André smiled down at her. She stood holding Lorenzo backstage, her eyes taking in the darkened area. He looked too big for such a tiny female to hold, yet she did so with no effort. The shadow of the area deepening the mystery of her eyes when she looked at him. The whole pack was waiting out front for his announcement. He could hear their murmured excitement from here.
"I'll go out first and announce that Lorenzo is back! Not that they don't know that already," he finished with a chuckle. Her large brown eyes widened then narrowed.
"What is it?"
"They know already?"
"The gossip flies here faster than lightning. Helped by mind links, of course. If more than two people know, they all know. It's part of being in a pack." He cupped her cheek in his hand, loving the feel of her skin and the way she unconsciously leaned into his touch. "You'll get used to it."
"I just thought with the lack of rumors that leave your lands," she spoke more to herself them him. Yet her eyes searched his.
He laughed again, "It's probably why it's so bad. They can only talk among themselves."
"Oh."
"What is it, Phoenix? You have someone to share your worries with now. You know that, right? What is it?"
She opened her mouth as Theo's shouted "Alpha! The native are getting restless." Followed by laughter.
André smiled. "You'll come out when I say his name, okay?"
She nodded, biting her bottom lip. He paused for a second longer and then with a nod, strode out onto the stage.
He blinked at the lights, then smiled at all the beaming faces. "Friends, I have great news! Lorenzo is home!"
The cheering rose around him and he turned to watch her walk out, her eyes weary. Slowly the noise quieted as all eyes focused on her. She raised her chin and walked forward with more confidence.
When she was within reach, he pulled her tight against him. "And that's not the only good news! I have finally found my Luna."
The whole pack stared at him in shock. Many actually had their mouths hanging open, he was amused to see. Then the cheering started. Phoenix pulled Lorenzo's head into her shoulder and covered his other ear with her hand as she stared at the wolves hollering with wide eyes.
He allowed them their joy before raising one hand. They quieted down quickly. Smiles still on every face.
"Theo has thrown together a bar-b-que to celebrate these two joyous events. Head out there now. We'll join you shortly."
He watched them go with pride before turning back to Phoenix. "Are you okay?"
She turned her attention from the departing wolves and smiled at him softly. "My ears hurt. Never had anyone that vocally happy to meet me. Let alone so many at once." She shook her head in a daze.
"I was happier to meet you," he assured her with a smile.
A deep blush stained her cheeks "Oh." A huge smile slowly grew on her face until she positively sparkled. "Maybe. But you have to admit. Quieter." She giggled as he growled and pulled her closer.
***
Phoenix smiled as another group came up to coo over Lorenzo, and, to her very deep amusement, her. They thought she was so tiny and delicate and beautiful and perfect. The list of adjectives just kept growing. One had even called her 'as cute as a button', whatever that meant.
Of course he hadn't told them her name yet. Wanting them to meet her before their minds were filled with remembered rumors. She didn't blame him. And thought it a rather good plan. His reaction had been one of the best she'd ever had when a wolf met 'The Phoenix' for the first time and even he believed hype. Though Theo's had been pretty funny. He had stared at her for a long tense silence then turned to André with a grin and an eyebrow wiggle.
She wished Yvonne was here. She could help her swim the waters that was pack life. But more than that, she could help her look for the traitor.
She'd have to be introduced to everyone again because her whole mind was set on keeping Lorenzo safe. For if the whole pack had known of his arrival home hours before it was announced, there was no doubt in her mind that The Lunar Crater's Alpha knew it as well. And he wanted her baby dead. She had been a surprise; their shocked faces clear on that. So she was safe for now. He wasn't.
While she tried to keep it from being noticed, he was never more than ten feet away from her at any time. And each time someone came up she'd take a deep breath.
He tighten his arm about her waist as Celeste took Lorenzo and swirled him around to his giggling delight. When she finally came to a stop, she was too far away. Phoenix paled. And André, in a discussion with another male, wasn't interested in either letting her go or moving. Her heart began to speed up. She started to a step after them when she finally smelled it. Copper and Ash. Her eyes snapped to the man who was making his way deliberately towards Celeste and Lorenzo. Something was in his hand. She didn't hesitate ripping herself out of André's loose hold. She tore across the distance between them and flung her body against the man's arm. And spinning, put herself protectively between him and her family. A syringe containing light purple liquid with a silver needle glowed on the ground.
André, who had rushed after her, stumbled to a stop and stared at it. When he looked up, his wolf shone brightly in his eyes. More wolves came over to see what had happened. A twig snapped behind her and, grabbing Celeste's arm, she switched places with her and caught a silver knife on the down swing from another male. She broke his wrist on her up-jerked knee and, catching the knife, flung it at the third attacker rushing forward. A forth assailant wrapped a hand around her waist and yanked her back against his body, another silver knife against her throat. There had been too many. She had failed. Her eyes sought Lorenzo and she felt relief flood her. No, he was safe. Both he and Celeste were circled by a wall of warriors. Celeste's eyes were on her face. "André!" she screamed.
Phoenix looked over at him. He punched another attacker out cold and spun. His face paling when he saw her.
***
André had been enjoying himself hugely as he listened to his pack interact with his tiny mate. Every time they complemented her, her eyes would flash with amusement and her mouth would tighten to keep her smile soft, rather than in the giant grin she wanted to give them. She seemed a little distracted, but he assumed that was because of the sheer number of wolves she was meeting. Trying to keep her comfortable, he limited the amount that could interact with her at any one time. It seemed to be working.
She suddenly stiffened in his arms and he looked at her out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge what was wrong without drawing attention to her distress. He saw Celeste swirling away with Lorenzo and tightened his arm.
He wasn't prepared for her bolting from his hold and dashing after them, nor her collusion with a male. Rushing after her, he blinked at her protective stance in front of Celeste and Lorenzo and her glare at the man she had bumped into.
He had no idea what was happening until he saw the needle glint at his feet. He grew cold. Turning flashing silver eyes at the man he had fought and laughed with. "Clark?" he asked while mentally calling for Theo and his most trusted warriors to guard his mate, son, and sister.
All he got in reply was a shrug. A slight contemptuous smile tilted one corner of Clark's mouth and he shot a glanced over André right shoulder. André dived to the left and, rolling, grasped the arm of another pack member and slowly rotated the silver knife until it was facing the attacker, shoving it deep in his chest. He turned to meet the next attack while Theo dealt with Clark.
As he landed a punch that knocked the attacker out, his baby sister screamed his name. He turned and froze. The blood leaving his face.
His Phoenix was held tightly against another he thought he could trust, a silver knife against her throat, with a small trail of blood running down from it.