A Guardians Passion, page 13
“Good evening, Ms. Daniels.” Helena gestured to the chair directly across from her. “Come. Sit.”
Freya walked over and took the seat across from Helena’s. She kept her gaze directly locked with Helena’s as she settled upon the roomy cushion. They might not be financial equals, but Freya would be damned if she would show any sign of weakness, even if Helena’s stare reminded her of the intensity of her own mother’s. “Mrs. Sohon.”
“You can relax those shoulders, Freya. I have no intention of threatening you.”
Freya scoffed. She had no intention of attacking—well, at least not as long as she wasn’t provoked. Still, she exhaled after a while and sat back in the chair, soothing a hand over her belly to calm Bun.
“What? Did you think I might have something to say about your Luna and your witch appearing on the grounds and frightening my guards?”
Not another one. Thinking back to Emily, Freya couldn’t believe that Helena was bringing it up. “Lunas can’t be controlled. They’re mad bastards. You believe that shit too?”
Helena’s eyes narrowed, and she cocked her head. “I’m a Sohon. And Fenris is a Luna. Rayne can calm him, heal the madness within him somewhat, but the fire is always there. Smoldering,” she said drily. “I suspect you influence his serenity as well. He is unique, but you already know…that shit.”
Freya was stunned, more so by the cursing than by being called out on her attempted ruse. She eyed the ceramic teapot emitting steam, several small glass trays containing a variety of tea bags, and assorted edible treats on the table, before wondering aloud, “So is that what this is about?”
“Oh, no,” Helena exclaimed. “I didn’t call you here for that. If I called every female in for a meeting who had a worrisome mate, I’d be stuck in Florida for several weeks rather than one. And despite my tan, Miami is not a place I care to spend my time.”
“Too much sun, eh?”
“No. Not enough forests. One needs room to run that is not framed by swamps or water, a place where the supernatural species are a little less terrifying. How about you? Terrifying isn’t in your vocabulary or your family’s, so I suspect you like it?”
Freya didn’t know whether Helena was trying to be insulting or give praise. Whereas other wolves might have given away some indication, Helena was calm to the core. “It’s okay. It is good for bounties.” Big and often complex ones that require a shitload of firepower.
“Right. Which would bring me to the subject of this meeting,” Helena stated before turning her attention to the tray in the middle of the table and the small glass tray of tea selections. “What sort of tea would you like? I prefer green, but I have Darjeeling black, white herbal, Earl Grey, orange blossom, and mint.”
“I don’t drink tea.”
Helena shrugged but used the kettle to fill two cups with the scalding water rather than one. She pinched a tea bag from the tray and dropped it in one cup before waving a finger over the other tea bags. “You should try some. I’m going to suggest the orange blossom.” She selected a pouch from the tray that held several of the packaged, citrusy leaves and deposited it in the other cup. “It’s fragrant and solid. Calming.”
Before Freya could decline, the steamy drink and a saucer were thrust her way. She took the offered drink and inhaled the aroma. It didn’t smell bad at least. “It’s the color of bourbon.”
“Yes.” Helena took up a tiny spoon and used it to scoop sugar cubes from a bowl. She placed one in her cup before offering one to Freya.
What the hell? If the old cur wanted to poison me, I would have been dead ten times over already. Freya accepted the sugar and a spoon. She stirred the liquid before daring a taste. Water. Good water. Flavored water. Not bad at all, she finally decided.
Helena took a sip of her own drink before offering Freya her choice of the biscuits, sautéed pork skewers, and bite-size pastries decorating saucers on the table.
Freya filled an empty plate and started in on the pork, flavored with mint and rosemary. There were apricot tarts and asparagus stalks wrapped in bacon, one of which Freya was chewing upon when Helena finally dropped the hostess mode.
“I know your mother, Geraldine,” Helena said, “and I know that she would have never come to an event such as this.”
“You do know my mother.” Freya snickered, nearly choking on her stalk. She tried to imagine Geraldine and Helena in the same room, but that was a lesson in hilarity. The battle-ax had a low tolerance for bullshit and would certainly not be interested in having fancy water.
