Leader of the Pack (62 page)

Cullen thought his heart might stop. Aislinn approached him with cat-like grace, gliding across the floor between people in the crowd. Without hesitation she ran her hands up his chest and over his shoulders, pulled him down to her level and kissed him. Cullen slid his hands over her bare back and held her to himself as he passionately returned the fiery kiss.

Cullen,
Aislinn broke the kiss, breathless, and pressed her forehead to his.
Tá brón orm. Tá grá agam duit. I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Anything.
She told him emphatically and kissed him again.

The group who had been talking with Cullen watched the pair kiss and exchanged amused grins. Some of the men had women standing with them, but most of them were alone. There was some joking about not being able to wait as Aislinn kissed Cullen. Finally he pushed her away gently, before things got out of hand. Aislinn bit her lip and looked into his eyes. He was alright now. She smiled, having accomplished what she ultimately wanted.

“
Tá tú
iontach álainn,” he said, bowing his head to her. Very few people ever gained that compliment from an alpha, and Cullen could see how she had managed to get it from Cadifor. There wasn’t another woman in the room who Cullen believed could outshine Aislinn tonight.

“It’s all the diamonds,” she said and gave him a hard look that told him he had taken it too far.

“I never get to have any fun,” he replied and flashed her a devilish grin. “Besides, no one will even notice the diamonds if you continue to smile like that.”

The group Cullen had been talking with started to return to the conversation. They didn’t know if Cullen would be rejoining them or not. “A man can only take so much blatant affection,” someone said loudly and eliciting more laughter.

Cullen gazed back at the group and then to Aislinn again. “Alright. They’ll return you to me when it’s time. For now you’re supposed to be mingling with the rest.” He ran a finger along her jaw and his thumb over her lip. She kissed it before turning away.

Makeda and Sarah led her off through the crowd to introduce her to leaders from other packs she would have to know. Cullen watched her disappear into the crowd before he returned to the conversation, a little out of place. The next few hours turned into a political chess game, and Aislinn was grateful that Makeda and Sarah were close at hand to help her with it all.

Cullen’s eyes traveled the room. Most of the people here had no idea how much danger would be coming that evening. Cullen wasn’t sure whether he should hope for Jenna to get a grip and leave them be, or if he should hope she would just attack and be done with it. The worst case scenario would be for her to decide to come to her senses enough to not attack tonight, but plan for a different night instead. Cadifor reassured Cullen that if the attack didn’t come, then they would use the night as it was set up, a diplomatic meeting, and worry about the next move later. Mostly Cullen was hoping that Jenna wasn’t bitch enough to use the beginning of the ceremony itself as her cue to attack, knowing full well that it was the most likely scenario.

Cullen and Cadifor were standing to the side of the crowd, in one of the rare moments that they weren’t surrounded by a bunch of people. “The part that bothers me the most,” he said quietly, “is that there are so many strange faces here, Jenna could have her men in the middle of this room, and there’s no guarantee I’d notice.”

Cadifor clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Stop worrying,” he said quietly. “We’re as prepared as we can get. The alphas are aware of the situation. They’ll keep tabs on their own. Yours are still wary from the last time. We’re ready for this. Enjoy the moment. When have you ever seen this many alphas in a room getting along? And druids as well,” he said, as excitement tinged his voice. “Our time is changing before your eyes Cullen. This is perhaps the most exciting party I’ve attended in centuries. I, for one, am thinking that this may need to become a regular thing.”

Cullen had to admit that Cadifor was right on that count. He looked around. The place was nearly a United Nations convention due to the different groups that Cadifor had invited. Some of them had even flown in from different Council member’s territories in order to meet the druids. Cullen knew that any number of the alphas who came had come
only
to meet the druids and because of the need to understand the newest danger in their world. Still, the men and women were all mingling and there had been no angry outbreaks or threats. Cadifor made it amply clear when the invitations went out that this was to be a friendly evening, and he would personally deal with anyone who made his friend’s mating ceremony into a brawling match, outside of the possible attack that is. They all appeared to be staying true to their word.

