party? It’s in your honour after all.”

  Alex groaned at the reminder. “Everyone has been nice enough, but to be perfectly honest, I can’t wait to get out of here.”

  Ilyanna frowned at Alex’s remarked confused as to why she would be so eager to leave. “Why?”

  “Me and new people don’t mix. I can’t get comfortable around them. I just keep thinking that I’m going to make some sort of horrible mistake. I’ve never really had pleasant interactions with people, so meeting all these people at once is like my worst nightmare come to life.”

  “I don’t understand. You seem fine around me.”

  “You’re different Ilyanna.”

  “Different how exactly?”

  “You’re my friend. These people are strangers. But enough about me, how are you? Are you settling in ok? How’s baby Alice and what about Annabelle, Stephen and David? Are they all ok as well?”

  “The children are all fine thanks to you. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay your kindness in letting them stay here with me.”

  “Don’t be silly Ilyanna, how could I separate you? A mother and her children should be together.” For a moment her voice was saddened as she remembered her own mother, but the smile soon returned to her face. “I’m can’t wait to see them again; they’re all so adorable. Sorry, I’m being a bit forceful aren’t I?”

  “Not at all your highness.” Ilyanna smiled.

  “It’s just that I never had any siblings so it’s sort of nice to know what it could have been like.”

  “You can see them whenever you like your highness, after all we’re all here in the royal clan because of you and I’m meant to be learning the estate and the ways of this clan with you, so we will be spending a lot more time together.”

  “Yes, about that Ilyanna,” A male voice floated to their ears from above them and Ilyanna froze. Resisting the urge to turn around, Alex allowed the voice to continue. “I never did get to give you my congratulations on you managing to join the royal clan.”

  “Lord Elijah,” Ilyanna breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Frowning at the stark look of fear that had imprinted itself on Ilyanna’s face, Alex spun around determined to chase off the newcomer. “Who exactly are you?” Her eyes did a quick scan of his face noting the short cut black hair and practically sculpted facial features before they came to rest on his eyes. The brown of his irises was so dark they appeared black and he stared at her unblinking. Fighting off her body’s impulse to shiver under his stare, she straightened her spine, drawing herself up to her full height, before she realised that she might a
s well have stayed how she was, he still towered over her.

  Don’t back down. Remember if it gets really bad, you can always have him executed, she chuckled to herself.

  “I’m Lord Elijah of the Northern Clan.”

  “Good, well now that we’ve met, Ilyanna and I are headed over there.” She smiled, pointing to the farthest corner away from him. “Girl stuff to talk about and all that. It was nice meeting you though.” Turning away from him, she began to move towards Ilyanna determined to get away before a restraining hand on her arm stopped her. Her eyes narrowed further, her head turning to regard the tanned hand on her skin before Tobias’s voice caught her attention.

  “Cousin, I’ve been looking for you.”

  Cousin? she thought watching as Tobias bounded over to them, clapping Elijah on the shoulder in greeting.

  “So you’ve met my wonderful mate then,” he grinned.

  “I’ve not really been formally introduced, will you do the honours cousin?”

  “Of course. Alexandria, I’d like you to meet my elder cousin Elijah, Elijah this is my mate Alexandria.”

  “Yes, the Warrior Princess,” he smiled, and Alex couldn’t help but feel slightly unnerved by the icy grin, the coldness reflected in his dark gaze. “I was there at the Challenge. What an amazing gift you have, to be able to control wildlife, you could get everyone here to do whatever you wanted. Yes, that is quite something.” He smiled, the assessment of her gift alarming her further.

  “Where’s Amanda?” Tobias asked. “I haven’t seen her about.”

  “I’m sure she’s here somewhere .”

  “I don’t know how you can be so lax about where your mate is.”

  “I’ve nothing to worry about Tobias, Amanda knows who she belongs to, she’ll find me soon enough.”

  “Belongs with,” Alex corrected.

  “Excuse me?” Elijah questioned.

  “You said, ‘belongs to’. What you should have said is belongs with, otherwise it makes her sound like a possession.”

  “Your mate is very observant Tobias.”

  “Yes, she is.” He grinned moving to stand beside her.

  Her eyes wandered to the large doors that were beckoning her, promising freedom if she could reach them. The doors opened and she watched as Sebastian re-entered the hall, a dejected expression on his face he disappeared into the crowd before her gaze swung back to the man beside her. “Tobias?”

  “What is it dearest?”

  “Is he the last clan rep that we were meant to meet?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does that mean I can leave now? Ilyanna and I want to go and see baby Alice and the triplets.”

  “I guess it does.”

  Thank god, I can finally get out of here. “Come on Ilyanna, let’s go.” She grabbed the older woman’s hand and sped towards the exit, all the while conscious of dark eyes staring at her retreating form.

  Chapter Thirty

  A loud banging woke Tobias and he sat up abruptly in bed, his gaze darting to Alex, pleased to see that she was still asleep. Last night certainly must have taken it out of her; I don’t know how anyone could sleep through this racket.

  “This had better be important,” he grumbled, carefully extracting his limbs from Alex’s before rising from the bed. Quickly reaching into a drawer, he pulled out a shirt pulling it over his head before heading towards the door. Opening it a little, he shoved his head through the crack, staring at the two guards that waited for him outside.

  “What exactly do you want?” he growled, clearly displeased at having been woken when the alternative of staying in bed wrapped around his mate was much more appealing.

