Destiny's Choice (15 page)

“No, they just helped that asshat try to cover it up,” Dane growled.

“Which is why an example will be made,” Roan soothed.

“What are you planning to do to them?”
She hoped it was good. They deserved to be raked over the coals for their part in that poor woman’s death.

“They will be stripped of their titles.”

Rivera blinked. “Can you do that?”

“Absolutely.” Roan chuckled. “You see, these titles were never meant to be the high status the ten families have made them out to be over the years.”

“What do you mean?” Rivera didn’t understand. Even though her contact with the Pack had been limited, even she knew that a lot of the more elite members put a considerable amount of time, energy, and money into cultivating close ties with the ten high ranking Pack families.

Roan then went on to give her another history lesson about Alpha councils and elders and how even a good idea can go south.

“Okay.” Rivera nodded with understanding. “So why not do away with the status and put the job back where it belongs?”

“I intend to.”

Alphas sure were an arrogant bunch. “You think it’ll be that easy?”

“Of course not.” Roan laughed. “But the Pack is headed for trouble if something drastic isn’t done and done soon. Making examples of the troublesome trio and making Omega Squad, and my own abilities, known, will be a huge leap in the right direction.”

“Whew.” Rivera let out a gusty breath. “That’s quite a helping you got on your plate.”

“Indeed it is.” Roan nodded with a grin as he gently squeezed the hand he was still holding. “You’ll find out, no one in this family ever does anything by halves. But then, I do have an ace up my sleeve.”

“Do you now?” She returned his grin. “Can you share?”

“Of course. You’re my True
Mate
, Rivera. There are no secrets between us.” He brought her hand up and kissed the knuckles.

She didn’t know what to say to that
. She was
honoured beyond words that he would have that much trust in her with so little time together. She simply leaned over and kissed him to convey her gratitude. The sparkle in his light eyes let her know he knew and accepted.
It was a
mazing that they could also read each other as well.
Also m
ade her feel like she really was chosen and meant for this man.

“As Alpha, my control of the Pack isn’t just ordained by Pack Law or my strength to defeat all challengers. It’s my power and the abilities I was born with.”

Rivera frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“When I became Alpha, my powers tied me to the Pack. Not just figuratively but literally.
Think of it like small filaments flowing from me to each Pack member.
And not just in this form either. My wolf is also tied to the Pack.”

“Which means?”

“I can not only call anyone in the Pack to my side
from any distance, I can also call their wolf.”

Thinking about that for a moment, she was at first a little confused. Then it dawned on her. Call their wolf. “You mean…”

“Yes. I can find that filament and literally rip the wolf from their human bodies and make them shift.” Roan grimaced, his expression one of distaste. “It takes longer the farther the member is away from me. It’s also very painful to be made to shift like that. With a natural shift, you’re mentally preparing your human body and your wolf about what’s happening. It’s beautiful and natural. Not so when the Alpha rips the wolf out. The process is very violent and very ugly.
I
t takes hours for your system to fully recover from the trauma enough to shift back.”

She looked at him, really looked. “You’ve experienced this.”

“Yes.” His gaze showed remembered pain. “My father had his inner circle, Omega Squad, plus myself and Flynn
when we were old enough, go through what it felt like first hand. His reasoning was that if an Alpha had to resort to using this power on a Pack member, then he wanted all of us to understand t
he true violence of it
.”

“Christ.” She shook her head, failing to see how a father could do that to his children to make a point.

“My father didn’t make that kind of decision lightly, Rivera.” His voice held love and a deep respect for the man who had been his father and Alpha. “Hurting anyone deliberately was abhorrent to him. But being the next Alpha and making sure I knew what being in that position truly meant, I needed to feel exactly what that kind of power would do personally. To appreciate
it
and respect it. And to never use it to harm others for my own gain.”

With every ounce of information, Rivera learned more about the man who was her True
Mate
. It was amazing really. Even with all his power, keeping the Pack safe and happy was his main concern. As it should be, of course. But Rivera didn’t understand just how much control it took for Roa
n to be Alpha. She was sure
any other Lupus would have used that power to their full advantage. Not Roan, not her True
Mate
. He was all an Alpha should be and more. She got it. And it made her proud that such a Lupus was hers.

“I think…” She tilted her head to the side and grinned. “I think your father would be proud of the Lupus you are. And even more proud of the Alpha he helped you become.”

His cheeks flushed at the compliment, his smile wide. “Thank you, sweetheart. I know he would have enjoyed welcoming you into our family.”

It was her turn to blush. “You think so?”

He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. “Absolutely.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time.”

That warm glow started in her middle again, but with Dane in the vehicle, she needed to keep a lid on it. For now.

“So,” she coughed. “I take it
Steven
and Mikeal also went through this?”

Icy eyes danced with mirth, knowing what she was doing. “Yes. It’s a part of being in my inner circle.
”

“Dane?” She glanced his way in the rear-view mirror.

“It sucked monkey balls.” He snorted. “But Roan’s father had it right. That kind of power is not to be used on a whim. 
O
nly if all other measures have failed. Of course, with the situation we’re now in, using it will be more than necessary.”

