Still red with rage Nafarius forced himself to take several deep breaths before turning to his mate. Sam stood there silently, watching and waiting for him to calm down. Consciously, he uncurled his hands and shook himself hoping to loosen his muscles. “Nicholas is the leader of one of our neighboring packs.”
Sam waited but it quickly became clear that he wasn’t going to offer any more information. “There is more to it than that. Why does the mention if his name anger you so?”
“Nicholas was also my brother.” Nafarius didn’t wait for her to respond but turned and walked away. Sam turned and went to find Roland. She had no intention of asking him to explain her Nafarius’ reaction but she did want to know when Roland had learned of Natasha’s identity.
There was a small alcove built into the very back of the mountain. Because of its remoteness to the other areas as well as the lack of light it was left unoccupied. However, those same properties made it an ideal place to isolate undisciplined pack members. It was here that Nafarius had ordered Natasha be taken and it was here that Sam found Roland. He was arguing with the guards who per Nafarius’ orders were refusing anyone entrance.
“Roland, I’d like to speak with you.”
“Unless you can get me in to see Natasha I have nothing to say to you.” Roland shrugged off the restraining hand Sam had placed on his shoulder and glared at the guards. Both men, despite serving under Roland in Nafarius’ absence were not at all impressed.
Sam sighed. “Roland, you’re not helping matters. Please, come with me so that we may talk.”
Roland turned and looked at her. “Why didn’t you speak up for her? You refused to allow me to accompany you then sat back and did nothing.”
“I was fully prepared to speak for her but neither of you thought to warn me what I was up against. I’m still not sure what this is all about.” Sam crossed her arms over her chest. “If you had warned me we could have approached this a different way but instead you let me walk into this blind.”
“I’m sorry; I tried to stall. I knew Nafarius would be upset when he learned who she was but I truly believe that she is here for no other reason than to seek shelter. I only hoped to secure enough time to come up with a better way to approach him.” Roland still stood outside the alcove but his stance had relaxed. “Truthfully, I don’t know if it would have made any difference. Nafarius was bound to react exactly like he did no matter how the news was delivered.”
“I would suggest that you avoid him for the next few hours. I’m not sure he realizes that you were aware of her connection to his brother but if he finds out he may very well do something that we’ll all regret later.”
“So, you know that Nicholas is Nafarius’ brother?”
“Yes, he told me that much but no more. I’m hoping he’ll have calmed down enough for me to find out exactly what happened.” Sam turned and started back down the corridor. “It’s obvious something happened between the two of them.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Oh, and Roland.”
“Yes?”
“You might as well return to your quarters. You will not be allowed to see her until I speak with Nafarius.” Sam rounded the corner and was out of sight.
Roland sighed and returned to his alcove. Sam was exceptional at finding ways to punish a person without ever raising a finger. Often times the mental or emotional anguish she put them through far outweighed anything physical she could have done.
Sam picked up Nafarius’ scent and trailed him for several minutes until she came to the small, secluded spot next to the waterfall. Sitting down beside him she waiting, giving him the chance to raise the subject they both knew she had come to discuss.
Nafarius sighed; he should have known that she would seek him out. In some ways he didn’t mind. It let him know how much she cared but in this particular situation he would rather not have to explain things. “I know you’ve realized by now that there are two types of lycanthropes. There are those that are born and those that are made. Nicholas and I are twins, both of us born into the pack. Our father was leader and back then we still practiced a sort of inheritance. By default the position as leader was handed down from father to son unless the son was challenged and proven unfit to lead.”
Nafarius stared out across the water his eyes distant, seeing a past that had reached out to touch the here and now. “Nicholas is older then me by three minutes and by right he should be leader.”
Sam sensed he was reluctant to say more. “Then why isn’t he?”
“Succession takes place when the leader dies, Nicholas couldn’t wait to let nature or our enemies take its course so he killed our father.” Sam felt her gut wrench at the pain and sadness she heard in his voice. “At first there was no proof though most of the pack, including me and my mother suspected. I never wanted to be leader and any challenge I made if successful would result in me taking his place. I didn’t want that so I tried to find evidence of what he had done. In the mean time Nicholas was proving himself to be an ineffective leader. Worse, he was a danger to us all. He destroyed alliances our father had spent a lifetime building and turned allies into enemies. Our people were at risk, men and women dying needlessly in senseless battles all while I searched in vain. Finally, I had enough. I stopped trying to discredit him and instead challenged him.”
Sam knew that the challenge for position as leader was to the death. “You obviously won so why is he still alive?”
“I couldn’t bear to kill my own brother no matter how much I despised him. I banished him. Eventually he started his own pack, they live several miles to the north and most of the time we exist in peace, but every once in a while something happens. It’s never a direct assault but someone might go missing or our hunting grounds are raided and everything that’s killed is left to rot. When that happens I know it’s Nicholas just as I know it is he that sent that woman.”
“You don’t think she is his mate?”
“Whether she is or not he’d have no qualms at using her, against her will if need be.” Nafarius turned to look at her for the first time since starting his story. “He cannot see me in peace. I have no doubt that the news of our mating has reached him and he seeks to disturb whatever life we would create. I will not stand by this time.”
“What do you plan to do?” Sam was a little shaken by the rage she heard in his voice.
“I don’t know but I’ll start by questioning the woman.” Nafarius rose and offered Sam his hand. After helping her to her feet, the two of them walked back home holding hands. They were both quiet; Sam kept thinking about the story Nafarius had told her. She could only imagine the pain and anguish he must have felt. The loss of his father followed by the betrayal of his brother helped to explain his reaction to learning Natasha’s identity.
Sam was also concerned. She worried that Nafarius might do something to make matters worse either by lashing out at Natasha or going on the offensive with his brother. However, she was still new here and she decided that the best thing to do would be to sit back and let her mate handle things. She was free to voice her opinions and objections and would do just that if she saw things getting out of hand.
The pack was busy back at the mountain. There were several men running through training drills while the women went about tending to the gardens. Sam couldn’t help but notice that everyone stayed close to home and that the children were being kept inside. She understood that Nafarius was concerned but at the same time she feared making everyone into prisoners.
Inside, the quiet murmur continued as different families tended to their alcoves and those that slept in the common area cleaned away the clutter. Maddie, who still slept with Sam and Nafarius, was busy helping with the evening meal. She watched as the two of them crossed over the common area and headed towards the back of the mountain. Two different guards stood watch and Roland was nowhere to be found.
Nafarius stepped into the alcove and held the curtain back for Sam. Once inside she leaned back against the wall and tried to become an unobtrusive observer.