The Gamma's Birthright - Book 2

Toni's outfit was once again chosen by Susan, it was composed of a short black skirt, paired with a sheer fitted black top, that had modesty panels in the form of a corset top with a plunging neckline.

She shakes her head, this is not an outfit she’d choose for herself, but trusting that Susan knows better, she goes with it.

Toni had stopped worrying about being identified, at first it was forced, to relax around so many wolves felt strange, but it was easier once she realised, she was nothing but just one more heaving body, even on a relatively quiet night.

As they approached the club, this time the werewolf door had larger queues both on the human side, wanting to get into the wolf floor and a smaller, wolf side, as the two of them turned to enter the queue, they heard Cage calling out.

“Ladies, the VIP list means, no queuing for you both.”

He unclips the ropes to let them in.

“How’s the head Susan?” he chuckles

“Don’t remind me, I will be pacing myself tonight, apologies if I was too um….” She is lost for words.

“I’ve seen worse, and you are a happy drunk, not a nasty one!”

Cage smiles as he lets them in, letting his gaze rest longer on Toni.

“Leif does know I haven’t changed my mind; we aren’t getting special treatment because he thinks otherwise?” Toni’s eyes narrow slightly

“You aren’t and he does now” he nods to the door where Leif is leaning casually against the door waiting.

“Ladies, how nice to see you again”

He takes Susan’s hand raising it to his lips before kissing it gently.

“Enchanté Mademoiselle Loup“

Susan giggles at him but Toni’s eyes harden

Turning to Toni he just laughs

“A little harmless flirtation helps the decades pass!

I see you are still as feisty, but I’d be disappointed if you weren’t.”

He inhales softly

“You still carry my blood card, most interesting.

Anyway, enjoy your evening, I won’t keep you, the club’s car is always available to you at the end of the night as it is to any VIP, no special treatment here wolf, I promise!”

He winks and walks off, smiling, knowing he'd managed to get under Toni's skin.

Toni can imagine he was a hit with the ladies, back before he was turned, even now, there is probably no end of humans willing to overlook what he was, but her concern is, that he’s far too interested in her and she still can't work out why.

But she decides that’s a problem for another time, there are only so many fucks she can give in this world, and for now, this is not one of them, she has the challenge to worry about, and before that, making sure Susan is escorted around the packs the Nightshades have an alliance with, without calling undue attention to themselves.

But she’s confident she can concoct a reasonable cover story, especially if she tells her Alpha it was to tick off the Alpha of the Royal pack, but tonight, she intends to be the carefree wolf she was last night, one last dance as Emma before she becomes the Gamma to help Susan out.

It’s Friday night and the club is far fuller than it was the day before, they stay close together with Toni ensuring they alternate with soft drinks, this time she's keeping an eye on Susan's intake.

They’ve been dancing for most of the three hours they've been at the club, but for the last hour has been only with two wolves, Jonno, who chose Susan to dance with and Robbie who’s been dancing with Toni.

She glances across at Susan, who smiles but looks uncomfortable, Jonno, is trying to get his hands under her skirt yet again and Susan isn’t happy about it.

“Want a drink” Toni mouths to her, planning on getting her away from Jonno

Susan nods, and they both break away from the wolves they were dancing with, telling them they are taking a break, but they start to follow them, Jonno’s hands still wandering over Susan's body.

Susan slaps them down once more.

“Keep your hands to yourself” she spits out

With a deep growl, he grabs her wrists pinning her against a pillar

“You can’t dance like that with a man and then go all cold on him with no consequences, you need to know who’s in charge.”

He growls, forcing his knee between her legs to press his body closer.

Toni grabs his arm, spinning him around and pushing him backwards, standing in front of Susan defensively, all around them people back off, aware trouble is brewing, Toni counts to five before speaking, letting the silence get his attention.

“She isn’t the one that needs a lesson.

Rule one of being a …”

She looks him up and down, she won’t call him a man or a gentleman, he doesn’t deserve that.

“a male…. I guess...” her voice laced with sarcasm

“is keep your hands to yourself when a she-wolf asks you to”

Toni’s face is dark and dangerous, her wolf’s eyes coming out, but she keeps her aura in check, she needs to be seen as Emma.

Jonno laughs in Toni’s face.

“Bitch you won’t give me any trouble if you know what’s good for you, now step away”

He’s more than twice her size in muscle mass, has black hair that looks too perfectly tousled to be accidental, he probably spent an hour on it and has deep brown eyes, it's clear, he fancies himself.

She can tell he doesn’t fear conflict, but the fact she could break his hold on Susan so easily was telling enough, she starts to smile coldly.

“I will not step away, if you are foolish enough to want to get to her, you need to go through me.

But I’ll be generous.

Take the first shot...…”

She holds her arms out wide.

“Just make it your best, because it’s the last you’ll take at me.”

Her voice went lower as she spoke, the underlying threat clear, even with the heavy beat and loud music, she’d spoken loudly enough for not only Jonno to hear, but most of the wolves close by, who were now pulling away from the brewing trouble, forming a loose circle around them, bringing more attention to the altercation.

His confidence falters slightly at her open invitation.

