Chapter 13 ~ This Man’s Mate
Adrianna’s POV ~
We had gotten home in time for our celebration. We let our pack know our people had been avenged. The mood lightened a little after that.
The last several weeks, we has been planning for the battle we know is coming. Mom had made wolfsbane and silver antidotes for all our wolves. Our dragons were all given the antidote against the dragons sleep drug.
Avery is toddling all over the place.. getting into everything. Thank Goddess for our in pack daycare! It gives Evander and I time to make plans.
Anderson came to us yesterday.. requesting our presence when he rejects Amelia. He decided not to banish her, because someone is needed to provide full time care for Allison.. who survived the rejection.. but had a stroke coming out of the coma. And who better than her doting daughter.
We walked into the room.. with Chancey, and the rest of the family. Naomi pushing Allison’s wheelchair. Lincoln stood up and stopped behind Allison’s chair. He sneered “Are you here to banish my mother, now!?”
Anderson said “No, son. I am not here to banish anyone. I am however here to reject your mother. She has manipulated me long enough. I have been belittled.. talked down to.. told I am useless.. made to feel like I’m not enough. So Amelia Griffin, daughter of Beta Chancey Griffin, I Alpha Anderson Kane reject you as my chosen mate.”
She screamed and grabbed her neck.. unlike true mates.. whose marks just scar over, chosen’s marks burn away. It’s painful.. and designed to punish. I looked at Anderson.. wondering what the fuck? And he said “I was not so stupid as to ever let that bitch mark me.”
For some reason, I found that funny. As I started laughing, Lincoln lunged for me.. yelling “I’ll show you funny, bitch!” Evander pulled me behind him, lifting Lincoln by his throat “Ever call my wife out of her name, again.. I will rip your tongue out. Ever try to attack her again.. cousin or not.. I will kill you!” He threw him across the room.
Anderson said “ Amelia Griffin, I Alpha command you to never leave this pack. It is your sole responsibility to look after and take care of your mother until her dying day! There will be random checks by social services to make sure she is being properly cared for.”
Oh snap! That was unexpected! Knowing full well, that would be exactly what she would do.. Abuse her own mother in her frustration. He commanded her to not ever do that. Nice!
Evander and I were back in the conference center after dinner. Other species had been joining us.. preparing for the big battle.. Pogue is threatening one major battle to end us all..but he has asked to speak to am ambassador of our species. Mom agreed.. being the attorney for the Kingdom.
We had emailed our conditions..She would be accompanied by no less than ten guards. The meeting was to be out in the open. Pogue allowed the same amount of secret service. Our people would scout around the meeting place all night before.. so Pogue couldn’t plant snipers.
What Pogue didn’t know was she would be broadcasting the entire meeting live.. or that I will be perched my fairy ass right above them.. in the tree Aurora would sit under.
We had leaders from every species.. including the High Priestess of all covens. The Elf Emperor.. The fairy Queen.. Clan leader of the bears.. Clowder leader of cougars.. Prowl leader of the jaguars.
We now numbered over ten thousand warriors strong. Our battle equipment rivaled anything the humans could use against us. We had been preparing since that first airstrike. Knowing their military’s methodology of warfare. They seldom deviate.. and stick to what they know.. Their strategists have no imagination.. and apparently no box to think outside of.
Evander pulled out a map.. pointing to where Mom would be meeting the president. We chose a busy city.. to lull Pogue into a false sense of security.
Evander said “Adrianna will be here.. in this tree. I will be on top of this building.. Dad over there. We will have eyes on you at all times. The guards will have eyes on the president’s security.. if they notice anything suspicious.. we will take them out.”
Mom nodded and said “I’m not worried. I do, however, expect him to pull something. That is why I want it airing live. If the humans see what he’s become.. maybe they will stop following him.”
I said “We have provided proof, repeatedly.. Still they follow him. It’s like he has them all brainwashed. Only three have completely committed to us.. no more. And one of those is now a super.. so he doesn’t count now.”
Dave growled “Hey! Damn, Luna! Hurtful!” Making me laugh. He’s a goof.. and certainly a major asset, now. Dad said “Dave, I want you sat upon this knoll. You can see all the way down the hill.. it gives you a vantage point for your sniper skills. You can cover the Queen from that angle.”
I looked at everyone and told them “Now, we just wait for a confirmation email. Then it’s a go. Until then, I want all of us practicing marksmanship two hours a day.
Evander agreed.. saying “It’s important to hone our skills. We may need to take out more than ten men on his security detail. Pogue isn’t above an ambush. We will need to stay alert.”
We had called it a night.. and everyone went their separate ways. Evander and I made love.. for the first time is days. I’ve missed our private time, and it’s getting few and far betweens.. we have a lot of time to make up.. once we get this situation under control..
Evander held me all night.. making me feel safe and protected. I needed that more than anything else. I love that we can fight side by side.. with complete trust in one another. But, nights like this, makes me realize.. and reassures me, I don’t always have to be strong. I can just be this man’s mate.