Ivory Snow

Dale stood outside the door to the Royal suite, holding the folded letter in his hand. He debated whether it was wise for him to give it to the Queen. This was not going to make her happy.

Next week will be four years since she was crowned.

Why now? After all this time?

He looked down at the faded letter. The writer obviously did not have much in the way of supplies. This looked nothing like the royal invitations that used to be sent to their old home.

Ava would most likely be offended by it.

Why would this little village choose now, of all times, to hold a memorial party for the dead royals?

And then have the audacity to invite the Queen?

Were they trying to rub her past in her face?

If it wasn’t for the fact that Dale had received word the Duke was planning to attend, he wouldn’t have bothered to even inform the Queen. That was good news, something they could use to their advantage.

Dale, steadying himself, determined to spin this in the best way possible, knocked on her bedroom door.

He heard her faint, and somewhat strained, voice giving him permission to enter. He was hit with the smell before his eyes registered what he was seeing.

Dale sat down on a chair next to the wall, watching and waiting. He hoped this particular male offered him at least some challenge. He could use the release. He had been idle since taking the pups out. They might have changed their minds by morning, Dale couldn’t have that.

It had been too easy though. He missed being challenged.

It didn’t take long for the unfortunate sap to finish. Even from where he was sitting Dale could tell it had been too early. Dale set the paper aside and stood up. He knew his Queen and mate. She would be more irritable after that.

Dale approached the bed and pointed at the pup.

“You. Sit.” Dale pointed at him and then the chair in the corner.

Ava laughed, loving this turn of events. She was too desperate when she pulled this pup into her bed. Dale had always been only the audience. Not that she was going to complain, he was a very selfless lover.

Once the act was done, Dale turned to the pup. “If you know what’s best for you, you’d run. Far, and fast.”

Maybe giving him a small warning and a head start would make it more challenging. From the blank look on his face, Dale could give him more than a day and still find him in a heartbeat.

“You are dismissed.” Dale explained slowly.

The pup nodded once and walked speedily out the door. Not completely dumb then.

Ava stretched her muscles out on the bed, settling in. There were no pressing matters for her to attend to this evening, so she planned on relaxing.

Dale walked back to where he had set the paper down, getting dressed along the way.

“This came for you today, your Highness.” He handed it to her reluctantly.

Ava took one look at the state of the paper and waved it back at him. “Just tell me what it says.”

“The small village we had the carriage difficulty in is planning a festival, a party if you will. They have invited you to join them.” Ava never remembered names of towns, so there was no point in that. He hated mentioning the village though, she was still upset with him over losing all the pups.

Ava rolled her eyes and sat up. “Why would I want to attend a small event such as that?” She was disgusted by just the thought of it.

“Ava.” Dale said softly scolding her. “They are doing it to honor the dead royals. They thought you would want to be there, to honor your sister.”

Ava’s head slowly turned to face him, her eyes seething with fury. Dale dropped to a knee in front of her, showing his fealty, placating her sensitive emotions.

“I have received word that the Duke has accepted an invitation as well. And will be attending to honor the memory of his brother. Andrew is leaving the city. Along with Jack. This is our chance. If they manage to make it past your soldiers, they will be vulnerable.”

He studied her face for clues as to what she was thinking. If only they had been able to mate properly, he would have a better idea. Dale had always been taught that mates could feel how their other half was feeling. He had even heard myths of them being able to hear each other while still in human form. It was very rare, and something only the strongest could achieve. He had no doubt he and Ava would have been one of the few who could master it.

Unfortunately, she would not hear of it. Only once did he mention it after she was crowned. Ava broke down sobbing with fear that they would make her choose between the two of them. Something she was afraid to do. Without the crown, people were mean to her. Dale could never put her in that position.

Dale asked her another time why she kept bringing other males to her bed. She said it was to give him something to do. It also added a little spice to their relationship. After all this time, Dale had gotten so used to it, he just accepted that this was the way things were.

Dale knew that underneath it all, that Ava only brought those males around so he would have some sport. She did this for him. Everything she did was for the betterment of others. He didn’t understand how Andrew didn’t see that.

A slow smile crossed Ava’s face. Most would have considered it to be an evil and suspicious smile, but Dale always thought of it as her sweet smile.

Ava pressed her palm on Dale’s cheek. “You will rid this world of the last wolf who stands against me. You will make this world safe for us, at last.”

“We have one week until their ridiculous festival begins. I will send some of my wolves ahead of us, to keep an eye out and spy. I will not fail you, my love.”

Ava gave a low rumble. “You take such good care of me, Dale. I never would have made it this far without you.”

With Andrew out of the way, the last of her true enemies would be gone. She wouldn’t need his talents anymore. Especially with the new alliance she had made with an over ambitious Prince from another kingdom.