“Stand down”

A voice booms, command aura flooding over them, Jonno immediately drops his arms and head, and Toni follows suit a second or two later, only to appear compliant as ‘Emma’, not controlled by the new wolf's command.

As the owner of the voice strides closer, Toni can see that Susan is agitated and distracted, she sees the newcomer’s eyes hold Susan’s for a long minute before he composes himself and looks forward at Jonno and Toni.

“What is the meaning of starting a brawl in this club?

Do you know the consequences of fighting on Neutral territory?”

“That bitch attacked me for no reason” Jonno answers making Toni laugh

“If I had attacked you" She gives him a pitying look

"You wouldn’t be standing, I merely removed you from the situation, for your safety.”

Her voice, while neutral is still full of threat making the aura from the stranger come out stronger.

Answering him is something she’d never do as the Gamma, preferring silence to speak for her, it's more intimidating, so here, as Emma, she does the opposite.

“Enough!

Names, ranks, packs, now!” the newcomer orders.

He looks first to Jonno after declaring his order in a snappy voice, not exactly throwing his weight around but letting them know he was ranked and not messing around.

“Jonathan Taylor, Warrior, Westmoor pack”

He looks smug, they are a strong pack and he’s probably, rightfully proud.

The stranger turns to Toni

“Emma Marshall, Protector Designate, Stone Heart pack.”

Her voice quieter, letting the answer speak for itself, she smiles wickedly at Jonno watching him falter in confidence.

Stone Heart are stronger than the Westmoor pack, not feared like the Nightshade pack, but they are a large pack, the protectors come from the top two per cent of the warriors; known for being fearless, vicious, deadly and unrelenting, protecting anyone they are assigned to, with their life, they never back down.

Toni has visited them before, spending a month there as part of a deal made between the Alphas, enabling her to act like a protector if needed.

If anyone checked on her name or registration status it would be validated, the only proviso, she cannot be Emma when completing an assassination, but it gives her a disguise if she needs it.

“I’ve been tasked with keeping Susan safe by Gamma Woodfield of the Nightshade pack.”

She saw Jonno lose all remaining colour in his face at the use of her real name, but any checks, including to the Alpha of the Stone Heart pack would confirm this, she’d already submitted the paperwork and payment as her cover.

The stranger’s eyes go back to Susan, who has been staring at him constantly since she saw him

“Susan?”

His voice is softer, gentler confirming Toni’s suspicions that Susan had just found her mate.

“You aren’t from the Stone Heart pack though, at least you don’t share the same pack smell?”

“I am Susan Claymore, sister to Delta Asher from the Royal Pack”

“Is what Emma told me true?” he asks

“It is, she only defended me after he refused to leave me alone” Susan nods, unconsciously taking a step towards him

“Who... who are you”

She asked quietly as he dragged his eyes from her back to Toni and Jonno.

“Jonathan, Emma, if I see either of you start any further trouble, I will be reporting you both to your Alphas as well as to the authorities.

Now Jonathan, leave before I change my mind”

His arm reaches out to pull Susan closer, he inhales deeply, his eyes widening, his wolf coming out

“Now, my little mate, tell me why I can smell Vampire on you!”

His voice is lower, not threatening but obviously unhappy.

Toni can see Susan is struggling to answer him, clearly concerned about how a ‘wrong’ answer would upset him, she’s shuffling and looking down, delaying the moment of truth

“That’s on me

I had dealings with Leif, Susan stayed close and shook his hand only.”

“That’s not exactly true”

Leif’s voice comes out, a smirk on his face as he walks out of a side door with two wolves behind him,

“I kissed her hand in greeting, such a beauty deserves recognition, don’t you agree?”

He raises an eyebrow to the newcomer.

Emma… Marshall huh?”

He tests her second name on his lips

“And I, have ongoing business.

She was astute enough to not give me her full name, maybe I should thank you for that.”

He winks at Toni,

“After all, she knows what you do not.

Demanding names in a mixed club is dangerous, knowing a name can give people power and dominion over them, but fear not Emma, that’s not my desire.”

His eyes show amusement as he looks at her before turning to the wolf who broke them up,

“In all my dealings, Susan was nothing more than a bystander, a curious onlooker one could say”

His eyes alight with humour as he hinted towards the previous night’s activities.

“But I was interested to see the outcome of those two wolves facing off.

People were on standby to break them up if it was needed before anyone was killed or the authorities needed to be called.

But tell me, who are YOU, to decide what happens in MY club.”

He raises an eyebrow at the wolf in front of him, his voice growing more serious

“I am Gamma Henry Anderson of the Blood Moon pack, mate to Susan, she will have no more dealings with Vampires.” He answers firmly.

Leif laughs

“Attractive as she may be, I have no interest in that one"

He's almost dismissive in his tone.

"She’s just here to have fun like you were, it’s her protector that interests me.”

His gaze lands once again on Toni before he sighs and continues

“Alas, she’s not yet interested in what I have to say, but I made her take my blood card, in case she changes her mind, which will keep the smell strong around these two.

I assume you haven’t yet changed your mind, have you?”

