Alma

Chapter Seventeen: Dante

Dante:

Seeing Alma so flustered after the surgery made my wolf, and myself, a little freaked out. It was like the Alma I had grown to know and care for was gone; she was completely unfocused, like someone filled her head with cotton, and had no idea what she wanted. I felt awful not knowing what to do, which made her feel worse. So, I tried to do what I had thought was best. But that had backfired. In a matter of an hour, she had had her whole life stripped away and was told it didn't matter.

After talking with the guard left with Alma, I immediately knew that she needed to expose herself, even though her looks would give her away almost immediately. Alma's heritage seemed pretty well-known, with many talking about a bastard child from the illegal pairing of a Fae and a shifter, two races who were known not to get along. Many thought her parents had been selfish, but also traitors to their people, choosing a member of a race they had been nearly at war with for centuries. Fae and shifters were almost never paired together in a blood line, and if so, one or the other was pretty dilute. Alma was an anomoly. Meaning her uncle either disguised her a second fae-shifter offspring, or he didn't tell her story. The suitor may not care either. Exposing her identity or her heritage would be a way to either destroy the deal, or understand more of it. Sadly, Alma didn't think exposing herself was thorough enough, and suggested pretending to find her mate. At the suggestion, my wolf went berserk, more than happy to tear apart anyone who dared pretend to be mates with Alma. To top it off, the i***t staked his own claim on her.

Since Alma's surgery, the possessiveness and drive to protect Alma I felt had doubled. Getting through classes was nearly impossible and I had had to begin asking packmates to send me their notes. During training, I made sure Alma stayed within eyesight and earshot; otherwise I became distracted looking for her, or ensuring she didn't get hurt. She had laughed at me, teasing me kindly as I growled at males who came near her. I took the teasing well, with it even settling my wolf; he was happy Alma was focused on him, and basked in the attention. I knew, especially after what Dr. Geaga had said that she was most likely my mate; it was one of the only explanations that fit my wolf's reaction from day one. But, I didn't want to stake my claim until she was ready, which was definitely not when she was freaking out about her uncle selling her off.

When Alma ran off, my wolf felt angry and crestfallen, curling up in the front of my mind to process her reaction before choosing to give chase or lick his wounds. I knew she hadn't rejected my wolf and I, but I was also hurt by her lack of an answer and running off; this was what ultimately led my wolf to give chase. He needed a definite answer. Finding her back in my room, accepting my wolf and I, felt like the highlight of my week. I already knew I would go to the end of the worlds if she asked me to, as long as she accepted me.

Accepting your mate was not as simple as saying "I do". A person needs to fully accept their mate as someone who belongs with them and to them, completely. In the case of shifters, a mate needs to accept their partner as someone not just to love and care for, but also as someone to lean on and hold up. Not only does the human spirit have to do this, but the animal one as well. Only then did the metaphysical bond snap in place, stronger than a pack bond in its connection.

After the fiasco with Alma's uncle and staking my claim, I was simply exhausted, and figured Alma would be too. The following morning, after she left, I got out of bed and dressed for class. I listened for her to come back in while I showered, but she never did. When I saw she wasn’t in the room when I got out, I figured she had gone to class and ignored the little jab of pain. When she wasn’t in class, I panicked.

After classes, she wasn't at the gym to warm up for the lessons she taught, and I knew something was wrong when Ms. Anxeki asked me where Alma was. I quickly pulled my phone out and called Jeff, who was luckily part warlock.

"Have you seen Alma today?"

"No; we were gonna meet up at the amphitheater so we could take down the decorations for Bet and Rod's party. Why, is she not with you?" Jeff sounded skeptical as he asked the last question, which was understandable considering I've been nearly glued to Alma's side for almost a month now.

"No. Haven't seen her since this morning."

The conversation quickly involved Bet, Heather, and Garv, who also hadn't seen her, which was unusual. Jeff said he could track her, but that he would need some supplies. As a group, we split up to gather the ingredients to cast the spell.

Jeff tried to cast the tracking spell multiple times, but each time resulted in draining his energy more. We had called it quits when Jeff began to get paler than he naturally was. Garv walked him back to his dorm while I searched the pack bonds for Alma; I found her, but when I tried to access the bond connecting her and I, I ran into a block. Blocks typically happen when a shifter hasn't accepted a bond, or was unable to be reached, which typically meant they were unconscious. Her cell phone was off or dead as well. For the time being, Alma was unreachable.

I nearly cried when I felt like someone grabbing my heart and pulling outward the next afternoon. It steals my breath and I stumble back from the others, who had gathered again to try and track Alma. Initially, I pushed back on the force that had knocked the wind out of me. But, when I felt the same force seem to pull closer to me mentally, I realized it felt familiar. The second time I felt the pull, I metaphorically latched on, following the origin back to Alma. I try to pull her closer, find out where she is by bringing her closer in my mind, and instead feel how scared she is. Anger burns low and steady; when I figure out her fear is for me, my anger only builds. Something to do with her uncle is happening, I am sure. When I try to pull her closer again, I find out where she is, and feel her urgency.

“Jeff, I found her.”