With any luck, Andrew’s guards would take Dale out for her. If not, she now had new ways for relieving herself of him.

There were a few things she would miss about Dale of course, so she might as well enjoy them while he was still around. It didn’t take much to signal what she wanted from him, just sliding to be directly in front of him, her hand on the back of his head, and then laying down on the bed.

Dale was the best at giving her what she needed. Ava had no worries though. She was sure she would find someone else to take his place.

A day in a half’s journey away from the plotting couple, was another couple. One who was not afraid to commit to one another.

One who knew what putting the needs of others first truly meant.

One who would rather die a thousand deaths than be separated.

And yet, that was just what they were about to do.

The group stood in the shadows of the pre-dawn. Most were prepared to sneak out the hidden gate, while a few were just there to see them off.

Ivory and Adam stood off to the side, a small way from the others, trying for the last few moments of privacy. Adam held Ivory tightly, not liking that she was going to be leaving him soon. Part of him knew that was ridiculous. They would see each other in three days’ time. They’d been apart longer than that before.

He wasn’t sure if it was the bond, their unborn pup, or the strengthening of his love for her that made it so hard.

With his head buried in her neck, he and his wolf took as much of her scent in as they could get. The added scent of their unborn pup was no longer easily missed. Even without Richard’s help, they would have discovered it by now.

It had been nearly a month since they found out. Ivory was nearing the end of her first trimester. She still wasn’t showing, which meant she could shift if absolutely necessary.

The two of them had recently spent time practicing fighting with Richard. Adam argued that Ivory should sit out because of the pup.

He was out voted.

Richard taught Ivory to fight when she was young, but that had been quite some time ago. He wanted her to learn to fight while protecting her stomach.

Adam couldn’t argue with that.

In the privacy of their own room, they worked on partial shifting. They decided that it would help if she could just shift her arm or hand, to help fight without full on shifting.

The process tired her out, and aggravated her stomach, on more than one occasion.

Ivory had been disappointed that she still was unable to walk around outside the manor freely. She frequently pouted about always being under house arrest and how she had more freedom when she was in hiding.

At least on the farm she could walk around the land, go to the barn, visit the fields (which Adam was not thrilled to learn she had done, obviously forgetting about the times he asked her for food), or work in her little garden.

“For the record, I hate this plan of yours.” Adam whispered, gently kissing her neck.

“I’m not exactly a big fan of it either. It needs to be done though. Just. Please be careful. I couldn’t bear losing you too.”

“It’s not me that I am worried about.” He growled at her.

How many times had they had this argument? And yet she still couldn’t see that she was the one in the most danger.

A throat cleared from behind Adam. “We need to go, your highnesses.” Jack reminded them.

It didn’t matter how many times anyone said it, Adam still felt weird about it.

“You will take care of them, won’t you?” Adam could have been referring to his mate and their pup, or he could have been referring to his entire family, all of which would be in Jack’s care.

Adam regretfully stepped away from his mate. He gave her one more sad kiss, then turned to face Jack. Who bowed at the waist reverently, then stepped forward to put an arm around his cousin.

“Your treasure is mine also. We may desire different things from it, but it is precious, nonetheless. They will all be safe from here.” Jack lifted a hand, which Adam grasped. “All of them. And please keep my father safe. He has been partially blind through all this. I fear what will open his eyes while you are out there.”

“You have my word.”

Jack gave Ivory a nudge, forcing her to move. She gave her mate a tearful wave goodbye, and let her cousin lead her out the gate.

All six brothers were already there, having said their goodbyes first. Charles sat in the front of the covered wagon. Fitz next to him. Gabe sat in the back, where Ivory would be traveling.

She wasn’t happy with this part of the plan. The Princess would much rather be walking with everyone else. Adam had put his foot down though. If he was going to be separated from her, the least she could do was be careful of overworking herself.

The Duke and his family had heard the stories of the fights these two had had in the past. They thought the young pups had been exaggerating, in an effort to make the stories more entertaining.

Witnessing that fight, they no longer thought so.

Ivory argued that her body was used to strong labor, therefore, the walking would not do her any harm. She was not a delicate female. She knew what was best for her body.

Adam agreed that she was strong and far from delicate, which she of course had taken the wrong way. The room had turned eerily silent.

The other occupants had assumed things were about to get worse, until they noticed a softening to Ivory’s face. Which was when they realized the argument had turned internal.

It didn’t stay there though.

Once that matter was settled, it became verbal again. And heated. Enough so that the Duke worried his home would burn down from it all.

In the end, Adam had to pull out the card of keeping her hidden to keep them all safe. With the wagon, they would be able to travel the roads, instead of through the forests. Which would save a good deal of time. Ivory couldn’t argue with that.