He turns to Toni

“No”

The firmness in her voice forces a flicker of disappointment on Leif’s face

“I’ll allow the intervention this time, as it involved your mate, next time, trust me to protect my club or you will face consequences”

Leif’s voice had grown colder and stronger as he delivered the last line, before he turned on his heel, walking away

“Susan will be staying with me,” Henry tells Toni

Toni looked the Gamma up and down, he’s tall, Six foot two (190 cm) short blonde hair and a pair of intelligent blue eyes, there’s something about him that made Toni feel that he probably lived a very ordered life, which Susan will disrupt on the first day with her impulsiveness.

“She won’t.”

As her words are uttered, Henry looks shocked that she’s countermanding him and Susan is totally disappointed and for once not happy at Toni's words.

“I will need to check with Gamma Woodfield, on whether I have to accompany her back to the Royal pack, but until then, she is my charge and my responsibility.

She stays in my sight.”

“Gamma Woodfield, what has the Gamma to do with my mate?” Henry’s tone is cold

“Can we talk about it later?” Susan jumps in

Henry looks Toni up and down, he’s about to refuse, deciding instead to check Toni’s registration as Emma on his phone.

He sighs as her details are confirmed, as a Protector Designate, everyone’s heard how fiercely protective they are of their charges, their Alpha rents them out as bodyguards after all.

“I want one of my men posted outside her door after tonight.” He commands

“He can be outside the suite doors; I am not having an unknown male within our apartment rooms unless you want him physically removed by me.”

Toni counters firmly.

“Agreed, but we are leaving now, your night is over, I’m not sure you understand how dangerous the Neutral zone can be.” He growls

“And yet you are here in the club too”

Toni replies smirking at the black look she’s been given.

“Thank god your mate isn’t an overprotective Alpha” Toni laughs quietly as she walks with Susan

Toni had been up most of the night, making plans for her next few days and making sure Susan was aware of the cover story.

Finally, at six-thirty, she phoned Delta Asher, fifteen minutes later she exited her room to see Susan up and pacing the room

“Chill Susan, he’ll be here shortly for breakfast, are you packed?”

“I am, what did my brother say?”

“A lot of things you don’t want to be repeated, but as long as you are happy and comfortable, you can travel to your pack with him, without me chaperoning”

Susan squeals with excitement

“He may berate you for allowing me to drag you to dangerous places, he was unhappy we were in the Neutral zone…

and clubbing in a mixed club….

Plus, he was never happy you were with me, deep down he must have known we didn’t agree to it in advance…

Oh, and that I ‘dumped you on an unknown protector’ and you didn’t head back…. Well…. You get the picture” Toni laughs

“But that’s on you for deciding to come with me!”

They sit in silence for a little while

“You’ll come to my mating ceremony won’t you,” she asks hopefully

“If you think about it, you’ll know it’s not feasible Susan.” Toni starts gently

“The Nightshades aren't even close to being friendly with the Blood Moon Pack.

It would be awkward, and with your brother there, I’d have to go as Gamma, and well, I’m not sure I’d be allowed to leave safely.

They are close to the Iron Claw pack after all, so some may visit for the ceremony and as Nightshades are their enemy." she shrugs

"Somethings I just couldn't do, even though I'd really love to.

Toni looks at Susan sadly.

“But I will share an old family tradition with you, look out for acorns on the day of your ceremony.

If you are lucky enough to find one, or even better, two, then plant and nurture the seedlings, as you will do with your mate bond.

Let the strength of the Oak remind you of the strength of the union between fated mates, it’s strong enough to be able to dig strong roots and foundations in even the hardest soil, but yet gentle enough not to destroy the land in doing so.

It knows when to bend, in the fiercest storms, without breaking and when to stand strong, providing shelter and shade to those that need it.

A mighty Oak can do all that and more, which will be the same for your mate bond, as long as you feed and nurture it.

Finally, when you have pups of your own, you can take them to the trees and know that you added to the woods and to something that generations of your family can visit.

Let me know when your ceremony will take place, and I will ensure I am thinking of you at that point.”

Susan’s eyes well up with tears as they exchange a hug, Toni feeling a little less awkward with each outward show of emotion.

They are interrupted by a knock on the door, Toni doesn’t need to know who it is, noticing Susan’s change of expression as she breathes deeply, watching her run to the door into the arms of her mate, excitedly telling him they would be travelling together, leaving a sad smile on Toni’s face.

It’s good to know that Susan would be happy, she’d just hoped for a little longer together, not being the Gamma had been fun.

“Protector Emma”

Henry acknowledges her a little formally

“Gamma Anderson”

Toni bows her head playing the good pack wolf

“Her brother, as a Royal Delta, has confirmed that I don’t need to escort you back, as long as your first stop will be back to her pack.”

“It will be” Gamma Anderson confirms.

“Look after my friend, if you don’t, I will hunt you down and make you pay, for as long as I live.”

Henry laughs at the comment, but it’s Susan’s excited squeal that makes them all turn, leaving Henry’s side and throwing her arms around Toni.

“You called me your friend, omg that’s huge, thank you!”

Susan is almost in tears

“Go, live your life, have what I cannot” She whispers very quietly so that only Susan can hear.