Black Ice-Completed

With her body still bouncing between human and wolf, Nyota glared at the man, “Touch my aunt again and you will die human!” she growled as the Alpha echoed in her voice.

“How dare you! Veronica move so I can put this mutt out of her misery!” the man snarled as he raised a stick that was much longer than Avia’s.

“Papa, no!” Veronica cried as she ran in front of Nyota and shoved the stick up as it blasted, causing Veronica to fall back against her niece.

“Aunt Veronica!” Nyota cried as she held her aunt, looking for any immediate wounds.

“My dear Gods! What have I done?” the man yelped and ran over to Veronica to kneel by her side, his eyes roaming over Veronica as well.

Nyota breathed in relief when she could find no wounds except for redness on her hand. She gulped down a sob when Veronica gasped for air, her eyes open in terror as she looked between Nyota and the man.

“What in Alta’s name is going on in here?” a voice cried and Nyota looked up to see an older replica of Aunt Veronica. Cerulean clashed with emerald as the woman staggered in the doorway.

“Emmalie!” the man cried and rushed to the woman's side as he gathered her close. She continued to stare at Nyota as he growled, “I thought I told you to stay in our room until we can get this sorted!”

“I heard gun shots,” she murmured, “Why do you look like my Analise?” the woman cried out as she moved forward, escaping her husbands arms and hands as he tried to drag her back.

Veronica looked up at her mother and smiled, “Mama, I want you to meet your granddaughter, Nyota. She’s Analise’s daughter and soon to be Alpha of the Black Ice wolves.”

There was a scoff from Emmalie’s husband but the three women ignored him as Nyota’s grandmother gently took her head and turned it back and forth. “It’s so odd to see my daughter’s face but with dark red hair and paler complexion. She had darker features but you’re just as beautiful,” Emmalie smiled and pulled Nyota into a hug, “You are welcomed for as long as you need to stay!”

“Emmalie! We can’t house that monster! What if she eats us in the middle of the night?” her husband cried.

“Now you just get back up into bed now,” Emmalie said, then helped Veronica up on her feet, “And you should probably get into your own bed after this episode!” she admonished Veronica then looked at Nyota again, “You were at death’s door when Veronica, Harris, and Carlos found you,” Emmalie said as she ignored Harris’ ranting in the background about monsters and disrespectful woman.

As Nyota climbed up into bed, she noticed Veronica’s blush and smiled, “Who is Carlos?” she asked, figuring the man that was yelling was her grandfather, Harris.

“Nyota, I think you should get some rest. There’s no reason to go into any details today,” Veronica said as she tucked the blankets in around Nyota.

“Oh, he’s Veronica’s beau. They were to marry before her and Analise got captured. He’s never married,” Emmalie said slyly as she looked lovingly at Veronica.

Veronica cried out in exasperation, “Mother!” causing Nyota to giggle when Emmalie continued, ignoring Veronica’s protests.

“It’s actually good that you have arrived because the wedding is being held in three days!” She said while clapping her hands.

“I would love to watch the wedding! Aunt Veronica why didn’t you ever mention Carlos?” Nyota asked, happy that her aunt would finally be with someone that loved her.

Veronica smiled as she smoothed some of Nyota’s hair out of her face once again, “Raising a child takes priorities. It wasn’t important to you growing up. And if I did talk about him I’d get depressed!” she said and pushed Nyota back into the pillows, “Now get some rest. You’ll be my maid of honor in the ceremony and I’ll be bringing Carlos by in a day or so that way you can meet your new uncle!”

…...

By the time the wedding arrived, Nyota was well enough to participate within the ceremony. Her heart was full as she watched her aunt dance with her new husband all through the evening.

Carlos Mendicini was an ordinary man but was very compassionate. He was slightly taller than Veronica, with dark brown eyes that held amber flecks. His hair was wavy and curled down to his shoulders, which held no white, his short beard though, bore enough to show his aging.

As him and Nyota had visited, he had told her tales of Veronica and Analise when they were mischievous young girls that drove their mother nuts with their constant shenanigans and thievery of pies. Nyota had looked slyly at Veronica and smiled when she saw her aunt blushing furiously.

Nyota liked him and hoped her aunt would be able to get with child soon so she could have adorable cousins to spoil and watch them make mischief.

As the festivities continued, Nyota was growing annoyed and had to escape the area as man upon man came to ask her to dance. She declined each as her instincts told her to run as they looked at her with lust and not interest. She wasn’t easy and even though she had been separated from her mate, she was going to remain faithful to him.

She wondered if he was doing the same and sighed in relief as darkness engulfed her when she sat upon a tall dune of sand. Looking north to Azgeta she could just make out the snow tipped mountains.

Nyota was so close to her destination and for a moment she felt the sensation of being lost come over her. Was this really her destiny? Or was she being forced into this position by forces beyond her comprehension? What if she didn’t go and challenge Lyosha for the pack? Would the curse really kill out their whole race?

Staring up at the stars, she never even twitched as Harris, her grandfather, huffed his way up to the top of the dune. “What are you skulking around here for?” the man snapped a she looked at Nyota with a scowl.

Nyota never switched her attention to the man. Instead, she swept her hand across the open night sky, “Taking in the world and looking to the North,” she said simply with no rancor in her voice. Nyota found out that her grandfather was always in a foul mood and seemed to enjoy putting others there as well. She would not give him the satisfaction.

Harris looked at his granddaughter and scoffed softly before he looked up at the night sky as well. He could see hundreds of constellations but the most prominent was the wolf God Allaidh and his consort Saobhan.

“Even the stars show what monsters you are,” he murmured and at Nyota’s confused look he pointed the Gods constellation, “Your damn God is forever chasing poor Saobhan, the servant of Alta. It is said that long ago Allaidh had come upon Soabhan in a glen as she was collecting wildflowers for her mistress. Wanting her beauty all to himself, he came upon Saobhan and demanded she come serve him and his needs She refused and fled, he gave chase and in the end, Saobhan was caught and forced to bend to his will and give birth to your vile race!” Harris spat out and glared at Nyota.

Looking at her grandfather, she felt sorrow at how bitter the man was, “Thank you Grandsire for the tale,” was all she said as she turned her attention back up to the stars. Nyota heard him give a huff before he left her and she couldn’t understand how one story could have so many different versions. Braytek had told her the story of Allaidh and Saobhan when she was little, but it wasn’t one of force.