Jack opened the cover to the back of the wagon, prepared to help her in, when she froze and cursed. Ivory turned and stepped as though to go give Adam a piece of her mind.

He had had nearly half the wagon filled with cushions.

Jack grabbed her waist tighter and pulled her back.

“You don’t actually have to be next to him to yell at him. We are out of time, cousin. We need to be in place before the sun comes up.”

Ivory paled at the reminder.

When the sun rose, her mate was going to make his statement. He was going to announce his existence to the world.

Jack lifted her up without permission, deciding she wasn’t going to be any help, and set her inside the wagon.

“He will be just fine. He is the strongest King we have had in over a century. Even stronger than your father. Not to mention he will have Richard and his small army, along with my father and ours. Ava’s forces do not stand a chance. And that’s even if they want to fight back.”

Ivory set back on some of the cushions, mentally cursing Adam, who was laughing from the other side of the gate. Loud enough that she could hear him mentally and physically. She sighed, thinking about how much she would miss that sound.

Once she was settled, Gabe scooted over next to her and laid his head on her lap. He had never been very good at waking up this early. It was just one of the many reasons he had never liked living on a farm.

Ivory being there had made it better.

Adam watched from the gate, as the wagon carrying the most vulnerable members of his family left. The others were on foot, surrounding it.

The older brothers waved farewell one more time before turning to follow the wagon.

Adam felt a firm hand on his shoulder and turned to see Andrew. He had tried to convince Adam and the pups to start calling him Uncle Andrew, it was still a work in progress for all but the pups.

“Come, it’s time we get into position. They are depending on us to cover them long enough that they can get on the road and ahead of the soldiers. Richard should be in place about now as well.”

Richard had left them the day before. His wolves had returned to the camp a few days after they arrived, to start organizing everyone. Richard went to lead them. He was loath to leave Ivory’s side though, after what happened the last time he did.

Adam silently walked with Andrew through the dark tunnel. A few feet into the city, Andrew stopped and looked back at it.

“I’ve lived in this city for 25 years now. Yet today is the first time I have ever seen it. I’ve walked this way countless times. Not once noticing it. Now, I can’t help but wonder how I ever missed it! How did Jack find it?”

Adam smirked. “It is normal for pups to find the hidden treasures where the parents see nothing out of the ordinary. They want to explore and have grand adventures. Parents are too concerned with their responsibilities. They don’t question their pups, as long as they are being safe and staying out of trouble.”

Andrew began walking again, back to the city center where their troops were waiting. “Wise words from a male whose first pup still rides along with its mother.”

“Yes, my first pup is still yet to come. However, I helped my father raise the other pups for five years. For the last three, it’s been Ivory and me. The one year I had on my own, it was... well, let’s call it eye opening.” They both laughed heartily.

Pups, males in particular, could be troublesome at best, and aggravating at the worst.

The two stopped in the last alleyway before joining the others.

“Are you ready? From here, you must stay in wolf form outside of the tent. We cannot risk anyone assuming that you are anyone but Jack.”

Adam grunted, not needing the reminder.

This plan had been one of the longest running arguments he and Ivory ever had. He relented, but only because she relented on the wagon. Each making a concession to the other.

He knew she always felt safer when he was around, nothing had changed that. Their mating, and incoming pup only strengthened that feeling. So, her asking this of him was a lot. He would treat the mission with the respect it deserved.

Adam shed his clothes and handed them to Andrew, who was surreptitiously looking the other way. Most wolves didn’t care about the nudity, it was a fact of life for many, especially the fighters. As he was royalty now, Andrew was showing him the respect his station called for.

After shifting, which was smoother and easier than it had ever been before, Adam huffed. Andrew turned and dropped to one knee.

“Your highness, it is my pleasure to serve you.”

Adam was confused. Andrew’s manner was different now than it had been moments before. Graver, more formal.

He is honoring me. I have already ascended to our rightful place. The human side of you still requires the crown to be placed on your head.

Ah. That makes sense. Is that why you have already changed colors?

Yes. As you know, I am more in tune with our natural mother, our creator. When Ivory’s wolf accepted me as her mate, we ascended.

And you didn’t explain all this to me sooner, because???

It wasn’t important at the time.

Right. Well, then. Shall we show the world who we are?

The wolf growled out an odd sounding snicker. Yes. Let’s make this quick and get back to our mate. I hate this plan as much as you. However, she is right in giving us a chance to show mercy to our subjects. It is the job of the royals to protect the wolves who are weaker. Not to use them and beat on them.

Adam’s wolf grunted again, signaling Andrew to stand back up and move.

Unlike the human side, he didn’t bow back. That was not something Alpha wolves did.