“Yes. A proud and fierce warrior she is, as is your mother-in-law. I was not surprised when I heard that you had joined with Gaea’s progeny, considering how much havoc Ger and Gaea could and did cause. Brilliant warriors both; however, both are a tad feral. No harm meant.”
The Sohon was trying to make a point, only Freya didn’t know what it was. On guard, she set her plate down and took another sip of tea. She searched Helena’s features for mockery. Again she didn’t see any. “None taken. Feral ain’t bad. But then neither is uppity.”
Helena dipped her chin in agreement as if she was impressed with Freya’s counter. “You think we are uppity? Yet you and yours agreed to a business partnership with us?”
So this is gonna be a business meeting. Freya sat up in her chair, making no secret of her attentiveness. It beat the hell out of toying around with personal issues and family ties. “The partnership is practical. It’s beneficial for us both. We give you froufrou shit, and you try to influence brutes.”
“And we succeed sometimes,” Helena agreed. “So indeed our arrangement is mutually beneficial. We uppity types need your feral strength and bravery, and in turn, I believe that you see the value of what we are attempting to do, what we have done by uniting the packs, offering aid and education. Yes?”
Although she hated to admit it, Freya couldn’t deny that the retreat had proved useful. “Yeah.”
Helena seemed pleased, her smile disappearing into a raised teacup. She took a long sip before setting the cup back down. “Freya, this is premature, I know, but I see great possibilities from our partnership with you in the future. I would like to hope that you feel the same.”
Unsure of whether Helena was asking a question or making a statement, Freya wondered aloud, “Why? You seeking to recruit the wild things into hosting a function or something?” Then another angle popped into her mind, one that she didn’t like at all. She glared hard at Helena. “You’re not here about buying the lodge or some shit like that? Because that property belongs to Fenris and his pack.”
Helena barely suppressed a scowl. “No. I am seeking matriarchs.”
Freya knew what the term meant. A matriarch was the head of the household, maybe the pack too, but certainly of the family. She had always considered her own mother to be the ruling body of the Daniels Pack. Gaea was the matriarch of Fenris’s family. Even if Freya was an alpha, Gaea held slightly more seniority and sway. It was a term of reverence, and Freya certainly didn’t think that a matriarch could be elected or even needed to be recruited.
“I’m not a matriarch.”
“But you will be, and the pack you are starting with Fenris will be a strong one.”
Freya didn’t doubt Helena’s words, just the motive behind them. “So, are you guys starting some sort of a mafia of bitches or something?”
Helena scowled. “That’s a crude way of putting it. But to clarify my meaning, too many believe that we have overstepped our boundaries and seek a more democratic view of our race. We are aware that there are stronger, powerful packs whose intelligence and strength should be at the forefront with us. Males are the might of our packs, yes. They are the enforcers and the figureheads, but as you may or may not be aware, the females are the compasses. It is the females who can channel that might, steer it, and we simply wish to be headed in a unified and stable direction.”
Freya allowed the information to sink in, studying Helena until she was certain that the silver wolf was completely serious. Helena didn’t waver. “Me? Control Fenris? Yeah, right.”
“I did go over this in my talk. Just because you spread your legs at his insistence doesn’t mean that he controls you, Freya.”
Freya had to focus to close her gaping mouth as anger warmed her cheeks. With a roll of her eyes, she tried to deny the accusation. “Bitch, please.”
Helena cleared her throat before getting another sip of tea. “Oh. I’m sorry. I meant at his labored breathing.”
Her nostrils flaring, Freya wanted to tell Helena that she had learned a few things, that she was getting a handle on the situation, and that her submission to Fenris was only occasional. But like Geraldine’s, Helena’s eyes were keen, and the matriarch was patient with bullshit, waiting like a mousetrap for Freya to take the cheese.
Freya held her tongue.