I don’t wait for his response as I leave to find Ms. Anxeki. In the gym, I go to her office, and see her filing paperwork at her desk. “Nao, he took her.”

Her stare freezes my blood, and I can’t move. “Alma…” I strangle out, and she immediately lets go.

“What about her? She didn’t show up again today, is she okay?”

Nao’s concern for her is pure, and filled with care. I answer honestly. “No.”

The room drops about twenty degrees. “Her uncle took her to their pack headquarters. He is selling her off to a male.”

The yuki onna looks at me, gauging my reaction. “If he mates her with this male, then he inherits her home pack permanently.”

I nod, my teeth grinding. “I know. Why are we still here?”

She looks at me, a slight smile on her face. “I’m waiting for you to tell me why you care.”

My wolf surges forward, hard, and we both snarl, “She’s mine.”

Ms. Anxeki lifts both eyebrows, surprised at my blatant admission, but I didn’t care. I withdrew from the school pack yesterday, giving the position over to Brent, the beta. He was stable, and put the pack first. I couldn’t. Not now. She rises and walks passed me, grabbing some keys off of a hook by the door. “Get your band of misfits. Lets go.”

I don’t hesitate to grab the new pack bonds I have, Alma’s pack bonds, and summon everyone to me.

***

It doesn’t take long for everyone, including Rod, Bet’s mate, to show up. “Load up, we’re off to get Alma.”

Jeff and Garv nod and listen. Bet and Heather both look concerned, and climb in quickly. Rod follows Bet with no words.

The pack headquarters are large, and I can feel the bonds connecting Alma and I get stronger, and I calm a little. We climb out after pulling into the driveway. Looking over my shoulder, I see we’re not the only ones to arrive. A young male, with bright gray-ish hair and eyes the color of ocean water climbs out of a car of his own, dressed in a tuxedo. I catch his scent in the breeze. “Selkie,” I whisper to myself.

Selkie are water Fae, who are known for having seal pelts that help them change shape. Specifically, to change into a seal and go into the water. A sick thought forms in my head. Her uncle could not have sold her off to a selkie, I try to reason. He couldn't be that cruel.

Selkie’s are Fae, but also Morphs-- they can push their mates to live their lifestyle, causing them to lose their animal pelt and undergo a transformative spell, turning them into a selkie. Males were more likely to push their mates into transforming, as only female Selkies produce Selkie children. This pod of Selkies and Alm'a uncle could effectively trap and control Alma by taking her pelt, keeping her in her own hell.

My breathing quickens and I barge through the front door, surprising some of the people inside the building as I ignore the voices of the others protesting behind me. I brush off some imaginary dust as I walk through the main room of the cabin with confidence, letting my nose and my intuition lead me to my mate. The inside of the house is rustic, but comfortable. A lovely log cabin with pelts of small prey and hides served as chair throws and railing covers. The flooring was gray slate tiling, easy to clean. People filled the house, packing it full of shifters and Selkies alike. I see a door with a staircase leading downward about ten feet in front of me, and I hurry down it.

In the basement, I find Alma in a chair, chained with silver. Beside her and around her lay the tatters of her other bonds. “Alma,” I whisper her name with care, and she looks up, her eyes moon-bright.

I give her a small smile. “Dante… it’s a selkie. They’re gonna--” I cut her off, her volume growing. “It’s alright. I’m gonna get you out.”

“No, you don’t understand. Dante, he already--”

Whistling sounds at the top of the stairs and Alma gestures for me to hide in the corner. The young selkie from the driveway approaches. “Hello, mo ghraidh,” he says, his voice smooth and filled with magic.

Alma chokes on the magic, gagging. “Get away from me,” she spits, trying to work pack magic on him, make him back up, but its failing.

“Little wolf, your magic does not work on me. Don’t bother. Soon, you won’t need it. You will be one with the sea, like me.”

I swallow my growl, but Alma doesn’t. “Get away with your gods damned f*****g magic! I refuse to--”

A slap rings out and Alma’s words are cut off. “No, mo ghraidh, you will not speak that way. Besides, the magic is already working. I just need you to slip into your fur.”

“No,” she growl s the word at the same time I whisper it.

She strains against the silver, trying to fight her way to freedom. I silently come out of my hiding spot, and attack. I had found a pile of bricks while crouched, and used one to smack the selkie in the back of the head, hard. He drops to the ground, never making a sound except the “thud” of his body on the floor. Then I get to work.

I grab the silver chains, not caring about the burns on my hands, and pull. The small padlock lets go and the chains come loose. After unwrapping her arms and legs, she jumps up, trembling all over. “We need to leave, Dante,” she whispers and I pull her close, the smell of brine filling my nose.

“Why do you smell like the ocean?”

“They started the spell, it required I drink--”

“Sea water.”

She nods. “I’m gonna be sick, and soon. We need to leave.”

I waste no time slipping back up the stairs, never letting her go.

Outside, I find the van empty, and again summon the pack. They apparently had spread out, searching for me. Looking at Alma, who is shiny with sweat, I tell them we need to leave now. Ms. Anxeki is the last to arrive with Jeff in tow, a cut on his face. “Thank god you guys are back. Everyone is trying to kill Jeff.”