Rivera couldn’t help but agree. “Yes. I can see where those with that high rank wouldn’t want
to give it up so easily. 
W
hat I don’t understand
,
is why does it matter so much? As a whole, the Pack has considerable wealth
. No one does with out and is helped when the need arises.” She frowned in confusion. “Even though my association with the Pack has been limited, I’ve had the opportunity
to expand my education with the scholarships that are set up. So
,
why?”

“Like I said before, it’s all about the title and status,” Roan
said
. “It in no way makes them better. That’s only what they perceive the ranking means.”

Dane grunted. “Most of those idiots aren’t powerful or strong enough to have a real ranking in the Pack.”

“But with the title and status, they do,” Rivera surmised
as she
finally g
ot
it.

“Correct.” Roan nodded.

“Hmmm…sounds like the tale,
The Emperor’s New Clothes
.”

“Unfortunately.” He sighed. “The way it stands, I have ten high ranking Pack families. None who head those families are even near strong enough in power or strength to keep that title if it came down to a real challenge.
O
nly half a dozen family members have the power or strength to really hold
the title. But, those members are either too old, stepped down, or not in line to receive it.”

“Which is a joke, by the way,” Dane sneered then went on to explain just why and how.

“I never knew the Pack had such a detailed history.” Rivera said
as she
sh
ook
her head with awe.

“It’s taken many decades and lots of eye strain to pour through so many documents, but everyone who’s contributed to the Pack’s history has done so to keep it alive. And to make sure we don’t repeat it,” Roan
added quickly
.

“Learning from your past to create a better future.”
She had no idea where she heard that quote from, but it was appropriate.

“Exactly.” He beamed at her.

She
turned to face him, laying her palm against his stubbly cheek. “I know that whatever decisions you make won’t be easy ones. But I want you to know that I support you and will stand by whatever you decide is the right course of action. You have the Pack’s best interests at heart and that’s what matters most.”

His eyes closed and it looked as if he was fighting to stay in control. Then he smiled, eyes opening, glowing with icy flames. “You are my match in every sense of the word and I’m truly blessed that the Fates chose you for me.”

He leaned in then, nearly taking her breath with a soul
scorching
kiss. The mastery of his mouth on hers was simply bliss that ended all too soon.

Finally coming up for air, she lay down on his chest, snuggling close in his embrace as his arms wrapped around her. No more words were needed. She knew her place. It was at his side.

Looking up, Dane caught her eye in the rear-view mirror. He gave her a slight bow and a wink. It was all the approval she needed.

A comfortable silence reigned until Dane let them know they had arrived. Looking out the window, she watched as Dane pulled the Rover onto a very long drive way with large live oaks on one side and a white rail fence on the other. On the inside of the fence was an immense pasture with over a dozen horses in various
colours
grazing.
They didn’t stay that way for long. In fact, one horse in particular broke away, galloping at full speed toward the Rover. When he made it to the rail and kept pace with them, Rivera could see that the horse was a magnificent leopard spotted Appaloosa. A stallion, he was sleek and one of the biggest Appaloosa horses she had ever seen.

“I see Zephyr is welcoming you home, Roan,” Dane said with humour.

Rivera couldn’t help but smile. “The name certainl
y fits.” She glanced back at Roan
briefly, not wanting to take her eyes off the beautiful animal. She’d always had a thing for horses. “I take it he’s yours? Or is that, you’re his?”

Roan chuckled as he sidled up next to her and rolled down the window. “The ownership is mutual. Though in Zephyr’s case, his attachment is a bit more. As you can see, he’s big for an Appaloosa horse. It happens sometimes. Unfortunately, his mother didn’t survive the birth.”

“How sad,” she gasped.

“It couldn’t be helped.” He sighed. “With Blaze’s age and Zephyr’s size, well, the odds weren’t in the mother’s favour. There were a couple times when we thought we were going to lose them both. But my mother is a great vet. With Tristan’s help
, they saved Zephyr. And after taking one look at him…”

She kissed his cheek. “You big softy.”

Those cheeks pinked. “He was worth the late night feedings.”

He put his hand out the window and closed his eyes. A moment later, Zephyr put on a burst of speed and shot past them, waiting until they came to the front of the house and parked. The three of them got out of the Rover to see Zephyr rear back on his hind legs, front legs pawing the air and letting out a loud whinny. When he was back on all fours once again, he shook his head,
his glorious
mane flying around, pawed the ground twice,
and then
took off. When Rivera loo
ked back at Roan, his cheeks were still pink and he was smiling widely.

“You can communicate with him, can’t you?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “But unlike Tristan, my abilities are limited to those animals that are dominant by nature
,
are
natural born Alpha’s. Zephyr isn’t merely a big stallion. He now controls the herd and won that position in fair combat from the older stallion we keep in the lower pasture.”

Said herd was now mingling by the fence as the passengers climbed out of the other Rover. When the mares and foals spotted Tristan, they got excited.

“Go calm them, Tristan,” Roan told him good naturedly. “They won’t settle otherwise.”

Tristan rolled his eyes but chuckled, doing as he was bid as about a dozen mares and foals all vied for his attention.

“Is it always like this with him around?”

“No.” Roan shook his head with a grin. “Even though Tristan can communicate with any animal, he has a very close affinity with a few, falcons, wolves, and horses. This herd in particular
.
S
ince being an even better vet than my mother due to his skills, he’s assisted in the birth of most of this ranches horses.”