“So. Anyway,” Helena transitioned with a smile of humble victory. “Whereas we might never have been able to garner the aid of your mother, I believe that with her daughter we may have hope. You control one of the few sentient Lunas, who in turn can command the surliest of our kind. Your beta is a potentially powerful wytchen, whose full strength is only hampered by his hobbies. I would be remiss to say that we don’t need you. We do.
“There have been issues, concerns with enemies of the progress of the werewolf race from both without and within. You are a guardian, a warrior-wolf, and about to become the mother of what I expect will be a remarkable cub, maybe the first of many. All that I ask is that you consider truly standing with us, equally for the protection of our kind, and think about what type of world you wish your cub to inherit. So? Does it sound like something that might interest you?”
The word no immediately sprang to mind. Freya had her own agenda, her own plans, and while they might have been sketchy, joining forces with the Sohons hadn’t been one of them. She suspected that few had received such an offer. She wasn’t proud of being among the selected, but she was curious. Threats to her race or to Bun’s future couldn’t be tossed out just because his mother longed for adrenaline rushes and combat. Helena had stated that she needed the feral contingent, and Freya would be damned if there wasn’t a healthy selection back at the lodge.
Her head ached as she peered into the rabbit hole of Helena’s offer and wondered what it would entail. “Damn. I need a drink.”
Raising the kettle of water, Helena gestured for Freya to hand over her cup for a refill. “In three more months, I suspect,” she said. “Well, that and another six months for breast-feeding. There is a session on that tomorrow. You’ll want to make that.”
Freya wanted to tell Helena that she was already an expert on breast-feeding, but the Sohon matriarch once again took the air from her.
“The session focuses on cubs, not grown or greedy males,” Helena added.
Chapter Ten
The idea of sitting in a ballroom, listening to jazz music, and sipping mock cocktails while wearing gowns that sparkled did not appeal to Freya, even if they were serving steak six ways, rack of lamb, roasted duck with plum glaze, and carousels of pastries. She had weightier issues to contemplate, especially due to her talk with Helena. After leaving the Sohon’s suite, Freya returned to her room with the intent of taking a nap. Melissa was inside, packing a small duffel bag with towels. The cubs looked beyond adorable wearing their little swim shorts. Once Freya stated that she wouldn’t be attending the ball, Melissa immediately offered an invitation to the pool.
With many of the expectant mothers attending the ball, the companion mothers and cubs had a different activity scheduled for the night, a pool party. Rambunctious cubs had little interest in extravagance, fashion, or champagne flutes, so a more festive menu and set of events were planned for them.
Freya needed to clear her mind and was not enthusiastic about being left alone with her thoughts. She accepted the invitation to accompany Melissa and carry the very appreciative and breast-obsessed Bryant.
The pool was in an indoor enclosure. It wasn’t Olympic-size by any means, but there was plenty of room for the dozens of cubs of various ages to play. Many of the mothers were relaxing on lawn chairs and enjoying drinks and snacks provided by the few attending omegas. The cubs, some as young as the twins and others older, needed little help swimming among many of the floating toys; however, there were three omegas in the water supervising.
While it was easy for Freya to just lie back on a lounge chair, enjoying a virgin colada and skewered shrimp, even the echoing yips and snarls within the pool room did little to ease the weight of her thoughts.
Freya was almost relieved when Melissa, separated from her by a table, urged her to speak her mind. She told Melissa of Helena’s offer. Melissa had already proved that she wasn’t the criticizing type, and Helena hadn’t mentioned any need for secrecy. Aside from Benna, Melissa was the only person Freya felt that she could discuss her concerns with. “I mean, I’m not completely diplomatic. I know how to negotiate with my fists, how to strangle a son of a bitch out of some info, but sitting around and discussing shit? I don’t know…”
Melissa shrugged a brown shoulder, taking in Freya’s rant with ease. She waved off Freya’s worries. “Whatever. I think you should do it. I think you should take Helena up on her offer. If they really are forming some kind of council, then there should be a bit of badass element involved. I mean, what do the Sohons know about hunting and brawling? They’ve evolved. And even though they do a lot of charity, there are more than enough wolves out there that don’t look kindly on handouts from the upper class. The Sohons can’t reach them, but you could.”