Evening steadily approached, and people began to discard clothing. The smart ones had already left shoes and extraneous items in their cars, so that they’d be able to find their things come morning. Others were delivering things to their cars, in anticipation of what was to come.

Malik approached Cullen and Cadifor, “I was briefed on how the evening should go, but there are a number of others who wish to know if they are permitted to make use of the stone circle before your ceremony begins.”

Cullen looked at Malik with concern. “What do they want to do?”

“Bless the event.” Malik’s gaze was unwavering. “It’s one of our traditions, and I must admit that none of them had thought they would feel inclined to do it. However, after having observed you all night long they feel as though they wish to participate. Consider it a gift, and an act of good will for our joint future.”

Cullen spared Cadifor a questioningly glance. He nodded. “This is supposed to be a joining of the druids with the lycans.” He smiled at Cullen’s flat affect, knowing Cullen didn’t like that his mating to Aislinn had taken such a dramatic political turn.

“Is anything required of me or Aislinn,” he asked.

“No. However, you may wish to be present. It should be beautiful to watch.” Malik bowed in thanks and disappeared to tell the others that he had received permission.

Cadifor sent a couple omegas to tell the alphas that the druids were going to demonstrate a ceremony for them if they wished to be present. Cullen and Cadifor didn’t have any trouble finding their women. They just followed the trail of moon-eyed young males.

Chapter 24

Behold a worthy sight, to which the God, turning his attention to his own work, may direct his gaze. Behold an equal thing, worthy of a God, a brave man matched in conflict with evil fortune.

-Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Maon’s mind churned miserably with concern and distaste for the situation he was in. Jenna worked her way through the woods. He followed close behind, debating whether she was worth the amount of trouble she caused.
Sure she’s beautifu
l, he told himself. He used to think she was brilliant, not to mention his wolf wanted her in a way that drove him mad.
Even so, this is insane,
he argued with himself.

The men who took advantage of Jenna’s offer to become dire wolves shifted to hybrid form before they left the manor.
Jenna wouldn’t want too many others to see the pain and hear the screams
, he thought with distaste.
Still, they are impressive.
The dires slunk through the shadows ahead of them, barely managing to remain unseen due to their size.

In the end, Jenna had approved twenty four for her special project. Nineteen men and five women took advantage of the opportunity to make themselves into what Jenna was calling the future of the alpha.
And not one has questioned why Jenna has yet to take the form herself. Perhaps the Tairneach aren’t as intelligent as I have always believed
. Maon couldn’t decide if he was angry at the pack for not being smart enough to see through the woman, or if he was angry at himself for not being able to resist her.

Maon adjusted the bag on his back which contained the bottles of mixtures that the druids needed. He listened to the carefully wrapped glass clink together in the pack on his back as they slunk through the woods toward the Arnauk cabin. He wondered how many alphas were there, how many druids were there and if they had any idea what was coming. Maon was fairly certain that no number of alphas was going to be capable of competing with the twenty-four dires he was leading in. His concern was with the fact that they were about to disrupt an event that appeared to be being sponsored by the Pack Council.

When Maon voiced his concern with going against the Council Jenna cooed at him and stroked his chest the way that always managed to make anything she said sound more reasonable. “So kill Cadifor and take his place on the Council,” she’d said. “After what Rafe did the Council is ignorant to want to bring druids into their trust. You’ll be saving the Pack Council from a monumental mistake if we manage to break this up. They’ll thank you.”

Maon growled. In hindsight he wasn’t sure it sounded as good as it had in the office.
It’s a little late for rethinking it all now
, he chastised himself.

Cullen planned the mating for nightfall. Darkness already enveloped the woods that covered the Arnauk reservation, even though the sun was yet to set completely. The Tairneach were nearing their goal. If Cullen took his time with the mating, they would have ample opportunity to interrupt the ceremony, kill Aislinn and use the stone circle to turn himself and Jenna into the much improved version of the twenty-four lycans who were making it all possible. The rest of the pack was trailing behind with the druids who would perform the ritual.