  “Your highness,” the first guard stuttered, fazed by Tobias’ gruffness.

  “What is it? If it’s not important then I’m going back to bed.” He moved to close the door but the second guard prevented him from doing so after having gathered his courage.

  “Your highness, we don’t mean to intrude but Lord Ryan and Lord Sebastian said that it was very urgent.”

  “Tobias?” The sleepy sound of his name from Alex’s lips pulled at him, encouraging him to rejoin her.

  “Can’t it wait?” he groaned.

  “They said that there’s someone here that they think you’ll be interested in seeing. They sounded very anxious that you join them your highness.”

  “Fine, I’m going, give me a minute to get dressed. I want one of you to wait here and when the Princess wakes up, bring her to me immediately.” If I’m going to suffer being dragged from bed then I want Xandria there with me, nothing seems quite as bad with her nearby.

  “Yes your highness.” The guards saluted.

  Closing the door behind him, he entered the bedroom, a small smile appearing on his face as he watched Alex shift about on the mattress, her small hands clutching his pillow for warmth and comfort. Shaking his head to dislodge any thoughts of simply ignoring the guards at his door and diving back between the sheets, he moved away from the bed. Showering and dressing quickly he began to make his way to the door before changing course. Sitting down at his desk, he penned a short note to Alexandria, telling her where he’d gone and informing her of the guard waiting for her before leaving it on his side of the bed for her to read when she woke to find him gone. The note in place, he turned for the door, leaving the room.

  “Take me to Ryan and Sebastian please.” The guard nodded, moving forward and leaving his partner behind.

  Tobias’s mind raced with different scenario’s that could require his urgent attention but nothing he had thought up prepared him for what actually awaited him. The doors to the audience chamber opened and the first sound he heard caused his heart to clench and his wolf’s hackles to rise.

  “I know she’s here. Give her back to me. She’s my daughter dammit. You people kidnapped her and I’m going to call the police if I don’t see her in the next five seconds!”

  Tobias walked into the room dazed, needing his eyes and nose to confirm what his ears heard. Though he had never met or seen Fred, his mind couldn’t understand how the man before him could in any way be related to the fragile creature he had left sleeping in his bed, but his nose didn’t lie and the man had traces of Alex’s scent all over him.

  “Tobias,” Ryan sighed relieved. “We have a bit of an issue. This man claims that we’ve kidnapped his daughter and wants us to give her back.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tobias replied, his voice monotone as his mind raced.

  I promised not to hurt him but does that still stand when the idiot comes here and tries to take her from me?

  Take our mate? At his musings, the wolf within him rose, straining at the bars of its mental cage. He wants to take our mate from us?

  Tobias remained silent, his thoughts still debating whether he was bound to abide by the long forgotten promise or whether Fred’s coming to him was the equivalent of a voluntary death sentence. Not receiving a response from Tobias, his wolf decided to investigate, sorting through Tobias’ memories and thoughts to piece together the newcomer’s identity. The wolf within him roared at the discovery, shaking furiously at its mental confines, desperate for release.

  Kill him. There’s no need to debate this! For two years this man laid his hands on our mate, hurt her, beat her and scarred her! Kill him. Tear his throat out! Make him bleed! Don’t think about this. Kill him!

  Clutching at his head as a headache built, Tobias strained for his thoughts to be heard above his wolf’s roars. I made her a promise.

  She’s not here, she’ll never know.

  And what if she asks about him, what should we do? Lie to her? There are no secrets or lies between mates. The wolf quieted at the reminder, allowing Tobias to gather his thoughts.

  What should we do then? the wolf asked.

  Let’s hear what he has to say and then decide.

  I still say we should kill him and be done with it. You never know, she might not ask.

  Your opinio
n is duly noted.

  Fred’s bellowing reached his ears and he allowed himself to focus on what was going on outside of his mind now that his wolf was temporarily appeased.

  “I know she’s here, I don’t know why you took her but I want her back. I demand that you return her to me right now. I’m her father!”

  “What exactly makes you think that your daughter is here?” Tobias inquired, his voice deceptively calm while on the inside he was seething.

  “I have it on very reliable authority that she’s here.”

  An eyebrow rose at the statement, disbelief filling him. “Reliable authority?”

  “Yes. Look, I know that she’s here and I want her back.”

  “Who exactly are you looking for? You’ve come in here, screaming that you want your daughter back but you seem to be under the presumption that I know exactly who it is you’re talking about. There are a lot of people here and I’m positive that all the females here are someone’s daughter.”

  “Her name is Alexandria.”

  “It’s a very pretty name but there I’m also fairly sure that your daughter isn’t the only person in the world that goes by that name. Do you have a picture?”

  Fred scowled at the question. “No.”

  “Now, precisely what kind of father comes barging into someone else’s home, demanding that they return his daughter but doesn’t even have carry a photo of her? Every proud, kind, loving father should have some sort of picture of their child, which begs the question of exactly what kind of father are you?”

  Fred’s skin flushed at the insinuation and he struggled to maintain his calm. Sean hasn’t come up with anything to get her out of here and she’ll be twenty-one in just a few days, I’ve got to get her out of here one way or another. This guy needs a good seeing to but one thing at a time. Get that bitch out of here and maybe I can come back for him later. “Look, I didn’t come here to be insulted.”

  “Then what exactly did you come here for?” Tobias interrupted.