Alma groans. “This pack hates half-bloods. Why did you bring them?” Her words are drawn out with presumed sickness.

I look at Nao. “Get us out of here. Now.”

“Not the school,” Heather says, realizing they would search there for the bride.

Nao only nodded. “I’m not stupid, you guys. We’re not going to the school.”

I settle in, Alma on my lap, shivering still, as she drives us. I check on Alma constantly, and find her murmuring a few minutes into the drive. “What are you saying?”

“Tiormaich a ’mhuir, cuir às don phuinnsean, feuch, tha mi a’ gairm ort,” she says a little louder, over and over again.

“She is trying to draw on her Fae blood. Gaelic… something about getting rid of poison, drying the ocean,” Nao says quietly.

“They started the transformative spell on her. Made her drink sea water.”

“Pull over,” Alma interrupts, and Nao obeys immediately. The windows were automatic, and instead of opening the door, Alma rolls it down and climbs out. I follow, using the door, and find her in some bushes, puking. I hear a series of snaps followed by “f**k, that hurts!”

I am by her side in an instant. ‘What happened?” I look at her arm, hanging at an odd angle, each finger bent wrong. Her face has a handprint on it, looking like a burn.

“Fae magic. Earth and Fire tribes came together in my line. I didn’t want this--” she vaguely gestures to herself, “to happen, so I’ve been avoiding it.”

“I can see why. Let’s go, we need to get you further away.”

She nods and stands up. “I think it worked, Dante,” she marvels, giddy.

“Congratulations,” I softly reply and we climb back in. She lets me reset her arm, and hand with no qualms. I use pack magic to set the bones. She sighs when it is done and relaxes in my lap, where she is sitting once more.

The next couple of hours pass in silence. Then we pull onto a small path in the mountains. The next half hour is a terrifying climb up a mountain. It is over when we stop at another little cabin, hidden amongst the myriad of trees. “I don’t think we realize how much trouble we probably just put ourselves in,” Nao says.

“Huh?” Heather speaks up, half asleep.

“We just trespassed onto pack territory, and kidnapped a member--”

“--I am not a member, the paperwork says otherwise.” Alma sat up a little bit.

“I still brought all of you off campus without permission. I’m going to lose my job for that. And,” she pauses as we climb out of her vehicle, “we have just angered the Selkies, plus the largest pack here, and the school.”

“Which means, we’re basically hiding from the public right now,” Bet speaks up.

Nao only nods. “Yeah, we are. I apologize for this.”

Alma speaks up. “Actually, I apologize, this is on me.”

Jeff rolls his eyes. “I don’t know about you guys, but I see no problem. We have our entire pack here, and we only had a year or so left at the school. Honestly Nao, you’ve got nothing to apologize for.”

Bet and Heather murmur their agreements. Rod shifts from foot to foot. “Bet, your mate is an oaf if he thinks he doesn’t belong here,” Alma throws out, and Rod looks up, a crooked grin on his face. I pull Alma closer to me.

“He’s mated, you barbarian.” I hear her whisper as she holds my hand tighter.

Inside the cabin is cozy. There is a wood stove, and carpet flooring. The railings are made of wood along the inside staircases, but metal outside. Upstairs, the floors of the rooms are made of hardwood, and the walls are painted. Alma claims one with grey walls, refusing to share it with the girls. Rod and Bet are given a room with pale blue walls, Heather and Nao share a plain wood wall, and Garv and Jeff insist on a room with white walls. We settle in with what little we brought with us, and Alma starts putting together a plan to get the rest.

“Why this room?” I ask after she sets aside her plan making and Nao runs to the grocery store.

“It matches your eyes, and it’s… comforting.” I feel myself smirk at her admission.

“Cocky son of a b***h,” she mutters, not for the first time.

Heather barges into the room five minutes later, fidgety.

“Heather, what’s wrong? Speak with me babe,” Alma says.

“Mark. We forgot Mark.”

Alma pauses, and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. “I didn’t think to contact him. I was in a rush.”

“We’ll get him sweetie. Alright?” She sounded so gentle, so sweet, that I started dreaming of a future.

Heather only nodded, and Alma leads her out of the room to the kitchen. I follow, not ready for Alma to leave my sight. “I knew it,” she mutters before looking at Heather again. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth? I asked you.”

Heather only shook her head. “I’ll get him. I promise you, I will get him.”

Alma begins looking through the cabinets, eventually finding a tin of tea leaves and some honey. After pulling down a cup, she begins to boil water in the kettle on the little gas range. When the water is whistling, she pours it into the cup, which is now holding tea in a steeper. After adding some honey, she places the cup in front of Heather. I notice she has a new burn on her hand as she tells her beta “Drink this, you’ll feel better.”

Heather obeys, drinking the cup slowly. About halfway through, I notice her shoulders are sagging much like her eyes. Alma used her magic to help the other girl rest. “C’mon, H. Lets get you to bed, alright?”

Heather doesn’t put up a fight and Alma helps er back upstairs.