Maon watched Jenna move around another bush. They were getting close enough that people needed to start watching for stray couples playing in the woods before the ceremony. This was it. There wouldn’t be another chance. If Jenna didn’t succeed, the pack would replace her one way or another. If Maon wanted Jenna and the pack, this was going to have to work. He kept going over the situation in his head. They had the strength to counter the Arnauk numbers.
This should work
, he growled in frustration.
Something just doesn’t feel right
.

* * * *

Malik examined the gathered lycans with the eye of a scientist. A rare smile barely touched his lips.
They don’t trust us yet. This should help to put their minds at ease
, he thought. He was pleased that the others decided to bless the mating, if only to show the people here that Rafe was an exception and not the rule to their kind.

Malik noted with pleasure that Cullen and Aislinn choose to attend the blessing, and he motioned to them. “It’s not necessary. So please feel no obligation. As the couple to be joined, even if it isn’t the way we would conduct the ceremony,” he added, clearing his throat, “you could stand in the center.” Malik indicated the stone slab at the middle of the circle.

Spying Cadifor nearby, Cullen waited for direction expectantly. “Trust them,” Cadifor said. “That’s the only way this alliance is going to go anywhere.”

Cullen took Aislinn’s hand in his and lifted it to his lips, before leading her toward the stone circle. Aislinn briefly hesitated. She cleared her mind and prayed that the circle wouldn’t act the same way it did the last time she was here. She could just imagine what Cullen would do if she disappeared again.

As Cullen and Aislinn approached the entire circle seemed to surge with palpable energy. Any lycan standing nearby could feel it. A druid stood in front of each of the stones and they watched each other expectantly as they waited for the couple to step onto the slab. Aislinn was just relieved that nothing traumatic happened when she passed the perimeter of the Circle.

Malik ceremoniously stepped toward them. He stared into Aislinn’s eyes. She seemed so innocent as she stared back at him.
She doesn’t even realize how attuned to her this place is
, Malik mused. “I believe you may be favored by the Fates.”

Aislinn assumed it was part of the blessing. “Should I thank you?”

Malik’s eyes beamed with curiosity. “I wonder what the day will be like, when you truly come to understand,” he replied cryptically. Noting the uncertain, unhappy shifting in Cullen’s stance Malik decided that this was his cue to return to his place.
The Fates will bring her to understand, if and when they chose to. Tonight is not the time for lessons of that kind
, he decided.

There didn’t seem to be any kind of signal. In unison, the druids began singing. Haunting voices carried over the crowd and everyone stopped to listen. Gaelic words in harmonic tones echoed through the woods. “Móran làithean dhuit is sìth, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'nì bhi fàs.”

The sweet words enchanted the listeners. They all felt like they knew the song from somewhere, but they couldn’t quite place it. On the third chorus of the beautiful melody, the druids who were outside of the stone circle began to sing as well, and the whole of the wood seemed to sway with the captivating song. Suddenly lights began to flicker about the stone circle.

Blinking to clear her vision, Aislinn glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed. The mesmerizing song made her feel a bit sleepy as she listened. It was as though she wanted to close her eyes and get lost in voices and harmony. Then the strange lights flickered again. Then again.

The druids raised their voices, and the lights flickered longer and longer until finally the clearing was filled with fluttering faeries. They flitted from stone to stone as though they were curious where they were. Slowly they all gathered within the circle. The beautiful creatures fluttered and hovered like humming birds. They were all different sizes, but none larger than a rosebud. Glowed like starlight, they left sparkling trails as they danced about the clearing and the stones. There was no counting them or seeing exactly what they looked like. As the song progressed, some hovered just long enough to see a body with wings, before the beautiful ball of light would flit off in a different direction.