Freya wondered at Melissa’s meaning, jokingly. “Why? Because I have the look of the downtrodden?”
“You have the look of a wolf—not a vamp, not a fae, not a human, but a wolf. There are no airs about you. Even ferals would listen to what you had to say.”
Freya agreed. “Helena knows. She mentioned it even.” Over her fifty years, she had encountered wolves living in squalor, in cabins high in the woods, who would scoff at the idea of flushing toilets or microwaves. Her mother certainly didn’t have one. “They want the allegiance of the ferals, their might if needed. They think that they can get it through me.”
“And they could.”
Freya looked across the table and saw sincerity gazing back at her. That Melissa was basing her decisions on impressions more than facts was a point that Freya couldn’t shake. “I’m a fighter, not a negotiator.”
Melissa was distracted by the familiar snarling of one her cubs. She sat up in her chair and peered out at the pool, where Bryant and Ryant had teamed up to harass another cub. One of the omegas worked diligently to break up the fight, clutching them by the scruffs. Despite the twins turning their deviousness upon him, the omega eventually got the situation under control.
Tentatively, Melissa relaxed on her lounger. She picked up her drink only when satisfied that her boys were distracted by the balls placed in front of them rather than seeking further prey. “From what I know about you, yes, you can handle yourself. From what I know about Ulfur, some of the baddest curs in the world hit that place up, and if your male runs that spot, then hell yeah, I see her point. You would be the perfect one to recruit.”
Freya’s attention had been stolen by the incident in the pool as well. Thinking of the twins, she tried to imagine raising a cub and dealing with skeptical wolves at the same time. Ulfur was one thing, but trying to talk to more antisocial weres… Well, it could be exciting. Part of her was already convinced that the job would be a good one, interesting at the least.
“What do you think Fenris will say? You think he’ll be against it?” Melissa asked.
“No.” Freya balked, thinking of her alpha. While his possessiveness had reached entirely new heights with her pregnancy, Fenris admired her fight and her decisions. She didn’t doubt that if she even mentioned him going to battle, he would. Altruism was his nature, as she had learned the moment she first arrived at the spa he and Rayne owned. If a wolf wanted to come and couldn’t pay for lodging, neither Fenris nor Rayne cared. They would provide a bed, clothing, or even a few bucks if necessary. No, he would be all too agreeable. When she turned to Melissa, it was with a poorly disguised grin. “He’d be into it. He’s a…my, um…my…”
Melissa chuckled knowingly. “Child, go ahead and say it. It ain’t gonna kill ya.”
Freya tossed back the remainder of her drink, the refreshment clearing her head. “Okay,” she resolved. “He’s my…my motherfucker.” There simply was no better way of putting it.
“Hell yeah,” Melissa snarled. “You know it, girl!” Melissa leaned over and presented her fist, which Freya enthusiastically pounded.
“I still want to talk it over with him before I make any solid decisions.”
“You may have to put out a little extra,” Melissa added with an evil laugh.
“I have to do that anyway.” She chuckled at the thought of intimate negotiations. “No, he’ll be all for it. It’s me that’s the real issue. Bun might need me.”
“So you thinking about toning it all back now? Dropping the bounties?”
Freya clutched her head, which had begun a subtle pounding. “I wasn’t thinking about advising on a damn council. I will tell you that much.”
“Girl, please. You’ll have the inside knowledge. You’ll be able to influence the world your cub—hell, all our cubs will be living in. I say you should jump at the chance.”
“The only thing I want to jump into is a good night’s sleep.”
“Good luck on getting that.” Melissa sighed. She waved over an omega to refill her drink, making sure that one was coming before turning back to look at Freya over her shoulder. “As soon as you finish cooking one, your boys will steady be trying to get another Bun in the oven. Hope you at least got something from Helena’s seminar or plan on attending the family planning and birth control workshops.”
